Latin replication pulled from PCSB agenda

[Anonymous]

Could we get back on point? Are they replicating next year or not?

[Anonymous]

Anyone who has ever been to a WL open house would know that most of their slots go to siblings, so the notion of open admissions is not accurate. The population is now just replicating itself bc the slots go to siblings. I was pretty turned off by WL not being very transparent about this and their mantra that everyone should just apply. And, frankly, although I am an UMC Af-Am, I was equally turned off by their clear interest in looking and feeling as much like a private school as possible. Maybe that is part of the problem and I think they should consider their own atmosphere and presentation. All of this, couple with how abysmal they seem to serve non-at risk, Af-Am students -which was easy for me to see looking at the data on my own - was a complete turn off. All this said, I appreciate that they seem to recognize where they are falling short and want to address it.

[Anonymous]

I think it remains to be seen whether they will replicate next year. While they technically have approval, they still have to get a location and figure out the finances. And even with the approval, I think they would be well advised not to rush into expansion without making progress on the concerns that have been raised.

It's also unclear how Latin parents are responding to these revelations. If there is a need to focus on the existing campus and implementing changes, that should take priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it remains to be seen whether they will replicate next year. While they technically have approval, they still have to get a location and figure out the finances. And even with the approval, I think they would be well advised not to rush into expansion without making progress on the concerns that have been raised.

It's also unclear how Latin parents are responding to these revelations. If there is a need to focus on the existing campus and implementing changes, that should take priority.

Every Latin parent I know is wary of expansion for all the usual reasons - concerns that new campus will divert admin’s attention, how merged (if at all) will the schools be and will that change the culture, what impact the addition of Spanish as a foreign language option will have, and whether any favorite or particularly strong teachers will be moved to the other campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who has ever been to a WL open house would know that most of their slots go to siblings, so the notion of open admissions is not accurate. The population is now just replicating itself bc the slots go to siblings. I was pretty turned off by WL not being very transparent about this and their mantra that everyone should just apply. And, frankly, although I am an UMC Af-Am, I was equally turned off by their clear interest in looking and feeling as much like a private school as possible. Maybe that is part of the problem and I think they should consider their own atmosphere and presentation. All of this, couple with how abysmal they seem to serve non-at risk, Af-Am students -which was easy for me to see looking at the data on my own - was a complete turn off. All this said, I appreciate that they seem to recognize where they are falling short and want to address it.

That is EXACTLY why they wanted to expand. And it is open admission, but with a sibling weight. The first graduating classes were predominately minority. As the school picked up interest from whites, that hasnt maintained. You are criticizing them for exactly what they seek to redress with this application. Wow.

Whatever "feel" you picked up on, is exactly the point of charters. To have different feels. But you should bring it up with the AA principal.

[Anonymous]

Many schools have open admission/sibling weight so parents arent running between 2-3 campuses. It's a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who has ever been to a WL open house would know that most of their slots go to siblings, so the notion of open admissions is not accurate. The population is now just replicating itself bc the slots go to siblings. I was pretty turned off by WL not being very transparent about this and their mantra that everyone should just apply. And, frankly, although I am an UMC Af-Am, I was equally turned off by their clear interest in looking and feeling as much like a private school as possible. Maybe that is part of the problem and I think they should consider their own atmosphere and presentation. All of this, couple with how abysmal they seem to serve non-at risk, Af-Am students -which was easy for me to see looking at the data on my own - was a complete turn off. All this said, I appreciate that they seem to recognize where they are falling short and want to address it.

That is EXACTLY why they wanted to expand. And it is open admission, but with a sibling weight. The first graduating classes were predominately minority. As the school picked up interest from whites, that hasnt maintained. You are criticizing them for exactly what they seek to redress with this application. Wow.

Whatever "feel" you picked up on, is exactly the point of charters. To have different feels. But you should bring it up with the AA principal.

Maybe it is, but "At-risk kids perform poorly at our school so let us have more of them" is not a very appealing rationale. Really caring about at-risk kids means finding a way to educate them well, and Latin hasn't done that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who has ever been to a WL open house would know that most of their slots go to siblings, so the notion of open admissions is not accurate. The population is now just replicating itself bc the slots go to siblings. I was pretty turned off by WL not being very transparent about this and their mantra that everyone should just apply. And, frankly, although I am an UMC Af-Am, I was equally turned off by their clear interest in looking and feeling as much like a private school as possible. Maybe that is part of the problem and I think they should consider their own atmosphere and presentation. All of this, couple with how abysmal they seem to serve non-at risk, Af-Am students -which was easy for me to see looking at the data on my own - was a complete turn off. All this said, I appreciate that they seem to recognize where they are falling short and want to address it.

That is EXACTLY why they wanted to expand. And it is open admission, but with a sibling weight. The first graduating classes were predominately minority. As the school picked up interest from whites, that hasnt maintained. You are criticizing them for exactly what they seek to redress with this application. Wow.

Whatever "feel" you picked up on, is exactly the point of charters. To have different feels. But you should bring it up with the AA principal.

Maybe it is, but "At-risk kids perform poorly at our school so let us have more of them" is not a very appealing rationale. Really caring about at-risk kids means finding a way to educate them well, and Latin hasn't done that.

You're exaggerating. They've educated many kids well. I also question their expansion --but I'm guessing they want to really take an amazing classics program right into an underserved neighborhood, with many more at-risk kids develop programming "just for" them --maybe extended day, more faculty of color whatever and be like a Boston Latin for this group of students right in Ward 7. I agree though if from their current record the board doesn't think they have the imagination or expertise to do that they should be turned down. But I think their motives were very pure--they are not a for-profit entity- and that they have served many DC kids well. If you look at their graduation rates, college rates and scholarship rates-that is simply inarguable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who has ever been to a WL open house would know that most of their slots go to siblings, so the notion of open admissions is not accurate. The population is now just replicating itself bc the slots go to siblings. I was pretty turned off by WL not being very transparent about this and their mantra that everyone should just apply. And, frankly, although I am an UMC Af-Am, I was equally turned off by their clear interest in looking and feeling as much like a private school as possible. Maybe that is part of the problem and I think they should consider their own atmosphere and presentation. All of this, couple with how abysmal they seem to serve non-at risk, Af-Am students -which was easy for me to see looking at the data on my own - was a complete turn off. All this said, I appreciate that they seem to recognize where they are falling short and want to address it.

That is EXACTLY why they wanted to expand. And it is open admission, but with a sibling weight. The first graduating classes were predominately minority. As the school picked up interest from whites, that hasnt maintained. You are criticizing them for exactly what they seek to redress with this application. Wow.

Whatever "feel" you picked up on, is exactly the point of charters. To have different feels. But you should bring it up with the AA principal.

Maybe it is, but "At-risk kids perform poorly at our school so let us have more of them" is not a very appealing rationale. Really caring about at-risk kids means finding a way to educate them well, and Latin hasn't done that.

You're exaggerating. They've educated many kids well. I also question their expansion --but I'm guessing they want to really take an amazing classics program right into an underserved neighborhood, with many more at-risk kids develop programming "just for" them --maybe extended day, more faculty of color whatever and be like a Boston Latin for this group of students right in Ward 7. I agree though if from their current record the board doesn't think they have the imagination or expertise to do that they should be turned down. But I think their motives were very pure--they are not a for-profit entity- and that they have served many DC kids well. If you look at their graduation rates, college rates and scholarship rates-that is simply inarguable.

Pure motives are not enough. If they want to start a special program, let them do it now and prove it works before expanding.

It speaks very poorly of Latin that they let this situation go on for years.

[Anonymous]

Would be helpful to get a sense of how graduates of WL do in college.

[Anonymous]

No one can say. Only anecdata re my friend/neighbor/my kids and their friends....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who has ever been to a WL open house would know that most of their slots go to siblings, so the notion of open admissions is not accurate. The population is now just replicating itself bc the slots go to siblings. I was pretty turned off by WL not being very transparent about this and their mantra that everyone should just apply. And, frankly, although I am an UMC Af-Am, I was equally turned off by their clear interest in looking and feeling as much like a private school as possible. Maybe that is part of the problem and I think they should consider their own atmosphere and presentation. All of this, couple with how abysmal they seem to serve non-at risk, Af-Am students -which was easy for me to see looking at the data on my own - was a complete turn off. All this said, I appreciate that they seem to recognize where they are falling short and want to address it.

That is EXACTLY why they wanted to expand. And it is open admission, but with a sibling weight. The first graduating classes were predominately minority. As the school picked up interest from whites, that hasnt maintained. You are criticizing them for exactly what they seek to redress with this application. Wow.

Whatever "feel" you picked up on, is exactly the point of charters. To have different feels. But you should bring it up with the AA principal.

Maybe it is, but "At-risk kids perform poorly at our school so let us have more of them" is not a very appealing rationale. Really caring about at-risk kids means finding a way to educate them well, and Latin hasn't done that.

You're exaggerating. They've educated many kids well. I also question their expansion --but I'm guessing they want to really take an amazing classics program right into an underserved neighborhood, with many more at-risk kids develop programming "just for" them --maybe extended day, more faculty of color whatever and be like a Boston Latin for this group of students right in Ward 7. I agree though if from their current record the board doesn't think they have the imagination or expertise to do that they should be turned down. But I think their motives were very pure--they are not a for-profit entity- and that they have served many DC kids well. If you look at their graduation rates, college rates and scholarship rates-that is simply inarguable.

Pure motives are not enough. If they want to start a special program, let them do it now and prove it works before expanding.

It speaks very poorly of Latin that they let this situation go on for years.

Theyve had outstanding outcomes, including with AA and other minority students who have gone on to great next steps, their current outcomes with at risk students on one middle school test (not graduation, not college) is on par with the city. They get these kids in 5th grade. You're exaggerating. But I agree with you - if you dont think the current WL is something ward 7 parents would like as an option for their kids (not as it would be but as it is now), if it's a worst option than what they have going in the neighborhood, sdont put a WL there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who has ever been to a WL open house would know that most of their slots go to siblings, so the notion of open admissions is not accurate. The population is now just replicating itself bc the slots go to siblings. I was pretty turned off by WL not being very transparent about this and their mantra that everyone should just apply. And, frankly, although I am an UMC Af-Am, I was equally turned off by their clear interest in looking and feeling as much like a private school as possible. Maybe that is part of the problem and I think they should consider their own atmosphere and presentation. All of this, couple with how abysmal they seem to serve non-at risk, Af-Am students -which was easy for me to see looking at the data on my own - was a complete turn off. All this said, I appreciate that they seem to recognize where they are falling short and want to address it.

That is EXACTLY why they wanted to expand. And it is open admission, but with a sibling weight. The first graduating classes were predominately minority. As the school picked up interest from whites, that hasnt maintained. You are criticizing them for exactly what they seek to redress with this application. Wow.

Whatever "feel" you picked up on, is exactly the point of charters. To have different feels. But you should bring it up with the AA principal.

Maybe it is, but "At-risk kids perform poorly at our school so let us have more of them" is not a very appealing rationale. Really caring about at-risk kids means finding a way to educate them well, and Latin hasn't done that.

You're exaggerating. They've educated many kids well. I also question their expansion --but I'm guessing they want to really take an amazing classics program right into an underserved neighborhood, with many more at-risk kids develop programming "just for" them --maybe extended day, more faculty of color whatever and be like a Boston Latin for this group of students right in Ward 7. I agree though if from their current record the board doesn't think they have the imagination or expertise to do that they should be turned down. But I think their motives were very pure--they are not a for-profit entity- and that they have served many DC kids well. If you look at their graduation rates, college rates and scholarship rates-that is simply inarguable.

Pure motives are not enough. If they want to start a special program, let them do it now and prove it works before expanding.

It speaks very poorly of Latin that they let this situation go on for years.

Theyve had outstanding outcomes, including with AA and other minority students who have gone on to great next steps, their current outcomes with at risk students on one middle school test (not graduation, not college) is on par with the city. They get these kids in 5th grade. You're exaggerating. But I agree with you - if you dont think the current WL is something ward 7 parents would like as an option for their kids (not as it would be but as it is now), if it's a worst option than what they have going in the neighborhood, sdont put a WL there.

I think that a site in Ward 7 should only go to a school that is excellent with at-risk students. Not to a school that is just average or below other operators. There are only so many sites suitable for a high school and if it goes to a school that won't do well, it'll be 5 years or more before a different operator can be found. And it should only go to a school that is savvy and self-aware enough to go into this process with an actual plan. It's very concerning that Latin didn't realize they needed to address this problem as part of their application.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who has ever been to a WL open house would know that most of their slots go to siblings, so the notion of open admissions is not accurate. The population is now just replicating itself bc the slots go to siblings. I was pretty turned off by WL not being very transparent about this and their mantra that everyone should just apply. And, frankly, although I am an UMC Af-Am, I was equally turned off by their clear interest in looking and feeling as much like a private school as possible. Maybe that is part of the problem and I think they should consider their own atmosphere and presentation. All of this, couple with how abysmal they seem to serve non-at risk, Af-Am students -which was easy for me to see looking at the data on my own - was a complete turn off. All this said, I appreciate that they seem to recognize where they are falling short and want to address it.

I am a little confused about this. I also was at an open house and they were absolutely clear that there were 90 fifth-grade seats and 45 of those were expected to go to siblings. How are they not being transparent about the number of spots? I think that is exactly how the seats worked out this year. Yes, it's tough that half the spots are taken by siblings, but there should be 45 new families admitted every year in fifth, plus whatever number of seats they offer for 6, 7, 8, and 9th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who has ever been to a WL open house would know that most of their slots go to siblings, so the notion of open admissions is not accurate. The population is now just replicating itself bc the slots go to siblings. I was pretty turned off by WL not being very transparent about this and their mantra that everyone should just apply. And, frankly, although I am an UMC Af-Am, I was equally turned off by their clear interest in looking and feeling as much like a private school as possible. Maybe that is part of the problem and I think they should consider their own atmosphere and presentation. All of this, couple with how abysmal they seem to serve non-at risk, Af-Am students -which was easy for me to see looking at the data on my own - was a complete turn off. All this said, I appreciate that they seem to recognize where they are falling short and want to address it.

That is EXACTLY why they wanted to expand. And it is open admission, but with a sibling weight. The first graduating classes were predominately minority. As the school picked up interest from whites, that hasnt maintained. You are criticizing them for exactly what they seek to redress with this application. Wow.

Whatever "feel" you picked up on, is exactly the point of charters. To have different feels. But you should bring it up with the AA principal.

The problem with the new Latin in Ward 7 is that it could very well end up looking like the current Latin in 5-6 years. There is a huge demand for middle school options in Ward 6, and these families have been willing to travel all over the city for schools, including to the current Latin location. Ward 7 is an easy commute for these families, who are not all of color nor at risk.