SWS moving to Prospect LC building?

[Anonymous]

Also quite telling that no DCUM parents even considers sending their kids there despite complaints about the lack of quality middle schools.

[Anonymous]

It's not surprising DCUM parents aren't interested in KIPP; it's aimed at serving lower SES children. You might not have noticed this on DCUM, but every other thread is about trying to avoid those children. Different kids need different things. KIPP is delivering results to lower SES children and is one of the few schools that can claim it is lowering the achievement gap.

We all know DCPS will never be able to make that claim. Hell, it's not even a real goal, they're just trying to keep kids out of jail.

[Anonymous]

It absolutely boggles my mind that people are being shamed for simply wanting a neighborhood school that serves kids from their neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It absolutely boggles my mind that people are being shamed for simply wanting a neighborhood school that serves kids from their neighborhood.

You sound new to DCUM. The shaming is standard fare. Read we are shocked, shocked that upper-middle-class people aren't willing to send their kids to schools where most kids are low-income, at least not past preschool. Shame shame on upper-middle-class parents paying hefty property tax to want to feel comfortable with neighborhood schools. Such people are RACISTS. Shame shame on SWS for asking DCPS for neighborhood proximity.

[Anonymous]

+1. I bet they'll get their neighborhood proximity preference. The principal, teachers and current parents all want it enough to lobby hard and Tommy Wells may actually help them in the end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1. I bet they'll get their neighborhood proximity preference. The principal, teachers and current parents all want it enough to lobby hard and Tommy Wells may actually help them in the end.

Better solution-- no neighborhood preference for SWS, but make L-T a better option. Get a principal that will set up a great advantanced study opportunity program at L-T. There is no reason L-T can't be as popular as Capitol Hill school as Brent or Maury.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1. I bet they'll get their neighborhood proximity preference. The principal, teachers and current parents all want it enough to lobby hard and Tommy Wells may actually help them in the end.

Better solution-- no neighborhood preference for SWS, but make L-T a better option. Get a principal that will set up a great advantanced study opportunity program at L-T. There is no reason L-T can't be as popular as Capitol Hill school as Brent or Maury.

Unfortunately, there are in fact several big reasons for now. The PTA is controlled by low-income and lower-middle-class AA OOB parents and PG County address cheaters, many of whom attended the school as children. It's incredibly difficult for IB parents, who are relative newcomers to the neighborhood, and overwhelmingly upper-middle-class and white, to get anything done on a PTA where they are not yet very welcome.

Brent and Maury started to turn 6-10 years ago, before the proliferation of Brookland charters, the language immersion schools and Inspired Teaching, attracting droves of middle-class Hill families. These schools also entered transitions before Peabody opened more spots when SWS exited, and before the Logan Montessori left Watkins and expanded. As things stand, LT can't build a critical mass of IB parents because there are so many ES "outs" in NE these days as much as anything else. Getting rid of the weak principal and fixing up the building will happen sooner or later without addressing LT's deep-seated problems keeping IB families past preschool. More realistic to let the 2nd and 3rd generation LT families have their school while SWS absorbs more of LT's IB gentrifier population.

Now if DCPS were to start a bona fide test-in gifted and talented academy at LT, the school could turn fast.

[Anonymous]

Question: if SWS does eventually give a proximity preference, what would my odds be of actually getting my kid into preschool? Or odds of getting into kindergarten?

[Anonymous]

I would assume descent given that only siblings would have preference ahead of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question: if SWS does eventually give a proximity preference, what would my odds be of actually getting my kid into preschool? Or odds of getting into kindergarten?

I think it depends on how old your kid is. I have a two-year-old and I'm interested in Ps3 for next year. I live right next to Prospect. If SWS had a proximity preference next year, since they're adding Ps3 for the first time, there would be all the Ps3 and all the PreK seats available (that aren't going to siblings). But after next year, all the PreK seats will be taken by next year's preschoolers, and all the Ps3 seats will be taken by an increasing cohort of younger siblings. So if you're in my boat, you just got the finger from DCPS.

[Anonymous]

I am sorry, but I don't get what you are saying. If you are looking for a spot next year, i.e. 2014, and the proximity preference would come into effect that year, why would you be given the finger by DCPS?
You should be all set. Hopefully me too...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry, but I don't get what you are saying. If you are looking for a spot next year, i.e. 2014, and the proximity preference would come into effect that year, why would you be given the finger by DCPS?
You should be all set. Hopefully me too...

My kid is only a year but I'd be surprised if those of us in the LT district would be "all set" even with the preference. Demand for preschool slots outstrips supply at the best programs. And with no IB population, you're not guaranteed a K spot so you may never lottery in. Odds depend mainly on how the proximity preference or "walking distance" is interpreted. At the open house last week, the principal stated that although he and his faculty want an IB population but would accept a default position of proximity preference with a city-wide draw as a compromise with DCPS. That's what they're fighting for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1.

Better solution-- no neighborhood preference for SWS, but make L-T a better option. Get a principal that will set up a great advantanced study opportunity program at L-T. There is no reason L-T can't be as popular as Capitol Hill school as Brent or Maury.

It's parents with NO DIRECT EXPERIENCE with ludlow-taylor think in these terms for this generation of little kids. After 2 years as an active preschool parent, I'll move before sticking around for kindergarten. Maybe ludlow will appeal to ib families for elementary grades far down the road, by which time most of the PTA parents with historic ties to the school will surely be out of the picture. My chances of breaking into K at SWS seem miniscule. Wish I'd bought in the Maury district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the open house last week, the principal stated that although he and his faculty want an IB population but would accept a default position of proximity preference with a city-wide draw as a compromise with DCPS. That's what they're fighting for.

Proximity preference comes AFTER sibling. It's an edge vs the citywide draw, but the earlier argument is valid about composition of current and new families and the broader sibling pool to compete against for future PS3 space. The school may not win that fight either and walking priority is pertty narrowly defined. It won't help a lot of families IB for LT -- good with proximity luck if you live close to Stanton Park or west of 6th St. Proximity is good for roughly 4 city blocks.

The IB draw is unlikely to ever happen. LT aside, IB also means accomodating every interested IB family from K-5. Just as some schools address overcrowding, the managed class size and use of communal space is integral for Reggio. SWS wanted to expand, but only so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Proximity preference comes AFTER sibling. It's an edge vs the citywide draw, but the earlier argument is valid about composition of current and new families and the broader sibling pool to compete against for future PS3 space. The school may not win that fight either and walking priority is pertty narrowly defined. It won't help a lot of families IB for LT -- good with proximity luck if you live close to Stanton Park or west of 6th St. Proximity is good for roughly 4 city blocks.

The IB draw is unlikely to ever happen. LT aside, IB also means accomodating every interested IB family from K-5. Just as some schools address overcrowding, the managed class size and use of communal space is integral for Reggio. SWS wanted to expand, but only so much.

^Thanks for this practical post, PP. I too am highly skeptical that SWS could ever rescue LT parents en masse, even with proximity.