Middle and high school on Capitol Hill

[Anonymous]

Great, use Jefferson for your children. I don't want my sweet, bright, book-hungry kids there in class there with lots of tough students who are far behind academically, even if mine were to go on to score 5s on PARCC tests. A good mix of kids at a neighborhood middle school would be great. But Jefferson doesn't have a good mix of kids and won't for who knows how long, probably 10 or 15 years. Most of the students are from families who aren't just poor, they've been in desperate circumstances for generations. I'm not white but I am a product of hard-charging, uplifting, heavily Asian NYC middle and high school test-in programs. I'd use BASIS before Jefferson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great, use Jefferson for your children. I don't want my sweet, bright, book-hungry kids there in class there with lots of tough students who are far behind academically, even if mine were to go on to score 5s on PARCC tests. A good mix of kids at a neighborhood middle school would be great. But Jefferson doesn't have a good mix of kids and won't for who knows how long, probably 10 or 15 years. Most of the students are from families who aren't just poor, they've been in desperate circumstances for generations. I'm not white but I am a product of hard-charging, uplifting, heavily Asian NYC middle and high school test-in programs. I'd use BASIS before Jefferson.

Great, use BASIS for your children (if you can get them in through the lottery). This isn't a zero sum game. More choices are better for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great, use Jefferson for your children. I don't want my sweet, bright, book-hungry kids there in class there with lots of tough students who are far behind academically, even if mine were to go on to score 5s on PARCC tests. A good mix of kids at a neighborhood middle school would be great. But Jefferson doesn't have a good mix of kids and won't for who knows how long, probably 10 or 15 years. Most of the students are from families who aren't just poor, they've been in desperate circumstances for generations. I'm not white but I am a product of hard-charging, uplifting, heavily Asian NYC middle and high school test-in programs. I'd use BASIS before Jefferson.

Schools aren't something you personally "use." They are community institutions. Sorry you think that most of your community is lesser than your "sweet, bright, book-hungry kids."

[Anonymous]

Found this which I thought was interesting

http://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/publications/education.aspx

I think there is also research showing the benefits of having kids from all backgrounds attend school together, but I know there is a tipping point in which the academic outcomes fall for all students when poverty rates are too high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really doubt that Brent has to worry about having too many 5th graders next year. . .

Maybe they can eliminate PK3. Kill 2 birds with one stone.

Breaking news: PK3 is included in the lottery and budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great, use Jefferson for your children. I don't want my sweet, bright, book-hungry kids there in class there with lots of tough students who are far behind academically, even if mine were to go on to score 5s on PARCC tests. A good mix of kids at a neighborhood middle school would be great. But Jefferson doesn't have a good mix of kids and won't for who knows how long, probably 10 or 15 years. Most of the students are from families who aren't just poor, they've been in desperate circumstances for generations. I'm not white but I am a product of hard-charging, uplifting, heavily Asian NYC middle and high school test-in programs. I'd use BASIS before Jefferson.

Schools aren't something you personally "use." They are community institutions. Sorry you think that most of your community is lesser than your "sweet, bright, book-hungry kids."

Different PP. Christ, you really are an insufferable, holier than thou bleeding heart. You're not helping your cause by putting down rational sounding posters. Hint: American parents with graduate degree and good jobs almost never send their kids to schools where almost all the other students are poor and minority, wherever they live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really doubt that Brent has to worry about having too many 5th graders next year. . .

Maybe they can eliminate PK3. Kill 2 birds with one stone.

Breaking news: PK3 is included in the lottery and budget.

PK3 doesn't caters mainly to siblings, 5th grade benefits the community and is arguably more important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great, use Jefferson for your children. I don't want my sweet, bright, book-hungry kids there in class there with lots of tough students who are far behind academically, even if mine were to go on to score 5s on PARCC tests. A good mix of kids at a neighborhood middle school would be great. But Jefferson doesn't have a good mix of kids and won't for who knows how long, probably 10 or 15 years. Most of the students are from families who aren't just poor, they've been in desperate circumstances for generations. I'm not white but I am a product of hard-charging, uplifting, heavily Asian NYC middle and high school test-in programs. I'd use BASIS before Jefferson.

Schools aren't something you personally "use." They are community institutions. Sorry you think that most of your community is lesser than your "sweet, bright, book-hungry kids."

Different PP. Christ, you really are an insufferable, holier than thou bleeding heart. You're not helping your cause by putting down rational sounding posters. Hint: American parents with graduate degree and good jobs almost never send their kids to schools where almost all the other students are poor and minority, wherever they live.

Wow...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really doubt that Brent has to worry about having too many 5th graders next year. . .

Maybe they can eliminate PK3. Kill 2 birds with one stone.

Breaking news: PK3 is included in the lottery and budget.

PK3 doesn't caters mainly to siblings, 5th grade benefits the community and is arguably more important.

PP is right. Everything is locked in for next year. However at the last PTA meeting, there was mention of a larger discussion around this at some point in the future as the WL continues to be out of control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great, use Jefferson for your children. I don't want my sweet, bright, book-hungry kids there in class there with lots of tough students who are far behind academically, even if mine were to go on to score 5s on PARCC tests. A good mix of kids at a neighborhood middle school would be great. But Jefferson doesn't have a good mix of kids and won't for who knows how long, probably 10 or 15 years. Most of the students are from families who aren't just poor, they've been in desperate circumstances for generations. I'm not white but I am a product of hard-charging, uplifting, heavily Asian NYC middle and high school test-in programs. I'd use BASIS before Jefferson.

Schools aren't something you personally "use." They are community institutions. Sorry you think that most of your community is lesser than your "sweet, bright, book-hungry kids."

Different PP. Christ, you really are an insufferable, holier than thou bleeding heart. You're not helping your cause by putting down rational sounding posters. Hint: American parents with graduate degree and good jobs almost never send their kids to schools where almost all the other students are poor and minority, wherever they live.

you should have fcking thought of this before you MOVED TO DC. you don't get special treatment in public institutions for having gone to grad school and being white. sorry you can't accept the consequences of gentrification.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great, use Jefferson for your children. I don't want my sweet, bright, book-hungry kids there in class there with lots of tough students who are far behind academically, even if mine were to go on to score 5s on PARCC tests. A good mix of kids at a neighborhood middle school would be great. But Jefferson doesn't have a good mix of kids and won't for who knows how long, probably 10 or 15 years. Most of the students are from families who aren't just poor, they've been in desperate circumstances for generations. I'm not white but I am a product of hard-charging, uplifting, heavily Asian NYC middle and high school test-in programs. I'd use BASIS before Jefferson.

Schools aren't something you personally "use." They are community institutions. Sorry you think that most of your community is lesser than your "sweet, bright, book-hungry kids."

Different PP. Christ, you really are an insufferable, holier than thou bleeding heart. You're not helping your cause by putting down rational sounding posters. Hint: American parents with graduate degree and good jobs almost never send their kids to schools where almost all the other students are poor and minority, wherever they live.

you should have fcking thought of this before you MOVED TO DC. you don't get special treatment in public institutions for having gone to grad school and being white. sorry you can't accept the consequences of gentrification.

So you're telling that poster "hey! YOU chose to move here! Yes it's a total dump but we aren't changing a thing! Don't you dare bring any new ideas or except any change. Now just hand over those tax dollars and shut up!"

- brown gentrifier

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great, use Jefferson for your children. I don't want my sweet, bright, book-hungry kids there in class there with lots of tough students who are far behind academically, even if mine were to go on to score 5s on PARCC tests. A good mix of kids at a neighborhood middle school would be great. But Jefferson doesn't have a good mix of kids and won't for who knows how long, probably 10 or 15 years. Most of the students are from families who aren't just poor, they've been in desperate circumstances for generations. I'm not white but I am a product of hard-charging, uplifting, heavily Asian NYC middle and high school test-in programs. I'd use BASIS before Jefferson.

Schools aren't something you personally "use." They are community institutions. Sorry you think that most of your community is lesser than your "sweet, bright, book-hungry kids."

Different PP. Christ, you really are an insufferable, holier than thou bleeding heart. You're not helping your cause by putting down rational sounding posters. Hint: American parents with graduate degree and good jobs almost never send their kids to schools where almost all the other students are poor and minority, wherever they live.

you should have fcking thought of this before you MOVED TO DC. you don't get special treatment in public institutions for having gone to grad school and being white. sorry you can't accept the consequences of gentrification.

I'm not white, and I'm not banking on staying in DC for MS and HS. Hope it works out, not sure it will. We're not dealing with the consequences of gentrification as much as we're dealing with obnoxious racial politics in a poorly administered city. As a low SES graduate of a famous test-in program in another big East Coast city, I'm not looking for special treatment in public institutions. I'm disappointed that DC lacks ambition for its strongest students of all races across the socioeconomic spectrum.

Hands on DC, Congress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't a question of segregation. How is a teacher suppose to teach kids who are above grade level alongside those who are below when kids reach MS age. Does the teacher assign 2-3 different books for students to read? Do the students who are at or above grade level review long division with the kids who haven't mastered the basics? Practically speaking, I would love to know how having kids performing at so man different levels would work. 11:56, please share your ideas instead of just accusing parents of supporting segregation. I wonder if you even have an older ES age kid because I can't think of one parent who would risk the education of their kid just to prove they don't believe in segregation.

Ask Jefferson -- they currently do this and they're making progress.

Too much in this post to break down, but as a practical matter this is not how the classrooms function. The curriculum is on grade level. They don't teach a 4th grade curriculum to 7th graders just because a majority are not 7th grade proficient. The students who struggle likely get additional supports to help them make up the difference. The classroom is not dialed back to make accomodations -- the benchmark is 7th grade learning objectives.

and yes -- students can and do read different levels books for independent reading (ie approved books rated for appropriate level of proficiency). That's how the schools address the range of proficiency levels common throughout the system.

in theory but practice no. If the slow kids were truly getting the support they need they would not be in the 6th grade reading at a 3rd grade level. DC just keeps passing them along. Jefferson teachers are attempting the impossible but they are not serving the advanced kids.

if a student starts at 2nd grade level and move to 4th in one year that's a big leap even if they still test well below grade level. DC does hold back students in some grades, but that often reflects lack of progress in addition to lack of proficiency.

Again -- there are at least 5 students who scored 5 on PARCC in math and ELA (not necessarily the same 5 students on each). If Jefferson is such academic suicide how do these students manage to score highly?

You're going to get outliers. I've been helping a FARMs student at a failing DCPS HS who attended Eliot-Hine apply to colleges, as a volunteer for a non-profit. She scored remarkably well on the SATs for a kid in her situation, loves to read and has taken advantage of DC Public Libraries, DCPS and OSSE summer school programs over the years, including an all-expenses-paid residential program at an Ivy League school. She comes from a very religious family, enabling her to learn a great deal of vocabulary from scripture and spent time in public libraries on Khan Academy to prep for the SATs. When admissions results come out next week, I'm expecting big things.

Was it merit-based? There are a lot of middle-income families who would benefit from all-expenses-paid programs locally, much less at an Ivy. They don't have a low enough family income level to apply. They make too much money for nice opportunities. And then people wonder why they resent the poor and flee to the suburbs where the schools are good and the crime is low.

SMH.

SMH at you. Of course it's merit based as well as need based. Just like Stanford is free for families making less than $100k. You still have to get in to school. People like you make me sick. You do know your ancestors likely received handouts too right?

To PP that volunteers, thank you! I'd love to hear where she gets accepted!

In DC anything less than 200K is poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great, use Jefferson for your children. I don't want my sweet, bright, book-hungry kids there in class there with lots of tough students who are far behind academically, even if mine were to go on to score 5s on PARCC tests. A good mix of kids at a neighborhood middle school would be great. But Jefferson doesn't have a good mix of kids and won't for who knows how long, probably 10 or 15 years. Most of the students are from families who aren't just poor, they've been in desperate circumstances for generations. I'm not white but I am a product of hard-charging, uplifting, heavily Asian NYC middle and high school test-in programs. I'd use BASIS before Jefferson.

Schools aren't something you personally "use." They are community institutions. Sorry you think that most of your community is lesser than your "sweet, bright, book-hungry kids."

Different PP. Christ, you really are an insufferable, holier than thou bleeding heart. You're not helping your cause by putting down rational sounding posters. Hint: American parents with graduate degree and good jobs almost never send their kids to schools where almost all the other students are poor and minority, wherever they live.

you should have fcking thought of this before you MOVED TO DC. you don't get special treatment in public institutions for having gone to grad school and being white. sorry you can't accept the consequences of gentrification.

How are lousy schools the consequences of gentrification? Weren't we told that "flipping" schools was racial code for "too white/gentrification"?

Somebody wants it both ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great, use Jefferson for your children. I don't want my sweet, bright, book-hungry kids there in class there with lots of tough students who are far behind academically, even if mine were to go on to score 5s on PARCC tests. A good mix of kids at a neighborhood middle school would be great. But Jefferson doesn't have a good mix of kids and won't for who knows how long, probably 10 or 15 years. Most of the students are from families who aren't just poor, they've been in desperate circumstances for generations. I'm not white but I am a product of hard-charging, uplifting, heavily Asian NYC middle and high school test-in programs. I'd use BASIS before Jefferson.

Schools aren't something you personally "use." They are community institutions. Sorry you think that most of your community is lesser than your "sweet, bright, book-hungry kids."

Different PP. Christ, you really are an insufferable, holier than thou bleeding heart. You're not helping your cause by putting down rational sounding posters. Hint: American parents with graduate degree and good jobs almost never send their kids to schools where almost all the other students are poor and minority, wherever they live.

you should have fcking thought of this before you MOVED TO DC. you don't get special treatment in public institutions for having gone to grad school and being white. sorry you can't accept the consequences of gentrification.

I'm not white, and I'm not banking on staying in DC for MS and HS. Hope it works out, not sure it will. We're not dealing with the consequences of gentrification as much as we're dealing with obnoxious racial politics in a poorly administered city. As a low SES graduate of a famous test-in program in another big East Coast city, I'm not looking for special treatment in public institutions. I'm disappointed that DC lacks ambition for its strongest students of all races across the socioeconomic spectrum.

Hands on DC, Congress.

I don't want pig faced Jason chafitz to run DC, but I'm also disappointed in the lack of test in programs.