SWS has jumped the shark

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For me, SWS has crossed into being weirdly obsessed with race. Every book is about Black people. Every art project is about Black people. Every field trip is about Black people. The children spend an inordinate amount of time on a yearly project called "Black Joy." The mother's day art clay mugs created by the children weirdly had Black singers drawn onto the back of them. SWS is sorting parents into racial affinity groups. The principal sends emails talking about how he's "a white man" and needs to focus on the school's "Black caregivers" and "Black and Brown students."

The number one thing the school could be doing to support Black students is ensuring that they are well prepared for middle school. Yet the PARCC scores over the past 10 years have steadily declined, as SWS's singular focus on race has increased.

I think you missed the point where the principal addressed that SWS was previously a more white school (not his exact words) and the demographics of the school are changing.

The pottery art was previously an art project from March.

Uh … that’s not what he was talking about at all, but good to know that he has sent those kinds of messages more than once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love SWS. It was the absolute perfect place to be after Covid. The school cultivates kindness, caring, and creativity. My child’s brain is always buzzing with ideas and I’ve noticed the school’s approach is quite individualized. My kiddo is advanced academically. the school is safe, the kids are nice. It is an oasis among the pool of dcps schools accessible to most. The principal is making a concerted effort to narrow the performance gap between Black and white kids and there’s been progress. The Black parents I’ve met aren’t passively waiting for the gap to close. They are highly engaged and proponents of high academic standards. Sws is a unique place that everyone has lotteried into. Surely you knew before joining that this place is about infusing kindness, joy, and community into everything? Why complain now?

How very SWS of you. In one sentence you've illustrated why so many people think SWS has a race problem. Do you think black families get together and try and solve the performance gap? You seem surprised that black folks aren't just sitting around waiting. Newsflash, my lily white SWS friend, black parents are concerned about the performance of their kid. The only way this sentence makes sense is if you are suggesting that SWS is unique because black folks at SWS care about academic performance, as opposed the black parents at "lessor" schools.

Thanks for so clearly illustrating how the L.L. Lemon brigade views black people.

+100. Lord...that post.

It's also infuriating when parents of kids that are supposedly "academically advanced" tout the "kindness, joy" and related marketing dribble of these charter schools supposedly so focused on social justice. What about the kids who are NOT academically advanced--how are their needs being met at SWS? If there are performance gaps and the needs of these students are not being met, that means the school's commitment to equity is purely performative. Meeting the "needs" of academically advanced students is a low bar to clear.

It’s even worse, because once these “academically advanced” families realize their kid needs appropriately academic instruction, they will instantly bail from DCPS for charter or private or MCPS or possibly NW DC. Then they will say piously, “Our IB school was not a good fit for our family!”

This will happen eventually no matter where your kid goes to school on the Hill. If you have an academically advanced kid, you shouldn’t be sending them to school on the Hill past PK4.

This is silly. I’ve been pleased with how our Hill school differentiates. In lower grades it’s small groups and pull outs (or attending a class with a higher grade level if your kid is THAT advanced). In upper grades, it’s more computer time instead of whole group lessons and stretch problems/assignments as well. There’s also afterschool tutoring for those behind and enrichment for those ahead in math for free/heavily subsidized prices. My kids test 1-3 grade levels ahead and always meet their growth goals while enjoying school. It’s absolutely not a real suburban G&T program, but it’s enough until they hit middle school tracking/faster pace curriculum.

Maybe other schools don’t do it as well or maybe your kid isn’t as advanced as you think?

Not happening. Or you are in ECE and don't know what differentiation is yet.

Everything I said above is currently happening at L-T, the Hill school my kids attend. They’re in 1st & 3rd, if that matters.

Parents of kids in those grades are adorable. You don't know what you don't know. But good on you for being a cliche SH parents and not letting your ignorance get in the way of informed opinions.

Try reading comprehension. This exchange was explicitly about K+ not middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love SWS. It was the absolute perfect place to be after Covid. The school cultivates kindness, caring, and creativity. My child’s brain is always buzzing with ideas and I’ve noticed the school’s approach is quite individualized. My kiddo is advanced academically. the school is safe, the kids are nice. It is an oasis among the pool of dcps schools accessible to most. The principal is making a concerted effort to narrow the performance gap between Black and white kids and there’s been progress. The Black parents I’ve met aren’t passively waiting for the gap to close. They are highly engaged and proponents of high academic standards. Sws is a unique place that everyone has lotteried into. Surely you knew before joining that this place is about infusing kindness, joy, and community into everything? Why complain now?

How very SWS of you. In one sentence you've illustrated why so many people think SWS has a race problem. Do you think black families get together and try and solve the performance gap? You seem surprised that black folks aren't just sitting around waiting. Newsflash, my lily white SWS friend, black parents are concerned about the performance of their kid. The only way this sentence makes sense is if you are suggesting that SWS is unique because black folks at SWS care about academic performance, as opposed the black parents at "lessor" schools.

Thanks for so clearly illustrating how the L.L. Lemon brigade views black people.

+100. Lord...that post.

It's also infuriating when parents of kids that are supposedly "academically advanced" tout the "kindness, joy" and related marketing dribble of these charter schools supposedly so focused on social justice. What about the kids who are NOT academically advanced--how are their needs being met at SWS? If there are performance gaps and the needs of these students are not being met, that means the school's commitment to equity is purely performative. Meeting the "needs" of academically advanced students is a low bar to clear.

It’s even worse, because once these “academically advanced” families realize their kid needs appropriately academic instruction, they will instantly bail from DCPS for charter or private or MCPS or possibly NW DC. Then they will say piously, “Our IB school was not a good fit for our family!”

This will happen eventually no matter where your kid goes to school on the Hill. If you have an academically advanced kid, you shouldn’t be sending them to school on the Hill past PK4.

This is silly. I’ve been pleased with how our Hill school differentiates. In lower grades it’s small groups and pull outs (or attending a class with a higher grade level if your kid is THAT advanced). In upper grades, it’s more computer time instead of whole group lessons and stretch problems/assignments as well. There’s also afterschool tutoring for those behind and enrichment for those ahead in math for free/heavily subsidized prices. My kids test 1-3 grade levels ahead and always meet their growth goals while enjoying school. It’s absolutely not a real suburban G&T program, but it’s enough until they hit middle school tracking/faster pace curriculum.

Maybe other schools don’t do it as well or maybe your kid isn’t as advanced as you think?

Not happening. Or you are in ECE and don't know what differentiation is yet.

Everything I said above is currently happening at L-T, the Hill school my kids attend. They’re in 1st & 3rd, if that matters.

Parents of kids in those grades are adorable. You don't know what you don't know. But good on you for being a cliche SH parents and not letting your ignorance get in the way of informed opinions.

Try reading comprehension. This exchange was explicitly about K+ not middle school.

SH was a typo for CH. Yes, talking about you, SWS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a woman of color, I think this is great! It's voluntary, so I think it speaks volumes that so many white people are mad about it. You probably have some unpacking to do if a voluntary group makes you this mad.

You miss the point. By your logic it would be ok for a white supremacy affinity group to be formed and anyone who objected to such a "voluntary group" has some unpacking to do. Point is this: the voluntary nature of it is not relevant to the concerns being expressed. Or are you ok with the white supremacy group?

I am not going down this road of "reverse racism". You KNOW it's not the same thing.

DP. I don’t think anyone here or at SWS thinks that anti-white “reverse racism” is the same as racism. Or that a black parents group is the equivalent to a KKK group. My concern is more the casual, thoughtless way people seem to think making expressly anti-white statements is OK. Particularly by governmental entities bound by civil rights laws - which indeed, treat racism and “reverse racism” exactly the same. So no, you cannot make statements to school communities about the evil of “perpetuating whiteness” without courting serious repercussions, including legal action.

This. A publicly funded group should not make any group feel unwelcome on account of race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love SWS. It was the absolute perfect place to be after Covid. The school cultivates kindness, caring, and creativity. My child’s brain is always buzzing with ideas and I’ve noticed the school’s approach is quite individualized. My kiddo is advanced academically. the school is safe, the kids are nice. It is an oasis among the pool of dcps schools accessible to most. The principal is making a concerted effort to narrow the performance gap between Black and white kids and there’s been progress. The Black parents I’ve met aren’t passively waiting for the gap to close. They are highly engaged and proponents of high academic standards. Sws is a unique place that everyone has lotteried into. Surely you knew before joining that this place is about infusing kindness, joy, and community into everything? Why complain now?

How very SWS of you. In one sentence you've illustrated why so many people think SWS has a race problem. Do you think black families get together and try and solve the performance gap? You seem surprised that black folks aren't just sitting around waiting. Newsflash, my lily white SWS friend, black parents are concerned about the performance of their kid. The only way this sentence makes sense is if you are suggesting that SWS is unique because black folks at SWS care about academic performance, as opposed the black parents at "lessor" schools.

Thanks for so clearly illustrating how the L.L. Lemon brigade views black people.

+100. Lord...that post.

It's also infuriating when parents of kids that are supposedly "academically advanced" tout the "kindness, joy" and related marketing dribble of these charter schools supposedly so focused on social justice. What about the kids who are NOT academically advanced--how are their needs being met at SWS? If there are performance gaps and the needs of these students are not being met, that means the school's commitment to equity is purely performative. Meeting the "needs" of academically advanced students is a low bar to clear.

It’s even worse, because once these “academically advanced” families realize their kid needs appropriately academic instruction, they will instantly bail from DCPS for charter or private or MCPS or possibly NW DC. Then they will say piously, “Our IB school was not a good fit for our family!”

This will happen eventually no matter where your kid goes to school on the Hill. If you have an academically advanced kid, you shouldn’t be sending them to school on the Hill past PK4.

This is silly. I’ve been pleased with how our Hill school differentiates. In lower grades it’s small groups and pull outs (or attending a class with a higher grade level if your kid is THAT advanced). In upper grades, it’s more computer time instead of whole group lessons and stretch problems/assignments as well. There’s also afterschool tutoring for those behind and enrichment for those ahead in math for free/heavily subsidized prices. My kids test 1-3 grade levels ahead and always meet their growth goals while enjoying school. It’s absolutely not a real suburban G&T program, but it’s enough until they hit middle school tracking/faster pace curriculum.

Maybe other schools don’t do it as well or maybe your kid isn’t as advanced as you think?

Not happening. Or you are in ECE and don't know what differentiation is yet.

Everything I said above is currently happening at L-T, the Hill school my kids attend. They’re in 1st & 3rd, if that matters.

Parents of kids in those grades are adorable. You don't know what you don't know. But good on you for being a cliche SH parents and not letting your ignorance get in the way of informed opinions.

Try reading comprehension. This exchange was explicitly about K+ not middle school.

SH was a typo for CH. Yes, talking about you, SWS.

This makes no sense. You think a parent with a kid almost finished with 3rd grade has no idea what they’re getting into for ES? This isn’t like an ECE parent. Once your kid is almost finished with a testing grade, I’m guessing you’ve got a decent sense of whether you’re happy with how your school differentiates. Especially on the Hill, where there’s a 50% chance 4th grade is your last year at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why are UMC families so worried about what’s in the school’s library or lack of sports? Have your kids read the classics from your library or the local library’s collection and have them join a sport they love. These ES standards are so low. Why are parents with advanced kids worried about them? The school is fun and magical. Why expect school to be the answer for all of your wants. Want them to learn algebra in 5th grade? I’m sure there is an app for that. And yes Black parents are caring and active everywhere, all over the world, not just at SWS. That’s a platitude that didn’t need saying. I guess with all the black joy koolaid I’ve been drinking, I felt the need to share my admiration for the cohort of parents at SWS. There is also some woman on this thread mad at SWS because ‘Black people are racist too’. So, a group that’s been marginalized and persecuted harbors mistrust of the people who run and benefit from systemic racism. Is anyone surprised? They need their spaces to feel some connectivity and peace—I’m all for it. The bashing of SWS is comical. Thanks to the poster who talked about the CH neighborhood resentment for the school. That makes sense. Also yes, we will leave SWS if it is no longer serving my kids academically or otherwise. Right now, I can’t fathom it.

You are correct and we all do supplement for our kids understanding that you cannot expect a school to be perfect or have what your child is interested in. However, teaching leftist ideas instead of teaching fundamentals and critical thought and allowing kids to create art or do projects on subjects that are not about the black experience exclusively. Im shocked the science fair project does not have some political theme. How can you scream diversity - yet only lift up one race - there was NOTHING during Hispanic Heritage month, they only care about BLM and LGBTQ++++ - imagine being a black kid and not learning about ALL history imagine being reminded everyday of how you fall short and how oppressed you are - they are seriously not fostering a "magical" experience - In my humble opinion though, I hope kids tire so much of this rhetoric that they will seek the truth and will learn the reality of these SJ movements- I see a lot of right leaning teens and Im here for that!

SWS parent here who has posted in this thread. The attitude posted above is what scares me, and I'm seeing it more and more from SWS parents who I consider to be generally good people and who I think would consider themselves Democrats. The eye rolling and the questioning of WTF the school is doing. There are serious race and women's and LGBTQ issues to be confronted in our society, and I think we could confront those issues in way that doesn't turn the school into a Republican's dream example of social justice gone off the rails. I honestly would not be surprised if SWS ended up on Fox News the way things are going. And I don't think it's helpful in this cultural moment to do clueless cringey things like "affinity groups" because it just gives ammo to people like PP.

NP & fellow SWS parent. You might have heard complaints from us if you know us and we trust you. We're Democrats, but the recent SWS choices are left of where we fall and we also fear some of this will end up either on FOX or in the next hearing bashing DC govt decision making -- neither of which would help our school. It feels like it's being forced on the community by a small, vocal minority.

It's worth recognizing that the SWS student body has changed from the time when there was proximity preference (that extended years after it was removed due to lingering sibling preference), LT (and some other hill schools) weren't as well regarded as they are today, and the DC lottery wasn't as level a playing field. Overall, that's the goal, but it does mean that comments upthread comparing scores and outcomes from a previous period when the student body was even more UUMC -- and as a result the likelihood might have been higher of a student getting whatever help's necessary from home to quickly make up any lost ground while transitioning to middle school -- isn't an apples-to-apples comparison to today. We've been attracted by the fact that SWS included other initiatives (kindness, reggio, etc) in the past and are in favor of it for the future, but an eye needs to be kept on striking the right balance between those and strong academics to support the best outcome for the current student body. It's still a place where every family there has taken active (lottery & possibly commute) action to support the education of their kids, which does mean the average academic support an SWS student gets at home is higher than some other schools serving boundaries where that doesn't happen for everyone -- so, with that extra support, there's some margin to swap in some social/kindness initiatives over drill and kill academics, but our question is how much and at what cost in terms of questioning from some good people who are not quite as far left in their views.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why are UMC families so worried about what’s in the school’s library or lack of sports? Have your kids read the classics from your library or the local library’s collection and have them join a sport they love. These ES standards are so low. Why are parents with advanced kids worried about them? The school is fun and magical. Why expect school to be the answer for all of your wants. Want them to learn algebra in 5th grade? I’m sure there is an app for that. And yes Black parents are caring and active everywhere, all over the world, not just at SWS. That’s a platitude that didn’t need saying. I guess with all the black joy koolaid I’ve been drinking, I felt the need to share my admiration for the cohort of parents at SWS. There is also some woman on this thread mad at SWS because ‘Black people are racist too’. So, a group that’s been marginalized and persecuted harbors mistrust of the people who run and benefit from systemic racism. Is anyone surprised? They need their spaces to feel some connectivity and peace—I’m all for it. The bashing of SWS is comical. Thanks to the poster who talked about the CH neighborhood resentment for the school. That makes sense. Also yes, we will leave SWS if it is no longer serving my kids academically or otherwise. Right now, I can’t fathom it.

You are correct and we all do supplement for our kids understanding that you cannot expect a school to be perfect or have what your child is interested in. However, teaching leftist ideas instead of teaching fundamentals and critical thought and allowing kids to create art or do projects on subjects that are not about the black experience exclusively. Im shocked the science fair project does not have some political theme. How can you scream diversity - yet only lift up one race - there was NOTHING during Hispanic Heritage month, they only care about BLM and LGBTQ++++ - imagine being a black kid and not learning about ALL history imagine being reminded everyday of how you fall short and how oppressed you are - they are seriously not fostering a "magical" experience - In my humble opinion though, I hope kids tire so much of this rhetoric that they will seek the truth and will learn the reality of these SJ movements- I see a lot of right leaning teens and Im here for that!

SWS parent here who has posted in this thread. The attitude posted above is what scares me, and I'm seeing it more and more from SWS parents who I consider to be generally good people and who I think would consider themselves Democrats. The eye rolling and the questioning of WTF the school is doing. There are serious race and women's and LGBTQ issues to be confronted in our society, and I think we could confront those issues in way that doesn't turn the school into a Republican's dream example of social justice gone off the rails. I honestly would not be surprised if SWS ended up on Fox News the way things are going. And I don't think it's helpful in this cultural moment to do clueless cringey things like "affinity groups" because it just gives ammo to people like PP.

NP & fellow SWS parent. You might have heard complaints from us if you know us and we trust you. We're Democrats, but the recent SWS choices are left of where we fall and we also fear some of this will end up either on FOX or in the next hearing bashing DC govt decision making -- neither of which would help our school. It feels like it's being forced on the community by a small, vocal minority.

It's worth recognizing that the SWS student body has changed from the time when there was proximity preference (that extended years after it was removed due to lingering sibling preference), LT (and some other hill schools) weren't as well regarded as they are today, and the DC lottery wasn't as level a playing field. Overall, that's the goal, but it does mean that comments upthread comparing scores and outcomes from a previous period when the student body was even more UUMC -- and as a result the likelihood might have been higher of a student getting whatever help's necessary from home to quickly make up any lost ground while transitioning to middle school -- isn't an apples-to-apples comparison to today. We've been attracted by the fact that SWS included other initiatives (kindness, reggio, etc) in the past and are in favor of it for the future, but an eye needs to be kept on striking the right balance between those and strong academics to support the best outcome for the current student body. It's still a place where every family there has taken active (lottery & possibly commute) action to support the education of their kids, which does mean the average academic support an SWS student gets at home is higher than some other schools serving boundaries where that doesn't happen for everyone -- so, with that extra support, there's some margin to swap in some social/kindness initiatives over drill and kill academics, but our question is how much and at what cost in terms of questioning from some good people who are not quite as far left in their views.

This makes me wonder if parents these days feel that a public school must perfectly align with their personal degree of political leftness or rightness. I guess the answer is "yes, they do". All along the spectrum. This seems like an untenable expectation in any direction.

[Anonymous]

Funny how a few misguided folks can send us all into a tizzy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why are UMC families so worried about what’s in the school’s library or lack of sports? Have your kids read the classics from your library or the local library’s collection and have them join a sport they love. These ES standards are so low. Why are parents with advanced kids worried about them? The school is fun and magical. Why expect school to be the answer for all of your wants. Want them to learn algebra in 5th grade? I’m sure there is an app for that. And yes Black parents are caring and active everywhere, all over the world, not just at SWS. That’s a platitude that didn’t need saying. I guess with all the black joy koolaid I’ve been drinking, I felt the need to share my admiration for the cohort of parents at SWS. There is also some woman on this thread mad at SWS because ‘Black people are racist too’. So, a group that’s been marginalized and persecuted harbors mistrust of the people who run and benefit from systemic racism. Is anyone surprised? They need their spaces to feel some connectivity and peace—I’m all for it. The bashing of SWS is comical. Thanks to the poster who talked about the CH neighborhood resentment for the school. That makes sense. Also yes, we will leave SWS if it is no longer serving my kids academically or otherwise. Right now, I can’t fathom it.

You are correct and we all do supplement for our kids understanding that you cannot expect a school to be perfect or have what your child is interested in. However, teaching leftist ideas instead of teaching fundamentals and critical thought and allowing kids to create art or do projects on subjects that are not about the black experience exclusively. Im shocked the science fair project does not have some political theme. How can you scream diversity - yet only lift up one race - there was NOTHING during Hispanic Heritage month, they only care about BLM and LGBTQ++++ - imagine being a black kid and not learning about ALL history imagine being reminded everyday of how you fall short and how oppressed you are - they are seriously not fostering a "magical" experience - In my humble opinion though, I hope kids tire so much of this rhetoric that they will seek the truth and will learn the reality of these SJ movements- I see a lot of right leaning teens and Im here for that!

SWS parent here who has posted in this thread. The attitude posted above is what scares me, and I'm seeing it more and more from SWS parents who I consider to be generally good people and who I think would consider themselves Democrats. The eye rolling and the questioning of WTF the school is doing. There are serious race and women's and LGBTQ issues to be confronted in our society, and I think we could confront those issues in way that doesn't turn the school into a Republican's dream example of social justice gone off the rails. I honestly would not be surprised if SWS ended up on Fox News the way things are going. And I don't think it's helpful in this cultural moment to do clueless cringey things like "affinity groups" because it just gives ammo to people like PP.

NP & fellow SWS parent. You might have heard complaints from us if you know us and we trust you. We're Democrats, but the recent SWS choices are left of where we fall and we also fear some of this will end up either on FOX or in the next hearing bashing DC govt decision making -- neither of which would help our school. It feels like it's being forced on the community by a small, vocal minority.

It's worth recognizing that the SWS student body has changed from the time when there was proximity preference (that extended years after it was removed due to lingering sibling preference), LT (and some other hill schools) weren't as well regarded as they are today, and the DC lottery wasn't as level a playing field. Overall, that's the goal, but it does mean that comments upthread comparing scores and outcomes from a previous period when the student body was even more UUMC -- and as a result the likelihood might have been higher of a student getting whatever help's necessary from home to quickly make up any lost ground while transitioning to middle school -- isn't an apples-to-apples comparison to today. We've been attracted by the fact that SWS included other initiatives (kindness, reggio, etc) in the past and are in favor of it for the future, but an eye needs to be kept on striking the right balance between those and strong academics to support the best outcome for the current student body. It's still a place where every family there has taken active (lottery & possibly commute) action to support the education of their kids, which does mean the average academic support an SWS student gets at home is higher than some other schools serving boundaries where that doesn't happen for everyone -- so, with that extra support, there's some margin to swap in some social/kindness initiatives over drill and kill academics, but our question is how much and at what cost in terms of questioning from some good people who are not quite as far left in their views.

This makes me wonder if parents these days feel that a public school must perfectly align with their personal degree of political leftness or rightness. I guess the answer is "yes, they do". All along the spectrum. This seems like an untenable expectation in any direction.

NP. If you read that thoughtful response and came away thinking it was about left/right politics then you are projecting your own garbage.

[Anonymous]

The NP post does seem thoughtful. I’m afraid they might have some facts wrong though. We attended when the school was predominantly white. It sounds like that may have changed. But nonetheless, the first class of students even to undergo parcc testing are today’s 11th graders, I believe, because sws did not start to expand until those students were in first grade, and parcc does not start until third.

The scores were low then, relative to demographics, and there were all sorts of excuses, mainly related to sws not being big on tech. It sounds like the scores are even worse now, and it is being blamed on racial demographics. Wake up. Every teacher across dc tells the kids that parcc is testing the teachers, not the students. This is in a large part true. The test was designed to test kids in their mastery of the curriculum, and sws kids are falling short because they have not been taught the material. Covid in spring 2020 was a big wake-up call for us, when we saw that our kid had no idea how to even approach the standard dcps material that was being sent home (sws quickly put an end to that and pivoted back to its own “curticulum”).

Sws parents, look around at your friends who go to other schools. How are their test scores? Are the kids happy? Do they have friends? Are they kind? I bet their scores are better and the rest depends more on the parents than the school. Despite the sws hype, you really don’t need to sacrifice rigor to raise happy kids. And the most ambitious kids are going to be happier somewhere where their good work and perseverance is rewarded, which absolutely will just happen at sws. My high-functioning kids basically felt demoralized that their good efforts went unnoticed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why are UMC families so worried about what’s in the school’s library or lack of sports? Have your kids read the classics from your library or the local library’s collection and have them join a sport they love. These ES standards are so low. Why are parents with advanced kids worried about them? The school is fun and magical. Why expect school to be the answer for all of your wants. Want them to learn algebra in 5th grade? I’m sure there is an app for that. And yes Black parents are caring and active everywhere, all over the world, not just at SWS. That’s a platitude that didn’t need saying. I guess with all the black joy koolaid I’ve been drinking, I felt the need to share my admiration for the cohort of parents at SWS. There is also some woman on this thread mad at SWS because ‘Black people are racist too’. So, a group that’s been marginalized and persecuted harbors mistrust of the people who run and benefit from systemic racism. Is anyone surprised? They need their spaces to feel some connectivity and peace—I’m all for it. The bashing of SWS is comical. Thanks to the poster who talked about the CH neighborhood resentment for the school. That makes sense. Also yes, we will leave SWS if it is no longer serving my kids academically or otherwise. Right now, I can’t fathom it.

You are correct and we all do supplement for our kids understanding that you cannot expect a school to be perfect or have what your child is interested in. However, teaching leftist ideas instead of teaching fundamentals and critical thought and allowing kids to create art or do projects on subjects that are not about the black experience exclusively. Im shocked the science fair project does not have some political theme. How can you scream diversity - yet only lift up one race - there was NOTHING during Hispanic Heritage month, they only care about BLM and LGBTQ++++ - imagine being a black kid and not learning about ALL history imagine being reminded everyday of how you fall short and how oppressed you are - they are seriously not fostering a "magical" experience - In my humble opinion though, I hope kids tire so much of this rhetoric that they will seek the truth and will learn the reality of these SJ movements- I see a lot of right leaning teens and Im here for that!

SWS parent here who has posted in this thread. The attitude posted above is what scares me, and I'm seeing it more and more from SWS parents who I consider to be generally good people and who I think would consider themselves Democrats. The eye rolling and the questioning of WTF the school is doing. There are serious race and women's and LGBTQ issues to be confronted in our society, and I think we could confront those issues in way that doesn't turn the school into a Republican's dream example of social justice gone off the rails. I honestly would not be surprised if SWS ended up on Fox News the way things are going. And I don't think it's helpful in this cultural moment to do clueless cringey things like "affinity groups" because it just gives ammo to people like PP.

NP & fellow SWS parent. You might have heard complaints from us if you know us and we trust you. We're Democrats, but the recent SWS choices are left of where we fall and we also fear some of this will end up either on FOX or in the next hearing bashing DC govt decision making -- neither of which would help our school. It feels like it's being forced on the community by a small, vocal minority.

It's worth recognizing that the SWS student body has changed from the time when there was proximity preference (that extended years after it was removed due to lingering sibling preference), LT (and some other hill schools) weren't as well regarded as they are today, and the DC lottery wasn't as level a playing field. Overall, that's the goal, but it does mean that comments upthread comparing scores and outcomes from a previous period when the student body was even more UUMC -- and as a result the likelihood might have been higher of a student getting whatever help's necessary from home to quickly make up any lost ground while transitioning to middle school -- isn't an apples-to-apples comparison to today. We've been attracted by the fact that SWS included other initiatives (kindness, reggio, etc) in the past and are in favor of it for the future, but an eye needs to be kept on striking the right balance between those and strong academics to support the best outcome for the current student body. It's still a place where every family there has taken active (lottery & possibly commute) action to support the education of their kids, which does mean the average academic support an SWS student gets at home is higher than some other schools serving boundaries where that doesn't happen for everyone -- so, with that extra support, there's some margin to swap in some social/kindness initiatives over drill and kill academics, but our question is how much and at what cost in terms of questioning from some good people who are not quite as far left in their views.

This makes me wonder if parents these days feel that a public school must perfectly align with their personal degree of political leftness or rightness. I guess the answer is "yes, they do". All along the spectrum. This seems like an untenable expectation in any direction.

NP. If you read that thoughtful response and came away thinking it was about left/right politics then you are projecting your own garbage.

Disagree. Nit my garbage at all. The point is that the thoughful poster felt compelled to include political waypoints at both the beginning and end of their thoughtful post. As if thoughtfulness can’t be done without political context. Very DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The NP post does seem thoughtful. I’m afraid they might have some facts wrong though. We attended when the school was predominantly white. It sounds like that may have changed. But nonetheless, the first class of students even to undergo parcc testing are today’s 11th graders, I believe, because sws did not start to expand until those students were in first grade, and parcc does not start until third.

The scores were low then, relative to demographics, and there were all sorts of excuses, mainly related to sws not being big on tech. It sounds like the scores are even worse now, and it is being blamed on racial demographics. Wake up. Every teacher across dc tells the kids that parcc is testing the teachers, not the students. This is in a large part true. The test was designed to test kids in their mastery of the curriculum, and sws kids are falling short because they have not been taught the material. Covid in spring 2020 was a big wake-up call for us, when we saw that our kid had no idea how to even approach the standard dcps material that was being sent home (sws quickly put an end to that and pivoted back to its own “curticulum”).

Sws parents, look around at your friends who go to other schools. How are their test scores? Are the kids happy? Do they have friends? Are they kind? I bet their scores are better and the rest depends more on the parents than the school. Despite the sws hype, you really don’t need to sacrifice rigor to raise happy kids. And the most ambitious kids are going to be happier somewhere where their good work and perseverance is rewarded, which absolutely will just happen at sws. My high-functioning kids basically felt demoralized that their good efforts went unnoticed.

There is this inherent assumption that SWS parents are Hill parents which is less and less true over time. About half my kid's current group of upper elementary friends do not live on Capitol Hill. SWS PARCC exceeds our in bounds school where the majority - something like 80 percent or more - of kids test below grade level. We were grateful to lottery in.

I have never heard anything at SWS downplaying testing. I feel like that is a soundbyte from years ago that gets repeatedly rehashed on DCUM, but literally never experienced anything like that personally and my kid's teachers always discussed their test results, though our kid does well and tests above grade level. Sure, I'd feel differently if my kid didn't perform well and I didn't feel it was being addressed. My kid has a couple friends whose parents mentioned the school providing extra help when their kid underperformed on testing, and that the extra help worked by the time the test was performed again.

I also repeatedly see false or outdated assertions that SWS doesn't assign homework. My kid gets homework (since first or 2nd grade).

SWS lost more ground than other schools on PARCC during the pandemic sh*tshow of virtual learning. SWS also underperforms on PARCC vs LT among minority groups as has been posted repeatedly before in other threads (actually just ELA? Am I reading results correctly that SWS outperforms LT on math?). There is one poster who always calls out this specific comparison. SWS also went through changes recently with a one year off site during the pandemic which (and, it seemed, more leaving/new students coming into upper grades than usual) so I don't know what to make of test scores until we see how kids do on the PARCC this year. A good chunk of my upper elementary kid's class was new to the school within the past couple of years.

Also, yes I like SWS' focus on kindness. In this world of school shootings (and I know someone personally impacted by one), and as someone who was bullied horribly, this matters to me. Some of my kid's friends who lotteried in later elementary grades spoke of bullying that was already starting by mid elementary in their in bounds school where parents were doing anything, including paying for private, to get out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For me, SWS has crossed into being weirdly obsessed with race. Every book is about Black people. Every art project is about Black people. Every field trip is about Black people. The children spend an inordinate amount of time on a yearly project called "Black Joy." The mother's day art clay mugs created by the children weirdly had Black singers drawn onto the back of them. SWS is sorting parents into racial affinity groups. The principal sends emails talking about how he's "a white man" and needs to focus on the school's "Black caregivers" and "Black and Brown students."

The number one thing the school could be doing to support Black students is ensuring that they are well prepared for middle school. Yet the PARCC scores over the past 10 years have steadily declined, as SWS's singular focus on race has increased.

It is kind of making me wonder whether it’s easier to hide a mediocre education behind all of this. If you question the falling PARCC scores, you’re now also a racist. Convenient.

As an UMC black parent of high-performing boys, I just have to screen all this stuff out. It used to infuriate me that folks would see my kids as objects of pity and hold them to lower expectations. And my kids most certainly don’t need a curricular approach that is specially “culturally relevant” to them (we can do that thru home/family/church, etc). What they really need is broad exposure to things that are not tied up in any one particular identity.

Then I realized that I just can’t fight these battles…there is always something. Now, I just take from the school what it does well and take care of the rest at home (which, in the end, is much more consequential).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why are UMC families so worried about what’s in the school’s library or lack of sports? Have your kids read the classics from your library or the local library’s collection and have them join a sport they love. These ES standards are so low. Why are parents with advanced kids worried about them? The school is fun and magical. Why expect school to be the answer for all of your wants. Want them to learn algebra in 5th grade? I’m sure there is an app for that. And yes Black parents are caring and active everywhere, all over the world, not just at SWS. That’s a platitude that didn’t need saying. I guess with all the black joy koolaid I’ve been drinking, I felt the need to share my admiration for the cohort of parents at SWS. There is also some woman on this thread mad at SWS because ‘Black people are racist too’. So, a group that’s been marginalized and persecuted harbors mistrust of the people who run and benefit from systemic racism. Is anyone surprised? They need their spaces to feel some connectivity and peace—I’m all for it. The bashing of SWS is comical. Thanks to the poster who talked about the CH neighborhood resentment for the school. That makes sense. Also yes, we will leave SWS if it is no longer serving my kids academically or otherwise. Right now, I can’t fathom it.

You are correct and we all do supplement for our kids understanding that you cannot expect a school to be perfect or have what your child is interested in. However, teaching leftist ideas instead of teaching fundamentals and critical thought and allowing kids to create art or do projects on subjects that are not about the black experience exclusively. Im shocked the science fair project does not have some political theme. How can you scream diversity - yet only lift up one race - there was NOTHING during Hispanic Heritage month, they only care about BLM and LGBTQ++++ - imagine being a black kid and not learning about ALL history imagine being reminded everyday of how you fall short and how oppressed you are - they are seriously not fostering a "magical" experience - In my humble opinion though, I hope kids tire so much of this rhetoric that they will seek the truth and will learn the reality of these SJ movements- I see a lot of right leaning teens and Im here for that!

SWS parent here who has posted in this thread. The attitude posted above is what scares me, and I'm seeing it more and more from SWS parents who I consider to be generally good people and who I think would consider themselves Democrats. The eye rolling and the questioning of WTF the school is doing. There are serious race and women's and LGBTQ issues to be confronted in our society, and I think we could confront those issues in way that doesn't turn the school into a Republican's dream example of social justice gone off the rails. I honestly would not be surprised if SWS ended up on Fox News the way things are going. And I don't think it's helpful in this cultural moment to do clueless cringey things like "affinity groups" because it just gives ammo to people like PP.

Yes - and it’s black folks like me that will pay the price for the unchecked leftism (and I’m pretty far left myself). “Right-minded” white folks get to virtue signal and make themselves feel good, but my black boys will be the ones getting resented (and possibly endangered) by “fed up” white folks (and many non-blacks, frankly) even though we didn’t ask for any of it!! A hopeless and terribly demoralizing situation. Makes you (almost) hate the world. We don’t need this sh*t.

[Anonymous]

My kids go to a school where they emphasize kindness and acceptance but they also really worry about good parcc scores. It’s not mutually exclusive.