So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?

[Anonymous]

Mom of the 2.5 year old, here. I agree that it isn't crucial for me to know now or even in the next year or two, for middle school is far away. But I plan to send my child to Hyde and in an ideal world, we'd go to Hardy as well. Even more than IB numbers, though, I will be watching the the scores. I (admitedly selfishly) hope that neigborhood families give the school a chance ... not because I give a crap about what color kids my child goes to school with but because of the sad reality that the more wealthy (and usually, the better educated) the parents (though yes, wealth and education do not always correlate), the more likely their offspring will be able to read and write at or above grade level. Not proud that I feel this way, but I'm sure many others do - and I don't fault them for it.

[Anonymous]

And I should add, I bought six months ago ... so I kind of am blindly gambling on Hardy improving - which, I know, it may not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When is this information going to be publicly released? I don't have any nefarious reasons for wanting to know. I am inbounds, have a 2.5 year old, and am interested in the school's trajectory.

You still have a little time so don't panic if they're not out this week.

If your child is so young, do you really have a need to know?

People make decisons, including real estate decisions, all the time. I don't think there's any rush to get the numbers out, but it seems silly to wonder why people would like to see them. Many people believe that establishing a network of desirable, neighborhood serving middle schools is important to the future of DC, and Hardy seems to be the test case for whether this can happen beyond Deal. While many people do not see establishing such a network as important, or even desirable, it clearly does speak to important questions about the district's future.

I think the honest answer is like many investments, past performance does not guarantee future performance. The school has changed a lot in the last 5 years it is hard to know where it will be in the next 10, one hopes it will be a high-flyer, but I can see some senarios where it is not.

And by the time a toddler is even close to thinking about middle school, a lot will have changed one way or another -- Hardy, the pp's family circumstances, the Georgetown neighborhood. Unless one is buying a house in the next week, I think one can relax a bit and wait to get more information - at least six months but I'd hazard a guess that you could wait, say, even two years.

If it takes DCPS two years to provide this data, I would say that suggests other problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom of the 2.5 year old, here. I agree that it isn't crucial for me to know now or even in the next year or two, for middle school is far away. But I plan to send my child to Hyde and in an ideal world, we'd go to Hardy as well. Even more than IB numbers, though, I will be watching the the scores. I (admitedly selfishly) hope that neigborhood families give the school a chance ... not because I give a crap about what color kids my child goes to school with but because of the sad reality that the more wealthy (and usually, the better educated) the parents (though yes, wealth and education do not always correlate), the more likely their offspring will be able to read and write at or above grade level. Not proud that I feel this way, but I'm sure many others do - and I don't fault them for it.

Pp here. We sent our kid to Hyde and loved it! That was quite a few years ago so I can't tell you anything about the school now. But back then it was like a family -- everyone on the staff knew our kid -- and there were kids from all over the city and all over the world. Our kid went on to Hardy as well and, while it wasn't perfect, it worked well enough for her. I honestly don't remember her having classmates that couldn't read on grade level but then it's not like I was in class with her every day. I just don't remember that being an issue.

Anyway, I hope things work out for you and that by the time your child is ready to go to middle school that Hardy will be what you want it to be. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom of the 2.5 year old, here. I agree that it isn't crucial for me to know now or even in the next year or two, for middle school is far away. But I plan to send my child to Hyde and in an ideal world, we'd go to Hardy as well. Even more than IB numbers, though, I will be watching the the scores. I (admitedly selfishly) hope that neigborhood families give the school a chance ... not because I give a crap about what color kids my child goes to school with but because of the sad reality that the more wealthy (and usually, the better educated) the parents (though yes, wealth and education do not always correlate), the more likely their offspring will be able to read and write at or above grade level. Not proud that I feel this way, but I'm sure many others do - and I don't fault them for it.

Nothing to be ashamed about wanting your kids to be in school with a majority of kids who are on grade level.

What doesn't make any sense is for parents to expect this to "happen" without sending their kids on grade level to the school.

[Anonymous]

As tired as I get of some of the ignorant assertions some DCUMers make about Hardy, I think that all this gnashing of teeth and agonizing is a sign that the school is going to change. People who are in-boundaries no longer just ignore it. They find themselves considering it and then most likely rejecting it but it really bugs them that it's not yet changed to their satisfaction. Whereas in the past, it wouldn't even have been on their radar.

Only a matter of time now.

[Anonymous]

Seems to me that if the Hardy administration wants to attract lots more in boundaries families, they should have a concerted initiative to look at high performing public middle schools in the area (Deal, Pyle, etc) with an eye toward course and extracurricular activities that meet, and exceed, what's offered at those schools (bearing in mind Hardy's capacity is smaller). They need to lean on the mayor and the head of DPR not to renew the Maret agreement at Jelleff, so that Hardy in the future can make Jelleff its "home field" -- giving it outdoor facilities that are competitive with anything in NW at the middle school level. They need to prepare a realistic budget for what additional expenditures are needed to get the school to where they want in 2 years and 5 years, and tell the chancellor and DME that that is what it will take to diversify Hardy with much higher IB enrollment. And during that time, they need to sell, sell, sell in the community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems to me that if the Hardy administration wants to attract lots more in boundaries families, they should have a concerted initiative to look at high performing public middle schools in the area (Deal, Pyle, etc) with an eye toward course and extracurricular activities that meet, and exceed, what's offered at those schools (bearing in mind Hardy's capacity is smaller). They need to lean on the mayor and the head of DPR not to renew the Maret agreement at Jelleff, so that Hardy in the future can make Jelleff its "home field" -- giving it outdoor facilities that are competitive with anything in NW at the middle school level. They need to prepare a realistic budget for what additional expenditures are needed to get the school to where they want in 2 years and 5 years, and tell the chancellor and DME that that is what it will take to diversify Hardy with much higher IB enrollment. And during that time, they need to sell, sell, sell in the community.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems to me that if the Hardy administration wants to attract lots more in boundaries families, they should have a concerted initiative to look at high performing public middle schools in the area (Deal, Pyle, etc) with an eye toward course and extracurricular activities that meet, and exceed, what's offered at those schools (bearing in mind Hardy's capacity is smaller). They need to lean on the mayor and the head of DPR not to renew the Maret agreement at Jelleff, so that Hardy in the future can make Jelleff its "home field" -- giving it outdoor facilities that are competitive with anything in NW at the middle school level. They need to prepare a realistic budget for what additional expenditures are needed to get the school to where they want in 2 years and 5 years, and tell the chancellor and DME that that is what it will take to diversify Hardy with much higher IB enrollment. And during that time, they need to sell, sell, sell in the community.

+1

They are doing many of those things already. So far, the problem is that many in the community are not buying. But maybe it will take more than a year of consistent leadership from Principal Pride to get over the hump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems to me that if the Hardy administration wants to attract lots more in boundaries families, they should have a concerted initiative to look at high performing public middle schools in the area (Deal, Pyle, etc) with an eye toward course and extracurricular activities that meet, and exceed, what's offered at those schools (bearing in mind Hardy's capacity is smaller). They need to lean on the mayor and the head of DPR not to renew the Maret agreement at Jelleff, so that Hardy in the future can make Jelleff its "home field" -- giving it outdoor facilities that are competitive with anything in NW at the middle school level. They need to prepare a realistic budget for what additional expenditures are needed to get the school to where they want in 2 years and 5 years, and tell the chancellor and DME that that is what it will take to diversify Hardy with much higher IB enrollment. And during that time, they need to sell, sell, sell in the community.

+1

They are doing many of those things already. So far, the problem is that many in the community are not buying. But maybe it will take more than a year of consistent leadership from Principal Pride to get over the hump.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems to me that if the Hardy administration wants to attract lots more in boundaries families, they should have a concerted initiative to look at high performing public middle schools in the area (Deal, Pyle, etc) with an eye toward course and extracurricular activities that meet, and exceed, what's offered at those schools (bearing in mind Hardy's capacity is smaller). [b]They need to lean on the mayor and the head of DPR not to renew the Maret agreement at Jelleff, so that Hardy in the future can make Jelleff its "home field" -- giving it outdoor facilities that are competitive with anything in NW at the middle school level. They need to prepare a realistic budget for what additional expenditures are needed to get the school to where they want in 2 years and 5 years, and tell the chancellor and DME that that is what it will take to diversify Hardy with much higher IB enrollment. And during that time, they need to sell, sell, sell in the community.

+1000 to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems to me that if the Hardy administration wants to attract lots more in boundaries families, they should have a concerted initiative to look at high performing public middle schools in the area (Deal, Pyle, etc) with an eye toward course and extracurricular activities that meet, and exceed, what's offered at those schools (bearing in mind Hardy's capacity is smaller). They need to lean on the mayor and the head of DPR not to renew the Maret agreement at Jelleff, so that Hardy in the future can make Jelleff its "home field" -- giving it outdoor facilities that are competitive with anything in NW at the middle school level. They need to prepare a realistic budget for what additional expenditures are needed to get the school to where they want in 2 years and 5 years, and tell the chancellor and DME that that is what it will take to diversify Hardy with much higher IB enrollment. And during that time, they need to sell, sell, sell in the community.

+1

They are doing many of those things already. So far, the problem is that many in the community are not buying. But maybe it will take more than a year of consistent leadership from Principal Pride to get over the hump.

+1

Marketing 101 says that if the dogs don't like the dog food, it's usually not the fault of the dogs. It's time to change the recipe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems to me that if the Hardy administration wants to attract lots more in boundaries families, they should have a concerted initiative to look at high performing public middle schools in the area (Deal, Pyle, etc) with an eye toward course and extracurricular activities that meet, and exceed, what's offered at those schools (bearing in mind Hardy's capacity is smaller). They need to lean on the mayor and the head of DPR not to renew the Maret agreement at Jelleff, so that Hardy in the future can make Jelleff its "home field" -- giving it outdoor facilities that are competitive with anything in NW at the middle school level. They need to prepare a realistic budget for what additional expenditures are needed to get the school to where they want in 2 years and 5 years, and tell the chancellor and DME that that is what it will take to diversify Hardy with much higher IB enrollment. And during that time, they need to sell, sell, sell in the community.

+1

They are doing many of those things already. So far, the problem is that many in the community are not buying. But maybe it will take more than a year of consistent leadership from Principal Pride to get over the hump.

+1

Marketing 101 says that if the dogs don't like the dog food, it's usually not the fault of the dogs. It's time to change the recipe.

marketing 102 though, notes that sometimes there are critical mass effects. having an internet connection wasn't worth much till there was more on the internet, and more people to email. Having a phone that can send texts isnt worth much till there are lots of people with phones that can receive your texts. owning a condo in an old industrial area on a watefront can improve in value when enough people move in next door that you dont find it spooky, and even more when there are enough to support a super market.

Thus there are early adopters, and late adopters. pioneers, and those who buy at the end. I would think affluent people in DC of all places would realize that - though I suppose some parts of upper north west have always been "good" and ones that gentrified, like Georgetown, did so when most DCUMers were not yet born.

Sounds like the early adopters are already at Hardy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems to me that if the Hardy administration wants to attract lots more in boundaries families, they should have a concerted initiative to look at high performing public middle schools in the area (Deal, Pyle, etc) with an eye toward course and extracurricular activities that meet, and exceed, what's offered at those schools (bearing in mind Hardy's capacity is smaller). They need to lean on the mayor and the head of DPR not to renew the Maret agreement at Jelleff, so that Hardy in the future can make Jelleff its "home field" -- giving it outdoor facilities that are competitive with anything in NW at the middle school level. They need to prepare a realistic budget for what additional expenditures are needed to get the school to where they want in 2 years and 5 years, and tell the chancellor and DME that that is what it will take to diversify Hardy with much higher IB enrollment. And during that time, they need to sell, sell, sell in the community.

+1

They are doing many of those things already. So far, the problem is that many in the community are not buying. But maybe it will take more than a year of consistent leadership from Principal Pride to get over the hump.

+1

Marketing 101 says that if the dogs don't like the dog food, it's usually not the fault of the dogs. It's time to change the recipe.

marketing 102 though, notes that sometimes there are critical mass effects. having an internet connection wasn't worth much till there was more on the internet, and more people to email. Having a phone that can send texts isnt worth much till there are lots of people with phones that can receive your texts. owning a condo in an old industrial area on a watefront can improve in value when enough people move in next door that you dont find it spooky, and even more when there are enough to support a super market.

Thus there are early adopters, and late adopters. pioneers, and those who buy at the end. I would think affluent people in DC of all places would realize that - though I suppose some parts of upper north west have always been "good" and ones that gentrified, like Georgetown, did so when most DCUMers were not yet born.

Sounds like the early adopters are already at Hardy.

To use your network effects theme, I would say that a significant number of potential users are waiting to see additional and enhanced content before subscribing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As tired as I get of some of the ignorant assertions some DCUMers make about Hardy, I think that all this gnashing of teeth and agonizing is a sign that the school is going to change. People who are in-boundaries no longer just ignore it. They find themselves considering it and then most likely rejecting it but it really bugs them that it's not yet changed to their satisfaction. Whereas in the past, it wouldn't even have been on their radar.

Only a matter of time now.

+100