New Jackson-Reed HS (Wilson HS) School Principal - Sah Brown from Eastern High School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

So, let me get this right. You walked into this man’s office with your white hood on, took it off, handed it to him and asked him to put it on. He rebuffed your offer and you decided you didn’t like him. Eastern HS kids test poorly due to various reasons (poverty, trauma, inequality, etc). He does not have to explain any of that to you. Your child could have obtained a good education there, but your classism and racism prevented you from entertaining the thought of your child in that school.

ha ha, normally I dislike this kind of invective, but seems to hit the mark.

PP who talked to Brown. My spouse and I are people of color who come from working-class backgrounds. We attended college on full Pell Grants.

We wouldn't have bothered going to Eastern to speak to Brown if we hadn't been trying to keep an open mind. What are you posters slamming us celebrating? Brown's able leadership at Eastern?

You’re here personally attacking him because you disliked one conversation you had, when you had a completely uniformed perspective on what he could offer you. You’re here accusing him basically of lying, when you were the one who went into that conversation totally uniformed and entitled. It would take like 5 minutes of research to understand the deal at Eastern. Come back when you have an informed opinion about how he administered the school he actually led, not how he did or did not cater to your personal hopes and dreams.

You don't know any of this. PP may have gone in with an reasonably informed "perspective." The reality is that stats on DCPS IBD programs are difficult to come by. I had a similar experience recently trying to get stats at Banneker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

So, let me get this right. You walked into this man’s office with your white hood on, took it off, handed it to him and asked him to put it on. He rebuffed your offer and you decided you didn’t like him. Eastern HS kids test poorly due to various reasons (poverty, trauma, inequality, etc). He does not have to explain any of that to you. Your child could have obtained a good education there, but your classism and racism prevented you from entertaining the thought of your child in that school.

ha ha, normally I dislike this kind of invective, but seems to hit the mark.

PP who talked to Brown. My spouse and I are people of color who come from working-class backgrounds. We attended college on full Pell Grants.

We wouldn't have bothered going to Eastern to speak to Brown if we hadn't been trying to keep an open mind. What are you posters slamming us celebrating? Brown's able leadership at Eastern?

I agree with you. I work for a neighborhood organization and Principal Sah asked for a meeting with us. He said he was interested in attracting more in-boundariy students but he was clueless how to do it. He shot down any ideas that were brought up and acted like in-boundary students should attend just because. It was a weird meeting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

basically you were trying to publicly make him admit his school was bad?

dp: Shouldn’t these facts be available to families? Or is the principal’s vanity more important?

the facts are available. it sounds like they were putting the principal through some kind of public struggle session, and are now coming here to personally bash him because they did not feel properly deferred to. and you wonder WHY principals on the Hill have to develop coping mechanisms to deal with entitled Hill parents!?

I’m not sure Hill parents are entitled so much as desperate. Their only certain HS is subpar academically.

Subpar academically is a euphemism for Eastern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

Ugh. You’re embarrassing. Entitled rich people. As if you are the biggest asset to grace the school with your presence. I’m unimpressed with your post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

So, let me get this right. You walked into this man’s office with your white hood on, took it off, handed it to him and asked him to put it on. He rebuffed your offer and you decided you didn’t like him. Eastern HS kids test poorly due to various reasons (poverty, trauma, inequality, etc). He does not have to explain any of that to you. Your child could have obtained a good education there, but your classism and racism prevented you from entertaining the thought of your child in that school.

ha ha, normally I dislike this kind of invective, but seems to hit the mark.

PP who talked to Brown. My spouse and I are people of color who come from working-class backgrounds. We attended college on full Pell Grants.

We wouldn't have bothered going to Eastern to speak to Brown if we hadn't been trying to keep an open mind. What are you posters slamming us celebrating? Brown's able leadership at Eastern?

I agree with you. I work for a neighborhood organization and Principal Sah asked for a meeting with us. He said he was interested in attracting more in-boundariy students but he was clueless how to do it. He shot down any ideas that were brought up and acted like in-boundary students should attend just because. It was a weird meeting

So basically it’s the same prisoners dilemma that none of us know how to break out of. If Hill parents send their kids to Eastern then the IB diploma rates would be much better. The advanced program everyone claims to want is literally there. All they have to do is send their kids. He’s not wrong. Parents need to organize themselves to send their kids en masse - this is a parent problem.

[Anonymous]

Eastern is a sub-par school and that is not good for anyone.
He keeps touting the Biomed academy but the main teacher is meh.
They act like they have an EMT program but they were never able to get it certified.
He will probably be able to keep Wilson running but I wouldn’t expect much else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

basically you were trying to publicly make him admit his school was bad?

Sounds like PP was politely asking for basic information about Eastern's IB Diploma program. She couldn't get it from the school's semi competent senior admin.

I'm not optimistic about Brown either.

This. As a parent with a child who will likely attend JR next year, I would have liked to see a Principal with success leading a higher performing school. There is a vast difference between the performance and expectations for a high performing school with a good chunk of MC and UMC families vs. a low performing school with primarily LC and LMC families who aren't as informed and view teachers and administrators as authority figures.

Making false allegations of racism because a parent didn't want to send her UMC child to Eastern doesn't help anyone and only polarizes people. You're not going to shame UMC families into expecting less for our children and it doesn't help any child to set the bar so low at any school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

So, let me get this right. You walked into this man’s office with your white hood on, took it off, handed it to him and asked him to put it on. He rebuffed your offer and you decided you didn’t like him. Eastern HS kids test poorly due to various reasons (poverty, trauma, inequality, etc). He does not have to explain any of that to you. Your child could have obtained a good education there, but your classism and racism prevented you from entertaining the thought of your child in that school.

ha ha, normally I dislike this kind of invective, but seems to hit the mark.

PP who talked to Brown. My spouse and I are people of color who come from working-class backgrounds. We attended college on full Pell Grants.

We wouldn't have bothered going to Eastern to speak to Brown if we hadn't been trying to keep an open mind. What are you posters slamming us celebrating? Brown's able leadership at Eastern?

I agree with you. I work for a neighborhood organization and Principal Sah asked for a meeting with us. He said he was interested in attracting more in-boundariy students but he was clueless how to do it. He shot down any ideas that were brought up and acted like in-boundary students should attend just because. It was a weird meeting

I had a similar experience in asking him questions after a presentation he gave on Eastern at an ANC 6D meeting before the pandemic.

PP's questioning this appointment are on the mark. We have reason to wonder if this principal has his head around 21st century Ward 6 demographics let alone those of Ward 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

So, let me get this right. You walked into this man’s office with your white hood on, took it off, handed it to him and asked him to put it on. He rebuffed your offer and you decided you didn’t like him. Eastern HS kids test poorly due to various reasons (poverty, trauma, inequality, etc). He does not have to explain any of that to you. Your child could have obtained a good education there, but your classism and racism prevented you from entertaining the thought of your child in that school.

In the last year pre-covid, the majority of Eastern students were chronically truant. They were not in school. It's really hard to learn the material when you're not in school. Also, the vast majority of in boundary kids choose not to go there. These are not mostly rich white kids. You actually can't obtain a good education anywhere, and a school with abysmal tests scores, high truancy, and where most kids opt not to go there is exactly the school where you can't.

I think your summary is accurate. What I love is DCUM somehow believing that the Principal is responsible for those systemic and societal failures. If only he concentrated on the IB program all those truant, food insecure and years-behind grade level students would be transformed!

DCPS, and thus the principal, is responsible. Kids should not get to hs years behind. DCPS has been resorting for years to gimmicks to make itself snd schools look good on paper, hiding problems (and kids) under the rug. Kids who do well do well, kids who do not well they fudge the numbers and send the kids ahead and then give them a fake diploma. So you remember the Ballou scandal, all the fanfare about the 100% class graduating snd going to college? Then it came out that kids had graduated with 4 month of absences and teachers admitted that some graduating kids were actually illiterate, unable to read and write. But the former chancellor Henderson patted herself on her back for the “success” in improving kids’ education snd went off to a $$$$$$ job in some billionaire’s foundation, all in the back of the kids who were now illiterate adults.

And the principal is not serving thr community. The prior poster may be a high Ses white person gentrifying the area but she was IB for thr school. My kid is at JR and her best friend is a Black kid who is IB for Eastern. Washingtonian for generations, working class-lower middle class family, kid travels every morning to JR where she got a spot as OOB. So a middle class AA kid deeply rooted in the community was also not served by her IB school.

My concern is that DCPS does not care about kids, needs to show improvements in education of disadvantage kids and resort to tricks to make look as if their education is improving when it is not. We have been a JR-Wilson for three years and saw that even in s high performing school: basic classes called “honor” (my kid totally sucks at math-science, really does not understand it, and suddenly at Wilson’s “honor” classes she was a stellar student), AP classes canceled because not enough disadvantage students had signed up (AP World History in sophomore year), attempt to make all English classes AP last year (“AP for all”) because again not enough disadvantage students had signed up for AP classes so the trick was to cancel the regular class snd put all the students in the AP English class. Clearly school under principal Martin (same person who signed the news release about the new principal) could not care less to explain how kids below grade level in English (and there are at JR) would fare in an AP class. The project was scrapped by dcps eventually but the fact that it was thought in the first place tells you everything. The poster above seems to suggest that the new principal is in the same dcps mold, paper over the problem and promote a program that does not work as one that work and that’s it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

So, let me get this right. You walked into this man’s office with your white hood on, took it off, handed it to him and asked him to put it on. He rebuffed your offer and you decided you didn’t like him. Eastern HS kids test poorly due to various reasons (poverty, trauma, inequality, etc). He does not have to explain any of that to you. Your child could have obtained a good education there, but your classism and racism prevented you from entertaining the thought of your child in that school.

ha ha, normally I dislike this kind of invective, but seems to hit the mark.

PP who talked to Brown. My spouse and I are people of color who come from working-class backgrounds. We attended college on full Pell Grants.

We wouldn't have bothered going to Eastern to speak to Brown if we hadn't been trying to keep an open mind. What are you posters slamming us celebrating? Brown's able leadership at Eastern?

I agree with you. I work for a neighborhood organization and Principal Sah asked for a meeting with us. He said he was interested in attracting more in-boundariy students but he was clueless how to do it. He shot down any ideas that were brought up and acted like in-boundary students should attend just because. It was a weird meeting

So basically it’s the same prisoners dilemma that none of us know how to break out of. If Hill parents send their kids to Eastern then the IB diploma rates would be much better. The advanced program everyone claims to want is literally there. All they have to do is send their kids. He’s not wrong. Parents need to organize themselves to send their kids en masse - this is a parent problem.

Absurd argument. CH public school parents with MS age children are in no position to organize themselves to send their kids to any public HS en masse.

No secret that around five years worth of robust parent pacts to send kids from Maury to Eliot-Hine, and Brent to Jefferson Academy for middle school haven't yielded good results. Ward 6 parents who can't afford private school are busy people who need MS and HS academic rigor if they're not going to move. So they head to BASIS, Latin and a few other charters. This is a no-brainer that Brown doesn't seem to get.

Worried about this appointment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

basically you were trying to publicly make him admit his school was bad?

Sounds like PP was politely asking for basic information about Eastern's IB Diploma program. She couldn't get it from the school's semi competent senior admin.

I'm not optimistic about Brown either.

This. As a parent with a child who will likely attend JR next year, I would have liked to see a Principal with success leading a higher performing school. There is a vast difference between the performance and expectations for a high performing school with a good chunk of MC and UMC families vs. a low performing school with primarily LC and LMC families who aren't as informed and view teachers and administrators as authority figures.

Making false allegations of racism because a parent didn't want to send her UMC child to Eastern doesn't help anyone and only polarizes people. You're not going to shame UMC families into expecting less for our children and it doesn't help any child to set the bar so low at any school.

+100. THIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

Ugh. You’re embarrassing. Entitled rich people. As if you are the biggest asset to grace the school with your presence. I’m unimpressed with your post.

Your assumption, PP. not that of the parents of color who met with Brown at Eastern. Please grow up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

So, let me get this right. You walked into this man’s office with your white hood on, took it off, handed it to him and asked him to put it on. He rebuffed your offer and you decided you didn’t like him. Eastern HS kids test poorly due to various reasons (poverty, trauma, inequality, etc). He does not have to explain any of that to you. Your child could have obtained a good education there, but your classism and racism prevented you from entertaining the thought of your child in that school.

ha ha, normally I dislike this kind of invective, but seems to hit the mark.

PP who talked to Brown. My spouse and I are people of color who come from working-class backgrounds. We attended college on full Pell Grants.

We wouldn't have bothered going to Eastern to speak to Brown if we hadn't been trying to keep an open mind. What are you posters slamming us celebrating? Brown's able leadership at Eastern?

I agree with you. I work for a neighborhood organization and Principal Sah asked for a meeting with us. He said he was interested in attracting more in-boundariy students but he was clueless how to do it. He shot down any ideas that were brought up and acted like in-boundary students should attend just because. It was a weird meeting

So basically it’s the same prisoners dilemma that none of us know how to break out of. If Hill parents send their kids to Eastern then the IB diploma rates would be much better. The advanced program everyone claims to want is literally there. All they have to do is send their kids. He’s not wrong. Parents need to organize themselves to send their kids en masse - this is a parent problem.

Absurd argument. CH public school parents with MS age children are in no position to organize themselves to send their kids to any public HS en masse.

No secret that around five years worth of robust parent pacts to send kids from Maury to Eliot-Hine, and Brent to Jefferson Academy for middle school haven't yielded good results. Ward 6 parents who can't afford private school are busy people who need MS and HS academic rigor if they're not going to move. So they head to BASIS, Latin and a few other charters. This is a no-brainer that Brown doesn't seem to get.

Worried about this appointment.

Of course they are in the position to organize themselves. Who else is going to do it? At a certain point you need to take responsibility for yourselves. As I understand it, this kind of deliberate organization is how Brent IB parents began to attend en masse, and something slightly simliar is happening at Elliot-Hine right now. Give that Eastern *has the IB program* it's just delusion to think that a single principal giving juusssst the right amount of coddling to IB parents will be the one thing that makes the change. I'm not saying that Brown is doing a good job or that he couldn't do more -- I don't actually have any basis in facts about that -- but it's absurd to claim that any principal has some kind of magic want to break the prisoner's dilemma. Only Hill parents can do that themselves. If they're too busy and just want to go to Basis -- that's understandable. But don't then claim that it's Brown's fault that IB parents won't attend because he just didn't strike exactly the right note with them one time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

basically you were trying to publicly make him admit his school was bad?

Sounds like PP was politely asking for basic information about Eastern's IB Diploma program. She couldn't get it from the school's semi competent senior admin.

I'm not optimistic about Brown either.

This. As a parent with a child who will likely attend JR next year, I would have liked to see a Principal with success leading a higher performing school. There is a vast difference between the performance and expectations for a high performing school with a good chunk of MC and UMC families vs. a low performing school with primarily LC and LMC families who aren't as informed and view teachers and administrators as authority figures.

Making false allegations of racism because a parent didn't want to send her UMC child to Eastern doesn't help anyone and only polarizes people. You're not going to shame UMC families into expecting less for our children and it doesn't help any child to set the bar so low at any school.

+100. THIS.

I think the bigger point is that PP sounded willfuly naive. Maybe just naive, but the fact that they are here trashing Brown based on this ONE conversation, makes it sound more wilful than not. What did she expect he was going to say about the IB diploma rates? Anyone who spent a few minutes looking at Eastern's profile online could see what the challenges are. A parent with a bona fide interest in Eastern would be asking different questions, asking to talk with teachers and other parents, trying to understand what the experience would be like sending their kid to a school like Eastern as it is now. This all just goes to show that PP's complaints should be taken with a GIANT grain of salt by JR parents, because PP does not seem too perceptive about how DCPS schools work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine a world where a principal was focused on improving the lives of the students they served, rather than “attracting high SES in-boundary families like you”. Get the hell out of here.

Anonymous wrote:That principal?!

We live on Capitol Hill. My spouse and I met with Brown when when we were looking into the IB Diploma program at Eastern for our oldest in early 2020, before the pandemic began.

Brown seemed clueless about what it would take to attract high SES in-boundary families like ours to Eastern, without any real interest in doing so. He claimed that the program offered "real rigor and challenge to all" repeatedly, and wouldn't answer our questions about Eastern's average IBD points totals. He also wouldn't talk about how many of the "full Diploma" students at Eastern actually earn the Diploma.

Later on, we learned that Eastern's average points total has been mired in the mid 20s, on a 24-45 points pass scale, since the program's inception a decade ago. We also learned that most of the Eastern students who try to earn the Diploma have failed since the get go. We left the meeting unimpressed with Brown and Eastern's IBD program and didn't enroll our child.

In-boundary families are the core of the student population that the principal “serves.”

Close, but not quite. The population that the school serves are the kids who walk in the door in the morning. Not some high-SES family who might deign to grace the school with their presence… but only if the principal jumps through some hoops.