Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School - 2024 Edition

[Anonymous]

[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the advice of talking with current parents but I would suggest making sure to talk to parents beyond the J-H/ACPS cheerleaders.

My special needs child had two stints at J-H (last ending in 2020) and J-H allowed my child to be bullied and exacerbated my child’s difficulties. I cannot speak about the current principal from first hand knowledge. Plenty of the concern expressed in posts here about J-H are consistent with our lived experience.

I believe you when you say you had a difficult experience four years ago. The timeline was pre pandemic under the previous principal who was let go for that reason. So your experience is outdated and perhaps if you were there now, the administration would handle it differently. The current principal has been the head of school for four years now. The AP has been there for 6. So while as with all schools with ACPS, there are always parents who didn’t or aren’t having the perfect experience, this is not specific to JH and the point most are making is speak to current and recent parents. And talk to people who are not anonymous. DCUM is truly the worst place to get constructive feedback on school systems, ACPS or otherwise. You need to know who you’re speaking to and whether that opinion is credible in order to make an informed decision about your child’s education.

To the parent who has issues with sending your child to a school that’s 50% FARM, you’re right, ACPS is not for you. It’s good you chose private, I don’t think we would want you in our community looking down on our underserved families.

Again I agree with you about speaking to current parents but the AP you mention was directly responsible for some of the mistreatment my child received (although I take your point on the failures of the previous principal).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an ACPS parent with kids at Brooks. I have friends that send their kids to Jefferson-Houston and friends that teach there. You will hear the same issues in all of ACPS. Frankly, the sad issue is that our city has a concentration of children in high poverty. Brooks has the same thing too, from the public housing. Jefferson-Houston's stats are pretty much the same. I know parents from all different backgrounds who go there and they have the same experience that we have in ACPS. It is really hard to judge on statistics for students whose basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter aren't being met. For what it's worth, three families in Rosemont that I am friends with personally send their kids to Jefferson-Houston over Brooks. There is a lot of turnover with principals in ACPS in general. Focus on the classroom teachers and the school communities. You sound like a person who values people from all different backgrounds. The hardest thing for me is explaining to my elementary aged students why we have so much and other classmates have so little. It is a hard lesson and something they are beginning to understand and see. It is sad to me that ACPS and the city cannot do more to help. Education is the great equalizer. My parents grew up in public housing. My grandparents worked in factories and dropped out in fifth grade. My mom and dad were the first in their family to graduate middle school, let alone HS and college. My mom has her PhD and my dad graduated from law school. In a city like Alexandria, I'd love to see the elected officials and central office staff put their money where their mouths are and invest more in out of school time and our public schools. I agree with the PTA poster to join the JH specific groups and remember that a lot of trolls on this thread only value diversity when it is diverse people from the same upper middle class or wealthy background.

Thank you for speaking up on behalf against the racist people on this site, and on behalf of ACPS parents. Another JH parent here, and I underscore the sentiment in this post. Our school 50-60% underserved populations, 30% middle to upper income. My child learns the world as it because he is in school with the children of our neighborhood. What is so sad about this forum is so many people from outside Alexandria speak so ill of children, CHILDREN, at our schools in ACPS who need us to uplift communities, not bring it down. It's the reason we have all left this site for honest, open, transparent discussion on ACPS and moved to the groups where the discussion is respectful and open.

I appreciate your support for this school. But, please be a bit more polite in your reports to me. I am not sure how you can complain that I "allow" certain posts while simultaneously asking me to "clean up" this thread. If I allow the posts, why would I clean them up? The expectation that I will clean up a thread implies that those posts are, in fact, not allowed. The reason you may be confused about this is that you don't seem to understand that neither I, nor anyone else, is capable of reading every post on this website. As such, I frequently have no idea what has been posted unless someone reports it to me. I appreciate your reporting and bringing inappropriate posts to my attention. The willingness of users to do that is extremely important and is greatly appreciated. However, as I said, I don't really need to be talked down to in the reports.

But you do have a problem with anti-Alexandria trolls, don't you? Nothing brings out trolling and thinly veiled racism than a post about Alexandria and ACPS in particular.

Unless you are privy to Jeff's servers, you have not a clue who is 'troll' or who isn't from Alexandria. I am from Alexandria and I have 3 kids in ACPS. I know all about JH. Claiming that anyone not interested in sending their kid to an unacccredited (or jerry rigged accredited) school, or one with astronomical FARMS rates is racist is simply..... BS. We all want what is best for our child and that includes surrounding my kids with positive influences.[

Poor kids aren't positive influences?

Not if they are borderline illiterate and threatening to "put a cap in yo ass", both of which are reality at JH. I have seen it first hand on the playground there and have heard reports from teachers in the building.

You're conflating behavioral issues with poverty. And you're about over the line on racism with the way you're talking about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the advice of talking with current parents but I would suggest making sure to talk to parents beyond the J-H/ACPS cheerleaders.

My special needs child had two stints at J-H (last ending in 2020) and J-H allowed my child to be bullied and exacerbated my child’s difficulties. I cannot speak about the current principal from first hand knowledge. Plenty of the concern expressed in posts here about J-H are consistent with our lived experience.

I believe you when you say you had a difficult experience four years ago. The timeline was pre pandemic under the previous principal who was let go for that reason. So your experience is outdated and perhaps if you were there now, the administration would handle it differently. The current principal has been the head of school for four years now. The AP has been there for 6. So while as with all schools with ACPS, there are always parents who didn’t or aren’t having the perfect experience, this is not specific to JH and the point most are making is speak to current and recent parents. And talk to people who are not anonymous. DCUM is truly the worst place to get constructive feedback on school systems, ACPS or otherwise. You need to know who you’re speaking to and whether that opinion is credible in order to make an informed decision about your child’s education.

To the parent who has issues with sending your child to a school that’s 50% FARM, you’re right, ACPS is not for you. It’s good you chose private, I don’t think we would want you in our community looking down on our underserved families.

Again I agree with you about speaking to current parents but the AP you mention was directly responsible for some of the mistreatment my child received (although I take your point on the failures of the previous principal).

Yes, I think she’s come a long way in 6 years, and some of her decisions back then from what I understand was a directive from the principal who was let go. But she’s been really great for me at least these last 5 years, responsive calling from the school at 9 at night to follow up on questions, being a huge advocate with district on issues that are beyond the school’s control. I try to give as much grace as I can to our admin and teachers. This is a tough industry to work in. And ACPS particularly doesn’t make it easy on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the advice of talking with current parents but I would suggest making sure to talk to parents beyond the J-H/ACPS cheerleaders.

My special needs child had two stints at J-H (last ending in 2020) and J-H allowed my child to be bullied and exacerbated my child’s difficulties. I cannot speak about the current principal from first hand knowledge. Plenty of the concern expressed in posts here about J-H are consistent with our lived experience.

I believe you when you say you had a difficult experience four years ago. The timeline was pre pandemic under the previous principal who was let go for that reason. So your experience is outdated and perhaps if you were there now, the administration would handle it differently. The current principal has been the head of school for four years now. The AP has been there for 6. So while as with all schools with ACPS, there are always parents who didn’t or aren’t having the perfect experience, this is not specific to JH and the point most are making is speak to current and recent parents. And talk to people who are not anonymous. DCUM is truly the worst place to get constructive feedback on school systems, ACPS or otherwise. You need to know who you’re speaking to and whether that opinion is credible in order to make an informed decision about your child’s education.

To the parent who has issues with sending your child to a school that’s 50% FARM, you’re right, ACPS is not for you. It’s good you chose private, I don’t think we would want you in our community looking down on our underserved families.

Do you really think ACPS is doing a good job? If your DC received a full scholarship to BI, SSSAS, Sidwell, etc. would you keep your child in ACPS (from an adult parent best education perspective)? I have multiple kids in ACPS, and if we were given the opportunity I would absolutely choose it for my non-HS child. (HS child is near graduating and immune to the arrests). If the OP can move somewhere other than their house zoned for JH, I would recommend it for every single FCPS, APS, LCPS school. Staying within ACPS would be a cost-benefit of the finances.
How are families underserved by ACPS and the City? What is not being served to those families? Poverty is horrible. Children in poverty is even more horrible, but exposure of my kids to poverty and juvenile delinquency is not a requirement to raising them. They are not better off because they went to an underperforming school that spent most its resources on a population other than my kids - just look at the absolute mess that TAG has become. ACPS's strategy for equity for all is an unapologetic race to the bottom to equitably fail all students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an ACPS parent with kids at Brooks. I have friends that send their kids to Jefferson-Houston and friends that teach there. You will hear the same issues in all of ACPS. Frankly, the sad issue is that our city has a concentration of children in high poverty. Brooks has the same thing too, from the public housing. Jefferson-Houston's stats are pretty much the same. I know parents from all different backgrounds who go there and they have the same experience that we have in ACPS. It is really hard to judge on statistics for students whose basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter aren't being met. For what it's worth, three families in Rosemont that I am friends with personally send their kids to Jefferson-Houston over Brooks. There is a lot of turnover with principals in ACPS in general. Focus on the classroom teachers and the school communities. You sound like a person who values people from all different backgrounds. The hardest thing for me is explaining to my elementary aged students why we have so much and other classmates have so little. It is a hard lesson and something they are beginning to understand and see. It is sad to me that ACPS and the city cannot do more to help. Education is the great equalizer. My parents grew up in public housing. My grandparents worked in factories and dropped out in fifth grade. My mom and dad were the first in their family to graduate middle school, let alone HS and college. My mom has her PhD and my dad graduated from law school. In a city like Alexandria, I'd love to see the elected officials and central office staff put their money where their mouths are and invest more in out of school time and our public schools. I agree with the PTA poster to join the JH specific groups and remember that a lot of trolls on this thread only value diversity when it is diverse people from the same upper middle class or wealthy background.

Thank you for speaking up on behalf against the racist people on this site, and on behalf of ACPS parents. Another JH parent here, and I underscore the sentiment in this post. Our school 50-60% underserved populations, 30% middle to upper income. My child learns the world as it because he is in school with the children of our neighborhood. What is so sad about this forum is so many people from outside Alexandria speak so ill of children, CHILDREN, at our schools in ACPS who need us to uplift communities, not bring it down. It's the reason we have all left this site for honest, open, transparent discussion on ACPS and moved to the groups where the discussion is respectful and open.

I appreciate your support for this school. But, please be a bit more polite in your reports to me. I am not sure how you can complain that I "allow" certain posts while simultaneously asking me to "clean up" this thread. If I allow the posts, why would I clean them up? The expectation that I will clean up a thread implies that those posts are, in fact, not allowed. The reason you may be confused about this is that you don't seem to understand that neither I, nor anyone else, is capable of reading every post on this website. As such, I frequently have no idea what has been posted unless someone reports it to me. I appreciate your reporting and bringing inappropriate posts to my attention. The willingness of users to do that is extremely important and is greatly appreciated. However, as I said, I don't really need to be talked down to in the reports.

But you do have a problem with anti-Alexandria trolls, don't you? Nothing brings out trolling and thinly veiled racism than a post about Alexandria and ACPS in particular.

Unless you are privy to Jeff's servers, you have not a clue who is 'troll' or who isn't from Alexandria. I am from Alexandria and I have 3 kids in ACPS. I know all about JH. Claiming that anyone not interested in sending their kid to an unacccredited (or jerry rigged accredited) school, or one with astronomical FARMS rates is racist is simply..... BS. We all want what is best for our child and that includes surrounding my kids with positive influences.[

Poor kids aren't positive influences?

Not if they are borderline illiterate and threatening to "put a cap in yo ass", both of which are reality at JH. I have seen it first hand on the playground there and have heard reports from teachers in the building.

You're conflating behavioral issues with poverty. And you're about over the line on racism with the way you're talking about it.

I'm not conflating anything. I'm sharing first hand accounts that apparently upset you enough that you're resorting to name calling. JH will never change so long as it pulls from the neighborhood with the shots fired calls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the advice of talking with current parents but I would suggest making sure to talk to parents beyond the J-H/ACPS cheerleaders.

My special needs child had two stints at J-H (last ending in 2020) and J-H allowed my child to be bullied and exacerbated my child’s difficulties. I cannot speak about the current principal from first hand knowledge. Plenty of the concern expressed in posts here about J-H are consistent with our lived experience.

I believe you when you say you had a difficult experience four years ago. The timeline was pre pandemic under the previous principal who was let go for that reason. So your experience is outdated and perhaps if you were there now, the administration would handle it differently. The current principal has been the head of school for four years now. The AP has been there for 6. So while as with all schools with ACPS, there are always parents who didn’t or aren’t having the perfect experience, this is not specific to JH and the point most are making is speak to current and recent parents. And talk to people who are not anonymous. DCUM is truly the worst place to get constructive feedback on school systems, ACPS or otherwise. You need to know who you’re speaking to and whether that opinion is credible in order to make an informed decision about your child’s education.

To the parent who has issues with sending your child to a school that’s 50% FARM, you’re right, ACPS is not for you. It’s good you chose private, I don’t think we would want you in our community looking down on our underserved families.

Again I agree with you about speaking to current parents but the AP you mention was directly responsible for some of the mistreatment my child received (although I take your point on the failures of the previous principal).

Yes, I think she’s come a long way in 6 years, and some of her decisions back then from what I understand was a directive from the principal who was let go. But she’s been really great for me at least these last 5 years, responsive calling from the school at 9 at night to follow up on questions, being a huge advocate with district on issues that are beyond the school’s control. I try to give as much grace as I can to our admin and teachers. This is a tough industry to work in. And ACPS particularly doesn’t make it easy on them.

So basically you're just like the other ACPS parents who say "but my kid never sees any fights. my kid is THRIVING." in response to whenever posters give their negative experiences with ACPS (of which are MANY). It is incredibly dismissive and accomplishes absolutely nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the advice of talking with current parents but I would suggest making sure to talk to parents beyond the J-H/ACPS cheerleaders.

My special needs child had two stints at J-H (last ending in 2020) and J-H allowed my child to be bullied and exacerbated my child’s difficulties. I cannot speak about the current principal from first hand knowledge. Plenty of the concern expressed in posts here about J-H are consistent with our lived experience.

I believe you when you say you had a difficult experience four years ago. The timeline was pre pandemic under the previous principal who was let go for that reason. So your experience is outdated and perhaps if you were there now, the administration would handle it differently. The current principal has been the head of school for four years now. The AP has been there for 6. So while as with all schools with ACPS, there are always parents who didn’t or aren’t having the perfect experience, this is not specific to JH and the point most are making is speak to current and recent parents. And talk to people who are not anonymous. DCUM is truly the worst place to get constructive feedback on school systems, ACPS or otherwise. You need to know who you’re speaking to and whether that opinion is credible in order to make an informed decision about your child’s education.

To the parent who has issues with sending your child to a school that’s 50% FARM, you’re right, ACPS is not for you. It’s good you chose private, I don’t think we would want you in our community looking down on our underserved families.

Again I agree with you about speaking to current parents but the AP you mention was directly responsible for some of the mistreatment my child received (although I take your point on the failures of the previous principal).

Yes, I think she’s come a long way in 6 years, and some of her decisions back then from what I understand was a directive from the principal who was let go. But she’s been really great for me at least these last 5 years, responsive calling from the school at 9 at night to follow up on questions, being a huge advocate with district on issues that are beyond the school’s control. I try to give as much grace as I can to our admin and teachers. This is a tough industry to work in. And ACPS particularly doesn’t make it easy on them.

So basically you're just like the other ACPS parents who say "but my kid never sees any fights. my kid is THRIVING." in response to whenever posters give their negative experiences with ACPS (of which are MANY). It is incredibly dismissive and accomplishes absolutely nothing.

+1.

It's a weird cult that gatekeeps ACPS and the PTAC/PTA. Kids have been literally stabbed to death. Other kids have been caught with guns. Their are massive brawls in ACHS posted all over Instagram. GW is filled with kids as young as 11 and it smells like weed anytime I've had to pick up one of my children. These are facts. And if you bring them up you get called a white supremacist. LOL.

[Anonymous]

Right on que...

https://www.alxnow.com/2024/02/21/alexandria-middle-schoolers-outpace-high-schoolers-in-student-arrests/

[Anonymous]

OP I would caution you against seeking out Alexandria parents for candid opinions on the school. Speaking about ACPS in person puts everyone involved at risk of being considered racist. So you will either get one of three responses: 1) parent with kids in private school but heard the local public school is fantastic, 2) parent with a rising 3rd grader but moving to Fairfax for a reason totally unrelated to schools, 3) parent with kids in a bubble who see none of the problems with the school. Research some recent articles about ACPS and look at the stats for each school. ACHS recently had to end the school year early due to escalating gang violence at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an ACPS parent with kids at Brooks. I have friends that send their kids to Jefferson-Houston and friends that teach there. You will hear the same issues in all of ACPS. Frankly, the sad issue is that our city has a concentration of children in high poverty. Brooks has the same thing too, from the public housing. Jefferson-Houston's stats are pretty much the same. I know parents from all different backgrounds who go there and they have the same experience that we have in ACPS. It is really hard to judge on statistics for students whose basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter aren't being met. For what it's worth, three families in Rosemont that I am friends with personally send their kids to Jefferson-Houston over Brooks. There is a lot of turnover with principals in ACPS in general. Focus on the classroom teachers and the school communities. You sound like a person who values people from all different backgrounds. The hardest thing for me is explaining to my elementary aged students why we have so much and other classmates have so little. It is a hard lesson and something they are beginning to understand and see. It is sad to me that ACPS and the city cannot do more to help. Education is the great equalizer. My parents grew up in public housing. My grandparents worked in factories and dropped out in fifth grade. My mom and dad were the first in their family to graduate middle school, let alone HS and college. My mom has her PhD and my dad graduated from law school. In a city like Alexandria, I'd love to see the elected officials and central office staff put their money where their mouths are and invest more in out of school time and our public schools. I agree with the PTA poster to join the JH specific groups and remember that a lot of trolls on this thread only value diversity when it is diverse people from the same upper middle class or wealthy background.

Thank you for speaking up on behalf against the racist people on this site, and on behalf of ACPS parents. Another JH parent here, and I underscore the sentiment in this post. Our school 50-60% underserved populations, 30% middle to upper income. My child learns the world as it because he is in school with the children of our neighborhood. What is so sad about this forum is so many people from outside Alexandria speak so ill of children, CHILDREN, at our schools in ACPS who need us to uplift communities, not bring it down. It's the reason we have all left this site for honest, open, transparent discussion on ACPS and moved to the groups where the discussion is respectful and open.

I appreciate your support for this school. But, please be a bit more polite in your reports to me. I am not sure how you can complain that I "allow" certain posts while simultaneously asking me to "clean up" this thread. If I allow the posts, why would I clean them up? The expectation that I will clean up a thread implies that those posts are, in fact, not allowed. The reason you may be confused about this is that you don't seem to understand that neither I, nor anyone else, is capable of reading every post on this website. As such, I frequently have no idea what has been posted unless someone reports it to me. I appreciate your reporting and bringing inappropriate posts to my attention. The willingness of users to do that is extremely important and is greatly appreciated. However, as I said, I don't really need to be talked down to in the reports.

But you do have a problem with anti-Alexandria trolls, don't you? Nothing brings out trolling and thinly veiled racism than a post about Alexandria and ACPS in particular.

Unless you are privy to Jeff's servers, you have not a clue who is 'troll' or who isn't from Alexandria. I am from Alexandria and I have 3 kids in ACPS. I know all about JH. Claiming that anyone not interested in sending their kid to an unacccredited (or jerry rigged accredited) school, or one with astronomical FARMS rates is racist is simply..... BS. We all want what is best for our child and that includes surrounding my kids with positive influences.[

Poor kids aren't positive influences?

Not if they are borderline illiterate and threatening to "put a cap in yo ass", both of which are reality at JH. I have seen it first hand on the playground there and have heard reports from teachers in the building.

You're conflating behavioral issues with poverty. And you're about over the line on racism with the way you're talking about it.

I'm not conflating anything. I'm sharing first hand accounts that apparently upset you enough that you're resorting to name calling. JH will never change so long as it pulls from the neighborhood with the shots fired calls.

Let's make this explicit: you're saying that poor black children in neighborhoods with crime shouldn't attend schools with UMC white children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an ACPS parent with kids at Brooks. I have friends that send their kids to Jefferson-Houston and friends that teach there. You will hear the same issues in all of ACPS. Frankly, the sad issue is that our city has a concentration of children in high poverty. Brooks has the same thing too, from the public housing. Jefferson-Houston's stats are pretty much the same. I know parents from all different backgrounds who go there and they have the same experience that we have in ACPS. It is really hard to judge on statistics for students whose basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter aren't being met. For what it's worth, three families in Rosemont that I am friends with personally send their kids to Jefferson-Houston over Brooks. There is a lot of turnover with principals in ACPS in general. Focus on the classroom teachers and the school communities. You sound like a person who values people from all different backgrounds. The hardest thing for me is explaining to my elementary aged students why we have so much and other classmates have so little. It is a hard lesson and something they are beginning to understand and see. It is sad to me that ACPS and the city cannot do more to help. Education is the great equalizer. My parents grew up in public housing. My grandparents worked in factories and dropped out in fifth grade. My mom and dad were the first in their family to graduate middle school, let alone HS and college. My mom has her PhD and my dad graduated from law school. In a city like Alexandria, I'd love to see the elected officials and central office staff put their money where their mouths are and invest more in out of school time and our public schools. I agree with the PTA poster to join the JH specific groups and remember that a lot of trolls on this thread only value diversity when it is diverse people from the same upper middle class or wealthy background.

Thank you for speaking up on behalf against the racist people on this site, and on behalf of ACPS parents. Another JH parent here, and I underscore the sentiment in this post. Our school 50-60% underserved populations, 30% middle to upper income. My child learns the world as it because he is in school with the children of our neighborhood. What is so sad about this forum is so many people from outside Alexandria speak so ill of children, CHILDREN, at our schools in ACPS who need us to uplift communities, not bring it down. It's the reason we have all left this site for honest, open, transparent discussion on ACPS and moved to the groups where the discussion is respectful and open.

I appreciate your support for this school. But, please be a bit more polite in your reports to me. I am not sure how you can complain that I "allow" certain posts while simultaneously asking me to "clean up" this thread. If I allow the posts, why would I clean them up? The expectation that I will clean up a thread implies that those posts are, in fact, not allowed. The reason you may be confused about this is that you don't seem to understand that neither I, nor anyone else, is capable of reading every post on this website. As such, I frequently have no idea what has been posted unless someone reports it to me. I appreciate your reporting and bringing inappropriate posts to my attention. The willingness of users to do that is extremely important and is greatly appreciated. However, as I said, I don't really need to be talked down to in the reports.

But you do have a problem with anti-Alexandria trolls, don't you? Nothing brings out trolling and thinly veiled racism than a post about Alexandria and ACPS in particular.

Unless you are privy to Jeff's servers, you have not a clue who is 'troll' or who isn't from Alexandria. I am from Alexandria and I have 3 kids in ACPS. I know all about JH. Claiming that anyone not interested in sending their kid to an unacccredited (or jerry rigged accredited) school, or one with astronomical FARMS rates is racist is simply..... BS. We all want what is best for our child and that includes surrounding my kids with positive influences.[

Poor kids aren't positive influences?

Not if they are borderline illiterate and threatening to "put a cap in yo ass", both of which are reality at JH. I have seen it first hand on the playground there and have heard reports from teachers in the building.

You're conflating behavioral issues with poverty. And you're about over the line on racism with the way you're talking about it.

I'm not conflating anything. I'm sharing first hand accounts that apparently upset you enough that you're resorting to name calling. JH will never change so long as it pulls from the neighborhood with the shots fired calls.

Let's make this explicit: you're saying that poor black children in neighborhoods with crime shouldn't attend schools with UMC white children.

That's not me you are quoting, but let me take this oppurtinity to be absolutely clear about how completely batsh*t crazy you are to have that takeaway. Than you for letting us all know to disreagrd your posts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an ACPS parent with kids at Brooks. I have friends that send their kids to Jefferson-Houston and friends that teach there. You will hear the same issues in all of ACPS. Frankly, the sad issue is that our city has a concentration of children in high poverty. Brooks has the same thing too, from the public housing. Jefferson-Houston's stats are pretty much the same. I know parents from all different backgrounds who go there and they have the same experience that we have in ACPS. It is really hard to judge on statistics for students whose basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter aren't being met. For what it's worth, three families in Rosemont that I am friends with personally send their kids to Jefferson-Houston over Brooks. There is a lot of turnover with principals in ACPS in general. Focus on the classroom teachers and the school communities. You sound like a person who values people from all different backgrounds. The hardest thing for me is explaining to my elementary aged students why we have so much and other classmates have so little. It is a hard lesson and something they are beginning to understand and see. It is sad to me that ACPS and the city cannot do more to help. Education is the great equalizer. My parents grew up in public housing. My grandparents worked in factories and dropped out in fifth grade. My mom and dad were the first in their family to graduate middle school, let alone HS and college. My mom has her PhD and my dad graduated from law school. In a city like Alexandria, I'd love to see the elected officials and central office staff put their money where their mouths are and invest more in out of school time and our public schools. I agree with the PTA poster to join the JH specific groups and remember that a lot of trolls on this thread only value diversity when it is diverse people from the same upper middle class or wealthy background.

Thank you for speaking up on behalf against the racist people on this site, and on behalf of ACPS parents. Another JH parent here, and I underscore the sentiment in this post. Our school 50-60% underserved populations, 30% middle to upper income. My child learns the world as it because he is in school with the children of our neighborhood. What is so sad about this forum is so many people from outside Alexandria speak so ill of children, CHILDREN, at our schools in ACPS who need us to uplift communities, not bring it down. It's the reason we have all left this site for honest, open, transparent discussion on ACPS and moved to the groups where the discussion is respectful and open.

I appreciate your support for this school. But, please be a bit more polite in your reports to me. I am not sure how you can complain that I "allow" certain posts while simultaneously asking me to "clean up" this thread. If I allow the posts, why would I clean them up? The expectation that I will clean up a thread implies that those posts are, in fact, not allowed. The reason you may be confused about this is that you don't seem to understand that neither I, nor anyone else, is capable of reading every post on this website. As such, I frequently have no idea what has been posted unless someone reports it to me. I appreciate your reporting and bringing inappropriate posts to my attention. The willingness of users to do that is extremely important and is greatly appreciated. However, as I said, I don't really need to be talked down to in the reports.

But you do have a problem with anti-Alexandria trolls, don't you? Nothing brings out trolling and thinly veiled racism than a post about Alexandria and ACPS in particular.

Unless you are privy to Jeff's servers, you have not a clue who is 'troll' or who isn't from Alexandria. I am from Alexandria and I have 3 kids in ACPS. I know all about JH. Claiming that anyone not interested in sending their kid to an unacccredited (or jerry rigged accredited) school, or one with astronomical FARMS rates is racist is simply..... BS. We all want what is best for our child and that includes surrounding my kids with positive influences.[

Poor kids aren't positive influences?

Not if they are borderline illiterate and threatening to "put a cap in yo ass", both of which are reality at JH. I have seen it first hand on the playground there and have heard reports from teachers in the building.

You're conflating behavioral issues with poverty. And you're about over the line on racism with the way you're talking about it.

I'm not conflating anything. I'm sharing first hand accounts that apparently upset you enough that you're resorting to name calling. JH will never change so long as it pulls from the neighborhood with the shots fired calls.

Let's make this explicit: you're saying that poor black children in neighborhoods with crime shouldn't attend schools with UMC white children.

That's not me you are quoting, but let me take this oppurtinity to be absolutely clear about how completely batsh*t crazy you are to have that takeaway. Than you for letting us all know to disreagrd your posts.

PP literally said the school won't improve until it changes it's demographics to exclude a certain element.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an ACPS parent with kids at Brooks. I have friends that send their kids to Jefferson-Houston and friends that teach there. You will hear the same issues in all of ACPS. Frankly, the sad issue is that our city has a concentration of children in high poverty. Brooks has the same thing too, from the public housing. Jefferson-Houston's stats are pretty much the same. I know parents from all different backgrounds who go there and they have the same experience that we have in ACPS. It is really hard to judge on statistics for students whose basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter aren't being met. For what it's worth, three families in Rosemont that I am friends with personally send their kids to Jefferson-Houston over Brooks. There is a lot of turnover with principals in ACPS in general. Focus on the classroom teachers and the school communities. You sound like a person who values people from all different backgrounds. The hardest thing for me is explaining to my elementary aged students why we have so much and other classmates have so little. It is a hard lesson and something they are beginning to understand and see. It is sad to me that ACPS and the city cannot do more to help. Education is the great equalizer. My parents grew up in public housing. My grandparents worked in factories and dropped out in fifth grade. My mom and dad were the first in their family to graduate middle school, let alone HS and college. My mom has her PhD and my dad graduated from law school. In a city like Alexandria, I'd love to see the elected officials and central office staff put their money where their mouths are and invest more in out of school time and our public schools. I agree with the PTA poster to join the JH specific groups and remember that a lot of trolls on this thread only value diversity when it is diverse people from the same upper middle class or wealthy background.

Thank you for speaking up on behalf against the racist people on this site, and on behalf of ACPS parents. Another JH parent here, and I underscore the sentiment in this post. Our school 50-60% underserved populations, 30% middle to upper income. My child learns the world as it because he is in school with the children of our neighborhood. What is so sad about this forum is so many people from outside Alexandria speak so ill of children, CHILDREN, at our schools in ACPS who need us to uplift communities, not bring it down. It's the reason we have all left this site for honest, open, transparent discussion on ACPS and moved to the groups where the discussion is respectful and open.

I appreciate your support for this school. But, please be a bit more polite in your reports to me. I am not sure how you can complain that I "allow" certain posts while simultaneously asking me to "clean up" this thread. If I allow the posts, why would I clean them up? The expectation that I will clean up a thread implies that those posts are, in fact, not allowed. The reason you may be confused about this is that you don't seem to understand that neither I, nor anyone else, is capable of reading every post on this website. As such, I frequently have no idea what has been posted unless someone reports it to me. I appreciate your reporting and bringing inappropriate posts to my attention. The willingness of users to do that is extremely important and is greatly appreciated. However, as I said, I don't really need to be talked down to in the reports.

But you do have a problem with anti-Alexandria trolls, don't you? Nothing brings out trolling and thinly veiled racism than a post about Alexandria and ACPS in particular.

Unless you are privy to Jeff's servers, you have not a clue who is 'troll' or who isn't from Alexandria. I am from Alexandria and I have 3 kids in ACPS. I know all about JH. Claiming that anyone not interested in sending their kid to an unacccredited (or jerry rigged accredited) school, or one with astronomical FARMS rates is racist is simply..... BS. We all want what is best for our child and that includes surrounding my kids with positive influences.[

Poor kids aren't positive influences?

Not if they are borderline illiterate and threatening to "put a cap in yo ass", both of which are reality at JH. I have seen it first hand on the playground there and have heard reports from teachers in the building.

You're conflating behavioral issues with poverty. And you're about over the line on racism with the way you're talking about it.

I'm not conflating anything. I'm sharing first hand accounts that apparently upset you enough that you're resorting to name calling. JH will never change so long as it pulls from the neighborhood with the shots fired calls.

Let's make this explicit: you're saying that poor black children in neighborhoods with crime shouldn't attend schools with UMC white children.

That's not me you are quoting, but let me take this oppurtinity to be absolutely clear about how completely batsh*t crazy you are to have that takeaway. Than you for letting us all know to disreagrd your posts.

PP literally said the school won't improve until it changes it's demographics to exclude a certain element.

PP said it won't change until the school stops pulling kids from the neighborhood with the most shots fired calls.

Nary a demographic nor a race mentioned.

This just kills you, doesn't it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an ACPS parent with kids at Brooks. I have friends that send their kids to Jefferson-Houston and friends that teach there. You will hear the same issues in all of ACPS. Frankly, the sad issue is that our city has a concentration of children in high poverty. Brooks has the same thing too, from the public housing. Jefferson-Houston's stats are pretty much the same. I know parents from all different backgrounds who go there and they have the same experience that we have in ACPS. It is really hard to judge on statistics for students whose basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter aren't being met. For what it's worth, three families in Rosemont that I am friends with personally send their kids to Jefferson-Houston over Brooks. There is a lot of turnover with principals in ACPS in general. Focus on the classroom teachers and the school communities. You sound like a person who values people from all different backgrounds. The hardest thing for me is explaining to my elementary aged students why we have so much and other classmates have so little. It is a hard lesson and something they are beginning to understand and see. It is sad to me that ACPS and the city cannot do more to help. Education is the great equalizer. My parents grew up in public housing. My grandparents worked in factories and dropped out in fifth grade. My mom and dad were the first in their family to graduate middle school, let alone HS and college. My mom has her PhD and my dad graduated from law school. In a city like Alexandria, I'd love to see the elected officials and central office staff put their money where their mouths are and invest more in out of school time and our public schools. I agree with the PTA poster to join the JH specific groups and remember that a lot of trolls on this thread only value diversity when it is diverse people from the same upper middle class or wealthy background.

Thank you for speaking up on behalf against the racist people on this site, and on behalf of ACPS parents. Another JH parent here, and I underscore the sentiment in this post. Our school 50-60% underserved populations, 30% middle to upper income. My child learns the world as it because he is in school with the children of our neighborhood. What is so sad about this forum is so many people from outside Alexandria speak so ill of children, CHILDREN, at our schools in ACPS who need us to uplift communities, not bring it down. It's the reason we have all left this site for honest, open, transparent discussion on ACPS and moved to the groups where the discussion is respectful and open.

I appreciate your support for this school. But, please be a bit more polite in your reports to me. I am not sure how you can complain that I "allow" certain posts while simultaneously asking me to "clean up" this thread. If I allow the posts, why would I clean them up? The expectation that I will clean up a thread implies that those posts are, in fact, not allowed. The reason you may be confused about this is that you don't seem to understand that neither I, nor anyone else, is capable of reading every post on this website. As such, I frequently have no idea what has been posted unless someone reports it to me. I appreciate your reporting and bringing inappropriate posts to my attention. The willingness of users to do that is extremely important and is greatly appreciated. However, as I said, I don't really need to be talked down to in the reports.

But you do have a problem with anti-Alexandria trolls, don't you? Nothing brings out trolling and thinly veiled racism than a post about Alexandria and ACPS in particular.

Unless you are privy to Jeff's servers, you have not a clue who is 'troll' or who isn't from Alexandria. I am from Alexandria and I have 3 kids in ACPS. I know all about JH. Claiming that anyone not interested in sending their kid to an unacccredited (or jerry rigged accredited) school, or one with astronomical FARMS rates is racist is simply..... BS. We all want what is best for our child and that includes surrounding my kids with positive influences.[

Poor kids aren't positive influences?

Not if they are borderline illiterate and threatening to "put a cap in yo ass", both of which are reality at JH. I have seen it first hand on the playground there and have heard reports from teachers in the building.

You're conflating behavioral issues with poverty. And you're about over the line on racism with the way you're talking about it.

I'm not conflating anything. I'm sharing first hand accounts that apparently upset you enough that you're resorting to name calling. JH will never change so long as it pulls from the neighborhood with the shots fired calls.

Let's make this explicit: you're saying that poor black children in neighborhoods with crime shouldn't attend schools with UMC white children.

That's not me you are quoting, but let me take this oppurtinity to be absolutely clear about how completely batsh*t crazy you are to have that takeaway. Than you for letting us all know to disreagrd your posts.

PP literally said the school won't improve until it changes it's demographics to exclude a certain element.

PP said it won't change until the school stops pulling kids from the neighborhood with the most shots fired calls.

Nary a demographic nor a race mentioned.

This just kills you, doesn't it.

ACPS tried this to some extent when they districted the housing development across the street from the Braddock Metro that has so much gun violence they had those huge mobile cameras installed on 4 streets for Brooks instead of JH (which is much closer). It would just be too many kids from ARHA developments (and these are not one demographic). My son was good friends with a kid that lived over there and I hated whenever I had to drop him off at home knowing all the things he heard and saw there (he would tell us). And Brooks didn’t really help him either. He would tell me how much school he would skip (esp during zoom school) but they don’t fail kids there so he thought it was so funny how he kept passing each grade. Great, nice, funny kid in a real $hit situation. ACPS 101.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk to parents with kids in later grades 3rd and up to get a more realistic view of the school.

They have had a lot of turn over in principals over the last few years.

+1
3rd grade is when things shake out.