Jackson Reed Biomedical Academy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids at JR, both of whom are very strong students and neither of whom is in an academy.

If your kid isn’t naturally interested in a particular pre-professional path, there’s no need for them to force themselves into one so they can join an academy. 99% of classes are available to everyone, and I’ve heard more complaints about academy classes/teachers/requirements from my kids’ friends than benefits of being in an academy.

The only exception is the AP Computer Science classes. You have to be in the IT Pathway to register for those classes, which is a new development as of last year.

I agree with a PP. All the new volunteer, field trip, etc. burdens have seemingly been introduced out of nowhere and there is a new added burden each year.

That said, not many kids care all that much about fulfilling all the requirements. It is kind of a shame because the annual Senior night for the academy graduates is going to start looking very lonely as fewer and fewer students jump through all the hoops.

That's a shame about restricting AP Computer Science classes. These academies aren't very meaningful to colleges, but AP classes are.

Yeah, I think it’s bad policy to force HS kids into a certain pathway to take a class. But it’s worth noting that those are the only AP classes restricted to academy kids.

Yes, but unfortunately it's AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A - two reasonable AP classes with broad appeal that many kids would benefit from exploring.

The problem is CS is increasingly popular, so there are not enough teachers (and very difficult to hire). It's not like the classes have any empty seats, even just restricting it to kids in the IT Pathway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids at JR, both of whom are very strong students and neither of whom is in an academy.

If your kid isn’t naturally interested in a particular pre-professional path, there’s no need for them to force themselves into one so they can join an academy. 99% of classes are available to everyone, and I’ve heard more complaints about academy classes/teachers/requirements from my kids’ friends than benefits of being in an academy.

The only exception is the AP Computer Science classes. You have to be in the IT Pathway to register for those classes, which is a new development as of last year.

I agree with a PP. All the new volunteer, field trip, etc. burdens have seemingly been introduced out of nowhere and there is a new added burden each year.

That said, not many kids care all that much about fulfilling all the requirements. It is kind of a shame because the annual Senior night for the academy graduates is going to start looking very lonely as fewer and fewer students jump through all the hoops.

The engineering classes are also restricted to academy members, or at least they were a couple years ago when my student was told they could not take one without being in the academy. The engineering classes aren't AP but they are electives with otherwise broad appeal that students might otherwise take.

[Anonymous]

Interesting.

[Anonymous]

This is unfortunate. My kid graduated from JR a few years ago and was able to take both AP CS classes despite being in the Engineering academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Before NAF, there was consistency in academy programs either between schools or between programs within a school. The schools get a lot of funding for going thru NAF and that is how the directors are paid. Before NAF academy directors were not compensated for that role, it was usually a teacher who topknot on as a volunteer. This if that teacher worked insane overtime in their own dime, the academies were dynamic and interesting, if that teacher left, the academy fell apart. In theory, with a pd director, that wouldn’t happen.

I am not sure it is important to have consistency in academy structure between different schools. And they mostly already taught the same classes so the consistency in teaching content was already established. And by the way, DCPS pays NAF for the branding, not the other way around. And does the academy head really need to be a director level position? That is a high level position - 130k salary or even more. JR has multiple academy directors. When teacher positions are being cut for next year, you have to consider whether this is really the best use of limited dollars

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids at JR, both of whom are very strong students and neither of whom is in an academy.

If your kid isn’t naturally interested in a particular pre-professional path, there’s no need for them to force themselves into one so they can join an academy. 99% of classes are available to everyone, and I’ve heard more complaints about academy classes/teachers/requirements from my kids’ friends than benefits of being in an academy.

The only exception is the AP Computer Science classes. You have to be in the IT Pathway to register for those classes, which is a new development as of last year.

I agree with a PP. All the new volunteer, field trip, etc. burdens have seemingly been introduced out of nowhere and there is a new added burden each year.

That said, not many kids care all that much about fulfilling all the requirements. It is kind of a shame because the annual Senior night for the academy graduates is going to start looking very lonely as fewer and fewer students jump through all the hoops.

The engineering classes are also restricted to academy members, or at least they were a couple years ago when my student was told they could not take one without being in the academy. The engineering classes aren't AP but they are electives with otherwise broad appeal that students might otherwise take.

The engineering academy is weak at JR. The classes are interesting but only one of the teachers is good. The others are terrible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before NAF, there was consistency in academy programs either between schools or between programs within a school. The schools get a lot of funding for going thru NAF and that is how the directors are paid. Before NAF academy directors were not compensated for that role, it was usually a teacher who topknot on as a volunteer. This if that teacher worked insane overtime in their own dime, the academies were dynamic and interesting, if that teacher left, the academy fell apart. In theory, with a pd director, that wouldn’t happen.

I am not sure it is important to have consistency in academy structure between different schools. And they mostly already taught the same classes so the consistency in teaching content was already established. And by the way, DCPS pays NAF for the branding, not the other way around. And does the academy head really need to be a director level position? That is a high level position - 130k salary or even more. JR has multiple academy directors. When teacher positions are being cut for next year, you have to consider whether this is really the best use of limited dollars

Totally agree. Would much rather avoid teacher cuts or have that money for another AP Computer Science instructor so more students could access that class. There are so many better ways to use those dollars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before NAF, there was consistency in academy programs either between schools or between programs within a school. The schools get a lot of funding for going thru NAF and that is how the directors are paid. Before NAF academy directors were not compensated for that role, it was usually a teacher who topknot on as a volunteer. This if that teacher worked insane overtime in their own dime, the academies were dynamic and interesting, if that teacher left, the academy fell apart. In theory, with a pd director, that wouldn’t happen.

I am not sure it is important to have consistency in academy structure between different schools. And they mostly already taught the same classes so the consistency in teaching content was already established. And by the way, DCPS pays NAF for the branding, not the other way around. And does the academy head really need to be a director level position? That is a high level position - 130k salary or even more. JR has multiple academy directors. When teacher positions are being cut for next year, you have to consider whether this is really the best use of limited dollars

Totally agree. Would much rather avoid teacher cuts or have that money for another AP Computer Science instructor so more students could access that class. There are so many better ways to use those dollars.

I agree but they always cut teachers before they cut any administrative positions unfortunately. What is the point of having a Biomed academy if the teachers are bad? Same with Engineering.

[Anonymous]

Our kid is also dropping biomed next year… all these comments ring true. Wish they never signed up. So much stress for young kids. I looked through the study guide for the final exam. It’s like cramming a bunch of random info, from crime scene forensics to genetics. I’m not a scientist, but even I think this curriculum seems half baked.

Between this class and a terrible math teacher, I haven’t been too impressed with JR yet. Hoping it gets a lot better next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kid is also dropping biomed next year… all these comments ring true. Wish they never signed up. So much stress for young kids. I looked through the study guide for the final exam. It’s like cramming a bunch of random info, from crime scene forensics to genetics. I’m not a scientist, but even I think this curriculum seems half baked.

Between this class and a terrible math teacher, I haven’t been too impressed with JR yet. Hoping it gets a lot better next year.

You are smart to move on. The biomed teacher (there’s really only one biomed teacher) doesn’t actually know the subject matter, but she does know how to manipulate grades so term grades end up lower than expected. As others noted, she also delays posting most grades until the end of the term. It’s one of her favorite games. The administration knows all about it, but nothing ever changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kid is also dropping biomed next year… all these comments ring true. Wish they never signed up. So much stress for young kids. I looked through the study guide for the final exam. It’s like cramming a bunch of random info, from crime scene forensics to genetics. I’m not a scientist, but even I think this curriculum seems half baked.

Between this class and a terrible math teacher, I haven’t been too impressed with JR yet. Hoping it gets a lot better next year.

The curriculum is not developed by the teacher or DCPS- it’s a national pathway curriculum developed by Project Lead the Way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before NAF, there was consistency in academy programs either between schools or between programs within a school. The schools get a lot of funding for going thru NAF and that is how the directors are paid. Before NAF academy directors were not compensated for that role, it was usually a teacher who topknot on as a volunteer. This if that teacher worked insane overtime in their own dime, the academies were dynamic and interesting, if that teacher left, the academy fell apart. In theory, with a pd director, that wouldn’t happen.

I am not sure it is important to have consistency in academy structure between different schools. And they mostly already taught the same classes so the consistency in teaching content was already established. And by the way, DCPS pays NAF for the branding, not the other way around. And does the academy head really need to be a director level position? That is a high level position - 130k salary or even more. JR has multiple academy directors. When teacher positions are being cut for next year, you have to consider whether this is really the best use of limited dollars

Totally agree. Would much rather avoid teacher cuts or have that money for another AP Computer Science instructor so more students could access that class. There are so many better ways to use those dollars.

I agree but they always cut teachers before they cut any administrative positions unfortunately. What is the point of having a Biomed academy if the teachers are bad? Same with Engineering.

This is not true- JR had to eliminate a lot of positions due to budget cuts (as did all DCPS schools)…relatively few are teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kid is also dropping biomed next year… all these comments ring true. Wish they never signed up. So much stress for young kids. I looked through the study guide for the final exam. It’s like cramming a bunch of random info, from crime scene forensics to genetics. I’m not a scientist, but even I think this curriculum seems half baked.

Between this class and a terrible math teacher, I haven’t been too impressed with JR yet. Hoping it gets a lot better next year.

The curriculum is not developed by the teacher or DCPS- it’s a national pathway curriculum developed by Project Lead the Way.

That may be true, but the well-known problems persist, thanks to the only biomed teacher in that academy who plays games with students' grades and doesn't understand the material. It's a shame they are investing in a program that is ruined by failing to address significant issues with that teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kid is also dropping biomed next year… all these comments ring true. Wish they never signed up. So much stress for young kids. I looked through the study guide for the final exam. It’s like cramming a bunch of random info, from crime scene forensics to genetics. I’m not a scientist, but even I think this curriculum seems half baked.

Between this class and a terrible math teacher, I haven’t been too impressed with JR yet. Hoping it gets a lot better next year.

You are smart to move on. The biomed teacher (there’s really only one biomed teacher) doesn’t actually know the subject matter, but she does know how to manipulate grades so term grades end up lower than expected. As others noted, she also delays posting most grades until the end of the term. It’s one of her favorite games. The administration knows all about it, but nothing ever changes.

There is one primary biomed teacher and a secondary one. I will say that all of what everyone says is true but they are leaving out the good. Primary teacher is also an energetic and dynamic woman who does inspire kids. She also pushes the kids and makes them learn. My oldest in college is thriving and she gives that teacher much of the credit for teaching her how to research, write papers, do presentations and survive without coddling. Should she give more feedback and get grades done sooner? Yes. Does she grade unfairly? I have multiple kids in the pathway and have seen no evidence of that. What she won't do is take late grades and is extremely hard on revisions. Which are some of the things I hate about JR. There is not enough rigor at JR and at least she provides it.

Addressing kids taking computer science classes - those classes are already full just with IT academy kid but there should be more classes so more kids can take coding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kid is also dropping biomed next year… all these comments ring true. Wish they never signed up. So much stress for young kids. I looked through the study guide for the final exam. It’s like cramming a bunch of random info, from crime scene forensics to genetics. I’m not a scientist, but even I think this curriculum seems half baked.

Between this class and a terrible math teacher, I haven’t been too impressed with JR yet. Hoping it gets a lot better next year.

You are smart to move on. The biomed teacher (there’s really only one biomed teacher) doesn’t actually know the subject matter, but she does know how to manipulate grades so term grades end up lower than expected. As others noted, she also delays posting most grades until the end of the term. It’s one of her favorite games. The administration knows all about it, but nothing ever changes.

There is one primary biomed teacher and a secondary one. I will say that all of what everyone says is true but they are leaving out the good. Primary teacher is also an energetic and dynamic woman who does inspire kids. She also pushes the kids and makes them learn. My oldest in college is thriving and she gives that teacher much of the credit for teaching her how to research, write papers, do presentations and survive without coddling. Should she give more feedback and get grades done sooner? Yes. Does she grade unfairly? I have multiple kids in the pathway and have seen no evidence of that. What she won't do is take late grades and is extremely hard on revisions. Which are some of the things I hate about JR. There is not enough rigor at JR and at least she provides it.

Addressing kids taking computer science classes - those classes are already full just with IT academy kid but there should be more classes so more kids can take coding.

She "pushes kids and makes them learn" because she doesn't know the material. Kids have to teach it to themselves, which they will do because they are high-performing, enjoy the subject matter, and want to succeed. If you ask any student in the academy, they will also tell you that the teacher plays favorites (yours are likely among them), is subjective about grading, and provides no feedback to justify her random grades. I'm the first to agree that the late assignment and revisions policies are far too relaxed and don't serve students well, and I would love to see more rigor across the board. But the behavior of this teacher is indefensible and is the reason why the vast majority of students drop the academy.