Hearst

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that like Janney - if the demand is there, Hearst would open up a third pre-k.

What I don't understand is why the taxpayers should be building Hearst to a capacity level that vastly outstrips the in-bounds population. The purpose of OOB slots is to utilize school capacity and resources where the neighborhood population doesn't fill up the school. If the school, or certain parts of the school, are historically enrolled beyond capacity, the first response should not be to expand the number of class seats. Rather it should be to managed down the OOB enrollment.

I get that Hearst has physical needs that are unrelated to school capacity, like for a cafeteria and phys ed space. But we shouldn't be expanding enrollment capacity significantly unless the local demand is there.

[Anonymous]

My guess is that the Hearst Boundary will expand to take pressure off of Murch and Janney....fewer OBB in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the OP, but we also got into Hearst OOB and will be in 4th grade.

This is very curious because at a Hearst open house late last year the principal said that in order to maintain academic and social continuity, she would not accept any new OOB students after 3rd grade (she obviously has to take IB students at any time). Now I'm wondering what else might have changed? For example, she also said that in order to maintain their unique accredidation, that there could never be more than 20 kids in K. We are IB for K next year and this has me worried.

+1 Future IB parent here, also wondering about this. I had thought they were trying to maintain class sizes small? That is a plus to me for the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on why Principal added more OOB 4th graders when she said said she would not do so for very specific and valid reasons? We know from DCUM that at least 2 more students were added, but how many more overall?

This is seriously not cool, the Hearst principal needs to stand by her commitment to keep the class sizes small throughout the entire school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that like Janney - if the demand is there, Hearst would open up a third pre-k.

What I don't understand is why the taxpayers should be building Hearst to a capacity level that vastly outstrips the in-bounds population. The purpose of OOB slots is to utilize school capacity and resources where the neighborhood population doesn't fill up the school. If the school, or certain parts of the school, are historically enrolled beyond capacity, the first response should not be to expand the number of class seats. Rather it should be to managed down the OOB enrollment.

I get that Hearst has physical needs that are unrelated to school capacity, like for a cafeteria and phys ed space. But we shouldn't be expanding enrollment capacity significantly unless the local demand is there.

there IS local demand, the boundaries are OUT OF DATE. This has been obvious for at least 5 years, they can and SHOULD move the boundaries a few blocks and take some from Murch and Janney. They should do this now, and not wait for some huge overhaul this is not rocket science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the OP, but we also got into Hearst OOB and will be in 4th grade.

This is very curious because at a Hearst open house late last year the principal said that in order to maintain academic and social continuity, she would not accept any new OOB students after 3rd grade (she obviously has to take IB students at any time). Now I'm wondering what else might have changed? For example, she also said that in order to maintain their unique accredidation, that there could never be more than 20 kids in K. We are IB for K next year and this has me worried.

+1 Future IB parent here, also wondering about this. I had thought they were trying to maintain class sizes small? That is a plus to me for the school.

Make sure to go back and read Dr. B's response earlier in this thread, which gives some of the reasoning. I wouldn't worry too much about this; class sizes will still be small.

[Anonymous]

Is there anyone from the Hearst PTA that can speak to the questions raised here about the stated goal to maintain class sizes small and not take in students after 2nd grade? I had heard that from several sources and it sounds like it was just a rumor now.

Information from an informed Hearst PTA person would be helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the OP, but we also got into Hearst OOB and will be in 4th grade.

This is very curious because at a Hearst open house late last year the principal said that in order to maintain academic and social continuity, she would not accept any new OOB students after 3rd grade (she obviously has to take IB students at any time). Now I'm wondering what else might have changed? For example, she also said that in order to maintain their unique accredidation, that there could never be more than 20 kids in K. We are IB for K next year and this has me worried.

+1 Future IB parent here, also wondering about this. I had thought they were trying to maintain class sizes small? That is a plus to me for the school.

I don't fully understand the accreditation issue, but making the statement that Heart would lose "accreditation" if class sizes exceed 20 isn't the same as promising that class size wouldn't exceed 20. I could see the theoretical value of promoting "accredidation" if you are trying to recruit OOB students, but does it really offer any added value?

[Anonymous]

They will not have more the 20 kids per a grade based on their desire to maintain their NAEYC accreditation and the fact that the limit for pre-K is a negotiated clause in the teacher's union contract. Good for teachers and good for kids! They would have to open another class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They will not have more the 20 kids per a grade based on their desire to maintain their NAEYC accreditation and the fact that the limit for pre-K is a negotiated clause in the teacher's union contract. Good for teachers and good for kids! They would have to open another class.

Exactly. Hearst was the first and still one of the very few public schools in DC to be NAEYC accredited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the OP, but we also got into Hearst OOB and will be in 4th grade.

This is very curious because at a Hearst open house late last year the principal said that in order to maintain academic and social continuity, she would not accept any new OOB students after 3rd grade (she obviously has to take IB students at any time). Now I'm wondering what else might have changed? For example, she also said that in order to maintain their unique accredidation, that there could never be more than 20 kids in K. We are IB for K next year and this has me worried.

+1 Future IB parent here, also wondering about this. I had thought they were trying to maintain class sizes small? That is a plus to me for the school.

Make sure to go back and read Dr. B's response earlier in this thread, which gives some of the reasoning. I wouldn't worry too much about this; class sizes will still be small.

Thanks, had skimmed but missed that post, very helpful. But still, seems she went back on the statement about not admitting OOB after 2nd grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there anyone from the Hearst PTA that can speak to the questions raised here about the stated goal to maintain class sizes small and not take in students after 2nd grade? I had heard that from several sources and it sounds like it was just a rumor now.

Information from an informed Hearst PTA person would be helpful.

Even better than a PTA representative, the principal, Dr. B, posted earlier in the thread; definitely go back and read her response.

[Anonymous]

For people making comparisons to Hardy for Hearts, I don't think families should be looked down on for wanting to encourage more neighborhood kids to go to the local school, that is a positive thing to desire.

Everyone should understand the benefit of neighborhood schools.

The charters are options for city-wide access and clearly there are many, many charter seats available in the city.

[Anonymous]

I understand the cap on PreK, which would necessitate adding a third class if there are 41 kids, but 10:27 was addressing the situation in K as if it was a simple matter to hire an additional teacher and add an additional class in July or August in the event 45 IB kids were enrolled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand the cap on PreK, which would necessitate adding a third class if there are 41 kids, but 10:27 was addressing the situation in K as if it was a simple matter to hire an additional teacher and add an additional class in July or August in the event 45 IB kids were enrolled.

They must have a contingency plan for this, Dr. B? Or someone from the PTA? I think families contemplating joining from IB would like to know this information.