any middle-class parents here send kids to schools focused on helping poor kids like KIPP, DC Prep?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think they focus on critical thinking skills at these schools. That's something that middle class parents value. So, you may not be happy there. Just be sure to ask lots of questions.

OP here. DC Prep's qualitative eval based on classroom observations included that teachers were asking good questions to promote critical thinking--not just teaching what the right answer is.

+1 don't listen to what some random DCUM who knows nothing about the school has to say, this is exactly why the DCPCSB does the qualitative reviews of the schools, so you can get a feel for them.

Hi. Actual DC Prep teacher here. Our curriculum, particularly in lower grades, does not focus that much on critical thinking skills. Also, we are heavily prepped by our administration on how we're supposed to conduct ourselves during the qualitative review. We focus on it for several weeks leading up to the review to make sure that we can get the best "score" possible (We also prepare our kids). This isn't to say that the general day to day teaching is drastically different, but during the review, there were certain classrooms that did not receive any visits from observers, and all of those particular classrooms had the students with challenging behaviors funneled into those rooms so that the observed classrooms would function better. I suppose my advice is to not let one specific document determine your perception of a school.

Also happened at our DCPS. Thanks for the honesty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Free public education and the talk is about if a child of middle class means is worthy to be with poor students. Then a discussion about a secretary at a law firm is happy with her children's outcome at KIPP, are y'all freaking serious? This statement about "target audience" is the only thing that I agree with in this reply. Merely because I see that DCPS has continually ignored the target audience and continually improving. A target is no damn good if the aim is off.

I think the discussion is on who is the target audience and whether the original poster was truthful not on who is "worthy", regardless, people can send their children to wherever they want but I think KIPP themselves target to a particular demographic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't think many middle class families are interested in having their kids get KIPPsterized or turned into little Stepford Students

Don't think this remark says anything at all about KIPP. It says a lot about you and your agenda though.

It's based on Jay Matthews's book, Work Hard, Be Nice.

[Anonymous]

Hello, an AA single Mom here, son will entering PK3 in the fall...KIPP was #12 on my list because I have had the opportunity to observe several students who graduated from KIPP and I did not see them do very well at other High Schools. Yes, KIPP does believe that they are 'saving' the kids. My son doesn't need saving. They have saturday school and summer school, which isn't bad for some, but my son will be involved in other activities so that is not a fit for our family. I do not believe that KIPP teaches critical thinking skills, as I have witnessed from kids that I know. So, just look at what the needs of your family are...I make about $110K a year and if I don't get off the waitlists of my top choices my son will attend an independent school next year, as that was my back up plan.