Why are certain charters on the top of everyone's lists? What is the magic that makes them so loved?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charters that actually have some meaningful number of high SES or white families. I don't want my kid to be the ONLY white kid and at our IB, she would be one of about 4 white kids in the entire school. I see the way the other kids act on the playground and the bullying she would endure is not worth the effort of trying to make the school work. Hgiher SES kids tend to have significantly less behavioral problems. Another factor for charters that do have a higher number of AA or poor kids is the location. Is it clear that the parents have to make an effort to get their kids to school every day> That usually means the parents also give a damn about education.

This comment is ridiculous to me...racism is so real.

Yeah, I read that earlier, thought of about a 5 page rebuttal, considered that it's so ridiculous that maybe it's a troll, and then just left it alone.

I went to school with some very high SES (not just DC-lawyer/lobbyist high) kids. Many of the were dumb as rocks and bullies too. Even worse because they knew they could get away with a lot since their parents' donations paid for my scholarship and then some.

As I read your post, I immediately thought of these two brothers attending a top three private in NW DC. They are two of the meanest, nastiest, most undisciplined and disruptive kids I know. But, mommy and daddy pay full tuition for three kids plus donate a bundle to the school. High SES and white, but hey that's all that is required for the original PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charters that actually have some meaningful number of high SES or white families. I don't want my kid to be the ONLY white kid and at our IB, she would be one of about 4 white kids in the entire school. I see the way the other kids act on the playground and the bullying she would endure is not worth the effort of trying to make the school work. Hgiher SES kids tend to have significantly less behavioral problems. Another factor for charters that do have a higher number of AA or poor kids is the location. Is it clear that the parents have to make an effort to get their kids to school every day> That usually means the parents also give a damn about education.

This comment is ridiculous to me...racism is so real.

Yeah, I read that earlier, thought of about a 5 page rebuttal, considered that it's so ridiculous that maybe it's a troll, and then just left it alone.

I went to school with some very high SES (not just DC-lawyer/lobbyist high) kids. Many of the were dumb as rocks and bullies too. Even worse because they knew they could get away with a lot since their parents' donations paid for my scholarship and then some.

private preschool last year. All high ses with great parents. We had 16 kids, two of whom were problem kids (real problms - wouldn't listen, hit, bit pulled hair). It just looks different to people when it is poor balck kids doing it.

My DC picked up several curse words while attending our high-priced daycare, hasn't come home using any foul language while attending our Title 1 school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charters that actually have some meaningful number of high SES or white families. I don't want my kid to be the ONLY white kid and at our IB, she would be one of about 4 white kids in the entire school. I see the way the other kids act on the playground and the bullying she would endure is not worth the effort of trying to make the school work. Hgiher SES kids tend to have significantly less behavioral problems. Another factor for charters that do have a higher number of AA or poor kids is the location. Is it clear that the parents have to make an effort to get their kids to school every day> That usually means the parents also give a damn about education.

This comment is ridiculous to me...racism is so real.

Yeah, I read that earlier, thought of about a 5 page rebuttal, considered that it's so ridiculous that maybe it's a troll, and then just left it alone.

I went to school with some very high SES (not just DC-lawyer/lobbyist high) kids. Many of the were dumb as rocks and bullies too. Even worse because they knew they could get away with a lot since their parents' donations paid for my scholarship and then some.

private preschool last year. All high ses with great parents. We had 16 kids, two of whom were problem kids (real problms - wouldn't listen, hit, bit pulled hair). It just looks different to people when it is poor balck kids doing it.

public preschool last year where my son was one of only two white kids. one boy in the class was very disruptive and poorly behaved. guess what? he was the other white kid. his parents were lovely and had tried everything. behavioral problems aren't dictated by race or ses.

Same kind of thing at our DCPS, although the population is a little more diverse. Some of the parents talk to me about how they want to leave by K "because of the demographics and behavior issues..." But their kid is one of the problems. I kind of want to tell them, but instead smile and say "good luck".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charters that actually have some meaningful number of high SES or white families. I don't want my kid to be the ONLY white kid and at our IB, she would be one of about 4 white kids in the entire school. I see the way the other kids act on the playground and the bullying she would endure is not worth the effort of trying to make the school work. Hgiher SES kids tend to have significantly less behavioral problems. Another factor for charters that do have a higher number of AA or poor kids is the location. Is it clear that the parents have to make an effort to get their kids to school every day> That usually means the parents also give a damn about education.

This comment is ridiculous to me...racism is so real.

Yeah, I read that earlier, thought of about a 5 page rebuttal, considered that it's so ridiculous that maybe it's a troll, and then just left it alone.

I went to school with some very high SES (not just DC-lawyer/lobbyist high) kids. Many of the were dumb as rocks and bullies too. Even worse because they knew they could get away with a lot since their parents' donations paid for my scholarship and then some.

private preschool last year. All high ses with great parents. We had 16 kids, two of whom were problem kids (real problms - wouldn't listen, hit, bit pulled hair). It just looks different to people when it is poor balck kids doing it.

public preschool last year where my son was one of only two white kids. one boy in the class was very disruptive and poorly behaved. guess what? he was the other white kid. his parents were lovely and had tried everything. behavioral problems aren't dictated by race or ses.

So true, so true, and so sad!

[Anonymous]

I didn't know Two Rivers was coveted. That surprises me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ this. It's not about scores for me. My kids Re at SWS, have vastly different personalities, but all receive exactly what they need to in any given day.

I'm less concerned how my kid might do on the DC-CAS than whether or not she wants to go to school every day, and is being taught in a manner that is interesting and fun.

I actually won't be surprised if SWS' scores don't come back amazing this year, for me, who has been at the school for 4 years, it will be a testament to their Reggio ideology. There is more to life than nailing down the grammar, and it will all come when it comes. I'm so thrilled and so grateful that I get to send my DCs into a place every day that encourages their wonder, and where they feel loved. They legitimately are loved, and that is such a gift. The staff respects and enjoys each other and they teach the kids to make connections in their lives to look at the silver lining. THAT makes it a coveted schools, not the scores.

It's not Reggio, it's the fact that kids that don't have significant problems at home are much easier to teach. Less behavior problems = less distractions. Easy breezy.

You're familiar with the school pp? Because I'm there every day and I see the administration handling "problem kids" every single day in a positive manner - and with the attention they deserve. SWS is not a place with tons of kids who experience a rough home life, this is true, but it's not devoid of them and the lucky few who get to walk in the door every day and be greeted with calm love deserve it. It's also not devoid of rich kids with serious spectrum and ADD/ADHD disorders - so if you think it's all "easy breezy" you've clearly never stepped foot inside.

Oh, I've stepped foot inside. Fist - you first claimed that it was the reggio philosophy that was the reason for future good scores. Now you're talking about staff. Those are two different things. It isn't the "reggio philosophy" that makes staff be good w/ tough kids. Second - I know exactly of the behaviors you're referring to -- and other schools have 10 kids like that in a class, rather than less than 10 in the ENTIRE school, as SWS does. Don't tell me 'oh, staff is awesome' -- I know they're good. I also know that things are harder at Title I schools.

So I stand by my statement. While there are a few kids with tough behaviors at SWS (what, less than 5, probably), that absolutely pales in comparison to schools in tough neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charters that actually have some meaningful number of high SES or white families. I don't want my kid to be the ONLY white kid and at our IB, she would be one of about 4 white kids in the entire school. I see the way the other kids act on the playground and the bullying she would endure is not worth the effort of trying to make the school work. Hgiher SES kids tend to have significantly less behavioral problems. Another factor for charters that do have a higher number of AA or poor kids is the location. Is it clear that the parents have to make an effort to get their kids to school every day> That usually means the parents also give a damn about education.

This comment is ridiculous to me...racism is so real.

Yeah, I read that earlier, thought of about a 5 page rebuttal, considered that it's so ridiculous that maybe it's a troll, and then just left it alone.

I went to school with some very high SES (not just DC-lawyer/lobbyist high) kids. Many of the were dumb as rocks and bullies too. Even worse because they knew they could get away with a lot since their parents' donations paid for my scholarship and then some.

private preschool last year. All high ses with great parents. We had 16 kids, two of whom were problem kids (real problms - wouldn't listen, hit, bit pulled hair). It just looks different to people when it is poor balck kids doing it.

public preschool last year where my son was one of only two white kids. one boy in the class was very disruptive and poorly behaved. guess what? he was the other white kid. his parents were lovely and had tried everything. behavioral problems aren't dictated by race or ses.

THANK YOU!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charters that actually have some meaningful number of high SES or white families. I don't want my kid to be the ONLY white kid and at our IB, she would be one of about 4 white kids in the entire school. I see the way the other kids act on the playground and the bullying she would endure is not worth the effort of trying to make the school work. Hgiher SES kids tend to have significantly less behavioral problems. Another factor for charters that do have a higher number of AA or poor kids is the location. Is it clear that the parents have to make an effort to get their kids to school every day> That usually means the parents also give a damn about education.

This comment is ridiculous to me...racism is so real.

Yeah, I read that earlier, thought of about a 5 page rebuttal, considered that it's so ridiculous that maybe it's a troll, and then just left it alone.

I went to school with some very high SES (not just DC-lawyer/lobbyist high) kids. Many of the were dumb as rocks and bullies too. Even worse because they knew they could get away with a lot since their parents' donations paid for my scholarship and then some.

private preschool last year. All high ses with great parents. We had 16 kids, two of whom were problem kids (real problms - wouldn't listen, hit, bit pulled hair). It just looks different to people when it is poor balck kids doing it.

My DC picked up several curse words while attending our high-priced daycare, hasn't come home using any foul language while attending our Title 1 school.

Two Rivers?

[Anonymous]

Two Rivers isn't Title 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know Two Rivers was coveted. That surprises me.

Guess you haven't been paying attention to waitlists. I believe they were #1 2 years ago by a lot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most HRCS have barriers to entry of one sort of another -- originally it was the individual lottery application process, now it's the siblings of those who got in initially -- that exclude the city's poor and disenfranchised.

Their absence makes everyone else feel better. It's called "creaming".

Um, except for where the earliest classes of the school went through their entire waiting lists, and many "poor and disenfranchised" students got in... and now their siblings have the same preference everyone else does.

Even the most middle/upper class HRCS has a far more diverse student body than any JKLMM. And it is still a LOTTERY. Which means the "poor and disenfranchised" you are supposedly so concerned about have a better chance at getting into the few spots at HRCS that do open than they do at a JKLMM.

[Anonymous]

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charters that actually have some meaningful number of high SES or white families. I don't want my kid to be the ONLY white kid and at our IB, she would be one of about 4 white kids in the entire school. I see the way the other kids act on the playground and the bullying she would endure is not worth the effort of trying to make the school work. Hgiher SES kids tend to have significantly less behavioral problems. Another factor for charters that do have a higher number of AA or poor kids is the location. Is it clear that the parents have to make an effort to get their kids to school every day> That usually means the parents also give a damn about education.

This comment is ridiculous to me...racism is so real.

Yeah, I read that earlier, thought of about a 5 page rebuttal, considered that it's so ridiculous that maybe it's a troll, and then just left it alone.

I went to school with some very high SES (not just DC-lawyer/lobbyist high) kids. Many of the were dumb as rocks and bullies too. Even worse because they knew they could get away with a lot since their parents' donations paid for my scholarship and then some.

We are talking about the District of Columbia here, not wherever you went to private school.

The first PPs comments -- that poor African American kids require the most resources in any ***dc*** school is accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charters that actually have some meaningful number of high SES or white families. I don't want my kid to be the ONLY white kid and at our IB, she would be one of about 4 white kids in the entire school. I see the way the other kids act on the playground and the bullying she would endure is not worth the effort of trying to make the school work. Hgiher SES kids tend to have significantly less behavioral problems. Another factor for charters that do have a higher number of AA or poor kids is the location. Is it clear that the parents have to make an effort to get their kids to school every day> That usually means the parents also give a damn about education.

This comment is ridiculous to me...racism is so real.

Yeah, I read that earlier, thought of about a 5 page rebuttal, considered that it's so ridiculous that maybe it's a troll, and then just left it alone.

I went to school with some very high SES (not just DC-lawyer/lobbyist high) kids. Many of the were dumb as rocks and bullies too. Even worse because they knew they could get away with a lot since their parents' donations paid for my scholarship and then some.

private preschool last year. All high ses with great parents. We had 16 kids, two of whom were problem kids (real problms - wouldn't listen, hit, bit pulled hair). It just looks different to people when it is poor balck kids doing it.

You're talking about babies, basically. Go tour, say, Deal MS and Sousa MS back to back, then come back and amend your analysis of which kids cause the most behavior disruptions and danger. The recent tenleytown alley muggings by Deal / Wilson students kind of perversely make this point too, come to think of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey, everyone --

I know this question may sound silly to many, but...

I know that there are highly coveted public charters for PK3 and PK4, like LAMB and Two Rivers. But the DC CAS scores (for later grades) and public charter report cards for these schools do not look very promising, with nearly a third of students not performing at proficient or advanced levels. When compared to the high-performing DC public schools (I know there are not many), these charters don't look very promising at all. I know there must be a lot more to a good school than scores -- would someone like to pitch in on what makes some of these star schools so loved?

Many thanks.

OP, that is not a relevant comparison. Those in-boundary for a top DCPS school just do there, they don't care about charters much. Then, for the rest, the real question is, what is the best charter we can get into, which is better than our in-boundary school?