Wash Post feature on Washington Latin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Latin parent. I love Martha Cutts, but don't agree that the school needs a preference weighting for low-income kids; actually, if there was going to be "weighting" of any kind, then I think the lottery should weight instead based upon income categories so that any given class is no more than 30% low income, since according to research that's the tipping point where middle class parents will start to bail on a school.

After living (and paying taxes) in this city for over 20 years, I don't think that everything has to be geared completely towards DC's low income population. The success of Latin (and Basis) has been the creation of non-WOTP schools which can attract and retain middle class DC taxpayers. There are plenty of motivated parents (both white and AA) who cannot afford to live IB for Deal/Wilson and cannot afford $37K per year for private. Just ten years ago, those parents would have bailed for the 'burbs because of schools. Instead, those families, including my own, have stayed in DC, which is a positive for a city that used to be economically segregated to a far greater degree than it is now.

Ward 8 is historically separated from most of the city. The goal of WL was to be centrally located. There are free buses and metros and union station is a hub for what PP has said is a subsidized Latin bus for low income. Most schools recruit from word of mouth and fairs and don't put out flyers etc. It is odd to me that this special requirement be put on WL. I am intrigued by PPs point about 30%. Dont know how workable it is but I do know that if you want a completely low income school there are lots of options in the district. Trying to make a school that isn't into one that is doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP you make it sound like Latin started in a Ward 3 palace. It started in a church basement (which I helped paint). The neighborhoods it has subsequently moved to are not by any stretch of the imagination swanky or high income. It was a strain on me to attend school events in the new locations from my home in Ward 3, but I did it. Our child had a long commute when riding public (often, with after school sports and activities). Latin has bent over backwards to recruit students from all wards and incomes. What it does is enough. It does not need to weight low income applicants.

I think you made PP point. If it was a strain for a Ward 3 parent with resources, it would be close to impossible for a Ward 8 parent with little to know resources. I bet you have a car and four to six times the financial resources as that Ward 8 parent. In addition, your Ward 3 home is in the same quandrant, nw, as Latin opposed to that far spot heart Ward 8 home.

Latin is in NE. And sometimes people just have to step up and do what they have to do. What do you expect? Taxpayer-funded cabs to take kids from Ward 8 to Latin??

What do I want? If Martha Cutts is serious about improving diversity at her school, I'd like to see the school honestly think through the reason it may be lacking.

Improving diversity? There were about 6-7,maybe fewer, non-AA kids in graduating class of 2015. Improving diversity is the quantum leap the school needs to focus on right now? Take a look at the photo on the web page of the class of 2015 and get back to me on improving diversity and the schools special obligation therein.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Latin parent. I love Martha Cutts, but don't agree that the school needs a preference weighting for low-income kids; actually, if there was going to be "weighting" of any kind, then I think the lottery should weight instead based upon income categories so that any given class is no more than 30% low income, since according to research that's the tipping point where middle class parents will start to bail on a school.

After living (and paying taxes) in this city for over 20 years, I don't think that everything has to be geared completely towards DC's low income population. The success of Latin (and Basis) has been the creation of non-WOTP schools which can attract and retain middle class DC taxpayers. There are plenty of motivated parents (both white and AA) who cannot afford to live IB for Deal/Wilson and cannot afford $37K per year for private. Just ten years ago, those parents would have bailed for the 'burbs because of schools. Instead, those families, including my own, have stayed in DC, which is a positive for a city that used to be economically segregated to a far greater degree than it is now.

+1

[Anonymous]

Post article says Latin has enviable diversity by various measures and has placed a bus to Anacostia. Weighting more would basically result in swapping out middle class AA families for at risks ones. If people feel like Ward 8 or at risk students specifically need a classics school let's build one. Where are the parents to join forces as they did in early days at WL?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know the article was about Latin, but isn't BASIS more diverse than Ross?

Latin has a school library, which Basis lacks.

What does that have to do with anything? My question was in regards to the chart, which had a list of 10 diverse schools, but didn't seem to be from current information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP you make it sound like Latin started in a Ward 3 palace. It started in a church basement (which I helped paint). The neighborhoods it has subsequently moved to are not by any stretch of the imagination swanky or high income. It was a strain on me to attend school events in the new locations from my home in Ward 3, but I did it. Our child had a long commute when riding public (often, with after school sports and activities). Latin has bent over backwards to recruit students from all wards and incomes. What it does is enough. It does not need to weight low income applicants.

I think you made PP point. If it was a strain for a Ward 3 parent with resources, it would be close to impossible for a Ward 8 parent with little to know resources. I bet you have a car and four to six times the financial resources as that Ward 8 parent. In addition, your Ward 3 home is in the same quandrant, nw, as Latin opposed to that far spot heart Ward 8 home.

Latin is in NE. And sometimes people just have to step up and do what they have to do. What do you expect? Taxpayer-funded cabs to take kids from Ward 8 to Latin??

Latin is on 2nd and Hamilton street [/b]NW[b]

[Anonymous]

Martha has a good heart ans was probably musing in response to this drummed up charter school controversy from Hillary Clinton's comments a few weeks ago. Latin has done exceptionally well by all four quadrants of the city and should hold its head high while seeking as ever to improve. Perhaps its time to duplicate the model, just as it is, since the demand is there. If there can be a thousand KIPPs, why not more Latins? It was a great school for our child and we rejoice in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Martha has a good heart ans was probably musing in response to this drummed up charter school controversy from Hillary Clinton's comments a few weeks ago. Latin has done exceptionally well by all four quadrants of the city and should hold its head high while seeking as ever to improve. Perhaps its time to duplicate the model, just as it is, since the demand is there. If there can be a thousand KIPPs, why not more Latins? It was a great school for our child and we rejoice in it.

Because their mantra is this is Latin and we won't duplicate. I disagree it has served all 4 quadrants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Martha has a good heart ans was probably musing in response to this drummed up charter school controversy from Hillary Clinton's comments a few weeks ago. Latin has done exceptionally well by all four quadrants of the city and should hold its head high while seeking as ever to improve. Perhaps its time to duplicate the model, just as it is, since the demand is there. If there can be a thousand KIPPs, why not more Latins? It was a great school for our child and we rejoice in it.

Because their mantra is this is Latin and we won't duplicate. I disagree it has served all 4 quadrants.

I would agree that student in all four quadrants are not equally prepared to take advantage of Latin's curriculum. A school can be open to all but not necessarily the optimal choice for all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Martha has a good heart ans was probably musing in response to this drummed up charter school controversy from Hillary Clinton's comments a few weeks ago. Latin has done exceptionally well by all four quadrants of the city and should hold its head high while seeking as ever to improve. Perhaps its time to duplicate the model, just as it is, since the demand is there. If there can be a thousand KIPPs, why not more Latins? It was a great school for our child and we rejoice in it.

Because their mantra is this is Latin and we won't duplicate. I disagree it has served all 4 quadrants.

Meanwhile, how many kids from Anacostia has Oyster Adams served? How many kids from NW do some Ward 8 schools serve? WL is pretty unique that ot serves kids from all four quadrants at all, and all have an equal application chance. Go lions!

[Anonymous]

A few months ago several DCUM posters were saying that a Latin replication was a sure thing - that the Latin board was in negotiations to purchase/lease the St. Ann's space in Tenleytown and open a second campus there. Some even speculated that this was why Martha Cutts was retiring (not wanting to lead through an expansion).

Was that rumor completely false?

[Anonymous]

Didn't realize Shining Stars was so diverse to rank in the top 10 of District schools. Where are they located? Have they always been so diverse?

Any Shining Stars parents out there ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few months ago several DCUM posters were saying that a Latin replication was a sure thing - that the Latin board was in negotiations to purchase/lease the St. Ann's space in Tenleytown and open a second campus there. Some even speculated that this was why Martha Cutts was retiring (not wanting to lead through an expansion).

Was that rumor completely false?

Oh goody -- they will have space back in Ward 3!

[Anonymous]

Yes, just like Wilson which attracts kids from all over. Great spot--on Red Line and on Wisconsin Ave. Bus line. If you have a better spot, why don't you propose it and build it? these things called charter actually take effort you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Martha has a good heart ans was probably musing in response to this drummed up charter school controversy from Hillary Clinton's comments a few weeks ago. Latin has done exceptionally well by all four quadrants of the city and should hold its head high while seeking as ever to improve. Perhaps its time to duplicate the model, just as it is, since the demand is there. If there can be a thousand KIPPs, why not more Latins? It was a great school for our child and we rejoice in it.

I'm supporting Hillary, but let's face it, she was sucking up big time to the public teachers unions.