Why are the top elementary schools in NW better?

[Anonymous]

For the most part the prinicipals at the "name" schools have been there for a number of years and have developed a good teacher core. In addition, this group of principals clearly understands and exercises the union contract to improve or remove problematic teachers by fulling documenting any issues within the required time frames.

[Anonymous]

I wish the WaPo would do an article where they would pick one non-Ward 3, top DCPS school and one top tier DCPS school and then compare and contrast on a bunch of metrics. Could pick the two schools out of a hat. Then spend a week in each, chronicling the kids' resources, the teaching, the playgrounds, aftercare, specials, special ed programs, and on and on. I think it would be fascinating.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it would tell us anything we don't already know.

[Anonymous]

Also, I think that some/most schools in NW are better than in other parts of town because the parents are wealthier and better educated, and then better prepare their children for school... hate to say it, but education starts at birth.

A school can be great and have all the money in the world but there is only so much "catch up" they can do if the child has little to no exposure to books/reading/early education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, I think that some/most schools in NW are better than in other parts of town because the parents are wealthier and better educated, and then better prepare their children for school... hate to say it, but education starts at birth.

A school can be great and have all the money in the world but there is only so much "catch up" they can do if the child has little to no exposure to books/reading/early education.

That's part of what Title I funding (and Head Start for that matter) is supposed to address. The extra funding is supposed to support smaller class sizes so that students can get more one-on-one attention from the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Or schools like KIPP and Haynes try to address it by lengthening the school day or year.

[Anonymous]

I disagree that principals in the "name" schools have been there a long time. New this year: Janney, Murch, Stoddert, Hearst (okay this probably isn't a "name" school). I dont' think Eaton's principal has more than a couple years at the school. Longer term (I think but could be wrong) are Lafayette, Mann, Key, Hyde.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree that principals in the "name" schools have been there a long time. New this year: Janney, Murch, Stoddert, Hearst (okay this probably isn't a "name" school). I dont' think Eaton's principal has more than a couple years at the school. Longer term (I think but could be wrong) are Lafayette, Mann, Key, Hyde.

I agree. It's not the principals who have longevity at the JKLMs, it's the faculty. (Which, based on their track record is not a bad thing.) Unless and until Rhee gets her proposal to the union (to offer high-performing teachers lucrative salaries, if they'll take their classroom magic into low-performing schools) this is not going to really change. All things being equal, where would you rather teach?

[Anonymous]

I will chime in that I'm amazed at how much assistance my 2 kids (PK and 2nd grade), need to do their homework. We are lucky to be home in the evenings to help and with enough money and time to acquire all the crayons, paper, pencils, etc. etc. etc. I can just imagine how hard it would be for a single parent or a parent who worked in a really exhausting job or a parent who had to be out in the evenings. My kids go to an up-and-coming DCPS (where the parents do TONS of work in lieu of paying someone to do it plus are starting to raise some serious amounts of money -- nothing close to the NW schools). We know exactly what is going on in their school on a day-to-day basis because we are there, helping, donating, asking questions.

The NW schools draw from a population almost completely consisting of kids whose parents are successful professionals. Even without all the extras, those kids would be placed at a distinct advantage.

[Anonymous]

AnonymousThe NW schools draw from a population almost completely consisting of kids whose parents are successful professionals. Even without all the extras, those kids would be placed at a distinct advantage.[/quote wrote:

As someone who is at one of those schools I have to say that I think this is the difference. For example, my kids have a lot of recess and play time in Pre-K and K because the kids as a whole are already pretty "school ready". Lots of play time for young kids has certain benefits - social skill development, imagination, the benefits of exercise, etc. Having more money and great staff surely doesn't hurt either, but I think pre-literacy and numeracy skills that the kids have BEFORE starting school are key. The parents tend to be on top of any issues and to have involved professionals outside of the school. In my kids' school if the kids have any fine motor or other issues that needed to be addressed, chances are that was done at an early age through private OT. The kids also tend to have relatively stable lives, certainly enough clothes, food, etc. I know from friends who teach in other schools, that isn't the case for a lot of kids in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, I think that some/most schools in NW are better than in other parts of town because the parents are wealthier and better educated, and then better prepare their children for school... hate to say it, but education starts at birth.


This is really on target. The upper Northwest schools aren't really better. They just have, in general, more affluent, better educated parents, therefore the test scores are higher. This doesn't make the educational opportunity offered at these schools better. The curriculum is basically the same throughout DCPS, no matter where you go. And the teachers at these schools are not really better than those in low SES schools. In fact, many of them wouldn't last a week at those schools, where the job is much tougher with less support and more fragile families.

The money raised by parents does provide some extras that are nice. It's lovely for a teacher to be handed a check for several hundred dollars at the beginning of the year to buy classroom equipment and supplies. And the volunteer parents are wonderful. But that doesn't address the mediocre DCPS curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, I think that some/most schools in NW are better than in other parts of town because the parents are wealthier and better educated, and then better prepare their children for school... hate to say it, but education starts at birth.


This is really on target. The upper Northwest schools aren't really better. They just have, in general, more affluent, better educated parents, therefore the test scores are higher. This doesn't make the educational opportunity offered at these schools better. The curriculum is basically the same throughout DCPS, no matter where you go. And the teachers at these schools are not really better than those in low SES schools. In fact, many of them wouldn't last a week at those schools, where the job is much tougher with less support and more fragile families.

The money raised by parents does provide some extras that are nice. It's lovely for a teacher to be handed a check for several hundred dollars at the beginning of the year to buy classroom equipment and supplies. And the volunteer parents are wonderful. But that doesn't address the mediocre DCPS curriculum.

The educational opportunity is better because the class as a whole is prepared to work at a higher level. Also, the parents have a firm set of expectations for their children regarding behavior and academic achievement I agree that the general curriculum and pool of teachers is the same, but so much more can happen in the classroom when the students are ready to benefit from the work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, I think that some/most schools in NW are better than in other parts of town because the parents are wealthier and better educated, and then better prepare their children for school... hate to say it, but education starts at birth.


This is really on target. The upper Northwest schools aren't really better. They just have, in general, more affluent, better educated parents, therefore the test scores are higher. This doesn't make the educational opportunity offered at these schools better. The curriculum is basically the same throughout DCPS, no matter where you go. And the teachers at these schools are not really better than those in low SES schools. In fact, many of them wouldn't last a week at those schools, where the job is much tougher with less support and more fragile families.

The money raised by parents does provide some extras that are nice. It's lovely for a teacher to be handed a check for several hundred dollars at the beginning of the year to buy classroom equipment and supplies. And the volunteer parents are wonderful. But that doesn't address the mediocre DCPS curriculum.

The educational opportunity is better because the class as a whole is prepared to work at a higher level. Also, the parents have a firm set of expectations for their children regarding behavior and academic achievement I agree that the general curriculum and pool of teachers is the same, but so much more can happen in the classroom when the students are ready to benefit from the work.

I have had kids attend a mediocre school vs. an upper NW school and totally disagree that the pool of teachers is the same.

[Anonymous]

I taught at an two upper NW schools and know many teachers at mediocre schools from my MA program and through in-service trainings. I know these ladies to be at least as well-trained and thoughtful as the upper NW teachers, a few of whom are real idiots. (Interestingly, some of the upper NW colleagues I considered to be idiotic were actually popular with parents. At the end of the day, parents have a very limited window on what happens in the classroom.) Now, it may be that the mediocre-school teachers seeking professional development opportunities are the cream of the crop, but I still think it is hard to make accurate generalizations about "teacher quality". The only thing I can say is that sharper principals are a bit better at collecting the faculty they want when presented with the DCPS teaching pool.

[Anonymous]

I agree! Some principals seem to do a great job a selecting teachers! I have been really impressed by my child's teachers this year.