So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?

[Anonymous]

I, for one, do not put a lot of faith in test scores to judge a school's academic strength. A school with across the board high SES kids is going to have higher scores than one with a mixed demographic population. In some ways I prefer the latter because of the diversity. I think Janney is a terrific school, but there is not much diversity there at all.

Having said all that, Hardy has a lot of ground to make up to be nearly as good as Deal. They do not have the same wealth of offerings or facillities and the teaching quality is very inconsistent. The lack of a neighborhood cohort is a huge deal for IB families, but it's hard to attract them in large numbers until the program is beefed up. For the vast majority of kids, Deal would be the school of choice. I think most Hardy parents, if given the choice, would decamp pretty quickly to Deal.

The city does need a new attractive middle school, however, and Hardy is the best candidate right now. My advice to DCPS is -- make it attractive to IB families. They will go where the programs are strongest. Do not rely on them to make the school better. If you build it, they will come! You have not built it yet though, which is why IB families are not enrolling in large numbers. Make the program attractive and the numbers will shift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think most are concerned with academic proficiency, but is it so wrong to want your child to go to school with at least some kids -- whatever race -- who live in your neighborhood? For me, part of the reason for opting public school over private is the benefit of going to a neighborhood school. OOB kids can certainly fit into that picture, but if a school is largely OOB, then you completely lose the benefits of a neighborhood school. My DC LOVED walking to Eaton with neighborhood friends and also having playdates with IB and OOB friends, but without an IB cohort, it just would not have been the same. I don't think it makes me a racist to want to send my child to a school with some neighborhood connection.

This is not an unreasonable position, and no, it does not make you a racist.

But if you expect middle school to be like elementary school, you are going to be disappointed. The whole point of middle school is to be a bigger playing field than elementary school. Your middle school will be less neighborhoody than your elementary school; your high school less neighborhoody than your middle school.

Also, you are ignoring a very important benefit of Hardy. I'm a former Hardy parent; DC was an IB student there, and one of the most valuable parts of going to Hardy was being with kids from all over the city. Getting to know those kids made DC a better student, better person, and more prepared for high school and college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most are concerned with academic proficiency, but is it so wrong to want your child to go to school with at least some kids -- whatever race -- who live in your neighborhood? For me, part of the reason for opting public school over private is the benefit of going to a neighborhood school. OOB kids can certainly fit into that picture, but if a school is largely OOB, then you completely lose the benefits of a neighborhood school. My DC LOVED walking to Eaton with neighborhood friends and also having playdates with IB and OOB friends, but without an IB cohort, it just would not have been the same. I don't think it makes me a racist to want to send my child to a school with some neighborhood connection.

This is not an unreasonable position, and no, it does not make you a racist.

But if you expect middle school to be like elementary school, you are going to be disappointed. The whole point of middle school is to be a bigger playing field than elementary school. Your middle school will be less neighborhoody than your elementary school; your high school less neighborhoody than your middle school.

Also, you are ignoring a very important benefit of Hardy. I'm a former Hardy parent; DC was an IB student there, and one of the most valuable parts of going to Hardy was being with kids from all over the city. Getting to know those kids made DC a better student, better person, and more prepared for high school and college.

So, you're saying there IS an IB cohort at Hardy, eh...? But at the same time you buy the argument that a private school is comparable as a "neighborhood" school?

[Anonymous]

Private schools are not generally neighborhood schools, but for kids IB to Hardy (in Cleveland Park, Georgetown, Palisades, Glover Park), there are plenty of nearby private schools populated by a fair number of neighborhood kids. And, as I said originally, I like my kids going to school with kids from different parts of the city, but only if there is also a strong neighborhood cohort. You can have both -- Eaton has always been a prime example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer the actual question, Hardy met its goal of at least 50 IB kids this year in 6th and are at 100% capacity for 6th. Everyone I know who is there and IB has not looked back, even for a second.

I am trying to calculate as a percentage using the DCPS school profile.

Does this mean 50 students in a class of 125, which is 40% IB for grade 6? If so, this is a great achievement.

Did they finally break through at Mann and Key this year?

None from key this year. Two went last year and one left.

If that's the case, how is the supposed 50 IB students figure in grade 6 for real? If it is real, are the students all coming from Hyde-Addison? (Question: Is an OOB student at a feeder school still considered OOB at middle school, or does the feeding from the IB feeder change the student's classification?)

Pretty sure they're still considered OOB, based on home address relative to the current school boundary, rather than prior school attended.

Really zero from Key? Did they all go to Basis and Latin (and private)? What about Mann?

FYI, some parents from these schools find ways to go to Deal. Most would prefer Deal to Basis or Latin, and they find a way.

Part of the Mann boundary is in-boundary for Deal.

How is that? I thought that elementary schools were either within a MS boundary area or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private schools are not generally neighborhood schools, but for kids IB to Hardy (in Cleveland Park, Georgetown, Palisades, Glover Park), there are plenty of nearby private schools populated by a fair number of neighborhood kids. And, as I said originally, I like my kids going to school with kids from different parts of the city, but only if there is also a strong neighborhood cohort. You can have both -- Eaton has always been a prime example.

It's not correct to say that Cleveland Park is IB for Hardy. The Eaton ES has fed to Deal and for a few years Eaton kids have also had the option of choosing Hardy. I don't know personally of any who have. Now DME proposes to eliminate the choice and compel Eaton to go to Hardy, or go the charter or private route.

[Anonymous]

So, you're saying there IS an IB cohort at Hardy, eh...? But at the same time you buy the argument that a private school is comparable as a "neighborhood" school?

NP. There IS an IB cohort, just not very large. 12:01's post was pretty thoughtful. I don't see where she refers to private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most are concerned with academic proficiency, but is it so wrong to want your child to go to school with at least some kids -- whatever race -- who live in your neighborhood? For me, part of the reason for opting public school over private is the benefit of going to a neighborhood school. OOB kids can certainly fit into that picture, but if a school is largely OOB, then you completely lose the benefits of a neighborhood school. My DC LOVED walking to Eaton with neighborhood friends and also having playdates with IB and OOB friends, but without an IB cohort, it just would not have been the same. I don't think it makes me a racist to want to send my child to a school with some neighborhood connection.

This is not an unreasonable position, and no, it does not make you a racist.

But if you expect middle school to be like elementary school, you are going to be disappointed. The whole point of middle school is to be a bigger playing field than elementary school. Your middle school will be less neighborhoody than your elementary school; your high school less neighborhoody than your middle school.

Also, you are ignoring a very important benefit of Hardy. I'm a former Hardy parent; DC was an IB student there, and one of the most valuable parts of going to Hardy was being with kids from all over the city. Getting to know those kids made DC a better student, better person, and more prepared for high school and college.

I assume that the PP was not speaking literally, because in fact Hardy's playing field is smaller than those at some elementary schools in NW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So, you're saying there IS an IB cohort at Hardy, eh...? But at the same time you buy the argument that a private school is comparable as a "neighborhood" school?

NP. There IS an IB cohort, just not very large. 12:01's post was pretty thoughtful. I don't see where she refers to private school.

12:01 here. You said it, and you were right - there is of course an IB cohort - just not a large one. And I don't understand how anyone could read any views on private schools into my post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most are concerned with academic proficiency, but is it so wrong to want your child to go to school with at least some kids -- whatever race -- who live in your neighborhood? For me, part of the reason for opting public school over private is the benefit of going to a neighborhood school. OOB kids can certainly fit into that picture, but if a school is largely OOB, then you completely lose the benefits of a neighborhood school. My DC LOVED walking to Eaton with neighborhood friends and also having playdates with IB and OOB friends, but without an IB cohort, it just would not have been the same. I don't think it makes me a racist to want to send my child to a school with some neighborhood connection.

This is not an unreasonable position, and no, it does not make you a racist.

But if you expect middle school to be like elementary school, you are going to be disappointed. The whole point of middle school is to be a bigger playing field than elementary school. Your middle school will be less neighborhoody than your elementary school; your high school less neighborhoody than your middle school.

Also, you are ignoring a very important benefit of Hardy. I'm a former Hardy parent; DC was an IB student there, and one of the most valuable parts of going to Hardy was being with kids from all over the city. Getting to know those kids made DC a better student, better person, and more prepared for high school and college.

I assume that the PP was not speaking literally, because in fact Hardy's playing field is smaller than those at some elementary schools in NW.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - for certain posters on this group, there is nothing that could convince them to stop bashing Hardy. Every piece of positive news requires them to conjure an even bigger negative news....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most are concerned with academic proficiency, but is it so wrong to want your child to go to school with at least some kids -- whatever race -- who live in your neighborhood? For me, part of the reason for opting public school over private is the benefit of going to a neighborhood school. OOB kids can certainly fit into that picture, but if a school is largely OOB, then you completely lose the benefits of a neighborhood school. My DC LOVED walking to Eaton with neighborhood friends and also having playdates with IB and OOB friends, but without an IB cohort, it just would not have been the same. I don't think it makes me a racist to want to send my child to a school with some neighborhood connection.

Most of the city agrees, looking at the reaction to the DME proposal.

I completely agree. I am not denying that racism exists in this city/country. But it is ridiculous to suggest that people are racist because they want to see more truly IB kids in the school. People who want a neighborhood school, want a school where their neighbors' kids go. They don't want to attend a school that happens to be in their neighborhood but whose student body comes from all 8 wards. If they wanted that, then they would attend charters. I have nothing against charters - glad they are there as options. But for those of us who want neighborhood schools, this means not only that the school is in the neighborhood, but also that most of the neighborhood kids go there.

I don't know why this is so hard for some people to understand, or why some people impute the worst motives for this. It's almost as if the charter movement has made people forget the neighbrohood schools of our childhoods or something, I don't know. Again, nothing against charters, but I am a big believer in neighborhood schools.

You're mostly right, but I'll point out the inconvenient fact that more kids who are in-boundary for Hardy attend Basis and Latin than Hardy. School quality matters too.

[Anonymous]

And certain posters who attribute the choice of most IB parents to opt for schools that are undeniably stronger academically to racial motives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Part of the Mann boundary is in-boundary for Deal.

How is that? I thought that elementary schools were either within a MS boundary area or not.

Under the revised boundaries that's true. Under the current boundaries there is only a loose correlation between feeder school boundaries and fed school boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Part of the Mann boundary is in-boundary for Deal.

How is that? I thought that elementary schools were either within a MS boundary area or not.

Under the revised boundaries that's true. Under the current boundaries there is only a loose correlation between feeder school boundaries and fed school boundaries.

So, is Mann being consolidated to Hardy or will the Deal-Hardy split continue under the revised boundaries?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Part of the Mann boundary is in-boundary for Deal.

How is that? I thought that elementary schools were either within a MS boundary area or not.

Under the revised boundaries that's true. Under the current boundaries there is only a loose correlation between feeder school boundaries and fed school boundaries.

So, is Mann being consolidated to Hardy or will the Deal-Hardy split continue under the revised boundaries?

Under the revised boundaries all of Mann goes to Hardy.