By the numbers: A dispassioned evaluation of Hardy (compared to Deal and Wilson)

[Anonymous]

As a K-M-S school parent, if our PTA parents want leadership positions, I can almost assure you they will have leadership positions! (kind of joking but they are often intense!)

My interpretation is that the point is they are willing and able to throw themselves - time, minds, & wallets - into the school, no matter what their official 'positions' may be on not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You heard it here first. The uniforms will soon be a thing of the past -- a concession to IB feeder parents who are considering their options.

OP here.

(I'm waiting on a flight and have some time to kill.)

Someone asked about Hardy FARMS last year. You will see the number below. I will also re-post my predictions about Hardy's demographics (in the spirit of a prediction that uniforms will be a thing of the past).

THESE ARE PREDICTIONS:
The IB percentage is 15% for the current year (up from 13%).
The percent White has increased: 13% White (up from 11%).
The percent Asian has increased: 10% Asian (up from 8%).
The percent African-American has fallen: 60% (down from 64%).
The percent Latino is about the same: 14% (it was 14% last year).
FARMS has decreased by 20%: it is now 45% (down from 55%).

Finally, a bonus prediction: within year or two we will all of think of Stoddert in the same way people think of Janney now (for better or worse). Based on test scores, it will be the highest-performing DCPS ES.

OP, your predictions are mostly confirmed:

http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/Hardy+Middle+School

Your predictions were very modest. You predicted a tiny increase in IB, and this is what has happened. The big test will be your prediction of a big IB jump in 2 years.

FAMRS is still 52 percent

[Anonymous]

average class size 15 compared to 20 at Deal http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/Deal+Middle+School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

As it turns out, I'm a game theorist. So, yes, I COMPLETELY familiar with such concepts as the prisoners' dilemma.

You're confusing matters. The tension in a PD is that everyone has a strictly dominant strategy: fink. Translated here, this is "going private" is the strictly dominant strategy. No one believes, not even yourself.

Instead, what you're actually describing is a coordination game. Stag Hunt is a good example. If you and I agree to work together, we can bring down a large deer and eat like kings. If I work alone, I can catch some rabbits. You too. But if I decide to hunt stag while you go after rabbits, I go hungry while you dine on Bugs Bunny.

Stag Hunt is more applicable here. That's the crux of the matter: if the IB families agree to send their children to Hardy, Hardy will quickly look like Deal. If you look below the surface, it already looks like Deal in several key ways.


An unrelated poster asked about "why would I send my kid to a lesser-quality school (Hardy) when I could just send them somewhere better (private)?" There is a difference in cost, you know. That should be a sufficient answer, but there are other compensating differentials as well.

Moreover, my entire point was that if Wilson is good enough for your child, Hardy is most certainly good enough for him too. If Deal is good enough for your child, you can make a solid case that Hardy is good enough for him too. That's what the data say.

OP - if you happen to see this message, you are probably well aware that the 2017 - 18 academic year is predicted by many to be the tipping point for Hardy. There have been a confluence of events that make this more likely than not; BASIS cut its capacity almost in half and there is evidence of a local baby boom compounding the effect of the diminished capacity. People who are planning to go private will do so but for those who were planning on charters only, may have no options but Hardy. All students who wanted to attend BASIS for 5th grade for the 2015-16 academic year were able to do so. Highly unlikely for 2016-17 year. And when you look even further out, Eaton is zoned for Hardy for 2018-19 (no longer have a choice unless they have a sibling already attending Deal). Should be interesting to see what happens at Hardy. Stay tuned.

The forced march down to Hardy.... sign!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

As it turns out, I'm a game theorist. So, yes, I COMPLETELY familiar with such concepts as the prisoners' dilemma.

You're confusing matters. The tension in a PD is that everyone has a strictly dominant strategy: fink. Translated here, this is "going private" is the strictly dominant strategy. No one believes, not even yourself.

Instead, what you're actually describing is a coordination game. Stag Hunt is a good example. If you and I agree to work together, we can bring down a large deer and eat like kings. If I work alone, I can catch some rabbits. You too. But if I decide to hunt stag while you go after rabbits, I go hungry while you dine on Bugs Bunny.

Stag Hunt is more applicable here. That's the crux of the matter: if the IB families agree to send their children to Hardy, Hardy will quickly look like Deal. If you look below the surface, it already looks like Deal in several key ways.


An unrelated poster asked about "why would I send my kid to a lesser-quality school (Hardy) when I could just send them somewhere better (private)?" There is a difference in cost, you know. That should be a sufficient answer, but there are other compensating differentials as well.

Moreover, my entire point was that if Wilson is good enough for your child, Hardy is most certainly good enough for him too. If Deal is good enough for your child, you can make a solid case that Hardy is good enough for him too. That's what the data say.

OP - if you happen to see this message, you are probably well aware that the 2017 - 18 academic year is predicted by many to be the tipping point for Hardy. There have been a confluence of events that make this more likely than not; BASIS cut its capacity almost in half and there is evidence of a local baby boom compounding the effect of the diminished capacity. People who are planning to go private will do so but for those who were planning on charters only, may have no options but Hardy. All students who wanted to attend BASIS for 5th grade for the 2015-16 academic year were able to do so. Highly unlikely for 2016-17 year. And when you look even further out, Eaton is zoned for Hardy for 2018-19 (no longer have a choice unless they have a sibling already attending Deal). Should be interesting to see what happens at Hardy. Stay tuned.

The forced march down to Hardy.... sign!

I know for many if not most at Eaton that Hardy is considered an inferior choice, but in a few years (maybe a little optimistic), people will be talking about Hardy in the same way as Deal. More and more high achieving students from KMSH will be there, my dc being one of them. And as Hardy improves so does Wilson which also great for Deal students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a K-M-S school parent, if our PTA parents want leadership positions, I can almost assure you they will have leadership positions! (kind of joking but they are often intense!)

My interpretation is that the point is they are willing and able to throw themselves - time, minds, & wallets - into the school, no matter what their official 'positions' may be on not.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You heard it here first. The uniforms will soon be a thing of the past -- a concession to IB feeder parents who are considering their options.

OP here.

(I'm waiting on a flight and have some time to kill.)

Someone asked about Hardy FARMS last year. You will see the number below. I will also re-post my predictions about Hardy's demographics (in the spirit of a prediction that uniforms will be a thing of the past).

THESE ARE PREDICTIONS:
The IB percentage is 15% for the current year (up from 13%).
The percent White has increased: 13% White (up from 11%).
The percent Asian has increased: 10% Asian (up from 8%).
The percent African-American has fallen: 60% (down from 64%).
The percent Latino is about the same: 14% (it was 14% last year).
FARMS has decreased by 20%: it is now 45% (down from 55%).

Finally, a bonus prediction: within year or two we will all of think of Stoddert in the same way people think of Janney now (for better or worse). Based on test scores, it will be the highest-performing DCPS ES.

OP, your predictions are mostly confirmed:

http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/Hardy+Middle+School

Your predictions were very modest. You predicted a tiny increase in IB, and this is what has happened. The big test will be your prediction of a big IB jump in 2 years.

FAMRS is still 52 percent

The 2016-2016 numbers are in... the new numbers are:

Enrollment: 374
Black: 57%
Hispanic/Latino: 12%
White: 16%
Asian: 12%
Pacific/Hawaiian: 1%
Native/Alaskan: 1%
Multiple races: 2%
English language learners 59%
Free and reduced-price lunch 41%
Special education 12%
In-boundary 20%


So - two bellweathers - IB up to 20% and FARMS down to 41%

[Anonymous]

Opps, 2015-2016

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You heard it here first. The uniforms will soon be a thing of the past -- a concession to IB feeder parents who are considering their options.

OP here.

(I'm waiting on a flight and have some time to kill.)

Someone asked about Hardy FARMS last year. You will see the number below. I will also re-post my predictions about Hardy's demographics (in the spirit of a prediction that uniforms will be a thing of the past).

THESE ARE PREDICTIONS:
The IB percentage is 15% for the current year (up from 13%).
The percent White has increased: 13% White (up from 11%).
The percent Asian has increased: 10% Asian (up from 8%).
The percent African-American has fallen: 60% (down from 64%).
The percent Latino is about the same: 14% (it was 14% last year).
FARMS has decreased by 20%: it is now 45% (down from 55%).

Finally, a bonus prediction: within year or two we will all of think of Stoddert in the same way people think of Janney now (for better or worse). Based on test scores, it will be the highest-performing DCPS ES.

OP, your predictions are mostly confirmed:

http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/Hardy+Middle+School

Your predictions were very modest. You predicted a tiny increase in IB, and this is what has happened. The big test will be your prediction of a big IB jump in 2 years.

FAMRS is still 52 percent

The 2016-2016 numbers are in... the new numbers are:

Enrollment: 374
Black: 57%
Hispanic/Latino: 12%
White: 16%
Asian: 12%
Pacific/Hawaiian: 1%
Native/Alaskan: 1%
Multiple races: 2%
English language learners 59%
Free and reduced-price lunch 41%
Special education 12%
In-boundary 20%


So - two bellweathers - IB up to 20% and FARMS down to 41%

Wow. Looks like the optimists were right. Is it time yet for predictions for next year?

[Anonymous]

This is great news!!

[Anonymous]

30% IB next year?? (sindw the IB numbers are higher for 6th and 7th class moving up...)

[Anonymous]

The forced march to Hardy cracks me up. We are inbounds for Deal and I would probably apply to Hardy in a few years (our child is too young now). The building is gorgeous. The location--outstanding. The school is all about what people are willing to invest. OOB families have obviously been investing/believing for years. With a good mix of in bounds families what a dynamic place it will be. The only thing Hardy needs is a great principal and something distinctive about its program (focus on arts, STEM, language--whatever). Do they have that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The forced march to Hardy cracks me up. We are inbounds for Deal and I would probably apply to Hardy in a few years (our child is too young now). The building is gorgeous. The location--outstanding. The school is all about what people are willing to invest. OOB families have obviously been investing/believing for years. With a good mix of in bounds families what a dynamic place it will be. The only thing Hardy needs is a great principal and something distinctive about its program (focus on arts, STEM, language--whatever). Do they have that?

And btw I say this because I've visited Deal and it seems kind of watered down to me. I am not pushing a Basis type testing misery model for Hardy, but if they emphasized truly challenging and interesting academics it could be a very cool place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The forced march to Hardy cracks me up. We are inbounds for Deal and I would probably apply to Hardy in a few years (our child is too young now). The building is gorgeous. The location--outstanding. The school is all about what people are willing to invest. OOB families have obviously been investing/believing for years. With a good mix of in bounds families what a dynamic place it will be. The only thing Hardy needs is a great principal and something distinctive about its program (focus on arts, STEM, language--whatever). Do they have that?

Why does a middle school need something distinctive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The forced march to Hardy cracks me up. We are inbounds for Deal and I would probably apply to Hardy in a few years (our child is too young now). The building is gorgeous. The location--outstanding. The school is all about what people are willing to invest. OOB families have obviously been investing/believing for years. With a good mix of in bounds families what a dynamic place it will be. The only thing Hardy needs is a great principal and something distinctive about its program (focus on arts, STEM, language--whatever). Do they have that?

And btw I say this because I've visited Deal and it seems kind of watered down to me. I am not pushing a Basis type testing misery model for Hardy, but if they emphasized truly challenging and interesting academics it could be a very cool place.

In a few years you might not get in because Hardy does have a great principal right now who has been working with the local community to increase the % IB!!