Jefferson Academy Kool-Aid
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Anonymous
| ˆˆând possibly the most diverse? |
Anonymous
Less than ten years ago, Alice Deal's nickname among some parents and students was "Dismal Deal". |
Anonymous
But what are those solutions? DCPS does not seem interested in doing a test-in MS in Ward 6 or creating creating a Hine 2. If you don't have a sibling in a charter school, those will be long shots as well. So the choices seem to be move or work to try and make Jefferson workable for middle class families. If you want to stay in the neighborhood and can't afford private schools, there is no harm in trying. If you hit the lottery (Mega-millions or MCDC, as they will have the same odds in a few years) good for you. But thinking there are other solutions coming down the pike in the next 10 years are the really the ultimate windmills. |
Anonymous
Close, but no, still Deal for MS: black/non-hispanic 30.9% white 45.4% hispanic 13% asian 5.6% pacific/hawaian .3% native american/alaskan .1% multi 4.8% ELL 3% FARM 19% SPED 9% In Boundary 70% |
Anonymous
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And here are the others - didn't include IT and CMI since their middle school cohorts are so small and the stats are school wide
BASIS Black 42.15 White 39.9 Hisp 7.1 Asian 4.7 Multi 5.6 Special Ed 4.7 Econ Disad 17.4 ELL 0 SH Black 87 White 9 Hisp 2.6 Asian .5 Multi .9 Special Ed 14.9 Econ Disad 50.6 ELL.7 Hardy Black 59.1 White 12.7 Hisp 13.5 Asian 11.4 Multi 2.3 Spec Ed 15.3 ELL 4.7 Econ Disad 41.2 |
Anonymous
Less than 10 years ago Deal was 1/3 of the size it is today. In 2007, enrollment was 533. By 2009 is was over 800. Today it is over 1400. |
Anonymous
My .02 is that there is a tinge of social shaming if you don't buy into the PR campaign designed to promote Jefferson as a something of a diamond in the rough. I'll commend the Brent parents for their hard work and commitment but all bets are off, and it's effectively every family for themselves when the lottery results are announced and your kid gets one of the few coveted spots at a HRCS. This is exactly what has been happened for several years. Despite the best intentions of the Jefferson principal and staff, a school at which 85 percent of kids aren't proficient isn't in the best posture to serve those who are on grade level or above. And it's hyper-cynical of DCPS to use a few Brent students to chum the waters in the hope that other families might be attracted to Jefferson despite having made virtually no investment in the school itself for decades. Deal is a different story by virtue of its feeder pattern and location. Jefferson isn't surrounded by affluent families living in neighborhoods comprised of single family homes, and it never will be. The new development taking place south of the Freeway simply isn't designed to attract families with older children. DCPS generally can't be trusted to keep its promises (just look at the Murch fiasco). There's no vision or sense of urgency and the fact Natalie Gordon was left alone to do the recruiting and heavy lifting while the Chancellor openly scoffs at Brent families during a Council hearing speaks volumes. |
Anonymous
That's the point. Change can and has happened at the MS level. Hardy will be next. |
Anonymous
I agree but it takes a long time. People have been predicting it at Hardy for 6-8 years and it seems to just now be happening. |
Anonymous
Deal is NOT a valid comparison. Neither is Hardy. Both of those middle schools have and had academically solid elementary schools automatically feeding into them. That is a strong position to start from. Jefferson as TWO of the worst performing elementary schools as feeder ( Tyler and Amidon ) and then tiny Brent with a core of on-grade-level students. It is an entirely different situation |
Anonymous
| The point about housing stock made by a pp is very apt. Even if you take out the actual housing projects, Jefferson just doesn't have enough of the types of residences for families with middle schoolers. Many of the condos are 2br or less in that area. |
Anonymous
They did have good elementaries feeding them but those families didn't enroll. Deal and Hardy were predominantly filled minority, OOB students for at least 2 decades. Once it starts to change, it changes quickly - in part because middle school is just 3 years long (vs. 6-7 for elementary). |
Anonymous
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You are not getting it. Jefferson doesn't have "good"elementary schools feeding it. It has elementary schools that are a long way from improving to the point of sending well-prpepared students on to Jefferson. So there is no chance of this situation "changing quickly"
In fact, Jefferson would probably be better off with the minority, OOB students who attended Hardy from some distance away for the last 2 decades. |
Anonymous
And they will probably get them as IB families push those families out. That actually should be your strategy - get the pockets of higher achieving families of all stripes from Ward 2, 4 and 5 to commit to Jefferson as an OOB destination -- |
Anonymous
| Those families also want a core of high-achieving students. Why on earth would they choose Jefferson? |