Wilson “hybrid” schedule next year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This limits the number of AP classes that students can take. Let’s say your kid is a senior and want to do a pretty standard schedule.
AP English (full year)
Math then science (4x4)
Foreign language then history (4x4)
AP whatever (full year)

A student at Wilson will not be able to take more than two AP classes because they won’t be able to meet the other requirements.

I hope this makes sense. I’m a teacher at a HS that does not do 4x4 and this was the main argument we used to keep from going to do that schedule.

Wouldn’t the full year classes be shorter (50 minutes) so that a student could fit more in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This limits the number of AP classes that students can take. Let’s say your kid is a senior and want to do a pretty standard schedule.
AP English (full year)
Math then science (4x4)
Foreign language then history (4x4)
AP whatever (full year)

A student at Wilson will not be able to take more than two AP classes because they won’t be able to meet the other requirements.

I hope this makes sense. I’m a teacher at a HS that does not do 4x4 and this was the main argument we used to keep from going to do that schedule.

AP classes are A/B block scheduled. Which means 2 can run in a single year-long block. If you have 3 APs, the off-days for the third can alternate with a non-core year-long class or a semester-long 4x4 class.

[Anonymous]

I also wonder if there's been any research done on the 4x4 math impact on girls. I've long been conscious of the "leaky faucet" of girls confidence in math and stem careers - and while I am not at ALL a fan of the 4x4 haven't seen it raised o these boards - what not having a full year/learning retention approach to math does to help girls who are good in math, but is known to have less confidence than their boys peers.

[Anonymous]

My kids have had a much harder time getting the classes they needed with the 4x4 schedule - it is manageable as a Freshman & Sophomore but Junior year it is very tough to fit the classes you want/need. And the APs are too popular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids have had a much harder time getting the classes they needed with the 4x4 schedule - it is manageable as a Freshman & Sophomore but Junior year it is very tough to fit the classes you want/need. And the APs are too popular.

Can you expand on this a little? What happens? Say a kid wants calculus, does the school force them into accounting? Will the school force a French IV student into Chinese IV instead? Or Spanish I? Do seniors get priority? How much do you think this is because of the 4x4 versus change in the school population or some other factor? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Examples I have heard from my child’s friend group this year: put in a higher level/AP language class before doing pre-AP (kept this class), not put in the requested AP Biology (required for BioMed track) but put in AP Chemistry (not requested/required). Counselors limit opportunities for switching out of classes, but supposedly seniors get priority. My rising senior has plans for at least 3 APs for next year (Lit, Biology, foreign language, maybe one more) along with other required classes, and I don’t see how this will be possible with new plan.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have had a much harder time getting the classes they needed with the 4x4 schedule - it is manageable as a Freshman & Sophomore but Junior year it is very tough to fit the classes you want/need. And the APs are too popular.

Can you expand on this a little? What happens? Say a kid wants calculus, does the school force them into accounting? Will the school force a French IV student into Chinese IV instead? Or Spanish I? Do seniors get priority? How much do you think this is because of the 4x4 versus change in the school population or some other factor? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This limits the number of AP classes that students can take. Let’s say your kid is a senior and want to do a pretty standard schedule.
AP English (full year)
Math then science (4x4)
Foreign language then history (4x4)
AP whatever (full year)

A student at Wilson will not be able to take more than two AP classes because they won’t be able to meet the other requirements.

You schedule only shows 6 credits. Does your student still plan to take 8 credits like Wilson allows?

I don't think you understand how this works. AP English goes full year, but meets every other day. So AP English and "AP Whatever" will meet during the same period, just run full year. Math and Science would also run during the same period, but the student would do a full semester of Math (every day) and then a full semester of English (every day).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also wonder if there's been any research done on the 4x4 math impact on girls. I've long been conscious of the "leaky faucet" of girls confidence in math and stem careers - and while I am not at ALL a fan of the 4x4 haven't seen it raised o these boards - what not having a full year/learning retention approach to math does to help girls who are good in math, but is known to have less confidence than their boys peers.

Great question--PLEASE DEMAND ANSWERS OF DCPS leadership, especially Ferebee and his deputies:

[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

Or you can submit questions here:

https://dcforms.dc.gov/webform/dc-public-schools-ask-chancellor


The fact is, they have used COVID (and all of the attention on in-person/remote schooling/testing) over the last two years to divert attention from the fact that they are imposing this on DC high schools without any evidence that it is doing more good than harm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also wonder if there's been any research done on the 4x4 math impact on girls. I've long been conscious of the "leaky faucet" of girls confidence in math and stem careers - and while I am not at ALL a fan of the 4x4 haven't seen it raised o these boards - what not having a full year/learning retention approach to math does to help girls who are good in math, but is known to have less confidence than their boys peers.

Great question--PLEASE DEMAND ANSWERS OF DCPS leadership, especially Ferebee and his deputies:

[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

Or you can submit questions here:

https://dcforms.dc.gov/webform/dc-public-schools-ask-chancellor


The fact is, they have used COVID (and all of the attention on in-person/remote schooling/testing) over the last two years to divert attention from the fact that they are imposing this on DC high schools without any evidence that it is doing more good than harm.

+1000

They have used the switch to virtual and then Covid protocols this year to push a lot of policy changes through that are not proven in any way to help student learning. Most are just to increase grades and graduation rates. It’s all smoke a mirrors. And it will end up hurting the kids that most need support in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

That's what is so stunning to me. From an equity standpoint, the 4x4 is horrible...at-risk kids are the ones who take the biggest learning-loss hits when there are gaps in instruction...plus, these same kids--who need the most academic support to master content--aren't given enough time to get that help. Maybe it helps to achieve higher graduation rate because kids can retake failed classes...but I bet they fail at higher rates under the 4x4.

[Anonymous]

So the 4x4 system means you could go a full year without some class like math/science/language/English??? How on earth is that the best education practice no matter the skill level…

[Anonymous]

Yes- for example, you could have math the fall of one year and not until the spring of the following year.

[Anonymous]

Right- you’ll have all the classes within the school year but the issue is that there are long gaps off without instruction in each subject between years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the 4x4 system means you could go a full year without some class like math/science/language/English??? How on earth is that the best education practice no matter the skill level…

It's not--it's terrible, though it is becoming increasingly common across the country because it increases graduation rates (it's easier for kids to retake classes they fail). But it's the lazy way to increase graduation rates as opposed to investing in educational methods that give at-risk kids the supports they need to pass classes in the first place.

It is shocking that DCPS is doing this at the same time that there's such strong evidence that kids have fallen behind due to the year of remote...how on earth can they justify having more gaps in instruction in classes like math after all of the losses these kids have had? Ask any teacher at Wilson right now if they think this is a good approach...and then ask the same teacher if DCPS has asked them for their input on this policy...

[Anonymous]

My kid won’t be going 8-12 months without math.