For those of you in-boundary for a terrible DCPS elementary, and who are bummed about that ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard of kids who move to move to the suburbs (MC) after a few years in DCPS being required to repeat a grade, mainly due to being behind in math. Not sure of the validity, but something to keep in mind. Obviously it would suck, if true, and might really have an effect on DC. That is the kind of thing I worry about. It's not "being afraid of poor people" it's having the focus in many DC schools on kids who are way behind in school readiness and who may have chaotic lives. It's starting out with an inferior education. Kids from JKLMO have always done well at privates, if that was a choice the parents made later. Just not sure what later options might be influenced by starting at a Cooke or a Bancroft. PS or PK is different than grades where academic learning should be taking place. I don't want my lifestyle choices to limit my kid's later choices or potential.

You are not raising them on a farm, so they probably won't know how to grow soybeans. If you are in the suburbs they can't get to anything without a driver. Every lifestyle choice you make affects your kids in one way or another.

I think an inferior education hasa bit more significance than not knowing how to grow soybeans.

Live in the city now and have to drive my kids everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, you read that right, pre-schoolers right next to a MEN'S HOMELESS SHELTER. Don't know about you, but that's a shithole in my book.

That's not a good combination of services. Why does Michelle Rhee allow this?

Does Michelle Rhee control all of the city real estate AND run the homeless shelters now, too?

If I was chancellor, and there was a homeless shelter next door to one of my schools, I would try to do something about it, especially if I was such a favorite of the mayor.

If I was a resident of that neighborhood I would be talking to my city councilmember about it. Do you feel that powerless about what is going on in your neighborhood?

It's a terrible combination of land use, but is it fair to call the school a "shithole". Have the people who work in that school done anything to deserve that level of contempt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, you read that right, pre-schoolers right next to a MEN'S HOMELESS SHELTER. Don't know about you, but that's a shithole in my book.

That's not a good combination of services. Why does Michelle Rhee allow this?

Does Michelle Rhee control all of the city real estate AND run the homeless shelters now, too?

If I was chancellor, and there was a homeless shelter next door to one of my schools, I would try to do something about it, especially if I was such a favorite of the mayor.

If I was a resident of that neighborhood I would be talking to my city councilmember about it. Do you feel that powerless about what is going on in your neighborhood?

It's a terrible combination of land use, but is it fair to call the school a "shithole". Have the people who work in that school done anything to deserve that level of contempt?

Oh, do you have that kind of juice with your councilmember? You can convince him (her) to divest city projects like a homeless shelter based on your personal opinions? Wow - that's fantastic! I wish someone with your awesome personal charisma lived in Ward 5. Talk to my councilmember you say? By Jove, I never thought of that. THANK YOU - you're a regular de Tocqueville with your wisdom about Democracy. All the other residents of your ward must thank their lucky stars to have you there to advocate for them. How remarkable that you've so easily conquered the forces in your ward competing for resources and political priorities. Maybe you could share a little more of your wisdom here? There are seven other wards that don't have YOU to goose their councilmembers after all, but I bet if you share just a little bit more of your genius we can shake up city services in no time. Please go on - tell us more!

[Anonymous]

Wow 8:24, take your meds!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow 8:24, take your meds!

Wow 8:34, how useless are you? Maybe you've got something awesome to suggest like "talk to your councilmember"? In your experience has talking to your councilmember succeeded in eliminating homelessness?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, do you have that kind of juice with your councilmember? You can convince him (her) to divest city projects like a homeless shelter based on your personal opinions? Wow - that's fantastic! I wish someone with your awesome personal charisma lived in Ward 5. Talk to my councilmember you say? By Jove, I never thought of that. THANK YOU - you're a regular de Tocqueville with your wisdom about Democracy. All the other residents of your ward must thank their lucky stars to have you there to advocate for them. How remarkable that you've so easily conquered the forces in your ward competing for resources and political priorities. Maybe you could share a little more of your wisdom here? There are seven other wards that don't have YOU to goose their councilmembers after all, but I bet if you share just a little bit more of your genius we can shake up city services in no time. Please go on - tell us more!

So you did think about it? And you did call? And then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, do you have that kind of juice with your councilmember? You can convince him (her) to divest city projects like a homeless shelter based on your personal opinions? Wow - that's fantastic! I wish someone with your awesome personal charisma lived in Ward 5. Talk to my councilmember you say? By Jove, I never thought of that. THANK YOU - you're a regular de Tocqueville with your wisdom about Democracy. All the other residents of your ward must thank their lucky stars to have you there to advocate for them. How remarkable that you've so easily conquered the forces in your ward competing for resources and political priorities. Maybe you could share a little more of your wisdom here? There are seven other wards that don't have YOU to goose their councilmembers after all, but I bet if you share just a little bit more of your genius we can shake up city services in no time. Please go on - tell us more!

So you did think about it? And you did call? And then?

Why, yes! Yes I did. Though in fact I did not call, I mentioned it in person in a forum which both Harry Thomas and Kwame Brown attended. And yet they haven't found a way to conjure up a new location for a homeless shelter. You'll be shocked to learn this, but relocating a homeless shelter is a political hot potato. I know! Who'd have thought that everybody wouldn't want one right next door? What's your address? I bet the house next door would be a welcome location, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, do you have that kind of juice with your councilmember? You can convince him (her) to divest city projects like a homeless shelter based on your personal opinions? Wow - that's fantastic! I wish someone with your awesome personal charisma lived in Ward 5. Talk to my councilmember you say? By Jove, I never thought of that. THANK YOU - you're a regular de Tocqueville with your wisdom about Democracy. All the other residents of your ward must thank their lucky stars to have you there to advocate for them. How remarkable that you've so easily conquered the forces in your ward competing for resources and political priorities. Maybe you could share a little more of your wisdom here? There are seven other wards that don't have YOU to goose their councilmembers after all, but I bet if you share just a little bit more of your genius we can shake up city services in no time. Please go on - tell us more!

So you did think about it? And you did call? And then?

Let me guess. You live in Ward 3 and think the reason your local DCPS doesn't complete suck is because you moved there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, do you have that kind of juice with your councilmember? You can convince him (her) to divest city projects like a homeless shelter based on your personal opinions? Wow - that's fantastic! I wish someone with your awesome personal charisma lived in Ward 5. Talk to my councilmember you say? By Jove, I never thought of that. THANK YOU - you're a regular de Tocqueville with your wisdom about Democracy. All the other residents of your ward must thank their lucky stars to have you there to advocate for them. How remarkable that you've so easily conquered the forces in your ward competing for resources and political priorities. Maybe you could share a little more of your wisdom here? There are seven other wards that don't have YOU to goose their councilmembers after all, but I bet if you share just a little bit more of your genius we can shake up city services in no time. Please go on - tell us more!

So you did think about it? And you did call? And then?

Let me guess. You live in Ward 3 and think the reason your local DCPS doesn't complete suck is because you moved there.

You guessed wrong.

I live in Shaw, and our inboundary school is Walker Jones, where I sent my son, served on the LSRT, PTA, etc. Walker-Jones had several less than desirable land uses next door, including a public clinic and a homeless feeding center. I worked extensively with the principal, my councilmember, the clinic director, and the director of the CBO to address those issues.

What have YOU done besides defame the people who work in your neighborhood school for conditions over which they have not control?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, do you have that kind of juice with your councilmember? You can convince him (her) to divest city projects like a homeless shelter based on your personal opinions? Wow - that's fantastic! I wish someone with your awesome personal charisma lived in Ward 5. Talk to my councilmember you say? By Jove, I never thought of that. THANK YOU - you're a regular de Tocqueville with your wisdom about Democracy. All the other residents of your ward must thank their lucky stars to have you there to advocate for them. How remarkable that you've so easily conquered the forces in your ward competing for resources and political priorities. Maybe you could share a little more of your wisdom here? There are seven other wards that don't have YOU to goose their councilmembers after all, but I bet if you share just a little bit more of your genius we can shake up city services in no time. Please go on - tell us more!

So you did think about it? And you did call? And then?

Let me guess. You live in Ward 3 and think the reason your local DCPS doesn't complete suck is because you moved there.

You guessed wrong.

I live in Shaw, and our inboundary school is Walker Jones, where I sent my son, served on the LSRT, PTA, etc. Walker-Jones had several less than desirable land uses next door, including a public clinic and a homeless feeding center. I worked extensively with the principal, my councilmember, the clinic director, and the director of the CBO to address those issues.

What have YOU done besides defame the people who work in your neighborhood school for conditions over which they have not control?

Bully for you. I can't help but notice that all of your efforts have led to Walker-Jones still being a school that I would never even consider sending my child to.

[Anonymous]

Because?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:l I am not that pressed to get into schools with the highest test scores, but these have got to be as low as they get for the city. Not cool with low expectations for my kiddo.

So you're attributing low test scores with low expectations by the adults in the building?

Low expectations from everyone.

And you know this because you've heard teachers express low expectations?

Why would a teacher openly express this to my face?

I'm the poster that mentioned attending JO Wilson. I went to middle school at Backus (big mistake!) and I went from having to work for my grades, to good student = good behavior. In middle school, I stopped doing homework and I still made honor roll. Really? I caught on that as long as I didn't irritate my overwhelmed, stressed out teachers and scored well on tests, I didn't need to bother with studies outside of school.

I've visited my current in-boundary school a couple times and I left with the impression that the teachers spend more time than they should have to on disciplinary issues. Also, looking at the test scores, they are probably spending more time getting students who are behind up to speed. That's fine, but where does that leave the higher performing students? My guess is largely ignored, hence little to none scoring advanced because they aren't being challenged to do better. And can I blame them when they have so many students who are below basic?

There is a stigma attached to low income and minority students being harder to teach (lord, don't be both!). Kids are only doing what's expected of them.

I'll leave it at that before I veer too far off topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because?

Abyssmal DC-CAS scores, essentially NO advanced students, no foreign language, no special programming, no curriculum, no racial/ethnic diversity, >75% FARMS (no economic diversity), dangerous crime-ridden neighborhood, etc. etc. etc.

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I'm the real estate reporter for the Washington City Paper, and currently writing about just this issue--how people weight educational options when buying a house, and what happens afterwards. Lots of the comments on this thread are very interesting, and I'd love to speak at more length with those of you who made their housing choices based on public schools, or feel like you're stuck in districts with terrible schools and need to take a chance on charters or OOB. We can do anonymity if you prefer, but it's just nice to speak with real people rather than take comments off online forums.

On deadline for Tuesday--please drop me a line!

[e-mail] / 206-399-5876

Thanks much,

Lydia DePillis

[Anonymous]

The curriculum is the same at all DCPS schools.

Foreign language and special programs are things that parents get when they make those demands.

Diversity is something that people create by sending their children to the neighborhood school.

Dangerous, crime-ridden neighborhood. Hmmm. Isn't this your neighborhood? Why are you living there?