DC Principals recruiting door to door

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people leaving? Because they believe they are going to a safer, more academically challenging school. Duh! How to keep them? Convince them that your school is as good or better.

I think that's what the principal is trying to do. For example, at my (not very good on test scores) in-bound school, the principal is a literacy expert, the test scores have risen, they have some partnerships with outside groups that allow them to do cool extracurriculars, there's a new playground and the school's been renovated, the early childhood grades have really small class sizes with an aide in every room,etc. There is more discipline (I don't always like how they implement discipline, but the school feels safe and orderly). The school is becoming more diverse kids (there are now more white, Asian, and Latino kids than before, for example), and the principal and teachers are very welcoming. Yet there's still a bad reputation--not all of which is deserved. Some parents won't even go to the open house. What better way for them to learn about all this and get their questions answered than to have the principal and some parents and teachers drop by?

Perhaps you could advertise this wonderful school by giving it's name. Other posters here talk about their DCPS schools, but don't provide the specifics. You could recruit right here and now.

Fair point. I'm in-bounds for Amidon-Bowen, whose principal was mentioned in the Post article.

Hey, that's great to hear. We're in SW too and thinking of starting a family (so, admittedly, a ways away from school being an issue) and people are already pressuring us to move. I'd love to be able to stay put and use Amidon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people leaving? Because they believe they are going to a safer, more academically challenging school. Duh! How to keep them? Convince them that your school is as good or better.

I think that's what the principal is trying to do. For example, at my (not very good on test scores) in-bound school, the principal is a literacy expert, the test scores have risen, they have some partnerships with outside groups that allow them to do cool extracurriculars, there's a new playground and the school's been renovated, the early childhood grades have really small class sizes with an aide in every room,etc. There is more discipline (I don't always like how they implement discipline, but the school feels safe and orderly). The school is becoming more diverse kids (there are now more white, Asian, and Latino kids than before, for example), and the principal and teachers are very welcoming. Yet there's still a bad reputation--not all of which is deserved. Some parents won't even go to the open house. What better way for them to learn about all this and get their questions answered than to have the principal and some parents and teachers drop by?

Perhaps you could advertise this wonderful school by giving it's name. Other posters here talk about their DCPS schools, but don't provide the specifics. You could recruit right here and now.

Fair point. I'm in-bounds for Amidon-Bowen, whose principal was mentioned in the Post article.

If you're serious about that, then join up with the parent organization and start helping. Improve the school and recruit your peers.

Hey, that's great to hear. We're in SW too and thinking of starting a family (so, admittedly, a ways away from school being an issue) and people are already pressuring us to move. I'd love to be able to stay put and use Amidon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Hey, that's great to hear. We're in SW too and thinking of starting a family (so, admittedly, a ways away from school being an issue) and people are already pressuring us to move. I'd love to be able to stay put and use Amidon.

There are a lot of folks with young kids or thinking of having kids that are trying out Amidon. I don't have kids yet myself but know some families starting PreK in the fall and they're all excited. If the deputy mayor's plan comes through, we'll have a guaranteed space for 3 and 4 year olds at Amidon, since it's a title I school. I don't know what we'll do about playing the lottery for a school with better test scores, feeder patterns, or special programs like dual language, but that all depends on what type of kid we have and how Amidon is doing by then. I think going to the PTA meetings and volunteering is a good way to start. They're having Monday night track and field club at the school starting 7/21, so maybe contact the PTA president and see if you can stop by? That would be a good way to meet folks, including one of the PE teachers.

[Anonymous]

Many parents have and will choose a comprehensive school such as Wilson over Banneker. Also, the parents that selected Dunbar over Banneker are Asian and made a great decision. You make the school, the school doesn't make you.