Open house impressions thread

[Anonymous]

^^ That's a sweeping generalization that isn't true. I am sure LAMB, for example, wishes it had more 'poor' and native Spanish speakers than they have now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ That's a sweeping generalization that isn't true. I am sure LAMB, for example, wishes it had more 'poor' and native Spanish speakers than they have now.

Were you trying to be funny? You take issue with a sweeping generalization and then follow with one of your own? Great example of irony, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ That's a sweeping generalization that isn't true. I am sure LAMB, for example, wishes it had more 'poor' and native Spanish speakers than they have now.

Were you trying to be funny? You take issue with a sweeping generalization and then follow with one of your own? Great example of irony, PP.

The point is the people who go to open houses aren't their target audience. My kids went there for 10+ years combined and I know the administration well and why they opened their school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this show just how profoundly unfair this whole process is. thousands of kids on waiting list of schools they have a 1% chance of getting into. The schools don't even have to pretend to give a shit about wooing you anymore. You kids educations is only as good as their luck at age 3.

Your kids education is only as good as the parent's foresight in living in IB to a school they were happy with. We all make choices. Many of the individuals on DCUM have financial options such that they can be IB for a good school - it might not be as large, recently renovated, hip - but there are choices that can be made.

True, sadly true.

We never wanted to live in Far NW. It's expensive suburbia. We got lucky getting into one of the best public schools in DC. We got lucky. We arrived at the right time.

The snottitude of families who overpaid for their ugly wee post-war brick dollhouses in Tenleytown just slay me. Nobody envies you as much as you envy yourselves. Your houses are ugly, your schools are over-crowded, you have no idea what it's like to live in a cosmopolitan environment, and you're all obviously terribly insecure. Oh, and you're angry. Jeepers! You're so good at angry.

??? Who are you talking about? Frankly, it's the hipsters living in the gentrifying neighborhoods who poo-poo'ed those of us living in boring Upper Caucasia who are all fretting over the lottery. What are we angry about? And, as has been posted a million times on these threads, buying in some of the neighborhoods (Mt. P/Columbia Heights/Hill/H Street) isn't exactly cheap either, so don't make it out to be like class warfare. Every time someone posts a house under $700k in bounds for a JLKM, someone will come and say, it needs too much work, it's too small, etc.

[Anonymous]

The system is "unfair" but it's the SAME unfairness that plagues the low-income neighborhoods whose children have parents who aren't entering them into the lottery. Yes, it sucks that your IB school has bad test scores and is not providing a quality education. It's equally unfair for the kids that have been living in those same neighborhoods for years have been deprived of a quality education.

It's not reasonable to think that the same 10 charters schools that 1000 of families are trying to get into are going to solve the problem.

[Anonymous]

This was such a nice, helpful, and on-topic thread for the first eight posts or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Successful charters with huge waitlists should expand. The city should give them the resources to do so. A lottery system is "fair" in the sense that it doesn't favor anyone for getting in... But it is not "fair" to only give a small number of students an opportunity to attend. And the illusionof "choice" is the worst. You don't have a choice to send your kid to the best hrcs for their needs--you have a "choice" of possibly getting into one of them.

I admit being very frustrated with the system right now. We are lucky, because we're zoned for a good middle school, but I don't think it will be the best fit for our xhild. Our child is happy at the school we started at this fall... But I think Latin would be the best fit for middle school, and to get into Latin... We need to apply for next year. I don't know whether to hope for a placement or not, to be honest.

Do you think that if the "hot" charter schools were allowed to "expand" to meet demand they would still be as good? Probably not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Successful charters with huge waitlists should expand. The city should give them the resources to do so. A lottery system is "fair" in the sense that it doesn't favor anyone for getting in... But it is not "fair" to only give a small number of students an opportunity to attend. And the illusionof "choice" is the worst. You don't have a choice to send your kid to the best hrcs for their needs--you have a "choice" of possibly getting into one of them.

I admit being very frustrated with the system right now. We are lucky, because we're zoned for a good middle school, but I don't think it will be the best fit for our xhild. Our child is happy at the school we started at this fall... But I think Latin would be the best fit for middle school, and to get into Latin... We need to apply for next year. I don't know whether to hope for a placement or not, to be honest.

Define successful. Long waiting doesn't necessarily mean anything other than "segregation" in many ways. Expanding may make matter worst for some schools when they need to figure out things with their current population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Successful charters with huge waitlists should expand. The city should give them the resources to do so. A lottery system is "fair" in the sense that it doesn't favor anyone for getting in... But it is not "fair" to only give a small number of students an opportunity to attend. And the illusionof "choice" is the worst. You don't have a choice to send your kid to the best hrcs for their needs--you have a "choice" of possibly getting into one of them.

I admit being very frustrated with the system right now. We are lucky, because we're zoned for a good middle school, but I don't think it will be the best fit for our xhild. Our child is happy at the school we started at this fall... But I think Latin would be the best fit for middle school, and to get into Latin... We need to apply for next year. I don't know whether to hope for a placement or not, to be honest.

Do you think that if the "hot" charter schools were allowed to "expand" to meet demand they would still be as good? Probably not.

My kid has been at ITS since year one. The school's size has nearly doubled in 5 years. I don't think growing any faster than that would be a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Successful charters with huge waitlists should expand. The city should give them the resources to do so. A lottery system is "fair" in the sense that it doesn't favor anyone for getting in... But it is not "fair" to only give a small number of students an opportunity to attend. And the illusionof "choice" is the worst. You don't have a choice to send your kid to the best hrcs for their needs--you have a "choice" of possibly getting into one of them.

I admit being very frustrated with the system right now. We are lucky, because we're zoned for a good middle school, but I don't think it will be the best fit for our xhild. Our child is happy at the school we started at this fall... But I think Latin would be the best fit for middle school, and to get into Latin... We need to apply for next year. I don't know whether to hope for a placement or not, to be honest.

Your bolded is a mistake a lot of people make in thinking all the successful charters need to do is "expand". "Just add more classrooms, get a bigger building, open a second building". Only until you've opened a school or run a school do you understand that something that works on a certain scale does not automatically continue to be manageable or of the same high quality when you "just expand". I've been to a couple of panels of successful charter founders since we have had a school-aged child in DC and I've heard them say the same things: no interest in expanding. It just isn't that simple.

And, all due respect to the struggle (we've been through the insanity of looking for schools and being shut out ourselves), but this scarcity of good spots is a given in DC and I don't understand people talking about "the illusion of choice". Who ever had that illusion that you can "choose" what DC public school your kid will go to?

People need to stop complaining and expecting other people to do all the work for them and do what the founders of the schools you want into so badly now did: START MORE GOOD CHARTER SCHOOLS. OR... GET HEAVILY INVOLVED IN YOUR IB SCHOOL long before your kids are old enough to go and work tirelessly to improve it.

More seats at good schools don't just suddenly appear from the ether. Several someones work hard to create them/improve them. Lamenting about how unfair it is shows that some of you had the privilege of not caring or not paying attention for years before deciding to move to DC with kids or have kids here. But the lack of good seats is historic and this is the best it's been in a long while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Successful charters with huge waitlists should expand. The city should give them the resources to do so. A lottery system is "fair" in the sense that it doesn't favor anyone for getting in... But it is not "fair" to only give a small number of students an opportunity to attend. And the illusionof "choice" is the worst. You don't have a choice to send your kid to the best hrcs for their needs--you have a "choice" of possibly getting into one of them.

I admit being very frustrated with the system right now. We are lucky, because we're zoned for a good middle school, but I don't think it will be the best fit for our xhild. Our child is happy at the school we started at this fall... But I think Latin would be the best fit for middle school, and to get into Latin... We need to apply for next year. I don't know whether to hope for a placement or not, to be honest.

Your bolded is a mistake a lot of people make in thinking all the successful charters need to do is "expand". "Just add more classrooms, get a bigger building, open a second building". Only until you've opened a school or run a school do you understand that something that works on a certain scale does not automatically continue to be manageable or of the same high quality when you "just expand". I've been to a couple of panels of successful charter founders since we have had a school-aged child in DC and I've heard them say the same things: no interest in expanding. It just isn't that simple.

And, all due respect to the struggle (we've been through the insanity of looking for schools and being shut out ourselves), but this scarcity of good spots is a given in DC and I don't understand people talking about "the illusion of choice". Who ever had that illusion that you can "choose" what DC public school your kid will go to?

People need to stop complaining and expecting other people to do all the work for them and do what the founders of the schools you want into so badly now did: START MORE GOOD CHARTER SCHOOLS. OR... GET HEAVILY INVOLVED IN YOUR IB SCHOOL long before your kids are old enough to go and work tirelessly to improve it.

More seats at good schools don't just suddenly appear from the ether. Several someones work hard to create them/improve them. Lamenting about how unfair it is shows that some of you had the privilege of not caring or not paying attention for years before deciding to move to DC with kids or have kids here. But the lack of good seats is historic and this is the best it's been in a long while.

Same PP, btw pointing out it's the best it's been in a long while is not to say it doesn't have to get better. It's just to say it doesn't happen by itself, so what are those who are unhappy about it willing to do to improve it? Or is it just that once your kids get into an acceptable school you're done and it's not your problem anymore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was such a nice, helpful, and on-topic thread for the first eight posts or so.

IKR - I guess there's no point in checking again until the new year, hopefully once open houses start again there will be on topic responses again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Successful charters with huge waitlists should expand. The city should give them the resources to do so. A lottery system is "fair" in the sense that it doesn't favor anyone for getting in... But it is not "fair" to only give a small number of students an opportunity to attend. And the illusionof "choice" is the worst. You don't have a choice to send your kid to the best hrcs for their needs--you have a "choice" of possibly getting into one of them.

I admit being very frustrated with the system right now. We are lucky, because we're zoned for a good middle school, but I don't think it will be the best fit for our xhild. Our child is happy at the school we started at this fall... But I think Latin would be the best fit for middle school, and to get into Latin... We need to apply for next year. I don't know whether to hope for a placement or not, to be honest.

Your bolded is a mistake a lot of people make in thinking all the successful charters need to do is "expand". "Just add more classrooms, get a bigger building, open a second building". Only until you've opened a school or run a school do you understand that something that works on a certain scale does not automatically continue to be manageable or of the same high quality when you "just expand". I've been to a couple of panels of successful charter founders since we have had a school-aged child in DC and I've heard them say the same things: no interest in expanding. It just isn't that simple.

And, all due respect to the struggle (we've been through the insanity of looking for schools and being shut out ourselves), but this scarcity of good spots is a given in DC and I don't understand people talking about "the illusion of choice". Who ever had that illusion that you can "choose" what DC public school your kid will go to?

People need to stop complaining and expecting other people to do all the work for them and do what the founders of the schools you want into so badly now did: START MORE GOOD CHARTER SCHOOLS. OR... GET HEAVILY INVOLVED IN YOUR IB SCHOOL long before your kids are old enough to go and work tirelessly to improve it.

More seats at good schools don't just suddenly appear from the ether. Several someones work hard to create them/improve them. Lamenting about how unfair it is shows that some of you had the privilege of not caring or not paying attention for years before deciding to move to DC with kids or have kids here. But the lack of good seats is historic and this is the best it's been in a long while.

People say this shit all the time on here. You know, go ahead and start your own charter school! No biggie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Successful charters with huge waitlists should expand. The city should give them the resources to do so. A lottery system is "fair" in the sense that it doesn't favor anyone for getting in... But it is not "fair" to only give a small number of students an opportunity to attend. And the illusionof "choice" is the worst. You don't have a choice to send your kid to the best hrcs for their needs--you have a "choice" of possibly getting into one of them.

I admit being very frustrated with the system right now. We are lucky, because we're zoned for a good middle school, but I don't think it will be the best fit for our xhild. Our child is happy at the school we started at this fall... But I think Latin would be the best fit for middle school, and to get into Latin... We need to apply for next year. I don't know whether to hope for a placement or not, to be honest.

Your bolded is a mistake a lot of people make in thinking all the successful charters need to do is "expand". "Just add more classrooms, get a bigger building, open a second building". Only until you've opened a school or run a school do you understand that something that works on a certain scale does not automatically continue to be manageable or of the same high quality when you "just expand". I've been to a couple of panels of successful charter founders since we have had a school-aged child in DC and I've heard them say the same things: no interest in expanding. It just isn't that simple.

And, all due respect to the struggle (we've been through the insanity of looking for schools and being shut out ourselves), but this scarcity of good spots is a given in DC and I don't understand people talking about "the illusion of choice". Who ever had that illusion that you can "choose" what DC public school your kid will go to?

People need to stop complaining and expecting other people to do all the work for them and do what the founders of the schools you want into so badly now did: START MORE GOOD CHARTER SCHOOLS. OR... GET HEAVILY INVOLVED IN YOUR IB SCHOOL long before your kids are old enough to go and work tirelessly to improve it.

More seats at good schools don't just suddenly appear from the ether. Several someones work hard to create them/improve them. Lamenting about how unfair it is shows that some of you had the privilege of not caring or not paying attention for years before deciding to move to DC with kids or have kids here. But the lack of good seats is historic and this is the best it's been in a long while.

People say this shit all the time on here. You know, go ahead and start your own charter school! No biggie.

You know why it gets said over and over? Because over and over parents like the PP that post was responding to cry "It's SO UNFAIR! It's an ILLUSION OF CHOICE!" It's been unfair - grossly, egregiously unfair - for decades. It's never actually been an illusion of choice; back when Oyster-Adams and Ward 3 schools were the only public DC schools anyone wanted, you were either IB or you slept out for a week for O-A. It wasn't fair then. The only reason more families are actually interested DC Public Schools now is because some people DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT. They tried to set some things on fire within DCPS to cause changes (whether you approve of those changes or not), and some other people started schools.

The point is, whining and crying about how unfair it is like it just became unfair has never and will never create new quality slots. It it just whining and crying. New slots get created when people stop whining and crying about it and do something to change it, either in their current IB school or by starting a new school.

You don't have to be someone who does something about it. But spare the crying about how unfair it is as if that's anything new and as if everyone else is supposed to jump to attention and create new quality slots just because your kids actually need options now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:this show just how profoundly unfair this whole process is. thousands of kids on waiting list of schools they have a 1% chance of getting into. The schools don't even have to pretend to give a shit about wooing you anymore. You kids educations is only as good as their luck at age 3.

Your kids education is only as good as the parent's foresight in living in IB to a school they were happy with. We all make choices. Many of the individuals on DCUM have financial options such that they can be IB for a good school - it might not be as large, recently renovated, hip - but there are choices that can be made.

True, sadly true.

We never wanted to live in Far NW. It's expensive suburbia. We got lucky getting into one of the best public schools in DC. We got lucky. We arrived at the right time.

The snottitude of families who overpaid for their ugly wee post-war brick dollhouses in Tenleytown just slay me. Nobody envies you as much as you envy yourselves. Your houses are ugly, your schools are over-crowded, you have no idea what it's like to live in a cosmopolitan environment, and you're all obviously terribly insecure. Oh, and you're angry. Jeepers! You're so good at angry.

??? Who are you talking about? Frankly, it's the hipsters living in the gentrifying neighborhoods who poo-poo'ed those of us living in boring Upper Caucasia who are all fretting over the lottery. What are we angry about? And, as has been posted a million times on these threads, buying in some of the neighborhoods (Mt. P/Columbia Heights/Hill/H Street) isn't exactly cheap either, so don't make it out to be like class warfare. Every time someone posts a house under $700k in bounds for a JLKM, someone will come and say, it needs too much work, it's too small, etc.

Seriously, who is the angry person in the post??

I live in the terrible upper NW and I experience WAY more snootiness from people who live in Hipsterville about how great their neighborhood is than I do from my neighbors, most of whom are regular people with regular salaries who bought their houses 5+ years ago for the same price that many houses in Columbia Heights and Mt. Pleasant sell for now. My school is not overcrowded. I don't know how you define "cosmopolitan" but I live in a very walkable neighborhood with proximity to all the amenities we need. In the end, I hope the best for all kids and don't care to engage in battles about schools and neighborhoods.