No, no one is saying it could never work for UMC kids. But it's targeted at them or their needs. It's targeted at underprivileged kids. UMC parents generally don't "need" the special KIPP sauce. Whether it could be a good environment for some of them is secondary. Those kids will succeed in a variety of schools. |
Actually my neighborhood school is not dysfunctional at all (from my perspective). It is one of those schools with 50+ IB kids on the PK3 waiting list. My neighbors decamped for KIPP because they thought the schools' expectations were TOO LOW for their kids, in part due to race. They thought KIPP (and more traditional DCPS schools) would be a better fit. |
You have many assumptions going. Talk about twisting. KIPP would never be a good environment for my child; I believe it can be a great environment for a different child. Meanwhile, I have known a lot about KIPP for a long time, and I know people who have worked there since early on. What I'm calling out is that what you think you are commiting uninformed stereotyping in thinking that you are calling out uninformed stereotyping. But whatever. Keep the chip on your shoulder. |
This. People have at least a superficial sense of what a school like KIPP is like, and many MC/UMC parents aren't interested based on that reputation. There's probably some racism at work, and a lot of classism, but it's also a fact that many MC/UMC parents these days prefer a more progressive/less traditional/structured/strict system. People push back against perceived "teaching to the test" and loads of homework. And I agree that there is some bias against a national chain v. a local charter. These parents may be wrong to reject the school, but it's not hard to see why they do. |
And I am here to tell you that my UMC kid failed miserably at a school that didn't have the right kind of structure. In a choice between Montessori and KIPP, there's no question for him ... KIPP. Again, this stuff is NOT universal. I am positive there are many kids at KIPP who would also do wonderfully at CMI or ITS or Lee. |
\ correcting: "What I'm calling out is that you are commiting uninformed stereotyping in thinking that you are calling out uninformed stereotyping." |
Um ... ok. So what's your position on OP's question? Why does this board and UMC parents in general never consider KIPP as viable options? |
I honestly think the "teaching to the test" thing is very hypocritical. People literally rank schools on here by PARCC scores, and then ding KIPP for "teaching to the test" when they produce excellent PARCC scores. |
Absolutely true across DCPS as well. But I do think the focus on testing in general makes UMC parents uncomfortable. |
Is this your 5 year old again? Failing? |
Like I said, my mind is open. OP's question is why KIPP schools aren't popular on this board, which generally means people looking for PK-K spots. My personal experience has demonstrated that the reason I didn't consider KIPP is that I didn't understand my child's learning style, how schools work, and how "structure" would play out for him. Going forward, I'm not going to make assumptions based on stigma. Are you arguing there is no stigma related to KIPP? |
| Why go to kipp if there is an acceptable school a short walk away? |
Yes, failing, in the way 3-4-5 year olds can fail. Obviously I don't mean grades. But kids that young can fail in school, absolutely. Sorry you don't like that verb. How about just substitute "struggle" if that makes you feel better. |
(a) Some on this board and some UMC parents do consider KIPP. I don't understand why you keep saying "never'. (b) The multiple reasons that many UMC parents do not consider KIPP have been provided in several places in this thread (too long of a school day, too structured, targeted at underserved students, etc. etc.) |
Ok well, I see very few examples of (a) but I know you're right. (b) you're just rehashing something I disagree with and consider more driven by stigma than actually considering your child and the school. |