Watkins Parents: How pleased are you? How optimistic?

[Anonymous]

We are at Peabody and inbounds for Watkins. We've been accepted into a HRCS. But I'm struggling with what to do.

I want to invest in my community, live close to school, retain old friendships, etc. My sense is that Watkins will get better and better, especially with the renovation, and a range of factors (demographics, new Leadership, etc.)

But I don't know if it's arrived yet. And I don't want to squander this present chance at a public alternative.

Thoughts from current parents? (I've read and heard about past challenges, but do parents feel optimistic about the school's future?)

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I see it close up and feel optimistic. Watkins (with Peabody) will have its own principal next year and an altogether much stronger leadership team. It has a team of excellent teachers, which will thrive under leadership that fosters collaboration and innovation, not to mention operating in a much improved space. And it will have fewer and better supported students.

[Anonymous]

Take the HRCS slot. You can always return to Watkins if things don't work out, but I doubt you'll leave. A new principal won't change all that's wrong with Watkins by August.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take the HRCS slot. You can always return to Watkins if things don't work out, but I doubt you'll leave. A new principal won't change all that's wrong with Watkins by August.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take the HRCS slot. You can always return to Watkins if things don't work out, but I doubt you'll leave. A new principal won't change all that's wrong with Watkins by August.

Maybe. One piece of legislation being considered would prevent a student who has gone charter from ever returning to their neighborhood school. You would basically forfeit your right to your assigned DCPS when you enroll in a charter school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take the HRCS slot. You can always return to Watkins if things don't work out, but I doubt you'll leave. A new principal won't change all that's wrong with Watkins by August.

Maybe. One piece of legislation being considered would prevent a student who has gone charter from ever returning to their neighborhood school. You would basically forfeit your right to your assigned DCPS when you enroll in a charter school.

I support this type of legislation. I think it will help to provide some stability to all schools.

[Anonymous]

Who is sponsoring this kind of legislation? I have never heard that before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take the HRCS slot. You can always return to Watkins if things don't work out, but I doubt you'll leave. A new principal won't change all that's wrong with Watkins by August.

+1

Setting aside the absurdity that the term HRCS is being used seriously...+1. Going charter gives you options, but it doesn't work the other way around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who is sponsoring this kind of legislation? I have never heard that before.

Don't feed the trolls.

[Anonymous]

Take the charter slot. Anecdotally, i know lots of kids who left Watkins for a charter (or Brent) in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades and everyone is very happy. i don't know any (though there may be a few) that left one of those charters and chose to go to Watkins.

[Anonymous]

I'm uneducated on the Watkins issues (although E.V. Downey basically warned against it too). Can anyone point me to a prior thread that discusses the issues? I'm sure its been rehashed over and over so I'd rather not reinvent the wheel here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm uneducated on the Watkins issues (although E.V. Downey basically warned against it too). Can anyone point me to a prior thread that discusses the issues? I'm sure its been rehashed over and over so I'd rather not reinvent the wheel here.

Please don't. Please. Use the damn search function PP.

[Anonymous]

Watkins is a solid school. I used to teach there and would send my kid, if we lived in DC. New leadership will be nice. Teachers work together very well.
Is it perfect- nope? But I'd take a neighborhood school over a fly by night HRCS any day.

[Anonymous]

OP- what have you heard from other parents at Peabody? Will they be sending their kids to Watkins? What is last year's K class planning to do?

[Anonymous]

OP, I find it odd that you aren't you having this discussion with other Cluster parents. Do you think DCUM will give some insight not available from Cluster families in your neighborhood (who are admittedly a minority at Watkins)? Accept the charter spot and decide lone you have doing the legwork.