MacArthur

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t believe how hysterical some people are about MacArthur — a new school that happens to be Title 1 yet has a growing positive image among …. Gasp…. Non poor families who send their kids there. You all do know that JR has 32 percent at risk students, lots of drug use, fights, and one of my kids who went there distinctly recalls a half year where one of her teachers just went awol. On top of it, I’ve heard from one friend in the Palisades that the neighborhood is starting to get behind the school (since their kids may have to go there soon!) and that there’s going to be a lot of positive attention and effort for the school. So chatter away based on fourth hand gossip but I’m proud that my kid will soon be at MacArthur (and our IB school is JR).

No kidding. Lol at the Inspired Teaching parents believing they are too good for MacArthur.

That was my post and I said nothing of the sort. I said race doesn't matter to our family if enough of the kids are there to learn. I'm watching this thread to get a better understanding the situation at MA and did not offer any judgement about MA. All I expressed is that our families criteria is that any school have a high enough percentage of the student body that's taking advantage of the education opportunity. If MA can meet that threshold then we will list it when its time.

Oh wonderful that you maybdeem the school worthy of listing. Please, they are waiting on your favor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a huge, disproportionate overlap between the black group and poor group in DC. When people say too much Title 1 in a DC public school, what they are actually saying is too many blacks. Why track either stat in DC? It just feeds racism.

First of all, ignoring unequal outcomes eliminates the ability to track them and work towards decreasing the inequality in our system.

Secondly, I really don't think that people are primarily expressing anti-black racism when they express the desire to avoid a school that is largely Title 1. What they are trying to do is find a school with a decent cohort of high performers (which often correlates with high SES students). I don't think they necessarily care about what race those students are.

For example, ITDS is a popular school and has a large number of African American students as well as mixed students. It is not a Title 1 school. People are not necessarily against a large number of people of color. They are indeed trying to avoid being part of a school with a high percentage (especially a majority) of poor people.

I can endorse your anecdote. We're white and at ITDS for MS (the MS is less white than the lower grades). We are happy with the instruction and that DC is with enough other kids that come from families who support education -- some higher SES, some not. For us it's about having enough kids who want to learn and has nothing to do with race (though I will admit to appreciating that DC isn't in an all white school since I think there is some valuable understanding in that that will be a benefit throughout life)

“My child needs a school with enough black kids to get my social justice bona fides, but not TOO many such that they cannot have the ‘high achieving cohort’ to which they are entitled.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a huge, disproportionate overlap between the black group and poor group in DC. When people say too much Title 1 in a DC public school, what they are actually saying is too many blacks. Why track either stat in DC? It just feeds racism.

First of all, ignoring unequal outcomes eliminates the ability to track them and work towards decreasing the inequality in our system.

Secondly, I really don't think that people are primarily expressing anti-black racism when they express the desire to avoid a school that is largely Title 1. What they are trying to do is find a school with a decent cohort of high performers (which often correlates with high SES students). I don't think they necessarily care about what race those students are.

For example, ITDS is a popular school and has a large number of African American students as well as mixed students. It is not a Title 1 school. People are not necessarily against a large number of people of color. They are indeed trying to avoid being part of a school with a high percentage (especially a majority) of poor people.

I can endorse your anecdote. We're white and at ITDS for MS (the MS is less white than the lower grades). We are happy with the instruction and that DC is with enough other kids that come from families who support education -- some higher SES, some not. For us it's about having enough kids who want to learn and has nothing to do with race (though I will admit to appreciating that DC isn't in an all white school since I think there is some valuable understanding in that that will be a benefit throughout life)

“My child needs a school with enough black kids to get my social justice bona fides, but not TOO many such that they cannot have the ‘high achieving cohort’ to which they are entitled.”

ITS is 100 percent the school that white parents go to because demographics are their most important factor, and are a more important factor that academics and curriculum. These are parents choosing it over Seaton (a DCPS school with fewer white people but better academics) or, for middle school, BASIS (a school with more white people but also better academics).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t believe how hysterical some people are about MacArthur — a new school that happens to be Title 1 yet has a growing positive image among …. Gasp…. Non poor families who send their kids there. You all do know that JR has 32 percent at risk students, lots of drug use, fights, and one of my kids who went there distinctly recalls a half year where one of her teachers just went awol. On top of it, I’ve heard from one friend in the Palisades that the neighborhood is starting to get behind the school (since their kids may have to go there soon!) and that there’s going to be a lot of positive attention and effort for the school. So chatter away based on fourth hand gossip but I’m proud that my kid will soon be at MacArthur (and our IB school is JR).

Frankly your anecdotals are not of much value. The data will show just how “good” MA will be.

As of now it’s not good in curriculum offerings, sports, or clubs and commute is just terrible

I doubt this poster knows the curriculum, sports planned and currently offered, and the clubs. Hell, I’m a parent and don’t even know the clubs offered—I periodically hear of clubs I didn’t know about. And the commute is challenging but whatever. Hate away!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t believe how hysterical some people are about MacArthur — a new school that happens to be Title 1 yet has a growing positive image among …. Gasp…. Non poor families who send their kids there. You all do know that JR has 32 percent at risk students, lots of drug use, fights, and one of my kids who went there distinctly recalls a half year where one of her teachers just went awol. On top of it, I’ve heard from one friend in the Palisades that the neighborhood is starting to get behind the school (since their kids may have to go there soon!) and that there’s going to be a lot of positive attention and effort for the school. So chatter away based on fourth hand gossip but I’m proud that my kid will soon be at MacArthur (and our IB school is JR).

Frankly your anecdotals are not of much value. The data will show just how “good” MA will be.

As of now it’s not good in curriculum offerings, sports, or clubs and commute is just terrible

I doubt this poster knows the curriculum, sports planned and currently offered, and the clubs. Hell, I’m a parent and don’t even know the clubs offered—I periodically hear of clubs I didn’t know about. And the commute is challenging but whatever. Hate away!!

the commute truly is the worst part. If only W3 didn’t have such pathetic bike infrastructure, kids could bike to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a huge, disproportionate overlap between the black group and poor group in DC. When people say too much Title 1 in a DC public school, what they are actually saying is too many blacks. Why track either stat in DC? It just feeds racism.

First of all, ignoring unequal outcomes eliminates the ability to track them and work towards decreasing the inequality in our system.

Secondly, I really don't think that people are primarily expressing anti-black racism when they express the desire to avoid a school that is largely Title 1. What they are trying to do is find a school with a decent cohort of high performers (which often correlates with high SES students). I don't think they necessarily care about what race those students are.

For example, ITDS is a popular school and has a large number of African American students as well as mixed students. It is not a Title 1 school. People are not necessarily against a large number of people of color. They are indeed trying to avoid being part of a school with a high percentage (especially a majority) of poor people.

I can endorse your anecdote. We're white and at ITDS for MS (the MS is less white than the lower grades). We are happy with the instruction and that DC is with enough other kids that come from families who support education -- some higher SES, some not. For us it's about having enough kids who want to learn and has nothing to do with race (though I will admit to appreciating that DC isn't in an all white school since I think there is some valuable understanding in that that will be a benefit throughout life)

“My child needs a school with enough black kids to get my social justice bona fides, but not TOO many such that they cannot have the ‘high achieving cohort’ to which they are entitled.”

I know you aren't trying to be nice but I did think about your comment.

We don't believe we are just seeking a "social justice bona fides" credential. We think we have our kids in an environment that's closer to the America they'll live in throughout their lives than they would find in some enclave in the suburbs. I realize our impressions of our motivations by be different than your impressions of our motivations.

Unfortunately in DC, your reference to a "high achieving cohort" and our seeking "a reasonable number of kids on grade level" can refer to the same thing in a way those terms wouldn't in either MoCo or FairfaxCo with their test in programs. I do believe a school needs a strong enough group on grade level to support the learning our kids will need in the globalized market place they will find when they are adults.

It's an anonymous forum and I chose to share what I'd be looking for in MA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a huge, disproportionate overlap between the black group and poor group in DC. When people say too much Title 1 in a DC public school, what they are actually saying is too many blacks. Why track either stat in DC? It just feeds racism.

First of all, ignoring unequal outcomes eliminates the ability to track them and work towards decreasing the inequality in our system.

Secondly, I really don't think that people are primarily expressing anti-black racism when they express the desire to avoid a school that is largely Title 1. What they are trying to do is find a school with a decent cohort of high performers (which often correlates with high SES students). I don't think they necessarily care about what race those students are.

For example, ITDS is a popular school and has a large number of African American students as well as mixed students. It is not a Title 1 school. People are not necessarily against a large number of people of color. They are indeed trying to avoid being part of a school with a high percentage (especially a majority) of poor people.

I can endorse your anecdote. We're white and at ITDS for MS (the MS is less white than the lower grades). We are happy with the instruction and that DC is with enough other kids that come from families who support education -- some higher SES, some not. For us it's about having enough kids who want to learn and has nothing to do with race (though I will admit to appreciating that DC isn't in an all white school since I think there is some valuable understanding in that that will be a benefit throughout life)

“My child needs a school with enough black kids to get my social justice bona fides, but not TOO many such that they cannot have the ‘high achieving cohort’ to which they are entitled.”

I know you aren't trying to be nice but I did think about your comment.

We don't believe we are just seeking a "social justice bona fides" credential. We think we have our kids in an environment that's closer to the America they'll live in throughout their lives than they would find in some enclave in the suburbs. I realize our impressions of our motivations by be different than your impressions of our motivations.

Unfortunately in DC, your reference to a "high achieving cohort" and our seeking "a reasonable number of kids on grade level" can refer to the same thing in a way those terms wouldn't in either MoCo or FairfaxCo with their test in programs. I do believe a school needs a strong enough group on grade level to support the learning our kids will need in the globalized market place they will find when they are adults.

It's an anonymous forum and I chose to share what I'd be looking for in MA.

Your desire for a bespoke level of diversity really speaks for itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a huge, disproportionate overlap between the black group and poor group in DC. When people say too much Title 1 in a DC public school, what they are actually saying is too many blacks. Why track either stat in DC? It just feeds racism.

First of all, ignoring unequal outcomes eliminates the ability to track them and work towards decreasing the inequality in our system.

Secondly, I really don't think that people are primarily expressing anti-black racism when they express the desire to avoid a school that is largely Title 1. What they are trying to do is find a school with a decent cohort of high performers (which often correlates with high SES students). I don't think they necessarily care about what race those students are.

For example, ITDS is a popular school and has a large number of African American students as well as mixed students. It is not a Title 1 school. People are not necessarily against a large number of people of color. They are indeed trying to avoid being part of a school with a high percentage (especially a majority) of poor people.

I can endorse your anecdote. We're white and at ITDS for MS (the MS is less white than the lower grades). We are happy with the instruction and that DC is with enough other kids that come from families who support education -- some higher SES, some not. For us it's about having enough kids who want to learn and has nothing to do with race (though I will admit to appreciating that DC isn't in an all white school since I think there is some valuable understanding in that that will be a benefit throughout life)

“My child needs a school with enough black kids to get my social justice bona fides, but not TOO many such that they cannot have the ‘high achieving cohort’ to which they are entitled.”

I know you aren't trying to be nice but I did think about your comment.

We don't believe we are just seeking a "social justice bona fides" credential. We think we have our kids in an environment that's closer to the America they'll live in throughout their lives than they would find in some enclave in the suburbs. I realize our impressions of our motivations by be different than your impressions of our motivations.

Unfortunately in DC, your reference to a "high achieving cohort" and our seeking "a reasonable number of kids on grade level" can refer to the same thing in a way those terms wouldn't in either MoCo or FairfaxCo with their test in programs. I do believe a school needs a strong enough group on grade level to support the learning our kids will need in the globalized market place they will find when they are adults.

It's an anonymous forum and I chose to share what I'd be looking for in MA.

Your desire for a bespoke level of diversity really speaks for itself.

"A good school that isn't in an all-white enclave" doesn't seem that racist to me, I guess? Especially in a part of the world where a lot of these all-white enclaves are that way because they were once sundown towns? The history of race in America means that we're sometimes weighing harms rather than finding a truly good option: are we contributing to gentrification or upholding de facto housing segregation? Are we being "colorblind" or are we tokenizing people of color? Are we sucking resources away from underresourced communities or are we failing to support local schools? Lots of white people are trying not to be part of the problem and sometimes failing pretty hard, but I'd rather try than not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a huge, disproportionate overlap between the black group and poor group in DC. When people say too much Title 1 in a DC public school, what they are actually saying is too many blacks. Why track either stat in DC? It just feeds racism.

First of all, ignoring unequal outcomes eliminates the ability to track them and work towards decreasing the inequality in our system.

Secondly, I really don't think that people are primarily expressing anti-black racism when they express the desire to avoid a school that is largely Title 1. What they are trying to do is find a school with a decent cohort of high performers (which often correlates with high SES students). I don't think they necessarily care about what race those students are.

For example, ITDS is a popular school and has a large number of African American students as well as mixed students. It is not a Title 1 school. People are not necessarily against a large number of people of color. They are indeed trying to avoid being part of a school with a high percentage (especially a majority) of poor people.

I can endorse your anecdote. We're white and at ITDS for MS (the MS is less white than the lower grades). We are happy with the instruction and that DC is with enough other kids that come from families who support education -- some higher SES, some not. For us it's about having enough kids who want to learn and has nothing to do with race (though I will admit to appreciating that DC isn't in an all white school since I think there is some valuable understanding in that that will be a benefit throughout life)

“My child needs a school with enough black kids to get my social justice bona fides, but not TOO many such that they cannot have the ‘high achieving cohort’ to which they are entitled.”

I know you aren't trying to be nice but I did think about your comment.

We don't believe we are just seeking a "social justice bona fides" credential. We think we have our kids in an environment that's closer to the America they'll live in throughout their lives than they would find in some enclave in the suburbs. I realize our impressions of our motivations by be different than your impressions of our motivations.

Unfortunately in DC, your reference to a "high achieving cohort" and our seeking "a reasonable number of kids on grade level" can refer to the same thing in a way those terms wouldn't in either MoCo or FairfaxCo with their test in programs. I do believe a school needs a strong enough group on grade level to support the learning our kids will need in the globalized market place they will find when they are adults.

It's an anonymous forum and I chose to share what I'd be looking for in MA.

Your desire for a bespoke level of diversity really speaks for itself.

"A good school that isn't in an all-white enclave" doesn't seem that racist to me, I guess? Especially in a part of the world where a lot of these all-white enclaves are that way because they were once sundown towns? The history of race in America means that we're sometimes weighing harms rather than finding a truly good option: are we contributing to gentrification or upholding de facto housing segregation? Are we being "colorblind" or are we tokenizing people of color? Are we sucking resources away from underresourced communities or are we failing to support local schools? Lots of white people are trying not to be part of the problem and sometimes failing pretty hard, but I'd rather try than not.

It's foolish to pretend that all of us, in the context of school choice in DC, aren't trying our best to find a good school for our children (whether we bought in zone for Jackson Reed or not). If you bought in Moco, Fairfax, or Arlington or a different county in this region with more uniformly good schools, then I'm not interested in hearing from you on this, because you don't understand the choice people in DC are making.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a huge, disproportionate overlap between the black group and poor group in DC. When people say too much Title 1 in a DC public school, what they are actually saying is too many blacks. Why track either stat in DC? It just feeds racism.

Er, Title 1 is a national program. Sure, DC can decline to count the number of poor students, and just forego the federal funds.

https://dcps.dc.gov/TitleI

"Title I is the largest source of federal funding for education. Schools receive Title I funds as part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Title I funds are used solely to help ensure that children, regardless of family income, can acquire an equitable and quality education that will allow students to become academically proficient. "

+1

My child, who is black, attends a Title 1 school. The extra resources provided are amazing and enhance the learning of all students at the school, regardless of income status.

Name the school.

Your school then is an outlier because the reality is that the funding is far from enough. Many, many title 1 schools do not have enough funding or resources to meet the needs of all the at risk kids, forget on grade level or high performing kids.

Whittier.

[Anonymous]

The previous poster that stated “she was explaining the reason why it’s important to track the number of black students” is why I hate “yall”. Are black people cattle or something? You know every black child is not “at risk” or “economically disadvantaged”. I know you probably just moved here a few yrs ago but this area has one of the wealthiest black populations in the country! Please go back where you came from and take your snowflake with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The previous poster that stated “she was explaining the reason why it’s important to track the number of black students” is why I hate “yall”. Are black people cattle or something? You know every black child is not “at risk” or “economically disadvantaged”. I know you probably just moved here a few yrs ago but this area has one of the wealthiest black populations in the country! Please go back where you came from and take your snowflake with you.

Do you even realize that there are at least three people you have been talking to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The previous poster that stated “she was explaining the reason why it’s important to track the number of black students” is why I hate “yall”. Are black people cattle or something? You know every black child is not “at risk” or “economically disadvantaged”. I know you probably just moved here a few yrs ago but this area has one of the wealthiest black populations in the country! Please go back where you came from and take your snowflake with you.

I'm the one who said that, and I've lived in a predominantly black upper middle class neighborhood for almost 20 years now. I was responding to someone who said that educational statistics should not even track whether people are black or white.

It's important to track that because there are huge disparities in educational outcomes not fully accounted for by income.

Here are some articles about that, in case you actually didn't know that:

https://home.treasury.gov/news/featured-stories/post-5-racial-differences-in-educational-experiences-and-attainment
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00405841.2016.1148985
https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2024/03/15/racial-disparities-within-college-education/

But I suspect you did know that and are just trying to ignore the context of that original response, or perhaps didn't read the whole thread, because if you had, your response wouldn't have taken my post so out of context.

Or, possibly, you're just bored and looking for something to be mad about today, in which case, by all means, get hateful about something you misunderstood.

After all, haters gonna hate!

[Anonymous]

Talking to the one that specifically said what I have in quotations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a huge, disproportionate overlap between the black group and poor group in DC. When people say too much Title 1 in a DC public school, what they are actually saying is too many blacks. Why track either stat in DC? It just feeds racism.

First of all, ignoring unequal outcomes eliminates the ability to track them and work towards decreasing the inequality in our system.

Secondly, I really don't think that people are primarily expressing anti-black racism when they express the desire to avoid a school that is largely Title 1. What they are trying to do is find a school with a decent cohort of high performers (which often correlates with high SES students). I don't think they necessarily care about what race those students are.

For example, ITDS is a popular school and has a large number of African American students as well as mixed students. It is not a Title 1 school. People are not necessarily against a large number of people of color. They are indeed trying to avoid being part of a school with a high percentage (especially a majority) of poor people.

I can endorse your anecdote. We're white and at ITDS for MS (the MS is less white than the lower grades). We are happy with the instruction and that DC is with enough other kids that come from families who support education -- some higher SES, some not. For us it's about having enough kids who want to learn and has nothing to do with race (though I will admit to appreciating that DC isn't in an all white school since I think there is some valuable understanding in that that will be a benefit throughout life)

“My child needs a school with enough black kids to get my social justice bona fides, but not TOO many such that they cannot have the ‘high achieving cohort’ to which they are entitled.”

I know you aren't trying to be nice but I did think about your comment.

We don't believe we are just seeking a "social justice bona fides" credential. We think we have our kids in an environment that's closer to the America they'll live in throughout their lives than they would find in some enclave in the suburbs. I realize our impressions of our motivations by be different than your impressions of our motivations.

Unfortunately in DC, your reference to a "high achieving cohort" and our seeking "a reasonable number of kids on grade level" can refer to the same thing in a way those terms wouldn't in either MoCo or FairfaxCo with their test in programs. I do believe a school needs a strong enough group on grade level to support the learning our kids will need in the globalized market place they will find when they are adults.

It's an anonymous forum and I chose to share what I'd be looking for in MA.

Your desire for a bespoke level of diversity really speaks for itself.

"A good school that isn't in an all-white enclave" doesn't seem that racist to me, I guess? Especially in a part of the world where a lot of these all-white enclaves are that way because they were once sundown towns? The history of race in America means that we're sometimes weighing harms rather than finding a truly good option: are we contributing to gentrification or upholding de facto housing segregation? Are we being "colorblind" or are we tokenizing people of color? Are we sucking resources away from underresourced communities or are we failing to support local schools? Lots of white people are trying not to be part of the problem and sometimes failing pretty hard, but I'd rather try than not.

It's foolish to pretend that all of us, in the context of school choice in DC, aren't trying our best to find a good school for our children (whether we bought in zone for Jackson Reed or not). If you bought in Moco, Fairfax, or Arlington or a different county in this region with more uniformly good schools, then I'm not interested in hearing from you on this, because you don't understand the choice people in DC are making.

I bought in DC, and we chose to avoid the areas WOTP in our housing search despite the good schools because it continues to be highly segregated. Is that what you wanted to know before taking my comment seriously?