Rave about your DCPS/charter school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:hahahahahaha! this is SO DCUM!! It's supposed to be a thread about Raving about your DCPS/charter school, but instead it's just another whine and cheese event!!!

Raving is one thing. Making the best of things when you can't afford a private, like the OP, another. Almost all of us in DCPS and DC Charter are, if we're being perfectly honest with ourselves, simply doing the latter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:hahahahahaha! this is SO DCUM!! It's supposed to be a thread about Raving about your DCPS/charter school, but instead it's just another whine and cheese event!!!

Raving is one thing. Making the best of things when you can't afford a private, like the OP, another. Almost all of us in DCPS and DC Charter are, if we're being perfectly honest with ourselves, simply doing the latter.

I am not. we can afford private, but there are no private schools in this area with a mix as perfect for our family as our charter. No school is absolutely perfect, but we keep our child in her charter because it is the best fit for her. Only time will tell if that continues, but for now our experience has given us high expectations of a continued good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:hahahahahaha! this is SO DCUM!! It's supposed to be a thread about Raving about your DCPS/charter school, but instead it's just another whine and cheese event!!!

Raving is one thing. Making the best of things when you can't afford a private, like the OP, another. Almost all of us in DCPS and DC Charter are, if we're being perfectly honest with ourselves, simply doing the latter.

It would be a tight stretch to pay for the Marets and Sidwells, but we could pull it off with sacrifice. We could easily afford the St Jeromes and Anthonys. We are sticking with our charter, for at this time it works for our family. I think you assume to much when counting other people's money and comparing it to your situation

To answer the original question. DS loves YY. We will see what the future entails.

[Anonymous]

Agree with 22:39: the great majority of DCPS and charter parents would be paying for Sidwell etc. if they won the lottery, or would at least go with WotP elementary schools if they could afford good-sized homes in Upper NW.

The charters' 2012 proficiency percentages on the DC-CAS are telling, not a one near WotP (80-92%).

We've liked YY for the lower grades, but the English teaching isn't the best, it really is BS to have so few bilingual kids in an immersion school (regardless of what scores of Chinese bashing DCUM pps have to say on the matter), and there too many AA kids who struggle with everything, math, English, Mandarin.

EotP, you're essentially stuck playing the DC public school game year by year, which wears on many of us. So rave away but reality bites after around 3rd grade everywhere but WotP and maybe Brent for the Hill lovers.

[Anonymous]

What's wrong with wine and cheese? Do you prefer pork rinds and beer? Maybe Twinkies and purple kool-aid is your choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with 22:39: the great majority of DCPS and charter parents would be paying for Sidwell etc. if they won the lottery, or would at least go with WotP elementary schools if they could afford good-sized homes in Upper NW.

The charters' 2012 proficiency percentages on the DC-CAS are telling, not a one near WotP (80-92%).

We've liked YY for the lower grades, but the English teaching isn't the best, it really is BS to have so few bilingual kids in an immersion school (regardless of what scores of Chinese bashing DCUM pps have to say on the matter), and there too many AA kids who struggle with everything, math, English, Mandarin.

EotP, you're essentially stuck playing the DC public school game year by year, which wears on many of us. So rave away but reality bites after around 3rd grade everywhere but WotP and maybe Brent for the Hill lovers.

Whoa! I really can't believe you posted this. Racist, much??? Pretty sure you belong way out in the suburbs....

[Anonymous]

Some of the most racist people I've met are the white gentrifiers in charter schools. They think they can turn their charter into a private school with no low income or minorities like they are doing in their neighborhood. They only socialize with each other and it's very obvious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of the most racist people I've met are the white gentrifiers in charter schools. They think they can turn their charter into a private school with no low income or minorities like they are doing in their neighborhood. They only socialize with each other and it's very obvious.

Appearances are deceiving. I am a non white parent at a charter school. It's true that the some white parents socialize with each other. It's also true that the same very involved white parents reach out to the black and Latino families at our school. The issue is lack of reciprocity. I have seen many white parents reach out for playdates, sports teams, happy hours, etc. Rarely, if ever, does it happen in reverse. I think it's also and issue of class but not always. Sometimes, I think it's also an issue of compartmentalization. Out of school time is for family, neighbors or church only. There are many black and Latino parents who just do not see their role as being a part of a school community. I am sometimes guilty of that mindset. There are a few Latino moms who chat each other up at arrival and dismissal, but it's doubtful that those moms socialize outside of school. I think this is, in part, a challenge for charter school communities where children are from all over the city versus the neighborhood.

I did see black moms at a WotP school whose children were OOB do a phenomenal job of organizing the parent community and setting the tone at the school. I suspect that most were middle to upper class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Appearances are deceiving. I am a non white parent at a charter school. It's true that the some white parents socialize with each other. It's also true that the same very involved white parents reach out to the black and Latino families at our school. The issue is lack of reciprocity. I have seen many white parents reach out for playdates, sports teams, happy hours, etc. Rarely, if ever, does it happen in reverse. I think it's also and issue of class but not always. Sometimes, I think it's also an issue of compartmentalization. Out of school time is for family, neighbors or church only. There are many black and Latino parents who just do not see their role as being a part of a school community. I am sometimes guilty of that mindset. There are a few Latino moms who chat each other up at arrival and dismissal, but it's doubtful that those moms socialize outside of school. I think this is, in part, a challenge for charter school communities where children are from all over the city versus the neighborhood.

I did see black moms at a WotP school whose children were OOB do a phenomenal job of organizing the parent community and setting the tone at the school. I suspect that most were middle to upper class.

Great observation and analysis. Thanks for sharing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of the most racist people I've met are the white gentrifiers in charter schools. They think they can turn their charter into a private school with no low income or minorities like they are doing in their neighborhood. They only socialize with each other and it's very obvious.

Let me turn that around for you. In our charter the AA families only socialize with each other. Clearly they are racist and want to turn the school into an entirely AA community with no entitled high income families.

See how idiotic you sound?

[Anonymous]

Come on, the issue is around 80% class, not race. Peruse the thread and read the writing on the wall: most of the ravers have young children. You're not hearing a lot from those at charters with kids in upper elementary grades, or DCPS middle schools (other than Deal; where are the Hardy, SH and EH ravers?).

There is a well-documented achievement gap in this city that's much wider than that of any state. Two obvious reasons for the gap: Metro area black upper-middle-class families will hardly touch DC public schools as a group, and poor administration of DCPS since the 70s.

Turning things around slowly will surely drive many of the ravers, perhaps even most, out before high school. Nobody should be shocked. Making factual statements about student achievement hardly constitutes racism, folks. Bona fide racists wouldn't bother with DCPS EotP, or charters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with 22:39: the great majority of DCPS and charter parents would be paying for Sidwell etc. if they won the lottery, or would at least go with WotP elementary schools if they could afford good-sized homes in Upper NW.

The charters' 2012 proficiency percentages on the DC-CAS are telling, not a one near WotP (80-92%).

We've liked YY for the lower grades, but the English teaching isn't the best, it really is BS to have so few bilingual kids in an immersion school (regardless of what scores of Chinese bashing DCUM pps have to say on the matter), and there too many AA kids who struggle with everything, math, English, Mandarin.

EotP, you're essentially stuck playing the DC public school game year by year, which wears on many of us. So rave away but reality bites after around 3rd grade everywhere but WotP and maybe Brent for the Hill lovers.


I'm 8:03 and AA, and we do not need the lottery. Although, I would not balk if someone gave me the winning ticket.

Seriously, how would you know which students are struggling academically. You automatically assume that the non-AA students are academically advanced, and the AA students deficient. For your information, the top three students in the rising 5th grade are AA boys. But, of course that can't fit into your narrow narration of possibilities.

If DCI looks weak, or we do not get into Basis or the proposed McKinley advanced STEM school, my family will attempt to make that stretch.

You are correct,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the most racist people I've met are the white gentrifiers in charter schools. They think they can turn their charter into a private school with no low income or minorities like they are doing in their neighborhood. They only socialize with each other and it's very obvious.

Let me turn that around for you. In our charter the AA families only socialize with each other. Clearly they are racist and want to turn the school into an entirely AA community with no entitled high income families.

See how idiotic you sound?

So, you don't have any high income AA families at your charter. Which charter school is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Come on, the issue is around 80% class, not race. Peruse the thread and read the writing on the wall: most of the ravers have young children. You're not hearing a lot from those at charters with kids in upper elementary grades, or DCPS middle schools (other than Deal; where are the Hardy, SH and EH ravers?).

There is a well-documented achievement gap in this city that's much wider than that of any state. Two obvious reasons for the gap: Metro area black upper-middle-class families will hardly touch DC public schools as a group, and poor administration of DCPS since the 70s.

Turning things around slowly will surely drive many of the ravers, perhaps even most, out before high school. Nobody should be shocked. Making factual statements about student achievement hardly constitutes racism, folks. Bona fide racists wouldn't bother with DCPS EotP, or charters.

How is that poster's statement factual? She was making an assumption based on her beliefs, without any evidence. Have YY' s breakdown of the DC-CAS been posted and everyone except that poster missed the results? I know, she has talked to all the teachers, and they have personally told her that all the AA students are failing miserably in math, English, and Mandarin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

How is that poster's statement factual? She was making an assumption based on her beliefs, without any evidence. Have YY' s breakdown of the DC-CAS been posted and everyone except that poster missed the results? I know, she has talked to all the teachers, and they have personally told her that all the AA students are failing miserably in math, English, and Mandarin.

Good Lord! We were at YY and nothing could be more factual. Evidence: a non-immersion 2nd track the whole city knows about, and every kid on it this past year AA. The pps who rave about YY don't tend to have kids in the upper grades. We're leaving for a private due to lack of rigor (in math and English, not Mandarin). Look at the break down of 2010 and 2011 test scores by race if you doubt that a large group of AA kids struggles. Or simply look at the location - Brookland is hardly Friendship Heights. There are AA kids who do well of course, but they tend to be high-SES. Some even have Chinese-speaking au pairs at home. No poster said ALL AA kids. Grow up.