Fix the Cluster/Stuart Hobson

[Anonymous]

Some of the parents who see charters off the Hill as the answer to their ms prayers are in for disappointment, not right away, but by hs. We left Latin after facing the reality that our bright and disciplined kid was falling behind peers in suburban schools and at privates, particularly in math, writing and Spanish.

There's only so much a great teacher and decent ms school can do when a good quarfter of the kids in a class lack basic academic skills. I'm not just talking about low-SES kids, I'm taling about white kids who didn't learn all that much in DCPS elementary schools, particularly in math. Every charter is under a lot of pressure to focus on raising proficiency pass rates rather than challenging the best prepared and most able students.

Our child attended a parochial school in NW this past school year and the difference was notable. For example, many of the kids in her Spanish class had been cared for by Latino nannies/au pairs, or have parents who speak the language, and participate in immersion summer camps (including low-SES scholarship kids). Also, her teacher was older and much more experienced than the one she had a Latin, who was paid peanuts. This means that Spanish instruction at her new school was miles ahead of Latin. She could have handled "honors" classes at Latin, but no such option.

I wish things were diferent because I can't afford parochial school for all my kids. DC really needs a high-quality, competitive admissions ms for advanced/gifted kids. I don't think SH would be a bad location for one, but the kumbaya Cluster leaders won't embrace the concept. I won't be surprised to see one emerge downtown in time, too late for most on this thread.

[Anonymous]

The operatives words are neighborhood and good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of the parents who see charters off the Hill as the answer to their ms prayers are in for disappointment, not right away, but by hs. We left Latin after facing the reality that our bright and disciplined kid was falling behind peers in suburban schools and at privates, particularly in math, writing and Spanish.

I call bullshit. Washington Latin teaches Latin, and starts French or Chinese in 8th grade for honors students and in 9th grade for all. Spanish is not part of the Latin curriculum.

[Anonymous]

+1. DC1 is a rising 9th grader at Latin, DC2 at Watkins.

I've been frustrated to learn that a good many of DC1's classmates won't be returning for HS - they're heading to Wilson. Upper NW parents aren't happy with the new location, the think it's too far and the neighborhood is creepy We're staying because Latin is better than SH, moving to the burbs, or struggling to afford independent school, and the community is friendly/supportive, not because academics are stellar. We do summer school at my alma mater in New England for DC1. Buyer beware.

[Anonymous]

you have to remember how new these charters are. they're struggling to find good facilities dcps hasn't helped enough), attract and retain teaching talent etc. they will get better and better. i'm happy to see more high-SES parents stahying with every passing year. not so long ago, most better of parents just moved for the burbs or went private for middle school. sh will also improve, but perhaps more slowly

[Anonymous]

You guys do realize that all your ideas and all your big ideas about changing SH/Cluster are heresy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Obviously, it's better if every school in every neighborhood is a good school.

Bingo, but five years of reform in DCPS has failed to do this because 1) they pursued the misguided belief that threatening principals and teachers was the route to better schools 2) They've sold their souls (to keep their jobs) by supporting the charter movement. There's no indication that charters are better overall than traditional public schools, but yet we have more and more charters - and more and more kids (whose parents can afford it) traveling across town and parents moving to the burbs when they strike out in the lottery.

There is, though. Once again the DC-CAS results prove that charters are out-performing district schools.

By a few points, that waver year to year. It's more accurate and meaningful to say that ward 2-3 DCPS schools are out-performing wards 7-8 DCPS schools.

I was speaking from a national perspective. Most charters are worse the traditional public schools, from a score perspective. A few are better and a few are the same.

Wrong. The only ward on average, that outscores charters on average, is ward 3. Every other ward averages lower.

[Anonymous]

17:31. That will never get through their flip-flop wearing heads.