The Promise of Socio-Economically Integrated Schools in DC

[Anonymous]

The bigger issue is not the teen pregnancy, I know that sounds weird, I don't even think Finland has figured out the bottom 20%. In DC if we could figure out how to help those kids in the 30-60% do better we would be way ahead of the game. This is not just a DC problem, but a larger issue nationwide. Studies nation wide show a huge gap.

http://www.aecf.org/KnowledgeCenter/Publications.aspx?pubguid=%7b35DCA3B7-3C03-4992-9320-A5A10A5AD6C9%7d

his KIDS COUNT data snapshot finds 80 percent of fourth-graders from low-income families and 66 percent of all fourth-graders are not reading at grade level. While improvements have been made in the past decade, reading proficiency levels remain low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Until we can get a handle on the epidemic of teen pregnancies in Wards 7 & 8, this whole boundary discussion is like rearranging the deck furniture on the Titanic. I don't know what the answer is, but this topic has to be part of the conversation.

Teen pregnancies stay stubbornly high in poor D.C. wards

By Robert McCartney,

It was sad and sobering to hear the teenage mothers and mothers-to-be from the District’s poorest neighborhoods discuss why so many in their communities get pregnant so young.

They said they and their friends don’t expect to go to college or have careers, so there’s less reason to delay having children. They said their part of the city east of the Anacostia River lacks restaurants, theaters and other entertainment, so young people are more likely to turn to sex as an alternative.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/teen-pregnancies-stay-stubbornly-high-in-poor-dc-wards-low-expectations-are-cited/2014/01/29/0e65b1a4-8927-11e3-a5bd-844629433ba3_story.html

Oh good grief. That's almost literally chicken and egg.

The key quote there is the one about expectations for the future. If a kid believes they have no future and no one around to model what that future should and could be, what's the point of trying? And if every adult around them, incuding educators, also believes they have no future then they are really SOL.

Bridging that aspirational gap is supposed to be one (of many) benefits of socio-economic diversity, but reading here I'm getting feel that traveling to a wealthier neighborhood in this city would be even more detrimental to a lowere SES kid. If the values on display here are passed on to children, I think we're all in trouble, frankly.

I'm also starting to believe that testing is creating more problems than it solves. Scores and affluence are not the only things that make a school "good", but it seems those are the primary--and maybe only factors that are being considered. From what I'm reading, that's all DCPS cares about as well, and THAT'S what needs to get fixed.

Yes, those AWFUL values like taking responsibility for your own life and your own destiny, and to pursue the hard work and commitment that it takes to make that happen. God forbid low-SES kids should be exposed to such horrors.

Pssssht.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Until we can get a handle on the epidemic of teen pregnancies in Wards 7 & 8, this whole boundary discussion is like rearranging the deck furniture on the Titanic. I don't know what the answer is, but this topic has to be part of the conversation.

Teen pregnancies stay stubbornly high in poor D.C. wards

By Robert McCartney,

It was sad and sobering to hear the teenage mothers and mothers-to-be from the District’s poorest neighborhoods discuss why so many in their communities get pregnant so young.

They said they and their friends don’t expect to go to college or have careers, so there’s less reason to delay having children. They said their part of the city east of the Anacostia River lacks restaurants, theaters and other entertainment, so young people are more likely to turn to sex as an alternative.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/teen-pregnancies-stay-stubbornly-high-in-poor-dc-wards-low-expectations-are-cited/2014/01/29/0e65b1a4-8927-11e3-a5bd-844629433ba3_story.html

Oh good grief. That's almost literally chicken and egg.

The key quote there is the one about expectations for the future. If a kid believes they have no future and no one around to model what that future should and could be, what's the point of trying? And if every adult around them, incuding educators, also believes they have no future then they are really SOL.

Bridging that aspirational gap is supposed to be one (of many) benefits of socio-economic diversity, but reading here I'm getting feel that traveling to a wealthier neighborhood in this city would be even more detrimental to a lowere SES kid. If the values on display here are passed on to children, I think we're all in trouble, frankly.

I'm also starting to believe that testing is creating more problems than it solves. Scores and affluence are not the only things that make a school "good", but it seems those are the primary--and maybe only factors that are being considered. From what I'm reading, that's all DCPS cares about as well, and THAT'S what needs to get fixed.

Yes, those AWFUL values like taking responsibility for your own life and your own destiny, and to pursue the hard work and commitment that it takes to make that happen. God forbid low-SES kids should be exposed to such horrors.

Pssssht.

But if the prevailing attitude is "Oh GAWD, these OOB kids are bringing our scores down and RUINING our schools! For the love of all things right, keep them OUT!!"

Those values? Go back and read the posts in this thread they're there in abundance. They may not be noticed by a pre-k kid, but I know a third grader would pick up on them and maybe by the time she's in 10th grade, she'd rather stay home.

I think if a parent goes through the trouble of driving or sending their kid across town to school, then there's evidence of desire to take responsibility and to "pursue the hard work and commitment that it takes to make that happen." But that's not really enough, is it?

[Anonymous]

PP, it's not "an attitude" or "values" - it's an acknowledgement of reality. The studies and data confirm that if low-SES students comprise more than 20% of the student body, there are diminishing returns and increasing problems.

You can try and spin that however you like, but it doesn't change the reality of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, it's not "an attitude" or "values" - it's an acknowledgement of reality. The studies and data confirm that if low-SES students comprise more than 20% of the student body, there are diminishing returns and increasing problems.

You can try and spin that however you like, but it doesn't change the reality of it.

I read every post and can safely say I'm not the one spinning.

I'm still trying to figure out where to send my kid who's not yet pre-K, and everything I've been reading from and about the vaunted "west of the park" makes the schools there sound grossly unappealing. I keep looking for evidence of inspiring teachers and/or principals and/or kids who go out and do fantastic things. All I keep finding are stories like the cupcake principal and an awful lot of whining and fearmongering about the certain destruction of DCPS if more brown faced kids are allowed to infiltrate public schools in Ward 3. Maybe there are just 5-10 people with time and motivation to hang out on these boards and +1 the shit out of all the "studies that show" you're absolutely right to believe that socioeconomic diversity is the first step in the fall of mankind.

I'm actually grateful to see true feelings revealed because I was about to drink the kook aid on JKLM schools (and the best little secret, Hearst!) but I couldn't put my finger on what made these schools "better" beyond test scores and families who have money for real estate but not for private schools. I can finally understand why so many go for charters, where the diversity seems appreciated or and even essential to the success of a school.

Spin that however you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing's going to keep families in poverty more than not having a good set of life skills needed to make it on their own. That is precisely why multi-generational poverty persists.


Nobody in DC ever seems to want to acknowledge that, nobody wants to address that fundamental reality head-on.

Exactly, DCPS needs to focus on the basics to lift everyone up not on "happy students" and whether students "like" there school or not. If you can't read, you can't read, and will not be successful whatever school you go to regardless of how good the school, principal, or teachers are. If you can't acknowledge that students, who for years have been passed through the system, do not in actuality have the necessary skills then you can't meet the student's needs. If parents can't read, and had negative experiences with the DCPS system, then they do not make educated decisions about the academic needs of their children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bottom line is economically disadvantaged kids need to be in school as young as possible- by 3 or even younger. If these children are not in school until K, the gap is already huge and difficult to close. I realize that does not help students in the schools now, but the focus has to be on VERY early education.

Yes, this is essential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, it's not "an attitude" or "values" - it's an acknowledgement of reality. The studies and data confirm that if low-SES students comprise more than 20% of the student body, there are diminishing returns and increasing problems.

You can try and spin that however you like, but it doesn't change the reality of it.

I read every post and can safely say I'm not the one spinning.

I'm still trying to figure out where to send my kid who's not yet pre-K, and everything I've been reading from and about the vaunted "west of the park" makes the schools there sound grossly unappealing. I keep looking for evidence of inspiring teachers and/or principals and/or kids who go out and do fantastic things. All I keep finding are stories like the cupcake principal and an awful lot of whining and fearmongering about the certain destruction of DCPS if more brown faced kids are allowed to infiltrate public schools in Ward 3. Maybe there are just 5-10 people with time and motivation to hang out on these boards and +1 the shit out of all the "studies that show" you're absolutely right to believe that socioeconomic diversity is the first step in the fall of mankind.

I'm actually grateful to see true feelings revealed because I was about to drink the kook aid on JKLM schools (and the best little secret, Hearst!) but I couldn't put my finger on what made these schools "better" beyond test scores and families who have money for real estate but not for private schools. I can finally understand why so many go for charters, where the diversity seems appreciated or and even essential to the success of a school.

Spin that however you want.

Man sees what he wants to see and disregards the rest.. You're no different than the posters you criticize, just more sanctimonious.

Singed, an observer who hasn't commented.

[Anonymous]

When I read the title, all I could think about are all of the new white faces I'm seeing at my children's nearly 100% POC school.

I thought this movement was to give white parents more comfort in not having their children be the only white kid in the school. Gentrification.

FYI, the predominantly black and Latino school is and has been high achieving. It also has a very strong bi-lingual program and is a feeder to a math-science charter. Hence, the influx of new-to-the-neighborhood white people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, it's not "an attitude" or "values" - it's an acknowledgement of reality. The studies and data confirm that if low-SES students comprise more than 20% of the student body, there are diminishing returns and increasing problems.

You can try and spin that however you like, but it doesn't change the reality of it.

I read every post and can safely say I'm not the one spinning.

I'm still trying to figure out where to send my kid who's not yet pre-K, and everything I've been reading from and about the vaunted "west of the park" makes the schools there sound grossly unappealing. I keep looking for evidence of inspiring teachers and/or principals and/or kids who go out and do fantastic things. All I keep finding are stories like the cupcake principal and an awful lot of whining and fearmongering about the certain destruction of DCPS if more brown faced kids are allowed to infiltrate public schools in Ward 3. Maybe there are just 5-10 people with time and motivation to hang out on these boards and +1 the shit out of all the "studies that show" you're absolutely right to believe that socioeconomic diversity is the first step in the fall of mankind.

I'm actually grateful to see true feelings revealed because I was about to drink the kook aid on JKLM schools (and the best little secret, Hearst!) but I couldn't put my finger on what made these schools "better" beyond test scores and families who have money for real estate but not for private schools. I can finally understand why so many go for charters, where the diversity seems appreciated or and even essential to the success of a school.

Spin that however you want.

I will help you. You can have an opinion on everyone else's opinion once your child is enrolled in 5th grade at a DCPS school that is not in that JkLwhatever bunch. In the meantime, don't use an nasty anonymous forum like this to choose a school or try and figure out what is going on in the minds of the parents at a particular school. That is crazy-making. Go visit many schools and ask many questions and keep your mind and heart wide open. Know that your child, given normal developmental parameters, will learn do just fine pretty much anyplace for elementary school. He/she will get the basics needed to carry on a ademically and his/her success will mostly be determined by your attitude and actions at home.

The debate going on here is about policy level decisions that may or may not be enacted by our city's elected officials that could have some big impacts on the system as a whole. It is not about individual school choices and it is definitely not about people's feelings about "brown people" as you put it. K?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, it's not "an attitude" or "values" - it's an acknowledgement of reality. The studies and data confirm that if low-SES students comprise more than 20% of the student body, there are diminishing returns and increasing problems.

You can try and spin that however you like, but it doesn't change the reality of it.

I read every post and can safely say I'm not the one spinning.

I'm still trying to figure out where to send my kid who's not yet pre-K, and everything I've been reading from and about the vaunted "west of the park" makes the schools there sound grossly unappealing. I keep looking for evidence of inspiring teachers and/or principals and/or kids who go out and do fantastic things. All I keep finding are stories like the cupcake principal and an awful lot of whining and fearmongering about the certain destruction of DCPS if more brown faced kids are allowed to infiltrate public schools in Ward 3. Maybe there are just 5-10 people with time and motivation to hang out on these boards and +1 the shit out of all the "studies that show" you're absolutely right to believe that socioeconomic diversity is the first step in the fall of mankind.

I'm actually grateful to see true feelings revealed because I was about to drink the kook aid on JKLM schools (and the best little secret, Hearst!) but I couldn't put my finger on what made these schools "better" beyond test scores and families who have money for real estate but not for private schools. I can finally understand why so many go for charters, where the diversity seems appreciated or and even essential to the success of a school.

Spin that however you want.

Man sees what he wants to see and disregards the rest.. You're no different than the posters you criticize, just more sanctimonious.

Singed, an observer who hasn't commented.

Ewww, aren't you special, pp? You're just dripping with sanctimony yourself! (DP here)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
When I read the title, all I could think about are all of the new white faces I'm seeing at my children's nearly 100% POC school.

I thought this movement was to give white parents more comfort in not having their children be the only white kid in the school. Gentrification.

FYI, the predominantly black and Latino school is and has been high achieving. It also has a very strong bi-lingual program and is a feeder to a math-science charter. Hence, the influx of new-to-the-neighborhood white people.

Gotta ask what school. Or at the very least how a school with a bilingual focus FEEDS to a math-science charter? Or was this a trollish post and I am just missing it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, it's not "an attitude" or "values" - it's an acknowledgement of reality. The studies and data confirm that if low-SES students comprise more than 20% of the student body, there are diminishing returns and increasing problems.

You can try and spin that however you like, but it doesn't change the reality of it.

I read every post and can safely say I'm not the one spinning.

I'm still trying to figure out where to send my kid who's not yet pre-K, and everything I've been reading from and about the vaunted "west of the park" makes the schools there sound grossly unappealing. I keep looking for evidence of inspiring teachers and/or principals and/or kids who go out and do fantastic things. All I keep finding are stories like the cupcake principal and an awful lot of whining and fearmongering about the certain destruction of DCPS if more brown faced kids are allowed to infiltrate public schools in Ward 3. Maybe there are just 5-10 people with time and motivation to hang out on these boards and +1 the shit out of all the "studies that show" you're absolutely right to believe that socioeconomic diversity is the first step in the fall of mankind.

I'm actually grateful to see true feelings revealed because I was about to drink the kook aid on JKLM schools (and the best little secret, Hearst!) but I couldn't put my finger on what made these schools "better" beyond test scores and families who have money for real estate but not for private schools. I can finally understand why so many go for charters, where the diversity seems appreciated or and even essential to the success of a school.

Spin that however you want.

Ok, now who is being gross?

Signed, 17 yr resident of ward 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, it's not "an attitude" or "values" - it's an acknowledgement of reality. The studies and data confirm that if low-SES students comprise more than 20% of the student body, there are diminishing returns and increasing problems.

You can try and spin that however you like, but it doesn't change the reality of it.

I read every post and can safely say I'm not the one spinning.

I'm still trying to figure out where to send my kid who's not yet pre-K, and everything I've been reading from and about the vaunted "west of the park" makes the schools there sound grossly unappealing. I keep looking for evidence of inspiring teachers and/or principals and/or kids who go out and do fantastic things. All I keep finding are stories like the cupcake principal and an awful lot of whining and fearmongering about the certain destruction of DCPS if more brown faced kids are allowed to infiltrate public schools in Ward 3. Maybe there are just 5-10 people with time and motivation to hang out on these boards and +1 the shit out of all the "studies that show" you're absolutely right to believe that socioeconomic diversity is the first step in the fall of mankind.

I'm actually grateful to see true feelings revealed because I was about to drink the kook aid on JKLM schools (and the best little secret, Hearst!) but I couldn't put my finger on what made these schools "better" beyond test scores and families who have money for real estate but not for private schools. I can finally understand why so many go for charters, where the diversity seems appreciated or and even essential to the success of a school.

Spin that however you want.

I can safely say you are indeed the one spinning, because you are the only person in this thread to bring up "brown faces" in evident ignorance of the fact that it is many high-SES AA families that share the concern about the adverse impact of having too many low-SES students on schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, it's not "an attitude" or "values" - it's an acknowledgement of reality. The studies and data confirm that if low-SES students comprise more than 20% of the student body, there are diminishing returns and increasing problems.

You can try and spin that however you like, but it doesn't change the reality of it.

I read every post and can safely say I'm not the one spinning.

I'm still trying to figure out where to send my kid who's not yet pre-K, and everything I've been reading from and about the vaunted "west of the park" makes the schools there sound grossly unappealing. I keep looking for evidence of inspiring teachers and/or principals and/or kids who go out and do fantastic things. All I keep finding are stories like the cupcake principal and an awful lot of whining and fearmongering about the certain destruction of DCPS if more brown faced kids are allowed to infiltrate public schools in Ward 3. Maybe there are just 5-10 people with time and motivation to hang out on these boards and +1 the shit out of all the "studies that show" you're absolutely right to believe that socioeconomic diversity is the first step in the fall of mankind.

I'm actually grateful to see true feelings revealed because I was about to drink the kook aid on JKLM schools (and the best little secret, Hearst!) but I couldn't put my finger on what made these schools "better" beyond test scores and families who have money for real estate but not for private schools. I can finally understand why so many go for charters, where the diversity seems appreciated or and even essential to the success of a school.

Spin that however you want.

I can safely say you are indeed the one spinning, because you are the only person in this thread to bring up "brown faces" in evident ignorance of the fact that it is many high-SES AA families that share the concern about the adverse impact of having too many low-SES students on schools.

in their eyes the key word is "brown"