School Without Walls @ Francis-Stevens

[Anonymous]

The principal isn't interested in making FS a 2nd campus for the HS. He just wants some HS students there - even though the ENTIRE HS community is opposed to splitting the campus. He wants a ps3- 12 and doesn't care how it happens. He doesn't care if one's a magnet and one is not. He just wants both schools. His actions in the merger are why he's lost all support in the HS. The FS campus can have him.

[Anonymous]

So mindless

[Anonymous]

Totally idiotic to keep two schools related. The families at Walls have waiting this long to get there only to have the rug pulled out from under them for what was supposed to be the most solid high school experience in the city. Instead of spending time on issues related to the high school that is meaningful to the kids, parents have to spend time trying to unwind this bs move by Kaya and supported by Trog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally idiotic to keep two schools related. The families at Walls have waiting this long to get there only to have the rug pulled out from under them for what was supposed to be the most solid high school experience in the city. Instead of spending time on issues related to the high school that is meaningful to the kids, parents have to spend time trying to unwind this bs move by Kaya and supported by Trog.

Why are folks here saying the Walls Principal wanted the merger when he repeatedly stated in public that's not his goal? At least from news reports, he's been following orders and a good employee about this. And, looking at the problem generally, why would any principal want to split duties between two schools? I highly doubt Walls wants to move in to the F-S space, as it's kind of broken down, and not connected to the GW campus, where the Walls building sits.

[Anonymous]

dcmom wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do yo think they will close FS but expand SWW?

F-S should become a magnet school, just like Walls. Create proficiency or near-proficiency as an admission requirement, and it would become a great school, and enrolled close to capacity for the first time in the 21st century.

???? - (DUHHH !?!?) Its almost like saying 2+2=4. Any school with admission requirement will become a great school and get the attention of parents that frequent this forum and parents that don"t want to sacrifice our kids to see if it is possible to really turn around a school without displacing the "undesirables."

Francis-Stevens will follow the path carved by charters. I don't think you have to go the magnet route...parents will self-select by their willingness to cart their children across town for a decent program. Those that can't get in through lottery or open seats will woo the principal with their 'influence' as seen at other schools in this neighborhood.

Wait, isn't F-S a low-proficiency school right now? What motivation do parents have to cart their kids over there, now or in the near future, without some incentive?

We are applying OOB and loved the school--is definitely changing under new leadership and 90% new teachers. We would consider ourselves lucky to get in.

+1 We did too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Totally idiotic to keep two schools related. The families at Walls have waiting this long to get there only to have the rug pulled out from under them for what was supposed to be the most solid high school experience in the city. Instead of spending time on issues related to the high school that is meaningful to the kids, parents have to spend time trying to unwind this bs move by Kaya and supported by Trog.

Why are folks here saying the Walls Principal wanted the merger when he repeatedly stated in public that's not his goal? At least from news reports, he's been following orders and a good employee about this. And, looking at the problem generally, why would any principal want to split duties between two schools? I highly doubt Walls wants to move in to the F-S space, as it's kind of broken down, and not connected to the GW campus, where the Walls building sits.

DCPS has stated otherwise. The principal was definitely involved in the merger. He continues to advocate AGAINST the joint task force recomemmnedations. He is not being honest or transparent in this whole process. Known fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How could anyone NOT get in when F-S is under-enrolled?

There are a limited number of spots in each grade. They are under enrolled in the upper grades, certainly NOT in the lower grades.
It is a much better school than my IB school. It was much better even before The current principal took over, but it is even more so now.

I get why the HS people are pissed. This merger clearly only benefited FS. But it has made a huge difference for FS, and it has become a sought-after school in the lower grades because of the merger.

I get your point. Just checked the OSSE stats on FS and it is definitely improving. Still "below proficiency" on average, but much better than it was and the gains have been notable the past few years. Maybe the Walls association is helping improve learning at the school; maybe it's due to new leadership and management and teachers there; or maybe its a combination of a lot of things. But you can't argue with the statistics. Maybe Kaya knows what she's doing with this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

dcmom wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do yo think they will close FS but expand SWW?

F-S should become a magnet school, just like Walls. Create proficiency or near-proficiency as an admission requirement, and it would become a great school, and enrolled close to capacity for the first time in the 21st century.

???? - (DUHHH !?!?) Its almost like saying 2+2=4. Any school with admission requirement will become a great school and get the attention of parents that frequent this forum and parents that don"t want to sacrifice our kids to see if it is possible to really turn around a school without displacing the "undesirables."

Francis-Stevens will follow the path carved by charters. I don't think you have to go the magnet route...parents will self-select by their willingness to cart their children across town for a decent program. Those that can't get in through lottery or open seats will woo the principal with their 'influence' as seen at other schools in this neighborhood.

Wait, isn't F-S a low-proficiency school right now? What motivation do parents have to cart their kids over there, now or in the near future, without some incentive?

We are applying OOB and loved the school--is definitely changing under new leadership and 90% new teachers. We would consider ourselves lucky to get in.

yes, but will you stay past PK4? That seems to be a big issue. is that parents like PS3 and PK4, but nothing above. And, have they finally found a way to separate completely the 8th graders from the 3 year olds?
+1 We did too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How could anyone NOT get in when F-S is under-enrolled?

There are a limited number of spots in each grade. They are under enrolled in the upper grades, certainly NOT in the lower grades.
It is a much better school than my IB school. It was much better even before The current principal took over, but it is even more so now.

I get why the HS people are pissed. This merger clearly only benefited FS. But it has made a huge difference for FS, and it has become a sought-after school in the lower grades because of the merger.

I get your point. Just checked the OSSE stats on FS and it is definitely improving. Still "below proficiency" on average, but much better than it was and the gains have been notable the past few years. Maybe the Walls association is helping improve learning at the school; maybe it's due to new leadership and management and teachers there; or maybe its a combination of a lot of things. But you can't argue with the statistics. Maybe Kaya knows what she's doing with this one.

Why does FS become more sought after? There is not going to be any preference for getting into Walls. A name is just a name. (unless you're reading the Expectant Parents forum)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

dcmom wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do yo think they will close FS but expand SWW?

F-S should become a magnet school, just like Walls. Create proficiency or near-proficiency as an admission requirement, and it would become a great school, and enrolled close to capacity for the first time in the 21st century.

???? - (DUHHH !?!?) Its almost like saying 2+2=4. Any school with admission requirement will become a great school and get the attention of parents that frequent this forum and parents that don"t want to sacrifice our kids to see if it is possible to really turn around a school without displacing the "undesirables."

Francis-Stevens will follow the path carved by charters. I don't think you have to go the magnet route...parents will self-select by their willingness to cart their children across town for a decent program. Those that can't get in through lottery or open seats will woo the principal with their 'influence' as seen at other schools in this neighborhood.

Wait, isn't F-S a low-proficiency school right now? What motivation do parents have to cart their kids over there, now or in the near future, without some incentive?

We are applying OOB and loved the school--is definitely changing under new leadership and 90% new teachers. We would consider ourselves lucky to get in.

yes, but will you stay past PK4? That seems to be a big issue. is that parents like PS3 and PK4, but nothing above. And, have they finally found a way to separate completely the 8th graders from the 3 year olds?
+1 We did too.

YES, definitely, if we are lucky enough to get in. We put this high on our list because we think it's a "forever school" (well, forever through 8th grade). Our in-boundary school, which is substantially further east and north, is one we would probably only stay at through kindergarten.

I have met a bunch of people who sent their kids to Ross but switched them this year to FS because they want them in there for middle school. (Ross feeds to Cardozo.) They have had a great experience, even though they are in the upper elementary grades, where I think change overall is slower to come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How could anyone NOT get in when F-S is under-enrolled?

There are a limited number of spots in each grade. They are under enrolled in the upper grades, certainly NOT in the lower grades.
It is a much better school than my IB school. It was much better even before The current principal took over, but it is even more so now.

I get why the HS people are pissed. This merger clearly only benefited FS. But it has made a huge difference for FS, and it has become a sought-after school in the lower grades because of the merger.

I get your point. Just checked the OSSE stats on FS and it is definitely improving. Still "below proficiency" on average, but much better than it was and the gains have been notable the past few years. Maybe the Walls association is helping improve learning at the school; maybe it's due to new leadership and management and teachers there; or maybe its a combination of a lot of things. But you can't argue with the statistics. Maybe Kaya knows what she's doing with this one.

Why does FS become more sought after? There is not going to be any preference for getting into Walls. A name is just a name. (unless you're reading the Expectant Parents forum)

Because the school is a better school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

dcmom wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do yo think they will close FS but expand SWW?

F-S should become a magnet school, just like Walls. Create proficiency or near-proficiency as an admission requirement, and it would become a great school, and enrolled close to capacity for the first time in the 21st century.

???? - (DUHHH !?!?) Its almost like saying 2+2=4. Any school with admission requirement will become a great school and get the attention of parents that frequent this forum and parents that don"t want to sacrifice our kids to see if it is possible to really turn around a school without displacing the "undesirables."

Francis-Stevens will follow the path carved by charters. I don't think you have to go the magnet route...parents will self-select by their willingness to cart their children across town for a decent program. Those that can't get in through lottery or open seats will woo the principal with their 'influence' as seen at other schools in this neighborhood.

Wait, isn't F-S a low-proficiency school right now? What motivation do parents have to cart their kids over there, now or in the near future, without some incentive?

We are applying OOB and loved the school--is definitely changing under new leadership and 90% new teachers. We would consider ourselves lucky to get in.

yes, but will you stay past PK4? That seems to be a big issue. is that parents like PS3 and PK4, but nothing above. And, have they finally found a way to separate completely the 8th graders from the 3 year olds?
+1 We did too.

YES, definitely, if we are lucky enough to get in. We put this high on our list because we think it's a "forever school" (well, forever through 8th grade). Our in-boundary school, which is substantially further east and north, is one we would probably only stay at through kindergarten.

I have met a bunch of people who sent their kids to Ross but switched them this year to FS because they want them in there for middle school. (Ross feeds to Cardozo.) They have had a great experience, even though they are in the upper elementary grades, where I think change overall is slower to come.

Meant to add--yes, the early childhood and middle school kids are kept completely separate. They use different floors, stairwells, etc. They are separated in after-care, too.

[Anonymous]

Agree the merger and new name are good for FS. What's not good is the merger's effect on the HS. You have to wonder why dcps would want to jeopardize its highest performing HS. Nothing that dcps or the principal has done in the merger has been good for the HS. That's the problem. Even dcps acknowledges that there are NO benefits to the HS in the merger.

[Anonymous]

BTW, FS feeds to Cardozo unless you live IB for Wilson.

[Anonymous]

The high school will be fine; so long as it remains selective. Smart motivated kids will pretty much educate themselves.