DME Meeting at SWS June 5th

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is, SWS was not moved to its current location because DC needs another elementary there -- there are already several elementary schools in Ward 6, and w/the exception of Brent I don't think any are overcrowded with neighborhood kids.

DCPs wanted to expand SWS; the Prospect building was there, and it was already not a neighborhood school.

It's not coincidence that SWS became a city-wide school when it left Peabody; I think (without being in a position to know for certain) that relocating to the Prospect site was probably contingent on SWS NOT being a neighborhood school, because there's no need for an additional neighborhood school there.

If DCPS *does* decide to make SWS a neighborhood school, I would hope that rather than simply saying those living nearby have preference, they reconsider the boundaries in Ward 6 as a whole, to better balance the school-age population among the area schools.

This is the crux of the issue, and the reason DCPS will never do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is, SWS was not moved to its current location because DC needs another elementary there -- there are already several elementary schools in Ward 6, and w/the exception of Brent I don't think any are overcrowded with neighborhood kids.

DCPs wanted to expand SWS; the Prospect building was there, and it was already not a neighborhood school.

It's not coincidence that SWS became a city-wide school when it left Peabody; I think (without being in a position to know for certain) that relocating to the Prospect site was probably contingent on SWS NOT being a neighborhood school, because there's no need for an additional neighborhood school there.

If DCPS *does* decide to make SWS a neighborhood school, I would hope that rather than simply saying those living nearby have preference, they reconsider the boundaries in Ward 6 as a whole, to better balance the school-age population among the area schools.

This is the crux of the issue, and the reason DCPS will never do it.

You'd think, but it sounds like they're giving it serious consideration. The possibility was in their boundary proposals. Weird that they would support a new policy that would create the least diverse school in the city by SES and only please a limited number of families who aren't usually their target audience. Weird that this is for SWS with no mention of Logan Montessori.

[Anonymous]

Logan has approximately 15 neighbors other than Union Station, the SEC and some restaurants/businesses and none of them care about the school.

[Anonymous]

Isn't it already less diverse than the JKLMM schools? In NE DC?? Why doesn't anybody else think this is a problem?

[Anonymous]

The immediate neighborhood has 3 non-white children under the age of 9, so proximity will not create diversity.

[Anonymous]

I think it basically reflects the neighborhood in terms of diversity. But making it a neighborhood school will certainly mean that it will become less diverse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it already less diverse than the JKLMM schools? In NE DC?? Why doesn't anybody else think this is a problem?

Many of us think it's a problem, for the diversity and many other reasons. As stated before, the Hill needs fewer, not more, neighborhood schools.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone cry foul about the JKLM schools not being "diverse"? Why is this a problem only in the Hill, which has undergone a lot of gentrification in the last 15 years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is, SWS was not moved to its current location because DC needs another elementary there -- there are already several elementary schools in Ward 6, and w/the exception of Brent I don't think any are overcrowded with neighborhood kids.

DCPs wanted to expand SWS; the Prospect building was there, and it was already not a neighborhood school.

It's not coincidence that SWS became a city-wide school when it left Peabody; I think (without being in a position to know for certain) that relocating to the Prospect site was probably contingent on SWS NOT being a neighborhood school, because there's no need for an additional neighborhood school there.

If DCPS *does* decide to make SWS a neighborhood school, I would hope that rather than simply saying those living nearby have preference, they reconsider the boundaries in Ward 6 as a whole, to better balance the school-age population among the area schools.

This is the crux of the issue, and the reason DCPS will never do it.

You'd think, but it sounds like they're giving it serious consideration. The possibility was in their boundary proposals. Weird that they would support a new policy that would create the least diverse school in the city by SES and only please a limited number of families who aren't usually their target audience. Weird that this is for SWS with no mention of Logan Montessori.

No, there is no serious consideration whatsover to a boundary. There really isn't serious consideration being given to proximity. A PP cherry picked a single bullet from the LSAT statement, but the MUCH lengthier proceeding bullet (and sub bullets) lays out the LSAT postition in detail.

That boundary proposal from DME is beyond DOA and everyone knows it. CHM also added 6-8th grades, so they're not in the discussion on MS feeders and it's why they weren't included. SWS was likely included in response to the neighborhood push to gain proximity preference, not because DCPS or SWS are seeking it.

[Anonymous]

When SWS left the Cluster school I was at a meeting where the whole room was told by DCPS officials that the school would be temporarily housed in the Logan Annex until a permanent home somewhere around Capitol Hill and that it would become a neighborhood school. I never heard the possibility of SWS becoming a citywide school until, earlier than expected, the Goding building was offered.

It is clear to me that the SWS citywide status is a function of the building that was available rather than any long term plan or guiding principles.

Many if us were hoping to partner with Van Ness as they opened their new neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What would be the justification for adding a neighborhood preference other than "they want it?" I know one family there and they don't live in the neighborhood.

I don't have any familiarity with the debate, but putting on my critical thinking hat, I would assume that living next to a school sucks (from personal experience living near old Hine did but likely for different reasons), and the neighbors want some benefit.

Plus, it seems a bit silly that someone living across the street from a DCPS school doesn't have a right to go there. Proximity preference would also likely have no impact on odds of admission given demand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is, SWS was not moved to its current location because DC needs another elementary there -- there are already several elementary schools in Ward 6, and w/the exception of Brent I don't think any are overcrowded with neighborhood kids.

DCPs wanted to expand SWS; the Prospect building was there, and it was already not a neighborhood school.

It's not coincidence that SWS became a city-wide school when it left Peabody; I think (without being in a position to know for certain) that relocating to the Prospect site was probably contingent on SWS NOT being a neighborhood school, because there's no need for an additional neighborhood school there.

If DCPS *does* decide to make SWS a neighborhood school, I would hope that rather than simply saying those living nearby have preference, they reconsider the boundaries in Ward 6 as a whole, to better balance the school-age population among the area schools.

In reality, only half of Brent students are IB, even though the younger grades are almost exclusively so.

[Anonymous]

I live near the DMV, so should I be allowed to skip the line when I go there?

In fact, I also live near the DC Office of Tax and Revenue. What special privileges should I be given for that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live near the DMV, so should I be allowed to skip the line when I go there?

In fact, I also live near the DC Office of Tax and Revenue. What special privileges should I be given for that?

Nice try. I'm pretty sure that IB rights to go to the head of the line at the DMV weren't suddenly taken away from you and your neighbors only a couple of years ago, together with feeder rights to Stuart-Hobson. In case you hadn't noticed, DC has a neighborhood school system with IB attendance rights everywhere else in the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would be the justification for adding a neighborhood preference other than "they want it?" I know one family there and they don't live in the neighborhood.

I don't have any familiarity with the debate, but putting on my critical thinking hat, I would assume that living next to a school sucks (from personal experience living near old Hine did but likely for different reasons), and the neighbors want some benefit.

Plus, it seems a bit silly that someone living across the street from a DCPS school doesn't have a right to go there. Proximity preference would also likely have no impact on odds of admission given demand.

I don't know anything about SWS's numbers, but if it is anything like my IB school, preference would make a big difference. All 16 PK3 slots this year went to kids with either sib or IB preference and several IB kids were left out. SWS seems to have a high demand...how long before it would be impossible for a kid in another neighborhood to get in there?