Shaw Middle School Community Meeting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plus, advocating for nearby schools AND schools with differentiated education is counterproductive. It's easier to have tracked classes when more kids are at a school. But if the school draws from a wider geographic area that includes more kids, some kids are going to have to travel further for it.

Do you want 6 schools to feed into a single middle school that has tracked classes? Then ask for that. Do you not care if the school has 200 kids and 180 of them are below grade level so long as you can get there in 5 minutes? Then ask for Shaw, SWW, and Cardozo to all offer middle school.

Do you want a six-feeder middle school with gifted classes down the block from your house? Well, you can ask for it but I think you're going to be disappointed.

This is actually a productive comment with food for thought. I want the 6 schools to feed into a reasonable location for those six schools, which the Shaw site obviously is. I am not advocating for differentiated education. But this gives me more to think about. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with “leave us all alone” is that middle schools are by definition regional and the area around here (1) has middle grades at Cardozo in an umderfilled space and (2) is not a growth area for DC, even if people like you feel like “pioneers “ following the revitalization of downtown.

First of all, Cardozo isn't an option for most mid-city families. The test scores are atrocious, so it's no surprise that the school is under enrolled. I would never considered sending my children there. That leaves charter schools or private schools. Move the Middle School out of Cardozo and Shaw Middle could have been a viable option.

To your second point, I'm not sure what metrics you are using to say that the downtown area isn't growing. I've lived in Logan Circle for over 10 years. LC and Shaw haven't stopped growing in that time and the number of young families has increased dramatically. Instead of trying to find a way to retain these families in the area, DCPS makes decisions that will force many of these families to move or leave DCPS altogether.

+1 I have lived in Shaw for almost 10 years and the number of families has exploded. On just our block, we went from being the only family with kids to one of 6. That happened on every block.

Welcome to the Hill in the early 2000s. We still have a middle school problem. DCPS doesn't do middle school well across the city. Be careful what you wish for because you may end up with what they give you and not at all what you want.

We could certainly learn from the Hill but I have no idea what your point is. Don't fight for something better?

Not at all. Look at 14:28's message and see some concrete thought process.

You aren't getting a stand alone middle school at Shaw. Off the table. The reasons listed in the OP for why a stand alone middle school is needed are weak at best -- too far, differentiation (which DCPS doesn't do on the middle school level), strong elementary schools that lead to no where (Hill, still true with Hardy feeders in a lot of IB family minds), families forced to go charter or private, etc. DCPS and the city frankly don't want to hear this. What you need to present them is a plan which includes Banneker moving to the Shaw site and incorporating some of your most important asks. But again, differentiation and distance, at a minimum shouldn't be mentioned.

How about they promised us a Shaw MS at the Shaw MS site for years and now they take it away with no notice and no public input.

You must be new here. That is standard operating procedure for DCPS.

Yes, but then you can't say anyone missed the boat. There was no boat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It always amazing me how many people in DCUM feel free to chime in to discussions that don't involve them. Take a poll of families in who live in Shaw regarding whether or not they want a stand-alone middle school. At our school it is unanimous.

Don't you have a Shaw listserve? If you want to talk to only Shaw families then you should have left it here.

Many of use have been around the block a few times with DCPS -- they giveth and they taketh. You can look at previous issues to figure out how they typically do things or you can forge on ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plus, advocating for nearby schools AND schools with differentiated education is counterproductive. It's easier to have tracked classes when more kids are at a school. But if the school draws from a wider geographic area that includes more kids, some kids are going to have to travel further for it.

Do you want 6 schools to feed into a single middle school that has tracked classes? Then ask for that. Do you not care if the school has 200 kids and 180 of them are below grade level so long as you can get there in 5 minutes? Then ask for Shaw, SWW, and Cardozo to all offer middle school.

Do you want a six-feeder middle school with gifted classes down the block from your house? Well, you can ask for it but I think you're going to be disappointed.

This is actually a productive comment with food for thought. I want the 6 schools to feed into a reasonable location for those six schools, which the Shaw site obviously is. I am not advocating for differentiated education. But this gives me more to think about. Thank you!

This is good. Now look at what happened on the Hill when they tried this and learn from their mistakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with “leave us all alone” is that middle schools are by definition regional and the area around here (1) has middle grades at Cardozo in an umderfilled space and (2) is not a growth area for DC, even if people like you feel like “pioneers “ following the revitalization of downtown.

First of all, Cardozo isn't an option for most mid-city families. The test scores are atrocious, so it's no surprise that the school is under enrolled. I would never considered sending my children there. That leaves charter schools or private schools. Move the Middle School out of Cardozo and Shaw Middle could have been a viable option.

To your second point, I'm not sure what metrics you are using to say that the downtown area isn't growing. I've lived in Logan Circle for over 10 years. LC and Shaw haven't stopped growing in that time and the number of young families has increased dramatically. Instead of trying to find a way to retain these families in the area, DCPS makes decisions that will force many of these families to move or leave DCPS altogether.

+1 I have lived in Shaw for almost 10 years and the number of families has exploded. On just our block, we went from being the only family with kids to one of 6. That happened on every block.

(And of those families, all are attending or planning on attending seaton, and NONE plan to continue at Cardozo)

It is way, way too late to claw this back. Figure out what you want. Garnett-Patterson? Improvements at the Cardozo site? Because you missed the boat on Shaw Middle's building.

You don't seem to understand: this issue with Shaw Middle has been going on for YEARS. It's only gotten more attention on this board recently because of the proposal to move Banneker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with “leave us all alone” is that middle schools are by definition regional and the area around here (1) has middle grades at Cardozo in an umderfilled space and (2) is not a growth area for DC, even if people like you feel like “pioneers “ following the revitalization of downtown.

First of all, Cardozo isn't an option for most mid-city families. The test scores are atrocious, so it's no surprise that the school is under enrolled. I would never considered sending my children there. That leaves charter schools or private schools. Move the Middle School out of Cardozo and Shaw Middle could have been a viable option.

To your second point, I'm not sure what metrics you are using to say that the downtown area isn't growing. I've lived in Logan Circle for over 10 years. LC and Shaw haven't stopped growing in that time and the number of young families has increased dramatically. Instead of trying to find a way to retain these families in the area, DCPS makes decisions that will force many of these families to move or leave DCPS altogether.

+1 I have lived in Shaw for almost 10 years and the number of families has exploded. On just our block, we went from being the only family with kids to one of 6. That happened on every block.

(And of those families, all are attending or planning on attending seaton, and NONE plan to continue at Cardozo)

It is way, way too late to claw this back. Figure out what you want. Garnett-Patterson? Improvements at the Cardozo site? Because you missed the boat on Shaw Middle's building.

You don't seem to understand: this issue with Shaw Middle has been going on for YEARS. It's only gotten more attention on this board recently because of the proposal to move Banneker.

Perhaps, but not publicly. Even the ANC said it's all behind the scenes and has not been transparent. Try again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with “leave us all alone” is that middle schools are by definition regional and the area around here (1) has middle grades at Cardozo in an umderfilled space and (2) is not a growth area for DC, even if people like you feel like “pioneers “ following the revitalization of downtown.

First of all, Cardozo isn't an option for most mid-city families. The test scores are atrocious, so it's no surprise that the school is under enrolled. I would never considered sending my children there. That leaves charter schools or private schools. Move the Middle School out of Cardozo and Shaw Middle could have been a viable option.

To your second point, I'm not sure what metrics you are using to say that the downtown area isn't growing. I've lived in Logan Circle for over 10 years. LC and Shaw haven't stopped growing in that time and the number of young families has increased dramatically. Instead of trying to find a way to retain these families in the area, DCPS makes decisions that will force many of these families to move or leave DCPS altogether.

+1 I have lived in Shaw for almost 10 years and the number of families has exploded. On just our block, we went from being the only family with kids to one of 6. That happened on every block.

(And of those families, all are attending or planning on attending seaton, and NONE plan to continue at Cardozo)

It is way, way too late to claw this back. Figure out what you want. Garnett-Patterson? Improvements at the Cardozo site? Because you missed the boat on Shaw Middle's building.

You don't seem to understand: this issue with Shaw Middle has been going on for YEARS. It's only gotten more attention on this board recently because of the proposal to move Banneker.

Perhaps, but not publicly. Even the ANC said it's all behind the scenes and has not been transparent. Try again.

Then why are people complaining that they had no notice? Lack of progress is notice. I don't even have a kid in the feeder group and I could tell it was not going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with “leave us all alone” is that middle schools are by definition regional and the area around here (1) has middle grades at Cardozo in an umderfilled space and (2) is not a growth area for DC, even if people like you feel like “pioneers “ following the revitalization of downtown.

First of all, Cardozo isn't an option for most mid-city families. The test scores are atrocious, so it's no surprise that the school is under enrolled. I would never considered sending my children there. That leaves charter schools or private schools. Move the Middle School out of Cardozo and Shaw Middle could have been a viable option.

To your second point, I'm not sure what metrics you are using to say that the downtown area isn't growing. I've lived in Logan Circle for over 10 years. LC and Shaw haven't stopped growing in that time and the number of young families has increased dramatically. Instead of trying to find a way to retain these families in the area, DCPS makes decisions that will force many of these families to move or leave DCPS altogether.

+1 I have lived in Shaw for almost 10 years and the number of families has exploded. On just our block, we went from being the only family with kids to one of 6. That happened on every block.

(And of those families, all are attending or planning on attending seaton, and NONE plan to continue at Cardozo)

It is way, way too late to claw this back. Figure out what you want. Garnett-Patterson? Improvements at the Cardozo site? Because you missed the boat on Shaw Middle's building.

You don't seem to understand: this issue with Shaw Middle has been going on for YEARS. It's only gotten more attention on this board recently because of the proposal to move Banneker.

Perhaps, but not publicly. Even the ANC said it's all behind the scenes and has not been transparent. Try again.

Then why are people complaining that they had no notice? Lack of progress is notice. I don't even have a kid in the feeder group and I could tell it was not going to happen.

It must be nice to float through this city so effortlessly! I wish I had such abilities. But, I rely on DCPS information, such as boundary plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with “leave us all alone” is that middle schools are by definition regional and the area around here (1) has middle grades at Cardozo in an umderfilled space and (2) is not a growth area for DC, even if people like you feel like “pioneers “ following the revitalization of downtown.

First of all, Cardozo isn't an option for most mid-city families. The test scores are atrocious, so it's no surprise that the school is under enrolled. I would never considered sending my children there. That leaves charter schools or private schools. Move the Middle School out of Cardozo and Shaw Middle could have been a viable option.

To your second point, I'm not sure what metrics you are using to say that the downtown area isn't growing. I've lived in Logan Circle for over 10 years. LC and Shaw haven't stopped growing in that time and the number of young families has increased dramatically. Instead of trying to find a way to retain these families in the area, DCPS makes decisions that will force many of these families to move or leave DCPS altogether.

+1 I have lived in Shaw for almost 10 years and the number of families has exploded. On just our block, we went from being the only family with kids to one of 6. That happened on every block.

Do you think DC or DCPS cares if you leave or move? It'll just be another young family moving in.

PP here. It's clear they don't care, that's the whole point. They claim they care, and they whine about losing students to charter schools, but in the end, it's lip service. Until they start implementing policies to make a change, DCPS will continue to face attrition at the middle school levels in most of the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It always amazing me how many people in DCUM feel free to chime in to discussions that don't involve them. Take a poll of families in who live in Shaw regarding whether or not they want a stand-alone middle school. At our school it is unanimous.

If the school were only paid for by families who live in Shaw, then you'd have a valid point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with “leave us all alone” is that middle schools are by definition regional and the area around here (1) has middle grades at Cardozo in an umderfilled space and (2) is not a growth area for DC, even if people like you feel like “pioneers “ following the revitalization of downtown.

First of all, Cardozo isn't an option for most mid-city families. The test scores are atrocious, so it's no surprise that the school is under enrolled. I would never considered sending my children there. That leaves charter schools or private schools. Move the Middle School out of Cardozo and Shaw Middle could have been a viable option.

To your second point, I'm not sure what metrics you are using to say that the downtown area isn't growing. I've lived in Logan Circle for over 10 years. LC and Shaw haven't stopped growing in that time and the number of young families has increased dramatically. Instead of trying to find a way to retain these families in the area, DCPS makes decisions that will force many of these families to move or leave DCPS altogether.

+1 I have lived in Shaw for almost 10 years and the number of families has exploded. On just our block, we went from being the only family with kids to one of 6. That happened on every block.

(And of those families, all are attending or planning on attending seaton, and NONE plan to continue at Cardozo)

It is way, way too late to claw this back. Figure out what you want. Garnett-Patterson? Improvements at the Cardozo site? Because you missed the boat on Shaw Middle's building.

You don't seem to understand: this issue with Shaw Middle has been going on for YEARS. It's only gotten more attention on this board recently because of the proposal to move Banneker.

Perhaps, but not publicly. Even the ANC said it's all behind the scenes and has not been transparent. Try again.

You misunderstand. The issue about reopening Shaw Middle and providing a more viable middle school option for mid-city families has been discussed for years. That's separate from the Banneker issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It always amazing me how many people in DCUM feel free to chime in to discussions that don't involve them. Take a poll of families in who live in Shaw regarding whether or not they want a stand-alone middle school. At our school it is unanimous.

If the school were only paid for by families who live in Shaw, then you'd have a valid point.

DP. You as a taxpayer may have an opinion, but it may not be relevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with “leave us all alone” is that middle schools are by definition regional and the area around here (1) has middle grades at Cardozo in an umderfilled space and (2) is not a growth area for DC, even if people like you feel like “pioneers “ following the revitalization of downtown.

First of all, Cardozo isn't an option for most mid-city families. The test scores are atrocious, so it's no surprise that the school is under enrolled. I would never considered sending my children there. That leaves charter schools or private schools. Move the Middle School out of Cardozo and Shaw Middle could have been a viable option.

To your second point, I'm not sure what metrics you are using to say that the downtown area isn't growing. I've lived in Logan Circle for over 10 years. LC and Shaw haven't stopped growing in that time and the number of young families has increased dramatically. Instead of trying to find a way to retain these families in the area, DCPS makes decisions that will force many of these families to move or leave DCPS altogether.

+1 I have lived in Shaw for almost 10 years and the number of families has exploded. On just our block, we went from being the only family with kids to one of 6. That happened on every block.

(And of those families, all are attending or planning on attending seaton, and NONE plan to continue at Cardozo)

It is way, way too late to claw this back. Figure out what you want. Garnett-Patterson? Improvements at the Cardozo site? Because you missed the boat on Shaw Middle's building.

You don't seem to understand: this issue with Shaw Middle has been going on for YEARS. It's only gotten more attention on this board recently because of the proposal to move Banneker.

Perhaps, but not publicly. Even the ANC said it's all behind the scenes and has not been transparent. Try again.

Then why are people complaining that they had no notice? Lack of progress is notice. I don't even have a kid in the feeder group and I could tell it was not going to happen.

Except it's not. See Garrison's modernization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with “leave us all alone” is that middle schools are by definition regional and the area around here (1) has middle grades at Cardozo in an umderfilled space and (2) is not a growth area for DC, even if people like you feel like “pioneers “ following the revitalization of downtown.

First of all, Cardozo isn't an option for most mid-city families. The test scores are atrocious, so it's no surprise that the school is under enrolled. I would never considered sending my children there. That leaves charter schools or private schools. Move the Middle School out of Cardozo and Shaw Middle could have been a viable option.

To your second point, I'm not sure what metrics you are using to say that the downtown area isn't growing. I've lived in Logan Circle for over 10 years. LC and Shaw haven't stopped growing in that time and the number of young families has increased dramatically. Instead of trying to find a way to retain these families in the area, DCPS makes decisions that will force many of these families to move or leave DCPS altogether.

+1 I have lived in Shaw for almost 10 years and the number of families has exploded. On just our block, we went from being the only family with kids to one of 6. That happened on every block.

(And of those families, all are attending or planning on attending seaton, and NONE plan to continue at Cardozo)

It is way, way too late to claw this back. Figure out what you want. Garnett-Patterson? Improvements at the Cardozo site? Because you missed the boat on Shaw Middle's building.

You don't seem to understand: this issue with Shaw Middle has been going on for YEARS. It's only gotten more attention on this board recently because of the proposal to move Banneker.

Perhaps, but not publicly. Even the ANC said it's all behind the scenes and has not been transparent. Try again.

You misunderstand. The issue about reopening Shaw Middle and providing a more viable middle school option for mid-city families has been discussed for years. That's separate from the Banneker issue.

Not so separate now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with “leave us all alone” is that middle schools are by definition regional and the area around here (1) has middle grades at Cardozo in an umderfilled space and (2) is not a growth area for DC, even if people like you feel like “pioneers “ following the revitalization of downtown.

First of all, Cardozo isn't an option for most mid-city families. The test scores are atrocious, so it's no surprise that the school is under enrolled. I would never considered sending my children there. That leaves charter schools or private schools. Move the Middle School out of Cardozo and Shaw Middle could have been a viable option.

To your second point, I'm not sure what metrics you are using to say that the downtown area isn't growing. I've lived in Logan Circle for over 10 years. LC and Shaw haven't stopped growing in that time and the number of young families has increased dramatically. Instead of trying to find a way to retain these families in the area, DCPS makes decisions that will force many of these families to move or leave DCPS altogether.

+1 I have lived in Shaw for almost 10 years and the number of families has exploded. On just our block, we went from being the only family with kids to one of 6. That happened on every block.

(And of those families, all are attending or planning on attending seaton, and NONE plan to continue at Cardozo)

It is way, way too late to claw this back. Figure out what you want. Garnett-Patterson? Improvements at the Cardozo site? Because you missed the boat on Shaw Middle's building.

You don't seem to understand: this issue with Shaw Middle has been going on for YEARS. It's only gotten more attention on this board recently because of the proposal to move Banneker.

Perhaps, but not publicly. Even the ANC said it's all behind the scenes and has not been transparent. Try again.

Then why are people complaining that they had no notice? Lack of progress is notice. I don't even have a kid in the feeder group and I could tell it was not going to happen.

It must be nice to float through this city so effortlessly! I wish I had such abilities. But, I rely on DCPS information, such as boundary plans.

And look where that got you.