Peabody, SWS, or Brent

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The boundary review is coming in just a couple of years. New Hill ES boundaries are certainly going to be a focus as will the Wilson feeders.

Brent isn't going to get a renovation prior to that process.

Greater Greater Washington had a good story about this a few weeks ago. The boundary review is not going to fix over crowding in this city.

Is there a link to this article?

https://ggwash.org/view/71802/can-dcps-survive-the-coming-enrollment-surge

I believe there was a thread about this when the story came out that the author was a part of. Long story short to even out the demand, neighborhoods would have to be put in districts away from their closest schools. Like much of Capitol Hill being assigned east of the river, while NW but east of the park neighborhoods would be assigned to the Capitol Hill schools. Not very likely.

I'm not sure how this all works out but the city needs to recognize that more families are staying and start planning for it. But I'm sure they won't.

Except even if families stay/population grows, there is still far more DCPS capacity than can be utilized. See DME memo to the PCSB urging co-location as a solution to both sectors' problems (lack of charter facilities and surplus of DCPS facilities) https://dme.dc.gov/node/1404506

You ought to read the GGW article, PP. Trouble is, the population is not predicted to be where the empty seats are.

I have. And I think everyone agrees that the empty seats are not where much of the growth is happening. But TBH everyone has is batting around competing numbers and projections and analysis- GGW, the DME, the PCSB, the DC Office of Planning ... And they all have their own institutional biases and agendas.

The point is, the city isn't going to be able to re-district themselves out of over crowding WOTP and on the Hill.

Tell that to Eaton parents.

Give it a rest, Eaton parent. Sorry you were the token sacrifice by having to go to Hardy, which is highly sought after by high SES parents on our side of the park. You still wind up at Wilson, contributing to the crowding there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not buying it, unless this happened at least five years ago. SWS current takes no more than 6 or 7% of applicants for PreK4 and Brent takes none OOB for PreS3, PreK4 and none OOB without siblings for K.

We actually know the world's luckiest family re: lottery. Renting IB for Peabody/Watkins (in the process of buying in Payne now, since IB no longer matters for them). Current rising 1st grader got into Peabody for PK3. Last year, got into Brent for K as a proximity preference-r. Ended up not taking the spot because parents were worried about her little brother not getting a PK3 spot the following year. This year, PK3 brother pulled SWS and she got a WL number almost guaranteed to get into MV. They took the SWS spot and then she got pulled in for 1st based on sibling preference. SO JEALOUS.

[Anonymous]

I kind of think the luckiest family ever made the wrong choice...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I kind of think the luckiest family ever made the wrong choice...

It's a good thing that your kids aren't in SWS then, isn't it?

[Anonymous]

Wow, this got derailed! OP, I don't think you can expect to get off the waitlist at SWS for Pk4. This was a unique year in that there were a lot of siblings entering SWS in Pk4 for various reasons. Thus, I highly doubt the waitlist will move anymore than it already has.

That said, you're looking ultimately at Peabody versus Brent. In your shoes, I'd probably take the Peabody spot and try out the cluster as long as you can. Middle school will be here before you know it, and having SH as a (if not good if not very good by the time your kid is old enough) middle school option is worth a lot. If you end up hating the Cluster, move over to Brent and take your chances with middle school lotteries. Just know that it's going to be increasingly difficult to lottery into middle school charters as more and more families try for limited spots.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you moved on the SWS WL since you first posted? Did you have a good number due to a preference or just luck?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, this got derailed! OP, I don't think you can expect to get off the waitlist at SWS for Pk4. This was a unique year in that there were a lot of siblings entering SWS in Pk4 for various reasons. Thus, I highly doubt the waitlist will move anymore than it already has.

That said, you're looking ultimately at Peabody versus Brent. In your shoes, I'd probably take the Peabody spot and try out the cluster as long as you can. Middle school will be here before you know it, and having SH as a (if not good if not very good by the time your kid is old enough) middle school option is worth a lot. If you end up hating the Cluster, move over to Brent and take your chances with middle school lotteries. Just know that it's going to be increasingly difficult to lottery into middle school charters as more and more families try for limited spots.

I think this is bad advice. Let the kid be happy at Brent through 5th grade as a worst case scenario, then figure MS out. An OK MS like Hobson isn't the be and end all in this City. Too many UMC families struggle at Watkins, particularly those with advanced learners in math. We've heard far too many worrying stories over the years. Come on, Brent will let a 5th grader take 6th or 7th grade math in an actual math class. It's rare to hear about a kid becoming bored, or getting roughed up, at Brent these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, this got derailed! OP, I don't think you can expect to get off the waitlist at SWS for Pk4. This was a unique year in that there were a lot of siblings entering SWS in Pk4 for various reasons. Thus, I highly doubt the waitlist will move anymore than it already has.

That said, you're looking ultimately at Peabody versus Brent. In your shoes, I'd probably take the Peabody spot and try out the cluster as long as you can. Middle school will be here before you know it, and having SH as a (if not good if not very good by the time your kid is old enough) middle school option is worth a lot. If you end up hating the Cluster, move over to Brent and take your chances with middle school lotteries. Just know that it's going to be increasingly difficult to lottery into middle school charters as more and more families try for limited spots.

I think this is bad advice. Let the kid be happy at Brent through 5th grade as a worst case scenario, then figure MS out. An OK MS like Hobson isn't the be and end all in this City. Too many UMC families struggle at Watkins, particularly those with advanced learners in math. We've heard far too many worrying stories over the years. Come on, Brent will let a 5th grader take 6th or 7th grade math in an actual math class. It's rare to hear about a kid becoming bored, or getting roughed up, at Brent these days.

this is nonsense. Once adjusted for economically disadvantaged Watkins overall scores are at least as good if not better. 5th grade RAW scores for both ELA and Math were better at Watkins than Brent.

[Anonymous]

Did OP say she cared about PARCC scores? I've never give a hoot about silly PARCC scores in many years in DCPS and I'm hardly alone. Most Hill parents care that their elementary school kids can walk/bike/scooter to school, have a stable mostly UMC peer group, have a PTA that can afford wonderful extras, strong teachers, appealing extra curriculars and after care, and real challenge in the upper grades.

I can't count the number of neighborhood families we know who've pulled their kids from Watkins over the years after 1st, 2nd, 3rd grades after they lotteried into another DCPS or a charter, or left for a private. The situation simply never improves much. By contrast, parents generally stay at Brent or SWS as long as they can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did OP say she cared about PARCC scores? I've never give a hoot about silly PARCC scores in many years in DCPS and I'm hardly alone. Most Hill parents care that their elementary school kids can walk/bike/scooter to school, have a stable mostly UMC peer group, have a PTA that can afford wonderful extras, strong teachers, appealing extra curriculars and after care, and real challenge in the upper grades.

I can't count the number of neighborhood families we know who've pulled their kids from Watkins over the years after 1st, 2nd, 3rd grades after they lotteried into another DCPS or a charter, or left for a private. The situation simply never improves much. By contrast, parents generally stay at Brent or SWS as long as they can.

PP mentioned more advanced math available in 5th at Brent. If so there's little evidence that it's paying off.

Watkins is the perennial punching bag on DCUM and the hyperbole is so far detached from the reality here ("roughed up?" - give me a break). Why stick so far up your ass about Watkins?

[Anonymous]

I've lived on the Hill for 20 years, and have been IB for the Cluster since having children myself a decade back. Family after family I know from the neighborhood has given up on Watkins after a year, or two, or three. From the sounds of it, the current principal mostly cares about closing the achievement gap in a school whose catchment area is now at least 3/4 UMC and 2/3 white. It's an unfortunate situation. I wish that most IB families loved Watkins. You can always hire a math tutor to round our your child's learning experience at Brent, SWS and Maury, but you can't fix what ails Watkins as a parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've lived on the Hill for 20 years, and have been IB for the Cluster since having children myself a decade back. Family after family I know from the neighborhood has given up on Watkins after a year, or two, or three. From the sounds of it, the current principal mostly cares about closing the achievement gap in a school whose catchment area is now at least 3/4 UMC and 2/3 white. It's an unfortunate situation. I wish that most IB families loved Watkins. You can always hire a math tutor to round our your child's learning experience at Brent, SWS and Maury, but you can't fix what ails Watkins as a parent.

It's an unfortunate situation that she wants to close the achievement gap? For the kids actually attending the school. That's gross. I'm a Cluster parent - one kids SWS/Watkins/SH on to Walls, and another Peabody/Watkins/SH. The school has its ups and downs but to criticize it for trying to serve the kids in the building and work to improve their outcomes is outrageous. Most kids I know - IB or OOB - are great kids with bright/promising futures and a love of learning.

[Anonymous]

When “closing the achievement gap” means that, rather than pulling out students who need more help and others who need more challenge, the students who need more challenge are expected to help the peers who are behind, them YES, this is an unfortunate situation. My children are not put in school to TEACH. They are also not in school to essential self-teach, either.

We need stronger teachers who are properly supported, not blamed for situations beyond their control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've lived on the Hill for 20 years, and have been IB for the Cluster since having children myself a decade back. Family after family I know from the neighborhood has given up on Watkins after a year, or two, or three. From the sounds of it, the current principal mostly cares about closing the achievement gap in a school whose catchment area is now at least 3/4 UMC and 2/3 white. It's an unfortunate situation. I wish that most IB families loved Watkins. You can always hire a math tutor to round our your child's learning experience at Brent, SWS and Maury, but you can't fix what ails Watkins as a parent.

It's an unfortunate situation that she wants to close the achievement gap? For the kids actually attending the school. That's gross. I'm a Cluster parent - one kids SWS/Watkins/SH on to Walls, and another Peabody/Watkins/SH. The school has its ups and downs but to criticize it for trying to serve the kids in the building and work to improve their outcomes is outrageous. Most kids I know - IB or OOB - are great kids with bright/promising futures and a love of learning.

+1. Cluster derangement syndrome is real on DCUM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When “closing the achievement gap” means that, rather than pulling out students who need more help and others who need more challenge, the students who need more challenge are expected to help the peers who are behind, them YES, this is an unfortunate situation. My children are not put in school to TEACH. They are also not in school to essential self-teach, either.

We need stronger teachers who are properly supported, not blamed for situations beyond their control.

+1000.

Signed,

Cluster parent who left Watkins for a different DCPS where child was much better challenged and happier.