Middle Schools for Cap Hill

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a way to close this thread? I think the two of you are basically agreeing. The anonymity of this forum makes things impossible. There WERE people on this thread earlier that were making judgmental and negative comments about schools with certain test scores, and assuming the intentions of parents who sent their kids there. There were negative comments made about the behavior of parents who send their kids to IB schools, calling them preachy and acting for political reasons. Doesn't sound like that was you, given your recent posts. Parents have the right and opportunity to send their kids wherever is best for them. We need to stop cutting each other down and bickering, and assuming or judging people for their choices, full stop.

I don't get why UMC CH parents bother with DCPS options after 5th grade. Yes, it's nice to send your kid to a walkable school with a few old friends, but beyond that, the appeal is lost on me, a CH resident since the 90s.

I made a point of visiting the 3 CH middle schools this school year, on weekdays days when students were in the buildings. I've talked to a number of high SES IB parents who send their children to each and still don't see the appeal.

These programs don't offer designated test-in "honors" (grade level) classes, other than for math and ELA at SH. The hallways and playgrounds are rowdy (at least by my standards), the student bodies can be described as diverse, and pre-Covid scores were alarming overall in each case. Most worrying, senior admins seem to quit on a regular basis.

Granted, my comments are "negative," slam me for that, but I visited the schools looking for positives.

What were the reasons these parents gave you for why they are sending their kids to the schools?

*Admins gave impressive presentations at open houses/evidence of strong leadership.
*Neighborhood school better than long commute to charter from CH (especially DCI, hour-long commute by public transportation).
*Effective differentiation in the classroom with "appropriate" challenge provided in core subjects.
*School buildings/campus nicely renovated recently = good facilities.
*Multiple friends from DCPS elementary school going.
*School offered particularly good SpEd help for rising 6th grader with special needs.

Reasons unsaid by parents that I suspect (though probably not all these reasons in case of a particular family):

*Helping to desegregate overwhelmingly AA/Latino DCPS neighborhood school as white family a priority vis a vis parents' politics. Some IB parents I spoke to clearly anti-charter.
*Child didn't get into Latin or BASIS and possibly Inspired Teaching, Two Rivers, CHML via lottery; prospects of getting off WLs before Oct. Count Day poor.
*Parents involved in ES PTA efforts to make the middle school feed work for one or more years prior to enrolling. Liked group spirit of PTA parents advocating for IB enrollment at the school.
*Would have gone w/a private/parochial school if could have afforded for all children in family.
*Parents not interested and/or able to homeschool for MS.

What makes you discount all the actual reasons they gave you?? Those all sound like good, normal reasons to send your kid to a neighborhood school.

For the last time the test scores and overall student body are frankly abysmal. Look the only people sending their kids their are bleeding heart liberals with white guilt who have no idea what is actually best for their children. Asian, black, and hispanic folks of means know better.

My kid goes to one of these schools. I don’t profess to know the politics of every parent at the school, but those who I do know are, in general, no more liberal than your average DC resident. If I had to label my own politics, I’d call myself a moderate Democrat (think Joe Manchin).

I’m not sending my high-achieving kid to this school to make a political statement or anything like that. I’m sending him there because I think the program, the principal and and the teachers are great. If 2019 PARCC overall scores were the only thing that mattered, there would be no point in having these discussions, because we are all presumably capable of looking those up ourselves.

Here is your chance. Please explain what you find *great* about the middle school program. Faculty at DCPS schools are very often fantastic people. Why do you feel drawn to the program?

Please explain what is great about the teachers, and also why the test scores are so bad despite having great teachers. Really, I would love for the teachers to be great, but surely you can be a little more specific. Are there any projects or initiatives at the school that you find impressive? Any particularly good programs?

Excellent differentiation, personalized attention, etc.

Test scores are primarily a reflection of demographics, and, in general, upper-income kids at Ward 6 middle schools do just as well on the PARCC as upper-income one kids at Ward 3 middle schools.

Your lack of specificity speaks volumes. Seriously, people want this to work, but you're not helping when you avoid giving a robust response. This is an opportunity to fairly represent the school in a way that will make people consider it. Five words isn't going to get the job done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a way to close this thread? I think the two of you are basically agreeing. The anonymity of this forum makes things impossible. There WERE people on this thread earlier that were making judgmental and negative comments about schools with certain test scores, and assuming the intentions of parents who sent their kids there. There were negative comments made about the behavior of parents who send their kids to IB schools, calling them preachy and acting for political reasons. Doesn't sound like that was you, given your recent posts. Parents have the right and opportunity to send their kids wherever is best for them. We need to stop cutting each other down and bickering, and assuming or judging people for their choices, full stop.

I don't get why UMC CH parents bother with DCPS options after 5th grade. Yes, it's nice to send your kid to a walkable school with a few old friends, but beyond that, the appeal is lost on me, a CH resident since the 90s.

I made a point of visiting the 3 CH middle schools this school year, on weekdays days when students were in the buildings. I've talked to a number of high SES IB parents who send their children to each and still don't see the appeal.

These programs don't offer designated test-in "honors" (grade level) classes, other than for math and ELA at SH. The hallways and playgrounds are rowdy (at least by my standards), the student bodies can be described as diverse, and pre-Covid scores were alarming overall in each case. Most worrying, senior admins seem to quit on a regular basis.

Granted, my comments are "negative," slam me for that, but I visited the schools looking for positives.

What were the reasons these parents gave you for why they are sending their kids to the schools?

*Admins gave impressive presentations at open houses/evidence of strong leadership.
*Neighborhood school better than long commute to charter from CH (especially DCI, hour-long commute by public transportation).
*Effective differentiation in the classroom with "appropriate" challenge provided in core subjects.
*School buildings/campus nicely renovated recently = good facilities.
*Multiple friends from DCPS elementary school going.
*School offered particularly good SpEd help for rising 6th grader with special needs.

Reasons unsaid by parents that I suspect (though probably not all these reasons in case of a particular family):

*Helping to desegregate overwhelmingly AA/Latino DCPS neighborhood school as white family a priority vis a vis parents' politics. Some IB parents I spoke to clearly anti-charter.
*Child didn't get into Latin or BASIS and possibly Inspired Teaching, Two Rivers, CHML via lottery; prospects of getting off WLs before Oct. Count Day poor.
*Parents involved in ES PTA efforts to make the middle school feed work for one or more years prior to enrolling. Liked group spirit of PTA parents advocating for IB enrollment at the school.
*Would have gone w/a private/parochial school if could have afforded for all children in family.
*Parents not interested and/or able to homeschool for MS.

What makes you discount all the actual reasons they gave you?? Those all sound like good, normal reasons to send your kid to a neighborhood school.

For the last time the test scores and overall student body are frankly abysmal. Look the only people sending their kids their are bleeding heart liberals with white guilt who have no idea what is actually best for their children. Asian, black, and hispanic folks of means know better.

My kid goes to one of these schools. I don’t profess to know the politics of every parent at the school, but those who I do know are, in general, no more liberal than your average DC resident. If I had to label my own politics, I’d call myself a moderate Democrat (think Joe Manchin).

I’m not sending my high-achieving kid to this school to make a political statement or anything like that. I’m sending him there because I think the program, the principal and and the teachers are great. If 2019 PARCC overall scores were the only thing that mattered, there would be no point in having these discussions, because we are all presumably capable of looking those up ourselves.

Here is your chance. Please explain what you find *great* about the middle school program. Faculty at DCPS schools are very often fantastic people. Why do you feel drawn to the program?

Please explain what is great about the teachers, and also why the test scores are so bad despite having great teachers. Really, I would love for the teachers to be great, but surely you can be a little more specific. Are there any projects or initiatives at the school that you find impressive? Any particularly good programs?

Excellent differentiation, personalized attention, etc.

Test scores are primarily a reflection of demographics, and, in general, upper-income kids at Ward 6 middle schools do just as well on the PARCC as upper-income one kids at Ward 3 middle schools.

Your lack of specificity speaks volumes. Seriously, people want this to work, but you're not helping when you avoid giving a robust response. This is an opportunity to fairly represent the school in a way that will make people consider it. Five words isn't going to get the job done.

NP. You are being absurd. It's DCUM. They provided a response; are you looking for a treatise? If you care that much why don't you do some research of your own? Or are you just a troll?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a way to close this thread? I think the two of you are basically agreeing. The anonymity of this forum makes things impossible. There WERE people on this thread earlier that were making judgmental and negative comments about schools with certain test scores, and assuming the intentions of parents who sent their kids there. There were negative comments made about the behavior of parents who send their kids to IB schools, calling them preachy and acting for political reasons. Doesn't sound like that was you, given your recent posts. Parents have the right and opportunity to send their kids wherever is best for them. We need to stop cutting each other down and bickering, and assuming or judging people for their choices, full stop.

I don't get why UMC CH parents bother with DCPS options after 5th grade. Yes, it's nice to send your kid to a walkable school with a few old friends, but beyond that, the appeal is lost on me, a CH resident since the 90s.

I made a point of visiting the 3 CH middle schools this school year, on weekdays days when students were in the buildings. I've talked to a number of high SES IB parents who send their children to each and still don't see the appeal.

These programs don't offer designated test-in "honors" (grade level) classes, other than for math and ELA at SH. The hallways and playgrounds are rowdy (at least by my standards), the student bodies can be described as diverse, and pre-Covid scores were alarming overall in each case. Most worrying, senior admins seem to quit on a regular basis.

Granted, my comments are "negative," slam me for that, but I visited the schools looking for positives.

What were the reasons these parents gave you for why they are sending their kids to the schools?

*Admins gave impressive presentations at open houses/evidence of strong leadership.
*Neighborhood school better than long commute to charter from CH (especially DCI, hour-long commute by public transportation).
*Effective differentiation in the classroom with "appropriate" challenge provided in core subjects.
*School buildings/campus nicely renovated recently = good facilities.
*Multiple friends from DCPS elementary school going.
*School offered particularly good SpEd help for rising 6th grader with special needs.

Reasons unsaid by parents that I suspect (though probably not all these reasons in case of a particular family):

*Helping to desegregate overwhelmingly AA/Latino DCPS neighborhood school as white family a priority vis a vis parents' politics. Some IB parents I spoke to clearly anti-charter.
*Child didn't get into Latin or BASIS and possibly Inspired Teaching, Two Rivers, CHML via lottery; prospects of getting off WLs before Oct. Count Day poor.
*Parents involved in ES PTA efforts to make the middle school feed work for one or more years prior to enrolling. Liked group spirit of PTA parents advocating for IB enrollment at the school.
*Would have gone w/a private/parochial school if could have afforded for all children in family.
*Parents not interested and/or able to homeschool for MS.

What makes you discount all the actual reasons they gave you?? Those all sound like good, normal reasons to send your kid to a neighborhood school.

For the last time the test scores and overall student body are frankly abysmal. Look the only people sending their kids their are bleeding heart liberals with white guilt who have no idea what is actually best for their children. Asian, black, and hispanic folks of means know better.

My kid goes to one of these schools. I don’t profess to know the politics of every parent at the school, but those who I do know are, in general, no more liberal than your average DC resident. If I had to label my own politics, I’d call myself a moderate Democrat (think Joe Manchin).

I’m not sending my high-achieving kid to this school to make a political statement or anything like that. I’m sending him there because I think the program, the principal and and the teachers are great. If 2019 PARCC overall scores were the only thing that mattered, there would be no point in having these discussions, because we are all presumably capable of looking those up ourselves.

Here is your chance. Please explain what you find *great* about the middle school program. Faculty at DCPS schools are very often fantastic people. Why do you feel drawn to the program?

Please explain what is great about the teachers, and also why the test scores are so bad despite having great teachers. Really, I would love for the teachers to be great, but surely you can be a little more specific. Are there any projects or initiatives at the school that you find impressive? Any particularly good programs?

Excellent differentiation, personalized attention, etc.

Test scores are primarily a reflection of demographics, and, in general, upper-income kids at Ward 6 middle schools do just as well on the PARCC as upper-income one kids at Ward 3 middle schools.

Your lack of specificity speaks volumes. Seriously, people want this to work, but you're not helping when you avoid giving a robust response. This is an opportunity to fairly represent the school in a way that will make people consider it. Five words isn't going to get the job done.

NP. You are being absurd. It's DCUM. They provided a response; are you looking for a treatise? If you care that much why don't you do some research of your own? Or are you just a troll?

I'm not a troll, just someone who's tired of the people who claim everything's fine and awesome at these low performing schools and that everyone should look past the behaviors and test scores. Look past them at what, exactly? If the schools really are good it shouldn't be that hard to say why. I have done my own research and have concluded that it isn't so great. PP has done nothing to disrupt that conclusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a way to close this thread? I think the two of you are basically agreeing. The anonymity of this forum makes things impossible. There WERE people on this thread earlier that were making judgmental and negative comments about schools with certain test scores, and assuming the intentions of parents who sent their kids there. There were negative comments made about the behavior of parents who send their kids to IB schools, calling them preachy and acting for political reasons. Doesn't sound like that was you, given your recent posts. Parents have the right and opportunity to send their kids wherever is best for them. We need to stop cutting each other down and bickering, and assuming or judging people for their choices, full stop.

I don't get why UMC CH parents bother with DCPS options after 5th grade. Yes, it's nice to send your kid to a walkable school with a few old friends, but beyond that, the appeal is lost on me, a CH resident since the 90s.

I made a point of visiting the 3 CH middle schools this school year, on weekdays days when students were in the buildings. I've talked to a number of high SES IB parents who send their children to each and still don't see the appeal.

These programs don't offer designated test-in "honors" (grade level) classes, other than for math and ELA at SH. The hallways and playgrounds are rowdy (at least by my standards), the student bodies can be described as diverse, and pre-Covid scores were alarming overall in each case. Most worrying, senior admins seem to quit on a regular basis.

Granted, my comments are "negative," slam me for that, but I visited the schools looking for positives.

What were the reasons these parents gave you for why they are sending their kids to the schools?

*Admins gave impressive presentations at open houses/evidence of strong leadership.
*Neighborhood school better than long commute to charter from CH (especially DCI, hour-long commute by public transportation).
*Effective differentiation in the classroom with "appropriate" challenge provided in core subjects.
*School buildings/campus nicely renovated recently = good facilities.
*Multiple friends from DCPS elementary school going.
*School offered particularly good SpEd help for rising 6th grader with special needs.

Reasons unsaid by parents that I suspect (though probably not all these reasons in case of a particular family):

*Helping to desegregate overwhelmingly AA/Latino DCPS neighborhood school as white family a priority vis a vis parents' politics. Some IB parents I spoke to clearly anti-charter.
*Child didn't get into Latin or BASIS and possibly Inspired Teaching, Two Rivers, CHML via lottery; prospects of getting off WLs before Oct. Count Day poor.
*Parents involved in ES PTA efforts to make the middle school feed work for one or more years prior to enrolling. Liked group spirit of PTA parents advocating for IB enrollment at the school.
*Would have gone w/a private/parochial school if could have afforded for all children in family.
*Parents not interested and/or able to homeschool for MS.

What makes you discount all the actual reasons they gave you?? Those all sound like good, normal reasons to send your kid to a neighborhood school.

For the last time the test scores and overall student body are frankly abysmal. Look the only people sending their kids their are bleeding heart liberals with white guilt who have no idea what is actually best for their children. Asian, black, and hispanic folks of means know better.

My kid goes to one of these schools. I don’t profess to know the politics of every parent at the school, but those who I do know are, in general, no more liberal than your average DC resident. If I had to label my own politics, I’d call myself a moderate Democrat (think Joe Manchin).

I’m not sending my high-achieving kid to this school to make a political statement or anything like that. I’m sending him there because I think the program, the principal and and the teachers are great. If 2019 PARCC overall scores were the only thing that mattered, there would be no point in having these discussions, because we are all presumably capable of looking those up ourselves.

Here is your chance. Please explain what you find *great* about the middle school program. Faculty at DCPS schools are very often fantastic people. Why do you feel drawn to the program?

Please explain what is great about the teachers, and also why the test scores are so bad despite having great teachers. Really, I would love for the teachers to be great, but surely you can be a little more specific. Are there any projects or initiatives at the school that you find impressive? Any particularly good programs?

Excellent differentiation, personalized attention, etc.

Test scores are primarily a reflection of demographics, and, in general, upper-income kids at Ward 6 middle schools do just as well on the PARCC as upper-income one kids at Ward 3 middle schools.

Your lack of specificity speaks volumes. Seriously, people want this to work, but you're not helping when you avoid giving a robust response. This is an opportunity to fairly represent the school in a way that will make people consider it. Five words isn't going to get the job done.

NP. You are being absurd. It's DCUM. They provided a response; are you looking for a treatise? If you care that much why don't you do some research of your own? Or are you just a troll?

I'm not a troll, just someone who's tired of the people who claim everything's fine and awesome at these low performing schools and that everyone should look past the behaviors and test scores. Look past them at what, exactly? If the schools really are good it shouldn't be that hard to say why. I have done my own research and have concluded that it isn't so great. PP has done nothing to disrupt that conclusion.

DP. What else do you want? PP said the schools is doing a good job teaching their child. I assume PP is also enjoying the proximity and neighborhood connection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a way to close this thread? I think the two of you are basically agreeing. The anonymity of this forum makes things impossible. There WERE people on this thread earlier that were making judgmental and negative comments about schools with certain test scores, and assuming the intentions of parents who sent their kids there. There were negative comments made about the behavior of parents who send their kids to IB schools, calling them preachy and acting for political reasons. Doesn't sound like that was you, given your recent posts. Parents have the right and opportunity to send their kids wherever is best for them. We need to stop cutting each other down and bickering, and assuming or judging people for their choices, full stop.

I don't get why UMC CH parents bother with DCPS options after 5th grade. Yes, it's nice to send your kid to a walkable school with a few old friends, but beyond that, the appeal is lost on me, a CH resident since the 90s.

I made a point of visiting the 3 CH middle schools this school year, on weekdays days when students were in the buildings. I've talked to a number of high SES IB parents who send their children to each and still don't see the appeal.

These programs don't offer designated test-in "honors" (grade level) classes, other than for math and ELA at SH. The hallways and playgrounds are rowdy (at least by my standards), the student bodies can be described as diverse, and pre-Covid scores were alarming overall in each case. Most worrying, senior admins seem to quit on a regular basis.

Granted, my comments are "negative," slam me for that, but I visited the schools looking for positives.

What were the reasons these parents gave you for why they are sending their kids to the schools?

*Admins gave impressive presentations at open houses/evidence of strong leadership.
*Neighborhood school better than long commute to charter from CH (especially DCI, hour-long commute by public transportation).
*Effective differentiation in the classroom with "appropriate" challenge provided in core subjects.
*School buildings/campus nicely renovated recently = good facilities.
*Multiple friends from DCPS elementary school going.
*School offered particularly good SpEd help for rising 6th grader with special needs.

Reasons unsaid by parents that I suspect (though probably not all these reasons in case of a particular family):

*Helping to desegregate overwhelmingly AA/Latino DCPS neighborhood school as white family a priority vis a vis parents' politics. Some IB parents I spoke to clearly anti-charter.
*Child didn't get into Latin or BASIS and possibly Inspired Teaching, Two Rivers, CHML via lottery; prospects of getting off WLs before Oct. Count Day poor.
*Parents involved in ES PTA efforts to make the middle school feed work for one or more years prior to enrolling. Liked group spirit of PTA parents advocating for IB enrollment at the school.
*Would have gone w/a private/parochial school if could have afforded for all children in family.
*Parents not interested and/or able to homeschool for MS.

What makes you discount all the actual reasons they gave you?? Those all sound like good, normal reasons to send your kid to a neighborhood school.

For the last time the test scores and overall student body are frankly abysmal. Look the only people sending their kids their are bleeding heart liberals with white guilt who have no idea what is actually best for their children. Asian, black, and hispanic folks of means know better.

My kid goes to one of these schools. I don’t profess to know the politics of every parent at the school, but those who I do know are, in general, no more liberal than your average DC resident. If I had to label my own politics, I’d call myself a moderate Democrat (think Joe Manchin).

I’m not sending my high-achieving kid to this school to make a political statement or anything like that. I’m sending him there because I think the program, the principal and and the teachers are great. If 2019 PARCC overall scores were the only thing that mattered, there would be no point in having these discussions, because we are all presumably capable of looking those up ourselves.

Here is your chance. Please explain what you find *great* about the middle school program. Faculty at DCPS schools are very often fantastic people. Why do you feel drawn to the program?

Please explain what is great about the teachers, and also why the test scores are so bad despite having great teachers. Really, I would love for the teachers to be great, but surely you can be a little more specific. Are there any projects or initiatives at the school that you find impressive? Any particularly good programs?

Excellent differentiation, personalized attention, etc.

Test scores are primarily a reflection of demographics, and, in general, upper-income kids at Ward 6 middle schools do just as well on the PARCC as upper-income one kids at Ward 3 middle schools.

Your lack of specificity speaks volumes. Seriously, people want this to work, but you're not helping when you avoid giving a robust response. This is an opportunity to fairly represent the school in a way that will make people consider it. Five words isn't going to get the job done.

NP. You are being absurd. It's DCUM. They provided a response; are you looking for a treatise? If you care that much why don't you do some research of your own? Or are you just a troll?

I'm not a troll, just someone who's tired of the people who claim everything's fine and awesome at these low performing schools and that everyone should look past the behaviors and test scores. Look past them at what, exactly? If the schools really are good it shouldn't be that hard to say why. I have done my own research and have concluded that it isn't so great. PP has done nothing to disrupt that conclusion.

Bingo! Hit it right on the nail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a way to close this thread? I think the two of you are basically agreeing. The anonymity of this forum makes things impossible. There WERE people on this thread earlier that were making judgmental and negative comments about schools with certain test scores, and assuming the intentions of parents who sent their kids there. There were negative comments made about the behavior of parents who send their kids to IB schools, calling them preachy and acting for political reasons. Doesn't sound like that was you, given your recent posts. Parents have the right and opportunity to send their kids wherever is best for them. We need to stop cutting each other down and bickering, and assuming or judging people for their choices, full stop.

I don't get why UMC CH parents bother with DCPS options after 5th grade. Yes, it's nice to send your kid to a walkable school with a few old friends, but beyond that, the appeal is lost on me, a CH resident since the 90s.

I made a point of visiting the 3 CH middle schools this school year, on weekdays days when students were in the buildings. I've talked to a number of high SES IB parents who send their children to each and still don't see the appeal.

These programs don't offer designated test-in "honors" (grade level) classes, other than for math and ELA at SH. The hallways and playgrounds are rowdy (at least by my standards), the student bodies can be described as diverse, and pre-Covid scores were alarming overall in each case. Most worrying, senior admins seem to quit on a regular basis.

Granted, my comments are "negative," slam me for that, but I visited the schools looking for positives.

For the record, Jefferson has advanced math (with some 6th graders taking 7th grade math, etc.), as well as an advanced writing class.

I don’t know as much about EH, but I understand that it has an IB program.

And, no, I’m not asserting that these programs are equivalent to certain suburban honors programs. I’m just responding to the statement above about honors at SH.

I posted about visiting the schools. When I attended an open house at Jefferson recently, admins refused to explain how a 6th grader qualified for 7th grade math, or for the advanced writing class either, although several parents asked about the placement system in a Q & A session.

When I asked if my 6th grader should prepare for a placement test to qualify for the 7th grade math at Jefferson, I was told no. Admins insisted that teachers made the placements, but wouldn't lay out the criteria. I left confused and unconvinced that there are advanced classes at Jefferson. What the hell? Why no transparent system for placing students in the two advanced 6th grade classes, if they actually exist.

[Anonymous]

If they actually exist?!? I am a parent of a Jefferson kid and can definitively tell you that, yes, the school has advanced math track and an advanced writing class.

If you’re going to question even basic facts that people with actual experience at the school are willing to share, then I don’t see much point in going beyond the basics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they actually exist?!? I am a parent of a Jefferson kid and can definitively tell you that, yes, the school has advanced math track and an advanced writing class.

If you’re going to question even basic facts that people with actual experience at the school are willing to share, then I don’t see much point in going beyond the basics.

1) It seems like people with actual experience at the school are not willing to share very much. What does that say about the school?

2) How do children get placed in these advanced tracks? Why would an administrator not be willing to explain that?

3) Sorry but some of us have learned the hard way not to believe what DCPS tells us, and to ask questions sooner rather than later. Maybe some day you'll have that kind of experience too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they actually exist?!? I am a parent of a Jefferson kid and can definitively tell you that, yes, the school has advanced math track and an advanced writing class.

If you’re going to question even basic facts that people with actual experience at the school are willing to share, then I don’t see much point in going beyond the basics.

But the school isn't sharing basic facts with prospective parents. Anybody who doubts this needs only to attend a JA open house. Not only is the placement process a black box, the classes themselves are something of a mystery. I couldn't get a straight answer out of admins as to why there are no advanced reading but there is one for writing, supposedly.

I also couldn't find out how kids get into the writing class, how many students are in it and what the criteria for admission are. Parents are simply told to trust the school to provide appropriate challenge. You're not told about the classes themselves, or how advanced students access them. No doubt there are political reasons for the lack of transparency, but I wasn't told what those were either.

We get it, you're impressed with advanced offerings at JA. I'm not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they actually exist?!? I am a parent of a Jefferson kid and can definitively tell you that, yes, the school has advanced math track and an advanced writing class.

If you’re going to question even basic facts that people with actual experience at the school are willing to share, then I don’t see much point in going beyond the basics.

1) It seems like people with actual experience at the school are not willing to share very much. What does that say about the school?

2) How do children get placed in these advanced tracks? Why would an administrator not be willing to explain that?

3) Sorry but some of us have learned the hard way not to believe what DCPS tells us, and to ask questions sooner rather than later. Maybe some day you'll have that kind of experience too.

Why should I even bother to try to answer any of these questions if there is apparently an unwillingness to to believe what I do say?

What is the name of the specific “administrator” with whom you spoke?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they actually exist?!? I am a parent of a Jefferson kid and can definitively tell you that, yes, the school has advanced math track and an advanced writing class.

If you’re going to question even basic facts that people with actual experience at the school are willing to share, then I don’t see much point in going beyond the basics.

1) It seems like people with actual experience at the school are not willing to share very much. What does that say about the school?

2) How do children get placed in these advanced tracks? Why would an administrator not be willing to explain that?

3) Sorry but some of us have learned the hard way not to believe what DCPS tells us, and to ask questions sooner rather than later. Maybe some day you'll have that kind of experience too.

Why should I even bother to try to answer any of these questions if there is apparently an unwillingness to to believe what I do say?

What is the name of the specific “administrator” with whom you spoke?

None of this matters even in the advanced class if it isn't actually advanced and it really isn't compared to what you get in privates or outside DC. Again anyone with commonsense knows these schools are subpar. Folks are still trying the lottery to get out.

Justs admit it you are sacrificing your personal commute over the quality of the school your children attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they actually exist?!? I am a parent of a Jefferson kid and can definitively tell you that, yes, the school has advanced math track and an advanced writing class.

If you’re going to question even basic facts that people with actual experience at the school are willing to share, then I don’t see much point in going beyond the basics.

1) It seems like people with actual experience at the school are not willing to share very much. What does that say about the school?

2) How do children get placed in these advanced tracks? Why would an administrator not be willing to explain that?

3) Sorry but some of us have learned the hard way not to believe what DCPS tells us, and to ask questions sooner rather than later. Maybe some day you'll have that kind of experience too.

Why should I even bother to try to answer any of these questions if there is apparently an unwillingness to to believe what I do say?

What is the name of the specific “administrator” with whom you spoke?

None of this matters even in the advanced class if it isn't actually advanced and it really isn't compared to what you get in privates or outside DC. Again anyone with commonsense knows these schools are subpar. Folks are still trying the lottery to get out.

Justs admit it you are sacrificing your personal commute over the quality of the school your children attend.

DP. What is your agenda? Where did you send your child for middle school? Why are you so triggered by this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they actually exist?!? I am a parent of a Jefferson kid and can definitively tell you that, yes, the school has advanced math track and an advanced writing class.

If you’re going to question even basic facts that people with actual experience at the school are willing to share, then I don’t see much point in going beyond the basics.

1) It seems like people with actual experience at the school are not willing to share very much. What does that say about the school?

2) How do children get placed in these advanced tracks? Why would an administrator not be willing to explain that?

3) Sorry but some of us have learned the hard way not to believe what DCPS tells us, and to ask questions sooner rather than later. Maybe some day you'll have that kind of experience too.

Why should I even bother to try to answer any of these questions if there is apparently an unwillingness to to believe what I do say?

What is the name of the specific “administrator” with whom you spoke?

None of this matters even in the advanced class if it isn't actually advanced and it really isn't compared to what you get in privates or outside DC. Again anyone with commonsense knows these schools are subpar. Folks are still trying the lottery to get out.

Justs admit it you are sacrificing your personal commute over the quality of the school your children attend.

Why is it so important to you to denigrate people who chose that school. You act like you are genuinely interested, but nothing anyone says is good enough and you can't even leave it alone tht everyone is entitled to their own choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they actually exist?!? I am a parent of a Jefferson kid and can definitively tell you that, yes, the school has advanced math track and an advanced writing class.

If you’re going to question even basic facts that people with actual experience at the school are willing to share, then I don’t see much point in going beyond the basics.

1) It seems like people with actual experience at the school are not willing to share very much. What does that say about the school?

2) How do children get placed in these advanced tracks? Why would an administrator not be willing to explain that?

3) Sorry but some of us have learned the hard way not to believe what DCPS tells us, and to ask questions sooner rather than later. Maybe some day you'll have that kind of experience too.

I posted about my frustration at the JA open house. Point 3 makes a lot of sense to me. After 7 years in DCPS, we no longer trust easily. We ask hard questions up front. If we don't get answers, we won't bite after 4th or 5th grade. Life is too short. PP above nailed it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they actually exist?!? I am a parent of a Jefferson kid and can definitively tell you that, yes, the school has advanced math track and an advanced writing class.

If you’re going to question even basic facts that people with actual experience at the school are willing to share, then I don’t see much point in going beyond the basics.

1) It seems like people with actual experience at the school are not willing to share very much. What does that say about the school?

2) How do children get placed in these advanced tracks? Why would an administrator not be willing to explain that?

3) Sorry but some of us have learned the hard way not to believe what DCPS tells us, and to ask questions sooner rather than later. Maybe some day you'll have that kind of experience too.

Why should I even bother to try to answer any of these questions if there is apparently an unwillingness to to believe what I do say?

What is the name of the specific “administrator” with whom you spoke?

I'm not the person who spoke with the administrator. I do believe you that the track exists. But what else do you like about the school? People actually do want to know!