Current parents' sanctification with Sela?

[Anonymous]

We're starting to gear up on research and planning for the lottery for next year, and have been looking at Sela as a potential solid safety option for us (at least). I know Sela has many anonymous detractors on DCUM, but I've also seen good things from current and former parents. I was hoping to see if any current parents could weigh in with their thoughts on the school now, and plans and prospects for the school as it grows. Thanks much!

[Anonymous]

sanctification?

[Anonymous]

OP can't get no satisfaction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP can't get no satisfaction.

Oops, a multi-tasking typo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP can't get no satisfaction.

Oops, a multi-tasking typo!

Meant to be satisfaction

[Anonymous]

I actually didn't know the school was still open. I'd be interested to hear what current parents report as well.

[Anonymous]

While you wait for a parent to chime in, you can review their DCPCSB qualitative site review report. Sela's was just done in 2017

http://www.dcpcsb.org/report/qualitative-school-reviews

[Anonymous]

It's too bad PCSB doesn't have (at least I don't think they have) a way to show the teacher turnover and student enrollment/withdrawl trends for each charter for the 3 most recent years. Especially the student retention rates, those say more than anything else about whether parents feel good about a school, because nothing tells the truth like staying put or leaving - either in big numbers.

I'd like to see this data for all charters, not just Sela, but it seems especially relevant for the schools who've had major challenges in the last few years (like Shining Stars re: location, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's too bad PCSB doesn't have (at least I don't think they have) a way to show the teacher turnover and student enrollment/withdrawl trends for each charter for the 3 most recent years. Especially the student retention rates, those say more than anything else about whether parents feel good about a school, because nothing tells the truth like staying put or leaving - either in big numbers.

I'd like to see this data for all charters, not just Sela, but it seems especially relevant for the schools who've had major challenges in the last few years (like Shining Stars re: location, etc.).

Each charter school's end of year report/annual report shows each of these data points.
Now only if DCPS had to. Let's see that kind of cross sector collaboration.

[Anonymous]

PCS teacher retention / attrition is reported in the school's annual report - posted on the PCSB website.

PCS student retention / attrition is reported on the Tier / school quality reports, also on the PCSB website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PCS teacher retention / attrition is reported in the school's annual report - posted on the PCSB website.

PCS student retention / attrition is reported on the Tier / school quality reports, also on the PCSB website.

But what is that based on, isn't it self-reported?

That's one of the hugest problems with most of PCSB's data: it's self-reported, including discipline and withdrawls, teacher retention, student retention.

Or is the data PCSB posts re: student retention (which is the only thing there is outside data on as well, if the student changes schools and stays in DC public schools or stays put) based on count day info and therefore verifiable from another source other than just the school's self-reporting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PCS teacher retention / attrition is reported in the school's annual report - posted on the PCSB website.

PCS student retention / attrition is reported on the Tier / school quality reports, also on the PCSB website.

But what is that based on, isn't it self-reported?

That's one of the hugest problems with most of PCSB's data: it's self-reported, including discipline and withdrawls, teacher retention, student retention.

Or is the data PCSB posts re: student retention (which is the only thing there is outside data on as well, if the student changes schools and stays in DC public schools or stays put) based on count day info and therefore verifiable from another source other than just the school's self-reporting?

Re the teachers - schools have to submit staff rosters, as well as the percentages. So it's pretty easy for people to see if they are making things up.

Student retention figures are count day to count day enrollment, and how many students who were eligible to return did (obviously new students don't count against the new school and students graduating / leaving at the terminal year don't hurt a school either).

[Anonymous]

Good to know, thank you. So where can we find the student retention/transition data, as well as teacher retention/transition data, by school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good to know, thank you. So where can we find the student retention/transition data, as well as teacher retention/transition data, by school?

It was provided earlier in the thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good to know, thank you. So where can we find the student retention/transition data, as well as teacher retention/transition data, by school?

It was provided earlier in the thread.

Annual reports 2015-16
http://www.dcpcsb.org/report/evaluating/charter-school-annual-reports

School quality reports 2016
http://www.dcpcsb.org/report/school-quality-reports-pmf