PARCC Scores for Charters

[Anonymous]

I have an honest question for parents either with kids in DC charter schools or those looking to send their kids to charters who may have some information to share.

The PARCC scores would suggest that half or more children attending many of these schools aren't boding so well in basic literacy and math... and yet these schools still seem to be coveted. I'm a DC parent and looking for the best option for my kids and upon hearing good things about some of the charters I did my research. The places that some parents were touting as top choices (see below) had some not so stellar scores and I'm just wondering why people still consider them to be good? Is it the "scores aren't everything" argument? Or is it just better than the other public alternative in their neighborhood? What am I missing? I'm seriously asking, I'm not trying to put down anyone's choices.

Proficiency percentages in English/Literacy and Math:

Creative Minds
32% and 41%

Inspired Teaching
50% and 35%

EL Haynes
41% and 47%

Mundo Verde
44% and 42%

[Anonymous]

I'll be honest, we were considering switching from our IB to one of these schools, and the PARCC scores did end up being a consideration. But I think the PARCC scores reflect the school culture in a way that some people think is a positive: the school does not "teach to the test." Our IB, for example, appears to be a whole year accelerated in literacy and match compared to the charter -- their 1st is like our K. To some parents that would be a huge plus.

I also think that you'll see PARCC scores go way up at those charters in the next few years, as they figure out ways to prepare kids for the test that still fit within their missions. Addressing any real gaps in instruction that the test scores are indicating may be a more difficult task. If the scores are still bad in 3-4 years that will tell you something.

Upshot for me is -- if you like those charters and the school works for you as a family, don't worry too much about test scores.

[Anonymous]

I think it reflects a willingness to tolerate mediocre PARCC scores for the sake of programming/language desirability, feeder patterns, and location.

[Anonymous]

because those scores are higher than many if not most of the in-boundary public schools for the students who are attending the listed schools.

[Anonymous]

I just feel like as long as a solid chunk of the kids are proficient, it doesn't make a difference to my child how big that segment is. Of course I care about all the kids and want to help the school help them do better, but I don't see it as off-putting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:because those scores are higher than many if not most of the in-boundary public schools for the students who are attending the listed schools.

This.

[Anonymous]

At some schools, it reflects loss of high performing kids due to lack of desirable middle grades or feeder. Or it reflects the school improving over time, so it is more desirable now than it was back when those kids enrolled.

Maybe I will get flamed for saying this, but if Spanish immersion depresses test performance slightly, I am fine with that. It seems well worth it. Tests don't tell you everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:because those scores are higher than many if not most of the in-boundary public schools for the students who are attending the listed schools.

Yes.

PARCC Scores for my IB

PK3-8 16%/23%

PARCC Scores for my kids' charter

Elementary 52%/38%
MS 60%/59%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just feel like as long as a solid chunk of the kids are proficient, it doesn't make a difference to my child how big that segment is. Of course I care about all the kids and want to help the school help them do better, but I don't see it as off-putting.

See, I actually thought the scores reflected something about curriculum/instruction that could impact my child. I don't think that because he's the white child of educated parents that automatically means he'll "be fine" wherever he enrolls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:because those scores are higher than many if not most of the in-boundary public schools for the students who are attending the listed schools.

Yes.

PARCC Scores for my IB

PK3-8 16%/23%

PARCC Scores for my kids' charter

Elementary 52%/38%
MS 60%/59%

It's not that complicated. It comes down to choosing what's best for your kid among the available options. Sure, the scores at the listed schools aren't great, but compared to available options for most applicants, they are better. OP, are you trying to make a different point that I'm missing?

I guess you could be trying to say that there are other options with higher PARCC scores that don't seem as popular, is that it?

[Anonymous]

No one's going to say the real reason?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:because those scores are higher than many if not most of the in-boundary public schools for the students who are attending the listed schools.

Yes.

PARCC Scores for my IB

PK3-8 16%/23%

PARCC Scores for my kids' charter

Elementary 52%/38%
MS 60%/59%

It's not that complicated. It comes down to choosing what's best for your kid among the available options. Sure, the scores at the listed schools aren't great, but compared to available options for most applicants, they are better. OP, are you trying to make a different point that I'm missing?

I guess you could be trying to say that there are other options with higher PARCC scores that don't seem as popular, is that it?

I'm the PP you quoted.

What I was basically saying is that my IB choices were not good. Our IB was (and remains) a school with low-performing students, and a majoriyt of the students at the school are OOB. So we aren't giving up the "neighborhood" school ideal either.

We went to the best charter options for elementary and middle that we got into via the lottery. We limited ourselves to ones that were a distance from home that we could live with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:because those scores are higher than many if not most of the in-boundary public schools for the students who are attending the listed schools.

Yes.

PARCC Scores for my IB

PK3-8 16%/23%

PARCC Scores for my kids' charter

Elementary 52%/38%
MS 60%/59%

It's not that complicated. It comes down to choosing what's best for your kid among the available options. Sure, the scores at the listed schools aren't great, but compared to available options for most applicants, they are better. OP, are you trying to make a different point that I'm missing?

I guess you could be trying to say that there are other options with higher PARCC scores that don't seem as popular, is that it?

OP here. I was actually just trying to figure out why parents choose and revere charters when the PARCC scores don't indicate the students are achieving basic proficiencies -- which to me (since the students taking the tests have been there a few years) indicates a potential issue with the academics there/ the school's teaching methods. I understand that for parents wanting to stay in their current neighborhood, who aren't interested in or can't afford private school, they don't have another option. For us, staying in our neighborhood isn't that important, so we're considering a move elsewhere.

I really wanted a charter to work, but I base my decisions on fact-based information (like test scores) and my gut feel at school visits. I'm going to go to the open houses to get a better feel for the schools, but if most of the students aren't meeting basic proficiencies I don't think I'll end up sending my kids there. One less name dropped in the lottery... I'm sure no one will miss us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just feel like as long as a solid chunk of the kids are proficient, it doesn't make a difference to my child how big that segment is. Of course I care about all the kids and want to help the school help them do better, but I don't see it as off-putting.

See, I actually thought the scores reflected something about curriculum/instruction that could impact my child. I don't think that because he's the white child of educated parents that automatically means he'll "be fine" wherever he enrolls.

I think they do too. But I don't think it makes a huge difference to my child whether proficiency is at 25% or 45%. Either way, she's got kids at her level. I am weighing many considerations and test scores are only one.

That said, a school with a lot of kids scoring a 3 (so not proficient) is different from where a lot of kids score a 1. With 3, you can believe that they will get there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:because those scores are higher than many if not most of the in-boundary public schools for the students who are attending the listed schools.

This is the case for my family.

We are zoned for LaSalle Backus.

For 2015-2016

13.2% met or exceeded expectations on Math.
10.8% met expectations in ELA. No one exceeded.

We attend one of the schools above. Our children get a great education with extensive art, dance, and social and emotional educational. We are thrilled. And yes, they do great on tests so I’m not that worried. They love reading and love learning in general.

I am truly grateful to the founders of non-profit charter schools for offering my children educational opportunities they would not otherwise have in DC.

If it was your kid, would you truly feel differently? Would you feel comfortable sending your children to a school with the scores above?