Last night’s open house at ITS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is ITS really diverse? I am pretty sure most of the diversity resides in the middle school, where their is little diversity. I'd also like to point out that ITS is a demo school and they do support DCPS. Several of the best DCPS teachers come from ITS. Multiple ITS teachers have won DCPS awards and other national awards.

But if the instruction is so great, then why the large acheivement gap?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is ITS really diverse? I am pretty sure most of the diversity resides in the middle school, where their is little diversity. I'd also like to point out that ITS is a demo school and they do support DCPS. Several of the best DCPS teachers come from ITS. Multiple ITS teachers have won DCPS awards and other national awards.

I don't know about other classes/grades but my kid's class (mid-elementary) is just a bit over 50% kids of color

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think ITS offers anything in particular to a striving low-income family - and definitely less than many other schools, beyond even DC Prep/KIPP. And, I am not clear on their ability to handle the range of special needs that might be presented - they seem more limited on this - and The school certainly is not attracting the ELL population.

+1 while I think it's great some pp's have come up with ideas for ITS to attract striving low-income families, the families I know just aren't interested in these types of programs. Their #1 priority is ensuring strong, solid academics, not the other feel good amenities that attract the DCUM crowd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From a parent perspective, the teacher training program is amazing. There are two teachers in nearly every classroom - in most cases, that includes an experienced master teacher and a learning resident teacher - and it's so valuable for kids to have both and to be able to see their teachers learn from each other and complement each other and work as a team. (PK3 and PK4 have a paraprofessional in each classroom in addition to the two teacher.)

I think the teaching and commitment to teacher excellence is what sets ITS apart - as a prospective parent, it wasn't something that was so much on my radar. But as someone who's been at the school for a number of years, it is the thing that I most value.

(And YES, an at-risk preference would be great and if that becomes an option in the lottery, I hope the school opts in.)

Thanks, this is helpful. But don't all PK3/4s have at least 2 teachers? Is a teacher trainee better in practice than a teaching assistant?

Yes. My kids are in a preK3 classroom with three teachers.

ITS is focused on teacher quality, which is commendable. However, there is no evidence based research that their model of training works (and very little evidence in general that good teachers are those with advanced degrees and more training vs. other qualities).

[Anonymous]

I am not saying that ITS is doing a great job with low performing students, or students of color. I was just stating that they have helped develop and support some great teachers. I think the opportunity gap will continue to exist until things are more equitable and additional resources are provided for those families. Once the students go home that gap is expanded more because of the environments they live in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think ITS offers anything in particular to a striving low-income family - and definitely less than many other schools, beyond even DC Prep/KIPP. And, I am not clear on their ability to handle the range of special needs that might be presented - they seem more limited on this - and The school certainly is not attracting the ELL population.

+1 while I think it's great some pp's have come up with ideas for ITS to attract striving low-income families, the families I know just aren't interested in these types of programs. Their #1 priority is ensuring strong, solid academics, not the other feel good amenities that attract the DCUM crowd.

What is the metric for good acamedics at ITS? Students are barely exceeding city test score average yet higher % of UMC than higher acheiving school. Why the fuss o ver ITS when DC Prep Edgewood down the street? Nevermind I get it you are more concerned with being able to chat with parents over the latest meal-in-box delivery service trend rather than your child's academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think ITS offers anything in particular to a striving low-income family - and definitely less than many other schools, beyond even DC Prep/KIPP. And, I am not clear on their ability to handle the range of special needs that might be presented - they seem more limited on this - and The school certainly is not attracting the ELL population.

+1 while I think it's great some pp's have come up with ideas for ITS to attract striving low-income families, the families I know just aren't interested in these types of programs. Their #1 priority is ensuring strong, solid academics, not the other feel good amenities that attract the DCUM crowd.

What is the metric for good acamedics at ITS? Students are barely exceeding city test score average yet higher % of UMC than higher acheiving school. Why the fuss o ver ITS when DC Prep Edgewood down the street? Nevermind I get it you are more concerned with being able to chat with parents over the latest meal-in-box delivery service trend rather than your child's academics.

You tell us, neither school appeals to my family (I only entered this thread because I was curious why it was getting long). If DC Prep families are happy and ITS families are happy what's the problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think ITS offers anything in particular to a striving low-income family - and definitely less than many other schools, beyond even DC Prep/KIPP. And, I am not clear on their ability to handle the range of special needs that might be presented - they seem more limited on this - and The school certainly is not attracting the ELL population.

+1 while I think it's great some pp's have come up with ideas for ITS to attract striving low-income families, the families I know just aren't interested in these types of programs. Their #1 priority is ensuring strong, solid academics, not the other feel good amenities that attract the DCUM crowd.

What is the metric for good acamedics at ITS? Students are barely exceeding city test score average yet higher % of UMC than higher acheiving school. Why the fuss o ver ITS when DC Prep Edgewood down the street? Nevermind I get it you are more concerned with being able to chat with parents over the latest meal-in-box delivery service trend rather than your child's academics.

You tell us, neither school appeals to my family (I only entered this thread because I was curious why it was getting long). If DC Prep families are happy and ITS families are happy what's the problem?

The tread started with posing a question as to why ppl love ITS? Most answers have to do with its teacher training program & supposed high quality teachers without results in student testing. I am questioning that logic calculation. It's discourse...get in to it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just looked at the ITS demographics and given what I saw, I think some self-reflection is in order. And, I will just put it out there that I know a fair number of white, middle class to upper middle class families at ITS who are social justice types but still felt completely comfortable telling me they like being at ITS because there are so many families just like them. And - I am solidly upper middle class but I am not white. I was offended and they seemed clueless about why I would be offended. So much for their BLM week.

If I had said that, I wouldn't have meant not poor families, I would have meant not rich families. I say all the time that I like living in ward 5 because there are families like me, but I mean middle class as opposed to rich families. Take a look at the Cleveland park listserv and then understand what a relief it is to not be at a jklm school with finance people and big law lawyers and trust fund parents but at a school with people like you: government employees, teachers, non profit workers.

There was recently a thread somewhere about disappointment with having average kids and someone piped in not to worry, my sister is a teacher married to an IT guy and is happy, so your average kids can be happy too. No doubt that thread was people who live in upperNW dc. Now understand how happy you might be to find yourself among people NOT like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think ITS offers anything in particular to a striving low-income family - and definitely less than many other schools, beyond even DC Prep/KIPP. And, I am not clear on their ability to handle the range of special needs that might be presented - they seem more limited on this - and The school certainly is not attracting the ELL population.

+1 while I think it's great some pp's have come up with ideas for ITS to attract striving low-income families, the families I know just aren't interested in these types of programs. Their #1 priority is ensuring strong, solid academics, not the other feel good amenities that attract the DCUM crowd.

What is the metric for good acamedics at ITS? Students are barely exceeding city test score average yet higher % of UMC than higher acheiving school. Why the fuss o ver ITS when DC Prep Edgewood down the street? Nevermind I get it you are more concerned with being able to chat with parents over the latest meal-in-box delivery service trend rather than your child's academics.

You tell us, neither school appeals to my family (I only entered this thread because I was curious why it was getting long). If DC Prep families are happy and ITS families are happy what's the problem?

The tread started with posing a question as to why ppl love ITS? Most answers have to do with its teacher training program & supposed high quality teachers without results in student testing. I am questioning that logic calculation. It's discourse...get in to it

The problem is that ITS likes to call itself a social justice school, but does not do a better job serving underserved communities, nor is it really even trying. It sucks to be a lottery loser at a nearby school that is trying to serve some very challenging kids while ITS parents raise tons of money for their yuppie BS. Don't tell me the teacher training is a form of aocial justice-- if it were, ITS would have a smaller achievement gap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think ITS offers anything in particular to a striving low-income family - and definitely less than many other schools, beyond even DC Prep/KIPP. And, I am not clear on their ability to handle the range of special needs that might be presented - they seem more limited on this - and The school certainly is not attracting the ELL population.

+1 while I think it's great some pp's have come up with ideas for ITS to attract striving low-income families, the families I know just aren't interested in these types of programs. Their #1 priority is ensuring strong, solid academics, not the other feel good amenities that attract the DCUM crowd.

What is the metric for good acamedics at ITS? Students are barely exceeding city test score average yet higher % of UMC than higher acheiving school. Why the fuss o ver ITS when DC Prep Edgewood down the street? Nevermind I get it you are more concerned with being able to chat with parents over the latest meal-in-box delivery service trend rather than your child's academics.

You tell us, neither school appeals to my family (I only entered this thread because I was curious why it was getting long). If DC Prep families are happy and ITS families are happy what's the problem?

The tread started with posing a question as to why ppl love ITS? Most answers have to do with its teacher training program & supposed high quality teachers without results in student testing. I am questioning that logic calculation. It's discourse...get in to it

The problem is that ITS likes to call itself a social justice school, but does not do a better job serving underserved communities, nor is it really even trying. It sucks to be a lottery loser at a nearby school that is trying to serve some very challenging kids while ITS parents raise tons of money for their yuppie BS. Don't tell me the teacher training is a form of aocial justice-- if it were, ITS would have a smaller achievement gap.

What “yuppie BS” do you think the PTA raises money for? Off the top of my head, I know it has gone in the past to increase teacher salaries, teacher PD, buy laptops, and was used towards a playground (when there was none). It’s not like the school is out sourcing organic artisanal yogurt sausage for the kids’ lunches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think ITS offers anything in particular to a striving low-income family - and definitely less than many other schools, beyond even DC Prep/KIPP. And, I am not clear on their ability to handle the range of special needs that might be presented - they seem more limited on this - and The school certainly is not attracting the ELL population.

+1 while I think it's great some pp's have come up with ideas for ITS to attract striving low-income families, the families I know just aren't interested in these types of programs. Their #1 priority is ensuring strong, solid academics, not the other feel good amenities that attract the DCUM crowd.

What is the metric for good acamedics at ITS? Students are barely exceeding city test score average yet higher % of UMC than higher acheiving school. Why the fuss o ver ITS when DC Prep Edgewood down the street? Nevermind I get it you are more concerned with being able to chat with parents over the latest meal-in-box delivery service trend rather than your child's academics.

You tell us, neither school appeals to my family (I only entered this thread because I was curious why it was getting long). If DC Prep families are happy and ITS families are happy what's the problem?

The tread started with posing a question as to why ppl love ITS? Most answers have to do with its teacher training program & supposed high quality teachers without results in student testing. I am questioning that logic calculation. It's discourse...get in to it

The problem is that ITS likes to call itself a social justice school, but does not do a better job serving underserved communities, nor is it really even trying. It sucks to be a lottery loser at a nearby school that is trying to serve some very challenging kids while ITS parents raise tons of money for their yuppie BS. Don't tell me the teacher training is a form of aocial justice-- if it were, ITS would have a smaller achievement gap.

What “yuppie BS” do you think the PTA raises money for? Off the top of my head, I know it has gone in the past to increase teacher salaries, teacher PD, buy laptops, and was used towards a playground (when there was none). It’s not like the school is out sourcing organic artisanal yogurt sausage for the kids’ lunches.

You have (had) the rec center playground. All of the other things are things that neighboring schools (that you look down on for poor performance) can't afford. True social justice would mean better serving (and attracting) an at-risk population, and placing that above things for the school in general.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think ITS offers anything in particular to a striving low-income family - and definitely less than many other schools, beyond even DC Prep/KIPP. And, I am not clear on their ability to handle the range of special needs that might be presented - they seem more limited on this - and The school certainly is not attracting the ELL population.

+1 while I think it's great some pp's have come up with ideas for ITS to attract striving low-income families, the families I know just aren't interested in these types of programs. Their #1 priority is ensuring strong, solid academics, not the other feel good amenities that attract the DCUM crowd.

What is the metric for good acamedics at ITS? Students are barely exceeding city test score average yet higher % of UMC than higher acheiving school. Why the fuss o ver ITS when DC Prep Edgewood down the street? Nevermind I get it you are more concerned with being able to chat with parents over the latest meal-in-box delivery service trend rather than your child's academics.

You tell us, neither school appeals to my family (I only entered this thread because I was curious why it was getting long). If DC Prep families are happy and ITS families are happy what's the problem?

The tread started with posing a question as to why ppl love ITS? Most answers have to do with its teacher training program & supposed high quality teachers without results in student testing. I am questioning that logic calculation. It's discourse...get in to it

The problem is that ITS likes to call itself a social justice school, but does not do a better job serving underserved communities, nor is it really even trying. It sucks to be a lottery loser at a nearby school that is trying to serve some very challenging kids while ITS parents raise tons of money for their yuppie BS. Don't tell me the teacher training is a form of aocial justice-- if it were, ITS would have a smaller achievement gap.

What “yuppie BS” do you think the PTA raises money for? Off the top of my head, I know it has gone in the past to increase teacher salaries, teacher PD, buy laptops, and was used towards a playground (when there was none). It’s not like the school is out sourcing organic artisanal yogurt sausage for the kids’ lunches.

You have (had) the rec center playground. All of the other things are things that neighboring schools (that you look down on for poor performance) can't afford. True social justice would mean better serving (and attracting) an at-risk population, and placing that above things for the school in general.

This is ridiculous. Being a school with a social justice bent doesn’t mean you can’t build a separate playground esp for your PKers. Also, with the current construction, there would be no playground if they hadn’t built that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think ITS offers anything in particular to a striving low-income family - and definitely less than many other schools, beyond even DC Prep/KIPP. And, I am not clear on their ability to handle the range of special needs that might be presented - they seem more limited on this - and The school certainly is not attracting the ELL population.

+1 while I think it's great some pp's have come up with ideas for ITS to attract striving low-income families, the families I know just aren't interested in these types of programs. Their #1 priority is ensuring strong, solid academics, not the other feel good amenities that attract the DCUM crowd.

What is the metric for good acamedics at ITS? Students are barely exceeding city test score average yet higher % of UMC than higher acheiving school. Why the fuss o ver ITS when DC Prep Edgewood down the street? Nevermind I get it you are more concerned with being able to chat with parents over the latest meal-in-box delivery service trend rather than your child's academics.

You tell us, neither school appeals to my family (I only entered this thread because I was curious why it was getting long). If DC Prep families are happy and ITS families are happy what's the problem?

The tread started with posing a question as to why ppl love ITS? Most answers have to do with its teacher training program & supposed high quality teachers without results in student testing. I am questioning that logic calculation. It's discourse...get in to it

The problem is that ITS likes to call itself a social justice school, but does not do a better job serving underserved communities, nor is it really even trying. It sucks to be a lottery loser at a nearby school that is trying to serve some very challenging kids while ITS parents raise tons of money for their yuppie BS. Don't tell me the teacher training is a form of aocial justice-- if it were, ITS would have a smaller achievement gap.

What “yuppie BS” do you think the PTA raises money for? Off the top of my head, I know it has gone in the past to increase teacher salaries, teacher PD, buy laptops, and was used towards a playground (when there was none). It’s not like the school is out sourcing organic artisanal yogurt sausage for the kids’ lunches.

You have (had) the rec center playground. All of the other things are things that neighboring schools (that you look down on for poor performance) can't afford. True social justice would mean better serving (and attracting) an at-risk population, and placing that above things for the school in general.

This is ridiculous. Pretending to be a school with a social justice bent doesn’t mean you can’t build a separate playground esp for your PKers. Also, with the current construction, there would be no playground if they hadn’t built that.

Fixed that for you.

[Anonymous]

This entire 'social justice' line of conversation is ridiculous. Seriously. The school looks very diverse to me and every school in the city has its own strengths and weaknesses. Can we get back to talking academics?