5th grade -Capitol Hill

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Capitol Hill middle school situation is just another reason why I don’t trust dcps. If you ever doubt whether dcps cares about your kids- look to the weird Gerrymandered middle school situation. Dcps would rather have one struggling middle school and one failing middle than two failing middle schools. Ridiculous.

Maybe people should ask why the mayoral control of schools remains in place. All public schools should operate free of political concerns. There's been institutionalized fealty to the "education reform" movement since Fenty's power grab and the only tangible educational progress can be chalked up to gentrification rather than an educational system that works for everyone. The system of winners and losers is an abject failure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a year away from the possible 5th grade move to middle, but I at this point I can't imagine putting my kid on a city bus every day to get to/from school. I would personally be able to swing the drive, but is it out of the question for DC to provide school busses? I think our kids deserve that. They are exposed to A LOT on mass transit, not to mention the safety issues of not being guaranteed a seat, etc. Especially in situations like Brent where the IB elementary and IB middle schools are so far apart. Not to offer school busses for the DCPS kids is really unacceptable.

How do you think kids got to school EVERY day across DC? When Rhee closed all of the schools were you banging on the table wondering how these kids will get to school each day? But your precious child who lives on Cap Hill deserves a school bus? Look around and see how the rest of DC lives.

Is there a reason to be so nasty? I think EVERYONES precious child should have a school bus if they are not in walking distance from school. I walk my kids to my neighborhood school and have been doing that since my rising 4th grader was 3. When we need to go to a school further away, they will not be on a city bus. I have the flexibility to make this happen since it bothers me (fine if it does not bother you). Not everyone has a choice, which is my point. Everyone should be able to choose not to send their 9 year old to school on dc public transit. No clue why you would think I thought this should be for my child only. Good lord.

Brent and Jefferson are 1.4 miles apart. Honestly, for healthy middle schoolers that IS walking distance. Kids with disabilities, of course, should have transportation built into their IEPs as needed. The other kids can walk, take the circulator directly between the schools, or use the metro for free.

1.4 miles equals a 30 minute walk (for an adult) you think it's cool for a 10 year old to walk 30 minutes to school twice a a day in the middle of a not so safe city? Get a grip.

UM, the farthest a kid should need to walk would actually be 0.7 miles, which is halfway between the two schools. And yes, a 10 year old should be expected to able to do a 15 minute walk twice a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Brent, Maury and Watkins each lose at least half of their kids in 5th grade, one idea is to move to two middle schools, one for 5th and 6th, the other 7th and 8th and have all Hill schools feed into the two schools (yes, I know, there are more than those three schools), but it strikes me that there is a serious feeder problem with those schools in particular, and also SWS.

But it's an idea with no chance of seeing the light of day ever, mainly due to the political clout Cluster supporters enjoy, and have for decades. That's it, that's all.

This is an idea only bandied about by Hill parents who lack familiarity with the political landscape on the subject.

This is the weirdest myth, or maybe just out of date since SWS spun off. Watkins loses all of its inbound kids by 5th just like the rest of the Hill schools. Not sure why you think we’re running the table.

Come on, it's no secret that the politically connected Cluster leadership has fought every middle school solution that would have worked for the entire Hill community tooth and nail for decades. Individual UMC, IB parents like yourselves may not have done this, but Cluster admins, parent leaders and the Cluster dominated CHPSO as an organization certainly have.

Watkins' student body remains mostly OOB, as does its parent leadership. During the 2013-2014 DCPS boundary and feeder review, the well-organized and resourced Cluster PTA and CHPSO pulled strings on the city council and with Rhee and Henderson to keep Brent, Maury and SWS (in the early stages of the process of breaking off from the Cluster) from gaining by-right access to SH or a new pan Ward 6 middle school entity from being created. They also ensured that Tommy Wells was onboard with a 45 million dollar SH renovation, while Eliot-Hine and Jefferson got zip.

The Cluster's small-minded and selfish advocacy worked like a charm. Weirdest myth, hardly. Huge problem for Hill parents of elementary school age children, absolutely.

This is a false narrative. Watkins was 30% IB last year and continued to trend higher this year (exact figures not yet released). This shows continuing progress. Watkins also doesn't have the IB benefit of ECE where schools like Brent, Maury and Ludlow Taylor's IB % gets inflated. Peabody is by far the largest ECE program and has 75% IB. Combined with Watkins, Peabody serves nearly 700 students (ie Maury and SWS combined). Brent is 2/3 OOB, they don't take new students (OOB or IB) in 5th grade when the class shrinks and its ECE is 100% IB

These numbers are a couple of years old now. I think the numbers is now closer to 80% IB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Brent, Maury and Watkins each lose at least half of their kids in 5th grade, one idea is to move to two middle schools, one for 5th and 6th, the other 7th and 8th and have all Hill schools feed into the two schools (yes, I know, there are more than those three schools), but it strikes me that there is a serious feeder problem with those schools in particular, and also SWS.

But it's an idea with no chance of seeing the light of day ever, mainly due to the political clout Cluster supporters enjoy, and have for decades. That's it, that's all.

This is an idea only bandied about by Hill parents who lack familiarity with the political landscape on the subject.

This is the weirdest myth, or maybe just out of date since SWS spun off. Watkins loses all of its inbound kids by 5th just like the rest of the Hill schools. Not sure why you think we’re running the table.

Come on, it's no secret that the politically connected Cluster leadership has fought every middle school solution that would have worked for the entire Hill community tooth and nail for decades. Individual UMC, IB parents like yourselves may not have done this, but Cluster admins, parent leaders and the Cluster dominated CHPSO as an organization certainly have.

Watkins' student body remains mostly OOB, as does its parent leadership. During the 2013-2014 DCPS boundary and feeder review, the well-organized and resourced Cluster PTA and CHPSO pulled strings on the city council and with Rhee and Henderson to keep Brent, Maury and SWS (in the early stages of the process of breaking off from the Cluster) from gaining by-right access to SH or a new pan Ward 6 middle school entity from being created. They also ensured that Tommy Wells was onboard with a 45 million dollar SH renovation, while Eliot-Hine and Jefferson got zip.

The Cluster's small-minded and selfish advocacy worked like a charm. Weirdest myth, hardly. Huge problem for Hill parents of elementary school age children, absolutely.

This is a false narrative. Watkins was 30% IB last year and continued to trend higher this year (exact figures not yet released). This shows continuing progress. Watkins also doesn't have the IB benefit of ECE where schools like Brent, Maury and Ludlow Taylor's IB % gets inflated. Peabody is by far the largest ECE program and has 75% IB. Combined with Watkins, Peabody serves nearly 700 students (ie Maury and SWS combined). Brent is 2/3 OOB, they don't take new students (OOB or IB) in 5th grade when the class shrinks and its ECE is 100% IB

I'm new to this thread, but I don't understand using bold to contest the part that Watkins is mostly OOB then starting with the statement that it's 30% IB. 30% IB & 70% OOB meets my threshold of "mostly". Are you arguing that if you combine Watkins with Peabody the overall IB % climbs above 50%?

Anyone else want to weigh in on Brent being 2/3 OOB? That also seems unlikely from what I've heard about getting in for lower grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Brent, Maury and Watkins each lose at least half of their kids in 5th grade, one idea is to move to two middle schools, one for 5th and 6th, the other 7th and 8th and have all Hill schools feed into the two schools (yes, I know, there are more than those three schools), but it strikes me that there is a serious feeder problem with those schools in particular, and also SWS.

But it's an idea with no chance of seeing the light of day ever, mainly due to the political clout Cluster supporters enjoy, and have for decades. That's it, that's all.

This is an idea only bandied about by Hill parents who lack familiarity with the political landscape on the subject.

This is the weirdest myth, or maybe just out of date since SWS spun off. Watkins loses all of its inbound kids by 5th just like the rest of the Hill schools. Not sure why you think we’re running the table.

Come on, it's no secret that the politically connected Cluster leadership has fought every middle school solution that would have worked for the entire Hill community tooth and nail for decades. Individual UMC, IB parents like yourselves may not have done this, but Cluster admins, parent leaders and the Cluster dominated CHPSO as an organization certainly have.

Watkins' student body remains mostly OOB, as does its parent leadership. During the 2013-2014 DCPS boundary and feeder review, the well-organized and resourced Cluster PTA and CHPSO pulled strings on the city council and with Rhee and Henderson to keep Brent, Maury and SWS (in the early stages of the process of breaking off from the Cluster) from gaining by-right access to SH or a new pan Ward 6 middle school entity from being created. They also ensured that Tommy Wells was onboard with a 45 million dollar SH renovation, while Eliot-Hine and Jefferson got zip.

The Cluster's small-minded and selfish advocacy worked like a charm. Weirdest myth, hardly. Huge problem for Hill parents of elementary school age children, absolutely.

This is a false narrative. Watkins was 30% IB last year and continued to trend higher this year (exact figures not yet released). This shows continuing progress. Watkins also doesn't have the IB benefit of ECE where schools like Brent, Maury and Ludlow Taylor's IB % gets inflated. Peabody is by far the largest ECE program and has 75% IB. Combined with Watkins, Peabody serves nearly 700 students (ie Maury and SWS combined). Brent is 2/3 OOB, they don't take new students (OOB or IB) in 5th grade when the class shrinks and its ECE is 100% IB

These numbers are a couple of years old now. I think the numbers is now closer to 80% IB.

no -- it's as recent as Watkins at 30%. 2016-17 from DCPS school profile

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Brent, Maury and Watkins each lose at least half of their kids in 5th grade, one idea is to move to two middle schools, one for 5th and 6th, the other 7th and 8th and have all Hill schools feed into the two schools (yes, I know, there are more than those three schools), but it strikes me that there is a serious feeder problem with those schools in particular, and also SWS.

But it's an idea with no chance of seeing the light of day ever, mainly due to the political clout Cluster supporters enjoy, and have for decades. That's it, that's all.

This is an idea only bandied about by Hill parents who lack familiarity with the political landscape on the subject.

This is the weirdest myth, or maybe just out of date since SWS spun off. Watkins loses all of its inbound kids by 5th just like the rest of the Hill schools. Not sure why you think we’re running the table.

Come on, it's no secret that the politically connected Cluster leadership has fought every middle school solution that would have worked for the entire Hill community tooth and nail for decades. Individual UMC, IB parents like yourselves may not have done this, but Cluster admins, parent leaders and the Cluster dominated CHPSO as an organization certainly have.

Watkins' student body remains mostly OOB, as does its parent leadership. During the 2013-2014 DCPS boundary and feeder review, the well-organized and resourced Cluster PTA and CHPSO pulled strings on the city council and with Rhee and Henderson to keep Brent, Maury and SWS (in the early stages of the process of breaking off from the Cluster) from gaining by-right access to SH or a new pan Ward 6 middle school entity from being created. They also ensured that Tommy Wells was onboard with a 45 million dollar SH renovation, while Eliot-Hine and Jefferson got zip.

The Cluster's small-minded and selfish advocacy worked like a charm. Weirdest myth, hardly. Huge problem for Hill parents of elementary school age children, absolutely.

This is a false narrative. Watkins was 30% IB last year and continued to trend higher this year (exact figures not yet released). This shows continuing progress. Watkins also doesn't have the IB benefit of ECE where schools like Brent, Maury and Ludlow Taylor's IB % gets inflated. Peabody is by far the largest ECE program and has 75% IB. Combined with Watkins, Peabody serves nearly 700 students (ie Maury and SWS combined). Brent is 2/3 OOB, they don't take new students (OOB or IB) in 5th grade when the class shrinks and its ECE is 100% IB

These numbers are a couple of years old now. I think the numbers is now closer to 80% IB.

no -- it's as recent as Watkins at 30%. 2016-17 from DCPS school profile

And since the 2016-17 school year, the largest class in recent memory entered the school (the basically 100% K class) and there were over 40 5th graders, most IB. So yes, 66% is no longer correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Brent, Maury and Watkins each lose at least half of their kids in 5th grade, one idea is to move to two middle schools, one for 5th and 6th, the other 7th and 8th and have all Hill schools feed into the two schools (yes, I know, there are more than those three schools), but it strikes me that there is a serious feeder problem with those schools in particular, and also SWS.

But it's an idea with no chance of seeing the light of day ever, mainly due to the political clout Cluster supporters enjoy, and have for decades. That's it, that's all.

This is an idea only bandied about by Hill parents who lack familiarity with the political landscape on the subject.

This is the weirdest myth, or maybe just out of date since SWS spun off. Watkins loses all of its inbound kids by 5th just like the rest of the Hill schools. Not sure why you think we’re running the table.

Come on, it's no secret that the politically connected Cluster leadership has fought every middle school solution that would have worked for the entire Hill community tooth and nail for decades. Individual UMC, IB parents like yourselves may not have done this, but Cluster admins, parent leaders and the Cluster dominated CHPSO as an organization certainly have.

Watkins' student body remains mostly OOB, as does its parent leadership. During the 2013-2014 DCPS boundary and feeder review, the well-organized and resourced Cluster PTA and CHPSO pulled strings on the city council and with Rhee and Henderson to keep Brent, Maury and SWS (in the early stages of the process of breaking off from the Cluster) from gaining by-right access to SH or a new pan Ward 6 middle school entity from being created. They also ensured that Tommy Wells was onboard with a 45 million dollar SH renovation, while Eliot-Hine and Jefferson got zip.

The Cluster's small-minded and selfish advocacy worked like a charm. Weirdest myth, hardly. Huge problem for Hill parents of elementary school age children, absolutely.

This is a false narrative. Watkins was 30% IB last year and continued to trend higher this year (exact figures not yet released). This shows continuing progress. Watkins also doesn't have the IB benefit of ECE where schools like Brent, Maury and Ludlow Taylor's IB % gets inflated. Peabody is by far the largest ECE program and has 75% IB. Combined with Watkins, Peabody serves nearly 700 students (ie Maury and SWS combined). Brent is 2/3 OOB, they don't take new students (OOB or IB) in 5th grade when the class shrinks and its ECE is 100% IB

These numbers are a couple of years old now. I think the numbers is now closer to 80% IB.

no -- it's as recent as Watkins at 30%. 2016-17 from DCPS school profile

No the DCPS school profile for Brent shows 65% IB in 2016-17. And it is definitely higher for 2017-18.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Brent, Maury and Watkins each lose at least half of their kids in 5th grade, one idea is to move to two middle schools, one for 5th and 6th, the other 7th and 8th and have all Hill schools feed into the two schools (yes, I know, there are more than those three schools), but it strikes me that there is a serious feeder problem with those schools in particular, and also SWS.

But it's an idea with no chance of seeing the light of day ever, mainly due to the political clout Cluster supporters enjoy, and have for decades. That's it, that's all.

This is an idea only bandied about by Hill parents who lack familiarity with the political landscape on the subject.

This is the weirdest myth, or maybe just out of date since SWS spun off. Watkins loses all of its inbound kids by 5th just like the rest of the Hill schools. Not sure why you think we’re running the table.

Come on, it's no secret that the politically connected Cluster leadership has fought every middle school solution that would have worked for the entire Hill community tooth and nail for decades. Individual UMC, IB parents like yourselves may not have done this, but Cluster admins, parent leaders and the Cluster dominated CHPSO as an organization certainly have.

Watkins' student body remains mostly OOB, as does its parent leadership. During the 2013-2014 DCPS boundary and feeder review, the well-organized and resourced Cluster PTA and CHPSO pulled strings on the city council and with Rhee and Henderson to keep Brent, Maury and SWS (in the early stages of the process of breaking off from the Cluster) from gaining by-right access to SH or a new pan Ward 6 middle school entity from being created. They also ensured that Tommy Wells was onboard with a 45 million dollar SH renovation, while Eliot-Hine and Jefferson got zip.

The Cluster's small-minded and selfish advocacy worked like a charm. Weirdest myth, hardly. Huge problem for Hill parents of elementary school age children, absolutely.

This is a false narrative. Watkins was 30% IB last year and continued to trend higher this year (exact figures not yet released). This shows continuing progress. Watkins also doesn't have the IB benefit of ECE where schools like Brent, Maury and Ludlow Taylor's IB % gets inflated. Peabody is by far the largest ECE program and has 75% IB. Combined with Watkins, Peabody serves nearly 700 students (ie Maury and SWS combined). Brent is 2/3 OOB, they don't take new students (OOB or IB) in 5th grade when the class shrinks and its ECE is 100% IB

These numbers are a couple of years old now. I think the numbers is now closer to 80% IB.

no -- it's as recent as Watkins at 30%. 2016-17 from DCPS school profile

No the DCPS school profile for Brent shows 65% IB in 2016-17. And it is definitely higher for 2017-18.

DP. That seems more believable. 2/3 OOB & close to 100% IB ECE would mean that pretty much everyone IB left after K

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Brent, Maury and Watkins each lose at least half of their kids in 5th grade, one idea is to move to two middle schools, one for 5th and 6th, the other 7th and 8th and have all Hill schools feed into the two schools (yes, I know, there are more than those three schools), but it strikes me that there is a serious feeder problem with those schools in particular, and also SWS.

But it's an idea with no chance of seeing the light of day ever, mainly due to the political clout Cluster supporters enjoy, and have for decades. That's it, that's all.

This is an idea only bandied about by Hill parents who lack familiarity with the political landscape on the subject.

This is the weirdest myth, or maybe just out of date since SWS spun off. Watkins loses all of its inbound kids by 5th just like the rest of the Hill schools. Not sure why you think we’re running the table.

Come on, it's no secret that the politically connected Cluster leadership has fought every middle school solution that would have worked for the entire Hill community tooth and nail for decades. Individual UMC, IB parents like yourselves may not have done this, but Cluster admins, parent leaders and the Cluster dominated CHPSO as an organization certainly have.

Watkins' student body remains mostly OOB, as does its parent leadership. During the 2013-2014 DCPS boundary and feeder review, the well-organized and resourced Cluster PTA and CHPSO pulled strings on the city council and with Rhee and Henderson to keep Brent, Maury and SWS (in the early stages of the process of breaking off from the Cluster) from gaining by-right access to SH or a new pan Ward 6 middle school entity from being created. They also ensured that Tommy Wells was onboard with a 45 million dollar SH renovation, while Eliot-Hine and Jefferson got zip.

The Cluster's small-minded and selfish advocacy worked like a charm. Weirdest myth, hardly. Huge problem for Hill parents of elementary school age children, absolutely.

This is a false narrative. Watkins was 30% IB last year and continued to trend higher this year (exact figures not yet released). This shows continuing progress. Watkins also doesn't have the IB benefit of ECE where schools like Brent, Maury and Ludlow Taylor's IB % gets inflated. Peabody is by far the largest ECE program and has 75% IB. Combined with Watkins, Peabody serves nearly 700 students (ie Maury and SWS combined). Brent is 2/3 OOB, they don't take new students (OOB or IB) in 5th grade when the class shrinks and its ECE is 100% IB

These numbers are a couple of years old now. I think the numbers is now closer to 80% IB.

no -- it's as recent as Watkins at 30%. 2016-17 from DCPS school profile

And since the 2016-17 school year, the largest class in recent memory entered the school (the basically 100% K class) and there were over 40 5th graders, most IB. So yes, 66% is no longer correct.

So what's the hypothetical number on Watkins? Is it now 40-45% IB because the published number is also dated or do you just assume it plummeted to 0% because DCUM? At what point does anyone let go of Watkins as "mostly OOB school" when the evidence is clear that it's moving in the opposite direction?

As far as Brent goes, I'm more impressed with the dozen or so students going to Jefferson this fall than the Pollyannas using it for free preschool before decamping to suburbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Brent, Maury and Watkins each lose at least half of their kids in 5th grade, one idea is to move to two middle schools, one for 5th and 6th, the other 7th and 8th and have all Hill schools feed into the two schools (yes, I know, there are more than those three schools), but it strikes me that there is a serious feeder problem with those schools in particular, and also SWS.

But it's an idea with no chance of seeing the light of day ever, mainly due to the political clout Cluster supporters enjoy, and have for decades. That's it, that's all.

This is an idea only bandied about by Hill parents who lack familiarity with the political landscape on the subject.

This is the weirdest myth, or maybe just out of date since SWS spun off. Watkins loses all of its inbound kids by 5th just like the rest of the Hill schools. Not sure why you think we’re running the table.

Come on, it's no secret that the politically connected Cluster leadership has fought every middle school solution that would have worked for the entire Hill community tooth and nail for decades. Individual UMC, IB parents like yourselves may not have done this, but Cluster admins, parent leaders and the Cluster dominated CHPSO as an organization certainly have.

Watkins' student body remains mostly OOB, as does its parent leadership. During the 2013-2014 DCPS boundary and feeder review, the well-organized and resourced Cluster PTA and CHPSO pulled strings on the city council and with Rhee and Henderson to keep Brent, Maury and SWS (in the early stages of the process of breaking off from the Cluster) from gaining by-right access to SH or a new pan Ward 6 middle school entity from being created. They also ensured that Tommy Wells was onboard with a 45 million dollar SH renovation, while Eliot-Hine and Jefferson got zip.

The Cluster's small-minded and selfish advocacy worked like a charm. Weirdest myth, hardly. Huge problem for Hill parents of elementary school age children, absolutely.

This is a false narrative. Watkins was 30% IB last year and continued to trend higher this year (exact figures not yet released). This shows continuing progress. Watkins also doesn't have the IB benefit of ECE where schools like Brent, Maury and Ludlow Taylor's IB % gets inflated. Peabody is by far the largest ECE program and has 75% IB. Combined with Watkins, Peabody serves nearly 700 students (ie Maury and SWS combined). Brent is 2/3 OOB, they don't take new students (OOB or IB) in 5th grade when the class shrinks and its ECE is 100% IB

These numbers are a couple of years old now. I think the numbers is now closer to 80% IB.

no -- it's as recent as Watkins at 30%. 2016-17 from DCPS school profile

And since the 2016-17 school year, the largest class in recent memory entered the school (the basically 100% K class) and there were over 40 5th graders, most IB. So yes, 66% is no longer correct.

So what's the hypothetical number on Watkins? Is it now 40-45% IB because the published number is also dated or do you just assume it plummeted to 0% because DCUM? At what point does anyone let go of Watkins as "mostly OOB school" when the evidence is clear that it's moving in the opposite direction?

As far as Brent goes, I'm more impressed with the dozen or so students going to Jefferson this fall than the Pollyannas using it for free preschool before decamping to suburbs.

I don't know about Watkins so I can't comment. But I would ask that you also not push "dated" stories about Brent as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Brent, Maury and Watkins each lose at least half of their kids in 5th grade, one idea is to move to two middle schools, one for 5th and 6th, the other 7th and 8th and have all Hill schools feed into the two schools (yes, I know, there are more than those three schools), but it strikes me that there is a serious feeder problem with those schools in particular, and also SWS.

But it's an idea with no chance of seeing the light of day ever, mainly due to the political clout Cluster supporters enjoy, and have for decades. That's it, that's all.

This is an idea only bandied about by Hill parents who lack familiarity with the political landscape on the subject.

This is the weirdest myth, or maybe just out of date since SWS spun off. Watkins loses all of its inbound kids by 5th just like the rest of the Hill schools. Not sure why you think we’re running the table.

Come on, it's no secret that the politically connected Cluster leadership has fought every middle school solution that would have worked for the entire Hill community tooth and nail for decades. Individual UMC, IB parents like yourselves may not have done this, but Cluster admins, parent leaders and the Cluster dominated CHPSO as an organization certainly have.

Watkins' student body remains mostly OOB, as does its parent leadership. During the 2013-2014 DCPS boundary and feeder review, the well-organized and resourced Cluster PTA and CHPSO pulled strings on the city council and with Rhee and Henderson to keep Brent, Maury and SWS (in the early stages of the process of breaking off from the Cluster) from gaining by-right access to SH or a new pan Ward 6 middle school entity from being created. They also ensured that Tommy Wells was onboard with a 45 million dollar SH renovation, while Eliot-Hine and Jefferson got zip.

The Cluster's small-minded and selfish advocacy worked like a charm. Weirdest myth, hardly. Huge problem for Hill parents of elementary school age children, absolutely.

This is a false narrative. Watkins was 30% IB last year and continued to trend higher this year (exact figures not yet released). This shows continuing progress. Watkins also doesn't have the IB benefit of ECE where schools like Brent, Maury and Ludlow Taylor's IB % gets inflated. Peabody is by far the largest ECE program and has 75% IB. Combined with Watkins, Peabody serves nearly 700 students (ie Maury and SWS combined). Brent is 2/3 OOB, they don't take new students (OOB or IB) in 5th grade when the class shrinks and its ECE is 100% IB

These numbers are a couple of years old now. I think the numbers is now closer to 80% IB.

no -- it's as recent as Watkins at 30%. 2016-17 from DCPS school profile

And since the 2016-17 school year, the largest class in recent memory entered the school (the basically 100% K class) and there were over 40 5th graders, most IB. So yes, 66% is no longer correct.

So what's the hypothetical number on Watkins? Is it now 40-45% IB because the published number is also dated or do you just assume it plummeted to 0% because DCUM? At what point does anyone let go of Watkins as "mostly OOB school" when the evidence is clear that it's moving in the opposite direction?

As far as Brent goes, I'm more impressed with the dozen or so students going to Jefferson this fall than the Pollyannas using it for free preschool before decamping to suburbs.

I'm watching on the side as you two go back and forth, but why are you asking her what's going on at Watkins when you're the one making the claims about Watkins? Brent Mom rebutted the 2/3 OOB Brent claim (which apparently never matched the published data). I don't see any reason that Brent and Watkins would have increased by the same percentage IB since SY16-17. It would be interesting to hear someone in the know comment on Watkins, but just saying "it must have gone up too since the 30% number was as dated as the Brent number" doesn't sound very convincing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Brent, Maury and Watkins each lose at least half of their kids in 5th grade, one idea is to move to two middle schools, one for 5th and 6th, the other 7th and 8th and have all Hill schools feed into the two schools (yes, I know, there are more than those three schools), but it strikes me that there is a serious feeder problem with those schools in particular, and also SWS.

But it's an idea with no chance of seeing the light of day ever, mainly due to the political clout Cluster supporters enjoy, and have for decades. That's it, that's all.

This is an idea only bandied about by Hill parents who lack familiarity with the political landscape on the subject.

This is the weirdest myth, or maybe just out of date since SWS spun off. Watkins loses all of its inbound kids by 5th just like the rest of the Hill schools. Not sure why you think we’re running the table.

Come on, it's no secret that the politically connected Cluster leadership has fought every middle school solution that would have worked for the entire Hill community tooth and nail for decades. Individual UMC, IB parents like yourselves may not have done this, but Cluster admins, parent leaders and the Cluster dominated CHPSO as an organization certainly have.

Watkins' student body remains mostly OOB, as does its parent leadership. During the 2013-2014 DCPS boundary and feeder review, the well-organized and resourced Cluster PTA and CHPSO pulled strings on the city council and with Rhee and Henderson to keep Brent, Maury and SWS (in the early stages of the process of breaking off from the Cluster) from gaining by-right access to SH or a new pan Ward 6 middle school entity from being created. They also ensured that Tommy Wells was onboard with a 45 million dollar SH renovation, while Eliot-Hine and Jefferson got zip.

The Cluster's small-minded and selfish advocacy worked like a charm. Weirdest myth, hardly. Huge problem for Hill parents of elementary school age children, absolutely.

This is a false narrative. Watkins was 30% IB last year and continued to trend higher this year (exact figures not yet released). This shows continuing progress. Watkins also doesn't have the IB benefit of ECE where schools like Brent, Maury and Ludlow Taylor's IB % gets inflated. Peabody is by far the largest ECE program and has 75% IB. Combined with Watkins, Peabody serves nearly 700 students (ie Maury and SWS combined). Brent is 2/3 OOB, they don't take new students (OOB or IB) in 5th grade when the class shrinks and its ECE is 100% IB

These numbers are a couple of years old now. I think the numbers is now closer to 80% IB.

no -- it's as recent as Watkins at 30%. 2016-17 from DCPS school profile

And since the 2016-17 school year, the largest class in recent memory entered the school (the basically 100% K class) and there were over 40 5th graders, most IB. So yes, 66% is no longer correct.

So what's the hypothetical number on Watkins? Is it now 40-45% IB because the published number is also dated or do you just assume it plummeted to 0% because DCUM? At what point does anyone let go of Watkins as "mostly OOB school" when the evidence is clear that it's moving in the opposite direction?

As far as Brent goes, I'm more impressed with the dozen or so students going to Jefferson this fall than the Pollyannas using it for free preschool before decamping to suburbs.

I'm watching on the side as you two go back and forth, but why are you asking her what's going on at Watkins when you're the one making the claims about Watkins? Brent Mom rebutted the 2/3 OOB Brent claim (which apparently never matched the published data). I don't see any reason that Brent and Watkins would have increased by the same percentage IB since SY16-17. It would be interesting to hear someone in the know comment on Watkins, but just saying "it must have gone up too since the 30% number was as dated as the Brent number" doesn't sound very convincing.

How obtuse are you? The numbers haven’t been published for any DCPS school. Any 2017-18 number is pulled out of PPs ass

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Brent, Maury and Watkins each lose at least half of their kids in 5th grade, one idea is to move to two middle schools, one for 5th and 6th, the other 7th and 8th and have all Hill schools feed into the two schools (yes, I know, there are more than those three schools), but it strikes me that there is a serious feeder problem with those schools in particular, and also SWS.

But it's an idea with no chance of seeing the light of day ever, mainly due to the political clout Cluster supporters enjoy, and have for decades. That's it, that's all.

This is an idea only bandied about by Hill parents who lack familiarity with the political landscape on the subject.

This is the weirdest myth, or maybe just out of date since SWS spun off. Watkins loses all of its inbound kids by 5th just like the rest of the Hill schools. Not sure why you think we’re running the table.

Come on, it's no secret that the politically connected Cluster leadership has fought every middle school solution that would have worked for the entire Hill community tooth and nail for decades. Individual UMC, IB parents like yourselves may not have done this, but Cluster admins, parent leaders and the Cluster dominated CHPSO as an organization certainly have.

Watkins' student body remains mostly OOB, as does its parent leadership. During the 2013-2014 DCPS boundary and feeder review, the well-organized and resourced Cluster PTA and CHPSO pulled strings on the city council and with Rhee and Henderson to keep Brent, Maury and SWS (in the early stages of the process of breaking off from the Cluster) from gaining by-right access to SH or a new pan Ward 6 middle school entity from being created. They also ensured that Tommy Wells was onboard with a 45 million dollar SH renovation, while Eliot-Hine and Jefferson got zip.

The Cluster's small-minded and selfish advocacy worked like a charm. Weirdest myth, hardly. Huge problem for Hill parents of elementary school age children, absolutely.

This is a false narrative. Watkins was 30% IB last year and continued to trend higher this year (exact figures not yet released). This shows continuing progress. Watkins also doesn't have the IB benefit of ECE where schools like Brent, Maury and Ludlow Taylor's IB % gets inflated. Peabody is by far the largest ECE program and has 75% IB. Combined with Watkins, Peabody serves nearly 700 students (ie Maury and SWS combined). Brent is 2/3 OOB, they don't take new students (OOB or IB) in 5th grade when the class shrinks and its ECE is 100% IB

These numbers are a couple of years old now. I think the numbers is now closer to 80% IB.

no -- it's as recent as Watkins at 30%. 2016-17 from DCPS school profile

And since the 2016-17 school year, the largest class in recent memory entered the school (the basically 100% K class) and there were over 40 5th graders, most IB. So yes, 66% is no longer correct.

So what's the hypothetical number on Watkins? Is it now 40-45% IB because the published number is also dated or do you just assume it plummeted to 0% because DCUM? At what point does anyone let go of Watkins as "mostly OOB school" when the evidence is clear that it's moving in the opposite direction?

As far as Brent goes, I'm more impressed with the dozen or so students going to Jefferson this fall than the Pollyannas using it for free preschool before decamping to suburbs.

I'm watching on the side as you two go back and forth, but why are you asking her what's going on at Watkins when you're the one making the claims about Watkins? Brent Mom rebutted the 2/3 OOB Brent claim (which apparently never matched the published data). I don't see any reason that Brent and Watkins would have increased by the same percentage IB since SY16-17. It would be interesting to hear someone in the know comment on Watkins, but just saying "it must have gone up too since the 30% number was as dated as the Brent number" doesn't sound very convincing.

How obtuse are you? The numbers haven’t been published for any DCPS school. Any 2017-18 number is pulled out of PPs ass

__WARDEN NORTON
"What? What did you call me?"
__ANDY DUFRESNE
"OBTUSE [emphasis added]! Is it deliberate? The country club will have his old time cards! W-2s with his name on them!"
__WARDEN NORTON
"Dufresne, if you want to indulge this fantasy, that's your business. Don't make it mine. This meeting's over."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't believe you choose to live in the city and will not entrust your kids to a city bus. This is one of the benefits of living in the city. An 11-12 year old is old enough to use the bus. I see plenty of middle schoolers/high schoolers on bus and Metro in the mornings. You are doing your kids a disservice by driving them everywhere. Kids need to learn to navigate the world themselves, whether they live in the suburbs or the city. This is one of the reasons so many kids arrive in colleges today unable to do things for themselves - because their parents did too much for them. They never had jobs in high school, etc. We have to give them a bit of independence and enable them to grow and learn valuable life skills. City busses are a safe and reliable (and FREE) way to get to school, especially if your kid has a phone with the WMATA Next Bus APP, etc.

Different poster- I’d be happy to send my kid to a decent school on a city bus- but not Jefferson or Eliot-Hine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Brent, Maury and Watkins each lose at least half of their kids in 5th grade, one idea is to move to two middle schools, one for 5th and 6th, the other 7th and 8th and have all Hill schools feed into the two schools (yes, I know, there are more than those three schools), but it strikes me that there is a serious feeder problem with those schools in particular, and also SWS.

But it's an idea with no chance of seeing the light of day ever, mainly due to the political clout Cluster supporters enjoy, and have for decades. That's it, that's all.

This is an idea only bandied about by Hill parents who lack familiarity with the political landscape on the subject.

This is the weirdest myth, or maybe just out of date since SWS spun off. Watkins loses all of its inbound kids by 5th just like the rest of the Hill schools. Not sure why you think we’re running the table.

Come on, it's no secret that the politically connected Cluster leadership has fought every middle school solution that would have worked for the entire Hill community tooth and nail for decades. Individual UMC, IB parents like yourselves may not have done this, but Cluster admins, parent leaders and the Cluster dominated CHPSO as an organization certainly have.

Watkins' student body remains mostly OOB, as does its parent leadership. During the 2013-2014 DCPS boundary and feeder review, the well-organized and resourced Cluster PTA and CHPSO pulled strings on the city council and with Rhee and Henderson to keep Brent, Maury and SWS (in the early stages of the process of breaking off from the Cluster) from gaining by-right access to SH or a new pan Ward 6 middle school entity from being created. They also ensured that Tommy Wells was onboard with a 45 million dollar SH renovation, while Eliot-Hine and Jefferson got zip.

The Cluster's small-minded and selfish advocacy worked like a charm. Weirdest myth, hardly. Huge problem for Hill parents of elementary school age children, absolutely.

This is a false narrative. Watkins was 30% IB last year and continued to trend higher this year (exact figures not yet released). This shows continuing progress. Watkins also doesn't have the IB benefit of ECE where schools like Brent, Maury and Ludlow Taylor's IB % gets inflated. Peabody is by far the largest ECE program and has 75% IB. Combined with Watkins, Peabody serves nearly 700 students (ie Maury and SWS combined). Brent is 2/3 OOB, they don't take new students (OOB or IB) in 5th grade when the class shrinks and its ECE is 100% IB

These numbers are a couple of years old now. I think the numbers is now closer to 80% IB.

no -- it's as recent as Watkins at 30%. 2016-17 from DCPS school profile

There are 11 million school age children in the Watkins district. 30% is pitiful.