When (if ever) will DC neighborhood schools be the default option for high achieving students?

[Anonymous]

Problem is elementary schools can be locked into nice neighborhoods and the few OOB kids don’t rock the boat. Since middle school pulls multiple elementary schools they are more likely to have to pick up undesirable schools. There are only so many desirable schools and they mostly point to deal (maybe hardy) and they only send to Wilson.

Since there is a major SES imbalance that leaves not enough higher SES kids to feed all the other middle schools which cause the few not on deal track to mostly move or private. Really the only solution would be to reassign schools to deal. Split the high SES kids to other wards and break up the poverty concentrations at the rest.

It is a numbers game and considering the poor black kids out number the rich kids by multiples, it is startling that majority rich and largely white Wilson. exists. Fix that and we can talk about fixing the rest of the schools. Throwing all the poor kids into the other pile isn’t fair

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love that every time some nitwit posts some oversimplified troll post the rest of DCUM chimes in with their "solutions" and "answers". Because the problems of public education in a diverse city with a huge income gap are super easy to solve. Two, maybe three sentences and everything is solved. It's just that every major city in the US isn't as smart/well informed as the anonymous DCUM posters.

To be clear, it isn't the exchange of ideas that annoys me as much as the absolutely certainty of the posters that the solution is just that simple,

I will challenge with I actually think parents on DCUM probably have better ideas than DCPS central office staff. Let’s be clear: DCPS does NOT by a long shot attract or hire the best and the brightest. Then, whe. The not so bright but well intentioned young education policy wonks appear they are hampered by intractable and generations-old political infighting and an absolute labyrinthine beauracracy. So yes, I trust DCPS about as far as they wander for lunch from their glass-enclosed building ( I. E. Not very far ) and would much rather hear the ideas of seasoned professionals and in the trenches parents and teachers of dcum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the Wilson PTO have hiring authority for aides as well? For us, middle school is the issue. it’s simply too crowded.

No.

it is happening school by school. Look at the in boundary wait lists for PK at schools like Marie Reed, Garrison and Walls at Francis Stevens.

Yeah, for PK3 and 4.

Those kids at MR and Garrison will be long gone by 4th grade if DCPS doesn’t do two things: tracking and better middle school options.

I just spoke to a MR K parent who is pulling their kid and moving to Takoma Park next year for first because their kid is bored this year. Teachers are great but their kid just isn’t being challenged enough.

Who wants their kid to be bored in school? No one. High SES or low SES, if you care about education you want your kid to be challenged.

If you don’t provide options for the advanced kids your school will never really shine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the Wilson PTO have hiring authority for aides as well? For us, middle school is the issue. it’s simply too crowded.

No.

it is happening school by school. Look at the in boundary wait lists for PK at schools like Marie Reed, Garrison and Walls at Francis Stevens.

These schools are gentrifying fast. Especially Francis-Stevens which has little to no affordable housing in boundary. DCPS needs a plan to maintain diversity in schools across the city. The neighborhood school system is grossly inequitable. See discussion above re fund raising capacity of PTAs WotP v. other areas.

So as the city gentrifies, DCPS needs to bring back bussing in order for schools to be diverse? How about creating strong and good schools in ALL neighborhoods?

People generally define good schools as those with high test scores, and test scores are correlated with income.

The star system, which rewards growth, may move the needle on that slightly, but I don't see parents at the 4 star schools west of the park moving to 5 star schools east of the park. The perception that the absolute test score s are what matter will linger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the Wilson PTO have hiring authority for aides as well? For us, middle school is the issue. it’s simply too crowded.

No.

it is happening school by school. Look at the in boundary wait lists for PK at schools like Marie Reed, Garrison and Walls at Francis Stevens.

Yeah, for PK3 and 4.

Those kids at MR and Garrison will be long gone by 4th grade if DCPS doesn’t do two things: tracking and better middle school options.

I just spoke to a MR K parent who is pulling their kid and moving to Takoma Park next year for first because their kid is bored this year. Teachers are great but their kid just isn’t being challenged enough.

Who wants their kid to be bored in school? No one. High SES or low SES, if you care about education you want your kid to be challenged.

If you don’t provide options for the advanced kids your school will never really shine.

Challenged? In kindergarten?? The challenges are supposed to be about learning to share, take turns, be kind to others, complete chores properly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the Wilson PTO have hiring authority for aides as well? For us, middle school is the issue. it’s simply too crowded.

No.

it is happening school by school. Look at the in boundary wait lists for PK at schools like Marie Reed, Garrison and Walls at Francis Stevens.

Yeah, for PK3 and 4.

Those kids at MR and Garrison will be long gone by 4th grade if DCPS doesn’t do two things: tracking and better middle school options.

I just spoke to a MR K parent who is pulling their kid and moving to Takoma Park next year for first because their kid is bored this year. Teachers are great but their kid just isn’t being challenged enough.

Who wants their kid to be bored in school? No one. High SES or low SES, if you care about education you want your kid to be challenged.

If you don’t provide options for the advanced kids your school will never really shine.

Challenged? In kindergarten?? The challenges are supposed to be about learning to share, take turns, be kind to others, complete chores properly.

+1. Kindergarten should be about learning the social skills kids will need to handle academic/life challenges in the years ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the Wilson PTO have hiring authority for aides as well? For us, middle school is the issue. it’s simply too crowded.

No.

it is happening school by school. Look at the in boundary wait lists for PK at schools like Marie Reed, Garrison and Walls at Francis Stevens.

Yeah, for PK3 and 4.

Those kids at MR and Garrison will be long gone by 4th grade if DCPS doesn’t do two things: tracking and better middle school options.

I just spoke to a MR K parent who is pulling their kid and moving to Takoma Park next year for first because their kid is bored this year. Teachers are great but their kid just isn’t being challenged enough.

Who wants their kid to be bored in school? No one. High SES or low SES, if you care about education you want your kid to be challenged.

If you don’t provide options for the advanced kids your school will never really shine.

Challenged? In kindergarten?? The challenges are supposed to be about learning to share, take turns, be kind to others, complete chores properly.

+1. Kindergarten should be about learning the social skills kids will need to handle academic/life challenges in the years ahead.

Right. And DCPS kindergarten is about learning the alphabet and doing worksheets rather than social skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the Wilson PTO have hiring authority for aides as well? For us, middle school is the issue. it’s simply too crowded.

No.

it is happening school by school. Look at the in boundary wait lists for PK at schools like Marie Reed, Garrison and Walls at Francis Stevens.

Yeah, for PK3 and 4.

Those kids at MR and Garrison will be long gone by 4th grade if DCPS doesn’t do two things: tracking and better middle school options.

I just spoke to a MR K parent who is pulling their kid and moving to Takoma Park next year for first because their kid is bored this year. Teachers are great but their kid just isn’t being challenged enough.

Who wants their kid to be bored in school? No one. High SES or low SES, if you care about education you want your kid to be challenged.

If you don’t provide options for the advanced kids your school will never really shine.

Challenged? In kindergarten?? The challenges are supposed to be about learning to share, take turns, be kind to others, complete chores properly.

+1. Kindergarten should be about learning the social skills kids will need to handle academic/life challenges in the years ahead.

+2. This kinda says more about this mom and her expectations than MR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the Wilson PTO have hiring authority for aides as well? For us, middle school is the issue. it’s simply too crowded.

No.

it is happening school by school. Look at the in boundary wait lists for PK at schools like Marie Reed, Garrison and Walls at Francis Stevens.

Yeah, for PK3 and 4.

Those kids at MR and Garrison will be long gone by 4th grade if DCPS doesn’t do two things: tracking and better middle school options.

I just spoke to a MR K parent who is pulling their kid and moving to Takoma Park next year for first because their kid is bored this year. Teachers are great but their kid just isn’t being challenged enough.

Who wants their kid to be bored in school? No one. High SES or low SES, if you care about education you want your kid to be challenged.

If you don’t provide options for the advanced kids your school will never really shine.

Challenged? In kindergarten?? The challenges are supposed to be about learning to share, take turns, be kind to others, complete chores properly.

+1. Kindergarten should be about learning the social skills kids will need to handle academic/life challenges in the years ahead.

Right. And DCPS kindergarten is about learning the alphabet and doing worksheets rather than social skills.

Not in my experience. Also the teachers had zero problem differentiating in kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the Wilson PTO have hiring authority for aides as well? For us, middle school is the issue. it’s simply too crowded.

No.

it is happening school by school. Look at the in boundary wait lists for PK at schools like Marie Reed, Garrison and Walls at Francis Stevens.

Yeah, for PK3 and 4.

Those kids at MR and Garrison will be long gone by 4th grade if DCPS doesn’t do two things: tracking and better middle school options.

I just spoke to a MR K parent who is pulling their kid and moving to Takoma Park next year for first because their kid is bored this year. Teachers are great but their kid just isn’t being challenged enough.

Who wants their kid to be bored in school? No one. High SES or low SES, if you care about education you want your kid to be challenged.

If you don’t provide options for the advanced kids your school will never really shine.

This dynamic can change quickly once you have majority in boundary. Many will stay through 4th grade if the school is good. Next threshold is whether they leave for charters in 5th. Prediction: these schools will be majority in boundary within 3 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the Wilson PTO have hiring authority for aides as well? For us, middle school is the issue. it’s simply too crowded.

No.

it is happening school by school. Look at the in boundary wait lists for PK at schools like Marie Reed, Garrison and Walls at Francis Stevens.

Yeah, for PK3 and 4.

Those kids at MR and Garrison will be long gone by 4th grade if DCPS doesn’t do two things: tracking and better middle school options.

I just spoke to a MR K parent who is pulling their kid and moving to Takoma Park next year for first because their kid is bored this year. Teachers are great but their kid just isn’t being challenged enough.

Who wants their kid to be bored in school? No one. High SES or low SES, if you care about education you want your kid to be challenged.

If you don’t provide options for the advanced kids your school will never really shine.

Challenged? In kindergarten?? The challenges are supposed to be about learning to share, take turns, be kind to others, complete chores properly.

+1. Kindergarten should be about learning the social skills kids will need to handle academic/life challenges in the years ahead.

Right. And DCPS kindergarten is about learning the alphabet and doing worksheets rather than social skills.

Not in my experience. Also the teachers had zero problem differentiating in kindergarten.

Agree. ‘Not challenged’ in this context is code for ‘I wasn’t comfortable with the socioeconomic background of DC’s classmates.’

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the Wilson PTO have hiring authority for aides as well? For us, middle school is the issue. it’s simply too crowded.

No.

it is happening school by school. Look at the in boundary wait lists for PK at schools like Marie Reed, Garrison and Walls at Francis Stevens.

Yeah, for PK3 and 4.

Those kids at MR and Garrison will be long gone by 4th grade if DCPS doesn’t do two things: tracking and better middle school options.

I just spoke to a MR K parent who is pulling their kid and moving to Takoma Park next year for first because their kid is bored this year. Teachers are great but their kid just isn’t being challenged enough.

Who wants their kid to be bored in school? No one. High SES or low SES, if you care about education you want your kid to be challenged.

If you don’t provide options for the advanced kids your school will never really shine.

Challenged? In kindergarten?? The challenges are supposed to be about learning to share, take turns, be kind to others, complete chores properly.

+1. Kindergarten should be about learning the social skills kids will need to handle academic/life challenges in the years ahead.

Right. And DCPS kindergarten is about learning the alphabet and doing worksheets rather than social skills.

Not in my experience. Also the teachers had zero problem differentiating in kindergarten.

Agree. ‘Not challenged’ in this context is code for ‘I wasn’t comfortable with the socioeconomic background of DC’s classmates.’

Not true. You can pretend that it’s about SES if you want.

But the reality is this: Parents want their kids to learn as much as they can. One can evaluate that based only on how kids are learning in their school environment. If a kid isn’t challenged or is bored, parents who can will pull that kid out and send them to another school.
That’s true for Deal and Wilson as much as it is any other school in the District.

If DC doesn’t provide some differentiated learning, they’re going to lose advanced learners from their schools. Is that what DCPS wants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the Wilson PTO have hiring authority for aides as well? For us, middle school is the issue. it’s simply too crowded.

No.

it is happening school by school. Look at the in boundary wait lists for PK at schools like Marie Reed, Garrison and Walls at Francis Stevens.

Yeah, for PK3 and 4.

Those kids at MR and Garrison will be long gone by 4th grade if DCPS doesn’t do two things: tracking and better middle school options.

I just spoke to a MR K parent who is pulling their kid and moving to Takoma Park next year for first because their kid is bored this year. Teachers are great but their kid just isn’t being challenged enough.

Who wants their kid to be bored in school? No one. High SES or low SES, if you care about education you want your kid to be challenged.

If you don’t provide options for the advanced kids your school will never really shine.

Challenged? In kindergarten?? The challenges are supposed to be about learning to share, take turns, be kind to others, complete chores properly.

+1. Kindergarten should be about learning the social skills kids will need to handle academic/life challenges in the years ahead.

Right. And DCPS kindergarten is about learning the alphabet and doing worksheets rather than social skills.

Not in my experience. Also the teachers had zero problem differentiating in kindergarten.

Agree. ‘Not challenged’ in this context is code for ‘I wasn’t comfortable with the socioeconomic background of DC’s classmates.’

Not true. You can pretend that it’s about SES if you want.

But the reality is this: Parents want their kids to learn as much as they can. One can evaluate that based only on how kids are learning in their school environment. If a kid isn’t challenged or is bored, parents who can will pull that kid out and send them to another school.
That’s true for Deal and Wilson as much as it is any other school in the District.

If DC doesn’t provide some differentiated learning, they’re going to lose advanced learners from their schools. Is that what DCPS wants?

DP: Yep, that’s what DCPS wants, because then they’ll claim they “closed the achievement gap.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The PTA $ issue has been getting a lot of talk here lately , and it is so absurd. Take out PatA funds, and the only thing you’ve impacted is the level of envy.

The PTA budgets are a drop in the bucket in the big scheme of things, and eliminating those funds does absolutely nothing to improve educational outcomes (and arguably hurts them).

Cool then why all the fundraising

The fundraising is done to pay for pullouts so students like you learn never to write a string of words without punctuation, even on an anonymous forum, and stop annoying the eyes and brains of their educated fellow posters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does the Wilson PTO have hiring authority for aides as well? For us, middle school is the issue. it’s simply too crowded.

No.

it is happening school by school. Look at the in boundary wait lists for PK at schools like Marie Reed, Garrison and Walls at Francis Stevens.

Yeah, for PK3 and 4.

Those kids at MR and Garrison will be long gone by 4th grade if DCPS doesn’t do two things: tracking and better middle school options.

I just spoke to a MR K parent who is pulling their kid and moving to Takoma Park next year for first because their kid is bored this year. Teachers are great but their kid just isn’t being challenged enough.

Who wants their kid to be bored in school? No one. High SES or low SES, if you care about education you want your kid to be challenged.

If you don’t provide options for the advanced kids your school will never really shine.

Challenged? In kindergarten?? The challenges are supposed to be about learning to share, take turns, be kind to others, complete chores properly.

+1. Kindergarten should be about learning the social skills kids will need to handle academic/life challenges in the years ahead.

Right. And DCPS kindergarten is about learning the alphabet and doing worksheets rather than social skills.

My kid is in a title 1 Kindergarten and these kids need to know the alphabet way before K. She is reading on a first grade level. Kids who don’t know at least 50 sight words are getting pulled out to work with reading specialist.