Using Ellington to alleviate overcrowding

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. If they right-size and zone Wilson only for the west side of Rock Creek Park and end OOB feeder rights, then there should be sufficient capacity at Wilson to serve local community needs and we don’t need to worry about Wetern High Schhol - or Ellington being displaced. That would be a win-win.

I disagree with this, strongly. The projected growth in Ward 3 alone means we need another HS west of Rock Creek Park. Tons of new housing units are under development and even more slated for the future along Wisconsin, Mass, and CT Avenues.

Another by-right or application school will need to be opened somewhere. Two current empty lots that could house such a school would be the DESA track & field or the Old Hardy site. Both are big enough for a stand-alone HS, if you make it academic focused (i.e., no sports facilities).

Where are the studies showing growth in the 3rd ward? Ward 3 has a stable population and has for many years.

You want another study? Well here are the actual facts:

The school’s current enrollment is 50% larger than it was just seven years ago (from just over 1000 in 2011 to just over 1500 in 2018). This growth is expected to continue. According to the Wilson High School Feeder Pattern Community Working Group Summary Report published in February 2019, DCPS, and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education, the forecasted enrollment for Deal by 2025 is expected to be as high as 2253 students. With more than 1500 students, Deal operates the equivalent of five DCPS Middle Schools in one location. Each individual grade at Deal enrolls approximately 500 students, which is 40% larger than the average WHOLE school enrollment at other middle schools (approximately 300 students). Deal is the largest middle school in the city and the second largest school in the system, right behind Wilson High.

This is total madness and has to stop. There are middle schools less than 50% full in this city. They are located geographically closer to Bancroft and Shepherd. Those two schools HAVE to get cut from the feeder pattern. OA needs to get moved to the comprehensive language school at DCI. These steps all make logical, financial, and programmatic sense.

OA needs to move to Roosevelt or CHEC, the TWO the DCPS comprehensive language schools. DCI makes no sense; it is approaching capacity too; younger children at multiple feeders are no longer guaranteed seats, even if you could solve the cross-sector issue.

DCPS has vast capacity in MS and HSs. The boundary review has to happen in 2022. Many people won't like the results (many didn't like the last round either) but there is no other choice.

[Anonymous]

Why wait til 2022 for the boundary review? Can we do it sooner?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. If they right-size and zone Wilson only for the west side of Rock Creek Park and end OOB feeder rights, then there should be sufficient capacity at Wilson to serve local community needs and we don’t need to worry about Wetern High Schhol - or Ellington being displaced. That would be a win-win.

I disagree with this, strongly. The projected growth in Ward 3 alone means we need another HS west of Rock Creek Park. Tons of new housing units are under development and even more slated for the future along Wisconsin, Mass, and CT Avenues.

Another by-right or application school will need to be opened somewhere. Two current empty lots that could house such a school would be the DESA track & field or the Old Hardy site. Both are big enough for a stand-alone HS, if you make it academic focused (i.e., no sports facilities).

Where are the studies showing growth in the 3rd ward? Ward 3 has a stable population and has for many years.

You want another study? Well here are the actual facts:

The school’s current enrollment is 50% larger than it was just seven years ago (from just over 1000 in 2011 to just over 1500 in 2018). This growth is expected to continue. According to the Wilson High School Feeder Pattern Community Working Group Summary Report published in February 2019, DCPS, and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education, the forecasted enrollment for Deal by 2025 is expected to be as high as 2253 students. With more than 1500 students, Deal operates the equivalent of five DCPS Middle Schools in one location. Each individual grade at Deal enrolls approximately 500 students, which is 40% larger than the average WHOLE school enrollment at other middle schools (approximately 300 students). Deal is the largest middle school in the city and the second largest school in the system, right behind Wilson High.

This is total madness and has to stop. There are middle schools less than 50% full in this city. They are located geographically closer to Bancroft and Shepherd. Those two schools HAVE to get cut from the feeder pattern. OA needs to get moved to the comprehensive language school at DCI. These steps all make logical, financial, and programmatic sense.

Is DCI a charter school? Anyway I agree with your points. Bancroft can go to to McFarland or the new Banneker MS if it happens, and OA can go to Cardozo, or CHEC, or somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why wait til 2022 for the boundary review? Can we do it sooner?

DCPS can do it anytime they wish. Or they can delay it. The recommendation from the last one was to do it again in 2022; of course, that was under Mayor Gray and a different DME. Also and not coincidentally the decisions came out post-election, when he was a lame duck.