Hidden Gems

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:While I think the Brookings report that was based on DCUM posts is utter trash that was only saved from being used to line our cats' litter box by the fact that is it digital and not physical, several posters have asked me to reflect on what DCUM could do better. With the understanding that we all can always do better, I agree that DCUM could do more. I propose with this thread that posters nominate "hidden gem" schools. These should be schools that don't get much attention on DCUM, but are worth posters' attention. To keep the list to "hidden" schools, let's eliminate from nomination any of the schools mentioned in the Brookings report as "high-attention". On page 10 of the report:

https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Discussions_DC_public_school_options_online_forum_Brookings-Report.pdf

There are clusters of schools categorized by the amount of attention they get on DCUM. Please do not nominate schools from the 145 Charter Cluster, the 145 Traditional Cluster, the High-Attention ES Cluster, the High-Attention MS/HS Cluster, or the Ward 6 Cluster. Any schools outside those lists are fair game.

Here is my nomination: McKinley Technology High School.

McKinley Technology High School has a Five Star rating, but only 3% of its students are white. Personally, I think the biggest challenge with the school is its location which might not work for everyone. While a STEM focus might not be for everyone, for those who are interested it seems like an excellent choice. I think McKinley is deserving of more attention on DCUM.

I work with a former grad. She is super smart and just an all round fabulous human being. Based on our discussions about McKinley, it is now on my 7th grade daughter’s radar. I totally agree with you about McKinley! People who slam it here I don’t think are very familiar with it.

I'm all for it, but why are the test scores so low? Because they are.

they don’t seem low to me ... but then again I don’t assume my kid will be a “PARCC 5” or that there’s any problem with a strong cohort of 4s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:While I think the Brookings report that was based on DCUM posts is utter trash that was only saved from being used to line our cats' litter box by the fact that is it digital and not physical, several posters have asked me to reflect on what DCUM could do better. With the understanding that we all can always do better, I agree that DCUM could do more. I propose with this thread that posters nominate "hidden gem" schools. These should be schools that don't get much attention on DCUM, but are worth posters' attention. To keep the list to "hidden" schools, let's eliminate from nomination any of the schools mentioned in the Brookings report as "high-attention". On page 10 of the report:

https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Discussions_DC_public_school_options_online_forum_Brookings-Report.pdf

There are clusters of schools categorized by the amount of attention they get on DCUM. Please do not nominate schools from the 145 Charter Cluster, the 145 Traditional Cluster, the High-Attention ES Cluster, the High-Attention MS/HS Cluster, or the Ward 6 Cluster. Any schools outside those lists are fair game.

Here is my nomination: McKinley Technology High School.

McKinley Technology High School has a Five Star rating, but only 3% of its students are white. Personally, I think the biggest challenge with the school is its location which might not work for everyone. While a STEM focus might not be for everyone, for those who are interested it seems like an excellent choice. I think McKinley is deserving of more attention on DCUM.

I work with a former grad. She is super smart and just an all round fabulous human being. Based on our discussions about McKinley, it is now on my 7th grade daughter’s radar. I totally agree with you about McKinley! People who slam it here I don’t think are very familiar with it.

I'm all for it, but why are the test scores so low? Because they are.

they don’t seem low to me ... but then again I don’t assume my kid will be a “PARCC 5” or that there’s any problem with a strong cohort of 4s.

They just seem kinda low, especially in math, for a selective STEM school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread really got off the rails.

I nominate Bard College Early High School. Top notch teachers who have PhDs, students get a Slac experience in high school and an associates degree. Plus the Bard brand. I don’t know why literally no one ever talks about it on here, except it is very very new, and EOTR: https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/415

Also everyone moons over Oyster-Adams, but I think more people should consider Columbia Heights Educational Campus. A bilingual dual immersion school, lots of APs offered, partnership with the Kennedy center, great location.

Probably because it isn't actually early college level work. It will be on grade level at best, and who wants to drive far for that?

did you see the list of faculty?

I did, and I still think they will need to teach to the level of their students, which will likely be grade level. At least at first. Because there are just not enough students truly ready for early college to fill that school. Even bright high school students who test well are usually not doing *college* work. They're doing high school work well. It's a developmental difference.

well, if you’re looking for that level of instruction, I guess so. I see it differently - by HS the kids advance independently by doing higher level independent work. learning can happen for everyone even on “grade level.” This is why we have grades A - F.

Ok but that's not "early college". That's most adequately functioning high schools. So not really worth discussing or driving far for. And the small size means way less options and extracurriculars and sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread really got off the rails.

I nominate Bard College Early High School. Top notch teachers who have PhDs, students get a Slac experience in high school and an associates degree. Plus the Bard brand. I don’t know why literally no one ever talks about it on here, except it is very very new, and EOTR: https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/415

Also everyone moons over Oyster-Adams, but I think more people should consider Columbia Heights Educational Campus. A bilingual dual immersion school, lots of APs offered, partnership with the Kennedy center, great location.

Probably because it isn't actually early college level work. It will be on grade level at best, and who wants to drive far for that?

There are always posters who question the quality of predominantly black high schools. They are just never good enough for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread really got off the rails.

I nominate Bard College Early High School. Top notch teachers who have PhDs, students get a Slac experience in high school and an associates degree. Plus the Bard brand. I don’t know why literally no one ever talks about it on here, except it is very very new, and EOTR: https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/415

Also everyone moons over Oyster-Adams, but I think more people should consider Columbia Heights Educational Campus. A bilingual dual immersion school, lots of APs offered, partnership with the Kennedy center, great location.

Probably because it isn't actually early college level work. It will be on grade level at best, and who wants to drive far for that?

There are always posters who question the quality of predominantly black high schools. They are just never good enough for you.

Please do explain what makes this "early college" rather than a selective high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:While I think the Brookings report that was based on DCUM posts is utter trash that was only saved from being used to line our cats' litter box by the fact that is it digital and not physical, several posters have asked me to reflect on what DCUM could do better. With the understanding that we all can always do better, I agree that DCUM could do more. I propose with this thread that posters nominate "hidden gem" schools. These should be schools that don't get much attention on DCUM, but are worth posters' attention. To keep the list to "hidden" schools, let's eliminate from nomination any of the schools mentioned in the Brookings report as "high-attention". On page 10 of the report:

https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Discussions_DC_public_school_options_online_forum_Brookings-Report.pdf

There are clusters of schools categorized by the amount of attention they get on DCUM. Please do not nominate schools from the 145 Charter Cluster, the 145 Traditional Cluster, the High-Attention ES Cluster, the High-Attention MS/HS Cluster, or the Ward 6 Cluster. Any schools outside those lists are fair game.

Here is my nomination: McKinley Technology High School.

McKinley Technology High School has a Five Star rating, but only 3% of its students are white. Personally, I think the biggest challenge with the school is its location which might not work for everyone. While a STEM focus might not be for everyone, for those who are interested it seems like an excellent choice. I think McKinley is deserving of more attention on DCUM.

I work with a former grad. She is super smart and just an all round fabulous human being. Based on our discussions about McKinley, it is now on my 7th grade daughter’s radar. I totally agree with you about McKinley! People who slam it here I don’t think are very familiar with it.

I'm all for it, but why are the test scores so low? Because they are.

they don’t seem low to me ... but then again I don’t assume my kid will be a “PARCC 5” or that there’s any problem with a strong cohort of 4s.

They just seem kinda low, especially in math, for a selective STEM school.

I mean, this IS where the rubber meets the road for living in DC. It's a city-wide school in a high-poverty city. If you think your kids need to be surrounded by All 5s, then you really should look elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread really got off the rails.

I nominate Bard College Early High School. Top notch teachers who have PhDs, students get a Slac experience in high school and an associates degree. Plus the Bard brand. I don’t know why literally no one ever talks about it on here, except it is very very new, and EOTR: https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/415

Also everyone moons over Oyster-Adams, but I think more people should consider Columbia Heights Educational Campus. A bilingual dual immersion school, lots of APs offered, partnership with the Kennedy center, great location.

Probably because it isn't actually early college level work. It will be on grade level at best, and who wants to drive far for that?

did you see the list of faculty?

I did, and I still think they will need to teach to the level of their students, which will likely be grade level. At least at first. Because there are just not enough students truly ready for early college to fill that school. Even bright high school students who test well are usually not doing *college* work. They're doing high school work well. It's a developmental difference.

well, if you’re looking for that level of instruction, I guess so. I see it differently - by HS the kids advance independently by doing higher level independent work. learning can happen for everyone even on “grade level.” This is why we have grades A - F.

Ok but that's not "early college". That's most adequately functioning high schools. So not really worth discussing or driving far for. And the small size means way less options and extracurriculars and sports.

Cool, so move to Fairfax? This discussion is about schools in DC that do a good job educating kids. Many of us here who are Gen Xers went to schools were we were mostly average and we were at the top with APs etc., whether or not the differences were based on race. Homogeneity is OK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread really got off the rails.

I nominate Bard College Early High School. Top notch teachers who have PhDs, students get a Slac experience in high school and an associates degree. Plus the Bard brand. I don’t know why literally no one ever talks about it on here, except it is very very new, and EOTR: https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/415

Also everyone moons over Oyster-Adams, but I think more people should consider Columbia Heights Educational Campus. A bilingual dual immersion school, lots of APs offered, partnership with the Kennedy center, great location.

Probably because it isn't actually early college level work. It will be on grade level at best, and who wants to drive far for that?

There are always posters who question the quality of predominantly black high schools. They are just never good enough for you.

+1 And the pattern is clear - assert that the school actually is terrible based on nothing; then backtrack to an position that it might not be terrible, but it's certainly not special; throw in allusions to endemic behavioral problems; demand that other people prove you wrong; and discount any evidence to the contrary as either outdated, too second or third hand (not reliable!), or too close to the source (boosterism!). Lather, rinse, wait for someone to say something positive about a majority black school, and repeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread really got off the rails.

I nominate Bard College Early High School. Top notch teachers who have PhDs, students get a Slac experience in high school and an associates degree. Plus the Bard brand. I don’t know why literally no one ever talks about it on here, except it is very very new, and EOTR: https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/415

Also everyone moons over Oyster-Adams, but I think more people should consider Columbia Heights Educational Campus. A bilingual dual immersion school, lots of APs offered, partnership with the Kennedy center, great location.

Probably because it isn't actually early college level work. It will be on grade level at best, and who wants to drive far for that?

did you see the list of faculty?

I did, and I still think they will need to teach to the level of their students, which will likely be grade level. At least at first. Because there are just not enough students truly ready for early college to fill that school. Even bright high school students who test well are usually not doing *college* work. They're doing high school work well. It's a developmental difference.

well, if you’re looking for that level of instruction, I guess so. I see it differently - by HS the kids advance independently by doing higher level independent work. learning can happen for everyone even on “grade level.” This is why we have grades A - F.

Ok but that's not "early college". That's most adequately functioning high schools. So not really worth discussing or driving far for. And the small size means way less options and extracurriculars and sports.

Cool, so move to Fairfax? This discussion is about schools in DC that do a good job educating kids. Many of us here who are Gen Xers went to schools were we were mostly average and we were at the top with APs etc., whether or not the differences were based on race. Homogeneity is OK.

I mean *heterogeneity.*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread really got off the rails.

I nominate Bard College Early High School. Top notch teachers who have PhDs, students get a Slac experience in high school and an associates degree. Plus the Bard brand. I don’t know why literally no one ever talks about it on here, except it is very very new, and EOTR: https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/415

Also everyone moons over Oyster-Adams, but I think more people should consider Columbia Heights Educational Campus. A bilingual dual immersion school, lots of APs offered, partnership with the Kennedy center, great location.

Probably because it isn't actually early college level work. It will be on grade level at best, and who wants to drive far for that?

There are always posters who question the quality of predominantly black high schools. They are just never good enough for you.

Please do explain what makes this "early college" rather than a selective high school.

Why don't you ask the school? Per their data, 80% of their kids earned the associates degree in 2019.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread really got off the rails.

I nominate Bard College Early High School. Top notch teachers who have PhDs, students get a Slac experience in high school and an associates degree. Plus the Bard brand. I don’t know why literally no one ever talks about it on here, except it is very very new, and EOTR: https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/415

Also everyone moons over Oyster-Adams, but I think more people should consider Columbia Heights Educational Campus. A bilingual dual immersion school, lots of APs offered, partnership with the Kennedy center, great location.

Probably because it isn't actually early college level work. It will be on grade level at best, and who wants to drive far for that?

There are always posters who question the quality of predominantly black high schools. They are just never good enough for you.

+1 And the pattern is clear - assert that the school actually is terrible based on nothing; then backtrack to an position that it might not be terrible, but it's certainly not special; throw in allusions to endemic behavioral problems; demand that other people prove you wrong; and discount any evidence to the contrary as either outdated, too second or third hand (not reliable!), or too close to the source (boosterism!). Lather, rinse, wait for someone to say something positive about a majority black school, and repeat.

Who said anything about behavior problems? PP asked why people don't talk about it much, and I think it is because the academics are not really early college, it is a long drive, and so small that it lacks various sports etc. Also, compared with say Latin, you can't send your middle schooler there and that is a logistical factor for some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread really got off the rails.

I nominate Bard College Early High School. Top notch teachers who have PhDs, students get a Slac experience in high school and an associates degree. Plus the Bard brand. I don’t know why literally no one ever talks about it on here, except it is very very new, and EOTR: https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/415

Also everyone moons over Oyster-Adams, but I think more people should consider Columbia Heights Educational Campus. A bilingual dual immersion school, lots of APs offered, partnership with the Kennedy center, great location.

Probably because it isn't actually early college level work. It will be on grade level at best, and who wants to drive far for that?

There are always posters who question the quality of predominantly black high schools. They are just never good enough for you.

+1 And the pattern is clear - assert that the school actually is terrible based on nothing; then backtrack to an position that it might not be terrible, but it's certainly not special; throw in allusions to endemic behavioral problems; demand that other people prove you wrong; and discount any evidence to the contrary as either outdated, too second or third hand (not reliable!), or too close to the source (boosterism!). Lather, rinse, wait for someone to say something positive about a majority black school, and repeat.

I think most people who do this consistently are suburban trolls who don't live in DC. Another reason why the Brookings study was trash. The rest of us are fully open to thinking about different schools in DC. Are we nervous about the unfamiliar, sure. But the "my kid must be surrounded by 5s or the school is terrible!!" thing just doesn't really ring true for the kind of discussion we have here by and large. Don't forget that there are a LOT of trolls on Political from across the country who end up here. And this forum has been targeted by white supremacists in the past as well - they just popped up this week on the other thread about Brookings (Jeff deleted.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread really got off the rails.

I nominate Bard College Early High School. Top notch teachers who have PhDs, students get a Slac experience in high school and an associates degree. Plus the Bard brand. I don’t know why literally no one ever talks about it on here, except it is very very new, and EOTR: https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/415

Also everyone moons over Oyster-Adams, but I think more people should consider Columbia Heights Educational Campus. A bilingual dual immersion school, lots of APs offered, partnership with the Kennedy center, great location.

Probably because it isn't actually early college level work. It will be on grade level at best, and who wants to drive far for that?

There are always posters who question the quality of predominantly black high schools. They are just never good enough for you.

+1 And the pattern is clear - assert that the school actually is terrible based on nothing; then backtrack to an position that it might not be terrible, but it's certainly not special; throw in allusions to endemic behavioral problems; demand that other people prove you wrong; and discount any evidence to the contrary as either outdated, too second or third hand (not reliable!), or too close to the source (boosterism!). Lather, rinse, wait for someone to say something positive about a majority black school, and repeat.

Who said anything about behavior problems? PP asked why people don't talk about it much, and I think it is because the academics are not really early college, it is a long drive, and so small that it lacks various sports etc. Also, compared with say Latin, you can't send your middle schooler there and that is a logistical factor for some.

A long drive from where? It's a short drive from where I am. I get it, it doesn't suit you personally. That doesn't mean it's not a solid school. It is weird for you to devote so much energy to tearing down schools and I do wonder about your motivation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread really got off the rails.

I nominate Bard College Early High School. Top notch teachers who have PhDs, students get a Slac experience in high school and an associates degree. Plus the Bard brand. I don’t know why literally no one ever talks about it on here, except it is very very new, and EOTR: https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/415

Also everyone moons over Oyster-Adams, but I think more people should consider Columbia Heights Educational Campus. A bilingual dual immersion school, lots of APs offered, partnership with the Kennedy center, great location.

Probably because it isn't actually early college level work. It will be on grade level at best, and who wants to drive far for that?

There are always posters who question the quality of predominantly black high schools. They are just never good enough for you.

+1 And the pattern is clear - assert that the school actually is terrible based on nothing; then backtrack to an position that it might not be terrible, but it's certainly not special; throw in allusions to endemic behavioral problems; demand that other people prove you wrong; and discount any evidence to the contrary as either outdated, too second or third hand (not reliable!), or too close to the source (boosterism!). Lather, rinse, wait for someone to say something positive about a majority black school, and repeat.

Who said anything about behavior problems? PP asked why people don't talk about it much, and I think it is because the academics are not really early college, it is a long drive, and so small that it lacks various sports etc. Also, compared with say Latin, you can't send your middle schooler there and that is a logistical factor for some.

A long drive from where? It's a short drive from where I am. I get it, it doesn't suit you personally. That doesn't mean it's not a solid school. It is weird for you to devote so much energy to tearing down schools and I do wonder about your motivation.

A long drive from about half the city, when you think about traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread really got off the rails.

I nominate Bard College Early High School. Top notch teachers who have PhDs, students get a Slac experience in high school and an associates degree. Plus the Bard brand. I don’t know why literally no one ever talks about it on here, except it is very very new, and EOTR: https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/415

Also everyone moons over Oyster-Adams, but I think more people should consider Columbia Heights Educational Campus. A bilingual dual immersion school, lots of APs offered, partnership with the Kennedy center, great location.

Probably because it isn't actually early college level work. It will be on grade level at best, and who wants to drive far for that?

There are always posters who question the quality of predominantly black high schools. They are just never good enough for you.

+1 And the pattern is clear - assert that the school actually is terrible based on nothing; then backtrack to an position that it might not be terrible, but it's certainly not special; throw in allusions to endemic behavioral problems; demand that other people prove you wrong; and discount any evidence to the contrary as either outdated, too second or third hand (not reliable!), or too close to the source (boosterism!). Lather, rinse, wait for someone to say something positive about a majority black school, and repeat.

Who said anything about behavior problems? PP asked why people don't talk about it much, and I think it is because the academics are not really early college, it is a long drive, and so small that it lacks various sports etc. Also, compared with say Latin, you can't send your middle schooler there and that is a logistical factor for some.

A long drive from where? It's a short drive from where I am. I get it, it doesn't suit you personally. That doesn't mean it's not a solid school. It is weird for you to devote so much energy to tearing down schools and I do wonder about your motivation.

A long drive from about half the city, when you think about traffic.

And your point is ...? What? It's a short drive from Ward 6.