Middle Schools for Cap Hill

[Anonymous]

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most CH voters could care less about middle school quality. They're too young to have middle school-age children, or OK with current middle schools (mostly low SES voters).

Strange conclusion. Lots of Hill households have no kids, or grown kids. Families with kids probably skew EC/ES but not exclusively. People utilize a VERY wide range of school options and there's no consensus. The so called "Low SES" voting bloc scarcely exists anymore in W6

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most CH voters could care less about middle school quality. They're too young to have middle school-age children, or OK with current middle schools (mostly low SES voters).

Strange conclusion. Lots of Hill households have no kids, or grown kids. Families with kids probably skew EC/ES but not exclusively. People utilize a VERY wide range of school options and there's no consensus. The so called "Low SES" voting bloc scarcely exists anymore in W6

I also would like to caution against such a generalized and inaccurate assumption about large groups of families and their views about schools. First off, as we know, Ward 6 schools have children attending from all over the city, and children in Ward 6 attend public, charter and private options all over. Second, it is misinformed at best, and insulting at worst to assume that all families of a certain demographic feel the same way about anything, much less schools. As a parent who is active in education and community organizations across the city, I know that parents across all income brackets are looking for improvements in programs, safety, curriculum, and leadership. Not everybody has the same flexibility to move, commute to a further school, or pay for private school. I understand that every parent cares about/wants the best for their own child, but in my opinion we could get a lot more accomplished collectively if we talk/work together instead of staying in our own corners.

[Anonymous]

What a sanctimonious comment. Yawn.

I've volunteered in Ward 6 Title 1 schools where most parents were clearly just trying to get through the day. Their struggling IB DCPS seemed OK to them. To my knowledge, they weren't playing the school lottery annually or advocating for policy changes like plenty of UMC families in search of a "better fit.

The reasons the several Ward 6 DCPS middle school and Eastern enroll more Wards 5, 7 and 8 families than Ward 6 are very complex but the bottom-line remains the same. These schools aren't a selling point for the Hill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a sanctimonious comment. Yawn.

I've volunteered in Ward 6 Title 1 schools where most parents were clearly just trying to get through the day. Their struggling IB DCPS seemed OK to them. To my knowledge, they weren't playing the school lottery annually or advocating for policy changes like plenty of UMC families in search of a "better fit.

The reasons the several Ward 6 DCPS middle school and Eastern enroll more Wards 5, 7 and 8 families than Ward 6 are very complex but the bottom-line remains the same. These schools aren't a selling point for the Hill.

We don't need to go back and forth, but your comment kind of proves what I was talking about. You mention to your knowledge based on volunteering at one school. Many of the low SES families I have gotten to know have switched schools for all/some of their kids to try to find one that best meets their needs. And many do the lottery and spend a lot of time thinking about middle school options and programs. And many of them have avoided the same schools higher SES families are avoiding. Admittedly my views are based on my experiences, but I have worked in DC schools and participated in citywide community groups, so it has allowed me to meet a wide range of parents from across different parts of the city. Either way, do what's best for your family, just wanted to offer a different perspective.

[Anonymous]

How do you know I only volunteered in one DCPS Ward 6 school? I've pitching in at four or five over the years, talking to all sorts of Ward 6 ed stakeholders along the way. Overall, is DCPS has been a poor steward of our public schools for decades, the only possible explanation for nearly half of our public school families enrolling in charters in the recent years.

Your holier than thou posts are a drag. Most public school parents simply want a good education for their children, vs. lectures on equity and moral obligation, and the chance to knock themselves out for years to help build school communities and programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a sanctimonious comment. Yawn.

I've volunteered in Ward 6 Title 1 schools where most parents were clearly just trying to get through the day. Their struggling IB DCPS seemed OK to them. To my knowledge, they weren't playing the school lottery annually or advocating for policy changes like plenty of UMC families in search of a "better fit.

The reasons the several Ward 6 DCPS middle school and Eastern enroll more Wards 5, 7 and 8 families than Ward 6 are very complex but the bottom-line remains the same. These schools aren't a selling point for the Hill.

You find it sanctimonious to point out that many lower income parents care about education? Why do you think so many are sending their kids OOB and to charters??? Can you ... not even see the blatant contradition in what you wrote? BTW playing the lottery annually is not actually a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you know I only volunteered in one DCPS Ward 6 school? I've pitching in at four or five over the years, talking to all sorts of Ward 6 ed stakeholders along the way. Overall, is DCPS has been a poor steward of our public schools for decades, the only possible explanation for nearly half of our public school families enrolling in charters in the recent years.

Your holier than thou posts are a drag. Most public school parents simply want a good education for their children, vs. lectures on equity and moral obligation, and the chance to knock themselves out for years to help build school communities and programs.

But by "most public school parents" you mean white parents, apparently. Since in your experience the the OOB parents in the Ward 6 schools (where you probably spent like one night setting up chairs) don't care and aren't asking for anything.

I'll say it again - the people triggered by anything positive about W6 schools are a really weird part of this debate.

[Anonymous]

I keep returning to this thread, hoping for something interesting, but it is more of the same bickering. UGH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you know I only volunteered in one DCPS Ward 6 school? I've pitching in at four or five over the years, talking to all sorts of Ward 6 ed stakeholders along the way. Overall, is DCPS has been a poor steward of our public schools for decades, the only possible explanation for nearly half of our public school families enrolling in charters in the recent years.

Your holier than thou posts are a drag. Most public school parents simply want a good education for their children, vs. lectures on equity and moral obligation, and the chance to knock themselves out for years to help build school communities and programs.

But by "most public school parents" you mean white parents, apparently. Since in your experience the the OOB parents in the Ward 6 schools (where you probably spent like one night setting up chairs) don't care and aren't asking for anything.

I'll say it again - the people triggered by anything positive about W6 schools are a really weird part of this debate.

No, I was a reading literacy volunteer in Title 1 schools. I'm not white myself. Give it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how do you know if your child is a good or bad fit for basis? i have an extremely bright but disorganized boy who likes math/science but who now also when left to his own devices does a pretty sloppy/haphazard job on any schoolwork or homework assignments that does not next-level interest him.

I have a kid with HFA and ADHD who is thriving at BASIS. My child excels academically, especially in math, and the school’s firm structure helps with organizational challenges. (But I knew my child was exceedingly bright and motivated.)

You have made me so happy with this. My son is HFA and has ADHD and anxiety and I know SH is not going to work well for him because of his lack of executive function and tendency to get easily distracted/sidetracked. He is 2e and bright, but needs that constant redirection. Glad to hear BASIS is still and option.

[Anonymous]

Watch out, PP. No guarantee that the adults at BASIS will give a hoot about your kid’s learning needs. If you get a spot, do more research, question, talk to many parents. You sound, um, gullible.