Is SEM more than window dressing?

[Anonymous]

Relocating to DC this summer with one child who is receiving gifted services in our current district. Understanding that there is not a separate gifted program in DCPS, is there anything to the SEM program listed for a handful of the elementary schools? Is it more than window dressing or is it actually beneficial? We've been at a school previously that grouped by skill level within in each class and thought it was beneficial. Trying to decide if we want to focus on living IB for a SEM school.

We are certainly aware of the programs in VA, but it's not the direction we are interested in going.

[Anonymous]

SEM is not a significant thing at any school that I'm aware of. At least not a school that's otherwise well-respected.

Tell us the area you're considering in DC and what kind of school you're looking for and we can advise you better. It is normal in DC for teachers to group by skill ("differentiate") within the classroom.

[Anonymous]

What is SEM?

[Anonymous]

https://dcps.dc.gov/page/schoolwide-enrichment-model-sem-faqs

It's Schoolwide Enrichment Model. It's supposed to be an alternative to giving more resources only to the "gifted" kids-- instead kids at all levels can and should benefit from a richer curriculum. Unfortunately, typical DCPS, it's underfunded so it doesn't really have a noticeable impact. I've never, ever heard anyone say they chose a school because of SEM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SEM is not a significant thing at any school that I'm aware of. At least not a school that's otherwise well-respected.

Tell us the area you're considering in DC and what kind of school you're looking for and we can advise you better. It is normal in DC for teachers to group by skill ("differentiate") within the classroom.

Looking at the Hill - specifically trying to decide between JO Wilson and possibly Watkins (need to be IB for Stuart Hobson down the line). Figured there wasn’t much behind SEM but trying to make an informed decision. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SEM is not a significant thing at any school that I'm aware of. At least not a school that's otherwise well-respected.

Tell us the area you're considering in DC and what kind of school you're looking for and we can advise you better. It is normal in DC for teachers to group by skill ("differentiate") within the classroom.

Looking at the Hill - specifically trying to decide between JO Wilson and possibly Watkins (need to be IB for Stuart Hobson down the line). Figured there wasn’t much behind SEM but trying to make an informed decision. Thanks

Watkins is better but JO Wilson would be fine too. I would not take on a significantly more expensive house or worse commute for the sake of Watkins, since you end up in the same place anyway.

Look into Ludlow-Taylor, that's also better than JO Wilson.

[Anonymous]

Hi, our kids loved the SEM program at their elementary school for enrichment. They got pullout classes and got to work on extra projects for additional challenge.

It is an inclusive program, which I like, so don't expect a traditional G&T program.

Personally, I'd look at it as a bonus (although you should look into how specific schools use it), but not a reason to spend $300K more on a house or have a horrible committee

It would definitely be improved by doubling or tripling the funding, but it is a benefit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SEM is not a significant thing at any school that I'm aware of. At least not a school that's otherwise well-respected.

Tell us the area you're considering in DC and what kind of school you're looking for and we can advise you better. It is normal in DC for teachers to group by skill ("differentiate") within the classroom.

Looking at the Hill - specifically trying to decide between JO Wilson and possibly Watkins (need to be IB for Stuart Hobson down the line). Figured there wasn’t much behind SEM but trying to make an informed decision. Thanks

Watkins is better but JO Wilson would be fine too. I would not take on a significantly more expensive house or worse commute for the sake of Watkins, since you end up in the same place anyway.

Look into Ludlow-Taylor, that's also better than JO Wilson.

JO Wilson is absolutely not fine from 1st-5th for a gifted UMC student. Simply nuts to claim it is. The only schools on Cap Hill worth holistically embracing in the upper grades are Maury, Brent and SWS (irrelevant, no chance of lotterying in). You may be able to make do with Ludlow and/or Watkins. Hobson is fine for MS if you live nearby, take advantage of their honors classes and supplement extensively. Please get real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, our kids loved the SEM program at their elementary school for enrichment. They got pullout classes and got to work on extra projects for additional challenge.

It is an inclusive program, which I like, so don't expect a traditional G&T program.

Personally, I'd look at it as a bonus (although you should look into how specific schools use it), but not a reason to spend $300K more on a house or have a horrible committee

It would definitely be improved by doubling or tripling the funding, but it is a benefit.

+1

It's not a traditional G&T program, it's more of an opportunity for all kids to work on something that's challenging to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Relocating to DC this summer with one child who is receiving gifted services in our current district. Understanding that there is not a separate gifted program in DCPS, is there anything to the SEM program listed for a handful of the elementary schools? Is it more than window dressing or is it actually beneficial? We've been at a school previously that grouped by skill level within in each class and thought it was beneficial. Trying to decide if we want to focus on living IB for a SEM school.

We are certainly aware of the programs in VA, but it's not the direction we are interested in going.

It’s is definitely more than window dressing for our kids. I’m not sure about what schools you’re looking at, but I suggest you talk to the SEM teacher at the school to see what they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SEM is not a significant thing at any school that I'm aware of. At least not a school that's otherwise well-respected.

Tell us the area you're considering in DC and what kind of school you're looking for and we can advise you better. It is normal in DC for teachers to group by skill ("differentiate") within the classroom.

Looking at the Hill - specifically trying to decide between JO Wilson and possibly Watkins (need to be IB for Stuart Hobson down the line). Figured there wasn’t much behind SEM but trying to make an informed decision. Thanks

Watkins is better but JO Wilson would be fine too. I would not take on a significantly more expensive house or worse commute for the sake of Watkins, since you end up in the same place anyway.

Look into Ludlow-Taylor, that's also better than JO Wilson.

JO Wilson is absolutely not fine from 1st-5th for a gifted UMC student. Simply nuts to claim it is. The only schools on Cap Hill worth holistically embracing in the upper grades are Maury, Brent and SWS (irrelevant, no chance of lotterying in). You may be able to make do with Ludlow and/or Watkins. Hobson is fine for MS if you live nearby, take advantage of their honors classes and supplement extensively. Please get real.

I am UMC and sent a kid to a PARCC testing grade at JOW for a year when we lived in DC temporarily. I was really impressed with the teachers, principal (though I understand she's no longer there, I've heard good things about the new one) and Assistant Principal. I didn't like the school psychologist but she isn't there anymore either. The school definitely has fewer rich families in the upper grades than some schools on the Hill (and certainly fewer than upper NW) but I don't think you'd need to do any more supplementing for a gifted child there than you would at other SH feeders. I don't know if this is always true but one good thing about JOW when we were there is that my kid's class was small--I think 20 kids? And the aftercare was free--not super enriching, but free is nice.

[Anonymous]

Matthew Reif was over SEM and still might be (can't keep up with Central Office personnel.) You might want to call him directly to discuss your options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SEM is not a significant thing at any school that I'm aware of. At least not a school that's otherwise well-respected.

Tell us the area you're considering in DC and what kind of school you're looking for and we can advise you better. It is normal in DC for teachers to group by skill ("differentiate") within the classroom.

Looking at the Hill - specifically trying to decide between JO Wilson and possibly Watkins (need to be IB for Stuart Hobson down the line). Figured there wasn’t much behind SEM but trying to make an informed decision. Thanks

Watkins is better but JO Wilson would be fine too. I would not take on a significantly more expensive house or worse commute for the sake of Watkins, since you end up in the same place anyway.

Look into Ludlow-Taylor, that's also better than JO Wilson.

JO Wilson is absolutely not fine from 1st-5th for a gifted UMC student. Simply nuts to claim it is. The only schools on Cap Hill worth holistically embracing in the upper grades are Maury, Brent and SWS (irrelevant, no chance of lotterying in). You may be able to make do with Ludlow and/or Watkins. Hobson is fine for MS if you live nearby, take advantage of their honors classes and supplement extensively. Please get real.

I am UMC and sent a kid to a PARCC testing grade at JOW for a year when we lived in DC temporarily. I was really impressed with the teachers, principal (though I understand she's no longer there, I've heard good things about the new one) and Assistant Principal. I didn't like the school psychologist but she isn't there anymore either. The school definitely has fewer rich families in the upper grades than some schools on the Hill (and certainly fewer than upper NW) but I don't think you'd need to do any more supplementing for a gifted child there than you would at other SH feeders. I don't know if this is always true but one good thing about JOW when we were there is that my kid's class was small--I think 20 kids? And the aftercare was free--not super enriching, but free is nice.

Euphemism of the day. There are currently only a handful of high SES families in the testing grades at JO Wilson, and no white kids in 4th or 5th.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if there are any white kids in those grades this year. When I was there I believe there were 3 kids who were not African-American in my kid's grade.

But that was not an issue. The kids were friendly, polite, and many of them got 4s or 5s on the PARCC. The teachers were welcoming. We don't know what OP's race is, or her kid's race, or how they feel about being a minority if in fact they would be. The number of white kids in the 4th or 5th grade was not what OP asked about.

[Anonymous]

Give us break. You're really splitting hairs over a school obviously that isn't UMC friendly yet for 1st-5th, other than for a few brave, particularly open-minded, and perhaps desperate souls. Buy or rent IB for Maury in NE.