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

[Anonymous]

It never ceases to amaze me that DC is simultaneously unaffordable for middle class families who want to buy a home yet has so few neighborhoods where families can be guaranteed to be happy with their schools.

I understand that all the Wilson feeding neighborhoods are doing well, but what neighborhoods are next?

Will the students just continue to do private schools and charter schools and never get the critical mass needed in EOTP neighborhoods?

[Anonymous]

Not in our lifetime.

[Anonymous]

DC is a school choice city. 76% of families choose not to attend their neighborhood school. This is not just a middle-class pattern; it happens at all income levels.

Forty-six percent of students in our public school system - combined DCPS and charter - are at-risk (qualify for TANF, nutrition assistance, are homeless).

Until and unless the city completely gentrifies and most of the needy families leave, or until we level the many gaps between rich and poor, this pattern will not change significantly.

[Anonymous]

When you have so many charters, it’s hard for neighborhood schools to get a critical mass of high achieving students. There are no charters in the Wilson area, so it’s easier for those neighborhood schools to thrive.

[Anonymous]

More and more Elementary schools are decent

Middle school wise

Capitol Hill area more and more folks are choosing Stuart Hobson and Jefferson. They both have some type of differentiation/honors component

As far as EOTP is concerned yall need to coordinate and pick one middle school for all the higher achievers to take over and flip Cardozo, Columbia Heights, Brookland, MicKinley, or New North. The numbers area there you just need to pick one of those options and swarm it

High School works because of all the test-in select school options

[Anonymous]

When DCPS adequately funds its middle schools and finds a way of educating children who have experienced trauma, then things will improve. Not before.

That being said, I do think Eastern may be next to gentrify, Stuart-Hobson being well underway.

[Anonymous]

DCPS doesn’t have time for good students. If you are doing ok, go to your corner and don’t bother the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More and more Elementary schools are decent

Middle school wise

Capitol Hill area more and more folks are choosing Stuart Hobson and Jefferson. They both have some type of differentiation/honors component

As far as EOTP is concerned yall need to coordinate and pick one middle school for all the higher achievers to take over and flip Cardozo, Columbia Heights, Brookland, MicKinley, or New North. The numbers area there you just need to pick one of those options and swarm it

High School works because of all the test-in select school options

Agree that SH and Jefferson are next. The normal MS options are getting harder to lottery in, & combined with the honors track, makes both more viable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When DCPS adequately funds its middle schools and finds a way of educating children who have experienced trauma, then things will improve. Not before.

That being said, I do think Eastern may be next to gentrify, Stuart-Hobson being well underway.

Middle schools have plenty of money.

You are right about educating children who have experienced or live in trauma. I'm not sure anyone, anywhere has figured that out though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When DCPS adequately funds its middle schools and finds a way of educating children who have experienced trauma, then things will improve. Not before.

That being said, I do think Eastern may be next to gentrify, Stuart-Hobson being well underway.

Middle schools have plenty of money.

You are right about educating children who have experienced or live in trauma. I'm not sure anyone, anywhere has figured that out though.

It is not enough money for enough staff to help with the trauma and the remediation. Kids are entering 6th grade several years below grade level, and they need a well-staffed school and a quality afterschool and summer program to catch up. That is what there is no funding for.

[Anonymous]

Neighborhood schools are and will be the default when there are no better options.

Parents choose the best option they can find for their kids -- which can be defined in many ways.

And the city is actually not that large. It isn't that hard to go to school outside your neighborhood, especially when the city makes using Metro or Metrobus free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When DCPS adequately funds its middle schools and finds a way of educating children who have experienced trauma, then things will improve. Not before.

That being said, I do think Eastern may be next to gentrify, Stuart-Hobson being well underway.

Middle schools have plenty of money.

You are right about educating children who have experienced or live in trauma. I'm not sure anyone, anywhere has figured that out though.

It is not enough money for enough staff to help with the trauma and the remediation. Kids are entering 6th grade several years below grade level, and they need a well-staffed school and a quality afterschool and summer program to catch up. That is what there is no funding for.

The key is really 0-5 and close the achievement gap before kids even enter school

Once in school social promotion should end. If kids can't read they will not be successful in higher grades

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More and more Elementary schools are decent

Middle school wise

Capitol Hill area more and more folks are choosing Stuart Hobson and Jefferson. They both have some type of differentiation/honors component

As far as EOTP is concerned yall need to coordinate and pick one middle school for all the higher achievers to take over and flip Cardozo, Columbia Heights, Brookland, MicKinley, or New North. The numbers area there you just need to pick one of those options and swarm it

High School works because of all the test-in select school options

Agree that SH and Jefferson are next. The normal MS options are getting harder to lottery in, & combined with the honors track, makes both more viable.

I would have agreed with this except with Latin opening a 2nd campus for fall of 2020, I think that will stall out SH and Jefferson yet again. I don't think SH/Jefferson/EH and then Eastern will see more IB participation for quite a while now, if ever. I used to believe that we were approaching a tipping point with LT becoming more IB, etc, but I think we'll move away from it again (much to my dismay).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When DCPS adequately funds its middle schools and finds a way of educating children who have experienced trauma, then things will improve. Not before.

That being said, I do think Eastern may be next to gentrify, Stuart-Hobson being well underway.

Middle schools have plenty of money.

You are right about educating children who have experienced or live in trauma. I'm not sure anyone, anywhere has figured that out though.

It is not enough money for enough staff to help with the trauma and the remediation. Kids are entering 6th grade several years below grade level, and they need a well-staffed school and a quality afterschool and summer program to catch up. That is what there is no funding for.

The key is really 0-5 and close the achievement gap before kids even enter school

Once in school social promotion should end. If kids can't read they will not be successful in higher grades

And parents will love having kids several years older in their child's classroom! FFS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More and more Elementary schools are decent

Middle school wise

Capitol Hill area more and more folks are choosing Stuart Hobson and Jefferson. They both have some type of differentiation/honors component

As far as EOTP is concerned yall need to coordinate and pick one middle school for all the higher achievers to take over and flip Cardozo, Columbia Heights, Brookland, MicKinley, or New North. The numbers area there you just need to pick one of those options and swarm it

High School works because of all the test-in select school options

Agree that SH and Jefferson are next. The normal MS options are getting harder to lottery in, & combined with the honors track, makes both more viable.

I would have agreed with this except with Latin opening a 2nd campus for fall of 2020, I think that will stall out SH and Jefferson yet again. I don't think SH/Jefferson/EH and then Eastern will see more IB participation for quite a while now, if ever. I used to believe that we were approaching a tipping point with LT becoming more IB, etc, but I think we'll move away from it again (much to my dismay).

Not if Latin locates in Ward 7 or 8, as intended and planned.

However if BASIS is approved to open an elementary, which won't draw people out of their neighborhood DCPS schools, BASIS as a middle school option will cease to exist, going from the current 120-130 5th-grade seats to about 20-25..

That would be good news for SH and Jefferson.

SH and Jefferson boosters should be loudly boosting the BASIS K-4 plan.