how can I learn about Wilson

[Anonymous]

We are considering moving to be in-bounds for Deal/Wilson. We went to the principal's coffee/tour at Deal but were told that Wilson doesn't do open houses and won't do a principal's coffee for prospective families. I've seen some chatter here about the same. I'm confused, doesn't DC allow school choice and therefore shouldn't parents be able to learn about the schools before lottery time? I get that only inbound kids are getting in, but some kids may be deciding whether to apply to other high schools, how can they learn about Wilson without the chance to go on a tour or hear from the principal? Any advice?

[Anonymous]

Go to a Wilson PTSO meeting. attend a school athletic event or performance. Talk to those families.

Wilson has zero need to allow tours which are disruptive. If one more family doesn’t enroll then that’s one less student in an overcrowded building.

I do think there are events for 8th graders at Deal and Hardy when they talk about the school. P

[Anonymous]

Your better bet is just to move out of the city. Or just use the money you otherwise would spend moving WOTP to go charter or private.

[Anonymous]

You seem high maintenance. You're the quintessential Wilson family!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your better bet is just to move out of the city. Or just use the money you otherwise would spend moving WOTP to go charter or private.

Clearly a snobby private school person. Ignore.

[Anonymous]

I heard there might be an open house in Feb.

[Anonymous]

Dec 12
Parent Coffee sponsored by PTSO
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
College and Career Center

Also there is a concert on Dec 12 and several other events in the few weeks. Not the same as a tour but can be a helpful way to learn about the school community. Talk to other parents and students who are there. Check the Wilson website.

https://www.wilsonhs.org/

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately you missed this last week.


"PARENT TO PARENT" at WILSON HS
The Wilson PTSO is sponsoring a "Parent to Parent" presentation for parents/caretakers of rising 8th Graders who are interested in Wilson HS for next year. Join us December 5th at 6:30 pm in the Wilson auditorium to hear about the various student opportunities at Wilson and to get answers to your questions about Wilson. **Note, this is different from the event that will be put on by Wilson HS administrators later in the school year, and is being organized by the PTSO in response to interest from the community about learning more about the school now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately you missed this last week.


"PARENT TO PARENT" at WILSON HS
The Wilson PTSO is sponsoring a "Parent to Parent" presentation for parents/caretakers of rising 8th Graders who are interested in Wilson HS for next year. Join us December 5th at 6:30 pm in the Wilson auditorium to hear about the various student opportunities at Wilson and to get answers to your questions about Wilson. **Note, this is different from the event that will be put on by Wilson HS administrators later in the school year, and is being organized by the PTSO in response to interest from the community about learning more about the school now.

I attended, and it was helpful. I’d recommend getting in touch with the PTSO and asking if they plan to schedule another.

[Anonymous]

Is this the Wilson’s principal’s way of trying to subtly discourage white families who are on the fence from enrolling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this the Wilson’s principal’s way of trying to subtly discourage white families who are on the fence from enrolling?

By having events welcoming prospective parents? What’s your agenda, PP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this the Wilson’s principal’s way of trying to subtly discourage white families who are on the fence from enrolling?

It’s obvious yes it is. That is why the PTO has to step up. It’s ridiculous it has come to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this the Wilson’s principal’s way of trying to subtly discourage white families who are on the fence from enrolling?

By having events welcoming prospective parents? What’s your agenda, PP?

Oh come on. The principal and school are not doing anything. Who has heard of a PTO doing an open house? How is that effective vs a real open house or meeting to see what the principal and leadership goals, vision for the school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this the Wilson’s principal’s way of trying to subtly discourage white families who are on the fence from enrolling?

It’s obvious yes it is. That is why the PTO has to step up. It’s ridiculous it has come to this.

PPs' slimy race baiting aside, it's pretty understandable that the principal of a school that's bursting at the seams doesn't have events to try to recruit even more students. Having more kids decide to attend the school -- particularly kids who might chose instead to attend an application school or private -- doesn't particularly help the school accomplish it's mission as a comprehensive public high school.

On another note, the school pretty routinely fails at fairly basic administrative stuff. Most people know that scheduling classes is an annual disaster, but even easier stuff is hard. The summer before DS was going into freshman year, I had some pretty basic questions about credits from middle school and about athletic forms. I asked 10 different people at various times in the office (DS was doing sports at the school over the summer so I was there daily), and I got 5 "I don't know" answers and 5 totally wrong answers. I left voicemails for the people that I was told could answer my questions and also sent emails, and I never got any response whatsoever.

I'm not sure to what extent this is incompetence and to what extent staff are overwhelmed dealing with much more pressing needs than my wealthy upper NW kid's issues, but I do think that some people at the school see parents like me as a PITA. This is probably partially because so many parents (particularly parents of incoming freshmen) come into the office ready to be angry and they get pretty hostile almost immediately. I understand this to some extent -- it's frustrating to be told "I don't know" by an adult working in the office when asking a basic question, but from experience I can tell new parents that positivity and patience work much better.

On a positive note, many things are getting better. At least I no longer get texts telling me my kid is truant when he's sitting in history class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this the Wilson’s principal’s way of trying to subtly discourage white families who are on the fence from enrolling?

It’s obvious yes it is. That is why the PTO has to step up. It’s ridiculous it has come to this.

PPs' slimy race baiting aside, it's pretty understandable that the principal of a school that's bursting at the seams doesn't have events to try to recruit even more students. Having more kids decide to attend the school -- particularly kids who might chose instead to attend an application school or private -- doesn't particularly help the school accomplish it's mission as a comprehensive public high school.

On another note, the school pretty routinely fails at fairly basic administrative stuff. Most people know that scheduling classes is an annual disaster, but even easier stuff is hard. The summer before DS was going into freshman year, I had some pretty basic questions about credits from middle school and about athletic forms. I asked 10 different people at various times in the office (DS was doing sports at the school over the summer so I was there daily), and I got 5 "I don't know" answers and 5 totally wrong answers. I left voicemails for the people that I was told could answer my questions and also sent emails, and I never got any response whatsoever.

I'm not sure to what extent this is incompetence and to what extent staff are overwhelmed dealing with much more pressing needs than my wealthy upper NW kid's issues, but I do think that some people at the school see parents like me as a PITA. This is probably partially because so many parents (particularly parents of incoming freshmen) come into the office ready to be angry and they get pretty hostile almost immediately. I understand this to some extent -- it's frustrating to be told "I don't know" by an adult working in the office when asking a basic question, but from experience I can tell new parents that positivity and patience work much better.

On a positive note, many things are getting better. At least I no longer get texts telling me my kid is truant when he's sitting in history class.

I don’t agree with you. Trying to push wealthy white parents into private by refusing to share info about the school is not a smart strategy. DCPS needs all the high income parents it can get. DC families of all kinds should be encouraged to join their public school even if it is overcrowded. Over time, that is the only way positive change will come. DC needs to redraw the Wilson boundaries to limit enrollment. Having a rogue principal refuse to allow open houses or shadow days is an inefficient, ineffective and unfeeling way of reducing the student population