School Within a School

[Anonymous]

I am confused on all the comments on the test scores. I picked SWS on the lottery specifically because the test scores were high compared to most DC schools. Where is everyone on this thread getting the idea that the test scores are in fact low or mediocre? Compared to what schools? The top 10 in DC? Or compared to all 121 elementary schools in dc?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am confused on all the comments on the test scores. I picked SWS on the lottery specifically because the test scores were high compared to most DC schools. Where is everyone on this thread getting the idea that the test scores are in fact low or mediocre? Compared to what schools? The top 10 in DC? Or compared to all 121 elementary schools in dc?

You get a certain base level of test scores just from the demographics. The comparison is, same demographics across different schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am confused on all the comments on the test scores. I picked SWS on the lottery specifically because the test scores were high compared to most DC schools. Where is everyone on this thread getting the idea that the test scores are in fact low or mediocre? Compared to what schools? The top 10 in DC? Or compared to all 121 elementary schools in dc?

Don’t listen to these people PP. You are right. You should look at overall test scores.

It doesn’t matter the demographics, SES, at risk status, or race of the kids. You want the largest percentage of kids at or above grade level. The higher performing the cohort the better.

[Anonymous]

My kid went through SWS and while we loved a lot about the school, needed to supplement for spelling, grammar and white history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am confused on all the comments on the test scores. I picked SWS on the lottery specifically because the test scores were high compared to most DC schools. Where is everyone on this thread getting the idea that the test scores are in fact low or mediocre? Compared to what schools? The top 10 in DC? Or compared to all 121 elementary schools in dc?

Don’t listen to these people PP. You are right. You should look at overall test scores.

It doesn’t matter the demographics, SES, at risk status, or race of the kids. You want the largest percentage of kids at or above grade level. The higher performing the cohort the better.

We are at SWS and I agree with this. We put up with a lot of virtue signaling nonsense at SWS because the cohort of kids is relatively high performing compared to our IB option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am confused on all the comments on the test scores. I picked SWS on the lottery specifically because the test scores were high compared to most DC schools. Where is everyone on this thread getting the idea that the test scores are in fact low or mediocre? Compared to what schools? The top 10 in DC? Or compared to all 121 elementary schools in dc?

Don’t listen to these people PP. You are right. You should look at overall test scores.

It doesn’t matter the demographics, SES, at risk status, or race of the kids. You want the largest percentage of kids at or above grade level. The higher performing the cohort the better.

SWS is mostly in middle of the pack for their demographics. But, with other schools, test scores relative to the demographics matter do matter. Like, whatever Stokes is doing is much worse than a school with a higher percentage of at risk students and the same test scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is word salad so far, so I'll weigh in.

School-Within-School started within Peabody elementary, which is why it's named that. It's campus is at 10th and G NE, but it's in a swing space this year. It'll be back in the Cap Hill location next year.

It's a great school, very strong academics, great teachers, very involved parent community.

It's extremely hard to get into.

I was confused because I read “great academics” for school within a school and just now realized this is a really old thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid went through SWS and while we loved a lot about the school, needed to supplement for spelling, grammar and white history.

Yep. We loved a lot too and felt the same way. The last one I can sort if see how it happened with the city population/leanings plus getting caught up in broader trends, but I'm still scratching my head on why the first two slipped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went through SWS and while we loved a lot about the school, needed to supplement for spelling, grammar and white history.

Yep. We loved a lot too and felt the same way. The last one I can sort if see how it happened with the city population/leanings plus getting caught up in broader trends, but I'm still scratching my head on why the first two slipped.

The first two slipped because SWS stopped focusing on academics in favor of focusing on Black history for the entire school year.

It’s still worth it for the cohort though for many who have worse DCPS IB options.

[Anonymous]

School Within School is not actually inside a school (this year, anyway). And School Withour Walls does indeed have walls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went through SWS and while we loved a lot about the school, needed to supplement for spelling, grammar and white history.

Yep. We loved a lot too and felt the same way. The last one I can sort if see how it happened with the city population/leanings plus getting caught up in broader trends, but I'm still scratching my head on why the first two slipped.

The first two slipped because SWS stopped focusing on academics in favor of focusing on Black history for the entire school year.

It’s still worth it for the cohort though for many who have worse DCPS IB options.

Wow is it really that extreme? I plan to put SWS pretty high, but they definitely rubbed me the wrong way at open house with the way they talked about race and particularly splitting the kids into “affinity groups” where, as an example, the white kids are reading some book about white supremacy. My children are biracial and so it’s particularly troubling to me that they think neo-segregationist stuff in elementary school is the answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went through SWS and while we loved a lot about the school, needed to supplement for spelling, grammar and white history.

Yep. We loved a lot too and felt the same way. The last one I can sort if see how it happened with the city population/leanings plus getting caught up in broader trends, but I'm still scratching my head on why the first two slipped.

The first two slipped because SWS stopped focusing on academics in favor of focusing on Black history for the entire school year.

It’s still worth it for the cohort though for many who have worse DCPS IB options.

Wow is it really that extreme? I plan to put SWS pretty high, but they definitely rubbed me the wrong way at open house with the way they talked about race and particularly splitting the kids into “affinity groups” where, as an example, the white kids are reading some book about white supremacy. My children are biracial and so it’s particularly troubling to me that they think neo-segregationist stuff in elementary school is the answer.

Current SWS family here, we haven't heard anything about splitting kids into affinity groups for reading assignments. There are affinity groups for the parents/caregivers, but participation is voluntary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went through SWS and while we loved a lot about the school, needed to supplement for spelling, grammar and white history.

Yep. We loved a lot too and felt the same way. The last one I can sort if see how it happened with the city population/leanings plus getting caught up in broader trends, but I'm still scratching my head on why the first two slipped.

The first two slipped because SWS stopped focusing on academics in favor of focusing on Black history for the entire school year.

It’s still worth it for the cohort though for many who have worse DCPS IB options.

Wow is it really that extreme? I plan to put SWS pretty high, but they definitely rubbed me the wrong way at open house with the way they talked about race and particularly splitting the kids into “affinity groups” where, as an example, the white kids are reading some book about white supremacy. My children are biracial and so it’s particularly troubling to me that they think neo-segregationist stuff in elementary school is the answer.

Current SWS family here, we haven't heard anything about splitting kids into affinity groups for reading assignments. There are affinity groups for the parents/caregivers, but participation is voluntary.

That’s good to know. The principal said that at one of the open houses earlier this month. I think he said “10 sessions” like this happen either every year or every semester (I can’t remember). Maybe it’s more limited or voluntary or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went through SWS and while we loved a lot about the school, needed to supplement for spelling, grammar and white history.

Yep. We loved a lot too and felt the same way. The last one I can sort if see how it happened with the city population/leanings plus getting caught up in broader trends, but I'm still scratching my head on why the first two slipped.

The first two slipped because SWS stopped focusing on academics in favor of focusing on Black history for the entire school year.

It’s still worth it for the cohort though for many who have worse DCPS IB options.

Wow is it really that extreme? I plan to put SWS pretty high, but they definitely rubbed me the wrong way at open house with the way they talked about race and particularly splitting the kids into “affinity groups” where, as an example, the white kids are reading some book about white supremacy. My children are biracial and so it’s particularly troubling to me that they think neo-segregationist stuff in elementary school is the answer.

Current SWS family here, we haven't heard anything about splitting kids into affinity groups for reading assignments. There are affinity groups for the parents/caregivers, but participation is voluntary.

Another current family. There is a large emphasis on Black Joy but it's not that extreme. Kids are not put into affinity groups. As PP noted, there are parent affinity groups that are voluntary. I've never attended one so no idea what the participation is like. I get the sense they aren't widely attended but I really don't know. I've never felt forced to participate or ostracized for not participating.

I'll add - SWS has a great community. The teachers, faculty, staff, and parents are wonderful. No school is perfect and that includes SWS. Overall, we've been very happy with the school and have no regrets sending our kids there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went through SWS and while we loved a lot about the school, needed to supplement for spelling, grammar and white history.

Yep. We loved a lot too and felt the same way. The last one I can sort if see how it happened with the city population/leanings plus getting caught up in broader trends, but I'm still scratching my head on why the first two slipped.

The first two slipped because SWS stopped focusing on academics in favor of focusing on Black history for the entire school year.

It’s still worth it for the cohort though for many who have worse DCPS IB options.

Wow is it really that extreme? I plan to put SWS pretty high, but they definitely rubbed me the wrong way at open house with the way they talked about race and particularly splitting the kids into “affinity groups” where, as an example, the white kids are reading some book about white supremacy. My children are biracial and so it’s particularly troubling to me that they think neo-segregationist stuff in elementary school is the answer.

Current SWS family here, we haven't heard anything about splitting kids into affinity groups for reading assignments. There are affinity groups for the parents/caregivers, but participation is voluntary.

Another current family. There is a large emphasis on Black Joy but it's not that extreme. Kids are not put into affinity groups. As PP noted, there are parent affinity groups that are voluntary. I've never attended one so no idea what the participation is like. I get the sense they aren't widely attended but I really don't know. I've never felt forced to participate or ostracized for not participating.

I'll add - SWS has a great community. The teachers, faculty, staff, and parents are wonderful. No school is perfect and that includes SWS. Overall, we've been very happy with the school and have no regrets sending our kids there.

I think the focus on Black Joy actually is pretty extreme. My children have never learned any non-Black history or about any non-Black artists, for instance. I actually have felt somewhat ostracized when I have expressed mild skepticism about the level of focus, affinity groups and other subjects; the feeling was not so much related to some of the topics being race related , but rather feeling like I was being chastised for questioning anything about SWS' ethos/approach. (I haven't heard anything about students being split up by race though.)