New DCPS school on former Georgetown Day site will be a high school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are they putting a school in this area? The population does not justify it. The area around there is just parkland, big institutions, federal land, etc. That section of DC is classified as rural on maps. On top of that the traffic is bad. So it will be very hard for teachers and students.

Duke Ellington is already in the area and their athletic field is only used by dogs walkers. Seems like another build it and no one will use it.

Maps from the early 1900s?

DC needs another HS somewhere west of RCP. There is no more land to buy, so DC has to take whatever it can get. The school age population is absolutely on the verge of exploding, demographic projections for the latter half of this decade in Ward 3 and western part of Ward 2 are absolutely insane.

When we moved to Burleith five years ago, we were one of the few couples under the age of 35 in the neighborhood who were not associated with the university. There's been a crazy surge of young families with babies here in the last two years, pandemic be damned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I, for one, am a parent at one of the presumed feeder elementary schools and am excited about the possibility of getting involved and helping to build a new high school. And advocating for the investments in transportation that are clearly needed to make this work in a remotely equitable way. Lots of potential here for DC kids to have better experiences than if 2500 kids were all crammed into Wilson.

I know! I'm also hopeful yet again that the conversation about Glen Echo Trolley Trail project (to add a bicycle trail into Georgetown) will be restarted. I was so bummed when they cancelled the project a couple of years ago. That could absolutely cover the commute question for the Hardy students zoned for Hyde-Addison.

A protected bike lane would be amazing, north of M street, if not fully protected I would not let my kids ride to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any idea which of the current Hardy classes will be the first at this high school? Current 6th graders or 7th graders? The GDS space is not particularly well-suited for a 1000 student high school. Depending on the extent of the needed improvements, this might take a while.

When they discussed this initially they thought one year. But if they need $45 million in improvements wonder if that is feasible, unless the plans are ready to go now.

It's going to be at least another two years. Minimum. $45m is a big budget - very likely this means new construction plus renovations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they putting a school in this area? The population does not justify it. The area around there is just parkland, big institutions, federal land, etc. That section of DC is classified as rural on maps. On top of that the traffic is bad. So it will be very hard for teachers and students.

Duke Ellington is already in the area and their athletic field is only used by dogs walkers. Seems like another build it and no one will use it.

Maps from the early 1900s?

DC needs another HS somewhere west of RCP. There is no more land to buy, so DC has to take whatever it can get. The school age population is absolutely on the verge of exploding, demographic projections for the latter half of this decade in Ward 3 and western part of Ward 2 are absolutely insane.

When we moved to Burleith five years ago, we were one of the few couples under the age of 35 in the neighborhood who were not associated with the university. There's been a crazy surge of young families with babies here in the last two years, pandemic be damned.

Why not lean into redistricting then? A number of high schools are under-enrolled. Lafayette and Shepherd to Coolidge, Oyster and Bancroft to Macfarland/CHEC, etc. Send some kids to Cardozo.
I know this will never happen but it’s frustrating to watch the mayor earmark money to build classrooms that already exist in other parts of NW. Especially in such a remote, inaccessible part of the city.

[Anonymous]

So basically they are solving the 'by right' dc high school challenge by building a high ses school and having some opportunity for low ses to attend, and by default doing that at Wilson too. Its solving the wrong problems. And it's terrible to put a high school in such an inaccessible location. What happened to equity? This is akin to people sleeping out to get a spot at a charter school. You shouldn't be allowed to make something open for all and then build in barriers to make it not open for all.

The cynic in me says that this isn't so much about "having some opportunity for low SES to attend" as much as it is about creating another OOB lottery opportunity for higher income/higher educated households east of Rock Creek park. Back in the 1980s-1990s, when it was still possible to send 2 kids to Sidwell on a two fed salary, the residents of upper NW opted for privates instead of Wilson, leaving Wilson and Deal to be the OOB schools of choice for middle class families EOTP who wanted to escape their failing neighborhood schools. Over 30 years, the IB populations at the upper NW schools has ramped back up: first Deal, then Wilson, then Hardy. But there is still a desire to have an OOB safety valve for middle/higher income families east of the park, because there is not enough of a critical mass of them zoned for any particular middle/high school pyramid to cause the school to care about their concerns. The percentage of kids who attend DCPS MS and HS EOTP are disproportionately at-risk compared to the overall at-risk % of children in the city overall. That means that there is a middle class EOTP "drain" from DCPS MS and HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any idea which of the current Hardy classes will be the first at this high school? Current 6th graders or 7th graders? The GDS space is not particularly well-suited for a 1000 student high school. Depending on the extent of the needed improvements, this might take a while.

I bet today’s 4th graders would be the first ones with a full Hardy to new school feed. With a $45m budget sounds like a typical full 2 year school reno project. So today’s 6th graders would be rising 9th graders when it opened and would likely be given a dual feed grandfathering option probably along with the then rising 8th graders (today’s 5th graders). A dual feed for 2 years like they did with Eaton to Hardy/deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So basically they are solving the 'by right' dc high school challenge by building a high ses school and having some opportunity for low ses to attend, and by default doing that at Wilson too. Its solving the wrong problems. And it's terrible to put a high school in such an inaccessible location. What happened to equity? This is akin to people sleeping out to get a spot at a charter school. You shouldn't be allowed to make something open for all and then build in barriers to make it not open for all.

The cynic in me says that this isn't so much about "having some opportunity for low SES to attend" as much as it is about creating another OOB lottery opportunity for higher income/higher educated households east of Rock Creek park. Back in the 1980s-1990s, when it was still possible to send 2 kids to Sidwell on a two fed salary, the residents of upper NW opted for privates instead of Wilson, leaving Wilson and Deal to be the OOB schools of choice for middle class families EOTP who wanted to escape their failing neighborhood schools. Over 30 years, the IB populations at the upper NW schools has ramped back up: first Deal, then Wilson, then Hardy. But there is still a desire to have an OOB safety valve for middle/higher income families east of the park, because there is not enough of a critical mass of them zoned for any particular middle/high school pyramid to cause the school to care about their concerns. The percentage of kids who attend DCPS MS and HS EOTP are disproportionately at-risk compared to the overall at-risk % of children in the city overall. That means that there is a middle class EOTP "drain" from DCPS MS and HS.

Thanks for this smart, fair-minded, accurate and succinct but thorough analysis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So basically they are solving the 'by right' dc high school challenge by building a high ses school and having some opportunity for low ses to attend, and by default doing that at Wilson too. Its solving the wrong problems. And it's terrible to put a high school in such an inaccessible location. What happened to equity? This is akin to people sleeping out to get a spot at a charter school. You shouldn't be allowed to make something open for all and then build in barriers to make it not open for all.

The cynic in me says that this isn't so much about "having some opportunity for low SES to attend" as much as it is about creating another OOB lottery opportunity for higher income/higher educated households east of Rock Creek park. Back in the 1980s-1990s, when it was still possible to send 2 kids to Sidwell on a two fed salary, the residents of upper NW opted for privates instead of Wilson, leaving Wilson and Deal to be the OOB schools of choice for middle class families EOTP who wanted to escape their failing neighborhood schools. Over 30 years, the IB populations at the upper NW schools has ramped back up: first Deal, then Wilson, then Hardy. But there is still a desire to have an OOB safety valve for middle/higher income families east of the park, because there is not enough of a critical mass of them zoned for any particular middle/high school pyramid to cause the school to care about their concerns. The percentage of kids who attend DCPS MS and HS EOTP are disproportionately at-risk compared to the overall at-risk % of children in the city overall. That means that there is a middle class EOTP "drain" from DCPS MS and HS.

Thanks for this smart, fair-minded, accurate and succinct but thorough analysis.

Agreed that this is huge for UMC EOTP families because it will provide them a DCPS option other than Walls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they putting a school in this area? The population does not justify it. The area around there is just parkland, big institutions, federal land, etc. That section of DC is classified as rural on maps. On top of that the traffic is bad. So it will be very hard for teachers and students.

Duke Ellington is already in the area and their athletic field is only used by dogs walkers. Seems like another build it and no one will use it.

Maps from the early 1900s?

DC needs another HS somewhere west of RCP. There is no more land to buy, so DC has to take whatever it can get. The school age population is absolutely on the verge of exploding, demographic projections for the latter half of this decade in Ward 3 and western part of Ward 2 are absolutely insane.

When we moved to Burleith five years ago, we were one of the few couples under the age of 35 in the neighborhood who were not associated with the university. There's been a crazy surge of young families with babies here in the last two years, pandemic be damned.

Why not lean into redistricting then? A number of high schools are under-enrolled. Lafayette and Shepherd to Coolidge, Oyster and Bancroft to Macfarland/CHEC, etc. Send some kids to Cardozo.
I know this will never happen but it’s frustrating to watch the mayor earmark money to build classrooms that already exist in other parts of NW. Especially in such a remote, inaccessible part of the city.

Good lord, stop calling it remote! Lots of people, with kids in DCPS no less, live here and would love this option! Our elementary schools, every single one, is bursting at the seams. I would just drive my kids to school like I have every day for 5 years, or make them ride their bike or take what I'm sure will be upped bus service. THIS high school is convenient for THESE neighborhoods, regardless of whether or not you have ever ventured out into the hinterlands...And I promise you, there won't be any problems filling seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So basically they are solving the 'by right' dc high school challenge by building a high ses school and having some opportunity for low ses to attend, and by default doing that at Wilson too. Its solving the wrong problems. And it's terrible to put a high school in such an inaccessible location. What happened to equity? This is akin to people sleeping out to get a spot at a charter school. You shouldn't be allowed to make something open for all and then build in barriers to make it not open for all.

The cynic in me says that this isn't so much about "having some opportunity for low SES to attend" as much as it is about creating another OOB lottery opportunity for higher income/higher educated households east of Rock Creek park. Back in the 1980s-1990s, when it was still possible to send 2 kids to Sidwell on a two fed salary, the residents of upper NW opted for privates instead of Wilson, leaving Wilson and Deal to be the OOB schools of choice for middle class families EOTP who wanted to escape their failing neighborhood schools. Over 30 years, the IB populations at the upper NW schools has ramped back up: first Deal, then Wilson, then Hardy. But there is still a desire to have an OOB safety valve for middle/higher income families east of the park, because there is not enough of a critical mass of them zoned for any particular middle/high school pyramid to cause the school to care about their concerns. The percentage of kids who attend DCPS MS and HS EOTP are disproportionately at-risk compared to the overall at-risk % of children in the city overall. That means that there is a middle class EOTP "drain" from DCPS MS and HS.

Yup - Shepherd and Lafayette would encourage buy-in to Coolidge by the hordes of young families in Brightwood/Takoma. Win-win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they putting a school in this area? The population does not justify it. The area around there is just parkland, big institutions, federal land, etc. That section of DC is classified as rural on maps. On top of that the traffic is bad. So it will be very hard for teachers and students.

Duke Ellington is already in the area and their athletic field is only used by dogs walkers. Seems like another build it and no one will use it.

Maps from the early 1900s?

DC needs another HS somewhere west of RCP. There is no more land to buy, so DC has to take whatever it can get. The school age population is absolutely on the verge of exploding, demographic projections for the latter half of this decade in Ward 3 and western part of Ward 2 are absolutely insane.

When we moved to Burleith five years ago, we were one of the few couples under the age of 35 in the neighborhood who were not associated with the university. There's been a crazy surge of young families with babies here in the last two years, pandemic be damned.

Why not lean into redistricting then? A number of high schools are under-enrolled. Lafayette and Shepherd to Coolidge, Oyster and Bancroft to Macfarland/CHEC, etc. Send some kids to Cardozo.
I know this will never happen but it’s frustrating to watch the mayor earmark money to build classrooms that already exist in other parts of NW. Especially in such a remote, inaccessible part of the city.

Good lord, stop calling it remote! Lots of people, with kids in DCPS no less, live here and would love this option! Our elementary schools, every single one, is bursting at the seams. I would just drive my kids to school like I have every day for 5 years, or make them ride their bike or take what I'm sure will be upped bus service. THIS high school is convenient for THESE neighborhoods, regardless of whether or not you have ever ventured out into the hinterlands...And I promise you, there won't be any problems filling seats.

I agree. I think parents will flock to send their kids here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Thanks for this smart, fair-minded, accurate and succinct but thorough analysis.


Agreed that this is huge for UMC EOTP families because it will provide them a DCPS option other than Walls.

Understand that this is likely much less about UMC DCUM (and often but not always predominantly white) EOTP gentrifiers than it is about the multi-generational DC AA political class (a portion of which is UMC but more of which is true "middle" class) who used to have all of the WOTP public schools as their safety valve. Remember how Adrian Fenty got his kids into Lafayette OOB way back when . . . . When my kids were at a WOTP DCPS with a fairly high OOB population 12 years ago, there were a significant number of DC politico kids at the school whose families were very politically active in wards/neighborhoods east of the park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So basically they are solving the 'by right' dc high school challenge by building a high ses school and having some opportunity for low ses to attend, and by default doing that at Wilson too. Its solving the wrong problems. And it's terrible to put a high school in such an inaccessible location. What happened to equity? This is akin to people sleeping out to get a spot at a charter school. You shouldn't be allowed to make something open for all and then build in barriers to make it not open for all.

The cynic in me says that this isn't so much about "having some opportunity for low SES to attend" as much as it is about creating another OOB lottery opportunity for higher income/higher educated households east of Rock Creek park. Back in the 1980s-1990s, when it was still possible to send 2 kids to Sidwell on a two fed salary, the residents of upper NW opted for privates instead of Wilson, leaving Wilson and Deal to be the OOB schools of choice for middle class families EOTP who wanted to escape their failing neighborhood schools. Over 30 years, the IB populations at the upper NW schools has ramped back up: first Deal, then Wilson, then Hardy. But there is still a desire to have an OOB safety valve for middle/higher income families east of the park, because there is not enough of a critical mass of them zoned for any particular middle/high school pyramid to cause the school to care about their concerns. The percentage of kids who attend DCPS MS and HS EOTP are disproportionately at-risk compared to the overall at-risk % of children in the city overall. That means that there is a middle class EOTP "drain" from DCPS MS and HS.

Yup - Shepherd and Lafayette would encourage buy-in to Coolidge by the hordes of young families in Brightwood/Takoma. Win-win.

there's two reasons why this won't happen: There is no political will to move Shepherd and Lafayette to Coolidge -- any politician who advocates and depends on those parents for votes for this would be writing their own electoral death sentence -- and Coolidge is not big enough to take in those school populations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So basically they are solving the 'by right' dc high school challenge by building a high ses school and having some opportunity for low ses to attend, and by default doing that at Wilson too. Its solving the wrong problems. And it's terrible to put a high school in such an inaccessible location. What happened to equity? This is akin to people sleeping out to get a spot at a charter school. You shouldn't be allowed to make something open for all and then build in barriers to make it not open for all.

The cynic in me says that this isn't so much about "having some opportunity for low SES to attend" as much as it is about creating another OOB lottery opportunity for higher income/higher educated households east of Rock Creek park. Back in the 1980s-1990s, when it was still possible to send 2 kids to Sidwell on a two fed salary, the residents of upper NW opted for privates instead of Wilson, leaving Wilson and Deal to be the OOB schools of choice for middle class families EOTP who wanted to escape their failing neighborhood schools. Over 30 years, the IB populations at the upper NW schools has ramped back up: first Deal, then Wilson, then Hardy. But there is still a desire to have an OOB safety valve for middle/higher income families east of the park, because there is not enough of a critical mass of them zoned for any particular middle/high school pyramid to cause the school to care about their concerns. The percentage of kids who attend DCPS MS and HS EOTP are disproportionately at-risk compared to the overall at-risk % of children in the city overall. That means that there is a middle class EOTP "drain" from DCPS MS and HS.

Yup - Shepherd and Lafayette would encourage buy-in to Coolidge by the hordes of young families in Brightwood/Takoma. Win-win.

there's two reasons why this won't happen: There is no political will to move Shepherd and Lafayette to Coolidge -- any politician who advocates and depends on those parents for votes for this would be writing their own electoral death sentence -- and Coolidge is not big enough to take in those school populations.

And Wells is also already full.

[Anonymous]

I'm guessing that they size the school based on current projections for Hardy, so it is roughly 50/50 IB/lottery. But then if the IB population increases the lottery seats decrease.