New school(s) in Ward 3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the idea of a separate 9th grade academy. My kid is in 8th grade so won’t be affected by this but what about kids in 9th grade who want to take more advanced options in math or language or who want to take an AP class? They will be out of luck. Also, it will make it more difficult for them to join some clubs and teams at the regular HS

They would have to offer advanced math options at a 9th grade school, as Deal alone has 4 levels of math by 8th grade. But, other than that, there are very few "advanced" classes that 9th graders at Wilson can take and definitely no AP classes. The school would have to figure out how to offer a set of electives and all of the languages for one grade but most of the curriculum is set. And there is real benefit to alleviating the overcrowding at Wilson...

How will they offer the engineering or Biomed or CS electives? Those teachers teach multiple grade levels. Will the teachers be rushing back and forth between schools. How will 9th graders join the robotics club? I agree that a separate 9th grade academy makes no sense. It will limit options for the 9th graders.

[Anonymous]

If they want a second high school they should build a proper second high school. Otherwise they should adjust boundaries.

A tiny high school or a 9th grade school are both non-sensical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they want a second high school they should build a proper second high school. Otherwise they should adjust boundaries.

A tiny high school or a 9th grade school are both non-sensical.

The problem is, where? The GDS site fell into DCPS' lap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the idea of a separate 9th grade academy. My kid is in 8th grade so won’t be affected by this but what about kids in 9th grade who want to take more advanced options in math or language or who want to take an AP class? They will be out of luck. Also, it will make it more difficult for them to join some clubs and teams at the regular HS

I'm opposed to it too. Too many transitions to new schools:

5th grade elementary
6-8 MS
9 - 9th grade center
10-12 HS

That's 4 schools in 6 years.

If they do Foxhall as a 3-5 there could be a transition at 2nd-3rd grade as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they want a second high school they should build a proper second high school. Otherwise they should adjust boundaries.

A tiny high school or a 9th grade school are both non-sensical.

The problem is, where? The GDS site fell into DCPS' lap.

Also, it is not clear that there is capital budget for renovations. The GDS site is adequate for about 700 K-8 students. It may not be large enough for 500+ high schoolers. There is no cafeteria either. So I don't see the logic of converting the GDS site into a high school, nor that of a 9th grade academy at Hardy. But then again, logic is not the strongest suit for DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they want a second high school they should build a proper second high school. Otherwise they should adjust boundaries.

A tiny high school or a 9th grade school are both non-sensical.

The problem is, where? The GDS site fell into DCPS' lap.

Also, it is not clear that there is capital budget for renovations. The GDS site is adequate for about 700 K-8 students. It may not be large enough for 500+ high schoolers. There is no cafeteria either. So I don't see the logic of converting the GDS site into a high school, nor that of a 9th grade academy at Hardy. But then again, logic is not the strongest suit for DCPS.

I think we're all assuming there will be digging and construction involved no matter what the decision is. It would be a waste of valuable real estate not to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're going to have to burn a large percentage of legal hornbooks that use the term "grandfathering" in the law schools. The term itself is not racist.

The term is the definition of systemic racism -- you get access to your own civil rights based on the status of someone two generations before you.

If grandfathering had been applied literally, then any Black man who had a white grandfather who had voted before 1865 would've had full voting rights between 1890 and 1915 when grandfathering was declared unconstitutional. (Side note: genetic studies show a third of Black American men today have a white male relative.)

Ironically, grandfathering supposedly ended during the presidency of avowed racist Woodrow Wilson whose namesake school in the richest, whitest part of DC is at issue here.

The end of grandfathering disenfranchised some poor white voters. So states used other means of Black voter intimidation and suppression to achieve the same ends as grandfathering.

Despite the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which helped Blacks and poor whites, here we are in 2021 with states again trying to erode voting rights and Wilson's name on a school he would've hated.

No matter how benignly the term is used to justify access to Wilson feeders, grandfathering is inextricably linked to a lack of full voting rights for Black people that persists today.

You can't talk about DC statehood without the history of Black voter suppression including grandfathering.

But go ahead and keep using a term that "is not racist."

I don't have a better alternative than legacy at the moment. But someone more skilled in law than me could explore the use of "sunset provision" -- implying a fixed time -- over grandfathering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're going to have to burn a large percentage of legal hornbooks that use the term "grandfathering" in the law schools. The term itself is not racist.

The term is the definition of systemic racism -- you get access to your own civil rights based on the status of someone two generations before you.

If grandfathering had been applied literally, then any Black man who had a white grandfather who had voted before 1865 would've had full voting rights between 1890 and 1915 when grandfathering was declared unconstitutional. (Side note: genetic studies show a third of Black American men today have a white male relative.)

Ironically, grandfathering supposedly ended during the presidency of avowed racist Woodrow Wilson whose namesake school in the richest, whitest part of DC is at issue here.

The end of grandfathering disenfranchised some poor white voters. So states used other means of Black voter intimidation and suppression to achieve the same ends as grandfathering.

Despite the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which helped Blacks and poor whites, here we are in 2021 with states again trying to erode voting rights and Wilson's name on a school he would've hated.

No matter how benignly the term is used to justify access to Wilson feeders, grandfathering is inextricably linked to a lack of full voting rights for Black people that persists today.

You can't talk about DC statehood without the history of Black voter suppression including grandfathering.

But go ahead and keep using a term that "is not racist."

I don't have a better alternative than legacy at the moment. But someone more skilled in law than me could explore the use of "sunset provision" -- implying a fixed time -- over grandfathering.

While someone is working on finding a better term could we also please keep the updates coming on the new schools topic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're going to have to burn a large percentage of legal hornbooks that use the term "grandfathering" in the law schools. The term itself is not racist.

The term is the definition of systemic racism -- you get access to your own civil rights based on the status of someone two generations before you.

If grandfathering had been applied literally, then any Black man who had a white grandfather who had voted before 1865 would've had full voting rights between 1890 and 1915 when grandfathering was declared unconstitutional. (Side note: genetic studies show a third of Black American men today have a white male relative.)

Ironically, grandfathering supposedly ended during the presidency of avowed racist Woodrow Wilson whose namesake school in the richest, whitest part of DC is at issue here.

The end of grandfathering disenfranchised some poor white voters. So states used other means of Black voter intimidation and suppression to achieve the same ends as grandfathering.

Despite the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which helped Blacks and poor whites, here we are in 2021 with states again trying to erode voting rights and Wilson's name on a school he would've hated.

No matter how benignly the term is used to justify access to Wilson feeders, grandfathering is inextricably linked to a lack of full voting rights for Black people that persists today.

You can't talk about DC statehood without the history of Black voter suppression including grandfathering.

But go ahead and keep using a term that "is not racist."

I don't have a better alternative than legacy at the moment. But someone more skilled in law than me could explore the use of "sunset provision" -- implying a fixed time -- over grandfathering.

Someone please tell DCPS - b/c it is in their documents
"...Note: Feeder patterns are subject to evolve as new student assignment phase-in policies and grandfathering clauses take effect."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're going to have to burn a large percentage of legal hornbooks that use the term "grandfathering" in the law schools. The term itself is not racist.

The term is the definition of systemic racism -- you get access to your own civil rights based on the status of someone two generations before you.

If grandfathering had been applied literally, then any Black man who had a white grandfather who had voted before 1865 would've had full voting rights between 1890 and 1915 when grandfathering was declared unconstitutional. (Side note: genetic studies show a third of Black American men today have a white male relative.)

Ironically, grandfathering supposedly ended during the presidency of avowed racist Woodrow Wilson whose namesake school in the richest, whitest part of DC is at issue here.

The end of grandfathering disenfranchised some poor white voters. So states used other means of Black voter intimidation and suppression to achieve the same ends as grandfathering.

Despite the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which helped Blacks and poor whites, here we are in 2021 with states again trying to erode voting rights and Wilson's name on a school he would've hated.

No matter how benignly the term is used to justify access to Wilson feeders, grandfathering is inextricably linked to a lack of full voting rights for Black people that persists today.

You can't talk about DC statehood without the history of Black voter suppression including grandfathering.

But go ahead and keep using a term that "is not racist."

I don't have a better alternative than legacy at the moment. But someone more skilled in law than me could explore the use of "sunset provision" -- implying a fixed time -- over grandfathering.

Someone please tell DCPS - b/c it is in their documents
"...Note: Feeder patterns are subject to evolve as new student assignment phase-in policies and grandfathering clauses take effect."

+1 their PowerPoints also use terms like “whitening” which I find offensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Decision will be in May. GDS will reopen fall of 2022 and Foxhall will open Fall of 2024."

Thanks for this 21:34. Need to ripoff the bandaid and move forward. There is no perfect solution.

I agree with PP who said DCPS will have to address fallout from the equity issue.

Bottom line, Ward 3/Wilson Feeders have succeeded in our campaign of Opportunity Hoarding. We already had the highest performing schools with the lowest levels of poverty, violence and people of color. In a few years we'll STILL have the best schools, but with smaller classes, nicer art rooms, and a few more "at risk" Black & Brown OOB kids who won't feel stigmatized at all.

I include myself among the hoarders. With 2 kids in Wilson feeder and no luck with charter lotteries, I've been concerned with Wilson becoming unmanageable and overcrowded.

But the exacerbation of racial and social inequeties of the pandemic era is more troubling to me than which of the private colleges we can afford that my kids will attend.

We're fine financially. Our kids will be fine. The Wilson feeders will be fine.

But most of the kids now in public and charters will not be fine for a long time.

I don't know how to fix this. I feel guilty about my privilege and I'm trying to donate to and to volunteer with efforts east of Connecticut Ave. Mostly to make me feel like I'm not a hypocrite for having a #BlackLivesMatter window sign while demanding better school buildings for white kids.

As very small, very personal step, I've stopped getting involved with advocating for our schools and giving money to our PTA for the "extras" and appreciation of teachers with 6 figure salaries. The teachers will be fine.

I'm sure folks will slam me for choosing to no longer bei "involved" in pushing the interests my own kids' schools.

But that's OK. We'll be fine.

The issue of inequity is a serious one but this approach is ultimately a disservice to the school system and let’s DCPS off the hook for implementing all sorts of bad policies in the name of “equity.” DCPS should have more of a mindset of excellence. We need to raise everyone up — not tear down the schools that are working well in the name of equity. As a child of immigrants not born to “privilege,” I find the white privilege/guilt tendency to be generally unproductive.

[Anonymous]

DCPS could use the Whittle Space for a real high school (that private school won’t last another year). Right on public transit and more central. Could have STEM focus.

Mini high school in out of way neighborhood seems to help no one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS could use the Whittle Space for a real high school (that private school won’t last another year). Right on public transit and more central. Could have STEM focus.

Mini high school in out of way neighborhood seems to help no one.

The new high school would have the benefit of poaching some of Wilson's boundaries, which would reduce Wilson's overcrowding by quite a bit -- AND have the benefit of allowing more space for students east of the park. Ultimately, DCPS's main interest with Wilson has always been preserving access for students who don't live around Tenleytown, so building a new high school would meet that interest. Similarly, a new high school in Ward 2 with boundaries stretching to The Wharf would help bring in students who would satisfy the "diversity" checkbox at the new school. In sum, the new school would satisfy DCPS's interest in "equity," in two directions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like the idea of a separate 9th grade academy. My kid is in 8th grade so won’t be affected by this but what about kids in 9th grade who want to take more advanced options in math or language or who want to take an AP class? They will be out of luck. Also, it will make it more difficult for them to join some clubs and teams at the regular HS

I'm opposed to it too. Too many transitions to new schools:

5th grade elementary
6-8 MS
9 - 9th grade center
10-12 HS

That's 4 schools in 6 years.

If they do Foxhall as a 3-5 there could be a transition at 2nd-3rd grade as well.

Ugh, that's too much. Just create a new ES, MS, or HS. None of this 3-5 or just 9th. Time to bring back Western HS to meet the needs of the most western portion of DC.

[Anonymous]

If a Western met only needs of westernmost HS students how many students would it have? If it was for the rest of DC, why not put it in the middle of the city?