I think Archer has done a good job of a laying out just how incredibly unattractive "controlled choice" is. If he were really trying to sell this idea, would he be throwing around phrases like 'algorithmic placement'?

I think he means to set this up as a binary choice:

*Either "controlled choice" for the entire city,
*Or a new HS at Ellington to relieve pressure from Wilson and to make Hardy more attractive.

I tend to agree with the people saying that DC doesn't have a boundary problem, it has a school quality problem and that the problem needs to approached that way.

It seems I have a fan calling me out by name!

In any event, I'm the originator of this thread and it deserves a bump because the Boundaries, Feeder Patterns and Student Assignment discussion with the Deputy Mayor is happening this Saturday at Cardozo.


And to my stalker (apologies to everybody else, please feel free to look away):
I am a parent who advocates for Ward 2 schools and SWWF-S in particular, where my child attends. When a school's existence is called out trollishly -- I mean, out the blue advocating to carve up Foggy Bottom and send the population to neighboring schools?? -- I am probably going to reply.

Although your %-in boundary numbers are inaccurate, our population projections come from the same source. I don't call these projections radical. They are unprecedented (and I've heard city officials say as much).

Why shouldn't neighborhoods that ring downtown (Foggy Bottom, Dupont, Logan, Shaw, U Street, Bloomingdale, etc) and that are projecting strong growth in the number of school-aged children arm themselves with information and advocate for their schools? Other parts of DC may be growing faster in absolute terms, and Wards 7 and 8 continue to have the plurality of DC's students, but the relative change in the clusters surrounding downtown is startling, and residents want the option of attending a school within walking distance. Last year, they effectively fought to retain SWWF-S and Garrison.

I realize that neighborhood options have been taken away from many DC communities, but I won't apologize for fighting for my kid's school.

Open House
7/17, 6:30pm
Francis-Stevens Auditorium
2425 N St NW (Nearest metros: Foggy Bottom & Farragut North)

The Walls at Francis-Stevens HSA invites you to an open house to present the newly formed School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens to parents, prospective parents and the community at large. Meet Principal Richard Trogisch and new/returning staff as they discuss their plans to make SWW@FS one of the premier elementary and middle schools in DCPS, extending the vision and academic rigor of the highly-regarded SWWHS program to grades PS-8, beginning in the 2013/14 school year. Seats available in K-5 and grades 7-8.

All are welcome. Q&A will follow.

RSVP: http://www.evite.com/event/01ADCIYTSLYJQ4CHKEPC4ZWDNDOXFA
Email: WallsAtFS@gmail.com
Like the PTA on Facebook: facebook.com/SWWFS
Twitter:
@WallsAtFS
@WallsAtFS_HSA

Chris Sondreal
Communications co-chair, SWWFS HSA

Anonymous wrote:There is no upside to SWW HS in this merger - even DCPS can't list one.
Whole idea seemed to be DCPS hoping the SWW name would drive enrollment up at FS. And that doesn't seem to be working out too well either.
And to poster 18:42- based on my experience, DCPS does not think through anything.

Here's an explanation from the Mayor's education speech last week. Better late then never? At least it shows some level of investment:

"We have a number of schools and programs that serve small groups of students well. But not enough. Our first strategy is to replicate, or scale up, the schools and programs in both sectors that have unlocked the secrets to success and are eager to reach more children.

In an effort to scale up success, DCPS is extending the reach of a number of its highest-performing and most-sought-after programs. McKinley Tech and School Without Walls will be linked to programs that serve elementary and middle school students, so hundreds of younger students can benefit from the strengths of these two high schools. DCPS is also expanding Banneker High School, School Within School, and Capitol Hill Montessori to allow more students across all grade levels to benefit from these highly successful programs."


Full text at:
http://mayor.dc.gov/release/text-prepared-delivery-mayor-gray%E2%80%99s-speech-next-steps-education-reform

Anonymous wrote:

sondreal wrote:This program is geared toward grades K-8 (though the school also serves PS & PK).

As a prospective PS3 parent, I am interested, but do you think it's not worth my time to attend?

PS PK parents (and prospective parents) are very welcome to attend. My comment was meant to transmit that unlike our Early Childhood Open Houses – of which we've had many during the school year – this evening will be addressing all-grade issues. Sorry for any confusion.

This program is geared toward grades K-8 (though the school also serves PS & PK).

An open invitation of interest to supporters of DC schools:

Open House
6/26, 6:30pm
Francis-Stevens Auditorium
2425 N St NW (Nearest metro: Foggy Bottom)

The Walls at Francis-Stevens HSA invites you to an open house to present the newly formed School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens to parents, prospective parents and the community at large. Meet Principal Richard Trogisch, new/returning staff, and senior administrators as they discuss their plans to make SWW@FS one of the premier elementary and middle schools in DCPS, extending the vision and academic rigor of the highly-regarded SWWHS program to grades PS-8, beginning in the 2013/14 school year.

All are welcome. Q&A will follow.

Email: WallsAtFS@gmail.com
Like the PTA on Facebook: facebook.com/SWWFS
Twitter:
@WallsAtFS
@WallsAtFS_HSA

Website (starting Sept 2013)


Chris Sondreal
Communications co-chair, Walls at FS HSA