Anonymous wrote:I don't want to bash West because I know there is a lot of potential there and that many kids do great...but...a friend has struggled with her kids there due to some special needs not being met with the most thoughtful/innovative response (both for a child with a learning disability and a gifted child). If you have such needs, you might want to see if Haynes is better equipped to handle them.

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to bash West because I know there is a lot of potential there and that many kids do great...but...a friend has struggled with her kids there due to some special needs not being met with the most thoughtful/innovative response (both for a child with a learning disability and a gifted child). If you have such needs, you might want to see if Haynes is better equipped to handle them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to bash West because I know there is a lot of potential there and that many kids do great...but...a friend has struggled with her kids there due to some special needs not being met with the most thoughtful/innovative response (both for a child with a learning disability and a gifted child). If you have such needs, you might want to see if Haynes is better equipped to handle them.

My friend's 8 y.o. son was essentially expelled from one of DCUM's HRCSs because they couldn't handle his ADHD. In the middle of the school year, they basically said, "Get out."

Because of the timing they were stuck, so they sent him to their IB school which doesn't have a good overall rep. Ironically though, they were used to dealing with kids with issues and the boy has thrived there and they are going to send him again next year.

SN are a challenge everywhere.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to bash West because I know there is a lot of potential there and that many kids do great...but...a friend has struggled with her kids there due to some special needs not being met with the most thoughtful/innovative response (both for a child with a learning disability and a gifted child). If you have such needs, you might want to see if Haynes is better equipped to handle them.

I hear you, but I will also tell you (and others) that this happens all over DCPS in some of the "best" schools. I really feel for your friend, but unfortunately it's the reality of the lives of SN kids in public schools (actually, from my SN-specific country-wide listserve, I can tell you it happens all over the country). I can see a movement at West that looks promising (just observing from a far).

LPJackson76 wrote:Morning All,

I'm a current West parent (rising 5th & 7th graders) as well as a West Alumna and current Treasurer of the West Parent Organization.

West is a school that is definitely on its way back up. Historically it's been a great school, blue-ribbon award winning, top test scores, etc. However when the neighborhood aged the enrollment declined and so did everything else, until it was on the verge of closure. In the last 5 - 6 years however the school has made some significant changes and improvements, including a serious jump in enrollment, which has lead to more funding, which has led to more programs - sadly in our DCPS system butts in the seats determine how much cash you get.

I have to give *much* kudos to the current principal - and I say this as someone who got off to a pretty rough start with her when she came on board. But her leadership and creative methods of enhancing programming despite budget shortfalls has led to some awesome enhancements for the kids. Most notably (in my opinion) is a Preferred Activity Class (PAC) program where teachers and volunteers choose a subject they are particularly passionate about and teach an elective course on it - these are subjects like Step Dance, Yoga, Cooking, Knitting, Choir, and more - I personally taught a Creative Writing class this past semester. It's a way to bring an expanded curriculum to the school even without funding for it.

There's a focused plan each year for motivating students and increasing test scores, but from the kids' perspective it's not about "We have to score high on the tests for the school" it's more of "I want to beat my own scores because Ms. Fill-In-The-Blank-Teacher said I can do even better than I did last time." They actually believe that - at least my kids do.

There is absolutely more improvements that can be done, but I have to say right now is an exciting time at the school because we have some seriously invested and involved parents and staff members who are determined to see good changes. There's also room right now for new ideas and they are welcomed - not that every idea can be implemented, but they're all up for discussion.

As to the ES/MS/HS feeder pattern, personally I'm a proponent of the Education Campus Model and will be pretty sad to see it go away all together - I like the idea of my kids staying in one school with a solid MS program built in, but would very much like to see a good MS option in our neighborhood. We've also noticed there's a SERIOUS difference in the scores between kids who came to West in Early Childhood grades and STAYED thru the 8th grade vs those who transferred in later...something to be said for the continuity of education in one school.

My two cents - happy to answer any questions, admittedly I'm a happy parent so maybe a little biased

Anonymous wrote:

LPJackson76 wrote:Morning All,

I'm a current West parent (rising 5th & 7th graders) as well as a West Alumna and current Treasurer of the West Parent Organization.

West is a school that is definitely on its way back up. Historically it's been a great school, blue-ribbon award winning, top test scores, etc. However when the neighborhood aged the enrollment declined and so did everything else, until it was on the verge of closure. In the last 5 - 6 years however the school has made some significant changes and improvements, including a serious jump in enrollment, which has lead to more funding, which has led to more programs - sadly in our DCPS system butts in the seats determine how much cash you get.

I have to give *much* kudos to the current principal - and I say this as someone who got off to a pretty rough start with her when she came on board. But her leadership and creative methods of enhancing programming despite budget shortfalls has led to some awesome enhancements for the kids. Most notably (in my opinion) is a Preferred Activity Class (PAC) program where teachers and volunteers choose a subject they are particularly passionate about and teach an elective course on it - these are subjects like Step Dance, Yoga, Cooking, Knitting, Choir, and more - I personally taught a Creative Writing class this past semester. It's a way to bring an expanded curriculum to the school even without funding for it.

There's a focused plan each year for motivating students and increasing test scores, but from the kids' perspective it's not about "We have to score high on the tests for the school" it's more of "I want to beat my own scores because Ms. Fill-In-The-Blank-Teacher said I can do even better than I did last time." They actually believe that - at least my kids do.

There is absolutely more improvements that can be done, but I have to say right now is an exciting time at the school because we have some seriously invested and involved parents and staff members who are determined to see good changes. There's also room right now for new ideas and they are welcomed - not that every idea can be implemented, but they're all up for discussion.

As to the ES/MS/HS feeder pattern, personally I'm a proponent of the Education Campus Model and will be pretty sad to see it go away all together - I like the idea of my kids staying in one school with a solid MS program built in, but would very much like to see a good MS option in our neighborhood. We've also noticed there's a SERIOUS difference in the scores between kids who came to West in Early Childhood grades and STAYED thru the 8th grade vs those who transferred in later...something to be said for the continuity of education in one school.

My two cents - happy to answer any questions, admittedly I'm a happy parent so maybe a little biased

So YOU'RE the one! I've never met anyone who thought the EC model was a good idea, you are as rare as a leprechaun with a pot of gold