Reply to Deal and Hardy turnaround

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[quote=Anonymous]As a current, happy, IB Hardy parent, I hope my perspectives on what is happening with regard to a turnaround is useful.

First, let me note that the families that do choose Hardy are very happy with it - for those who go there, there is not a sense that the school is broken or needs to be fixed.  The opposite is true - we are happy with the teachers, pleased with the student body, like our administrators, and enjoying the new SEM program and the other opportunities at the school.

One thing holding back Hardy is the perception of what happened three or four years ago.  Things were a mess because Pope got fired.  But that era is over, Dr. Stefanus is in her second year, and the Principal situation is stable.  But you wouldn't know that from talking to some of the parents from feeder schools or on this board.   That perception from three or four years ago is stuck in their head and it will take some time to get it out.

Second, test scores are an issue for some.  Hardy has a mixed student body - like Wilson in some ways.  Many (IB and OB) students from families that prepare them well for school, but also a  cohort that seems to be not so prepared.  The well-prepared students do well on their tests; the other students, not as well (though Hardy has a very good record of taking poorly-performing students and moving them up on their DCAS percentile).  When you mix those together, the schools test scores do not look as good as Deal.  However, I can assure you, the teachers are good enough, and their is a critical mass of well-performing students such that those students are challenged and are learning at a rapid pace.

So, over time, I suspect that more IB families will come.  I hope they do, because Hardy is  a good school.  But they need to overcome ill-informed perceptions and actually take a look a the good things happening at Hardy.

Hope that helps.

IB Hardy Parent

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