Reply to MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High

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Reply to "MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?"

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[quote=Anonymous]Wow - I have thought this as well and believed no one else did.  It may be unpopular, but I believe it is right.  Many people may opt-out, but let's make it an opt-out situation, not a required opt-in.  Make people plan for the inevitable instead of wait for the "perfect" conditions to accept a school they should make their own.[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

I know it's an incredibly unpopular viewpoint, but I think DCPS should throw all sorts of incredible resources at MacFarland, but should NOT take a "build it an they will come" approach that hopes for slow growth.  Instead, DCPS should eliminate the seven-year grandfathering period for its boundary changes, and in fact should carve Bancroft and Shepherd elementary schools out of Deal.  By funneling Powell, Shepherd, and Bancroft all to MacFarland, DCPS is starting MacFarland off with strong feeders.

Yes, the mayor will face lots of angry constituent calls.  Yes, several families will threaten to leave DCPS for charters or private schools.  But even if 20% of those families make good on their threats, that leaves 80% starting MacFarland off on the right foot.  But with a strong group of feeder students coming from those neighborhoods, the school will almost immediately boast strong proficiency scores.  With the higher proficiency scores that come from the strong feeders, coupled with the influx of resources from DCPS, MacFarland has a good chance to spiral upward and develop a reputation as a strong middle school.  DCPS and the families who involuntarily pioneered the school will be hailed as heroes.

I know my proposed approach will never happen.  Most people are too self-interested, and so the neighborhoods affected will fight tooth and nail against this.  It will be a classic NIMBY issue where people oppose the new school.  And Mayor Bowser it too beholden to her Ward 4 support to do anything that might piss them off.  But if she had the courage to do something big, this IMHO is how to give MacFarland the best chance of success.[/quote][/quote]

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