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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Seems short sighted on the part of the Murch and Janney parents.  [b]All it would take is another 100 IB kids and Hearst would be then envy of the city[/b].  Small classes and brand new facilities.[/quote]

It's extremely short sighted.  Hearst's population is similar to Eaton and Stoddert--solidly middle/upper middle class across all races.  Score wise, Hearst should be on par with these schools, but in the last five years went through an expansion from an early childhood center to a PK-5 and simultaneously suffered through multiple principal changes.  The consistent rise in test scores is evidence that the dust is finally settling. If the DCCAS were continuing, the school was on track to hit Reward status next year. It's clear that Hearst is going to follow the same pattern as Eaton and Stoddert, whether it is majority IB or not.  It's a good little school.  Always has been.  It just had to work through some growing pains.

Bottom line: In two years, I doubt if even the Murch and Janney families will be anti-Hearst.[/quote]

In fact Hearst may surpass Eaton in popularity and performance because Hearst will remain part of the Deal cluster, while Eaton will go to Hardy.[/quote]

Perhaps, but sadly many folks on this forum and in NW equate IB percentage will success and that will never happen with a too small boundary.  But more to the point, why is that?  If the school is well performing, is a warm and welcoming community of involved parents, has a dynamic new principal and wonderful staff (including an amazing new music teacher, a native-speaking Spanish teacher, and the coolest ful-time librarian around), is soon opening a beautiful new building with full gym, stage, new turfed soccer field, etc., then why isn't the "envy of the city" already?[/quote]

Hearst is extremely desirable--and always has been- to middle/upper middle class, educated families outside of Ward 3.  Previously, the OOBs student population was majority African American.  It's headed towards 50/50, black/white now since lots of new EOTP families have discovered Hearst. Prior to this past year, Hearst was rarely discussed on these boards and to many OOBs families, was considered a best kept secret.

The only reason why Hearst is not the "envy of the city" is because the test scores are behind those of other Ward 3 schools (but well ahead of most of the city).  As has been previously noted, after expanding from a PK-3 early childhood center five years ago, Hearst went through major growing pains as well as, a few principals.  The leadership changes meant Hearst wasn't afforded the same academic stability that its neighboring schools had.  Don't believe me--just look at the history of 3rd grade scores prior to the school expanding to a PK-5 campus (and yes, it was primarily OOBs with those high scores).

Even in the midst of the changes, the community was always great and the kids were happy. Some families headed for the exit doors but for those of us who stuck through the changes and the new families who took a leap of faith, it is now paying of BIG TIME. My oldest who is now at Deal said that Hearst was "the best school ever!"  [/quote]

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