Reply to Time to Stop Counting on Charters

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]+1.  In charters, even the non- FARMS kids come from less educated families than you would expect.  Yes, even white kids whose parents have HS GED or bachelor's from an easy college.

[quote=Anonymous][quote]Fair enough, I guess. I got free meals in public school and didn't need anyone working double time to get me up to speed. Sure, is anecdotal, but it seems weird to me that someone would not at least consider their in bounds school beyond knowing how many kids get free meals. [/quote]

There's no question that low SES (in DC parlance, FARMS) kids can achieve.  But evidence suggests that as a group they are most successful when the class is less than 50% FARMS.  Conversely, when a class is more than 50% FARMS, outcomes are worse for all kids.

This is a cautionary tale to those that think charters are the answer (separate and apart from teh admissions issues) - unless you are in a charter that uses the unsavory practice of "counseling out" low SES kids, or making them feel otherwise unwelcome, you're going to run into this issue over.  My kids are in a very highly-sought after charter - one of those previously mentioned in this thread - and it's not all sunshine and roses.  [/quote][/quote]

PP, what is your in bounds ES, if you don't mind sharing?
And you know this how?  We love our charter and feel like our family fits right in - two Ivy educated lawyers.  Our kid is biracial, Asian/White, are there are many similar families like us and many unlike us why is another reason we chose it over private schools.[/quote]

I agree. We are two college-educated professionals in a charter and it is a broad SES mix that doesn't necessarily break down HHI-wise by race/ethnicity like most people assume.  My kid is doing great.  He actually has a greater need on the social/emotional side and they are doing a great job on that front.  I'm glad he has a diverse mix of kids to socialize with.  This is in contrast to our IB school which would have been 99% AA/1% Hispanic and majority FARMS with low test scores and an administration that can't even bother to return my fucking phone call as a neighbor and a prospective parent. That is not diversity by any measure.  I wasn't about to plop my pale blond kid in that environment as the only one IN THE ENTIRE SCHOOL, especially when their attitude was less than welcoming.  I feel pretty confident that the parent population at my charter is overall better educated than my IB school and has a better attitude/work ethic about school.  Is it all "sunshine and roses?"  No.  Is it better than our other alternatives?  Oh hell yes.  Yes it is.[/quote][/quote]

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