Reply to DME Kicks Off DCPS Boundary Review; Changes Expected for 2015-16 School Year

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Reply to "DME Kicks Off DCPS Boundary Review; Changes Expected for 2015-16 School Year"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]if Hardy isn't good enough by the time our children reach relevant age, we'll go private. [/quote]

I feel like the experience of too many people has been of broadly middle class suburban schools that have high levels of success.  However, I just don't think that is necessary.  Hardy has proficient-testing kids, advanced-testing kids and everyone with parents who aren't clueless does fine.  People have the idea that they need to segregate their kids away from any child who is not high-performing or else they will turn out dumb.

It just isn't true.  [b]Rich kids at mixed income schools don't get dragged down[/b].[/quote]

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "dragged down."  My daughter is at a well-regarded charter that has a significant FARM population (which, in my opinion, is the most important factor, not race).  She's bright and inquisitive, and is ahead of the benchmarks set by the school (not dramaticaly ahead, but ahead).  But (i) the benchmarks are lower than those set in other schools, and (ii) she isn't challenged or pushed to excel at all.  The attitude seems to be that if a kid is at or above where s/he is expected to be, s/he is allowed to tread water because the teachers have so many other kids to deal with who aren't there yet.  I've got no issues with that - it's an admirable goal.  But it doesn't mean that it's the right school for my daughter.  We're thinking of leaving in a year or two, and when we tell people that, they think we're crazy - it's a charter that has thousands on the wait list, at all grade levels.

Short version - there's no need to segregate from "any child who is not high performing."  But at some point, there's a critical mass of kids who need significant assistance to even reach proficient that is detrimental to high-performing kids.

I know this has nothing to do with DCPS boundaries, but I wanted to address two specific points:  (i) comparatively rich kids at mixed income schools can get "dragged down" if the mix gets too far out of balance, and (ii) families with options will absolutely move, or go private, if they feel the need.   [/quote]

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