Reply to SWW/Francis-Stevens merger

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Reply to "SWW/Francis-Stevens merger"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I really want FS to succeed--given the demographics of the city and the neighborhood, it could become a gem of a school and I know parents with little ones who have lined up behind it. But a half assed merge with SWW does not seem to be the answer. It seems like the decision to close FS was forestalled by a lot of parents who were vocal about the need to keep the school open (which I wholeheartedly agree with)  and was politically undesirable so this was some sort of compromise. I wonder if DCPS assumed that it would not work and in a year or two could point to the lack of success and say 'see didn't work, let's close FS'. On the other hand, maybe the association with SWW will boost FS enrollment enough to get the school up and running on its own steam in a few years. Time will tell. [b]ANyone have a sense of enrollment for next year at FS? [/b][/quote]

The NW Current article linked to above says that target enrollment for Francis-Stevens after the merger announcement was 380, but actual enrollment is less than 1/3 of this target:

"Despite strong enrollment projections for Francis-Stevens, the school has enrolled only about 120 students for the coming school year, according
to a statement by Trogisch at a Francis-Stevens community meeting last week. The target enrollment was 380 students, and Walls parents are worried this deficit could draw funds away from the high school."[/quote]

This article lacks context about how enrollment numbers look citywide at every school in June.  Knowing that parents have a difficult time crossing T's dotting I's,  DCPS has an internal target for schools to be at 50% enrollment as of 6/21 (last day of school).

Based on this year's enrollment (of 220), FS was on track.  This is despite the fact that there are many incomplete enrollments, due in large part previous admin staff leaving paperwork incomplete.  There was even a report of previous staff turning away or discouraging new parents.  New staff starts in July, so better information about available seats and shortfalls should be available soon.

There's almost definitely an enrollment gap, but once more parents get a feel for this program's potential things might pick up. It's not like there are a tremendous number of MS options out there, and the new faculty presented last night seem pretty impressive, especially at that level.[/quote]

Excuses, excuses.... we can't keep blaming schools for parental shortcomings.  Last time I enrolled my kids it was the PARENT'S responsibility to submit completed enrollment forms and provide proof of DC residency, not the "admin staff" of a school.  The schools can't fill them out for us.....step up![/quote]

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