Reply to Importance of classmates being at grade levels for reading/math

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]it still serves the greater good for the students from the weaker elementary schools to get to a strong middle school as early as possible. Think about what you’re arguing for and who it would hurt.[/quote]

I think it's more complicated than that. Not everyone in a weaker elementary school is able to lottery into a Latin 2 or Basis or some other charter. So, maybe the kids who are able to get into Latin 2 or Basis are better off, but the kids left behind aren't. And in some of the weaker schools, some of the kids are trying to lottery into schools that are feeders for Stuart Hobson or another middle school because it's a better middle school than their IB options. So I suspect that the 5th grade cohort left behind at schools that have worse middle school options is WORSE off than they would be if everyone started middle school in 6th. IOW, you may benefit some kids by letting them start a better school in 5th rather than 6th, but you're hurting others who aren't given that option.

Add in the fact that some of the weaker schools are Title one so after school care is free or dirt cheap. If your 5th grader gets into Maury and your family makes $60,000 or more, after school is $325 a month the last I checked. So, what happens is these kids leave school on their own and walk or navigate public transportation to get home where they are latch key kids. DCPS won't let a first grader leave school without being picked up by a responsible adult. But once you are 9 or 10, depending on the school, you can. At least some of the families that let their kids do this aren't thrilled about it but they see it as their only option if they want a decent middle school  the following year. I think at least some would keep their kids in their neighborhood schools with free aftercare for another year if they didn't feel doing so hurt their chances of getting into a better middle school.

If both charters and DCPS started middle school the same year, MC parents would make a real choice between their DCPS middle school and the charters. But now, a lot of parents think well...if I pick my IB DCPS middle school and it doesn't work out my only options are private or moving. But if my kid does get into Latin or Basis or ITS, I always have the option of sending him to my IB DCPS school if it doesn't work out. So, I think most people who have the charter option take it. 
[/quote]

This adorable. You are arguing that the desire to keep 5th graders with your kids at Brent isn't your focus. Somehow you now care about "the poors" that attend lousy ES and your argument is that restricting the educational options for the few kids at the top by making them remain is better for the bottom of those classes? You are a truly wonderful human being!

The idea that the kids at the top should be harmed to make the kids in the middle and bottom better/happier is typical DCUM, UMC white faux liberalism at its craven best.[/quote]

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