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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think people get suspicious when you tell them to go to the (new) neighborhood school to improve its academic quality.  Middle school is only three years, so parents want to send their kids to a school of good quality, not necessarily have their kids be the ones to work through the problems.[/quote]

Yes, and I want the middle school to improve my child's "academic quality."  That is the job of the faculty and administrative leadership.  The school should not depend on my child and other heretofore well-prepared kids for superficial paper gains (standardized test score increases) which are no substitute for real and tangible improvements in academic quality.[/quote]You're right.  You shouldn't send your child there.  My well-prepared child did fine there but it obviously wouldn't work for your child.[/quote]

Agreed.  My well-prepared kid did great, but if you don't think your child is right for Hardy you are free to send him elsewhere, and should do so.[/quote]

Exactly - [b]which is why Ward 3 wants another middle school [/b]that will push and pull and fully challenge their kids to reach higher academically, not a school that looks their kids to goose the school's test scores.[/quote]

Why should the city invest tax payers money to procure land and build a new school, when the residents of that ward fail to utilize a fully functioning school geared for that ward.  You are basically asking the city to be fiscally irresponsible.  [/quote]

Because the school over many years has demonstrably not met the expectation of its surrounding population, yet serves an overwhelmingly OOB population that apparently strongly feels the school works for them.  When you think about it, it's kind of a no-brain-er[/quote]

How has the school not met the needs of the surrounding population?  It serves an overwhelnning OOB population because the IB population chooses not to attend.  The OOB slots wuld not be available if the IB students attended.  Should the city leave the school vacant and/or underenrolled and not allow OOB students.  The more IB students who chose to attend, the fewer OOB slots will be available for OOB students.  It really is not rocket science.  [/quote]

I am not the previous poster, but I think what she/he was trying to say is that Hardy, at least until now, has not offered the kind of program that would be appealing to its IB population.  The school, for example, did not offer advanced math until this year.  I believe Chinese is also a relatively new addition to the curriculum.  The athletic program, which is important to many IB students, did not come close to that at Deal.  And finally, the uniforms create the impression that the school has disciplinary issues.  I remember driving by there and asking myself why on earth those kids were wearing uniforms when I am not aware of a single other public school in the area that requires uniforms.  That may be unfair, but it's my perception and perception matters when choosing a school.

I do not have a dog in this fight.  My children are in high school.  I will say that I have looked at the website and there are some good things going on at Hardy.  Some sort of gimicky, like SEM, but others that are interesting.  If I were the principal, I would put more information about academics on the website (many pages are blank), invite parents to visit, and . . . gasp . . . lose the uniforms!  Like it or not, the uniforms send a bad message and keep people from looking at the school.  I think you are unlikely to attract Eaton parents in large numbers until the grandfathering expires, but if Hardy is a strong option by then, more IB parents will try it.[/quote]

Ok, since you do not have a dog in this fight, and apparently you are not even well-informed about the school (you just happen to drive by it), then please refrain from writing on this thread.

Just to mention one point from your email, advanced math was offered since the first year of Principal Pride's tenure. My son, now in 7th grade, was in that class last year (and is heading to the geometry class for next year which will give him the credit for Wilson) . Difference from last year is that this year the advanced 6th classes are two, not one, as the number of advanced kids has increased.

7th grade Hardy parent (IB)

[/quote]

This is why IB parents feel unwelcome.  I tried to write a constructive post and got shot down.  Yes, admittedly, I do not have a middle school child, but I am IB for Hardy, drive by every single day, have done research, and have spoken with many, many IB parents about why they would/would not consider the school.  If you and others at the school are unwilling to consider some gently-offered constructive criticism, then Hardy is likely to remain in the same position it is now.  Constructive criticism is a good thing.[/quote]

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