Reply to what have Hill parents demanded of middle schools?

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Reply to "what have Hill parents demanded of middle schools?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
The problem with this, from DCPS's point of view, is that it shuts down an escape route for lower-SES families from dismal neighborhood schools.  When >50% of DCPS students can't perform at grade level, that's a more glaring, demanding, urgent issue than satisfying the Brent parents.  It's already a given that the majority of those parents will choose Latin or Basis over SH even if it were an option.[/quote]

The disparities need to be addressed, but I wouldn't want my kids in a school where 100% of kids are simply at grade level.  Proficiency needs to be the floor, not the ceiling.  If DCPS feels its mission is straight mediocrity that's the trade-off, because Latin and Basis aim higher.  The Ward 3 schools aim higher.[/quote]

Yes, if only those students in Ward 7 would wake up tomorrow and be just like the students in Palisades?  Why, they could have Key in their own neighborhood by next week!  Thanks for the useful suggestion!

It's easier to aim higher when you're starting from a launchpad instead of a sand trap.   :roll:   [/quote]

You make a lot of assumptions.  DCPS doesn't retain enough advance MS students to bring up the floor.  The baseline expections are woefully low, and they fail to meet even that.  They fail the Ward 7 kids as much as they are failed by circumstance.  Even success comes with a big question mark.  And why is KIPP so successful at educating these Ward 7 kids where DCPS fails miserably?[/quote]

Combination of self-selection and aggressive expulsion policies. I tend to think that DCPS should follow suit. Create 3-4 schools that are essentially "remedial/reform" schools, and if a student can't hack it in the mainstream they get transferred to the "special" school.

Meanwhile, the kids who are prepared and ready to behave stay in the mainstream school.

Of course, there's no way on earth that would fly, because the "reform" schools would be overwhelmingly AA (because poor). Also, you'd fall afoul of special ed regulations because most of the special ed cases in DCPS are not cognitive (e.g. autism) but behavioral (e.g. uncontrollable impulse to stab authority figures in the neck)[/quote]

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