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[quote=Anonymous]15:11

Not suggesting Deal can be replicated across the city; simply saying the animus towards Deal is misplaced.  Deal is getting it done for hundreds of struggling students, let’s applaud that success.  And that success, to varying degrees, can only help the rest of the city’s students

I don’t have a great answer for the rest of the city’s middle schools – that’s for Vince Gray and Kaya Henderson and Abigail Smith to figure out.  I’m pretty sure there’s not a one size fits all solution.  Some elementary schools could go to eighth grade (temporarily perhaps).  Some middle schools like Stuart Hobson (75% proficient), Hardy (70% proficient) and Jefferson (56% proficient) can build on their relatively strong cohort by creating programs that attract and retain proficient students.  Perhaps throw a magnet school or two in the mix.  Keep Sousa’s momentum going.  Within a couple of years these schools could become Deal-esque and better serve even more struggling students than is currently the case.  All of DC is better off with a growing number of strong middle schools coming on-line.

I’m not talking about a silver bullet solution.  Rather, I am advocating for increasing the capacity of DCPS to serve its most vulnerable students by creating and celebrating strong middle schools.  Let’s not make the perfect the enemy of the good.  As you mention, the Deal forces are not always in play elsewhere.  Well, how about putting them more in play by creating more successful middle schools?  Rome was not built in a day.

This is not a choice between having high performing schools OR helping struggling students.  It’s not a zero sum game - they are not mutually exclusive.  Would blowing Deal up help the rest of the city?  Unequivocally no.  Yes, every school and every neighborhood starts in its own unique position, but it should be clear to all that Deal’s success will only enhance the chances of success for midle schools in other parts of the city.
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