Reply to A three-tier public education system

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Looking at what's happening with pubic education in the city, it seems like DC is careening toward a three-tier system of education, where what you get depends on where you live and what resources are available to you.

Tier I -- DCPS schools that are almost exclusively in-boundary. A few lucky lottery winners each year get to caucus with the Tier-1'ers. Overcrowded, but well-resourced. Limited almost exclusively to Capitol Hill and west of Rock Creek.

Tier II -- Charters. Assigned by lottery. Quality varies markedly. Transportation is an issue for almost all families.

Tier III -- DCPS schools of last resort. For families who for whatever reason can't or don't go charter or OOB. Schools are under-enrolled and under-resourced. High concentration of special needs kids and at-risk kids.

Is this too bleak a prognostication? [b]It seems like DCPS is capitulating to charters a big chunk of the student population. The city is growing, the school-age population is growing, charters are adding thousands of seats, and DCPS isn't planning for growth at all.[/b] Is there an end-game in all of this?[/quote]

I think it's very different if you look on a micro level than just averages.
WOTP charters can't get a foot in the door.
EOTP DCPS tend to be getting more popular and growing.  Charters are growing there as well, but it's a more balanced split.
EOTR Charters are growing much larger and DCPS is shrinking with only a few neighborhood schools keeping up.[/quote]

+1 This is a much more accurate take than the OPs.[/quote]

Yes. DCPS is not capitulating -- every year, more DCPS schools are attracting high SES residents, showing higher scores, and increasing their in-bounds enrollment. [b]I was just thinking how outdated JLKM is as a shorthand for "good school"[/b] -- there are so many (Ross, Eaton, Stoddert, and looking to the near future, Seaton, and on and on) that could now be on that list. 
[/quote]
+1
We've been to several open houses, and have been impressed by several schools.  Ross and Eaton may not have the facilities of some of the WOTP schools, but in terms of test scores and family satisfaction, those schools are doing great.  SWW@FS also appears to be in the middle of a major turnaround, as well--increasing IB enrollment and increasing test scores, enthusiastic staff and good leadership.  Clearly, gentrification of those neighborhoods is part of the story, but I'm not sure it's the whole story.  [/quote]

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