Reply to Ranking Ludlow-Taylor vs SWS

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think TR4 is a good analog to SWS because both schools have very nurturing ECE programs and the culture of the school is very geared toward ECE parents, but neither school is known for upper grade academics.

Whereas L-T, while it still has a loved ECE program, feels culturally more geared to 2nd-5th grade, especially with their after school clubs and the amount of family programming they have.

For this reason I would lean towards L-T because it's much harder to find good programming for older kids in DC and in the long run that will be more meaningful for your kids. Plus it's not like ECE is bad and L-T -- it's a good program.[/quote]

Huh? SWS has higher scores above the board than LT.[/quote]

Depends on how you break them down. If you don't consider demographics, then yes. If you do, then no. LT is more socioeconomically diverse than SWS with a higher at risk percentage (particularly in the testing grades) and a high needs classroom testing (10 student CES classroom of 3rd-5th graders). I don't think the exact percentage of students getting 4s+ or 5s tells you all that much about your kid's experience as long as the number is high enough. Both of these schools have solid populations getting 4s & 5s and getting 5s. When I dig into the numbers to look apples to apples, it looks to me like SWS is doing better at math and L-T is doing better at ELA relative to their student populations. But I don't think the difference in test scores is enough to be relevant to a decision.

I do think L-T has the best extracurricular and after school offerings that I have ever seen in a DCPS and from my perspective, that is way more likely to make my kid love school than most other factors out there. Also, it does seem to have a particularly active and tight knit school community that is rooted in the neighborhood. As SWS' Hill-based population has decreased, I think some of that has been lost. Of course, this is only a pro-L-T factor if you actually live close to the school. If you're commuting from a different neighborhood, you might be better off at a citywide school that caters to that where folks are more likely to be driving to playdates, etc.[/quote]

The at risk percentage at LT is only 3% more, however SWS also has 5% more students with disabilities and also has self-contained classrooms…

So no, I still think SWS is better academically. Especially I think for pre-k -as their Reggio program has a stronger but LT also seems great. I’m not sure about extracurriculars so maybe LT shines though that. [/quote]

L-T has 3 self-contained classrooms and they are for extremely high needs students (CES). SWS's program is for kids with high-functioning autism (essentially the classic Asperger's), who tend to test very well as a general matter. This is not an equivalent comparison at all. Also, the at risk difference in the testing grades is much higher because Ludlow has been gentrifying (and fills 3 5th grade classes); SWS, on the other hand, has been essentially un-gentrifying and just allows attrition down to one 5th grade classroom. It means the testing grades demographics don't mirror the school's; this is verifiable looking at the raw numbers of at risk test takers at both schools.[/quote]

Mmm no, they do not always ‘test well’ - the program at SWS is still self contained with some inclusion. Typical CES is a mixed bag,some students in grade level and some 1-5 grades behind.
Ludlow’s testing CES grades are 1 classroom, not 3.

Just wanted to add this.[/quote]

The program at SWS is actually oriented at inclusion with a goal being that kids will be in mainstream classrooms in middle school. To equate it with a CES program, which does not cover grade-level educational content at all, is really a stretch. And, agreed, Ludlow has 3 total CES classrooms (covering 3 grade bands), one of which is an up-to 10 student 3rd-5th classroom. Definitely did not mean to suggest otherwise. [/quote]

This is not true, they cover grade level content (exposure) and receive report cards. 
I’m not implying that the self-contained at SWS wouldn’t have more children closer to grade level. I just want to be clear that being in CES doesn’t automatically mean that one isn’t close to or on grade level. Sometimes their behavior, communication, and/or social skills need too much support to be in Gen Ed. [/quote]

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