Reply to Why does every thread about Hill schools get so grumpy?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It isn't just on the Hill. Parents who choose to send their kids to DC public schools rather than private schools or rather than moving to suburbs are very protective and at times defensive of their decision and of the schools, and they also are hyper-sensitive about the public perception of those schools, because to a great extent the quality of a neighborhood public school is a function of whether or not neighborhood families keep choosing to send their kids there.

A lot of parents send their kids to DCPS elementary schools but are thinking they may leave the system for middle school. Then when a few parents pull their kids out  into private schools in the 3rd or 4th grade and it starts a mini-panic among those still in the elementary. People want to be assured that they are doing the right thing for their kids. [/quote]

[b]Haven't really seen kids leaving in 3rd or 4th in Hill schools and hear much the same from parents at other Hill ES. [/b] You DO however see an exodus in 5th grade for charters.[/quote]

Unfortunately, I'm still seeing it. E.g. We had a bunch of kids over for a 3rd grade sleepover the other night, all from the same DCPS school.  When I did a head count, I realized that most of them won't be returning for 4th grade.  Parents are already moving to the burbs, and elsewhere in the country and the world, or privates because they know our assigned middle school won't work for them, not by a long shot, and wouldn't be satisfied with BASIS or Latin (particularly for HS), even if they could get in.

Our politicians have really let us down and Bowser and Henderson and co. could absolutely care less if they lose these families, all of whom started DCPS in PreK3 or PreK4. Most of these kids' parents have been very involved in the PTA from the get go. When I passed Charles Allen on a sidewalk the other night, it was all I could do to keep from yelling[b] "WHERE IS OUT TEST-IN PROGRAM![/b]  WHY DOES WARD 7 GET ONE BUT NOT WARD 6?!" at him. [/quote]

You'll be lucky to get a language immersion offer as a subtle test-in in masquerade/gimmick.  But yes, why not just a simple, serious school as you suggest where kids can learn without major disruptions?  The Council throws a lot of money at developers to make projects happen; all they have to do is make quality DCPS schools and the market will handle the rest.  But that's too simple.[/quote]

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