Reply to Fix the Cluster/Stuart Hobson

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[quote=Anonymous]Some of the parents who see charters off the Hill as the answer to their ms prayers are in for disappointment, not right away, but by hs.  We left Latin after facing the reality that our bright and disciplined kid was  falling behind peers in suburban schools and at privates, particularly in math, writing and Spanish.

There's only so much a great teacher and decent ms school can do when a good quarfter of the kids in a class lack basic academic skills.  I'm not just talking about low-SES kids, I'm taling about white kids who didn't learn all that much in DCPS elementary schools, particularly in math.  Every charter is under a lot of pressure to focus on raising proficiency pass rates rather than challenging the best prepared and most able students.

Our child attended a parochial school in NW this past school year and the difference was notable.  For example, many of the kids in her Spanish class had been cared for by Latino nannies/au pairs, or have parents who speak the language, and participate in immersion summer camps (including low-SES scholarship kids).   Also, her teacher was older and much more experienced than the one she had a Latin, who was paid peanuts.  This means that Spanish instruction at her new school was miles ahead of Latin.  She could have handled "honors" classes at Latin, but no such option.

I wish things were diferent because I can't afford parochial school for all my kids.  DC really needs a high-quality, competitive admissions ms for advanced/gifted kids.  I don't think SH would be a bad location for one, but the kumbaya Cluster leaders won't embrace the concept.  I won't be surprised to see one emerge downtown in time, too late for most on this thread.

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