Anonymous wrote:My youngest sister recently graduated in the top third of her class from McKinley Tech (with less than a 3.0! <-- holy mother of grade-inflation!). She is now atttending a mid-range state school and is struggling academically. Her spelling, grammar, and writing in general are ATROCIOUS. I was floored when I reviewed her college application essays. I love my sister dearly, but my parents truly failed her by letting her attend McKinley Tech (Even the "higher-ranking" ones. Unfortunately, it's all relative.) without somehow supplementing her eduction.

I fixed that for you. You're welcome.

And you described grade DEFLATION, not INFLATION.

My kid went to a DC public high school, not charter, and took college classes his senior year at Georgetown through HiSCIP, along with many other DCPS high school seniors at other other area colleges. He managed to get Bs in his classes, while taking his regular high school classes. The professors had no idea he was a high school student. This kid wasn't prepared b/c he went to a CHARTER school. I would not consider any charter school one of DC's best schools.

Dd went to private high school in DC and attended GU and found it to be quite hard.

I don't doubt that Cesar Chavez did not challenge this young man enough. However, he doesn't see how much kids like mine benefit from having highly educated parents who are professionals. We were able to encourage dd, warn her about the difficulties, and help her with her work.

I'm quite impressed at how he managed to do all this!

My youngest sister recently graduated in the top third of her class from McKinley Tech (with less than a 3.0! <-- holy mother of grade-inflation!). She is now atttending a mid-range state school and is struggling academically. Her spelling, grammar, and writing in general are ATROCIOUS. I was floored when I reviewed her college application essays. I love my sister dearly, but my parents truly failed her by letting her attend DC public schools (Even the "higher-ranking" ones. Unfortunately, it's all relative.) without somehow supplementing her eduction.

The opinion piece is, to me, similar to posts on here entitled "men are idiots" and then rant about the flaws and failings of the OP's husband. It's comforting to believe that there's some sort of systemic failure involved - that way you don't have to actually take responsibilty for your own failures (or the fact that you married a dick). But it's seldom the case.

Plus, he's not talking about DCPS, or charters (each of which has an independent curriculum) - he's talking about the specific schools he attended.

Basically, he isn't as brilliant as he thought he was in high shcool (hell, who is?) and he needs to rationalize that realization.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who knew there were so many New Trier alum on this board?

FWIW, I went to a small school on the south side of Chicago that anyone from New Trier would have cringed at. Graduated at the top of my program at a private Midwest college (on scholarship, couldn't afford a top tier school) and at the top of my grad school program (a public school).

My point is, there are so many factors that go into college preparedness.

I am the F/D New Trier grad -- that is my point exactly. Clearly I actually ended up graduating (with honors for that matter) and have done really well in life but I didn't do well that first quarter. No, not at all.

I would guess it was probably even harder for you because as a NT grad you were expected to excel in college. Much less pressure on me as a city school grad, I think that made things a bit easier.

Anonymous wrote:Who knew there were so many New Trier alum on this board?

FWIW, I went to a small school on the south side of Chicago that anyone from New Trier would have cringed at. Graduated at the top of my program at a private Midwest college (on scholarship, couldn't afford a top tier school) and at the top of my grad school program (a public school).

My point is, there are so many factors that go into college preparedness.

I am the F/D New Trier grad -- that is my point exactly. Clearly I actually ended up graduating (with honors for that matter) and have done really well in life but I didn't do well that first quarter. No, not at all.

I find his post somewhat whiny. I did very well at college because I was well prepared and because I worked incredibly hard. When I did struggle in a class, I never thought, "My high school failed me." He doesn't talk about one teacher who encouraged him or supported his learning. I had plenty of teachers treat me poorly, but I had many who were supportive of me. That is life. I work in a workplace with a lot of supportive people and some real jerks. I know kids who've graduated from DCPS who have done incredible well at top colleges. Feeling responsible for my own success helps me continue to succeed. It is a little disapointing that Ceasar Chavez didn't better prepare him. I've heard some promising stuff about that school.

Who knew there were so many New Trier alum on this board?

FWIW, I went to a small school on the south side of Chicago that anyone from New Trier would have cringed at. Graduated at the top of my program at a private Midwest college (on scholarship, couldn't afford a top tier school) and at the top of my grad school program (a public school).

My point is, there are so many factors that go into college preparedness.

I went to GDS and felt unprepared for college.

Worth the $? Maybe in the 90s, but now - no way.

I also call BS on this. I didn't go to New Trier but debated against kids from there. Also, I went to a mediocre public school in the South and did just fine at college. You have to be really, really slack to get all Ds and Fs in my opinion.

Anonymous wrote:Whoa. Who thinks that any Tier 2 school is one of DC's best?

Regardless, I went to an outstanding public high school. Straight As and really one of the best public schools in the country (New Trier). Accepted to Northwestern early admissions. Holy Shit, got mostly Fs and Ds first semester my freshman year. Was on academic probation and scared for the rest of the year.

Yes, my actualy best school didn't prepare me.

Still makes me cringe.

I call BS on this. I went to New Trier as well, and it was excellent preparation for college. In my college freshman English class, there were two of us NT alum--me, who had been in all 4--level & AP classes, and another guy who was in all 2 and 3 level classes at NT. Even he was a better writer than most of our classmates. And I know you're wondering... I also went to an excellent university, and went on to a top 10 law school.

He didn't attend DCPS-he attended Charter Schools-and I'm not sure the ones listed are the best. I don't think its fair to place all of the blame on DC. There are mean teachers everywere-and grade inflation is a well discussed problem at schools around the country. Lots of kids struggle their first year in college-it should be harder than High School!

Whoa. Who thinks that any Tier 2 school is one of DC's best?

Regardless, I went to an outstanding public high school. Straight As and really one of the best public schools in the country (New Trier). Accepted to Northwestern early admissions. Holy Shit, got mostly Fs and Ds first semester my freshman year. Was on academic probation and scared for the rest of the year.

Yes, my actualy best school didn't prepare me.

Still makes me cringe.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/i-went-to-one-of-dcs-best-high-schools-i-was-still-unprepared-for-college/2012/04/13/gIQAqQQAFT_story.html