Anonymous wrote:One way to get at least a partial answer to your question is to look at the decrease in the achievement gap at various schools. If it's closing, I think that means scores are going up because teachers and students worked really hard to make gains. And I don't mean making gains by doing non-stop test prep. I do mean making gains by doing more teaching and better teaching of concepts and skills.

any evidence to back that statement up?

Anonymous wrote:Oh, please, if you go by DCUM standards, DH and I are absolutely poverty stricken at 100K+ so it's anybody's guess. First, DCUM has to define middle class and then DCUM has to get over itself. Collectively. When I was government cheese poor, I still made better grades than you. My straight A+ kids will still make better grades than 80% of DCPS kids even if DH loses his job. We just are good readers who value education. It's not all about money.

You are correct. It's not ALL about money. Educational level of parents and parental attitudes toward education also affect test scores.

This is like pre-season when will the leagues of FARM and SES start training camp?

Really, SES thinks that FARM don't value education or they aren't educated.

This is league is so much vicious than the Us vs Them league.

Aww, ya mean this here SES thang, it's not jes' about money, that hillbillies that hit the lottery ain't gonna do the same as some rich genteel folk?

Tarnation.

No, it is code for educated parents that care and have high educational expectations. I don't want my children going to school with rich kids. Truly wealthy kids are often nothing but trouble if you follow stereotypes. I want my children educated with children of educated people that care about their children's social well being as well as grades. I want nice, smart kids to be friends with mine. I do not care where you live or what color your skin is, as long as you are, kind responsible and have a sense of humor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, please, if you go by DCUM standards, DH and I are absolutely poverty stricken at 100K+ so it's anybody's guess. First, DCUM has to define middle class and then DCUM has to get over itself. Collectively. When I was government cheese poor, I still made better grades than you. My straight A+ kids will still make better grades than 80% of DCPS kids even if DH loses his job. We just are good readers who value education. It's not all about money.

Since you are so learned, you probably know what SES stands for. Hint: it's more than cash. So, deep breath I guess, ay?
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
>>>>>>>Socio<<<<<<<< Economic Status
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

SES is just a $50 code word for money! At DCUM, anyway, Socio Economic Status is virtually identical to House Hold Income

Anonymous wrote:Oh, please, if you go by DCUM standards, DH and I are absolutely poverty stricken at 100K+ so it's anybody's guess. First, DCUM has to define middle class and then DCUM has to get over itself. Collectively. When I was government cheese poor, I still made better grades than you. My straight A+ kids will still make better grades than 80% of DCPS kids even if DH loses his job. We just are good readers who value education. It's not all about money.

Since you are so learned, you probably know what SES stands for. Hint: it's more than cash. So, deep breath I guess, ay?
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
>>>>>>>Socio<<<<<<<< Economic Status
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

SES means more than income level. Your children have educated parents who have high expectations for their children and send them to school ready to learn. That is what drives the SES difference, income is just a handy proxy for a household with those characteristics.

Anonymous wrote:Oh, please, if you go by DCUM standards, DH and I are absolutely poverty stricken at 100K+ so it's anybody's guess. First, DCUM has to define middle class and then DCUM has to get over itself. Collectively. When I was government cheese poor, I still made better grades than you. My straight A+ kids will still make better grades than 80% of DCPS kids even if DH loses his job. We just are good readers who value education. It's not all about money.

+1

Anonymous wrote:Oh, please, if you go by DCUM standards, DH and I are absolutely poverty stricken at 100K+ so it's anybody's guess. First, DCUM has to define middle class and then DCUM has to get over itself. Collectively. When I was government cheese poor, I still made better grades than you. My straight A+ kids will still make better grades than 80% of DCPS kids even if DH loses his job. We just are good readers who value education. It's not all about money.

+1000

Oh, please, if you go by DCUM standards, DH and I are absolutely poverty stricken at 100K+ so it's anybody's guess. First, DCUM has to define middle class and then DCUM has to get over itself. Collectively. When I was government cheese poor, I still made better grades than you. My straight A+ kids will still make better grades than 80% of DCPS kids even if DH loses his job. We just are good readers who value education. It's not all about money.

Anonymous wrote:One way to get at least a partial answer to your question is to look at the decrease in the achievement gap at various schools. If it's closing, I think that means scores are going up because teachers and students worked really hard to make gains. And I don't mean making gains by doing non-stop test prep. I do mean making gains by doing more teaching and better teaching of concepts and skills.

According to John Merrow, the achievement gap has increased. Skim article if want to skip the Rhee bashing but compelling data nevertheless.
A Story About Michelle Rhee That No One Will Print http://takingnote.learningmatters.tv/?p=6490

One way to get at least a partial answer to your question is to look at the decrease in the achievement gap at various schools. If it's closing, I think that means scores are going up because teachers and students worked really hard to make gains. And I don't mean making gains by doing non-stop test prep. I do mean making gains by doing more teaching and better teaching of concepts and skills.

Yes, gentrification helps. High SES kids take up less resources so those resources and the teacher's attention can focus on those that need it.

Are the major gains that DCPS and DC PCS students have made in DC CAS due to/due in part to increased numbers of high SES students entering schools?

The presentation made by DCPS http://dc.gov/DCPS/Files/downloads/ABOUT%20DCPS/Announcements/2013%20DC%20CAS%20Presentation-Final.pdf) at p. 39, shows a gain for FARM (14,306 students) from 28.4% in 2007 to 37.6% in 2009, dropping in the next two years, but regaining 37.6% in 2013.

If poorer students did well this year - are overall gains attributable at all to increasing income? Is any of it to do with more entering students who are not FARM students?

I don't mean to push any agenda with this - I want to know what people think about whether DC is actually getting better at educating students who are low income, or whether demographic shifts are driving some of this.

Thanks.