Anonymous wrote:Can we define "fix"?

We can only speak in relative terms about what it would take to "fix" the MS problem Maury faces (and Brent and Tyler SI). While many, perhaps most, middle-class Hill parents will be satisfied to head to Latin or BASIS, or to see SH and EH improve a bit, lots of others won't. The fix I'm looking for seems out or reach for a couple decades.

I'm not enamored of Latin's social promotion, lack of tracking (kids who fail the DC-CAS in all the same classes as kids able to do college level work in MS, and weak STEM curriculum. I'm equally unimpressed with the BASIS population pyramid (125 5th graders whittled down to 3 dozen 12th graders as an aim of the program) weak facilities, cramped quarters and meager athletics. SH seems to be going downhill, and EH seems to be going nowhere. I can afford a private, but don't want the accompanying cocoon world. I want MoCo or Fairfax level test-in academic programs, and extra-curriculars, meaning I'll move, renting out my house until the day I can return as an empty-nester.

The rub is that my oldest kid just finished Pres3. You don't need to have a 1st grader to see the writing on the wall, at least if you're not all fired up about "diversity" (we could care less, simply wanting stellar academics and sports for high-energy kids).

Excellent idea moving to the suburbs then.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love parents who have kids in 1st grade who think they have it all figured out. It is like dealing with 16 year olds who are sure they know better than their parents. We just nod and smile and say "that's great, honey. So glad you are feeling good. " and we think " they have NO IDEA" what's ahead

Different poster here. Seems to me that things have changed a lot in this area and that that poster may have a different sense of what is possible. Down the road maybe that poster will follow a course different from yours and maybe they won't. I don't think any of us knows what the middle school options will be for kids currently in 1st grade. But of course go ahead and be condescending - that will win you lots of converts.

I think you and some others completely misunderstood that poster's "you have no idea", testimony to the fact that you really don't. During elementary school, you might think that kids and school are virtually synonymous. It's, like, us, my child, her/his teacher, our school, well and a little bit of other stuff. A pre-teen or teenager is a different breed. Choosing a school is a worry to be sure, but it's a worry that has so many more dimensions than picking an elementary school, and there is so much more "other" stuff, you really just have no idea. Joyful stuff, I'm not trying to scare you, but it's going to be one of many, many dimensions in your life.

Pp here. As a matter of fact, I do have an idea. My kid is 19 and I've been there done that already. So I'm not scared at all having already raised a child and contemplated our choices when the kid hit middle school and high school. I just know that people make various choices as their kids grow up and sometimes their plans change and sometimes they don't. But also sometimes the conditions change in ways you can't anticipate so who are you to predict the future? Case in point - when my child was coming up, it was easy to get into a good DCPS out of boundaries and now it's difficult. Well, maybe all the middle class families coming into the elementary schools in Capitol Hill will increase the middle school options. Or not. One way or another, there's no need to be snotty and superior about it - or to lecture me, who's BTDT, about what's coming up. Unless you'd like to hear me go on about how you have no idea what it's like to get a kid into college. No? Good, I'll spare you that.

Can we define "fix"?

We can only speak in relative terms about what it would take to "fix" the MS problem Maury faces (and Brent and Tyler SI). While many, perhaps most, middle-class Hill parents will be satisfied to head to Latin or BASIS, or to see SH and EH improve a bit, lots of others won't. The fix I'm looking for seems out or reach for a couple decades.

I'm not enamored of Latin's social promotion, lack of tracking (kids who fail the DC-CAS in all the same classes as kids able to do college level work in MS, and weak STEM curriculum. I'm equally unimpressed with the BASIS population pyramid (125 5th graders whittled down to 3 dozen 12th graders as an aim of the program) weak facilities, cramped quarters and meager athletics. SH seems to be going downhill, and EH seems to be going nowhere. I can afford a private, but don't want the accompanying cocoon world. I want MoCo or Fairfax level test-in academic programs, and extra-curriculars, meaning I'll move, renting out my house until the day I can return as an empty-nester.

The rub is that my oldest kid just finished Pres3. You don't need to have a 1st grader to see the writing on the wall, at least if you're not all fired up about "diversity" (we could care less, simply wanting stellar academics and sports for high-energy kids).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love parents who have kids in 1st grade who think they have it all figured out. It is like dealing with 16 year olds who are sure they know better than their parents. We just nod and smile and say "that's great, honey. So glad you are feeling good. " and we think " they have NO IDEA" what's ahead

Different poster here. Seems to me that things have changed a lot in this area and that that poster may have a different sense of what is possible. Down the road maybe that poster will follow a course different from yours and maybe they won't. I don't think any of us knows what the middle school options will be for kids currently in 1st grade. But of course go ahead and be condescending - that will win you lots of converts.

I think you and some others completely misunderstood that poster's "you have no idea", testimony to the fact that you really don't. During elementary school, you might think that kids and school are virtually synonymous. It's, like, us, my child, her/his teacher, our school, well and a little bit of other stuff. A pre-teen or teenager is a different breed. Choosing a school is a worry to be sure, but it's a worry that has so many more dimensions than picking an elementary school, and there is so much more "other" stuff, you really just have no idea. Joyful stuff, I'm not trying to scare you, but it's going to be one of many, many dimensions in your life.

I am the condescending poster and certainly not trying to win converts to anything or appear attractive. Carry on. It is fun to watch.

Anonymous wrote:I love parents who have kids in 1st grade who think they have it all figured out. It is like dealing with 16 year olds who are sure they know better than their parents. We just nod and smile and say "that's great, honey. So glad you are feeling good. " and we think " they have NO IDEA" what's ahead

Different poster here. Seems to me that things have changed a lot in this area and that that poster may have a different sense of what is possible. Down the road maybe that poster will follow a course different from yours and maybe they won't. I don't think any of us knows what the middle school options will be for kids currently in 1st grade. But of course go ahead and be condescending - that will win you lots of converts.

[quote=Anonymous]I really feel bad for Maury when this pp chimes in. Do the other Maury parents know who this is? We used to live IB for Maury (yes, an escapee but still in DCPS) and I loved the community. I do hope people can discuss issues without someone continually chiming in to tell them they don't know what they are talking about.

Back to the recent discussion. As a pp pointed out the CH middle school issue has been around for decades. It has always been something DCPS has fiddled with and never fixed-- it was going on long before Rhee. There are definitely more options for CH MS. Unfortunately for us none were good-- we didn't get into Latin, my kid(s) are not cut our for Basis or St. Anslems. They days of getting into St. P/2R for MS are over and SH/EH/Jeff are not options for my kids. For us the driving two times a day across town didn't work for us so we moved (still in DCPS). That works for us. My hope was to get into Latin and either use the bus or move closer to next location-- no such luck. That is why I think that the MS issue will continue to hold back the Hill schools. We were one of those young families thinking it would be "fixed" by the time our first went to MS. But it just continues on and I think will only get worse before it gets better. [/quote]

I sympathize. It's tough, but often driving across town is definitely the lesser of two evils. The MS problem won't go away.

[quote=Anonymous]oh, how i wanted to avoid DCUM and this f*ckery. but i am just amazed at the stupidity coming from people who DON'T send their kids to Maury or who once-upon-a-time lived in the city. schools and neighborhoods are not static. there has been a sea-change just in the last 5 years at Maury. I'm a first-time poster here, but I have a kid going into 1st grade at Maury. We've been there since PS3, live IB and wouldn't even consider another school. sure, there are some teachers we hope we don't get (or are glad we didn't), but for the most part, we have a great, responsive principal who has made some amazing hires each year. We have a supportive community of parents (where we've made lasting friendships). We've had lots of new construction so the playground will be brand=new this year and we're getting new fencing (facilities matter). My kiddo loves school and is learning way more than I ever did at his age. If you don't know what you are talking about (i.e., aren't at Maury), please stop talking about it.

as for MS, it's a problem everywhere since time began. kids survive. [/quote]

Mere survival isn't good enough. My kids deserve to thrive and succeed. I wonder if you'll back up your rant once the CAS scores come out and echo the trends of the last five years.

I really feel bad for Maury when this pp chimes in. Do the other Maury parents know who this is? We used to live IB for Maury (yes, an escapee but still in DCPS) and I loved the community. I do hope people can discuss issues without someone continually chiming in to tell them they don't know what they are talking about.

Back to the recent discussion. As a pp pointed out the CH middle school issue has been around for decades. It has always been something DCPS has fiddled with and never fixed-- it was going on long before Rhee. There are definitely more options for CH MS. Unfortunately for us none were good-- we didn't get into Latin, my kid(s) are not cut our for Basis or St. Anslems. They days of getting into St. P/2R for MS are over and SH/EH/Jeff are not options for my kids. For us the driving two times a day across town didn't work for us so we moved (still in DCPS). That works for us. My hope was to get into Latin and either use the bus or move closer to next location-- no such luck. That is why I think that the MS issue will continue to hold back the Hill schools. We were one of those young families thinking it would be "fixed" by the time our first went to MS. But it just continues on and I think will only get worse before it gets better.

Anonymous wrote:I love parents who have kids in 1st grade who think they have it all figured out. It is like dealing with 16 year olds who are sure they know better than their parents. We just nod and smile and say "that's great, honey. So glad you are feeling good. " and we think " they have NO IDEA" what's ahead

I'm sure you have lots of wisdom to impart, but you can save such nuggets of wisdom like "middle school can be problematic". If you have some insights you should enlighten us. Anyway, I feel bad for you (and others with grown kids) that you were too early and missed the massive demographic shift of the mid to late 00s. I understand why you're pissy. Still, your obvious jealousy and bitterness are not very attractive.

Anonymous wrote:I love parents who have kids in 1st grade who think they have it all figured out. It is like dealing with 16 year olds who are sure they know better than their parents. We just nod and smile and say "that's great, honey. So glad you are feeling good. " and we think " they have NO IDEA" what's ahead

Hey, Maury comrade, I think I have to agree with this poster. Too bad, I thought this thread was finally yielding an interesting discussion about whether or not - generally speaking - middle school matters in one's elementary school choice and in one's desire to live here or there. (Doesn't for us.) As a - somewhat more seasoned - Maury parent, I too can't bear ballpark assessments from parents who obviously have no kids at a school or nor longer do. I myself refrain from doing so about other schools even if I have a "hearsay" opinion on it. But I enjoyed the broader discussion here. Well, then so long, guys!

I love parents who have kids in 1st grade who think they have it all figured out. It is like dealing with 16 year olds who are sure they know better than their parents. We just nod and smile and say "that's great, honey. So glad you are feeling good. " and we think " they have NO IDEA" what's ahead

oh, how i wanted to avoid DCUM and this f*ckery. but i am just amazed at the stupidity coming from people who DON'T send their kids to Maury or who once-upon-a-time lived in the city. schools and neighborhoods are not static. there has been a sea-change just in the last 5 years at Maury. I'm a first-time poster here, but I have a kid going into 1st grade at Maury. We've been there since PS3, live IB and wouldn't even consider another school. sure, there are some teachers we hope we don't get (or are glad we didn't), but for the most part, we have a great, responsive principal who has made some amazing hires each year. We have a supportive community of parents (where we've made lasting friendships). We've had lots of new construction so the playground will be brand=new this year and we're getting new fencing (facilities matter). My kiddo loves school and is learning way more than I ever did at his age. If you don't know what you are talking about (i.e., aren't at Maury), please stop talking about it.

as for MS, it's a problem everywhere since time began. kids survive.

Anonymous wrote:No, those who're drawn away are so because they're looking for bigger doorways, wider lawns, double garages, newer detached homes, and possibly, quite possibly, more of their kind. Some will tell you, and probably make themselves believe, that's it's the schools. Other reasons just doesn't ring right in this city. But many are honest if you ask them sincerely.

I wouldn't discount those non-school related reasons, but the schools issue is certainly a factor. It may be less about being dissatisfied with a current or prospective DC school option or favoring a particular suburban school or program than the simple stability of a clear path from ES to HS. I hear from friends who've made the jump that they're relieved not to have to worry about gaining a preferred seat or dealing with lotteries for mulitple kids.

Yes. But we always need people to speak up for the ideal ( for society, for the neighborhood, for the environment for the kids in the city ) at the same time that we make it work as is. This sometimes gets labeled "entitlement". But no. It is the way things get done.