Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in Deal 6th grade and another one in early elementary and honestly I'd be thrilled to be rezoned with our elementary school peers to a smaller middle school that isn't Deal.
What is with the Deal worship? Lafayette parents--it isn't that great! It's massive and often chaotic. Teachers barely know who my kid is. There's little order in any classroom. We have to stay on top of things because assignments go missing, grades are entered incorrectly, etc.
Teachers are uneven--some are amazing. Some are horrible. I have a large number of friends with kids in the school (from our feeder elementary) and we almost universally think the same thing. Deal is fine. Nothing more.

From someone at Deal--don't cling to it like it's the end-all-be-all of schools. I'd personally welcome a chance for my kids to go to a smaller middle school and somewhat regret not trying to lottery for 7th. I personally think the folks zoned for
Hardy have it best. Seriously, if my younger kid was at Lafayette I'd be thrilled at the idea that the school might be rezoned for something smaller.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in Deal 6th grade and another one in early elementary and honestly I'd be thrilled to be rezoned with our elementary school peers to a smaller middle school that isn't Deal.
What is with the Deal worship? Lafayette parents--it isn't that great! It's massive and often chaotic. Teachers barely know who my kid is. There's little order in any classroom. We have to stay on top of things because assignments go missing, grades are entered incorrectly, etc.
Teachers are uneven--some are amazing. Some are horrible. I have a large number of friends with kids in the school (from our feeder elementary) and we almost universally think the same thing. Deal is fine. Nothing more.

From someone at Deal--don't cling to it like it's the end-all-be-all of schools. I'd personally welcome a chance for my kids to go to a smaller middle school and somewhat regret not trying to lottery for 7th. I personally think the folks zoned for
Hardy have it best. Seriously, if my younger kid was at Lafayette I'd be thrilled at the idea that the school might be rezoned for something smaller.

Note that this IS NOT A Lafayette parent. It’s someone who’s kid is not going to go to Wells/Coolidge who thinks the school is too overcrowded for her kid!

Yes, I'm not and never said I was. Just a Deal parent bringing the on-the-ground perspective that Deal isn't that great. That perhaps having an alternative might just be an improvement! I know, go ahead and write off what I'm saying because it seems self-serving. Well, don't worry
I have zero actual influence. What I'm saying is just my opinion for the purpose of this message board. I wish my kids had a different option and and knowing what Deal is like, I wouldn't fear if they were redistricted with a peer group to Hardy or Wells.

Thank you PP. We are going to Deal in fall and had similar concerns. We tried for Hardy but were not successful.

DP here:
It’s pretty crazy to read that people are trying to get out of Deal so they can lottery into the smaller Hardy. The tables have turned! Just 4 years ago, your post was unimaginable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in Deal 6th grade and another one in early elementary and honestly I'd be thrilled to be rezoned with our elementary school peers to a smaller middle school that isn't Deal.
What is with the Deal worship? Lafayette parents--it isn't that great! It's massive and often chaotic. Teachers barely know who my kid is. There's little order in any classroom. We have to stay on top of things because assignments go missing, grades are entered incorrectly, etc.
Teachers are uneven--some are amazing. Some are horrible. I have a large number of friends with kids in the school (from our feeder elementary) and we almost universally think the same thing. Deal is fine. Nothing more.

From someone at Deal--don't cling to it like it's the end-all-be-all of schools. I'd personally welcome a chance for my kids to go to a smaller middle school and somewhat regret not trying to lottery for 7th. I personally think the folks zoned for
Hardy have it best. Seriously, if my younger kid was at Lafayette I'd be thrilled at the idea that the school might be rezoned for something smaller.

Note that this IS NOT A Lafayette parent. It’s someone who’s kid is not going to go to Wells/Coolidge who thinks the school is too overcrowded for her kid!

Yes, I'm not and never said I was. Just a Deal parent bringing the on-the-ground perspective that Deal isn't that great. That perhaps having an alternative might just be an improvement! I know, go ahead and write off what I'm saying because it seems self-serving. Well, don't worry
I have zero actual influence. What I'm saying is just my opinion for the purpose of this message board. I wish my kids had a different option and and knowing what Deal is like, I wouldn't fear if they were redistricted with a peer group to Hardy or Wells.

Thank you PP. We are going to Deal in fall and had similar concerns. We tried for Hardy but were not successful.

Anonymous wrote:Make Wisconsin Avenue the dividing line for Deal-Wilson. The schools on same side of Wisconsin Avenue go to Deal and Wilson. The others go to Cardozo or Roosevelt.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in Deal 6th grade and another one in early elementary and honestly I'd be thrilled to be rezoned with our elementary school peers to a smaller middle school that isn't Deal.
What is with the Deal worship? Lafayette parents--it isn't that great! It's massive and often chaotic. Teachers barely know who my kid is. There's little order in any classroom. We have to stay on top of things because assignments go missing, grades are entered incorrectly, etc.
Teachers are uneven--some are amazing. Some are horrible. I have a large number of friends with kids in the school (from our feeder elementary) and we almost universally think the same thing. Deal is fine. Nothing more.

From someone at Deal--don't cling to it like it's the end-all-be-all of schools. I'd personally welcome a chance for my kids to go to a smaller middle school and somewhat regret not trying to lottery for 7th. I personally think the folks zoned for
Hardy have it best. Seriously, if my younger kid was at Lafayette I'd be thrilled at the idea that the school might be rezoned for something smaller.

Note that this IS NOT A Lafayette parent. It’s someone who’s kid is not going to go to Wells/Coolidge who thinks the school is too overcrowded for her kid!

Yes, I'm not and never said I was. Just a Deal parent bringing the on-the-ground perspective that Deal isn't that great. That perhaps having an alternative might just be an improvement! I know, go ahead and write off what I'm saying because it seems self-serving. Well, don't worry
I have zero actual influence. What I'm saying is just my opinion for the purpose of this message board. I wish my kids had a different option and and knowing what Deal is like, I wouldn't fear if they were redistricted with a peer group to Hardy or Wells.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in Deal 6th grade and another one in early elementary and honestly I'd be thrilled to be rezoned with our elementary school peers to a smaller middle school that isn't Deal.
What is with the Deal worship? Lafayette parents--it isn't that great! It's massive and often chaotic. Teachers barely know who my kid is. There's little order in any classroom. We have to stay on top of things because assignments go missing, grades are entered incorrectly, etc.
Teachers are uneven--some are amazing. Some are horrible. I have a large number of friends with kids in the school (from our feeder elementary) and we almost universally think the same thing. Deal is fine. Nothing more.

From someone at Deal--don't cling to it like it's the end-all-be-all of schools. I'd personally welcome a chance for my kids to go to a smaller middle school and somewhat regret not trying to lottery for 7th. I personally think the folks zoned for
Hardy have it best. Seriously, if my younger kid was at Lafayette I'd be thrilled at the idea that the school might be rezoned for something smaller.

Note that this IS NOT A Lafayette parent. It’s someone who’s kid is not going to go to Wells/Coolidge who thinks the school is too overcrowded for her kid!

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in Deal 6th grade and another one in early elementary and honestly I'd be thrilled to be rezoned with our elementary school peers to a smaller middle school that isn't Deal.
What is with the Deal worship? Lafayette parents--it isn't that great! It's massive and often chaotic. Teachers barely know who my kid is. There's little order in any classroom. We have to stay on top of things because assignments go missing, grades are entered incorrectly, etc.
Teachers are uneven--some are amazing. Some are horrible. I have a large number of friends with kids in the school (from our feeder elementary) and we almost universally think the same thing. Deal is fine. Nothing more.

From someone at Deal--don't cling to it like it's the end-all-be-all of schools. I'd personally welcome a chance for my kids to go to a smaller middle school and somewhat regret not trying to lottery for 7th. I personally think the folks zoned for
Hardy have it best. Seriously, if my younger kid was at Lafayette I'd be thrilled at the idea that the school might be rezoned for something smaller.

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in Deal 6th grade and another one in early elementary and honestly I'd be thrilled to be rezoned with our elementary school peers to a smaller middle school that isn't Deal.
What is with the Deal worship? Lafayette parents--it isn't that great! It's massive and often chaotic. Teachers barely know who my kid is. There's little order in any classroom. We have to stay on top of things because assignments go missing, grades are entered incorrectly, etc.
Teachers are uneven--some are amazing. Some are horrible. I have a large number of friends with kids in the school (from our feeder elementary) and we almost universally think the same thing. Deal is fine. Nothing more.

From someone at Deal--don't cling to it like it's the end-all-be-all of schools. I'd personally welcome a chance for my kids to go to a smaller middle school and somewhat regret not trying to lottery for 7th. I personally think the folks zoned for
Hardy have it best. Seriously, if my younger kid was at Lafayette I'd be thrilled at the idea that the school might be rezoned for something smaller.

Anonymous wrote:I think the key to reducing overcrowding in Deal/Wilson, and creating a very good middle school in the new Wells middle right of the bat, is the cohort of students at Lafayette, Bancroft, and Shepherd. Those three schools make a very well performing cohort (in terms of academics) of students. Push them over to Wells, and you've got a compelling new school. Take them out of Deal/Wilson, and the overcrowding problem is solved. I think it's a pretty good deal, from an outsider's perspective.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given how well Hardy is progressing, moving Eaton to Hardy seems like the right move, in retrospect. Hearst could be moved to Hardy, next, and while parents would squawk, they'd still have access to a good school.

I think it makes little sense, given logistics of the map, to move Lafayette away from Deal. Janney, LaFayette, and Murch are the most logical schools to go to Deal because of their proximity. But it makes even LESS sense for Bancroft and Shepherd to go there, as they're even farther away. Obviously, the only reasons Bancroft and Shepherd go there are for purposes of equity and politics.

The most elegant solution would be to send Hearst to Hardy and Bancroft and Shepherd to the new Hines. But that won't happen except for Hearst, so the next best solution to the Deal/Wilson overcrowding problem would be to send the expanded Hardy to a new High School, which would also take on Francis-Stevens. But where's the real estate for it?

The old Duke Ellington track on Reservoir Road. It's still owned by DCPS and the site is actually bigger than the block DESA is currently located.

Unfortunately, I think this Mayor has firmly put her foot down against any new by-right schools opening in Ward 3 and western parts of Ward 2. Her constituency won't stand for it, due to the racial optics and equity arguments. She has said in community meetings that she wants to focus on opening more all-city application schools. I think this is the only type of new school you will WoTP.

Still, your proposal is an interesting one. There would definitely be a strong cohort for Hardy to feed to a brand new high school, if they included Hearst and Francis Stevens. However, the Hardy site is very small without much room at all for expansion. It's way smaller than Deal. I believe projections show that Hardy will hit their capacity in the next 2-3 years. So including any other elementary schools would require an expansion to Hardy. They could cannibalize the tennis courts with a couple trailers, but that's about it.

-Burleith Family

Or you could convert Duke Ellington to a normal school. Problem solved.

Honestly? This suggestion is not helpful. It represents a pie-in-the-sky fantasy and an old way of thinking. My elderly neighbors mention this suggestion and city officials roll their eyes and shake their heads. The city already overspent on DESA; they are not going to spend another $20-30m to convert the school. Converting it would require major construction.

When you say something like this, you’re immediately rejected as clueless by the city. DESA is the crown jewel and won’t let you touch. WoTP families (not elderly retirees) need to get serious about a viable option to Wilson HS. Hardy will be bursting at the seams by the time my baby is ready for MS, I’m scared to see what Wilson looks like. Families need to get organized and act before DCPS/The Mayor try to sell off the DESA track to Georgetown Univ, a developer, or a charter.

-Burleith Family

That’s bullsh@t. DE enrollment is mainly students who live outside of DC. It is a joke. Under 200 students who live in DC attend the school. What a waste of resources. It shows what is wrong with DCPS. You do not need to do major construction to “convert” it to a regular school. The physical plant is fine. No need for new construction. The city officials who roll their eyes need to be removed. DE is a shining example of a white elephant that is DCPS.

Your little harebrained scheme to build a new school at the track/athletic school near Georgetown is crazy. I can see the city officials patting you on the head and telling you to sit down and let the adults talk. It would never in a million years happen.

Anonymous wrote:You would be right anywhere else. But this is DC. And white people with money don't have as much political power here, relatively. On Election Day, people running for Dc citywide offices are not campaigning in Ward 3. They’re in Wards 4, 7, and 8.