Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I look at my own stalled career, and it has nothing to do with the second-tier high school and second-tier state colleges I went to. I actually landed a really good job because I'm smart and had good mentors (better mentors than I would have had at an ivy school because state school professors have way more invested in their grad students), but then I stagnated. I could be at the top of my field if I had worked harder once my career began after grad school. The difference between "fine" and "amazing" schools is NOT going to make or break your kids' careers and life. It is a drive inside of them that will make the difference. And that you can't give them. It is there or it isn't.

My life is "fine" and would be fine even if I went to a W school and Yale. I'd probably feel worse about my career if I had gone to better schools. I'd likely have more interesting friends doing more interesting things. But I'd still be exactly where I am.

Likewise, I know so many people doing amazing things in my field who went to schools like mine. These are the literal stars in my profession.

We all want to believe that we can set our kids up for a great life. But all we can set them up for is "fine." I don't want to pretend that the US is a meritocracy because it does take a lot of parent privilege to achieve fine. But the difference between fine and amazing, no amount of parent privilege can engineer that.

The stats don't back you up. Elite colleges do make a difference.

https://www.businessinsider.com/colleges-whose-graduates-earn-the-most-2015-9#1-massachusetts-institute-of-technology-25

That doesn't mean what you think it means. It just shows that when you select for only top people you get good average results. It doesn't mean top people going elsewhere will personally have poor results. Imagine Elite Unicorn College only takes kids who get 1600 on the SAT and no one else, and it is full pay for all. Imagine Open Door To All U takes everyone who applies, and 50 brilliant kids with 1600 SATs go there because they were given a full ride. You would expect the overall post grad statistics of EUC to be much much stronger than ODTAU, and they will be. But, those 50 ODTAU kids are going to do just as well as the EUC kids.

NP: I went to a Top 30 university and then transferred to a Top 5. I learned lightyears more at the latter, in part due to the quality of the professors and in part due to the other students.

Anecdata is everywhere.

Anyhow, if you are happy with your kid attending Middle State U., great. But back to the earlier portion of the thread, that's not where most of WTOP are aiming.

Great. If nothing short of HYP will do for your child -- perhaps you need to go private or move to an all-rich school district. Meanwhile, the rest of us, in the real world, in DC, would like you to go away so we can figure out actually how to do things around here.

You want 5,000 students or so to leave DCPS?

Yes, if their parents are so stuck up that they believe "nothing but HYP will do for our child" such that they frustrate all abilities to come to good solutions for the rest of us -- they should leave.

That's a lovely way to get nowhere.

Here's a solution that will never come to pass because DCPS is too focused on optics to actually do something useful, but:

Move Shepard/Lafayette to Wells/Coolidge AND SET UP AN HONORS TRACK.

Job. Done.

Jannie, Lafayette, and Shepherd would be more impactful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I look at my own stalled career, and it has nothing to do with the second-tier high school and second-tier state colleges I went to. I actually landed a really good job because I'm smart and had good mentors (better mentors than I would have had at an ivy school because state school professors have way more invested in their grad students), but then I stagnated. I could be at the top of my field if I had worked harder once my career began after grad school. The difference between "fine" and "amazing" schools is NOT going to make or break your kids' careers and life. It is a drive inside of them that will make the difference. And that you can't give them. It is there or it isn't.

My life is "fine" and would be fine even if I went to a W school and Yale. I'd probably feel worse about my career if I had gone to better schools. I'd likely have more interesting friends doing more interesting things. But I'd still be exactly where I am.

Likewise, I know so many people doing amazing things in my field who went to schools like mine. These are the literal stars in my profession.

We all want to believe that we can set our kids up for a great life. But all we can set them up for is "fine." I don't want to pretend that the US is a meritocracy because it does take a lot of parent privilege to achieve fine. But the difference between fine and amazing, no amount of parent privilege can engineer that.

The stats don't back you up. Elite colleges do make a difference.

https://www.businessinsider.com/colleges-whose-graduates-earn-the-most-2015-9#1-massachusetts-institute-of-technology-25

That doesn't mean what you think it means. It just shows that when you select for only top people you get good average results. It doesn't mean top people going elsewhere will personally have poor results. Imagine Elite Unicorn College only takes kids who get 1600 on the SAT and no one else, and it is full pay for all. Imagine Open Door To All U takes everyone who applies, and 50 brilliant kids with 1600 SATs go there because they were given a full ride. You would expect the overall post grad statistics of EUC to be much much stronger than ODTAU, and they will be. But, those 50 ODTAU kids are going to do just as well as the EUC kids.

NP: I went to a Top 30 university and then transferred to a Top 5. I learned lightyears more at the latter, in part due to the quality of the professors and in part due to the other students.

Anecdata is everywhere.

Anyhow, if you are happy with your kid attending Middle State U., great. But back to the earlier portion of the thread, that's not where most of WTOP are aiming.

Great. If nothing short of HYP will do for your child -- perhaps you need to go private or move to an all-rich school district. Meanwhile, the rest of us, in the real world, in DC, would like you to go away so we can figure out actually how to do things around here.

You want 5,000 students or so to leave DCPS?

Yes, if their parents are so stuck up that they believe "nothing but HYP will do for our child" such that they frustrate all abilities to come to good solutions for the rest of us -- they should leave.

That's a lovely way to get nowhere.

Here's a solution that will never come to pass because DCPS is too focused on optics to actually do something useful, but:

Move Shepard/Lafayette to Wells/Coolidge AND SET UP AN HONORS TRACK.

Job. Done.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I look at my own stalled career, and it has nothing to do with the second-tier high school and second-tier state colleges I went to. I actually landed a really good job because I'm smart and had good mentors (better mentors than I would have had at an ivy school because state school professors have way more invested in their grad students), but then I stagnated. I could be at the top of my field if I had worked harder once my career began after grad school. The difference between "fine" and "amazing" schools is NOT going to make or break your kids' careers and life. It is a drive inside of them that will make the difference. And that you can't give them. It is there or it isn't.

My life is "fine" and would be fine even if I went to a W school and Yale. I'd probably feel worse about my career if I had gone to better schools. I'd likely have more interesting friends doing more interesting things. But I'd still be exactly where I am.

Likewise, I know so many people doing amazing things in my field who went to schools like mine. These are the literal stars in my profession.

We all want to believe that we can set our kids up for a great life. But all we can set them up for is "fine." I don't want to pretend that the US is a meritocracy because it does take a lot of parent privilege to achieve fine. But the difference between fine and amazing, no amount of parent privilege can engineer that.

The stats don't back you up. Elite colleges do make a difference.

https://www.businessinsider.com/colleges-whose-graduates-earn-the-most-2015-9#1-massachusetts-institute-of-technology-25

That doesn't mean what you think it means. It just shows that when you select for only top people you get good average results. It doesn't mean top people going elsewhere will personally have poor results. Imagine Elite Unicorn College only takes kids who get 1600 on the SAT and no one else, and it is full pay for all. Imagine Open Door To All U takes everyone who applies, and 50 brilliant kids with 1600 SATs go there because they were given a full ride. You would expect the overall post grad statistics of EUC to be much much stronger than ODTAU, and they will be. But, those 50 ODTAU kids are going to do just as well as the EUC kids.

NP: I went to a Top 30 university and then transferred to a Top 5. I learned lightyears more at the latter, in part due to the quality of the professors and in part due to the other students.

Anecdata is everywhere.

Anyhow, if you are happy with your kid attending Middle State U., great. But back to the earlier portion of the thread, that's not where most of WTOP are aiming.

Great. If nothing short of HYP will do for your child -- perhaps you need to go private or move to an all-rich school district. Meanwhile, the rest of us, in the real world, in DC, would like you to go away so we can figure out actually how to do things around here.

You want 5,000 students or so to leave DCPS?

Yes, if their parents are so stuck up that they believe "nothing but HYP will do for our child" such that they frustrate all abilities to come to good solutions for the rest of us -- they should leave.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I look at my own stalled career, and it has nothing to do with the second-tier high school and second-tier state colleges I went to. I actually landed a really good job because I'm smart and had good mentors (better mentors than I would have had at an ivy school because state school professors have way more invested in their grad students), but then I stagnated. I could be at the top of my field if I had worked harder once my career began after grad school. The difference between "fine" and "amazing" schools is NOT going to make or break your kids' careers and life. It is a drive inside of them that will make the difference. And that you can't give them. It is there or it isn't.

My life is "fine" and would be fine even if I went to a W school and Yale. I'd probably feel worse about my career if I had gone to better schools. I'd likely have more interesting friends doing more interesting things. But I'd still be exactly where I am.

Likewise, I know so many people doing amazing things in my field who went to schools like mine. These are the literal stars in my profession.

We all want to believe that we can set our kids up for a great life. But all we can set them up for is "fine." I don't want to pretend that the US is a meritocracy because it does take a lot of parent privilege to achieve fine. But the difference between fine and amazing, no amount of parent privilege can engineer that.

The stats don't back you up. Elite colleges do make a difference.

https://www.businessinsider.com/colleges-whose-graduates-earn-the-most-2015-9#1-massachusetts-institute-of-technology-25

That doesn't mean what you think it means. It just shows that when you select for only top people you get good average results. It doesn't mean top people going elsewhere will personally have poor results. Imagine Elite Unicorn College only takes kids who get 1600 on the SAT and no one else, and it is full pay for all. Imagine Open Door To All U takes everyone who applies, and 50 brilliant kids with 1600 SATs go there because they were given a full ride. You would expect the overall post grad statistics of EUC to be much much stronger than ODTAU, and they will be. But, those 50 ODTAU kids are going to do just as well as the EUC kids.

NP: I went to a Top 30 university and then transferred to a Top 5. I learned lightyears more at the latter, in part due to the quality of the professors and in part due to the other students.

Anecdata is everywhere.

Anyhow, if you are happy with your kid attending Middle State U., great. But back to the earlier portion of the thread, that's not where most of WTOP are aiming.

Great. If nothing short of HYP will do for your child -- perhaps you need to go private or move to an all-rich school district. Meanwhile, the rest of us, in the real world, in DC, would like you to go away so we can figure out actually how to do things around here.

You want 5,000 students or so to leave DCPS?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I look at my own stalled career, and it has nothing to do with the second-tier high school and second-tier state colleges I went to. I actually landed a really good job because I'm smart and had good mentors (better mentors than I would have had at an ivy school because state school professors have way more invested in their grad students), but then I stagnated. I could be at the top of my field if I had worked harder once my career began after grad school. The difference between "fine" and "amazing" schools is NOT going to make or break your kids' careers and life. It is a drive inside of them that will make the difference. And that you can't give them. It is there or it isn't.

My life is "fine" and would be fine even if I went to a W school and Yale. I'd probably feel worse about my career if I had gone to better schools. I'd likely have more interesting friends doing more interesting things. But I'd still be exactly where I am.

Likewise, I know so many people doing amazing things in my field who went to schools like mine. These are the literal stars in my profession.

We all want to believe that we can set our kids up for a great life. But all we can set them up for is "fine." I don't want to pretend that the US is a meritocracy because it does take a lot of parent privilege to achieve fine. But the difference between fine and amazing, no amount of parent privilege can engineer that.

The stats don't back you up. Elite colleges do make a difference.

https://www.businessinsider.com/colleges-whose-graduates-earn-the-most-2015-9#1-massachusetts-institute-of-technology-25

That doesn't mean what you think it means. It just shows that when you select for only top people you get good average results. It doesn't mean top people going elsewhere will personally have poor results. Imagine Elite Unicorn College only takes kids who get 1600 on the SAT and no one else, and it is full pay for all. Imagine Open Door To All U takes everyone who applies, and 50 brilliant kids with 1600 SATs go there because they were given a full ride. You would expect the overall post grad statistics of EUC to be much much stronger than ODTAU, and they will be. But, those 50 ODTAU kids are going to do just as well as the EUC kids.

NP: I went to a Top 30 university and then transferred to a Top 5. I learned lightyears more at the latter, in part due to the quality of the professors and in part due to the other students.

Anecdata is everywhere.

Anyhow, if you are happy with your kid attending Middle State U., great. But back to the earlier portion of the thread, that's not where most of WTOP are aiming.

Great. If nothing short of HYP will do for your child -- perhaps you need to go private or move to an all-rich school district. Meanwhile, the rest of us, in the real world, in DC, would like you to go away so we can figure out actually how to do things around here.

Anonymous wrote:I will bite on some of the challenges for a solution year.

I have two kids in an elementary school EOTP that has shifting demographics. Older child is in the first wave. Younger child is a few years behind. The noticeable difference between the two is that the teachers for older child are not used to the new demographics. It has taken them a moment to adjust to this change. Some teachers have adjusted quickly, some have taken a bit longer. They are used to having 1-2 advanced students, now they have 6-7. They have to adjust the teaching style, the types of differentiation, the communication to parents, etc. The school has to adjust extracurriculars and communication to meet the demands of the new demographic. For younger child, all of this stuff has essentially been worked out. From day one, everything works fine.

So - people concerned about moving a block of students from Wilson to another DCPS high school. The first couple of grades that deal with this sort of move will encounter growing pains similar to those above. They will not get the same quality of education that a student 3-4 years behind them will in the new school. (Sort of like students who get a first year teacher. It takes a couple of years for most teachers to hit their stride)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I look at my own stalled career, and it has nothing to do with the second-tier high school and second-tier state colleges I went to. I actually landed a really good job because I'm smart and had good mentors (better mentors than I would have had at an ivy school because state school professors have way more invested in their grad students), but then I stagnated. I could be at the top of my field if I had worked harder once my career began after grad school. The difference between "fine" and "amazing" schools is NOT going to make or break your kids' careers and life. It is a drive inside of them that will make the difference. And that you can't give them. It is there or it isn't.

My life is "fine" and would be fine even if I went to a W school and Yale. I'd probably feel worse about my career if I had gone to better schools. I'd likely have more interesting friends doing more interesting things. But I'd still be exactly where I am.

Likewise, I know so many people doing amazing things in my field who went to schools like mine. These are the literal stars in my profession.

We all want to believe that we can set our kids up for a great life. But all we can set them up for is "fine." I don't want to pretend that the US is a meritocracy because it does take a lot of parent privilege to achieve fine. But the difference between fine and amazing, no amount of parent privilege can engineer that.

The stats don't back you up. Elite colleges do make a difference.

https://www.businessinsider.com/colleges-whose-graduates-earn-the-most-2015-9#1-massachusetts-institute-of-technology-25

That doesn't mean what you think it means. It just shows that when you select for only top people you get good average results. It doesn't mean top people going elsewhere will personally have poor results. Imagine Elite Unicorn College only takes kids who get 1600 on the SAT and no one else, and it is full pay for all. Imagine Open Door To All U takes everyone who applies, and 50 brilliant kids with 1600 SATs go there because they were given a full ride. You would expect the overall post grad statistics of EUC to be much much stronger than ODTAU, and they will be. But, those 50 ODTAU kids are going to do just as well as the EUC kids.

NP: I went to a Top 30 university and then transferred to a Top 5. I learned lightyears more at the latter, in part due to the quality of the professors and in part due to the other students.

Anecdata is everywhere.

Anyhow, if you are happy with your kid attending Middle State U., great. But back to the earlier portion of the thread, that's not where most of WTOP are aiming.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I look at my own stalled career, and it has nothing to do with the second-tier high school and second-tier state colleges I went to. I actually landed a really good job because I'm smart and had good mentors (better mentors than I would have had at an ivy school because state school professors have way more invested in their grad students), but then I stagnated. I could be at the top of my field if I had worked harder once my career began after grad school. The difference between "fine" and "amazing" schools is NOT going to make or break your kids' careers and life. It is a drive inside of them that will make the difference. And that you can't give them. It is there or it isn't.

My life is "fine" and would be fine even if I went to a W school and Yale. I'd probably feel worse about my career if I had gone to better schools. I'd likely have more interesting friends doing more interesting things. But I'd still be exactly where I am.

Likewise, I know so many people doing amazing things in my field who went to schools like mine. These are the literal stars in my profession.

We all want to believe that we can set our kids up for a great life. But all we can set them up for is "fine." I don't want to pretend that the US is a meritocracy because it does take a lot of parent privilege to achieve fine. But the difference between fine and amazing, no amount of parent privilege can engineer that.

The stats don't back you up. Elite colleges do make a difference.

https://www.businessinsider.com/colleges-whose-graduates-earn-the-most-2015-9#1-massachusetts-institute-of-technology-25

That doesn't mean what you think it means. It just shows that when you select for only top people you get good average results. It doesn't mean top people going elsewhere will personally have poor results. Imagine Elite Unicorn College only takes kids who get 1600 on the SAT and no one else, and it is full pay for all. Imagine Open Door To All U takes everyone who applies, and 50 brilliant kids with 1600 SATs go there because they were given a full ride. You would expect the overall post grad statistics of EUC to be much much stronger than ODTAU, and they will be. But, those 50 ODTAU kids are going to do just as well as the EUC kids.

NP: I went to a Top 30 university and then transferred to a Top 5. I learned lightyears more at the latter, in part due to the quality of the professors and in part due to the other students.

Anecdata is everywhere.

Anyhow, if you are happy with your kid attending Middle State U., great. But back to the earlier portion of the thread, that's not where most of WTOP are aiming.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I look at my own stalled career, and it has nothing to do with the second-tier high school and second-tier state colleges I went to. I actually landed a really good job because I'm smart and had good mentors (better mentors than I would have had at an ivy school because state school professors have way more invested in their grad students), but then I stagnated. I could be at the top of my field if I had worked harder once my career began after grad school. The difference between "fine" and "amazing" schools is NOT going to make or break your kids' careers and life. It is a drive inside of them that will make the difference. And that you can't give them. It is there or it isn't.

My life is "fine" and would be fine even if I went to a W school and Yale. I'd probably feel worse about my career if I had gone to better schools. I'd likely have more interesting friends doing more interesting things. But I'd still be exactly where I am.

Likewise, I know so many people doing amazing things in my field who went to schools like mine. These are the literal stars in my profession.

We all want to believe that we can set our kids up for a great life. But all we can set them up for is "fine." I don't want to pretend that the US is a meritocracy because it does take a lot of parent privilege to achieve fine. But the difference between fine and amazing, no amount of parent privilege can engineer that.

The stats don't back you up. Elite colleges do make a difference.

https://www.businessinsider.com/colleges-whose-graduates-earn-the-most-2015-9#1-massachusetts-institute-of-technology-25

That doesn't mean what you think it means. It just shows that when you select for only top people you get good average results. It doesn't mean top people going elsewhere will personally have poor results. Imagine Elite Unicorn College only takes kids who get 1600 on the SAT and no one else, and it is full pay for all. Imagine Open Door To All U takes everyone who applies, and 50 brilliant kids with 1600 SATs go there because they were given a full ride. You would expect the overall post grad statistics of EUC to be much much stronger than ODTAU, and they will be. But, those 50 ODTAU kids are going to do just as well as the EUC kids.

NP: I went to a Top 30 university and then transferred to a Top 5. I learned lightyears more at the latter, in part due to the quality of the professors and in part due to the other students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I look at my own stalled career, and it has nothing to do with the second-tier high school and second-tier state colleges I went to. I actually landed a really good job because I'm smart and had good mentors (better mentors than I would have had at an ivy school because state school professors have way more invested in their grad students), but then I stagnated. I could be at the top of my field if I had worked harder once my career began after grad school. The difference between "fine" and "amazing" schools is NOT going to make or break your kids' careers and life. It is a drive inside of them that will make the difference. And that you can't give them. It is there or it isn't.

My life is "fine" and would be fine even if I went to a W school and Yale. I'd probably feel worse about my career if I had gone to better schools. I'd likely have more interesting friends doing more interesting things. But I'd still be exactly where I am.

Likewise, I know so many people doing amazing things in my field who went to schools like mine. These are the literal stars in my profession.

We all want to believe that we can set our kids up for a great life. But all we can set them up for is "fine." I don't want to pretend that the US is a meritocracy because it does take a lot of parent privilege to achieve fine. But the difference between fine and amazing, no amount of parent privilege can engineer that.

The stats don't back you up. Elite colleges do make a difference.

https://www.businessinsider.com/colleges-whose-graduates-earn-the-most-2015-9#1-massachusetts-institute-of-technology-25

That doesn't mean what you think it means. It just shows that when you select for only top people you get good average results. It doesn't mean top people going elsewhere will personally have poor results. Imagine Elite Unicorn College only takes kids who get 1600 on the SAT and no one else, and it is full pay for all. Imagine Open Door To All U takes everyone who applies, and 50 brilliant kids with 1600 SATs go there because they were given a full ride. You would expect the overall post grad statistics of EUC to be much much stronger than ODTAU, and they will be. But, those 50 ODTAU kids are going to do just as well as the EUC kids.