Anonymous wrote:Ah, the whining is unbearable! What do you think the likes of me, with somewhat older children, did when you all were changing diapers? We made it work. Hey, you're looking at the result! What do you think is going to happen to the middle schools? You can decry that undertaking as the work of a few do-godders who threw their children to the lions; and that no less than perfect will do for you. But please spare us the whining and get to work.

And please take the time to visit Stuart-Hobson, Eliot-Hine, and Jefferson, often. By the way, Stuart-Hobson has honors tracks if that is your main concern.

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).

You're reasoning is meaningless to families who really want to stay on the Hill. You probably should have moved before the kids were born.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am familiar with Brent and JKLMM schools. I don't think it is laughable to consider them similar. There are differences, mostly related to middle schools, but they both are able to produce well prepared kids. Kids from Brent go on to St Anselm's, Latin, BASIS, Cap Hill Day School and others and they make the honor roll from day one. There are differences in the culture and climate and community surrounding these schools, and some may like one over the other. I'd be interested in hearing the PP's rationale for using such strong language to describe why Brent is not comparable to JKLMM.

Some JKLM types are having trouble dealing with the fact that Brent's demographics and academics will soon be comparable to theirs, right downtown, in the hip zone, despite the problem MS feeder. Maury will struggle a bit to compare, even in 5 years, because its school district has bigger pockets of poverty. The irony is that not only is Brent poised to become a branch of JKLM EotP, it's veering toward WotP crowding.

Anonymous wrote:

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).

the real rub is that you have absolutely no idea what abilities your 4 year old will have or what will be a suitable learning environment. You might like to project, and your projections may be realized, but a child that age is too young to determine a need for strong STEM curriculum or college level work in MS. Kids develop differently, some have special needs not aparent at 3-4 years of age. I suspect your the same incessant poster about G&T on any DCPS board on this site (of course I could be wrong).

Let's not forget that Fairfax treat 15% of school population as "gifted" so there's that too. Good luck in the burbs.

Anonymous wrote:

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).

the real rub is that you have absolutely no idea what abilities your 4 year old will have or what will be a suitable learning environment. You might like to project, and your projections may be realized, but a child that age is too young to determine a need for strong STEM curriculum or college level work in MS. Kids develop differently, some have special needs not aparent at 3-4 years of age. I suspect your the same incessant poster about G&T on any DCPS board on this site (of course I could be wrong).

Let's not forget that Fairfax treat 15% of school population as "gifted" so there's that too. Good luck in the burbs.

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).

Anonymous wrote:Ah, the whining is unbearable! What do you think the likes of me, with somewhat older children, did when you all were changing diapers? We made it work. Hey, you're looking at the result! What do you think is going to happen to the middle schools? You can decry that undertaking as the work of a few do-godders who threw their children to the lions; and that no less than perfect will do for you. But please spare us the whining and get to work.

And please take the time to visit Stuart-Hobson, Eliot-Hine, and Jefferson, often. By the way, Stuart-Hobson has honors tracks if that is your main concern.

Anonymous wrote: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.