Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the well-intentioned Brent JA boosters obviously can't erase the harsh urban multi-generational poverty of at least half the JA families, the foundation for today's bleak test scores.

Wish things were different.

Fortunately, that's not any parent's job. I'm happy to let that be other people's job. What matters to me is that our child is thriving at Jefferson, PARC scores (in the 4s and 5s), advanced options, socially, emotionally and all. And he is, really is (and, no, I'm not naive). That is my yardstick and could be yours.

Glad it works for you. Seriously. We passed on a lottery spot at Hardy and BASIS, but might have been willing to try Latin. SH was a non-starter. Reasonably happy with private.

Anonymous wrote:Because the well-intentioned Brent JA boosters obviously can't erase the harsh urban multi-generational poverty of at least half the JA families, the foundation for today's bleak test scores.

Wish things were different.

Fortunately, that's not any parent's job. I'm happy to let that be other people's job. What matters to me is that our child is thriving at Jefferson, PARC scores (in the 4s and 5s), advanced options, socially, emotionally and all. And he is, really is (and, no, I'm not naive). That is my yardstick and could be yours.

Because the well-intentioned Brent JA boosters obviously can't erase the harsh urban multi-generational poverty of at least half the JA families, the foundation for today's bleak test scores.

Wish things were different.

Perhaps you have me confused with a different PP. I am not judging anyone for the decision they make for their kids, and am happy people are visiting the school and making their decisions.

I was merely pointing out that some here seem to be making judgements based on what the area was like in the 1980s, and on crimes committed in the area. I don't know why one would do that when its possible to actually visit the school and see what its like.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here - as a prosecutor here in DC, the amount of murders, violent assaults, and drug deals I saw coming out of the James Creek and (to a lesser extent) Greenleaf housing projects in SW was pretty mind blowing. You can't tell me the kids growing up in those projects aren't affected by what they see.

I am sure they are affected. The question would still be, though, if that impacts the situation inside JA. Which is still probably better learned by actually looking at JA, than by surmising based on the number of crimes (BTW - mind blowing or not, increasing or decreasing?) in certain projects (greenleaf by the way is going to become mixed income) etc.

PP, will you please stop whitewashing harsh realities in SW? Hint: 30 years hasn't been able to turn it all around.

I have "actually looked" at JA, at several open houses advertised at Brent, along with dozens of fellow parents. I saw that most of the students are poor minority kids struggling to achieve. I saw that a well-run school marches students around inside to deprive them of the opportunity to act up. I saw that there are no honors classes and none planned and few extra curricular activities that appeal. I saw a lot of empty classrooms and hallways because the school is dramatically under-enrolled.

Not going to bite for my kid who scored 5s on the 3rd grade PARCC all too easily. We'll figure something happier out for middle school, like almost all of the other Brent families for years to come.

The end.

Anonymous wrote:Can we just end this thread as the past two pages have really gone beyond the pale...

It is clear that several of you have never set foot in the school, or maybe any DC middle school. For those concerned about test scores, you do realize that they are terrible for every middle school with the exception of Deal (Hardy is borderline).

Look, I understand that JA may not be right for your kids for a dozen reasons, but to come on here to attack a community you know nothing about (the 80s was 30 years ago btw) is really the highest form of trolling. Threads like this is why Brent has a terrible name in the community and downtown with DCPS and there is an impact because of it. So next time consider keeping your thoughts to yourself when you have nothing productive to say.

Pipe down. Lack of interest, or Jeff, decides when threads end. Attacking a community and stating the obvious are, um, two different things.

Next time, to quote Obama, please consider disagreeing without being disagreeable.

+100.

Can we just end this thread as the past two pages have really gone beyond the pale...

It is clear that several of you have never set foot in the school, or maybe any DC middle school. For those concerned about test scores, you do realize that they are terrible for every middle school with the exception of Deal (Hardy is borderline).

Look, I understand that JA may not be right for your kids for a dozen reasons, but to come on here to attack a community you know nothing about (the 80s was 30 years ago btw) is really the highest form of trolling. Threads like this is why Brent has a terrible name in the community and downtown with DCPS and there is an impact because of it. So next time consider keeping your thoughts to yourself when you have nothing productive to say.

Anonymous wrote:i'd like to hear more from nobody

it's becoming clear that it will be worth avoid jefferson academy to escape sermonizing brent parents

Ha ha! Love this.

Anonymous wrote:NP here - as a prosecutor here in DC, the amount of murders, violent assaults, and drug deals I saw coming out of the James Creek and (to a lesser extent) Greenleaf housing projects in SW was pretty mind blowing. You can't tell me the kids growing up in those projects aren't affected by what they see.

I am sure they are affected. The question would still be, though, if that impacts the situation inside JA. Which is still probably better learned by actually looking at JA, than by surmising based on the number of crimes (BTW - mind blowing or not, increasing or decreasing?) in certain projects (greenleaf by the way is going to become mixed income) etc.