Anonymous wrote:Rocketship QSRs are up. Two sites are okay but Legacy has some Unsatisfactory ratings.

https://dcpcsb.org/qualitative-site-reviews

Oddly, one of the Rocketship QSRs is incorrectly linked in the row for Roots, which wasn't up for a QSR or review this year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/rsed/Board.nsf/files/DP227300BC45/%24file/Rocketship%2520DC%2520Board%2520of%2520Trustees%2520Meeting%2520Presentation%2520-%2520December%25209%252C%25202025.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwif-p6n2f6RAxV0jYkEHS32CD4QFnoECCEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0yiJyfZGe5ecRHSM8N0wRj

Hope this link works, it's a Rocketship board presentation about their issues. There's a lot of data that is concerning. They seem to think some metrics are improving, but avoid mentioning how many of Legacy's stats are going from bad to worse. No meeting minutes up yet.

It says total K-5 enrollment in DC is down from 1147 for SY 22-23 to less than 850 in SY 25-26, so DC is at break-even or worse, financially. They may fire Appletree to save money-- a dumb idea bc Appletree's brand is stronger than Rocketship's, and cutting preschool funding will only worsen their appeal IMO.

Instructional staff departures since August 1: 20 people! Although maybe that's ok since enrollment is down.

One of the things that should have woken the PCSB up about Eagle's failure is that the organization had serious issues in its Nevada schools. I wonder if Rocketship also has trouble in other states. That's an indicator the PCSB should be tracking.

The Appletree partnership was always a bit odd, as it was a bit like having a McDonald's in a Walmart. Appletree didn't need Rocketship, and the association wasn't helping their brand. Rocketship was talking about starting up their own PreK program, but a decade later and it still hasn't happened. AT was a good selling point for PK aged kids, but the families would change schools as soon as the kids were about to move into the "Rocketship grades".

I always assumed the real purpose of the partnership was to help Rocketship finance their buildings. Like how Legacy Prep at one point had a whole other school in an empty wing.

I thought the purpose was to make it easier to recruit kids for K.

Makes sense. But then why not just have a PreK? Why share a building with a separate entity?

Schools contract with Appletree because Appletree makes it a lot easier, they do a lot of the admin work and supply the teachers etc. Harmony is another example of a charter that tried to improve enrollment and retention by having an on-site Appletree. Nothing really wrong with doing this IMO. But the plan to cut costs by in-sourcing the preschool seems unlikely to succeed. It says in the board presentation that retention from PK into K is poor, and that's probably because Appletree is better than Rocketship.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/rsed/Board.nsf/files/DP227300BC45/%24file/Rocketship%2520DC%2520Board%2520of%2520Trustees%2520Meeting%2520Presentation%2520-%2520December%25209%252C%25202025.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwif-p6n2f6RAxV0jYkEHS32CD4QFnoECCEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0yiJyfZGe5ecRHSM8N0wRj

Hope this link works, it's a Rocketship board presentation about their issues. There's a lot of data that is concerning. They seem to think some metrics are improving, but avoid mentioning how many of Legacy's stats are going from bad to worse. No meeting minutes up yet.

It says total K-5 enrollment in DC is down from 1147 for SY 22-23 to less than 850 in SY 25-26, so DC is at break-even or worse, financially. They may fire Appletree to save money-- a dumb idea bc Appletree's brand is stronger than Rocketship's, and cutting preschool funding will only worsen their appeal IMO.

Instructional staff departures since August 1: 20 people! Although maybe that's ok since enrollment is down.

One of the things that should have woken the PCSB up about Eagle's failure is that the organization had serious issues in its Nevada schools. I wonder if Rocketship also has trouble in other states. That's an indicator the PCSB should be tracking.

The Appletree partnership was always a bit odd, as it was a bit like having a McDonald's in a Walmart. Appletree didn't need Rocketship, and the association wasn't helping their brand. Rocketship was talking about starting up their own PreK program, but a decade later and it still hasn't happened. AT was a good selling point for PK aged kids, but the families would change schools as soon as the kids were about to move into the "Rocketship grades".

I always assumed the real purpose of the partnership was to help Rocketship finance their buildings. Like how Legacy Prep at one point had a whole other school in an empty wing.

I thought the purpose was to make it easier to recruit kids for K.

Makes sense. But then why not just have a PreK? Why share a building with a separate entity?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/rsed/Board.nsf/files/DP227300BC45/%24file/Rocketship%2520DC%2520Board%2520of%2520Trustees%2520Meeting%2520Presentation%2520-%2520December%25209%252C%25202025.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwif-p6n2f6RAxV0jYkEHS32CD4QFnoECCEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0yiJyfZGe5ecRHSM8N0wRj

Hope this link works, it's a Rocketship board presentation about their issues. There's a lot of data that is concerning. They seem to think some metrics are improving, but avoid mentioning how many of Legacy's stats are going from bad to worse. No meeting minutes up yet.

It says total K-5 enrollment in DC is down from 1147 for SY 22-23 to less than 850 in SY 25-26, so DC is at break-even or worse, financially. They may fire Appletree to save money-- a dumb idea bc Appletree's brand is stronger than Rocketship's, and cutting preschool funding will only worsen their appeal IMO.

Instructional staff departures since August 1: 20 people! Although maybe that's ok since enrollment is down.

One of the things that should have woken the PCSB up about Eagle's failure is that the organization had serious issues in its Nevada schools. I wonder if Rocketship also has trouble in other states. That's an indicator the PCSB should be tracking.

Didn’t their Texas school close?

Anonymous wrote:https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/rsed/Board.nsf/files/DP227300BC45/%24file/Rocketship%2520DC%2520Board%2520of%2520Trustees%2520Meeting%2520Presentation%2520-%2520December%25209%252C%25202025.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwif-p6n2f6RAxV0jYkEHS32CD4QFnoECCEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0yiJyfZGe5ecRHSM8N0wRj

Hope this link works, it's a Rocketship board presentation about their issues. There's a lot of data that is concerning. They seem to think some metrics are improving, but avoid mentioning how many of Legacy's stats are going from bad to worse. No meeting minutes up yet.

It says total K-5 enrollment in DC is down from 1147 for SY 22-23 to less than 850 in SY 25-26, so DC is at break-even or worse, financially. They may fire Appletree to save money-- a dumb idea bc Appletree's brand is stronger than Rocketship's, and cutting preschool funding will only worsen their appeal IMO.

Instructional staff departures since August 1: 20 people! Although maybe that's ok since enrollment is down.

One of the things that should have woken the PCSB up about Eagle's failure is that the organization had serious issues in its Nevada schools. I wonder if Rocketship also has trouble in other states. That's an indicator the PCSB should be tracking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/rsed/Board.nsf/files/DP227300BC45/%24file/Rocketship%2520DC%2520Board%2520of%2520Trustees%2520Meeting%2520Presentation%2520-%2520December%25209%252C%25202025.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwif-p6n2f6RAxV0jYkEHS32CD4QFnoECCEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0yiJyfZGe5ecRHSM8N0wRj

Hope this link works, it's a Rocketship board presentation about their issues. There's a lot of data that is concerning. They seem to think some metrics are improving, but avoid mentioning how many of Legacy's stats are going from bad to worse. No meeting minutes up yet.

It says total K-5 enrollment in DC is down from 1147 for SY 22-23 to less than 850 in SY 25-26, so DC is at break-even or worse, financially. They may fire Appletree to save money-- a dumb idea bc Appletree's brand is stronger than Rocketship's, and cutting preschool funding will only worsen their appeal IMO.

Instructional staff departures since August 1: 20 people! Although maybe that's ok since enrollment is down.

One of the things that should have woken the PCSB up about Eagle's failure is that the organization had serious issues in its Nevada schools. I wonder if Rocketship also has trouble in other states. That's an indicator the PCSB should be tracking.

The Appletree partnership was always a bit odd, as it was a bit like having a McDonald's in a Walmart. Appletree didn't need Rocketship, and the association wasn't helping their brand. Rocketship was talking about starting up their own PreK program, but a decade later and it still hasn't happened. AT was a good selling point for PK aged kids, but the families would change schools as soon as the kids were about to move into the "Rocketship grades".

I always assumed the real purpose of the partnership was to help Rocketship finance their buildings. Like how Legacy Prep at one point had a whole other school in an empty wing.

I thought the purpose was to make it easier to recruit kids for K.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/rsed/Board.nsf/files/DP227300BC45/%24file/Rocketship%2520DC%2520Board%2520of%2520Trustees%2520Meeting%2520Presentation%2520-%2520December%25209%252C%25202025.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwif-p6n2f6RAxV0jYkEHS32CD4QFnoECCEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0yiJyfZGe5ecRHSM8N0wRj

Hope this link works, it's a Rocketship board presentation about their issues. There's a lot of data that is concerning. They seem to think some metrics are improving, but avoid mentioning how many of Legacy's stats are going from bad to worse. No meeting minutes up yet.

It says total K-5 enrollment in DC is down from 1147 for SY 22-23 to less than 850 in SY 25-26, so DC is at break-even or worse, financially. They may fire Appletree to save money-- a dumb idea bc Appletree's brand is stronger than Rocketship's, and cutting preschool funding will only worsen their appeal IMO.

Instructional staff departures since August 1: 20 people! Although maybe that's ok since enrollment is down.

One of the things that should have woken the PCSB up about Eagle's failure is that the organization had serious issues in its Nevada schools. I wonder if Rocketship also has trouble in other states. That's an indicator the PCSB should be tracking.

The Appletree partnership was always a bit odd, as it was a bit like having a McDonald's in a Walmart. Appletree didn't need Rocketship, and the association wasn't helping their brand. Rocketship was talking about starting up their own PreK program, but a decade later and it still hasn't happened. AT was a good selling point for PK aged kids, but the families would change schools as soon as the kids were about to move into the "Rocketship grades".

I always assumed the real purpose of the partnership was to help Rocketship finance their buildings. Like how Legacy Prep at one point had a whole other school in an empty wing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/rsed/Board.nsf/files/DP227300BC45/%24file/Rocketship%2520DC%2520Board%2520of%2520Trustees%2520Meeting%2520Presentation%2520-%2520December%25209%252C%25202025.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwif-p6n2f6RAxV0jYkEHS32CD4QFnoECCEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0yiJyfZGe5ecRHSM8N0wRj

Hope this link works, it's a Rocketship board presentation about their issues. There's a lot of data that is concerning. They seem to think some metrics are improving, but avoid mentioning how many of Legacy's stats are going from bad to worse. No meeting minutes up yet.

It says total K-5 enrollment in DC is down from 1147 for SY 22-23 to less than 850 in SY 25-26, so DC is at break-even or worse, financially. They may fire Appletree to save money-- a dumb idea bc Appletree's brand is stronger than Rocketship's, and cutting preschool funding will only worsen their appeal IMO.

Instructional staff departures since August 1: 20 people! Although maybe that's ok since enrollment is down.

One of the things that should have woken the PCSB up about Eagle's failure is that the organization had serious issues in its Nevada schools. I wonder if Rocketship also has trouble in other states. That's an indicator the PCSB should be tracking.

The Appletree partnership was always a bit odd, as it was a bit like having a McDonald's in a Walmart. Appletree didn't need Rocketship, and the association wasn't helping their brand. Rocketship was talking about starting up their own PreK program, but a decade later and it still hasn't happened. AT was a good selling point for PK aged kids, but the families would change schools as soon as the kids were about to move into the "Rocketship grades".

Anonymous wrote:https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/rsed/Board.nsf/files/DP227300BC45/%24file/Rocketship%2520DC%2520Board%2520of%2520Trustees%2520Meeting%2520Presentation%2520-%2520December%25209%252C%25202025.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwif-p6n2f6RAxV0jYkEHS32CD4QFnoECCEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0yiJyfZGe5ecRHSM8N0wRj

Hope this link works, it's a Rocketship board presentation about their issues. There's a lot of data that is concerning. They seem to think some metrics are improving, but avoid mentioning how many of Legacy's stats are going from bad to worse. No meeting minutes up yet.

It says total K-5 enrollment in DC is down from 1147 for SY 22-23 to less than 850 in SY 25-26, so DC is at break-even or worse, financially. They may fire Appletree to save money-- a dumb idea bc Appletree's brand is stronger than Rocketship's, and cutting preschool funding will only worsen their appeal IMO.

Instructional staff departures since August 1: 20 people! Although maybe that's ok since enrollment is down.

One of the things that should have woken the PCSB up about Eagle's failure is that the organization had serious issues in its Nevada schools. I wonder if Rocketship also has trouble in other states. That's an indicator the PCSB should be tracking.

Anonymous wrote:https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/rsed/Board.nsf/files/DP227300BC45/%24file/Rocketship%2520DC%2520Board%2520of%2520Trustees%2520Meeting%2520Presentation%2520-%2520December%25209%252C%25202025.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwif-p6n2f6RAxV0jYkEHS32CD4QFnoECCEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0yiJyfZGe5ecRHSM8N0wRj

Hope this link works, it's a Rocketship board presentation about their issues. There's a lot of data that is concerning. They seem to think some metrics are improving, but avoid mentioning how many of Legacy's stats are going from bad to worse. No meeting minutes up yet.

It says total K-5 enrollment in DC is down from 1147 for SY 22-23 to less than 850 in SY 25-26, so DC is at break-even or worse, financially. They may fire Appletree to save money-- a dumb idea bc Appletree's brand is stronger than Rocketship's, and cutting preschool funding will only worsen their appeal IMO.

Instructional staff departures since August 1: 20 people! Although maybe that's ok since enrollment is down.

One of the things that should have woken the PCSB up about Eagle's failure is that the organization had serious issues in its Nevada schools. I wonder if Rocketship also has trouble in other states. That's an indicator the PCSB should be tracking.

Anonymous wrote:Rocketship has never truly understood the DC families it serves. While it's a national charter, they cut their teeth in California - predominantly the San Jose region, with Hispanic families. They seemed to think they had a cookie cutter approach that could be applied anywhere, but DC's Ward 8 demographics weren't like anything they'd experienced up to that point. Not sure how their Tennessee and Texas expansions are doing.