Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plus E-H is really competing with S-H for modernization/revamp. Those Cluster parents are way ahead in their demands so if anything gets more investment it will be S-H first.

Actually, Eliot-Hine is revamped/modernized already, a beautiful space all around. Hopefully. Stuart-Hobson will be next.

I don't believe this is the case. EH is slated for a modernization in 2014 (Jefferson in 2013). EH got a buff and scrub in 2009 as part of receiving Hine MS, but the building is still dated and lacking in significant ways. See link:

http://www.21csf.org/csf-home/DocUploads/DataShop/DS_280.pdf

At the Stuart Hobson modernization event last week we heard a call to action for the SH community to advocate for significant increases in their modernization funding. Tommy Wells said, although it shouldn't be this way, modernization funds are a zero-sum game amongst the four middle schools in Ward Six (SH, EH, Jefferson and now Shaw). If SH wants a parking structure or an addition, then it comes out of funding for another Ward Six school. Mr. Wells even got heckled by a future SH parent for saying this. SH parent leaders made the case that funding levels are unfair (compared to other wards), but that seems like wishful thinking more then realpolitik.

Not that I fault the SH for doing everything in their power to get funds and make SH a better school, but let's not ignore the fact that whether or not funding SH is a good thing all depends on where you sit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If you simply look at how long it is taking to turn around Hardy --

sorry to highjack, but what are you talking about? did you see the post about the gifted and talented program starting up at Hardy?

And BTW, I'd look for another phrase besides "turn around". A bit too close to "turn".

Sending in one person to start a program is just that: sending in one person to start a program. It's a small step down a long road.

Success is measured in test scores, attendance records, recruitment, opportunities at the next school level, success at the next school level, etc. That is considerably more work than simply firing Pope and hiring someone to implement a school-wide program, and it's going to take a few years, not a few of her paychecks, to determine how successful that might be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i guess i'm not the type of parent who frets about "middle school options" while my kid is 4 years old. either things will have changed for the better on the hill, or we'll move. what's the difference between moving now or in 6 years? i'll just play the hand i have for now and feel very, very fortunate.

my girl goes to maury. she told me last night that "since i like art, maury is the school for me." that blew me away. maury's specials (PE, art, music, thinktank) are amazing!

YES! My child goes to Brent and we have a similar attitude. we are planning to send her to boarding school at 6th grade so middle school isn't a big worry. In any case, there are lots of great middle school possibilities in DC and will likely only get better.

We need to live in the moment we have right now!!

Er, if there are "a lot of great middle school possibilities in DC" then why aren't you planning to use any of them? Can you even name them? Right now, there are two: Latin (requires getting lucky in the lottery) and Deal (which is bigger than a small town and packed to the gills). That doesn't fit my definition of "a lot."

I love the pp who said they will just move. Right. So easy to move a family, that is why everyone does it.

um, that is actually the problem with DCPS...too many middle class people move out rather than send their kids to poor schools. i am the PP who said i wouldn't fret but would move if i have to. i've lived on capitol hill for more than 20 years...bought my house 10 years ago at a great price (it has appreciated plenty!). so if i feel we must move for middle school, it won't be a serious hardship. having said that, i'm doubtful we will. my family believes in public school. we believe in neighborhood schools (sorry, charters). we love our life on capitol hill. unless our middle school is dangerous, our DD will probably go there. i don't know if you've heard, but the ivies take kids from inner city public schools, too!

Anonymous wrote:
If you simply look at how long it is taking to turn around Hardy --

sorry to highjack, but what are you talking about? did you see the post about the gifted and talented program starting up at Hardy?

And BTW, I'd look for another phrase besides "turn around". A bit too close to "turn".

Anonymous wrote:Love Maury. Great school. Yes, middle school is a problem for all Hill families. I hope they get better, but as I have a 4th grader, I am not holding my breath. BASIS, Latin? Private school and then hope for Walls or Wilson? Not holding my breath on Eastern either. However, we are really lucky to have some fabulous options for elementary school, many more than were there 10 years ago, so we will see what happens in the future. In the meantime, Maury is lovely and you would be fortunate to get a space!

Also, contra the PP up-thread, the principal Ms Albert-Garvey is the most engaged, tireless, and competent principal (possibly person) I've met. Her presence alone is reason to send your kid there. So lucky.

Anonymous wrote:Plus E-H is really competing with S-H for modernization/revamp. Those Cluster parents are way ahead in their demands so if anything gets more investment it will be S-H first.

Actually, Eliot-Hine is revamped/modernized already, a beautiful space all around. Hopefully. Stuart-Hobson will be next.

Love Maury. Great school. Yes, middle school is a problem for all Hill families. I hope they get better, but as I have a 4th grader, I am not holding my breath. BASIS, Latin? Private school and then hope for Walls or Wilson? Not holding my breath on Eastern either. However, we are really lucky to have some fabulous options for elementary school, many more than were there 10 years ago, so we will see what happens in the future. In the meantime, Maury is lovely and you would be fortunate to get a space!

Anonymous wrote:We need to live in the moment we have right now!!

No, no! I disagree! We must move to Manassas today because there's a chance we may have to move to Manassas 3/4 of a decade from now.

Anonymous wrote:i guess i'm not the type of parent who frets about "middle school options" while my kid is 4 years old. either things will have changed for the better on the hill, or we'll move. what's the difference between moving now or in 6 years? i'll just play the hand i have for now and feel very, very fortunate.

my girl goes to maury. she told me last night that "since i like art, maury is the school for me." that blew me away. maury's specials (PE, art, music, thinktank) are amazing!

YES! My child goes to Brent and we have a similar attitude. we are planning to send her to boarding school at 6th grade so middle school isn't a big worry. In any case, there are lots of great middle school possibilities in DC and will likely only get better.

We need to live in the moment we have right now!!

Anonymous wrote:i guess i'm not the type of parent who frets about "middle school options" while my kid is 4 years old. either things will have changed for the better on the hill, or we'll move. what's the difference between moving now or in 6 years? i'll just play the hand i have for now and feel very, very fortunate.

my girl goes to maury. she told me last night that "since i like art, maury is the school for me." that blew me away. maury's specials (PE, art, music, thinktank) are amazing!

Thanks for the breath of reason. Lot's of folks here with an axe to grind.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The plan was not very extensive. Get a grip. Ask some Ward 6 school parents if the plan has any effect on their confidence level in middle school. None. It was/is a farce.

Sorry you got into the game a little too early. Heck, I can remember 10 years ago when no middle-class parent would consider sending their kid to Maury. Now you've got folks who opted out early a few years ago. Who knows what things will look like in another 6-7 years. Things stay the same until they change. Don't let your poor timing sour your personality.

Pp here. My kid is in Kindergarten! Am I really early? How long is this plan going to take??

Ah, sorry: in that case, you're just being irrational.

Anonymous wrote:Maury upper grade parent here: We love Maury! The offerings for 4th and 5th graders are amazing, well worth the gamble on middle schools if there even is one. Maury's graduates have traditionally sought to go on to Hardy or Stuart-Hobson but I'd say in the last year or two significantly more parents of college bound children, parents I trust, have picked and invested in Eliot-Hine.

Upper grade parent here also -- this is a complete line of BS. We all know of the 5 children who went to E-H from last year's class. Do you honestly believe they are all stil there? Check your facts. Ran away -- college bound or not.

The S-H modernization plan is trying to be moved up to 2013-2014 rather than 2016-2017. No clue if that will happen or not. Even if it does, a modern building does not mean a different program. Perhaps more families will choose to go there? I don't know. It isn't in the cards for us since I have a 5th grader.

Maury is completely fine for the younger grades. Is it amazing? No, but it is nice and kids are happy. But you definitely need to watch and think about what the next chapter holds for your child and your family. I love the pp who said they will just move. Right. So easy to move a family, that is why everyone does it. Oh wait..... That is why a lot of parents look to Latin. You can stay and have a much better middle school option than either SH or EH (I hestitate to even put that one in there since it really isn't an option). A LOT of work needs to be done on EH and it will take many, many, many years. If you simply look at how long it is taking to turn around Hardy -- think about how long it will take to turn around EH which is in a much different part of town and a very different feeder system. Plus E-H is really competing with S-H for modernization/revamp. Those Cluseter parents are way ahead in their demands so if anything gets more investment it will be S-H first.

i guess i'm not the type of parent who frets about "middle school options" while my kid is 4 years old. either things will have changed for the better on the hill, or we'll move. what's the difference between moving now or in 6 years? i'll just play the hand i have for now and feel very, very fortunate.

my girl goes to maury. she told me last night that "since i like art, maury is the school for me." that blew me away. maury's specials (PE, art, music, thinktank) are amazing!

Also keep in mind that many many Hill families send their kids to Washington Latin. The Latin bus (and van to meet demand) pick up kids at two stops on the Hill. Stuart Hobson will be undergoing a modernization, and then there is the news Basis charter school in Penn Quarter. Seems like plenty of middle school options to me!