Anonymous
Post 06/29/2013 07:49     Subject: SWW/Francis-Stevens merger
Whoever is responsible for the current low enrollment, it does not bode well for meeting the projected enrollment of 380 at FS. If FS does not hit that number, the budget will be cut drastically- affecting the HS as well. It also shows that DCPS's decision to merge FS with SWW, hoping the name would drive enrollment, does not seem to be working. It takes more than a name to make a better school.
Anonymous
Post 06/29/2013 01:01     Subject: Re:SWW/Francis-Stevens merger
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I really want FS to succeed--given the demographics of the city and the neighborhood, it could become a gem of a school and I know parents with little ones who have lined up behind it. But a half assed merge with SWW does not seem to be the answer. It seems like the decision to close FS was forestalled by a lot of parents who were vocal about the need to keep the school open (which I wholeheartedly agree with) and was politically undesirable so this was some sort of compromise. I wonder if DCPS assumed that it would not work and in a year or two could point to the lack of success and say 'see didn't work, let's close FS'. On the other hand, maybe the association with SWW will boost FS enrollment enough to get the school up and running on its own steam in a few years. Time will tell. ANyone have a sense of enrollment for next year at FS?


The NW Current article linked to above says that target enrollment for Francis-Stevens after the merger announcement was 380, but actual enrollment is less than 1/3 of this target:

"Despite strong enrollment projections for Francis-Stevens, the school has enrolled only about 120 students for the coming school year, according
to a statement by Trogisch at a Francis-Stevens community meeting last week. The target enrollment was 380 students, and Walls parents are worried this deficit could draw funds away from the high school."



This article lacks context about how enrollment numbers look citywide at every school in June. Knowing that parents have a difficult time crossing T's dotting I's, DCPS has an internal target for schools to be at 50% enrollment as of 6/21 (last day of school).

Based on this year's enrollment (of 220), FS was on track. This is despite the fact that there are many incomplete enrollments, due in large part previous admin staff leaving paperwork incomplete. There was even a report of previous staff turning away or discouraging new parents. New staff starts in July, so better information about available seats and shortfalls should be available soon.

There's almost definitely an enrollment gap, but once more parents get a feel for this program's potential things might pick up. It's not like there are a tremendous number of MS options out there, and the new faculty presented last night seem pretty impressive, especially at that level.


Excuses, excuses.... we can't keep blaming schools for parental shortcomings. Last time I enrolled my kids it was the PARENT'S responsibility to submit completed enrollment forms and provide proof of DC residency, not the "admin staff" of a school. The schools can't fill them out for us.....step up!
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2013 16:22     Subject: SWW/Francis-Stevens merger
16:16. That is correct. Most in the HS believe the principal was involved in the merger as well.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2013 16:16     Subject: Re:SWW/Francis-Stevens merger
Anonymous wrote:so then what's the up side for sww if they won't even get a few empty classrooms? did sww pricipal want this? is it a promotion for him?
it was a decision by DCPS and FS staff and families. I think that 90+% of the HS community is strictly opposed to the whole plan.

Anonymous
Post 06/27/2013 13:51     Subject: Re:SWW/Francis-Stevens merger
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I really want FS to succeed--given the demographics of the city and the neighborhood, it could become a gem of a school and I know parents with little ones who have lined up behind it. But a half assed merge with SWW does not seem to be the answer. It seems like the decision to close FS was forestalled by a lot of parents who were vocal about the need to keep the school open (which I wholeheartedly agree with) and was politically undesirable so this was some sort of compromise. I wonder if DCPS assumed that it would not work and in a year or two could point to the lack of success and say 'see didn't work, let's close FS'. On the other hand, maybe the association with SWW will boost FS enrollment enough to get the school up and running on its own steam in a few years. Time will tell. ANyone have a sense of enrollment for next year at FS?


The NW Current article linked to above says that target enrollment for Francis-Stevens after the merger announcement was 380, but actual enrollment is less than 1/3 of this target:

"Despite strong enrollment projections for Francis-Stevens, the school has enrolled only about 120 students for the coming school year, according
to a statement by Trogisch at a Francis-Stevens community meeting last week. The target enrollment was 380 students, and Walls parents are worried this deficit could draw funds away from the high school."



This article lacks context about how enrollment numbers look citywide at every school in June. Knowing that parents have a difficult time crossing T's dotting I's, DCPS has an internal target for schools to be at 50% enrollment as of 6/21 (last day of school).

Based on this year's enrollment (of 220), FS was on track. This is despite the fact that there are many incomplete enrollments, due in large part previous admin staff leaving paperwork incomplete. There was even a report of previous staff turning away or discouraging new parents. New staff starts in July, so better information about available seats and shortfalls should be available soon.

There's almost definitely an enrollment gap, but once more parents get a feel for this program's potential things might pick up. It's not like there are a tremendous number of MS options out there, and the new faculty presented last night seem pretty impressive, especially at that level.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2013 11:53     Subject: SWW/Francis-Stevens merger
Who doesn't want there to be another successful school in the city? Every parent. But merging FS with SWW HS failed to think about the negative impact on one of few high performing HS in the city. If FS enrollment does not meet its targeted enrollment, that will cause major problems for the HS budget. DCPS hoped the SWW brand name would drive up enrollment, but that is not the case so far. DCPS had many options if it did not want to close the school- they could have moved the SWW principal over there to run the school without merging them. They could have made it a magnet school for lower grades. They merged a school that does not feed into the HS because it is application only. How logical is that? Now DCPS will end up harming one of its few successful HS. DCPS has enough problems- they should not create more.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2013 09:52     Subject: SWW/Francis-Stevens merger
Anonymous wrote:Anyone go to the open house this evening? Reflections?


I went as someone who may apply to the PS lottery next year. I was very impressed with the principal and teachers there. I expect to apply to it in the lottery next year.
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2013 09:34     Subject: Re:SWW/Francis-Stevens merger
Anonymous wrote:I really want FS to succeed--given the demographics of the city and the neighborhood, it could become a gem of a school and I know parents with little ones who have lined up behind it. But a half assed merge with SWW does not seem to be the answer. It seems like the decision to close FS was forestalled by a lot of parents who were vocal about the need to keep the school open (which I wholeheartedly agree with) and was politically undesirable so this was some sort of compromise. I wonder if DCPS assumed that it would not work and in a year or two could point to the lack of success and say 'see didn't work, let's close FS'. On the other hand, maybe the association with SWW will boost FS enrollment enough to get the school up and running on its own steam in a few years. Time will tell. ANyone have a sense of enrollment for next year at FS?


The NW Current article linked to above says that target enrollment for Francis-Stevens after the merger announcement was 380, but actual enrollment is less than 1/3 of this target:

"Despite strong enrollment projections for Francis-Stevens, the school has enrolled only about 120 students for the coming school year, according
to a statement by Trogisch at a Francis-Stevens community meeting last week. The target enrollment was 380 students, and Walls parents are worried this deficit could draw funds away from the high school."
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2013 08:48     Subject: Re:SWW/Francis-Stevens merger
I really want FS to succeed--given the demographics of the city and the neighborhood, it could become a gem of a school and I know parents with little ones who have lined up behind it. But a half assed merge with SWW does not seem to be the answer. It seems like the decision to close FS was forestalled by a lot of parents who were vocal about the need to keep the school open (which I wholeheartedly agree with) and was politically undesirable so this was some sort of compromise. I wonder if DCPS assumed that it would not work and in a year or two could point to the lack of success and say 'see didn't work, let's close FS'. On the other hand, maybe the association with SWW will boost FS enrollment enough to get the school up and running on its own steam in a few years. Time will tell. ANyone have a sense of enrollment for next year at FS?
Anonymous
Post 06/27/2013 08:25     Subject: SWW/Francis-Stevens merger
Here's more info from this week's NW Current

http://www.currentnewspapers.com/admin/uploadfiles/NW%2006-26-2013%201.pdf
Anonymous
Post 06/26/2013 23:58     Subject: SWW/Francis-Stevens merger
Anonymous wrote:There is no upside to SWW HS in this merger - even DCPS can't list one.
Whole idea seemed to be DCPS hoping the SWW name would drive enrollment up at FS. And that doesn't seem to be working out too well either.
And to poster 18:42- based on my experience, DCPS does not think through anything.


LMAO I'm 100% SURE there is an upside to the SWW Principal's paycheck for this merger!
Anonymous
Post 06/26/2013 22:55     Subject: SWW/Francis-Stevens merger
Anyone go to the open house this evening? Reflections?