Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting. It seems like just about the only people who post on Glassdoor (and similar types of sites and forums) are the ones who are disgruntled -- which, I would assume, are a minority. Those who are satisfied rarely think to take the time to post that they're happy and why. And usually it's people who don't work at a place anymore who post . . . which would give me pause about how many grains of salt I'd take the report with. I'm sure there's some truth in those posts, don't get me wrong. But I also think that it's not an accurate picture of a place if just a few unhappy people take to the anonymous internet . . .

Here we go again with they must be disgruntled...Uh, of course, they are! They make that clear. But their unhappiness seems perfectly justified. Hell, I'm disgruntled just reading about the BS and I've never even seen the school before.

And the reviews are simple human nature. I'm given opportunities to fill out surveys for nearly every experience I have in life. I almost never complete surveys unless my experience was extremely good or extremely bad.

There are only a handful of teachers at that school, so the complaints are likely in the majority. Furthermore, they're so similar and consistent with what I've heard from people I know who work in DC charters. I certainly wouldn't want to work there based on those reviews.

By your logic, why are there so many disgruntled employees? Even if that was the case, then they do a terrible job of hiring the right teachers. Of course, you have to read all reports with a gran of salt, but this particular site also has many positive posts about some organizations. Even DCPS's comments aren't this bad, in fact they are quite positive. I tend to think that this is quite an accurate assessment of Achievement Prep and how they attempt to get results. As others have said, these type of charters would never fly WOTP, parents would not tolerate their militaristic style.

Sorry PP, meant to respond to the other PP who did not believe the posts...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting. It seems like just about the only people who post on Glassdoor (and similar types of sites and forums) are the ones who are disgruntled -- which, I would assume, are a minority. Those who are satisfied rarely think to take the time to post that they're happy and why. And usually it's people who don't work at a place anymore who post . . . which would give me pause about how many grains of salt I'd take the report with. I'm sure there's some truth in those posts, don't get me wrong. But I also think that it's not an accurate picture of a place if just a few unhappy people take to the anonymous internet . . .

Here we go again with they must be disgruntled...Uh, of course, they are! They make that clear. But their unhappiness seems perfectly justified. Hell, I'm disgruntled just reading about the BS and I've never even seen the school before.

And the reviews are simple human nature. I'm given opportunities to fill out surveys for nearly every experience I have in life. I almost never complete surveys unless my experience was extremely good or extremely bad.

There are only a handful of teachers at that school, so the complaints are likely in the majority. Furthermore, they're so similar and consistent with what I've heard from people I know who work in DC charters. I certainly wouldn't want to work there based on those reviews.

By your logic, why are there so many disgruntled employees? Even if that was the case, then they do a terrible job of hiring the right teachers. Of course, you have to read all reports with a gran of salt, but this particular site also has many positive posts about some organizations. Even DCPS's comments aren't this bad, in fact they are quite positive. I tend to think that this is quite an accurate assessment of Achievement Prep and how they attempt to get results. As others have said, these type of charters would never fly WOTP, parents would not tolerate their militaristic style.

Anonymous wrote:I wonder why someone would choose to send their kids there. It can't be worse than their local school.

DC is filled with parents who've abdicated care of their children to any organization willing to take it on (or fate). They would love having their kids in school all day and not have to take any responsibility for their child's education at all. Many DC charters like Achievement Prep remove the need for parents to read with kids, oversee homework, etc. (Hell, even feed them.) That falls on the teachers who are expected to be there from sun up to sun down.

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting. It seems like just about the only people who post on Glassdoor (and similar types of sites and forums) are the ones who are disgruntled -- which, I would assume, are a minority. Those who are satisfied rarely think to take the time to post that they're happy and why. And usually it's people who don't work at a place anymore who post . . . which would give me pause about how many grains of salt I'd take the report with. I'm sure there's some truth in those posts, don't get me wrong. But I also think that it's not an accurate picture of a place if just a few unhappy people take to the anonymous internet . . .

Here we go again with they must be disgruntled...Uh, of course, they are! They make that clear. But their unhappiness seems perfectly justified. Hell, I'm disgruntled just reading about the BS and I've never even seen the school before.

And the reviews are simple human nature. I'm given opportunities to fill out surveys for nearly every experience I have in life. I almost never complete surveys unless my experience was extremely good or extremely bad.

There are only a handful of teachers at that school, so the complaints are likely in the majority. Furthermore, they're so similar and consistent with what I've heard from people I know who work in DC charters. I certainly wouldn't want to work there based on those reviews.

I wonder why someone would choose to send their kids there. It can't be worse than their local school.

They really don't have recess or PE and have to be silent at lunch? That's crazy.

It's interesting. It seems like just about the only people who post on Glassdoor (and similar types of sites and forums) are the ones who are disgruntled -- which, I would assume, are a minority. Those who are satisfied rarely think to take the time to post that they're happy and why. And usually it's people who don't work at a place anymore who post . . . which would give me pause about how many grains of salt I'd take the report with. I'm sure there's some truth in those posts, don't get me wrong. But I also think that it's not an accurate picture of a place if just a few unhappy people take to the anonymous internet . . .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is common at charter schools. I am not surprised at all. The benefits are often worse and teachers are worked into the ground. There is a reason charter schools have huge turnover and majority teachers under 30-- impossible to have a family with the demands.

Very true. Charters are for profit organizations. When teachers are not team player per se, or know too much without being part of the movers and shakers, they are let go of, even if they are popular and very good teachers/

If you want to read about teaching at Achievement Prep, or any other charter school use the website "glassdoor". Besides the one or two positive posts, it makes pretty grim reading, http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Achievement-Prep-Reviews-E789616.htm as do most (not all) of the other charter schools that focus on closing the achievement gap for lower income students.

Anonymous wrote:This is common at charter schools. I am not surprised at all. The benefits are often worse and teachers are worked into the ground. There is a reason charter schools have huge turnover and majority teachers under 30-- impossible to have a family with the demands.

Very true. Charters are for profit organizations. When teachers are not team player per se, or know too much without being part of the movers and shakers, they are let go of, even if they are popular and very good teachers/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^

Surely you don't think DC is the only urban school system out there do you?

Well, they're not. But they are thee worst at graduation rates , test scores, attendance, teacher retention etc.

No, I think you are just spouting off garbage with little to back it up. I also doubt that you have worked in or experienced other urban school systems. Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, New York City, Atlanta, Cleveland, Newark, etc. all struggle with graduation rates, test scores, retention, etc. However, if you have real examples of urban centers where the administrators are perfect, the teachers never turn over and students achieve at gloriously high levels, let's hear about them. Why keep it secret? Help DC learn something.

You're funny.

Of course I have experience--VAST experience--in other urban school systems. That's why I feel as though I can speak with some 'authority' on the matter.

Urban ed has a lot of issues, but there are some that are unique to DC. There's a level of dysfunction (and defense of said dysfunction, as you exemplify) that isn't seen elsewhere.

Trust me, those urban systems do not continue to struggle mightily in the same areas decade after decade as DC does. Many, many, MANY urban schools are functional. That's the reason many leave other urban districts to work in DC, see the foolery and leave, returning to the urban system where they can actually WORK and make a difference w/o dealing with a lot of bullying and foolishness.

The teacher turnover in DC is phenomenal. At least in many places when turn over happens, it's after 5 years or so. In DC teachers leave after just days. In their defense, they are aware of the issue and seem to be working on addressing it. But until they get real about the reasons many leave after a week or several months, it will continue to be a revolving door of new faces every single year.

Anonymous wrote:^^^

Surely you don't think DC is the only urban school system out there do you?

Well, they're not. But they are thee worst at graduation rates , test scores, attendance, teacher retention etc.

No, I think you are just spouting off garbage with little to back it up. I also doubt that you have worked in or experienced other urban school systems. Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, New York City, Atlanta, Cleveland, Newark, etc. all struggle with graduation rates, test scores, retention, etc. However, if you have real examples of urban centers where the administrators are perfect, the teachers never turn over and students achieve at gloriously high levels, let's hear about them. Why keep it secret? Help DC learn something.

Anonymous wrote:^^^

Surely you don't think DC is the only urban school system out there do you?

Well, they're not. But they are thee worst at graduation rates , test scores, attendance, teacher retention etc.

No, I think you are just spouting off garbage with little to back it up. I also doubt that you have worked in or experienced other urban school systems. Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, New York City, Atlanta, Cleveland, Newark, etc. all struggle with graduation rates, test scores, retention, etc. However, if you have real examples of urban centers where the administrators are perfect, the teachers never turn over and students achieve at gloriously high levels, let's hear about them. Why keep it secret? Help DC learn something.

Anonymous wrote:^^^

Surely you don't think DC is the only urban school system out there do you?

Well, they're not. But they are thee worst at graduation rates , test scores, attendance, teacher retention etc.

No, I think you are just spouting off garbage with little to back it up. I also doubt that you have worked in or experienced other urban school systems. Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, New York City, Atlanta, Cleveland, Newark, etc. all struggle with graduation rates, test scores, retention, etc. However, if you have real examples of urban centers where the administrators are perfect, the teachers never turn over and students achieve at gloriously high levels, let's hear about them. Why keep it secret? Help DC learn something.

When I changed school districts I was amazed at the difference in leadership. In DCPS the scool principal and vice principal were unorganized, rude to teachers and unresponsive.

When I switched district the principal and vice principals at my new school are organized, respectful and supportive.

^^^

Surely you don't think DC is the only urban school system out there do you?

Well, they're not. But they are thee worst at graduation rates , test scores, attendance, teacher retention etc.