Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 22:14     Subject: New "W" High School

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't have a dog in this fight because my kids are already for high school. But we are zoned for Einstein kids and both of my kids are taking advantage of programs at different DCC schools. I definitely would want to stay in the DCC and would be super upset if my kid was, say, 10, and I had to worry that he couldn't go to, say, the Wheaton STEM programs.


I am right there with you. These conversations are dominated by pearl clutchers from the Ws, but, there is very little discussion of what DCC people want. All the DCC people I know are happy in the DCC and like the different options we have for high school programs. I think there will be a significant number of people upset at the prospect of being pulled out of the DCC only to be put in a smaller cluster with few options for special programs.

I think it makes the most sense to add Woodward to the DCC, with some sort of special program or academy. MOST of the Woodward students will come from the area surrounding Woodward, and then they can fill extra space with kids applying to the special program as well as the DCC lottery. It gives MCPS a lot more flexibility in meeting demographic goals for Woodward individually as well as the DCC.


So let's say that they adjust a few DCC neighborhoods to Woodward. Maybe 100 kids? Maybe 200, max? And add a magnet program, maybe drawing another 100? Even 300 shifted from DCC and the extra capacity of Northwood coming online doesn't come close to addressing the relative overcrowding.

Hoping I'm wrong, and that redrawing more lines will happe -- it's not like there is anything else that's going to be available in the next 5+ years.

Given that Einstein is projected to be 500 over capacity by then and Wheaton 400 over, they are going to have to send more than 100-200 DCC students to Woodward. Just adding WJ’s 800 over capacity to Wheaton and Einstein’s numbers puts Woodward already close to its capacity. They allowed these schools to get so overcrowded that minor boundary shifts aren’t enough to fix the problem.


Send WJ kids to Wheaton?! Oh hell no.

You can't pull kids from a good school and send them to a struggling school. They need to invest resources into the struggling schools (better admin, more security, better teachers, smaller class sizes, more advanced and AP courses, more support services like tutoring and Saturday school and so on) and bring them up to par vs. moving kids around and bussing them far from home.


PP, don't worry, if this happens, it will be ok. The "bad" kids won't infect your "good" kids with badness.


The schools are struggling academically. This doesn't make them "bad" kids! They need more support from K onwards!

There are fewer cohorts of advanced students at the struggling schools. My point was a program like APEX at WJ has 150 kids taking all AP courses. The struggling schools sometimes can't offer the same AP options because there aren't enough kids to fill the class (say, a French 6 or an AP
Chem in 10th grade or Differential Equations).


You seem be operating under a few bad assumptions. You kid will do the same at any MCPS school. Differences have more to do with a students home life. All MCPS schools are more or less the same and offer a wide range of advanced classes. Sure, one may have 6 sections of AP English another has 3 but both offer AP English and similar core classes.


What rock have you been hiding under? Advanced opportunities from school to school are different, much closer to what the PP describes than the MCPS line you're repeating.


Nope, you're completely misinformed. The previous poster was dead on.


Logical fallacies, there.

Family-based differences having a high impact? Sure. That meaning that a kid would do the same at any school? Does not follow.

A wide range of advanced classes? Yes. The same range? Not really. Try getting an AP taught when you're the only one who wants it, or even one of five, as oppoaed to being at a school where there are routinely full cohorts. Dual enrollment? Taking a class at another high achool? Each of these options is a significant burden in comparison, and the latter routinely is discouraged. "All MCPS schools are more or less the same?" Laughable, as currently provided.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 21:55     Subject: New "W" High School

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't have a dog in this fight because my kids are already for high school. But we are zoned for Einstein kids and both of my kids are taking advantage of programs at different DCC schools. I definitely would want to stay in the DCC and would be super upset if my kid was, say, 10, and I had to worry that he couldn't go to, say, the Wheaton STEM programs.


I am right there with you. These conversations are dominated by pearl clutchers from the Ws, but, there is very little discussion of what DCC people want. All the DCC people I know are happy in the DCC and like the different options we have for high school programs. I think there will be a significant number of people upset at the prospect of being pulled out of the DCC only to be put in a smaller cluster with few options for special programs.

I think it makes the most sense to add Woodward to the DCC, with some sort of special program or academy. MOST of the Woodward students will come from the area surrounding Woodward, and then they can fill extra space with kids applying to the special program as well as the DCC lottery. It gives MCPS a lot more flexibility in meeting demographic goals for Woodward individually as well as the DCC.


So let's say that they adjust a few DCC neighborhoods to Woodward. Maybe 100 kids? Maybe 200, max? And add a magnet program, maybe drawing another 100? Even 300 shifted from DCC and the extra capacity of Northwood coming online doesn't come close to addressing the relative overcrowding.

Hoping I'm wrong, and that redrawing more lines will happe -- it's not like there is anything else that's going to be available in the next 5+ years.

Given that Einstein is projected to be 500 over capacity by then and Wheaton 400 over, they are going to have to send more than 100-200 DCC students to Woodward. Just adding WJ’s 800 over capacity to Wheaton and Einstein’s numbers puts Woodward already close to its capacity. They allowed these schools to get so overcrowded that minor boundary shifts aren’t enough to fix the problem.


Send WJ kids to Wheaton?! Oh hell no.

You can't pull kids from a good school and send them to a struggling school. They need to invest resources into the struggling schools (better admin, more security, better teachers, smaller class sizes, more advanced and AP courses, more support services like tutoring and Saturday school and so on) and bring them up to par vs. moving kids around and bussing them far from home.


PP, don't worry, if this happens, it will be ok. The "bad" kids won't infect your "good" kids with badness.


The schools are struggling academically. This doesn't make them "bad" kids! They need more support from K onwards!

There are fewer cohorts of advanced students at the struggling schools. My point was a program like APEX at WJ has 150 kids taking all AP courses. The struggling schools sometimes can't offer the same AP options because there aren't enough kids to fill the class (say, a French 6 or an AP
Chem in 10th grade or Differential Equations).


You seem be operating under a few bad assumptions. You kid will do the same at any MCPS school. Differences have more to do with a students home life. All MCPS schools are more or less the same and offer a wide range of advanced classes. Sure, one may have 6 sections of AP English another has 3 but both offer AP English and similar core classes.


What rock have you been hiding under? Advanced opportunities from school to school are different, much closer to what the PP describes than the MCPS line you're repeating.


Nope, you're completely misinformed. The previous poster was dead on.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 21:17     Subject: Re:New "W" High School

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One of the four factors for boundary changes is stability of assignment. Without some overwhelming reason, MCPS isn't going to drag other cluster boundaries into the Woodward discussion. So far, no one has offered that overwhelming reason. It's just WJ and the DCC.

Someday the BoE may get around to a county-wide reset, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards just yet.


And we're back to the land of Oz, where the Wizard will make it all better. Don't look behind the curtain!

DCC Dorothy's going to have to save herself.


That can mean any number of things. For example, they can help the DCC by making room at schools adjacent to Woodward and shifting kids from the east side of those schools' boundaries into the schools adjacent to Woodward etc. It's subject to interpretation.


What it certainly means is that MCPS is currently planning to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. WJ
2. the DCC

and currently planning not to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. all of the other clusters in MCPS.


Yes, Woodward will impact the adjacent schools like WJ, Einstein, Wheaton and BCC.


No. WJ is WJ. Einstein and Wheaton are in the DCC. In contrast, B-CC is neither WJ, nor in the DCC; B-CC is B-CC. Therefore, MCPS is currently planning to NOT include B-CC in the Woodward boundary study.


No matter how much sense ut makes to adjust the nearby boundaries, and no matter how easily subject to change the current stance expressed in the CIP, the moneyed interests will exert their influence to keep boundary-related relief for the DCC minimized, preserving their own interests, as influenced by their prejudices.

I don’t really understand that word salad, but what are these moneyed interests that desperately want some BCC kids sent to Woodward? Why would well heeled parents of kids at BCC want their kids sent to another HS that is further away? Are are you saying that the WJ parents will be insistent that BCC be included so that Woodward can just be a Bethesda school? BCCs feeders are no closer to Woodward than the feeders from Einstein and Wheaton that are the prime candidates to be moved, so I am failing to understand the point you’re trying to make.


You're reading the PP wrong. They are saying B-CC parents will be able to keep any boundary change from happening for them, even if that's what's best for the system.

Right except the PP said that magically the plan is going to go from relieving overcrowding in the DCC to only benefit “moneyed interests”. If BCC isn’t drawn into the plan, and it goes forward as currently written, I don’t see how the DCC gets short changed. They aren’t going to only populate Woodward with the overflow from WJ because it would be nowhere near capacity.


WJ will get full relief from overcrowding

DCC will get inadequate relief from overcrowding.

The full relief that DCC would get if they brought the B-CC/other Ws' boundaries into the process will never happen, because those high-SES communities, with their outsized influence, will keep them from being considered, being terribly concerned about the impact of more lower-SES populations mixing with their own.

The current plan will relieve the overcrowding in Einstein and Wheaton through Woodward. The Northwood expansion/renovation will relieve Blair’s overcrowding.

Check the numbers. Do the math. DCC will remain overcrowded.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 20:06     Subject: Re:New "W" High School

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One of the four factors for boundary changes is stability of assignment. Without some overwhelming reason, MCPS isn't going to drag other cluster boundaries into the Woodward discussion. So far, no one has offered that overwhelming reason. It's just WJ and the DCC.

Someday the BoE may get around to a county-wide reset, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards just yet.


And we're back to the land of Oz, where the Wizard will make it all better. Don't look behind the curtain!

DCC Dorothy's going to have to save herself.


That can mean any number of things. For example, they can help the DCC by making room at schools adjacent to Woodward and shifting kids from the east side of those schools' boundaries into the schools adjacent to Woodward etc. It's subject to interpretation.


What it certainly means is that MCPS is currently planning to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. WJ
2. the DCC

and currently planning not to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. all of the other clusters in MCPS.


Yes, Woodward will impact the adjacent schools like WJ, Einstein, Wheaton and BCC.


No. WJ is WJ. Einstein and Wheaton are in the DCC. In contrast, B-CC is neither WJ, nor in the DCC; B-CC is B-CC. Therefore, MCPS is currently planning to NOT include B-CC in the Woodward boundary study.


No matter how much sense ut makes to adjust the nearby boundaries, and no matter how easily subject to change the current stance expressed in the CIP, the moneyed interests will exert their influence to keep boundary-related relief for the DCC minimized, preserving their own interests, as influenced by their prejudices.

I don’t really understand that word salad, but what are these moneyed interests that desperately want some BCC kids sent to Woodward? Why would well heeled parents of kids at BCC want their kids sent to another HS that is further away? Are are you saying that the WJ parents will be insistent that BCC be included so that Woodward can just be a Bethesda school? BCCs feeders are no closer to Woodward than the feeders from Einstein and Wheaton that are the prime candidates to be moved, so I am failing to understand the point you’re trying to make.


You're reading the PP wrong. They are saying B-CC parents will be able to keep any boundary change from happening for them, even if that's what's best for the system.

Right except the PP said that magically the plan is going to go from relieving overcrowding in the DCC to only benefit “moneyed interests”. If BCC isn’t drawn into the plan, and it goes forward as currently written, I don’t see how the DCC gets short changed. They aren’t going to only populate Woodward with the overflow from WJ because it would be nowhere near capacity.


WJ will get full relief from overcrowding

DCC will get inadequate relief from overcrowding.

The full relief that DCC would get if they brought the B-CC/other Ws' boundaries into the process will never happen, because those high-SES communities, with their outsized influence, will keep them from being considered, being terribly concerned about the impact of more lower-SES populations mixing with their own.

The current plan will relieve the overcrowding in Einstein and Wheaton through Woodward. The Northwood expansion/renovation will relieve Blair’s overcrowding.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 19:50     Subject: Re:New "W" High School

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One of the four factors for boundary changes is stability of assignment. Without some overwhelming reason, MCPS isn't going to drag other cluster boundaries into the Woodward discussion. So far, no one has offered that overwhelming reason. It's just WJ and the DCC.

Someday the BoE may get around to a county-wide reset, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards just yet.


And we're back to the land of Oz, where the Wizard will make it all better. Don't look behind the curtain!

DCC Dorothy's going to have to save herself.


That can mean any number of things. For example, they can help the DCC by making room at schools adjacent to Woodward and shifting kids from the east side of those schools' boundaries into the schools adjacent to Woodward etc. It's subject to interpretation.


What it certainly means is that MCPS is currently planning to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. WJ
2. the DCC

and currently planning not to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. all of the other clusters in MCPS.


Yes, Woodward will impact the adjacent schools like WJ, Einstein, Wheaton and BCC.


No. WJ is WJ. Einstein and Wheaton are in the DCC. In contrast, B-CC is neither WJ, nor in the DCC; B-CC is B-CC. Therefore, MCPS is currently planning to NOT include B-CC in the Woodward boundary study.


No matter how much sense ut makes to adjust the nearby boundaries, and no matter how easily subject to change the current stance expressed in the CIP, the moneyed interests will exert their influence to keep boundary-related relief for the DCC minimized, preserving their own interests, as influenced by their prejudices.

I don’t really understand that word salad, but what are these moneyed interests that desperately want some BCC kids sent to Woodward? Why would well heeled parents of kids at BCC want their kids sent to another HS that is further away? Are are you saying that the WJ parents will be insistent that BCC be included so that Woodward can just be a Bethesda school? BCCs feeders are no closer to Woodward than the feeders from Einstein and Wheaton that are the prime candidates to be moved, so I am failing to understand the point you’re trying to make.


You're reading the PP wrong. They are saying B-CC parents will be able to keep any boundary change from happening for them, even if that's what's best for the system.

Right except the PP said that magically the plan is going to go from relieving overcrowding in the DCC to only benefit “moneyed interests”. If BCC isn’t drawn into the plan, and it goes forward as currently written, I don’t see how the DCC gets short changed. They aren’t going to only populate Woodward with the overflow from WJ because it would be nowhere near capacity.


WJ will get full relief from overcrowding

DCC will get inadequate relief from overcrowding.

The full relief that DCC would get if they brought the B-CC/other Ws' boundaries into the process will never happen, because those high-SES communities, with their outsized influence, will keep them from being considered, being terribly concerned about the impact of more lower-SES populations mixing with their own.


The DCC is five high schools. What's your idea here? Reassigning students from Einstein and Blair to B-CC?
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 18:39     Subject: Re:New "W" High School

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One of the four factors for boundary changes is stability of assignment. Without some overwhelming reason, MCPS isn't going to drag other cluster boundaries into the Woodward discussion. So far, no one has offered that overwhelming reason. It's just WJ and the DCC.

Someday the BoE may get around to a county-wide reset, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards just yet.


And we're back to the land of Oz, where the Wizard will make it all better. Don't look behind the curtain!

DCC Dorothy's going to have to save herself.


That can mean any number of things. For example, they can help the DCC by making room at schools adjacent to Woodward and shifting kids from the east side of those schools' boundaries into the schools adjacent to Woodward etc. It's subject to interpretation.


What it certainly means is that MCPS is currently planning to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. WJ
2. the DCC

and currently planning not to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. all of the other clusters in MCPS.


Yes, Woodward will impact the adjacent schools like WJ, Einstein, Wheaton and BCC.


No. WJ is WJ. Einstein and Wheaton are in the DCC. In contrast, B-CC is neither WJ, nor in the DCC; B-CC is B-CC. Therefore, MCPS is currently planning to NOT include B-CC in the Woodward boundary study.


No matter how much sense ut makes to adjust the nearby boundaries, and no matter how easily subject to change the current stance expressed in the CIP, the moneyed interests will exert their influence to keep boundary-related relief for the DCC minimized, preserving their own interests, as influenced by their prejudices.

I don’t really understand that word salad, but what are these moneyed interests that desperately want some BCC kids sent to Woodward? Why would well heeled parents of kids at BCC want their kids sent to another HS that is further away? Are are you saying that the WJ parents will be insistent that BCC be included so that Woodward can just be a Bethesda school? BCCs feeders are no closer to Woodward than the feeders from Einstein and Wheaton that are the prime candidates to be moved, so I am failing to understand the point you’re trying to make.


You're reading the PP wrong. They are saying B-CC parents will be able to keep any boundary change from happening for them, even if that's what's best for the system.

Right except the PP said that magically the plan is going to go from relieving overcrowding in the DCC to only benefit “moneyed interests”. If BCC isn’t drawn into the plan, and it goes forward as currently written, I don’t see how the DCC gets short changed. They aren’t going to only populate Woodward with the overflow from WJ because it would be nowhere near capacity.


WJ will get full relief from overcrowding

DCC will get inadequate relief from overcrowding.

The full relief that DCC would get if they brought the B-CC/other Ws' boundaries into the process will never happen, because those high-SES communities, with their outsized influence, will keep them from being considered, being terribly concerned about the impact of more lower-SES populations mixing with their own.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 17:48     Subject: Re:New "W" High School

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One of the four factors for boundary changes is stability of assignment. Without some overwhelming reason, MCPS isn't going to drag other cluster boundaries into the Woodward discussion. So far, no one has offered that overwhelming reason. It's just WJ and the DCC.

Someday the BoE may get around to a county-wide reset, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards just yet.


And we're back to the land of Oz, where the Wizard will make it all better. Don't look behind the curtain!

DCC Dorothy's going to have to save herself.


That can mean any number of things. For example, they can help the DCC by making room at schools adjacent to Woodward and shifting kids from the east side of those schools' boundaries into the schools adjacent to Woodward etc. It's subject to interpretation.


What it certainly means is that MCPS is currently planning to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. WJ
2. the DCC

and currently planning not to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. all of the other clusters in MCPS.


Yes, Woodward will impact the adjacent schools like WJ, Einstein, Wheaton and BCC.


No. WJ is WJ. Einstein and Wheaton are in the DCC. In contrast, B-CC is neither WJ, nor in the DCC; B-CC is B-CC. Therefore, MCPS is currently planning to NOT include B-CC in the Woodward boundary study.


No matter how much sense ut makes to adjust the nearby boundaries, and no matter how easily subject to change the current stance expressed in the CIP, the moneyed interests will exert their influence to keep boundary-related relief for the DCC minimized, preserving their own interests, as influenced by their prejudices.

I don’t really understand that word salad, but what are these moneyed interests that desperately want some BCC kids sent to Woodward? Why would well heeled parents of kids at BCC want their kids sent to another HS that is further away? Are are you saying that the WJ parents will be insistent that BCC be included so that Woodward can just be a Bethesda school? BCCs feeders are no closer to Woodward than the feeders from Einstein and Wheaton that are the prime candidates to be moved, so I am failing to understand the point you’re trying to make.


You're reading the PP wrong. They are saying B-CC parents will be able to keep any boundary change from happening for them, even if that's what's best for the system.

Right except the PP said that magically the plan is going to go from relieving overcrowding in the DCC to only benefit “moneyed interests”. If BCC isn’t drawn into the plan, and it goes forward as currently written, I don’t see how the DCC gets short changed. They aren’t going to only populate Woodward with the overflow from WJ because it would be nowhere near capacity.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 17:08     Subject: New "W" High School

No. APEX changed 3 years ago. It is no longer a test in program like it was. Anyone with a 3.5 GPA who takes a certain group of classes, is now an APEX Scholar (no longer limiting the number of students in the program).

Therefore a student can still be an APEX Scholar at any MCPS HS, doesn't need to be at WJ. An APEX student at WJ can still be an APEX student at Woodward.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 15:28     Subject: New "W" High School

Anonymous wrote:What happens if a kid is in a special program -say APEX at WJ- and then they are refined to Woodward? Would they be allowed to continue at WJ?


Unless the program moves, the kid will stay.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 15:27     Subject: Re:New "W" High School

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One of the four factors for boundary changes is stability of assignment. Without some overwhelming reason, MCPS isn't going to drag other cluster boundaries into the Woodward discussion. So far, no one has offered that overwhelming reason. It's just WJ and the DCC.

Someday the BoE may get around to a county-wide reset, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards just yet.


And we're back to the land of Oz, where the Wizard will make it all better. Don't look behind the curtain!

DCC Dorothy's going to have to save herself.


That can mean any number of things. For example, they can help the DCC by making room at schools adjacent to Woodward and shifting kids from the east side of those schools' boundaries into the schools adjacent to Woodward etc. It's subject to interpretation.


What it certainly means is that MCPS is currently planning to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. WJ
2. the DCC

and currently planning not to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. all of the other clusters in MCPS.


Yes, Woodward will impact the adjacent schools like WJ, Einstein, Wheaton and BCC.


No. WJ is WJ. Einstein and Wheaton are in the DCC. In contrast, B-CC is neither WJ, nor in the DCC; B-CC is B-CC. Therefore, MCPS is currently planning to NOT include B-CC in the Woodward boundary study.


No matter how much sense ut makes to adjust the nearby boundaries, and no matter how easily subject to change the current stance expressed in the CIP, the moneyed interests will exert their influence to keep boundary-related relief for the DCC minimized, preserving their own interests, as influenced by their prejudices.

I don’t really understand that word salad, but what are these moneyed interests that desperately want some BCC kids sent to Woodward? Why would well heeled parents of kids at BCC want their kids sent to another HS that is further away? Are are you saying that the WJ parents will be insistent that BCC be included so that Woodward can just be a Bethesda school? BCCs feeders are no closer to Woodward than the feeders from Einstein and Wheaton that are the prime candidates to be moved, so I am failing to understand the point you’re trying to make.


You're reading the PP wrong. They are saying B-CC parents will be able to keep any boundary change from happening for them, even if that's what's best for the system.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 14:53     Subject: Re:New "W" High School

I don't have a dog in this fight, but as someone who went through the upcounty boundary study, I say good luck to all of you! It's going to be an ugly ride!
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 14:48     Subject: Re:New "W" High School

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One of the four factors for boundary changes is stability of assignment. Without some overwhelming reason, MCPS isn't going to drag other cluster boundaries into the Woodward discussion. So far, no one has offered that overwhelming reason. It's just WJ and the DCC.

Someday the BoE may get around to a county-wide reset, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards just yet.


And we're back to the land of Oz, where the Wizard will make it all better. Don't look behind the curtain!

DCC Dorothy's going to have to save herself.


That can mean any number of things. For example, they can help the DCC by making room at schools adjacent to Woodward and shifting kids from the east side of those schools' boundaries into the schools adjacent to Woodward etc. It's subject to interpretation.


What it certainly means is that MCPS is currently planning to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. WJ
2. the DCC

and currently planning not to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. all of the other clusters in MCPS.


Yes, Woodward will impact the adjacent schools like WJ, Einstein, Wheaton and BCC.


No. WJ is WJ. Einstein and Wheaton are in the DCC. In contrast, B-CC is neither WJ, nor in the DCC; B-CC is B-CC. Therefore, MCPS is currently planning to NOT include B-CC in the Woodward boundary study.


No matter how much sense ut makes to adjust the nearby boundaries, and no matter how easily subject to change the current stance expressed in the CIP, the moneyed interests will exert their influence to keep boundary-related relief for the DCC minimized, preserving their own interests, as influenced by their prejudices.

I don’t really understand that word salad, but what are these moneyed interests that desperately want some BCC kids sent to Woodward? Why would well heeled parents of kids at BCC want their kids sent to another HS that is further away? Are are you saying that the WJ parents will be insistent that BCC be included so that Woodward can just be a Bethesda school? BCCs feeders are no closer to Woodward than the feeders from Einstein and Wheaton that are the prime candidates to be moved, so I am failing to understand the point you’re trying to make.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 14:43     Subject: New "W" High School

What happens if a kid is in a special program -say APEX at WJ- and then they are refined to Woodward? Would they be allowed to continue at WJ?
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 14:28     Subject: Re:New "W" High School

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One of the four factors for boundary changes is stability of assignment. Without some overwhelming reason, MCPS isn't going to drag other cluster boundaries into the Woodward discussion. So far, no one has offered that overwhelming reason. It's just WJ and the DCC.

Someday the BoE may get around to a county-wide reset, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards just yet.


And we're back to the land of Oz, where the Wizard will make it all better. Don't look behind the curtain!

DCC Dorothy's going to have to save herself.


That can mean any number of things. For example, they can help the DCC by making room at schools adjacent to Woodward and shifting kids from the east side of those schools' boundaries into the schools adjacent to Woodward etc. It's subject to interpretation.


What it certainly means is that MCPS is currently planning to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. WJ
2. the DCC

and currently planning not to include the following clusters in the boundary study:

1. all of the other clusters in MCPS.


Yes, Woodward will impact the adjacent schools like WJ, Einstein, Wheaton and BCC.


No. WJ is WJ. Einstein and Wheaton are in the DCC. In contrast, B-CC is neither WJ, nor in the DCC; B-CC is B-CC. Therefore, MCPS is currently planning to NOT include B-CC in the Woodward boundary study.


No matter how much sense ut makes to adjust the nearby boundaries, and no matter how easily subject to change the current stance expressed in the CIP, the moneyed interests will exert their influence to keep boundary-related relief for the DCC minimized, preserving their own interests, as influenced by their prejudices.
Anonymous
Post 02/04/2023 12:57     Subject: New "W" High School

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't have a dog in this fight because my kids are already for high school. But we are zoned for Einstein kids and both of my kids are taking advantage of programs at different DCC schools. I definitely would want to stay in the DCC and would be super upset if my kid was, say, 10, and I had to worry that he couldn't go to, say, the Wheaton STEM programs.


I am right there with you. These conversations are dominated by pearl clutchers from the Ws, but, there is very little discussion of what DCC people want. All the DCC people I know are happy in the DCC and like the different options we have for high school programs. I think there will be a significant number of people upset at the prospect of being pulled out of the DCC only to be put in a smaller cluster with few options for special programs.

I think it makes the most sense to add Woodward to the DCC, with some sort of special program or academy. MOST of the Woodward students will come from the area surrounding Woodward, and then they can fill extra space with kids applying to the special program as well as the DCC lottery. It gives MCPS a lot more flexibility in meeting demographic goals for Woodward individually as well as the DCC.


So let's say that they adjust a few DCC neighborhoods to Woodward. Maybe 100 kids? Maybe 200, max? And add a magnet program, maybe drawing another 100? Even 300 shifted from DCC and the extra capacity of Northwood coming online doesn't come close to addressing the relative overcrowding.

Hoping I'm wrong, and that redrawing more lines will happe -- it's not like there is anything else that's going to be available in the next 5+ years.

Given that Einstein is projected to be 500 over capacity by then and Wheaton 400 over, they are going to have to send more than 100-200 DCC students to Woodward. Just adding WJ’s 800 over capacity to Wheaton and Einstein’s numbers puts Woodward already close to its capacity. They allowed these schools to get so overcrowded that minor boundary shifts aren’t enough to fix the problem.


Send WJ kids to Wheaton?! Oh hell no.

You can't pull kids from a good school and send them to a struggling school. They need to invest resources into the struggling schools (better admin, more security, better teachers, smaller class sizes, more advanced and AP courses, more support services like tutoring and Saturday school and so on) and bring them up to par vs. moving kids around and bussing them far from home.


PP, don't worry, if this happens, it will be ok. The "bad" kids won't infect your "good" kids with badness.


The schools are struggling academically. This doesn't make them "bad" kids! They need more support from K onwards!

There are fewer cohorts of advanced students at the struggling schools. My point was a program like APEX at WJ has 150 kids taking all AP courses. The struggling schools sometimes can't offer the same AP options because there aren't enough kids to fill the class (say, a French 6 or an AP
Chem in 10th grade or Differential Equations).


You seem be operating under a few bad assumptions. You kid will do the same at any MCPS school. Differences have more to do with a students home life. All MCPS schools are more or less the same and offer a wide range of advanced classes. Sure, one may have 6 sections of AP English another has 3 but both offer AP English and similar core classes.


What rock have you been hiding under? Advanced opportunities from school to school are different, much closer to what the PP describes than the MCPS line you're repeating.