Anonymous wrote:My kids usually walk to Deal. When I've been over there, I see a number of those low numbered license plated cars dropping off (the ones ostentatiously displayed by those flaunting their political connections to the mayor and council members). I even see Maryland cars dropping off their kids. I guess it's a long way to come on Metro from Landover.

Can we all at least agree that none of the Mayor's friends should be allowed access to Deal and Wilson unless they go through the standard lottery like everyone else?

I truly don't understand why DCPS remains committed to a neighborhood-based school system. The residents of DC have voted with their feet. At the time of the 2014 boundary review, only 25% of children city-wide went to their IB schools.

It depends on the neighborhood. Those in NWDC want to go to their neighborhood schools because they're nearby and well-run. But many people in other parts of DC don't like their own neighborhood schools, so they want to secure OOB rights to attend someone else's neighborhood school. Now the NWDC neighborhood schools are overcrowded because the combination of IB and OOB students is too many for the schools. But since DCPS will not take steps to reduce the OOB access, and also won't adjust boundaries or change to reduce the number of IB students, there's no obvious way to relieve the overcrowding.

The only choice seems to be building even more NWDC schools, because DCPS doesn't want to disappoint anyone. I suppose we just keep cramming more students into Deal until either we run out of money or we truly have "Alice Deal for All."

My kids usually walk to Deal. When I've been over there, I see a number of those low numbered license plated cars dropping off (the ones ostentatiously displayed by those flaunting their political connections to the mayor and council members). I even see Maryland cars dropping off their kids. I guess it's a long way to come on Metro from Landover.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:--Because "school choice" has become a buzzword and anything that threatens to limit that is unacceptable.
--Because there are thousands of children who currently attend DCPS schools OOB and the city has committed to a policy of ensuring continuity for those students.
--Because charters, which don't deal with boudnaries, have changed things, changed thinking. It's easier to imagine doing away with DCPS boundaries altogether than to limit choice.
--Because allowing children who have joined a cohort and community at one school to stay with that group for middle school and high school is the right thing to do.
--Because the boundary review process was a long, painful process that solved nothing.
--Because higher SES families will leave or go private if the overcrowding becomes too problematic.

In fact, DCPS is committed to a system of neighborhood-based schools. One of the principal draws for many DCPS schools is that kids go to community-based schools near their homes and go to school with their neighborhood friends. Lose the community connection to the local schools and schools will lose support that they currently have. Not to mention that no one who digs deep for a house in the Janney or Mann districts will accept a lottery in which their kids get assigned to a so-called "education campus" or to Marion Barry High in SE.

Moreover, the DC government is committed to walkability and reducing dependence on car traffic. Why would they embrace a system that would basically put more kids into cars??

DC

I truly don't understand why DCPS remains committed to a neighborhood-based school system. The residents of DC have voted with their feet. At the time of the 2014 boundary review, only 25% of children city-wide went to their IB schools.

That's why!

Because nobody wants to see their home value suddenly crater?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:--Because "school choice" has become a buzzword and anything that threatens to limit that is unacceptable.
--Because there are thousands of children who currently attend DCPS schools OOB and the city has committed to a policy of ensuring continuity for those students.
--Because charters, which don't deal with boudnaries, have changed things, changed thinking. It's easier to imagine doing away with DCPS boundaries altogether than to limit choice.
--Because allowing children who have joined a cohort and community at one school to stay with that group for middle school and high school is the right thing to do.
--Because the boundary review process was a long, painful process that solved nothing.
--Because higher SES families will leave or go private if the overcrowding becomes too problematic.

In fact, DCPS is committed to a system of neighborhood-based schools. One of the principal draws for many DCPS schools is that kids go to community-based schools near their homes and go to school with their neighborhood friends. Lose the community connection to the local schools and schools will lose support that they currently have. Not to mention that no one who digs deep for a house in the Janney or Mann districts will accept a lottery in which their kids get assigned to a so-called "education campus" or to Marion Barry High in SE.

Moreover, the DC government is committed to walkability and reducing dependence on car traffic. Why would they embrace a system that would basically put more kids into cars??

DC

I truly don't understand why DCPS remains committed to a neighborhood-based school system. The residents of DC have voted with their feet. At the time of the 2014 boundary review, only 25% of children city-wide went to their IB schools.

Yes, they vote (Bowser and others hear them), but not with their feet. They stay in place in their current neighborhoods, rather than move, and demand slots in other schools. As for feet, they don't use them -- instead putting more and more cars onto DC streets. Sad for the environment.

Actually the cars/driving thing is mostly at the lower elementary level. Thousands of kids use WMATA (bus and metro) to move around the city starting from about 5th grade. As is appropriate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:--Because "school choice" has become a buzzword and anything that threatens to limit that is unacceptable.
--Because there are thousands of children who currently attend DCPS schools OOB and the city has committed to a policy of ensuring continuity for those students.
--Because charters, which don't deal with boudnaries, have changed things, changed thinking. It's easier to imagine doing away with DCPS boundaries altogether than to limit choice.
--Because allowing children who have joined a cohort and community at one school to stay with that group for middle school and high school is the right thing to do.
--Because the boundary review process was a long, painful process that solved nothing.
--Because higher SES families will leave or go private if the overcrowding becomes too problematic.

In fact, DCPS is committed to a system of neighborhood-based schools. One of the principal draws for many DCPS schools is that kids go to community-based schools near their homes and go to school with their neighborhood friends. Lose the community connection to the local schools and schools will lose support that they currently have. Not to mention that no one who digs deep for a house in the Janney or Mann districts will accept a lottery in which their kids get assigned to a so-called "education campus" or to Marion Barry High in SE.

Moreover, the DC government is committed to walkability and reducing dependence on car traffic. Why would they embrace a system that would basically put more kids into cars??

DC

I truly don't understand why DCPS remains committed to a neighborhood-based school system. The residents of DC have voted with their feet. At the time of the 2014 boundary review, only 25% of children city-wide went to their IB schools.

That's why!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:--Because "school choice" has become a buzzword and anything that threatens to limit that is unacceptable.
--Because there are thousands of children who currently attend DCPS schools OOB and the city has committed to a policy of ensuring continuity for those students.
--Because charters, which don't deal with boudnaries, have changed things, changed thinking. It's easier to imagine doing away with DCPS boundaries altogether than to limit choice.
--Because allowing children who have joined a cohort and community at one school to stay with that group for middle school and high school is the right thing to do.
--Because the boundary review process was a long, painful process that solved nothing.
--Because higher SES families will leave or go private if the overcrowding becomes too problematic.

In fact, DCPS is committed to a system of neighborhood-based schools. One of the principal draws for many DCPS schools is that kids go to community-based schools near their homes and go to school with their neighborhood friends. Lose the community connection to the local schools and schools will lose support that they currently have. Not to mention that no one who digs deep for a house in the Janney or Mann districts will accept a lottery in which their kids get assigned to a so-called "education campus" or to Marion Barry High in SE.

Moreover, the DC government is committed to walkability and reducing dependence on car traffic. Why would they embrace a system that would basically put more kids into cars??

DC

I truly don't understand why DCPS remains committed to a neighborhood-based school system. The residents of DC have voted with their feet. At the time of the 2014 boundary review, only 25% of children city-wide went to their IB schools.

Yes, they vote (Bowser and others hear them), but not with their feet. They stay in place in their current neighborhoods, rather than move, and demand slots in other schools. As for feet, they don't use them -- instead putting more and more cars onto DC streets. Sad for the environment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:--Because "school choice" has become a buzzword and anything that threatens to limit that is unacceptable.
--Because there are thousands of children who currently attend DCPS schools OOB and the city has committed to a policy of ensuring continuity for those students.
--Because charters, which don't deal with boudnaries, have changed things, changed thinking. It's easier to imagine doing away with DCPS boundaries altogether than to limit choice.
--Because allowing children who have joined a cohort and community at one school to stay with that group for middle school and high school is the right thing to do.
--Because the boundary review process was a long, painful process that solved nothing.
--Because higher SES families will leave or go private if the overcrowding becomes too problematic.

In fact, DCPS is committed to a system of neighborhood-based schools. One of the principal draws for many DCPS schools is that kids go to community-based schools near their homes and go to school with their neighborhood friends. Lose the community connection to the local schools and schools will lose support that they currently have. Not to mention that no one who digs deep for a house in the Janney or Mann districts will accept a lottery in which their kids get assigned to a so-called "education campus" or to Marion Barry High in SE.

Moreover, the DC government is committed to walkability and reducing dependence on car traffic. Why would they embrace a system that would basically put more kids into cars??

DC

I truly don't understand why DCPS remains committed to a neighborhood-based school system. The residents of DC have voted with their feet. At the time of the 2014 boundary review, only 25% of children city-wide went to their IB schools.

They looked at some other options in the boundary process, but all presented their own tradeoffs and challenges.

DC needs to take account of the building boom that is underway in the Deal and Wilson districts. Population growth will not just be fueled by birth rates and turnover of existing homes Recently there have been 1500 residences (flats and townhouses) proposed on just two blocks of Wisconsin Ave alone (the Fannie Mae site and next door at 4000 Wisconsin). If only 20 percent of those units have one child of school age, that could be 300 more kids in the Deal and Wilson cluster. These are just two developments of several currently planned in the immediate area. There are also large projects proposed in Tenleytown and in AU Park at the old Superfresh site.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:--Because "school choice" has become a buzzword and anything that threatens to limit that is unacceptable.
--Because there are thousands of children who currently attend DCPS schools OOB and the city has committed to a policy of ensuring continuity for those students.
--Because charters, which don't deal with boudnaries, have changed things, changed thinking. It's easier to imagine doing away with DCPS boundaries altogether than to limit choice.
--Because allowing children who have joined a cohort and community at one school to stay with that group for middle school and high school is the right thing to do.
--Because the boundary review process was a long, painful process that solved nothing.
--Because higher SES families will leave or go private if the overcrowding becomes too problematic.

In fact, DCPS is committed to a system of neighborhood-based schools. One of the principal draws for many DCPS schools is that kids go to community-based schools near their homes and go to school with their neighborhood friends. Lose the community connection to the local schools and schools will lose support that they currently have. Not to mention that no one who digs deep for a house in the Janney or Mann districts will accept a lottery in which their kids get assigned to a so-called "education campus" or to Marion Barry High in SE.

Moreover, the DC government is committed to walkability and reducing dependence on car traffic. Why would they embrace a system that would basically put more kids into cars??

DC

I truly don't understand why DCPS remains committed to a neighborhood-based school system. The residents of DC have voted with their feet. At the time of the 2014 boundary review, only 25% of children city-wide went to their IB schools.

Anonymous wrote:--Because "school choice" has become a buzzword and anything that threatens to limit that is unacceptable.
--Because there are thousands of children who currently attend DCPS schools OOB and the city has committed to a policy of ensuring continuity for those students.
--Because charters, which don't deal with boudnaries, have changed things, changed thinking. It's easier to imagine doing away with DCPS boundaries altogether than to limit choice.
--Because allowing children who have joined a cohort and community at one school to stay with that group for middle school and high school is the right thing to do.
--Because the boundary review process was a long, painful process that solved nothing.
--Because higher SES families will leave or go private if the overcrowding becomes too problematic.

In fact, DCPS is committed to a system of neighborhood-based schools. One of the principal draws for many DCPS schools is that kids go to community-based schools near their homes and go to school with their neighborhood friends. Lose the community connection to the local schools and schools will lose support that they currently have. Not to mention that no one who digs deep for a house in the Janney or Mann districts will accept a lottery in which their kids get assigned to a so-called "education campus" or to Marion Barry High in SE.

Moreover, the DC government is committed to walkability and reducing dependence on car traffic. Why would they embrace a system that would basically put more kids into cars??

DC

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if they got away with old West feeder options to Deal it would be a start.

If you remove capacity from Deal and Hardy you have a chance at Wilson.

The new if you move OOB clarification rule is going to create crazy capacity problems as well.

The best way to reduce overcrowding is to end feeder rights for OOB elementary students. In other words, when they graduate, they go to their assigned schools or play the lottery again.

Diversity is nice, but academic excellence is most important. Sometimes DCPS gets it backwards.

Anonymous wrote:

Nope. Not obtuse. I'm just looking for a clear answer. I keep hearing "oh, c'mon, you know why ..." but no one wants to speak the real reason. I honestly do not know what it is. Here are the possibilities I see ...

1. It's about political favors; Mayor Bowser is protecting her political supporters who want access to Deal and Wilson. If it's really about political favors, then she should say so.

2. It's about racial diversity; we can't let Deal or Wilson have fewer than __% black or Hispanic students. If it's really about a specific racial diversity quota, then say so and tell us what the quota is. At least we'll all know what the quota is, so we can figure out how to meet it.

3. It's about political will; no one wants to be accused of preventing any current or future student from attending Deal or Wilson. If it's really about no one wanting to be subject to criticism, them say so. At least then we'll know we need to design a solution that gives all the decision-makers plausible deniability.

Any other reasons I'm missing?

If you are willing to be realistic about the politics of it all then #2 and #3 are the reasons. But this is bigger than Bowser and her Ward 4 base in your first reason. There is broad consensus on the importance of addressing segregation in DC. It doesn't matter who the mayor is. The boundary review was done by Gray of Ward 8. Bowser of Ward 4 made small adjustments but adopted most of it. Catania, former at-large member of Council, would have done the same had he been elected mayor.

Your reason #2 is the most important reason, or a version of it. But let's think about how racial justice is best thought of and discussed. Do we believe that a school board should publish a racial quota for a high school??? That's divisive, demeaning, unnecessary, not to mention unconstitutional. The quote from the meeting that someone posted above is as explicit as it usually gets in a government document talking about the value of diversity and equity in education. There's often more candor in person.

I am not accusing you of bad faith but you seem to want to reduce this to a very petty version of politics, in which it's all about quid pro quo or appearances or rewarding supporters or avoiding criticism. Unfortunately all that stuff does play a role in politics, but we must also acknowledge that there are important principles and societal goals at work here that are shared broadly by DC politicians, policymakers, and residents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, commuting distance doesn't really matter once your kids hit middle school. Both Deal and Wilson are accessible via Metro or bus and middle and high school children are old enough to commute alone.

Most students at Deal are working above grade level, in fact the majority of students are doing the advanced math track.

At Wilson, while there are kids who are not at grade level, students who are can find classes that challenge them by choosing advanced or AP classes. You get the advantages of a large school -- lots of extra-curriculars, school plays, sports, newspaper. The application schools can match some of the academics (but choices are more limited) but not the extras or facilities.

Really? More than half of Deal students are taking algebra in grade 7, geometry in grade 8, and are ready for algebra 2 in 9th? That seems really high.

For comparison, I have a child going to Hardy and the number is still much lower there. I believe it's <10% above grade level math (algebra in grade 7), and 20% on grade level in math (algebra in grade 8).

Look at the detailed PARCC score spreadsheets - you can see how many students in each grade are taking which math test.

Sorry - I overstated it a little. In 2016 191 of 429 Deal 8th grade students took the PARCC Geometry exam (44%).