This is so OT, can we lock this thread?

Anonymous wrote:It's certainly not a matter of being special; it's a matter of standing up for one's beliefs. In NJ last year, more than one quarter of public school families opted out of PARCC testing, mainly to protest the way teachers' job security is tied to increases in test scores. Some of us don't care for the commercialization of public education in this country through hundreds of millions of dollars lavished on private testing companies like Pearsons.

If your 8th grader presents a competitive application, he or she will be admitted to a DC application HS with or without 7th grade PARCC scores. Our contrarian neighbor opted out of the 7th grade PARCC, her daughter was admitted to Walls this year, mainly on the strength of SAT II English and math scores in the 600s and a strong interview. Some states no longer bother with standardizes tests linked to the Common Core - they use SATs to evaluate students instead. Getting your child going on SAT testing in MS doesn't hurt.

Yet, some of you don't mind the commercialization of public education through the proliferation of certain charter schools?

The College Board is just as commercial and more pervasive than Pearson.

It's certainly not a matter of being special; it's a matter of standing up for one's beliefs. In NJ last year, more than one quarter of public school families opted out of PARCC testing, mainly to protest the way teachers' job security is tied to increases in test scores. Some of us don't care for the commercialization of public education in this country through hundreds of millions of dollars lavished on private testing companies like Pearsons.

If your 8th grader presents a competitive application, he or she will be admitted to a DC application HS with or without 7th grade PARCC scores. Our contrarian neighbor opted out of the 7th grade PARCC, her daughter was admitted to Walls this year, mainly on the strength of SAT II English and math scores in the 600s and a strong interview. Some states no longer bother with standardizes tests linked to the Common Core - they use SATs to evaluate students instead. Getting your child going on SAT testing in MS doesn't hurt.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's not like your kid is going to get to do something more enriching if she finishes the test super early. might as well put in some effort and do your best. For upper grades, PARCC may affect entrance into exam schools.

This is true. PARCC scores will be used as part of the DCPS application school admissions process.

I think MS kids will take it more serious than the HS school kids; don't see a problem there.

Yep. MS kids have much less freedom within their day, and all middle schoolers must take the test.

Part of the reason the high school tests at Wilson were such a mess is that, apparently, no one could figure out who to test. It isn't as simple as 'all 10th graders.'

But the opt-out parents need to keep in mind the application schools, if they want to preserve that as an option for their kids. The 7th grade test will be the one used.

Much misinformation here. Actually, nobody has to take the PARCC in DC or a state. Parents can opt out for their children without penalty. Most testing jurisdictions don't want parents to know this.

Middle schoolers without PARCC test scores can freely apply to the DC application high schools without being penalized for lack of scores (no different than a foreign student arriving in DC in 8th grade without any scores and applying to an application high school on the strength of academic transcripts, an interview, recommendations etc.). Applicants can even take other standardized tests to demonstrate academic prowess, e.g. SAT subject tests and RAVEN, and submit these scores. Applicants can even submit portfolios of graded written work, along with multimedia projects, to demonstrate talents/giftedness.

A small number of well prepared refuseniks are quietly being admitted to this city's high schools. Amen.

What..."special" person would prefer to prep/pay/take the SAT or prepare a labor intensive portfolio over simply showing up and taking the PARCC?!? That person is truly missing the forest for the trees. Btw, if you don't have PARCC scores, you are penalized. In choosing between two relatively equal candidates (grades and ec), the student with PARCC scores will get the nod. Plus, why would a test in school take a refusenik over a strong (and willing) test taking student? You do realize that these public schools want you to take the PARCC in their high school as well, right? Use your thinking caps people!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone pick Bruce Monroe over Creative Minds and their shady campus up at the Armed Forces Retirement Home? Do you not have a car?

We do have a car. We are also within walking distance to both schools. We liked Bruce Monroe better for a variety of reasons, including language exposure, diversity (both racial and economic diversity), and general overall vibe we received from other families, faculty/staff. We're also not huge supporters of the charter system and don't think it benefits public education as a whole.

It is fine if you prefer Creative Minds, but I don't understand this "why would anyone ever choose x over y?" or "everyone in our neighborhood prefers Creative Minds" mentality. It asserts something as fact that is just not true.

I like you, PP.

Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone pick Bruce Monroe over Creative Minds and their shady campus up at the Armed Forces Retirement Home? Do you not have a car?

We do have a car. We are also within walking distance to both schools. We liked Bruce Monroe better for a variety of reasons, including language exposure, diversity (both racial and economic diversity), and general overall vibe we received from other families, faculty/staff. We're also not huge supporters of the charter system and don't think it benefits public education as a whole.

It is fine if you prefer Creative Minds, but I don't understand this "why would anyone ever choose x over y?" or "everyone in our neighborhood prefers Creative Minds" mentality. It asserts something as fact that is just not true.

Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone pick Bruce Monroe over Creative Minds and their shady campus up at the Armed Forces Retirement Home? Do you not have a car?

39% of DC residents don't own a car. We have two kids and do not. I do not reflect the general population of DC.

Why would anyone pick Bruce Monroe over Creative Minds and their shady campus up at the Armed Forces Retirement Home? Do you not have a car?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's not like your kid is going to get to do something more enriching if she finishes the test super early. might as well put in some effort and do your best. For upper grades, PARCC may affect entrance into exam schools.

This is true. PARCC scores will be used as part of the DCPS application school admissions process.

I think MS kids will take it more serious than the HS school kids; don't see a problem there.

Yep. MS kids have much less freedom within their day, and all middle schoolers must take the test.

Part of the reason the high school tests at Wilson were such a mess is that, apparently, no one could figure out who to test. It isn't as simple as 'all 10th graders.'

But the opt-out parents need to keep in mind the application schools, if they want to preserve that as an option for their kids. The 7th grade test will be the one used.

Much misinformation here. Actually, nobody has to take the PARCC in DC or a state. Parents can opt out for their children without penalty. Most testing jurisdictions don't want parents to know this.

Middle schoolers without PARCC test scores can freely apply to the DC application high schools without being penalized for lack of scores (no different than a foreign student arriving in DC in 8th grade without any scores and applying to an application high school on the strength of academic transcripts, an interview, recommendations etc.). Applicants can even take other standardized tests to demonstrate academic prowess, e.g. SAT subject tests and RAVEN, and submit these scores. Applicants can even submit portfolios of graded written work, along with multimedia projects, to demonstrate talents/giftedness.

A small number of well prepared refuseniks are quietly being admitted to this city's high schools. Amen.

A lot of people choose schools in this city based on safety and convenience. Test scores aren't a huge concern.

If you knew what I know as a teacher, you wouldn't put a lot of stake in test scores either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's not like your kid is going to get to do something more enriching if she finishes the test super early. might as well put in some effort and do your best. For upper grades, PARCC may affect entrance into exam schools.

This is true. PARCC scores will be used as part of the DCPS application school admissions process.

I think MS kids will take it more serious than the HS school kids; don't see a problem there.

Yep. MS kids have much less freedom within their day, and all middle schoolers must take the test.

Part of the reason the high school tests at Wilson were such a mess is that, apparently, no one could figure out who to test. It isn't as simple as 'all 10th graders.'

But the opt-out parents need to keep in mind the application schools, if they want to preserve that as an option for their kids. The 7th grade test will be the one used.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's not like your kid is going to get to do something more enriching if she finishes the test super early. might as well put in some effort and do your best. For upper grades, PARCC may affect entrance into exam schools.

This is true. PARCC scores will be used as part of the DCPS application school admissions process.

I think MS kids will take it more serious than the HS school kids; don't see a problem there.

Im an AA parent at YY and I'm very concerned about the scores for AA. However, when I went to look at the data for those scoring a 3 it went up significantly. I'm hoping the school is able to figure out a way to move children from 3s to 4s. That should be a priority of the school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The test scores for MV, CMI, and IT. There are a number of DCPS Title I schools with huge populations of ELL and at-risk kids doing better. So why are these charters so popular?

CMI scores are twice as good as Bruce Monroe (our IB) so its all relative and why everyone in our neighborhood applied to CMI.

Please. I wouldn't say everyone in our neighborhood applied to CMI. We didn't have it on our list, but did have Bruce Monroe. Also, Bruce Monroe has a majority ELL population. That affects test scores taken in English. It's not an apples-to-apples comparison.