Anonymous wrote:Quoted from the article

Branch has already come up with his own strategies for retaining students, and he has beat his enrollment targets every year. Starting in April, he offers a treat — a ice pop party or a movie — every Friday for students who have re-enrolled. In June, he puts on a day-long carnival, and only those students who have completed their enrollment paperwork are admitted to the choicest parts, such as the waterslide, the Ferris wheel and the dunk tank.

I really hate it when we reward or punish children for things that are well beyond their control. Children don't decide whether they are going to re-enroll. At my EOTP school they had dress down days at the end of the year and my DD's class missed out on getting to do so because I'm choosing not to re-enroll. Let me be clear, I'm fine with kids being rewarded for things they have some measure of control over such as good behavior, good grades, etc.

Branch has already come up with his own strategies for retaining students, and he has beat his enrollment targets every year. Starting in April, he offers a treat — a ice pop party or a movie — every Friday for students who have re-enrolled. In June, he puts on a day-long carnival, and only those students who have completed their enrollment paperwork are admitted to the choicest parts, such as the waterslide, the Ferris wheel and the dunk tank.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people leaving? Because they believe they are going to a safer, more academically challenging school. Duh! How to keep them? Convince them that your school is as good or better.

I think that's what the principal is trying to do. For example, at my (not very good on test scores) in-bound school, the principal is a literacy expert, the test scores have risen, they have some partnerships with outside groups that allow them to do cool extracurriculars, there's a new playground and the school's been renovated, the early childhood grades have really small class sizes with an aide in every room,etc. There is more discipline (I don't always like how they implement discipline, but the school feels safe and orderly). The school is becoming more diverse kids (there are now more white, Asian, and Latino kids than before, for example), and the principal and teachers are very welcoming. Yet there's still a bad reputation--not all of which is deserved. Some parents won't even go to the open house. What better way for them to learn about all this and get their questions answered than to have the principal and some parents and teachers drop by?

Perhaps you could advertise this wonderful school by giving it's name. Other posters here talk about their DCPS schools, but don't provide the specifics. You could recruit right here and now.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's a sign of desperation, but rather of refocus. Post GM bailout everyone in the organization officially became a car salesman. They get points on their reviews for how many folks they recruit to buy. This has the same feel to me. If you are going to captain a DCPS school you had better believe in your mission and put in some elbow grease to 'sell' it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a charter school parent so know the first hand appeal that charters have for many families compared to struggling neighborhood schools. That said, I find the DCPS bashing and snide comments really sad--I want the system to succeed and I think it is GREAT that principals are going door to door. I would hope my fellow charter school parents would also absolutely root for success in DCPS.

+1. I don't understand why so many posters are rooting for a total demise of neighborhood schools. I too am a charter school parent. However, I dread the extra commute and wish(ed) for better options in my neighborhood. DC is currently in DCI feeder and I know it will be close to impossible to get uptown to Walter Reed and all the way back downtown to earn a living. I may as well move to the burbs if I am asking for that kind of commute.

How about teaching your kid to use public transportation?

You are free to put your 11 year old on a one-hour plus multiple bus ride to cross town alone. I choose to parent differently, and not to subject my child to such dangers and hassles at such a young age. We need better local schools in closer proximity to our homes.