Anonymous
Post 07/07/2023 13:38     Subject: Hill Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For the younger parents — The Hill middle schools are not going to improve until they have a good high school feed.


For the umpteenth time - younger parents - if you actually want to learn about middle schools, I think talking to people with kids at the school or visiting the school is a much better option than this forum. But if this is where you are starting, I agree with the poster a few up - not knocking those who have chose to go private or charter, but maybe a new thread could be started with parents who are at the current DCPS middle schools, and they can talk about/answer questions re: their experience. Not a place for people to argue why you should not go there - just a place to ask questions - sort of like an open house.
It was posted on a previous page but maybe needs to be repeated -- as somebody who has lived here 20 years, worked in education and who has had kids in the DCPS system for 8 years - the schools can and do change. And to echo what another poster said, there are high performing upper elementary kids who perform well due to the quality of the instruction and their abilities (not just $$ Tutoring) -- who are continuing to do well in middle school.


We're E Asian immigrants, Hill residents of a decade. We wanted to learn about the 3 Ward 6 middle schools. We made a point of visiting them during school hours this past spring. We didn't see a single E Asian-looking student, parent, admin or educator at any of the the schools and far down on WLs for BASIS and the Latins. We will be staying at our DCPS ES for 5th grade, then probably moving to the burbs. No amount of chat and research will create Asian peers for our children at EH, SH and J. When will that change then?


That is a valid point that hasn't been talked about here. The segregation in our city is pretty significant. The schools in some areas of the suburbs would have a more diverse population.

https://dcist.com/story/20/01/14/this-gif-shows-how-the-d-c-areas-demographics-have-changed-since-1970/

https://dcist.com/story/21/06/21/the-d-c-region-has-become-more-diverse-but-also-more-segregated-study-finds/
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2023 13:15     Subject: Hill Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For the younger parents — The Hill middle schools are not going to improve until they have a good high school feed.


For the umpteenth time - younger parents - if you actually want to learn about middle schools, I think talking to people with kids at the school or visiting the school is a much better option than this forum. But if this is where you are starting, I agree with the poster a few up - not knocking those who have chose to go private or charter, but maybe a new thread could be started with parents who are at the current DCPS middle schools, and they can talk about/answer questions re: their experience. Not a place for people to argue why you should not go there - just a place to ask questions - sort of like an open house.
It was posted on a previous page but maybe needs to be repeated -- as somebody who has lived here 20 years, worked in education and who has had kids in the DCPS system for 8 years - the schools can and do change. And to echo what another poster said, there are high performing upper elementary kids who perform well due to the quality of the instruction and their abilities (not just $$ Tutoring) -- who are continuing to do well in middle school.


We're E Asian immigrants, Hill residents of a decade. We wanted to learn about the 3 Ward 6 middle schools. We made a point of visiting them during school hours this past spring. We didn't see a single E Asian-looking student, parent, admin or educator at any of the the schools and far down on WLs for BASIS and the Latins. We will be staying at our DCPS ES for 5th grade, then probably moving to the burbs. No amount of chat and research will create Asian peers for our children at EH, SH and J. When will that change then?
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2023 13:06     Subject: Hill Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am hoping that the ever shifting standards at SWW will make it harder for Ward 6 pro-DCPS parents to use it as their escape hatch. It’s pretty rich that families are criticized by that pro-DCPS (“we believe in our neighborhood schools”) for jumping to Latin and BASIS because they are charter and then those same families avoid Eastern.


What a petty and vindictive post. Walls has kept hundreds of longtime Capitol Hill families in the neighborhood in the last 25 years. And this is a bad thing? What, exactly, are you arguing FOR?


Not the PP but the hypocrisy annoys me. The point is Big Opinion until it comes to your child going to Eastern because there's SWW. You are no better than those you're criticizing.
I don't care how many families stayed because of Walls. Someone else would have moved in.


I certainly care. We hate losing dear friends, neighbors and parishioners of many years to the burbs because they don't have a public high school program they're confident in. Most of these families don't have a Big Opinion and aren't criticizing anybody or anything. They just need a decent public HS option.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2023 11:22     Subject: Hill Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:For the younger parents — The Hill middle schools are not going to improve until they have a good high school feed.


For the umpteenth time - younger parents - if you actually want to learn about middle schools, I think talking to people with kids at the school or visiting the school is a much better option than this forum. But if this is where you are starting, I agree with the poster a few up - not knocking those who have chose to go private or charter, but maybe a new thread could be started with parents who are at the current DCPS middle schools, and they can talk about/answer questions re: their experience. Not a place for people to argue why you should not go there - just a place to ask questions - sort of like an open house.
It was posted on a previous page but maybe needs to be repeated -- as somebody who has lived here 20 years, worked in education and who has had kids in the DCPS system for 8 years - the schools can and do change. And to echo what another poster said, there are high performing upper elementary kids who perform well due to the quality of the instruction and their abilities (not just $$ Tutoring) -- who are continuing to do well in middle school.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2023 11:15     Subject: Hill Middle Schools
For the younger parents — The Hill middle schools are not going to improve until they have a good high school feed.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2023 11:10     Subject: Hill Middle Schools
SWW last year had students from lots of different DCPS and charter schools. But its not really a Hill school — only Deal and Hardy sent 10+ students there last year.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2023 11:05     Subject: Hill Middle Schools
This thread is titled “Hill Middle Schools” but it is disproportionately posters that moved to charter middle schools after 4th grade which is fine (we understand) reiterating how bad the local middle schools are and that no one should attend them. But it is not all that helpful if you are a younger parent on the fence who is seriously considering and wants to learn more about the Hill middle schools.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2023 11:03     Subject: Hill Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am hoping that the ever shifting standards at SWW will make it harder for Ward 6 pro-DCPS parents to use it as their escape hatch. It’s pretty rich that families are criticized by that pro-DCPS (“we believe in our neighborhood schools”) for jumping to Latin and BASIS because they are charter and then those same families avoid Eastern.


What a petty and vindictive post. Walls has kept hundreds of longtime Capitol Hill families in the neighborhood in the last 25 years. And this is a bad thing? What, exactly, are you arguing FOR?


Not the PP but the hypocrisy annoys me. The point is Big Opinion until it comes to your child going to Eastern because there's SWW. You are no better than those you're criticizing.
I don't care how many families stayed because of Walls. Someone else would have moved in.


Sure, punish those with poor lottery luck or the understanding of their children to know that BASIS wouldn’t work for them. So just to follow the thought process, those parents should either move or go to private schools?

There are plenty of booster posts about charter schools. I’m not sure what is so offensive about parents sharing that actually their above average children continued to be above average at a DCPS MS.

If other parents are making you feel guilty, maybe you should think about why you feel guilty? I understand people don’t want to admit it here but we have all heard outrageous comments spoken under their breathes. Like the one I heard last week where a parents suggested all non Ward 3 MS and HS should be shut down because “they aren’t doing anything.” And yes, that parent has a charter sticker on their car.


PP here. Guilt level zero. I choose the best school for my child within my means. I don't pretend to be pro DCPS yet send my child to the 1st escape hatch available. My comment was regarding the hypocrisy. I don't care where you send your child but be honest.
The parent with the shut down the schools idea couldn't be more wrong. So much work needs to be done.
We all know that's a hard row to hoe & there are no easy answers.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2023 11:00     Subject: Hill Middle Schools
“Vindictive” pp here - my point is that if some of those pro-DCPS/mad at DCPCS families in the last 25 years had started going to Eastern, like families are now giving EH a try, the situation in Ward 6 could be much different. And the charters weren’t to blame for that - Eastern was renovated and beautiful before Latin had a graduating class.

And SWW has been a de facto Ward 6 school for years - and that may be changing.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2023 10:49     Subject: Hill Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am hoping that the ever shifting standards at SWW will make it harder for Ward 6 pro-DCPS parents to use it as their escape hatch. It’s pretty rich that families are criticized by that pro-DCPS (“we believe in our neighborhood schools”) for jumping to Latin and BASIS because they are charter and then those same families avoid Eastern.


What a petty and vindictive post. Walls has kept hundreds of longtime Capitol Hill families in the neighborhood in the last 25 years. And this is a bad thing? What, exactly, are you arguing FOR?


Not the PP but the hypocrisy annoys me. The point is Big Opinion until it comes to your child going to Eastern because there's SWW. You are no better than those you're criticizing.
I don't care how many families stayed because of Walls. Someone else would have moved in.


Sure, punish those with poor lottery luck or the understanding of their children to know that BASIS wouldn’t work for them. So just to follow the thought process, those parents should either move or go to private schools?

There are plenty of booster posts about charter schools. I’m not sure what is so offensive about parents sharing that actually their above average children continued to be above average at a DCPS MS.

If other parents are making you feel guilty, maybe you should think about why you feel guilty? I understand people don’t want to admit it here but we have all heard outrageous comments spoken under their breathes. Like the one I heard last week where a parents suggested all non Ward 3 MS and HS should be shut down because “they aren’t doing anything.” And yes, that parent has a charter sticker on their car.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2023 10:32     Subject: Hill Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am hoping that the ever shifting standards at SWW will make it harder for Ward 6 pro-DCPS parents to use it as their escape hatch. It’s pretty rich that families are criticized by that pro-DCPS (“we believe in our neighborhood schools”) for jumping to Latin and BASIS because they are charter and then those same families avoid Eastern.


What a petty and vindictive post. Walls has kept hundreds of longtime Capitol Hill families in the neighborhood in the last 25 years. And this is a bad thing? What, exactly, are you arguing FOR?


Not the PP but the hypocrisy annoys me. The point is Big Opinion until it comes to your child going to Eastern because there's SWW. You are no better than those you're criticizing.
I don't care how many families stayed because of Walls. Someone else would have moved in.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2023 10:26     Subject: Hill Middle Schools
This is the fear: DCPS is very focused on closing the achievement and opportunity gap between low- and high-performing students. It needs to be. BUT there is a concern that a middle school with a large concentration of at-risk students might be only focused on and spread thin addressing the educational needs of lower performing students while letting the smart kids languish failing to grow to their fullest potential. There is some collective action problem because people start to leave and/or lottery for charter schools and others get nervous and do the same. DCPS has not done much in terms of middle school programs or marketing to demonstrate that it really cares about kids at all levels.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2023 10:18     Subject: Hill Middle Schools
What percentage of students from the public ES level head into the public Ms?
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2023 10:14     Subject: Hill Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:I am hoping that the ever shifting standards at SWW will make it harder for Ward 6 pro-DCPS parents to use it as their escape hatch. It’s pretty rich that families are criticized by that pro-DCPS (“we believe in our neighborhood schools”) for jumping to Latin and BASIS because they are charter and then those same families avoid Eastern.


What a petty and vindictive post. Walls has kept hundreds of longtime Capitol Hill families in the neighborhood in the last 25 years. And this is a bad thing? What, exactly, are you arguing FOR?
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2023 08:56     Subject: Hill Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:parent of child at a non-Brent Jefferson feeder and find the above post offensive


+1