NP here. I honestly don't understand why OP took such a hit for asking this question. I'm curious about this topic too. Is there something wrong with that?

Why am I curious? I live in Southwest, and, before Van Ness opened, I witnessed folks who tried to keep poor black kids from my neighborhood out of the school. I'm wondering how things have panned out so far.

Why don't I just go see for myself? Because, while I am curious, I don't care quite enough to take time out of my work day to investigate.

Isn't it offense to even ask? No. If curiosity about the demographics of a school is offensive, then people should be protesting at the headquarters of DCPS, which prominently displays on its website the racial breakdown of each school with a pie chart.

Anyway, back to the topic. Does anyone have any actual insight about the question raised that they would like to share?

She has some special needs.

Anonymous wrote:

Are the people who keep saying that they don't want their child to be the "only one" really worried that will TRULY BE the "only one"? Face it, you wouldn't be comfortable if your child was one of two, or one of three ... of the only whatever you are. Stop staying that you don't want your child to be "the only" unless you're live in Ward 7 or 8, where that may actually be a possibility.

Side issue, but my child is the "only" white child for the second year in a row. Before that, she was one of three or four in a class of thirty (different school dist, larger classes). I was more comfortable when she was one of three or four than I am now with it. It's not that her whiteness is an issue so much... as it makes every other issue she might have tinged somehow. She'd be just as different from some of her peers if they were all white (she has some SN), but the color thing makes it more pronounced.

I've always thought that this was something worth working to work with, but the last year really made me question that on many levels.

"She has some SN"? What does this mean?

Are the people who keep saying that they don't want their child to be the "only one" really worried that will TRULY BE the "only one"? Face it, you wouldn't be comfortable if your child was one of two, or one of three ... of the only whatever you are. Stop staying that you don't want your child to be "the only" unless you're live in Ward 7 or 8, where that may actually be a possibility.

Side issue, but my child is the "only" white child for the second year in a row. Before that, she was one of three or four in a class of thirty (different school dist, larger classes). I was more comfortable when she was one of three or four than I am now with it. It's not that her whiteness is an issue so much... as it makes every other issue she might have tinged somehow. She'd be just as different from some of her peers if they were all white (she has some SN), but the color thing makes it more pronounced.

I've always thought that this was something worth working to work with, but the last year really made me question that on many levels.

Anonymous wrote:There has been a lot people on this board debating about Van Ness Elementary. As a parent of child attending the school, I have been very pleased with how the school has been run this first month, and how my child (and other children) really look forward to going to school every day. Other factors (such as test scores) will be determined in the upcoming years, but at least the school is off to a strong start. As for demographics, the school is not a Title I school. The school is mostly high SES with about 20% of the population qualifying for FARM.

Is this a number provided by a credible source or your assessment of others' finances based on your keen powers of observation?

There has been a lot people on this board debating about Van Ness Elementary. As a parent of child attending the school, I have been very pleased with how the school has been run this first month, and how my child (and other children) really look forward to going to school every day. Other factors (such as test scores) will be determined in the upcoming years, but at least the school is off to a strong start. As for demographics, the school is not a Title I school. The school is mostly high SES with about 20% of the population qualifying for FARM.

I could have written the first sentence without ever having stepped outside my home in NW.

Anonymous wrote:I haven't bothered to count, but I'd guess the school is primarily white and African American children, some biracial, Latino and Asian kids. BTSN was well attended by parents and seemed to reflect the overall student body (And being a prior parent at a school that had almost no participation in BTSN I think it's a great start) I have no idea about SES makeup.

this is the first helpful honest answer here

One can think about issues outside the context of a formal academic study you know. I actually discuss threads from DCUM with my friend who is a sociologist all the time!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the craziest thread. What's wrong with asking about the demographics of who turned up to attend the school? It's of valid sociological interest. Who made what decisions about schools to apply for in the lottery and actually attend? If the school is entirely African American, why? If it's entirely Caucasisn, why? Is it IB kids? Is it OoB kids? Is it pulling from Wards 7 and 8? Navy families? Tyler and Brent?

The OP didn't make value judgements. They asked for information.

DCUM is populated with crazies who object to this question. They can't tell you why it's not an OK question, but watch them judge and lash out at anyone who asks.

I only frequent DCUM to gather anecdotal information necessary to fuel my sociological interest in the demographics of certain DCPS schools. I hope it proves to be vital to defending my Dissertation.

Anonymous wrote:This is the craziest thread. What's wrong with asking about the demographics of who turned up to attend the school? It's of valid sociological interest. Who made what decisions about schools to apply for in the lottery and actually attend? If the school is entirely African American, why? If it's entirely Caucasisn, why? Is it IB kids? Is it OoB kids? Is it pulling from Wards 7 and 8? Navy families? Tyler and Brent?

The OP didn't make value judgements. They asked for information.

This thread was a set up. Why did anyone take the bait?

I haven't bothered to count, but I'd guess the school is primarily white and African American children, some biracial, Latino and Asian kids. BTSN was well attended by parents and seemed to reflect the overall student body (And being a prior parent at a school that had almost no participation in BTSN I think it's a great start) I have no idea about SES makeup.

Anonymous wrote:This is the craziest thread. What's wrong with asking about the demographics of who turned up to attend the school? It's of valid sociological interest. Who made what decisions about schools to apply for in the lottery and actually attend? If the school is entirely African American, why? If it's entirely Caucasisn, why? Is it IB kids? Is it OoB kids? Is it pulling from Wards 7 and 8? Navy families? Tyler and Brent?

The OP didn't make value judgements. They asked for information.

DCUM is populated with crazies who object to this question. They can't tell you why it's not an OK question, but watch them judge and lash out at anyone who asks.

I would say that parents who managed to make it to Back to School Night all over the city are almost by definition "engaged" parents. We don't go to our ES one only because this is the 4th kids to make it through there and you have one homeroom teacher, science teacher and music and art teachers who are known quantities.

Going to Back to School night at a MS or a new school probably makes you an at least slightly engaged parent.... and the other parent who is home with the kids may not be the same color. Ever thought of that one?

With "only" one Van Ness parent piping up, speaking in code and making me feel like the one certainty is I don't want anything to do with her or her progeny, don't hold it against the school just yet. Hoping she is an only

Anonymous wrote:Does this highly regarded principal talk about the etymology of homonym and hominem? You seem terribly insecure, but in the positive side it's good to see you're owning obnoxious and toxic. If you ever bothered to pull your head out of your ass you'd realize that the "only" status that you claim to very much dread disappeared from Hill elementary schools a while ago. It may be hard to believe but there are real, live white kids whi attend JO Wilson, LT, Miner, Payne, Tyler and Warkins. There's even some sr Jefferson and Eliot-Hine.

Who are you trying to kid? There are only a handful of white kids at JO Wilson past Prek4. Same story at Miner and Tyler Traditional. There are in fact no white kids in K, or above, at Payne this school year. And there are one or two at Eliot-Hine and Jefferson Academy.