Positive story. Yesterday, my 11th grader at Wilson decided he wanted to change one of his elective classes, which required switching his language class from one period to another. We emailed the counselor at 7:30pm, with plans to visit this morning, but she emailed his new corrected schedule back at 11:00pm. Great service.

Every school has problems, yes, but not like these. We recently moved and have a little perspective on this now. My 11th grader attends a public school with 1700 students, 4 academic counselors, and a wide range of needs. The schedules came out 2 weeks early. Some kids needed to go in and fix something, but it this was exception, not an expectation. The counselors are busy, the staff is busy, the teachers are busy, but everything runs, and pretty smoothly at that. It's not perfect - there are always issues - but it is a dream compared to Wilson. At some point, you have to think DCPS would know what to do. But it's been like this since I attended Wilson in the 80's.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To respond to a previous post Walls has 4 counselors for about 600 students.

Walls parent here--it also helps that the counselors at Walls stay with the same graduating class all four years. (Maybe they do that at Wilson too?) They get to know the kids and seem able to help everyone in their group get kinks worked out and make sure the credits are all there. According to my junior, there were kids who needed changes last week, but it was not a disaster-just had to get time with the counselors to make the changes.

Much easier to get to know your students when you have only 150. Also easier to get time with the counselor to make needed changes.

Anonymous wrote:To respond to a previous post Walls has 4 counselors for about 600 students.

Walls parent here--it also helps that the counselors at Walls stay with the same graduating class all four years. (Maybe they do that at Wilson too?) They get to know the kids and seem able to help everyone in their group get kinks worked out and make sure the credits are all there. According to my junior, there were kids who needed changes last week, but it was not a disaster-just had to get time with the counselors to make the changes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there a computer program for scheduling that can help? My freshman is in a class freshman aren't allowed to take. Couldn't a computer not place him in that class?

They do use a computer program for scheduling.

Well obviously it's not a great program if it places kids in classes they're not eligible to take.

This whole situation sounds ridiculous. Sounds as though they need better systems and more counselors to troubleshoot when things fall through. - lifelong educator

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there a computer program for scheduling that can help? My freshman is in a class freshman aren't allowed to take. Couldn't a computer not place him in that class?

They do use a computer program for scheduling.

Well obviously it's not a great program if it places kids in classes they're not eligible to take.

Anonymous wrote:Principal decision due to budget cuts - yes!

Other things could have been cut instead. The cuts were only due to lower percentage of at risk students. This is going to be Wilson's reality as it gets more IN. Get involved now with LSAT and help figure out the trade offs.

Principal decision due to budget cuts - yes!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting that Walls has 4 counselors for 600 students. Right now Wilson has 4 counselors for 1700 students. Where is the equity?

Isn't that a principal decision?

Yes.

Anonymous wrote:^ I'll track them down and ask!

Every school in the country figured this out years ago. Even some urban schools bigger than Wilson. It's not rocket science.

Actually every year some students have problems at some schools. DCPS just isn't that special -- or more dysfunctional than anyplace else in this regard.

^ I'll track them down and ask!

Every school in the country figured this out years ago. Even some urban schools bigger than Wilson. It's not rocket science.