And 15:43 you are also wrong, the new boundary line is not at Albermarle to avoid a zig zag. The new proposed boundary is a zig zag, just a different one. And there is no benefit to a straight line over a zig zag in any case esp when the zig zag is the established line.

Also pp who keep saying the OP wasn't talking about Murch/Hearst b/c the of that 2 block radius comment, that is wrong. The OP didn't say anything about 2 blocks. The OP said "close proximity." It is likely that the OP is talking about this boundary.

And I agree that no one is maligning Hearst. But if there is going to be a citywide defense of neighborhood schools then proximity has to be respected.

Sorry 15:44 you are wrong. First, its not the OP that raised this issue. I raised it and I don't even live in the Murch or Hearst zone. I'm just an involved DC parent who thinks that the policies of our government should be fair and looking at the maps for this proposal I don't think its right and I don't think its supported by the information, explanation or data.

Second, you are wrong on the fact. I am not talking about the Lafayette move. I'm talking about the swap of Murch and Hearst blocks. I just maped it on milage app and there are blocks on 36th street that are .3 miles from Murch being moved to Hearst which is more then twice that distance away. And at the same time the same plan proposes to move blocks that are currently in Hearst to Murch that are .9 miles away from Murch. There are also blocks currently in Murch that are .3 miles from Murch, .4 miles from Janney, and .7 miles from Hearst. These are just facts. People are being sent to their third closest school under the current plan while others that are further from any of those three schools are being rerouted to Murch. I think that's wrong and I don't think our city government should do something like that.

Anonymous wrote:Why do the Hearst boosters feel the need to put down other schools in support of Hearst?

Please point to me the specific posts where a Murch person spoke about not wanting to go to Hearst because of:

Test scores
Too many brown children
Lack of extras

Just hasn't happened though Hearst boosters keep claiming it has! As has been pointed out that OP can't be talking about Hearst/Murch since there are zero houses within two blocks of Murch that were rezoned for Hearst!

Are you f#$ing kidding me? Hearst is maligned constantly on DCUM. If you've read any of the numerous threads on this topics, Murch posters have mentioned test scores and extras many many times. And of course they don't mention the brown children, but they use all the code words of OOB kids, at risk kids, low income kids, etc. And anyone who has attended one of the community meetings has heard Murch people slam Hearst repeatedly. One person even said "over my dead body" would they send their kids to Hearst. The meetings got so bad that a Murch PTA leader called one of our board members to apologize.

So please. PLEASE. To say that Hearst boosters "put down other schools in support of Hearst" is completely ridiculous. Do we defend our school? Yes, when misinformation and paranoia is spread, we speak up.

Anonymous wrote:There are NO blocks refined from Murch which is sending kids to a worst school which is the third farthest.

The blocks on Ablemarle are closer to Hearst than Eaton (driving and walking). The northern blocks rezoned for Lafayette are going to the second closest school.

OP is delusional.

Signed,
Murch parent

The blocks on Albemarle are closer to Janney and Murch than Hearst (driving and walking). Agreed on the blocks going to Lafayette.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The block swap simply switches some sparsely populated Hearst blocks to Murch and some heavily populated apartment blocks from Murch to Hearst.

I do love charter posters who think they aren't affected by this at all. The common lottery was just the first step my friend.

But that makes no sense at all. If there is any room at all at Murch it should be taken by the current Murch blocks. If they didn't do the "swap" then at least some of the 5 blocks that are - against their will - being moved from Murch to Hearst would have room to stay. The DME has said repeatedly that the preference was to make NO change where ever possible and to honor proximity to the greatest extent possible. If there is room to swap in ANY block to Murch then there is room to not do that and keep some existing block in Murch esp when the existing Murch blocks are closer to Murch then the swap blocks. The existence of this element is further evidence that the DME proposals are not well thought out or supported by real necessity or data. Again, I will not be surprised to learn that there is someone connected living in those swap blocks.

Actually the farthest blocks of Murch were resigned which is a change from their first proposal. This swap makes sense to me. Not only making Ablemarle a division instead of jumping around but also removing some of the populated Murch blocks.

This isn't finalized (though I think these will stick for Murch) and current children aren't affected.

There are NO blocks refined from Murch which is sending kids to a worst school which is the third farthest.

The blocks on Ablemarle are closer to Hearst than Eaton (driving and walking). The northern blocks rezoned for Lafayette are going to the second closest school.

OP is delusional.

Signed,
Murch parent

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The block swap simply switches some sparsely populated Hearst blocks to Murch and some heavily populated apartment blocks from Murch to Hearst.

I do love charter posters who think they aren't affected by this at all. The common lottery was just the first step my friend.

But that makes no sense at all. If there is any room at all at Murch it should be taken by the current Murch blocks. If they didn't do the "swap" then at least some of the 5 blocks that are - against their will - being moved from Murch to Hearst would have room to stay. The DME has said repeatedly that the preference was to make NO change where ever possible and to honor proximity to the greatest extent possible. If there is room to swap in ANY block to Murch then there is room to not do that and keep some existing block in Murch esp when the existing Murch blocks are closer to Murch then the swap blocks. The existence of this element is further evidence that the DME proposals are not well thought out or supported by real necessity or data. Again, I will not be surprised to learn that there is someone connected living in those swap blocks.

I thought that the DME was just trying to keep the border the same street both east and west of Connecticut -- Albemarle -- rather than have it zig-zag on different streets like it does currently.

This new school will be forced to take mostly at-risk OOB kids (foster care, homeless, welfare). It is heavily OOB already (over 80%) and will now have to grapple with the most challenging kids the city offers.

Does the proposal actually specify a DCPS slated to accommodate "the most challenging kids the city offers?" (or a significant foster care, homeless population? I haven't read the proposal in detail.

Anonymous wrote:The block swap simply switches some sparsely populated Hearst blocks to Murch and some heavily populated apartment blocks from Murch to Hearst.

I do love charter posters who think they aren't affected by this at all. The common lottery was just the first step my friend.

But that makes no sense at all. If there is any room at all at Murch it should be taken by the current Murch blocks. If they didn't do the "swap" then at least some of the 5 blocks that are - against their will - being moved from Murch to Hearst would have room to stay. The DME has said repeatedly that the preference was to make NO change where ever possible and to honor proximity to the greatest extent possible. If there is room to swap in ANY block to Murch then there is room to not do that and keep some existing block in Murch esp when the existing Murch blocks are closer to Murch then the swap blocks. The existence of this element is further evidence that the DME proposals are not well thought out or supported by real necessity or data. Again, I will not be surprised to learn that there is someone connected living in those swap blocks.

Go Hearst!

Mom at HRCS that would go to Hearst in a heartbeat!

Why do the Hearst boosters feel the need to put down other schools in support of Hearst?

Please point to me the specific posts where a Murch person spoke about not wanting to go to Hearst because of:

Test scores
Too many brown children
Lack of extras

Just hasn't happened though Hearst boosters keep claiming it has! As has been pointed out that OP can't be talking about Hearst/Murch since there are zero houses within two blocks of Murch that were rezoned for Hearst!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't you walk to a school that is less than a mile away?

I thought OP said her house was two blocks from Murch. It would be absurd to expect her to walk to some other school much farther away.

Please. My IB is 8 blocks away. It is just fine.

You're a nifty troll aren't you? Probably a fat ass who could use some exercise, in that case stroll your 8 blocks huffing and puffing to your fat heart's content. Not OP, but I'm with her. If an excellent school was 2 blocks away and there was some other school, good or bad, farther than 2 blocks, I wouldn't understand why I'm being routed to the farther school.

That seems like an unnecessarily mean response...fat ass? I would think a fat person huffing and puffing would not consider the 8 blocks "fine" to walk. You are clearly angry and miserable about something else going on in your own life and your comments are a reflection of YOU. Sheesh.

As a Hearst parent...I really hope these posters get to stay at Murch (I truly want to believe that they are aberrations in the Murch community and not the norm). They act like they are being rezoned for a school in Ward 8 and not one that is just down the road in their own neighborhood.

It appears that these posters believe that Murch is a better school because: A) Murch has higher test scores (although--as was previously noted--our 4th graders did outscore their 4th graders last year and Heart's overall scores are within striking distance of Murch's); B) They have more extras (While Hearst has plenty of extras, it's not surprising that Murch has more since they are twice our size); and C) Murch has a more homogeneous population (translation-- less little brown children).

Here's the thing, Murch is a great school. That's a fact. But don't accuse me of being a delusional booster because I prefer Hearst. Some of us have different priorities and place a higher value on other factors.

Hearst is a small school where everybody knows your name. At Hearst--a Ward 3 school-- there is no delineation between IB and OOB students and no distinctions between the races. (This fact never ceases to amaze me). Hearst has a smart, savvy and active parent community that works hard along with the staff to create a wonderful learning environment for all the children whether they live around the corner or on the other side of the city. Moreover, teachers, staff and parents support the school with their time, talent and money-- from enrichment programs, to professional development, to academic support for those students that need it.

I love Hearst because my kids love Hearst. My kids love Hearst because they feel loved and supported by the community. These intangibles are what make Hearst special and they're not things you will be able to ascertain by glancing at the numbers on the school profile page.

The block swap simply switches some sparsely populated Hearst blocks to Murch and some heavily populated apartment blocks from Murch to Hearst.

I do love charter posters who think they aren't affected by this at all. The common lottery was just the first step my friend.

So glad I'm at a dang charter. They can't even not eff up a proposal for change. DCPS and DME is such a crock

If it is Murch/Hearst can someone explain this element - the proposed boundary map shows the recommendation is to move some blocks from Murch to Hearst and some from Hearst to Murch. What? That makes no sense whatsoever esp since the Murch to Hearst blocks are closer to Murch then the Hearst to Murch blocks. It even makes you wonder if there is some "connected" person's home is in the Hearst to Murch blocks. It is perfectly ludicurous for the proposal to include a block swap like that. If I'm missing something please tell me what it is.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/local/proposed-school-zones/

http://dme.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dme/publication/attachments/Murch%20ES.pdf