If 70% of DC students are on FARMs, then it's not really a viable indicator of SES any longer.

I have a stake in Latin. My kid's in HS--I'm not sure what number of what sub-group one needs to obtain some theoretical 'badge of distinction'? Regardless of TANF, the schools involves sacrifices from all comers in terms of facilities and resources--it's not like if you are from a wealthier family your kid is sent to the gucci corner of the class. The school walks a tight line on budget and resources, like most charter schools apart from a few that have deep, national pockets. What we do have are eager, cheerful kids (not all geniuses-including my own), bright and really interesting teachers, what I would call true diversity--every one of my kid's friends has a different story, socio-ethnic combination, etc. I don't think Latin EVER presented itself as a 100%, 50% or even 30% below the poverty line school. What it does have is many, many, many working class families, some poor families, and some rich families. All seeking each other, great teachers and admin, and a classics education.

Anonymous wrote:Nice try PP. I get my data from OSSE:

OSSE reports that for Latin's lower school, 19 (of 340 students) are on a free
or reduced lunch.

OSEE reports that for Latin's upper school, 5 (of 52) students are on a free or
reduced price lunch.

If your numbers are correct, then Latin is purposely not testing low income kids. If that's the case, they should be investigated.

I stand by my statement, Latin serves very few low income students.

NP--you are not too bright. The OSSE numbers you have reported are only for the testing grades not the entire population. I have no affiliation with Latin, but if you are going to quote statistics please understand what the numbers actually mean/represent.

FARM means a family of 4 makes slightly more than $42K a year. Tough going in Washington DC, but in some parts of the country, that would make you solidly middle class.

In DC you can make 180% over the poverty line and still get a Free/reduced lunch. This isn't rocket science and it's easy to read up on.

Why your obsession with TANF? Weird. And uninformed.

And no, not everyone gets a free lunch in DC. Just kids who might go hungry without it.

Anonymous wrote:"Regardless of what numbers one uses, only 6% of DC residents are on TANF; as such, one would expect the number of FARM kids to be in a similar percentage range, which appears to be the case with Latin."

Not talking TANF here. Talking FARM. Approximately 70% of DCPS students are classified as FARM. Nice try.

If OSSE is publishing incorrect information, year after year, Latin should get it fixed. Yesterday.

In the meantime, OSSE has less reason to lie when it comes to the numbers. In the absence of evidence, I'm going with OSSE's numbers.

I posted the 6% number, I have no idea what Latin's numbers are and have no stake in Latin - right now what is far more interesting to me right now is that it seems there is a huge disparity between FARM eligibility versus TANF and actual child poverty rates in DC. FARM is way higher, apparently they give it to just about everybody in DC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nice try PP. I get my data from OSSE:

OSSE reports that for Latin's lower school, 19 (of 340 students) are on a free
or reduced lunch.

OSEE reports that for Latin's upper school, 5 (of 52) students are on a free or
reduced price lunch.

If your numbers are correct, then Latin is purposely not testing low income kids. If that's the case, they should be investigated.

I stand by my statement, Latin serves very few low income students.

Given that Latin's upper school has approximately 300 student, this statistic is obviously incorrect.

but not every grade is tested

Only the 10th grade is tested on the DC-CAS. So in 2011, 5 of the 52 10th graders were on free and reduced lunch.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nice try PP. I get my data from OSSE:

OSSE reports that for Latin's lower school, 19 (of 340 students) are on a free
or reduced lunch.

OSEE reports that for Latin's upper school, 5 (of 52) students are on a free or
reduced price lunch.

If your numbers are correct, then Latin is purposely not testing low income kids. If that's the case, they should be investigated.

I stand by my statement, Latin serves very few low income students.

Given that Latin's upper school has approximately 300 student, this statistic is obviously incorrect.

but not every grade is tested

Anonymous wrote:Hmm, looks like Latin is lying on their website. How does that fit with the honor code?

??? Um...yeah, okay...(back away slowly)

Hmm, looks like Latin is lying on their website. How does that fit with the honor code?

"Regardless of what numbers one uses, only 6% of DC residents are on TANF; as such, one would expect the number of FARM kids to be in a similar percentage range, which appears to be the case with Latin."

Not talking TANF here. Talking FARM. Approximately 70% of DCPS students are classified as FARM. Nice try.

If OSSE is publishing incorrect information, year after year, Latin should get it fixed. Yesterday.

In the meantime, OSSE has less reason to lie when it comes to the numbers. In the absence of evidence, I'm going with OSSE's numbers.

PP again. It's pretty simple to find accurate statistics about Latin, given that it's posted on the school's website:

Upper school:

African American 67.1%
n Hispanic/Latino 12.6%
n Caucasian 12.0%
n Asian/Pacific Islander 3.0%
n Native American/Indian 0.6%
n Other 4.8%
English Language
Learners: 6.0%
Low Income: 31.7%
Special Education: 5.4%

Middle school:

African American 49.0%
n Hispanic/Latino 9.5%
n Caucasian 37.5%
n Asian/Pacific Islander 4.6%
n Native American/Indian 0.0%
n Other 0.0%
English Language
Learners: 1.2%
Low Income: 13.5%
Special Education: 4.6%

Anonymous wrote:Nice try PP. I get my data from OSSE:

OSSE reports that for Latin's lower school, 19 (of 340 students) are on a free
or reduced lunch.

OSEE reports that for Latin's upper school, 5 (of 52) students are on a free or
reduced price lunch.

If your numbers are correct, then Latin is purposely not testing low income kids. If that's the case, they should be investigated.

I stand by my statement, Latin serves very few low income students.

Given that Latin's upper school has approximately 300 student, this statistic is obviously incorrect.

Anonymous wrote:Nice try PP. I get my data from OSSE:

OSSE reports that for Latin's lower school, 19 (of 340 students) are on a free
or reduced lunch.

OSEE reports that for Latin's upper school, 5 (of 52) students are on a free or
reduced price lunch.

If your numbers are correct, then Latin is purposely not testing low income kids. If that's the case, they should be investigated.

I stand by my statement, Latin serves very few low income students.

Regardless of what numbers one uses, only 6% of DC residents are on TANF; as such, one would expect the number of FARM kids to be in a similar percentage range, which appears to be the case with Latin.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Let me assure them, that BASIS is the best hope for the kids left behind by those going private or to selective schools. I leave it to them to argue that Eastern or Ballou or Wilson are actually what those kids need. "

Kind of like miracle charter school Washington Latin that serves only 10% low income kids?

FYI, the non stop braying of BASIS boosters is tiring and opens the school up to more criticism.

Why not shut up for awhile and let things die down? Yu Ying is due for another nasty thread in a day or two. Let them take the hits.

First of all, check your numbers on Washington Latins high school. Second, I am not a Basis booster. I simply care about education in DC and am disgusted with the status quo and third: where does your kid go to middle/ high school? My bet: inboundary for Deal, private, or selective.

you sure sound like A BASIS booster. Agree with PP regarding the non-stop braying....

Maybe it's just one or two people doing that and the rest are folks who simply like BASIS, but the brayers are obnoxious.

The anti-BASIS people seem to have some difficulty in recognizing their own obnoxious braying. These BASIS threads have been overwhelmed with it of late, and any time anyone tries to question them for details or specifics, or ask them to back up their attacks, it only results in evasion, then followed by yet more vitriol and attack a few days later. Certainly very little factual, objective or productive commentary of any sort.

I think the numbers might be right. Our DCPS school
Is obsessed with that form.

I don't take it as a negative about Latin even though I hope my child's middle school is more economically diverse.