Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please do show us the research showing that the high achieving students aren't impacted in a measurable way. Easy to say, hard to prove. So will Wilson honors classes now be considered a joke to college admissions?

The Wilson Honors for all program is based on a similar program implemented in IL in 2011. While the data is still coming in, the reports show an increase in success in honors classes for African American and particularly Hispanic students, and no noticeable decline in success for white students. The report does not get discuss budgets, class sizes or differentiated learning models, but it is worth looking at in order to better understand what Wilson is doing.

Go to: http://www.eths.k12.il.us/Page/755 (the last report listed). Most of the discussion starts at page 16. The program was implemented in 2011-12 and tweaked in 2012-13.

Reading about the results of a similar program lessened my concerns about the program generally. However, implementation and data collection and analysis will be important in the next few years to assess the program's impact and success. In addition, teacher training and coordination at an administrative level will be essential. I have heard from Wilson PTSO and LSAT members that the plan includes more PD & teacher training hours and important counselor involvement in student course selection, however with the budget cuts at Wilson now, including eliminating counselor positions, I am not sure this important component will, or can, actually happen.

Anonymous wrote:Regional and national universities and liberal arts colleges seem to be putting less and less stock in GPAs and rank in class as the years go by, and more and more emphasis on standardized test scores, interview reports, evidence of intellectual curiosity and maturity for age, and co-curricular and extra-curricular accomplishments. It's a rational trend, since earning an A average at one school can entail roughly the same amount of work of earning a B, or even a C, average at another school with higher standards (and higher-performing students).

Anonymous wrote:If you dumb down the honors classes far enough, i'm sure previously failing students will appear successful like in Illinois.

Advanced kids won't learn a thing, but who cares.

Anonymous wrote:Please do show us the research showing that the high achieving students aren't impacted in a measurable way. Easy to say, hard to prove. So will Wilson honors classes now be considered a joke to college admissions?

Anonymous wrote:Any clarification or additional news from the school?

Anonymous wrote:I am a Wilson parent and I admit there is a lot at Wilson that drives me crazy. However I don't like all these posts talking about firing the principal. She comes across as reasonably intelligent and genuine. There are or should be ways to communicate and give her feedback without trying to get her fired. Parents should email her, attend the coffees and ask the PTA to arrange a Q&A session. I personally think this is a misguided move and will not benefit Wilson students.

Anonymous wrote:Jefferson middle is also a feeder to Wilson at least prior to. To boundary changes. The majority of those kids are not at all ready for honors classes.
So Wilson parents what have you actually said to the principal? No one seems like her so why not get her fired?