Anonymous
Post 09/23/2014 18:07     Subject: So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
A PP wrote that someone was posting with an agenda of boosting private school admissions, allegedly afraid of competition from Hardy. Never mind that private schools in or near Hardy's IB area are well oversubscribed by applicants chasing relatively few seats, and they all have wait lists. Now someone alleges that questions about Hardy are raised by charter schools afraid of competition from Hardy. Never mind that the better charter schools -- Latin, etc. -- are oversubscribed in the lottery and are much sought after.

Instead of inventing false conspiracy theories that the St. Albans or Sidwells or Latins are afraid of Hardy, why not focus on those issues that IB parents need to seal the deal and send their kids to Hardy. What does Deal offer that Hardy doesn't? Then provide it. Aim to make Hardy the most rigorous public middle school in DC.


I am the PP you quote - I did not post about private schools, and posted about charters only because someone is posting with a very charter focused agenda, including a ppst to the effect that DCPS shouild not open so many middle schools and all will be underenrolled.

It seems clear to me that the deal is sealed with 34 IB families already, and given the prisoners dilemma dynamic, that alone will seal the deal for many more next year. That is why this thread was started I believe, because the dynamic is such that that number is crucial now - people ARE willing to send their kids to Hardy but only IF other IB do so as well. So IB percentage is the crux of the issue, NOT the content of education at Hardy, which is already desirable on its own terms. I am trying to understand why so many posters seem stuck in a now obsolete discourse.




34 students out of how many? What percentage are we talking about after all?
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2014 18:04     Subject: So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP here. This is all moot anyway. The available evidence suggests that the school is making great strides as we type. It will be comical to reflect on this thread in four years.


+
It was suggested earlier that DCPS should persuade Marion Barry to protest the changes underway at Hardy, the way he did several years ago as Deal was taking off under Dr. Kim. Then IB families probably would be lining up to check Hardy out!


Anonymous
Post 09/23/2014 17:42     Subject: So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?
Anonymous wrote:Some one should run against Mary Cheh and fix this mess. I live in a $2m+ IB house and am PISSED my IB school is not truly available to my kids. The idea that all of us in fancy IB houses will just go private is stupid.....we didn't get $$$ by wasting our money on private school. For families with multiple kids, even well heeled families, private school is often a foolish financial decision.

What I would give to have Hardy "not available" to my kids . . .

Signed,

Ward Six Parent
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2014 17:24     Subject: So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?
Anonymous wrote:Some one should run against Mary Cheh and fix this mess. I live in a $2m+ IB house and am PISSED my IB school is not truly available to my kids. The idea that all of us in fancy IB houses will just go private is stupid.....we didn't get $$$ by wasting our money on private school. For families with multiple kids, even well heeled families, private school is often a foolish financial decision.


To be clear - your school is "available" to your kids and your neighbors. You just don't want to send them there. Nobody - not. one. person. - is keeping you from going to Hardy. The opposite is true - Principal Pride and DCPS are all but begging you to send your kids there, and are making additions and changes to the curriculum to entice you to do so. So stop with the woe is me. Join us at Hardy. Enjoy what the school has to offer and work with us to make it even better.

Signed,

IB Current Hardy Parent
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2014 17:01     Subject: So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?
Anonymous wrote:
It seems clear to me that the deal is sealed with 34 IB families already, and given the prisoners dilemma dynamic, that alone will seal the deal for many more next year. That is why this thread was started I believe, because the dynamic is such that that number is crucial now - people ARE willing to send their kids to Hardy but only IF other IB do so as well. So IB percentage is the crux of the issue, NOT the content of education at Hardy, which is already desirable on its own terms. I am trying to understand why so many posters seem stuck in a now obsolete discourse.


If they all have a good experience I would say we've passed a tipping point. If half of them run screaming for the exits it's back to square one.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2014 16:58     Subject: So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?
Anonymous wrote:
A PP wrote that someone was posting with an agenda of boosting private school admissions, allegedly afraid of competition from Hardy. Never mind that private schools in or near Hardy's IB area are well oversubscribed by applicants chasing relatively few seats, and they all have wait lists. Now someone alleges that questions about Hardy are raised by charter schools afraid of competition from Hardy. Never mind that the better charter schools -- Latin, etc. -- are oversubscribed in the lottery and are much sought after.

Instead of inventing false conspiracy theories that the St. Albans or Sidwells or Latins are afraid of Hardy, why not focus on those issues that IB parents need to seal the deal and send their kids to Hardy. What does Deal offer that Hardy doesn't? Then provide it. Aim to make Hardy the most rigorous public middle school in DC.


I am the PP you quote - I did not post about private schools, and posted about charters only because someone is posting with a very charter focused agenda, including a ppst to the effect that DCPS shouild not open so many middle schools and all will be underenrolled.

It seems clear to me that the deal is sealed with 34 IB families already, and given the prisoners dilemma dynamic, that alone will seal the deal for many more next year. That is why this thread was started I believe, because the dynamic is such that that number is crucial now - people ARE willing to send their kids to Hardy but only IF other IB do so as well. So IB percentage is the crux of the issue, NOT the content of education at Hardy, which is already desirable on its own terms. I am trying to understand why so many posters seem stuck in a now obsolete discourse.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2014 16:28     Subject: So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
So far, DCPS's next big promise is the renovation of Roosevelt to include an International Focus and not an IB program, but... a Culinary Focus. Perhaps that's what passes for synergy at 1200 1st?

Meanwhile, Washington Global will offer Spanish and Chinese plus the International Middle Years curriculum. That should appeal to the CM families!


Yup, its very clear that someone is on this thread soley to boost charters. I am not sure how a HS curriculum (and no I am not familiar with that decision) is relevant to the current discussion.

If you are so sure that DCPS middle schools, Hardy and the new ones, will fail, it shouldn't be necessary to spend so much time discouraging people from considering Hardy. Clearly some people at charters consider those renovations and the promises of improvement, and the reality of the changes at Hardy, to be a threat.


A PP wrote that someone was posting with an agenda of boosting private school admissions, allegedly afraid of competition from Hardy. Never mind that private schools in or near Hardy's IB area are well oversubscribed by applicants chasing relatively few seats, and they all have wait lists. Now someone alleges that questions about Hardy are raised by charter schools afraid of competition from Hardy. Never mind that the better charter schools -- Latin, etc. -- are oversubscribed in the lottery and are much sought after.

Instead of inventing false conspiracy theories that the St. Albans or Sidwells or Latins are afraid of Hardy, why not focus on those issues that IB parents need to seal the deal and send their kids to Hardy. What does Deal offer that Hardy doesn't? Then provide it. Aim to make Hardy the most rigorous public middle school in DC.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2014 16:15     Subject: So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some one should run against Mary Cheh and fix this mess. I live in a $2m+ IB house and am PISSED my IB school is not truly available to my kids. The idea that all of us in fancy IB houses will just go private is stupid.....we didn't get $$$ by wasting our money on private school. For families with multiple kids, even well heeled families, private school is often a foolish financial decision.




Why did you buy a $2M house when it's zoned for an MS that IB families avoid??


Some people bought in neighborhoods zoned for many decades to the city's leading middle school and now find themselves rezoned for an MS that IB families avoid. That sucks.


Since that change has not taken effect yet, your children probably will still be able to go to Deal. So you're good.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2014 16:15     Subject: So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?
Anonymous wrote:Some one should run against Mary Cheh and fix this mess. I live in a $2m+ IB house and am PISSED my IB school is not truly available to my kids. The idea that all of us in fancy IB houses will just go private is stupid.....we didn't get $$$ by wasting our money on private school. For families with multiple kids, even well heeled families, private school is often a foolish financial decision.


Cheh at least has advocated for a new middle school. Let's see how she pushes the issue going forward. It's a little late to run against her, though. Ballots are already printed and she may be unopposed.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2014 16:13     Subject: So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some one should run against Mary Cheh and fix this mess. I live in a $2m+ IB house and am PISSED my IB school is not truly available to my kids. The idea that all of us in fancy IB houses will just go private is stupid.....we didn't get $$$ by wasting our money on private school. For families with multiple kids, even well heeled families, private school is often a foolish financial decision.




Why did you buy a $2M house when it's zoned for an MS that IB families avoid??


Some people bought in neighborhoods zoned for many decades to the city's leading middle school and now find themselves rezoned for an MS that IB families avoid. That sucks.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2014 15:15     Subject: So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?
Anonymous wrote:

Why is it the charters' job to slow down instead of DCPS's job to catch up? There must be at least 34 IB kids at Latin. And Basis.


Slow down/catch up in quality or in capacity?

All should move ahead in quality, and if for DCPS that means catching up, than they should catch up.

But for capacity, the question is if DCPS has excess capacity, and more coming on stream (and those new MS are needed to provide good neighborhood schools in those areas and to replace the EC model) than it may not make sense to add charter MS capacity. From the POV of the district as a whole. I am not sure how the charter board takes that larger issue into account. I assume at some level the charter board is responsible to the Mayor and Council? Who seem quite commited (including both mayoral candidates) to moving forward with the new middle schools.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2014 14:58     Subject: So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

There is no city-wide arts program or pseudo-magnet at Hardy. That died a few years ago when Pope was ousted. Remember? To appease the IB parents? Who are not flocking to the school as promised? Yes, those families - who demanded things, got them, and then still didn't show up.Why in the hell would anyone open up a new school for them? Do know which ward has the most children in public school? (Hint: it's east of the river.)

Meanwhile, there's a new MS set to open in Brookland, which will probably be underenrolled. Jefferson and Elliot Hine are underenrolled. Ward 4 wants a unicorn McFarland, which after decades of being underenrolled finally closed. Maybe the city can waste tens of millions restoring it so that it too, can be underenrolled. There's always Shaw Middle, which could be renovated and underenrolled.

Meanwhile Deal is bursting at the seams. Latin has LONG WL. Basis has a WL for 5th. Brand new DCI is fully enrolled.

Kaya told the truth when she said DCPS doesn't do MS well. Do NOT spend more money on a Hardy unicorn. Total waste of resources.




There's about 56 kids in 6th grade who are IB or from feeder schools. IB kids are about 34. There's no way to have an official statement in this sense or a certified declaration If you need confirmation call Ms Pride or wait for the school profiles to be released. Source: Principal Pride and PTO rumors.


Maybe 34 isn't a flock. Its enough to break through the prisoners dilemma. Next year should be higher (but lets wait to take bets till the 34 is official.)

This could be the first sign that DCPS CAN do MS well - and will promise well for the new schools EOTP. If anything, it suggest rather less need for charter middle schools.



Why is it the charters' job to slow down instead of DCPS's job to catch up? There must be at least 34 IB kids at Latin. And Basis.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2014 14:51     Subject: So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
So far, DCPS's next big promise is the renovation of Roosevelt to include an International Focus and not an IB program, but... a Culinary Focus. Perhaps that's what passes for synergy at 1200 1st?

Meanwhile, Washington Global will offer Spanish and Chinese plus the International Middle Years curriculum. That should appeal to the CM families!


Yup, its very clear that someone is on this thread soley to boost charters. I am not sure how a HS curriculum (and no I am not familiar with that decision) is relevant to the current discussion.

If you are so sure that DCPS middle schools, Hardy and the new ones, will fail, it shouldn't be necessary to spend so much time discouraging people from considering Hardy. Clearly some people at charters consider those renovations and the promises of improvement, and the reality of the changes at Hardy, to be a threat.




What's clear is that a middle school that hasn't even opened is more ambitious than the middle school meant to serve some of DC's wealthiest neighborhoods.
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2014 14:47     Subject: So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?
Anonymous wrote:Some one should run against Mary Cheh and fix this mess. I live in a $2m+ IB house and am PISSED my IB school is not truly available to my kids. The idea that all of us in fancy IB houses will just go private is stupid.....we didn't get $$$ by wasting our money on private school. For families with multiple kids, even well heeled families, private school is often a foolish financial decision.




Why did you buy a $2M house when it's zoned for an MS that IB families avoid??
Anonymous
Post 09/23/2014 14:42     Subject: So how many IB are going to really be at Hardy?
Anonymous wrote:
So far, DCPS's next big promise is the renovation of Roosevelt to include an International Focus and not an IB program, but... a Culinary Focus. Perhaps that's what passes for synergy at 1200 1st?

Meanwhile, Washington Global will offer Spanish and Chinese plus the International Middle Years curriculum. That should appeal to the CM families!


Yup, its very clear that someone is on this thread soley to boost charters. I am not sure how a HS curriculum (and no I am not familiar with that decision) is relevant to the current discussion.

If you are so sure that DCPS middle schools, Hardy and the new ones, will fail, it shouldn't be necessary to spend so much time discouraging people from considering Hardy. Clearly some people at charters consider those renovations and the promises of improvement, and the reality of the changes at Hardy, to be a threat.