Anonymous wrote:Op here. Fascinating replies. Thanks all. We may attend an open house.

Good for you. There's a lot of nonsense on this board when it comes to school. Nothing beats walking into the school itself and seeing everything with your own eyes. I remember my first time through the lottery, I made a list of all the preferred schools in DCUM-land and took the time to actually tour them...and crossed off 70% of them and put the rest in an order that is way different from the usual. It's about what works best for *your* kid.

Anonymous wrote:my high ses white kid is in a progressive school and failing miserably (2nd grade). Our educational consultant has suggested a school with more structure. Kipp may well have been a good fit for us, but I didn't consider it because I wanted an educational model that, 5 years later, I realize is a terrible fit for us. It simply isn't true that high ses kids thrive with school freedom because they have a baseline of home structure and low ses kids need a school with lots of structure and discipline because they don't get it at home. It really depends on the kid and if you pay attention to YOUR kid and not your own educational ideals, you'll make better choices for YOUR kid.

+1. As a member of a non-black minority, I've always been different from the majority at school, so it doesn't matter if the school is majority white, black, Asian, etc. I look for the best fit for my kids, our teaching/parenting style, commute, etc. I have heard wonderful things about KIPP from parents who have their kids there, and if I hadn't already found a school that is even more convenient for us commute-wise, I'd have no problems sending my kid there.

my high ses white kid is in a progressive school and failing miserably (2nd grade). Our educational consultant has suggested a school with more structure. Kipp may well have been a good fit for us, but I didn't consider it because I wanted an educational model that, 5 years later, I realize is a terrible fit for us. It simply isn't true that high ses kids thrive with school freedom because they have a baseline of home structure and low ses kids need a school with lots of structure and discipline because they don't get it at home. It really depends on the kid and if you pay attention to YOUR kid and not your own educational ideals, you'll make better choices for YOUR kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are we really pretending race isn’t a huge issue here for white parents? It’s pretty obvious from posts all over this board.

Obvious how?!

All I see is some people talking about high vs low SES, and then some other people responding as though the PPs said "black vs white."

I get that SES and race, in aggregate, are correlated in DC, but that doesn't automatically make every SES-issue a race-based one.

try again. people with half a brain aren't falling for it.

Anonymous wrote:Are we really pretending race isn’t a huge issue here for white parents? It’s pretty obvious from posts all over this board.

Obvious how?!

All I see is some people talking about high vs low SES, and then some other people responding as though the PPs said "black vs white."

I get that SES and race, in aggregate, are correlated in DC, but that doesn't automatically make every SES-issue a race-based one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:KIPP is what it is robots, simon says, drill and kill. It's what you need to do when kids don't have basic skills to function because their parents aren't adequately raising their children

Most UMC kids (white, black, hispanic) whatever don't need this approach

DC Prep is the exact same model. DC Prep actually gets better results than KIPP.

Says someone whose never been to a KIPP.

And DC Prep might get better results - they are significantly smaller. Regardless, they are both good schools.

DP: Have you visited all the schools in DC? Do you believe you know something about particular schools that "you haven't set foot into?" Did you decide not to consider some schools based on what you knew about them from written sources and word-of-mouth? Have you ever been in, say, a WOTP school?

Of course I haven't visited all of the DC schools. I haven't visited a WOTP school - they aren't convenient for my commute and my child probably wouldn't get in OOB. I'm also not on here saying they suck/wouldn't work for (insert demographic) or saying that they only teach certain skills.

The people on here complaining about how KIPP couldn't possibly work for an UMC family because it's "kill and drill" and "militaristic" etc are saying things about a school they know very little about. I'm a parent there, and have been very happy with the school. There are PLENTY of reasons that it might not work for some people - that's OK. It being 95+% black is not one of those reasons.

How in the world do you make the leap from A to B?

Sorry but you are the one stretching it, if it's right for your kid enjoy! You also can't blame DCUM for the research, studies, press releases, statements and mission statements that KIPP puts out. Maybe talk to them about revising, rewriting, and/or expanding their mission statement and stated educational goals.

Are we really pretending race isn’t a huge issue here for white parents? It’s pretty obvious from posts all over this board.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:KIPP is what it is robots, simon says, drill and kill. It's what you need to do when kids don't have basic skills to function because their parents aren't adequately raising their children

Most UMC kids (white, black, hispanic) whatever don't need this approach

DC Prep is the exact same model. DC Prep actually gets better results than KIPP.

Says someone whose never been to a KIPP.

And DC Prep might get better results - they are significantly smaller. Regardless, they are both good schools.

DP: Have you visited all the schools in DC? Do you believe you know something about particular schools that "you haven't set foot into?" Did you decide not to consider some schools based on what you knew about them from written sources and word-of-mouth? Have you ever been in, say, a WOTP school?

Of course I haven't visited all of the DC schools. I haven't visited a WOTP school - they aren't convenient for my commute and my child probably wouldn't get in OOB. I'm also not on here saying they suck/wouldn't work for (insert demographic) or saying that they only teach certain skills.

The people on here complaining about how KIPP couldn't possibly work for an UMC family because it's "kill and drill" and "militaristic" etc are saying things about a school they know very little about. I'm a parent there, and have been very happy with the school. There are PLENTY of reasons that it might not work for some people - that's OK. It being 95+% black is not one of those reasons.

How in the world do you make the leap from A to B?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:KIPP is what it is robots, simon says, drill and kill. It's what you need to do when kids don't have basic skills to function because their parents aren't adequately raising their children

Most UMC kids (white, black, hispanic) whatever don't need this approach

DC Prep is the exact same model. DC Prep actually gets better results than KIPP.

Says someone whose never been to a KIPP.

And DC Prep might get better results - they are significantly smaller. Regardless, they are both good schools.

You seem to be attacking people for taking KIPP's advertising at face value, for believing them when they say what they are. That doesn't really make sense.

KIPP's stated philosophy could apply to all kids. To make a blanket statement that it never applies to white UMC kids is basically to say you never think white kids need to have externally placed high academic standards, basically they can coast on white privilege. and yet in other contexts people fret about the "rigor" of private elementary programs ... I agree that KIPP is not for all kids but it is absurd (and yes, racist sounding) to say its methods are inherently unsuited for white kids.

Not one person has said KIPP is not suited for "white." Some posters has said KIPP is not suited for UMC kids.

You are trying to make it about race and spewing crap about "coasting on white privilege" with no basis.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:KIPP is what it is robots, simon says, drill and kill. It's what you need to do when kids don't have basic skills to function because their parents aren't adequately raising their children

Most UMC kids (white, black, hispanic) whatever don't need this approach

DC Prep is the exact same model. DC Prep actually gets better results than KIPP.

Says someone whose never been to a KIPP.

And DC Prep might get better results - they are significantly smaller. Regardless, they are both good schools.

DP: Have you visited all the schools in DC? Do you believe you know something about particular schools that "you haven't set foot into?" Did you decide not to consider some schools based on what you knew about them from written sources and word-of-mouth? Have you ever been in, say, a WOTP school?

Of course I haven't visited all of the DC schools. I haven't visited a WOTP school - they aren't convenient for my commute and my child probably wouldn't get in OOB. I'm also not on here saying they suck/wouldn't work for (insert demographic) or saying that they only teach certain skills.

The people on here complaining about how KIPP couldn't possibly work for an UMC family because it's "kill and drill" and "militaristic" etc are saying things about a school they know very little about. I'm a parent there, and have been very happy with the school. There are PLENTY of reasons that it might not work for some people - that's OK. It being 95+% black is not one of those reasons.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:KIPP is what it is robots, simon says, drill and kill. It's what you need to do when kids don't have basic skills to function because their parents aren't adequately raising their children

Most UMC kids (white, black, hispanic) whatever don't need this approach

DC Prep is the exact same model. DC Prep actually gets better results than KIPP.

Says someone whose never been to a KIPP.

And DC Prep might get better results - they are significantly smaller. Regardless, they are both good schools.

You seem to be attacking people for taking KIPP's advertising at face value, for believing them when they say what they are. That doesn't really make sense.

KIPP's stated philosophy could apply to all kids. To make a blanket statement that it never applies to white UMC kids is basically to say you never think white kids need to have externally placed high academic standards, basically they can coast on white privilege. and yet in other contexts people fret about the "rigor" of private elementary programs ... I agree that KIPP is not for all kids but it is absurd (and yes, racist sounding) to say its methods are inherently unsuited for white kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:KIPP is what it is robots, simon says, drill and kill. It's what you need to do when kids don't have basic skills to function because their parents aren't adequately raising their children

Most UMC kids (white, black, hispanic) whatever don't need this approach

DC Prep is the exact same model. DC Prep actually gets better results than KIPP.

Says someone whose never been to a KIPP.

And DC Prep might get better results - they are significantly smaller. Regardless, they are both good schools.

You seem to be attacking people for taking KIPP's advertising at face value, for believing them when they say what they are. That doesn't really make sense.

It's not what KIPP advertises. I am a KIPP parent and have been for years. My child has had a great experience there, and it is NOT what DCUM says it's like.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:KIPP is what it is robots, simon says, drill and kill. It's what you need to do when kids don't have basic skills to function because their parents aren't adequately raising their children

Most UMC kids (white, black, hispanic) whatever don't need this approach

DC Prep is the exact same model. DC Prep actually gets better results than KIPP.

Says someone whose never been to a KIPP.

And DC Prep might get better results - they are significantly smaller. Regardless, they are both good schools.

You seem to be attacking people for taking KIPP's advertising at face value, for believing them when they say what they are. That doesn't really make sense.

Op here. Fascinating replies. Thanks all. We may attend an open house.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:KIPP is what it is robots, simon says, drill and kill. It's what you need to do when kids don't have basic skills to function because their parents aren't adequately raising their children

Most UMC kids (white, black, hispanic) whatever don't need this approach

DC Prep is the exact same model. DC Prep actually gets better results than KIPP.

Says someone whose never been to a KIPP.

And DC Prep might get better results - they are significantly smaller. Regardless, they are both good schools.

DP: Have you visited all the schools in DC? Do you believe you know something about particular schools that "you haven't set foot into?" Did you decide not to consider some schools based on what you knew about them from written sources and word-of-mouth? Have you ever been in, say, a WOTP school?