Capitol Hill Activist Will Hill: 1932-2015 — Will Hill, a Capitol Hill neighborhood activist who represented Hill East on ANC 6B for 21 years and led orange hat neighborhood patrols, died on Nov. 24. [Hill Rag]
Brent Elementary to Raise Money with Weekend Christmas Tree, Hanukkah Gift Sale — The Brent Elementary Scholl PTA will hold a Christmas tree and holiday sale tomorrow through Sunday at the Brent Elementary playground to raise money for programs at the school. [Capitol Hill Corner]
Capitol Hill Residents Hold Bake Sale to Pay for Prosecution Data — Capitol Hill residents are holding a bake sale to find out what percentage of crimes and arrests in the area actually result in prosecutions. [Hill Now]
Students at 10 Capitol Hill-area Elementary and Middle schools scored above the District average in math and English according to test results from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers released today.
Students across the District took the PARCC tests to determine how well schools are preparing students for college and careers. Earlier today, Mayor Muriel Bowser released the results of test scores for grades 3-8. On average, 25 percent of students between grades 3 and 8 scored at “On track for college and career readiness” in math and 24 percent were on track in English.
However, multiple elementary and middle schools in the Capitol Hill area scored above the District average. Brent Elementary led area schools in both math and English, with 57 percent of students considered on track in math and 68 percent in English.
The other local schools that exceeded the District average in both math and English are:
- School Within School
- Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School
- Maury Elementary School
- Watkins Elementary School
- Two Rivers Public Charter School
The following schools scored above average in math only:
- Tyler Elementary School
- J.O. Wilson Elementary School
- Chamberlain Middle School (Friendship PCS)
Capitol Hill Montessori School at Logan scored above average in English but not math.
Catharine Bellinger, the Director of the D.C. chapter of Democrats for Education Reform touted Ludlow-Taylor and Tyler elementary schools as schools that performed well despite having a high number of economically disadvantaged students in a statement about the scores.
Bellinger said that students at these schools are “beating the odds” and said DFER “commend the teachers and leaders working every day in these schools to prepare their students to succeed, not just on tests, but as life-long learners and critical thinkers.”
Starting at a new school can be hard for kids and parents. As parents start gearing up for school enrollment season in the Spring, several Capitol Hill area schools are holding open houses. These open houses will give parents a chance to check out their kids’ prospective new schools and meet some of the teachers and other parents.
Here is a rundown of all the school open houses happening later this week and in the next couple months:
Watkins Elementary School
420 12th St. SE
Open: Nov. 18, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Stuart-Hobson Middle School
410 E St. NE
Open: Nov. 19, 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Van Ness Elementary School
1150 5th St. SE
Open: Nov. 19, 9-10 a.m.
Miner Elementary School
601 15th St. NE
Open: Nov. 19, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Dec. 8, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Jan. 14, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Feb. 18, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Jefferson Academy Middle School
801 7th St. SW
Open: Nov. 20, 9:30-11 a.m.
Brent Elementary School
301 North Carolina Ave. SE
Open: Nov. 23, 9-10:30 a.m.
Maury Elementary School
1250 Constitution Ave. NE
Open: Nov. 30, 9-10:30 a.m.
Capitol Hill Day School (PreK-8th grade)
210 South Carolina Ave. SE
Open: Dec. 8, 9-11 a.m.
Tours also available on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Schedule a morning tour by emailing [email protected]
Ludlow Taylor Elementary School
659 G St. NE
Open: Dec. 10, 9:30 a.m.
Jan. 14, 9:30 a.m.
Feb 11, 9:30 a.m.
School Within School
920 F St. NE
Open: Jan. 14, 6-7:30 p.m.
Feb. 20, 9-10:30 a.m.
Eastern High School
1700 East Capitol St. NE
There are currently no open houses scheduled, but families can make appointments to tour the school at [email protected]
With a crunch for preschool and kindergarten seats expected on the Hill, local parents are advising families to apply to the school reopening in Navy Yard.
Van Ness Elementary School, at 1150 5th St. SE, will open this fall with two 16-seat preschool classes, two 20-seat pre-kindergarten classes and two 22-seat kindergarten classes.
The long-closed school will provide much-needed seats as a scramble is expected at other Ward 6 schools. Brent Elementary School is expecting “unprecedented demand” for its early childhood programs next school year, Principal Peter Young said in a letter sent to parents.
“We recommend that families ensure they have a backup option,” he wrote, noting that families who live within the school’s boundaries or who have other children there have already applied for 29 of the school’s 30 preschool spots.
That’s unusual, even for in-demand Brent Elementary, parent and former ANC 6B Commissioner Ivan Frishberg said.
“The idea that you could have kids already at Brent and not be able to get other children in is pretty amazing,” he said.
Parents rank their preferred schools in an application due March 2 for preschool through eighth grade.
Frishberg urged local parents to consider listing Van Ness as a preferred school.
“There’s a tremendous amount of energy going into that school — with top-notch facilities, a team that’s new and a really energized parent group,” Frishberg said.
The first children to attend the reopened school will benefit from all the energy being put into it, said ANC 6D Commissioner Meredith Fascett, an ex-president of the Van Ness Parents group.
“Where there is uncertainty comes, hand in hand, ownership and opportunity,” she said, noting that parents will help select the school’s principal and refine its design.
Preliminary designs for the school show separate art and music rooms, an “outdoor learning lab” and additional windows.
Van Ness will reopen after years of community organizing, as Hill Now previously reported. The school was closed in 2006 after the demolition of the Arthur Capper/Carrollsburg houses and was used as DCPS office space, as Greater Greater Education reported.
DCPS decided in Feb. 2011 to reopen the school, after evaluating expected residential construction and the capacity of Amidon-Bowen, Brent and Tyler elementary schools.
One set of renovations is expected to be complete by the start of the 2015-2016 school year. A second phase of work will be done in time for the 2016-2017 year.
Hill residents can decorate their homes for the holidays and benefit a local school, too.
Robert Brent Elementary School is accepting orders for its annual Christmas Tree & Holiday Sale. Now in its fourth year, the sale lets locals shop online or in person for Fraser fir trees, mini tabletop trees, winterberry bouquets and gingerbread menorah kits.
The parent-teacher association at the 301 N. Carolina Ave. SE school will hold the sale Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Items pre-ordered by Dec. 1 will be delivered to homes for free.
