If you’ve been hanging around many parents of school-age children on the Hill, you’ve probably heard concerns about middle school. Many I’ve met are happy with the elementary choices nearby; but indeed, we’re Washingtonians, and there’s always the future to think about, and isn’t middle school the gateway to college-bound academics? There are PSATs to think about, correct? I’d like to think we’re not as insane as New Yorkers, and I am optimistic, for my wallet at least, because there’s a lot of effort and drive to improve the options for local children as they matriculate from elementary school. Principal Willie Jackson, from Eliot-Hine Middle School, at 1830 Constitution Avenue, has significant plans, including the International Baccalaureate program coming soon.
Q: Tell me about the students and families served by Eliot-Hine. How many kids from Capitol Hill are currently enrolled? I understand 34% of your students are in-boundary. Where’s that other 66% coming from and why?
A: Currently, Eliot-Hine serves 290 students. Our families come from all across the city and have chosen Eliot-Hine because of our positive school culture. Eliot-Hine is a place where children will be embraced, supported and pushed academically. We don’t have a geographic breakdown of the 66% of students that come from out of our boundary, but it is safe to say that it ranges from neighboring communities to across the city.
Q: I understand you’re doing some pretty aggressive recruiting and working to engage the community into the life of the school. Can you tell me a bit about that? Eliot-Hine, like most schools, is far below capacity. What are your goals and where are you recruiting?
A: We have been a DCPS recruitment school for two of the past three years, and have been working to grow our enrollment ever since Hine consolidated with Eliot in 2008. Being a recruitment school means that my team and I, working with central office, develop a recruitment plan with a target of increasing our enrollment by 10% annually. The strategies included in our plan range from purchasing ads in local papers; making presentations in schools and communities; canvassing; flyering; purchasing/distributing Eliot-Hine branded merchandise; and undertaking others efforts to increase visibility in the community and the city. Our goal is to recruit students from both our feeder schools and across the city. We are under capacity in our building and our long-term goal is to fill the school. Part of our efforts to attract more students must include a focus on strengthening our programs. This year we started the process to become International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP) certified. This will play a critical role in our recruitment and programmatic efforts.
Q: EH is slated to become a IB program. What’s happening to make that happen, and what’s the timeline?
A: This school year was our planning year for the IB MYP certification process. Our staff will attend an IB training session this summer and we are preparing for the submission of our School Interest Form in the fall. We will also have an IB Coordinator position next school year.The accreditation process with IBO is a three year process and we will be working with central office to follow the guidelines and prepare for full accreditation in the next three years.
Q: What’s the benefit to local families if the school becomes IB? How will that affect students headed to high school?
A: IB MYP is a world renowned program that is known for quality and a focus on rigor. Eliot-Hine families will benefit from a high caliber academic model that has proven to increase student achievement and create high functioning school environments. Eliot-Hine is a feeder school to Eastern HS. As you may know, Eastern HS will also be starting the certification process for the IB Diploma Program. While it is not a requirement that you go to an IB middle school in order to attend Eastern, students will have had exposure to the IB model and philosophy which will be a benefit should they decide to attend Eastern.
Q: There’s renewed concern about school closings here in the city due to so many buildings being under capacity. Do you think the Hill can support three middle schools? How will Eliot-Hine avoid the knife?
A: I believe the Hill has sufficient demand to need three middle schools. One of our middle schools (Stuart-Hobson) is already over capacity, with a substantial waiting list. As you may know, DCPS underwent a comprehensive community engagement initiative that led to the development of a Ward 6 Middle School Plan. The plan, which can be found on our website (Under Parents/Community, Community Initiative), lays out specific strategies to improve and strengthen Eliot-Hine, Jefferson and Stuart-Hobson. This plan included bringing the IB Middle Years Program to Eliot-Hine. Since the release of the plan, there has been increased community involvement at Eliot-Hine in an effort to ensure implementation of the plan, but also to build the relationship Eliot-Hine has with its feeder schools. I believe that with continuous engagement of our stakeholders, aggressive recruitment, and a commitment to the implementation of IB, Eliot-Hine will grow and become a stronger middle school. Eliot-Hine has shown positive trends in academic performance and enrollment which is sign of upward momentum. Typically, schools that show these trends are not candidates for closure.
Appreciate the interview, and I’m sure the intro was mainly written for amusement value, but I think you missed the mark a little. I don’t know anyone who has worried about PSAT. Most of us can read and do basic math, so if our kid needs help in elementary school, we feel like we can give it as long as the school provides a safe environment. At middle school, the kids are by nature a little wilder, and the academics ought to be a littl harer. DCPS has had a pretty abysmal record, and being concerned about whether or not the middle school can meet basic academic needs or whether it has the necessary resources to provide for both students who are struggling to meet grade level and who are working above grade level and need extra academic challenge; or if DCPS/DC has provided the resources for a decently rounded education, aren’t parenting hysteria.
Hopefully Eliot-Hines will be the mainstay to Eastern as in Deal is for Wilson. It takes a collaborative effort and currently we have all the mechanisms working together to make this happen. First and foremost it takes continuity and the dreams of the young and a vision from the old to make the compound a true educational campus as it relates MS/HS.
I admire Principal Jackson as he is truly making lemonade out of lemons. In essence the school is not half-empty but it is half-full and it due time will be over-flowing.
The question was can our ward support three MSs and what keeps Eliot-Hines from the chopping block? My answer; it should never be a can we afford? it should always state we CAN’T afford to lose any MS, especially E/H.
As many have heard, Tynika Young is the new Eliot-Hine principal, a DCPS spokesperson confirmed this morning. Principal Jackson” will be joining the Central Office team in the 2011-2012 school year. His new official position will be announced in the coming weeks and is in recognition of his outstanding work and leadership,” the spokesman said.
As many have heard, Tynika Young is the new Eliot-Hine principal, a DCPS spokesperson confirmed this morning. Principal Jackson” will be joining the Central Office team in the 2011-2012 school year. His new official position will be announced in the coming weeks and is in recognition of his outstanding work and leadership,” the spokesman said.