Why do white parents think black kids are accepted into private school only because of their race?

[Anonymous]

I'm so TIRED of that closed-minded view. Our kids (black) are there because of their intellect, high test scores, strong grades--and (gasp!) we can actually afford it!

[Anonymous]

Why do you have the impression white people don't think your child is qualified? I'm just curious. I don't think this has ever been mentioned in front of me (I'm white) with parents at my son's school (STA), or at any time in his education. That doesn't mean parents couldn't be thinking it, but I really don't have a single memory of any hint that a kid of color/ethnicity was not qualified...

[Anonymous]

WE DON"T!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Because EVERY private school (almost) NEEDS more diversity and SOME of those schools accept students who may not be AS qualified due to their race and fulfilling quotas. It is true for many schools (how about COLLEGES?!?!?!?) and it is most unfortunate, b/c the non-white student is either left to feel they don't deserve it or that they have to prove it, something the white students NEVER feel (almost). It sucks and is yet another way our country is trying to heal the sins of the past while continuing to create new issues for the future. But the alternative does not feel right either...

I hope your kids quickly know that the only people they need to prove themselves to are themselves.

[Anonymous]

I myself assume that an unknown but probably not that tiny percentage of the white kids at each private school were accepted only because they had rich and/or connected parents. Looking at some of my kids' white classmates, this sometimes strikes me as the only possible explanation for their presence.

[Anonymous]

It's because it's already planted in their minds that every opportunity has been taken from them by black people (college, jobs, housing opportunities, etc.) They cannot get over the government making itself look good by offering these 'fair' opportunities that mostly have been beneficial to white women (jobs especially) If it were true, then the smart whites would realize there would be many more black kids. Also, some whites are so unexposed to black Americans, sadly, that they feel the majority of blacks are not high achieving learners--thanks to media mostly.

[Anonymous]

Well let's set the record straight: There are gifted, high achieving, affluent African-American kids--and the ones you see at your child's school are mostly there because of that.

[Anonymous]

I think the perception OP has is real. But I think more likely than not, white parents think it is one advantage students of color have their kids don't. I have had families ask me if they should identify their 1/8 hispanic child as Latina to give them an edge. My daughter is 1/4 Hispanic, but we chose not to put it on the form, got in anyway.

That said, I believe the privates do have quotas. So if they have 4 slots in a class for "diverse" applicants, and 12 completely qualified, smart, rich connected kids applying, those kids have a 1 in 3 chance of getting in, whereas the remaining 12 slots have 120 white similarly brilliant rich connected applicants, they have a 1 in 10 chance of getting in. White parents want the 1 in 3 chance, not the 1 in 10 chance. That doesn't imply that the kids who got in at 1 in 3 are less qualified, they just didn't also have to be as lucky.

Of course, I don't believe this is accurate. Having done all the open houses, I think there is a HUGE pool of applicants of color for some of these schools, and the quota system may actually disadvantage students of color. I am pretty sure most of these schools wouldn't be willing to have a class that was a majority African American, even if all the best applicants that year were black.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the perception OP has is real. But I think more likely than not, white parents think it is one advantage students of color have their kids don't. I have had families ask me if they should identify their 1/8 hispanic child as Latina to give them an edge. My daughter is 1/4 Hispanic, but we chose not to put it on the form, got in anyway.

That said, I believe the privates do have quotas. So if they have 4 slots in a class for "diverse" applicants, and 12 completely qualified, smart, rich connected kids applying, those kids have a 1 in 3 chance of getting in, whereas the remaining 12 slots have 120 white similarly brilliant rich connected applicants, they have a 1 in 10 chance of getting in. White parents want the 1 in 3 chance, not the 1 in 10 chance. That doesn't imply that the kids who got in at 1 in 3 are less qualified, they just didn't also have to be as lucky.

Of course, I don't believe this is accurate. Having done all the open houses, I think there is a HUGE pool of applicants of color for some of these schools, and the quota system may actually disadvantage students of color. I am pretty sure most of these schools wouldn't be willing to have a class that was a majority African American, even if all the best applicants that year were black.

unlike you I think the numbers you cite give the right picture. I might not be in your field but I've also done the open houses and I think with the exception of Sidwell, GDS, and maybe Maret, schools are begging for black students who along with their families will not feel like they got in because they are black. Sidwell and Maret certainly do their best to fill their admissions team with people of color I suppose in the hopes of attracting black and Hispanic families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I might not be in your field but I've also done the open houses and I think with the exception of Sidwell, GDS, and maybe Maret, schools are begging for black students who along with their families will not feel like they got in because they are black.

I'm not so sure. My child attends one of the schools you mentioned. He has been the only African American boy in his class since he started three years ago.

[Anonymous]

Let me guess: GDS?

[Anonymous]

I hear more grumblings about white kids who seem to have been accepted because their parents are super wealthy or connected. And its those kids (the ones who seem to have been accepted because of wealthy/high profile parents) who seem to struggle the most academically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear more grumblings about white kids who seem to have been accepted because their parents are super wealthy or connected. And its those kids (the ones who seem to have been accepted because of wealthy/high profile parents) who seem to struggle the most academically.

White parents do not think black students are accepted because of their race. There are lots of black people in the DC metropolitan area so it is a given that many students apply.

I have children in high school and am surprised at many comments on these boards.

[Anonymous]

Sorry about that, it must be a difficult things for your family. I think that these schools are so competitive that people look for the "edge" that got your family in... as it seems the scores are not the only indicator of acceptance. Everyone knows that diversity (for good or bad) is an advantage, so they probably just assume that is how you made the cut.

[Anonymous]

I am pretty sure most of these schools wouldn't be willing to have a class that was a majority African American, even if all the best applicants that year were black.

That is incredibly sad and completely unfair.