Washington Latin's High School Program

[Anonymous]

I know that Washington Latin's middle school program is very strong and that the high school program has gotten stronger every year. I understand that the attrition rate after 8th grade is now very low, making it much more difficult to get it for 9th grade. Can anyone speak to WL's high school's program? It's strengths? Challenges? Alternatives we are considering are Wilson and School Without Walls.

[Anonymous]

Assume you've reviewed the publicly available data but just in case here are the basics from the DCPCSB website
http://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/311_Washington_Latin_PCS_Upper_School.pdf

[Anonymous]

Parent of WLPCS Upper School student here. Compared to the typical HS experience, Latin is extremely small---approximately 80 kids per grade. The teachers and administrators really know the kids and try to strike a balance on "educating the child" vs. "managing the transcript". The communication with families is excellent. Last week the 9th grade teacher coordinator and principal offered an evening introduction to high school workshop for 9th grade parents on Latin's high school program including "Tips for Handling Teenagers" that were informative, funny and useful.

The college counselor does a great job communicating with parents starting in 9th grade about the college application process, college fairs, on-campus college reps and scholarship opportunities. The teachers are creative and passionate about teaching---last year's 9th grade performed Romeo & Juliet with each section taking a scene and staging it themselves (Bollywood, 1920s, Superheroes)---making Shakespeare come to life for the kids.

My biggest criticism is with respect to the modern language offerings---which are Arabic, French and Chinese. I very much wish Spanish was offered since it is such a dominant language in the western hemisphere.

[Anonymous]

Is there a decent selection of APs offered each year?

[Anonymous]

I don't mean to put a dampener on what sounds like a booster oriented thread, but in interviewing one or two Latin students a year for my Ivy in the past several years, I haven't been blown away by the academics or extra-curriculars they've brought to the table. The top Latin HS students seem to take 3 or 4 AP classes/exams, earning mostly 3-4s. Hardly anybody seems to take 6+ exams, earning mostly 5s (the minimum that would pass muster at my Ivy).

It's obviously a nice school community, and the kids clearly get a decent education, but they're not shooting for the stars in college admissions yet (although the odd kid still aims high). They like to see graduates land at East Coast public universities and small liberal arts colleges around the country. If that's yours scene, terrific. If not, Wilson, Walls and BASIS pretty clearly offer more rigor/college options for high fliers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't mean to put a dampener on what sounds like a booster oriented thread, but in interviewing one or two Latin students a year for my Ivy in the past several years, I haven't been blown away by the academics or extra-curriculars they've brought to the table. The top Latin HS students seem to take 3 or 4 AP classes/exams, earning mostly 3-4s. Hardly anybody seems to take 6+ exams, earning mostly 5s (the minimum that would pass muster at my Ivy).

It's obviously a nice school community, and the kids clearly get a decent education, but they're not shooting for the stars in college admissions yet (although the odd kid still aims high). They like to see graduates land at East Coast public universities and small liberal arts colleges around the country. If that's yours scene, terrific. If not, Wilson, Walls and BASIS pretty clearly offer more rigor/college options for high fliers.

I don't think you really interview for an Ivy League school. I do and my school would take into consideration how many APs the school actually offers. A small school like a Latin probably doesn't offer that many AP classes so taking 6+ would be impossible for any student.

[Anonymous]

Our babysitter is a WL student in the ninth grade and she is pretty amazing.

[Anonymous]

There might be some advantages to a school like Latin for Ivy League applicants. The curriculum is not super-demanding AP-wise (compared to BASIS or TJ or the like) so you can take the most demanding courseload your school offers (which is what colleges care about), do well in it, and have time for extracurriculars like sports, community service, independent science research or music, etc. You'd get the benefit of being seen as adding diversity to the college since you come from an urban public school, and be able to present yourself as someone who takes advantage of not just what the school has to offer, but the city at large. With excellent grades, recommendations, SAT/ACT scores, and essay that's a pretty competitive candidate. Of course at schools that accept 5% of applicants nobody is a shoo-in, but it's not impossible to get into some pretty competitive schools that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't mean to put a dampener on what sounds like a booster oriented thread, but in interviewing one or two Latin students a year for my Ivy in the past several years, I haven't been blown away by the academics or extra-curriculars they've brought to the table. The top Latin HS students seem to take 3 or 4 AP classes/exams, earning mostly 3-4s. Hardly anybody seems to take 6+ exams, earning mostly 5s (the minimum that would pass muster at my Ivy).

It's obviously a nice school community, and the kids clearly get a decent education, but they're not shooting for the stars in college admissions yet (although the odd kid still aims high). They like to see graduates land at East Coast public universities and small liberal arts colleges around the country. If that's yours scene, terrific. If not, Wilson, Walls and BASIS pretty clearly offer more rigor/college options for high fliers.

I don't think you really interview for an Ivy League school. I do and my school would take into consideration how many APs the school actually offers. A small school like a Latin probably doesn't offer that many AP classes so taking 6+ would be impossible for any student.

That's too bad, given that all DCPS high schools now offer at minimum 6 AP courses and 8 next school year. (With most having plenty more.)

[Anonymous]

Latin offers 8 AP classes currently.

[Anonymous]

WLPCS AP participation and pass rate available here http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/district-of-columbia/districts/washington-latin-pcs/washington-latin-public-charter-school-high-school-91838/test-scores

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't mean to put a dampener on what sounds like a booster oriented thread, but in interviewing one or two Latin students a year for my Ivy in the past several years, I haven't been blown away by the academics or extra-curriculars they've brought to the table. The top Latin HS students seem to take 3 or 4 AP classes/exams, earning mostly 3-4s. Hardly anybody seems to take 6+ exams, earning mostly 5s (the minimum that would pass muster at my Ivy).

It's obviously a nice school community, and the kids clearly get a decent education, but they're not shooting for the stars in college admissions yet (although the odd kid still aims high). They like to see graduates land at East Coast public universities and small liberal arts colleges around the country. If that's yours scene, terrific. If not, Wilson, Walls and BASIS pretty clearly offer more rigor/college options for high fliers.

I don't think you really interview for an Ivy League school. I do and my school would take into consideration how many APs the school actually offers. A small school like a Latin probably doesn't offer that many AP classes [b]so taking 6+ would be impossible for any student.[/b]

That's too bad, given that all DCPS high schools now offer at minimum 6 AP courses and 8 next school year. (With most having plenty more.)

So how did my home schooled nephew, who never went to school (but attends Stanford), take 9 AP examinations? Hint: anybody can buy an AP test prep book or two, sign up for the examination by paying $100, and take it.

Latin offers more than a dozen AP classes.

[Anonymous]

One of the things I have always appreciated about Latin is that when you ask why or why not a particular course is offered, you get a well thought out answer. So, if you are worried about why an AP class is not offered, go to an info session and ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't mean to put a dampener on what sounds like a booster oriented thread, but in interviewing one or two Latin students a year for my Ivy in the past several years, I haven't been blown away by the academics or extra-curriculars they've brought to the table. The top Latin HS students seem to take 3 or 4 AP classes/exams, earning mostly 3-4s. Hardly anybody seems to take 6+ exams, earning mostly 5s (the minimum that would pass muster at my Ivy).

It's obviously a nice school community, and the kids clearly get a decent education, but they're not shooting for the stars in college admissions yet (although the odd kid still aims high). They like to see graduates land at East Coast public universities and small liberal arts colleges around the country. If that's yours scene, terrific. If not, Wilson, Walls and BASIS pretty clearly offer more rigor/college options for high fliers.



[/quote

Yeah, no thanks Ivy Leaguer. I will leave my kids at Latin where they are being taught values of citizenship and integrity and are given tools to live a successful, compassionate and thoughtful life. Please remind me again why I want my kid to jump through AP and admissions hoops to get into an Ivy League school? Is it the stickers I would get to put on my car?

[Anonymous]

To give them a chance to join the plutocracy.