DCI middle and high school current experience?

[Anonymous]

Who claimed that Walls STEM school, like TJ?

Posters noted that math and physics oriented Walls students can find great rigor at Walls along with wonderful nearby internship opportunities at NASA, the Smithsonian Air and Space museum etc. Good enough for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IB essays are all pen and paper. Even in Chinese. Unless you have a related disability and can get Geneva to ok your typewritten accommodation, which requires documentation.

It seems that they are in the process of moving the exams online.
https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/international-baccalaureate-programme-moves-to-digital-exams/146182/

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you to all of the helpful and candid feedback on DCI. It’s very difficult to get an unbiased perspective from many feeder school families and administrators, so the detailed replies are extremely helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you to all of the helpful and candid feedback on DCI. It’s very difficult to get an unbiased perspective from many feeder school families and administrators, so the detailed replies are extremely helpful.

I would go on a tour when school is in session and just overall spend time while students are transitioning between classes.

[Anonymous]

If your kid doesn't crack Walls, OP, obviously no point in exploring further. But if they do, I'd make a point of talking to particularly picky Walls parents, those who went with private middle schools. There are a bunch on Capitol Hill if that's where you live, OP. Walls produces PSAT National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists each spring; DCI produces zero. Walls' average SAT scores are much higher than DCI's and it's normal for Walls students to score a slew of 5s on AP exams. DCI's brainless college counselors don't encourage the strongest students to double up on AP exams, standard practice in strong IB Diploma programs in this country. Nice that one or two UMC Walls students are being admitted to Ivies each year but that doesn't change the fact that Walls is the stronger program academically by a wide margin.

[Anonymous]

This, a wide margin.

[Anonymous]

I have heard good things in the past few years about the college counseling. Can you please elaborate?

[Anonymous]

DCI high school college counseling? The counselors aren't awful but they very experienced, sharp or proactive and don't know the IB Diploma landscape very well. Some of the UMC DCI parents hire private counselors with IB Diploma background.

[Anonymous]

Any counselor recommendations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid doesn't crack Walls, OP, obviously no point in exploring further. But if they do, I'd make a point of talking to particularly picky Walls parents, those who went with private middle schools. There are a bunch on Capitol Hill if that's where you live, OP. Walls produces PSAT National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists each spring; DCI produces zero. Walls' average SAT scores are much higher than DCI's and it's normal for Walls students to score a slew of 5s on AP exams. DCI's brainless college counselors don't encourage the strongest students to double up on AP exams, standard practice in strong IB Diploma programs in this country. Nice that one or two UMC Walls students are being admitted to Ivies each year but that doesn't change the fact that Walls is the stronger program academically by a wide margin.

It would not surprise me to see this gap grow smaller and smaller over the years
Remember DCI high school is still very new and initial classes have been small.

[Anonymous]

OK, but we don't have years to wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, but we don't have years to wait.

NP. I don’t think it’s going to take long, looking at the trajectory of the academic trends and PARCC scores of the school. My guess is 4-5 years at the most.

This is especially true as the academic caliber of the Walls class decreases with the new admission standards. We have already seen this with the recent class. Just look at the trend in the huge drop in math scores of the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, but we don't have years to wait.

NP. I don’t think it’s going to take long, looking at the trajectory of the academic trends and PARCC scores of the school. My guess is 4-5 years at the most.

This is especially true as the academic caliber of the Walls class decreases with the new admission standards. We have already seen this with the recent class. Just look at the trend in the huge drop in math scores of the school.

Where did you get the Walls math scores info?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, but we don't have years to wait.

NP. I don’t think it’s going to take long, looking at the trajectory of the academic trends and PARCC scores of the school. My guess is 4-5 years at the most.

This is especially true as the academic caliber of the Walls class decreases with the new admission standards. We have already seen this with the recent class. Just look at the trend in the huge drop in math scores of the school.

Where did you get the Walls math scores info?

DCPS. That is the 3-year data for PARCC scores. Walls had the biggest drop of any public school in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, but we don't have years to wait.

NP. I don’t think it’s going to take long, looking at the trajectory of the academic trends and PARCC scores of the school. My guess is 4-5 years at the most.

This is especially true as the academic caliber of the Walls class decreases with the new admission standards. We have already seen this with the recent class. Just look at the trend in the huge drop in math scores of the school.

Where did you get the Walls math scores info?

DCPS. That is the 3-year data for PARCC scores. Walls had the biggest drop of any public school in DC.

The kids I know well in the Walls class of 2025 were B students at Deal (which basically means they have a pulse).