Walls or Wilson ?
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Anonymous
| New to the scene. Wondering if other parents can share why their kids chose one over the other. How are the experiences similar and how are they different. Is one school run much more efficiently? Is it just a matter of more sports at Wilson and more serious students at Walls? TIA |
Anonymous
| Kids have to apply to Walls. If kids live in boundary they just go to Wilson as a matter of right. |
Anonymous
| Read the threads about Wilson this year and then make your decision. Wilson is chaotic and dysfunctional. Given any other viable choice, take it. |
Anonymous
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We have a kid at Walls - not perfect but the best option for us.
Have an 8th grader who is looking at private or Walls. The violence at Wilson is concerning - but she made her decision not to consider Wilson based on chatter from classmates at Deal. They are hearing from older siblings that: - there are not enough teachers so even if you want, you may be forced into a study hall. - there are classes without teachers - they cancelled the homecoming dance after it started My 8th grader just wants stability - and all she is hearing about Wilson is the chaos. More than 1/2 of her friends are looking at options other than Wilson |
Anonymous
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We have a 10th grader at Wilson who did not consider walls and an 8th grader at deal who recently decided not to apply to walls and go to Wilson.
10th grader really likes Wilson, and 8th grader likes idea of big school, more sports, close location. Both kids are high-achieving and self-directed, which probably helps in a big school like Wilson. Neither craves intensity, which seems to be the vibe at walls (or so they hear). I don't recognize the descriptions of Wilson I read on here. My kid is pretty sensitive, and the idea that it's chaos just doesn't align with their experience. They are involved in activities, have great friends, like most of their classes/teachers, and come home happy every day. |
Anonymous
Do you have a kid at Wilson? |
Anonymous
I have two at Wilson...these descriptions of "chaos" are not accurate...BUT there are definitely problems of teacher vacancies (but the same is true at Walls, across DCPS, and across the country). Wilson has pros and cons--tons of clubs, activities (including VERY competitive ones like debate/robotics, lots of AP classes for upper grades)...Walls has fewer but a calmer vibe. Both suffer from DCPS dysfunction. Wilson is overcrowded (Walls gets to limit those who get in). For both of mine, Wilson is a better fit--they don't mind a bit of crazy for all of the advantages that Wilson offers. I think Walls is better if your kids are sensitive to those things. FWIW, friends that I've had at both think the quality of teaching is actually better at Wilson, though who knows now with all the teachers leaving across the district. |
Anonymous
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9th grader at Walls who is perfectly in the right environment both socially and academically.
8th grade at Deal who would probably do fine at Walls (if he got in) but seems more destined to thrive at Wilson. We would consider private if we thought continuance of public school would put our kid at risk. |
Anonymous
| 10 th grader at Wilson. Very happy, straight As, engaged in extracurricular and a sport, tons of friends, very happy. Complaints about one oddball but harmless teacher. Teacher quality varies widely. I braced DC to see things like drug deals and fighting but no reports of any. Older kid graduated already and is thriving at a very competitive college. It’s a lot to take in and experience but it is exciting and lively for students who aren’t super anxious about lots of people and activity. |
Anonymous
Lol. Everyone gets As at Wilson if they bother to show up. |
Anonymous
Can you share your direct experience or your child’s that leads you to this conclusion? |
Anonymous
My kid has had ZERO homework this year. Straight As. Straight As last year (but that was the virtual). Every one of her friends has straight As. They joke about it. These kids are doing next to nothing and have As. |
Anonymous
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Parent of Walls student (11th grader)...have not been particularly happy. Lots of busy work; remote learning last year was terrible (teachers were often absent and not very engaged when they were online). School coasts on it's high "ranking" but that is purely due to the fact that it gets to screen its students (the students are, for the most part, lovely but because they come from all over the city it is hard for them to socialize outside of school.)
I can't speak to Wilson (we are OOB) but if we had a decent option we'd switch. |
Anonymous
My tenth grade DC has plenty of homework this year. Pretty much every night. And this semester, DC has only elective courses. I imagine workload will be heavier next semester with ELA, science, math and history. |