DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.

[Anonymous]

Walls is whiter and had higher test scores and more varied offerings but doesn’t work the successful kids as hard as Banneker. That’s about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Walls is definitely not a STEM focused school. On the other hand, the only science class I can think of that it doesn’t offer that one would expect is AP Chemistry. Kids can (and do) take multivariate in 12th grade. What else is missing /should be offered to meet DCUM STEM standards (for a non-TJ/BASIS type) school? I wouldn’t call walls a humanities school (so far as parent of a junior I have been very unimpressed by humanities offerings/teachers) I would call it a normal school (with a fantastic cohort).

No AP bio every year. The school does not offer anything past Calculus. You have to do it on your own outside of school at GW or whatever and very few if any do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the typical hs in the suburbs does not offer linear algebra.

Actually a lot of the suburban high schools do offer linear algebra now as a dual-enrollment class.

A number of good high schools offer linear algebra at the school. They have enough kids to take it.

My friends son is at Langley and it offers 3 courses past Calculus of which LA is one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the typical hs in the suburbs does not offer linear algebra.

Actually a lot of the suburban high schools do offer linear algebra now as a dual-enrollment class.

A number of good high schools offer linear algebra at the school. They have enough kids to take it.

My friends son is at Langley and it offers 3 courses past Calculus of which LA is one of them.

Blair offers 3 past Calculus - LA, multivariable calculus and differential equation, and even complex analysis.

If you look at magnet schools in MD, all offer classes past Calculus. Many standard high schools offer at least 1 class past calculus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the typical hs in the suburbs does not offer linear algebra.

Actually a lot of the suburban high schools do offer linear algebra now as a dual-enrollment class.

A number of good high schools offer linear algebra at the school. They have enough kids to take it.

My friends son is at Langley and it offers 3 courses past Calculus of which LA is one of them.

Blair offers 3 past Calculus - LA, multivariable calculus and differential equation, and even complex analysis.

If you look at magnet schools in MD, all offer classes past Calculus. Many standard high schools offer at least 1 class past calculus.

Why do we care? We live in DC, and the few kids who need access to those classes can get it. And if a kid can take a full slate of solid classes, but can't take Differential Equations until they're at MIT, oh well? It's not going to wreck their career as a math professor. It just means they will have learned some more history or public speaking or something else worthwhile before they take Diff Eq.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the typical hs in the suburbs does not offer linear algebra.

Actually a lot of the suburban high schools do offer linear algebra now as a dual-enrollment class.

A number of good high schools offer linear algebra at the school. They have enough kids to take it.

My friends son is at Langley and it offers 3 courses past Calculus of which LA is one of them.

Blair offers 3 past Calculus - LA, multivariable calculus and differential equation, and even complex analysis.

If you look at magnet schools in MD, all offer classes past Calculus. Many standard high schools offer at least 1 class past calculus.

Why do we care? We live in DC, and the few kids who need access to those classes can get it. And if a kid can take a full slate of solid classes, but can't take Differential Equations until they're at MIT, oh well? It's not going to wreck their career as a math professor. It just means they will have learned some more history or public speaking or something else worthwhile before they take Diff Eq.

Are you for real?? Get out of your bubble of excuses and low expectations. Walls is supposed to be our “magnet” school and they can’t even offer classes that other standard high schools offer for STEM students.

And you wonder why families with STEM kids don’t stay in DCPS.

BTW, any kid applying to a competitive college in STEM field will be at a huge disadvantage because the majority of kids will have taken these courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the typical hs in the suburbs does not offer linear algebra.

Actually a lot of the suburban high schools do offer linear algebra now as a dual-enrollment class.

A number of good high schools offer linear algebra at the school. They have enough kids to take it.

My friends son is at Langley and it offers 3 courses past Calculus of which LA is one of them.

Blair offers 3 past Calculus - LA, multivariable calculus and differential equation, and even complex analysis.

If you look at magnet schools in MD, all offer classes past Calculus. Many standard high schools offer at least 1 class past calculus.

Why do we care? We live in DC, and the few kids who need access to those classes can get it. And if a kid can take a full slate of solid classes, but can't take Differential Equations until they're at MIT, oh well? It's not going to wreck their career as a math professor. It just means they will have learned some more history or public speaking or something else worthwhile before they take Diff Eq.

Are you for real?? Get out of your bubble of excuses and low expectations. Walls is supposed to be our “magnet” school and they can’t even offer classes that other standard high schools offer for STEM students.

And you wonder why families with STEM kids don’t stay in DCPS.

BTW, any kid applying to a competitive college in STEM field will be at a huge disadvantage because the majority of kids will have taken these courses.

Come on. Most of the kids I see in CS took AB and no more, and my school is top 30 (and this is my second t30). The honest truth is if you get in a top school, you should retake those classes anyway. They’re taught completely differently (proof based).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the typical hs in the suburbs does not offer linear algebra.

Actually a lot of the suburban high schools do offer linear algebra now as a dual-enrollment class.

A number of good high schools offer linear algebra at the school. They have enough kids to take it.

My friends son is at Langley and it offers 3 courses past Calculus of which LA is one of them.

Blair offers 3 past Calculus - LA, multivariable calculus and differential equation, and even complex analysis.

If you look at magnet schools in MD, all offer classes past Calculus. Many standard high schools offer at least 1 class past calculus.

Why do we care? We live in DC, and the few kids who need access to those classes can get it. And if a kid can take a full slate of solid classes, but can't take Differential Equations until they're at MIT, oh well? It's not going to wreck their career as a math professor. It just means they will have learned some more history or public speaking or something else worthwhile before they take Diff Eq.

Are you for real?? Get out of your bubble of excuses and low expectations. Walls is supposed to be our “magnet” school and they can’t even offer classes that other standard high schools offer for STEM students.

And you wonder why families with STEM kids don’t stay in DCPS.

BTW, any kid applying to a competitive college in STEM field will be at a huge disadvantage because the majority of kids will have taken these courses.

Come on. Most of the kids I see in CS took AB and no more, and my school is top 30 (and this is my second t30). The honest truth is if you get in a top school, you should retake those classes anyway. They’re taught completely differently (proof based).

You come on. Because I can tell you that any kid going to MIT, like the PP said above, or any competitive school in math, engineering have taken classes past Calculus in high school. Calculus is the floor not the ceiling.

Sure they may have to take linear algebra again in college but you can bet that the kid who already took LA in high school is going to kill it and do well not only in the class but also in other STEM classes that uses math. Ask me how I know. While the kid that just took Cal is going to be at the bottom of the barrel in the class and at a big disadvantage.

The denial from Walls parents how weak the math offerings is just astounding. Don’t make excuses, demand better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the typical hs in the suburbs does not offer linear algebra.

Actually a lot of the suburban high schools do offer linear algebra now as a dual-enrollment class.

A number of good high schools offer linear algebra at the school. They have enough kids to take it.

My friends son is at Langley and it offers 3 courses past Calculus of which LA is one of them.

Blair offers 3 past Calculus - LA, multivariable calculus and differential equation, and even complex analysis.

If you look at magnet schools in MD, all offer classes past Calculus. Many standard high schools offer at least 1 class past calculus.

Why do we care? We live in DC, and the few kids who need access to those classes can get it. And if a kid can take a full slate of solid classes, but can't take Differential Equations until they're at MIT, oh well? It's not going to wreck their career as a math professor. It just means they will have learned some more history or public speaking or something else worthwhile before they take Diff Eq.

Are you for real?? Get out of your bubble of excuses and low expectations. Walls is supposed to be our “magnet” school and they can’t even offer classes that other standard high schools offer for STEM students.

And you wonder why families with STEM kids don’t stay in DCPS.

BTW, any kid applying to a competitive college in STEM field will be at a huge disadvantage because the majority of kids will have taken these courses.

Come on. Most of the kids I see in CS took AB and no more, and my school is top 30 (and this is my second t30). The honest truth is if you get in a top school, you should retake those classes anyway. They’re taught completely differently (proof based).

You come on. Because I can tell you that any kid going to MIT, like the PP said above, or any competitive school in math, engineering have taken classes past Calculus in high school. Calculus is the floor not the ceiling.

Sure they may have to take linear algebra again in college but you can bet that the kid who already took LA in high school is going to kill it and do well not only in the class but also in other STEM classes that uses math. Ask me how I know. While the kid that just took Cal is going to be at the bottom of the barrel in the class and at a big disadvantage.

The denial from Walls parents how weak the math offerings is just astounding. Don’t make excuses, demand better.

The claim is at top schools in STEM kids took LA, diffeq and multi variate and that’s just not true for the majority of them (and for the sake of argument let’s constrain top schools to the CS or whatever top 30). These are classes that, when offered, have 5-6 kids in them at a high school. The vast majority of high schools that feed STEM majors at Purdue, other Big Ten and land grant schools that overwhelmingly populate the top 30, even a CMU (private), don’t offer those classes and tons of kids end up as engineers who got a 5 on the AB exam and no more.

[Anonymous]

I am not so bothered by the lack of math courses at Walls (although it is pretty bad). It’s the lack of math offerings plus the lack of science offerings plus the lack of clubs and extras to support stem minded kids as compared to other schools. It’s the DCPS crown jewel, why is it so mediocre? Why isn’t McKinley stronger? Kids in dc shouldn’t have to try to lottery for the few spots in decent charters to have the opportunity to go into stem careers. And sure, you could take some dual enrollment classes. But I doubt kids can take essentially half their classes as college dual enrollment which would be the case to be competitive to get into literally any STEM program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCI has AP options in every nearly subject- English, African American history, science, and pre calc and calc. No foreign language AP for some reason. These are taken 9&10th grade and i believe placement is based on MAP test score. This is relatively new at DCI, I could be wrong.

11th and 12th grade it’s all IB.

This is for IB track. Not sure about career.

That is great to hear! I did not know this. So the high performing kids can not only take AP classes in 9th and 10th grade but also the AP tests. This will further strengthen their college applications with good AP scores to show mastery in addition to the IB courses, grades, and diploma.

It is commonly known that the IB language test is much, much harder than the AP language test so maybe if they have to take that then no need to do AP language.

Yes this is why our family did not opt to apply to Walls which seems like a good school but doesn’t offer the same level of rigorous curriculum as offered by DCI.

DCI is more rigorous than Walls? Haven’t really heard that before.

The highest track possibly so.

We can debate that forever but the fact is Walls is going downhill thanks to DCPS and DCI is on an upward trajectory by offering students more - more advance math, more AP courses earlier, more tracking and uses objective standardized testing for placement..

You can’t say that about Walls and they have taken away any objective testing.

Walls obviously doesn’t have tracks like DCI but the highest achieving kids at Walls take really challenging schedules- 5 APs junior and senior years, 2 or 3 APs sophomore year, dual enrollment classes, etc.

No interest in walls but dci has IB math AA and AI. The highest math track will take ap pre calculus and calculus as freshmen and sophomores. It also offers IB HL and SL in chemistry, biology, physics and environmental science. One of the reasons we felt walls was not a good fit was the lack of science offerings. Plus the related STEM clubs and extra curricular activities were not present at walls or not as popular. Walls won’t prepare children sufficiently for stem based careers.

Thanks for the response- of course you had to make an unfounded dig and claim in the last sentence, but otherwise an actually informative post. And don’t worry about those Walls kids, plenty go into stem based careers.

No one is saying Walks kids can’t go into STEM fields but it’s a well known fact that Walls is not strong in STEM and is more a humanities field.

Walls is not going to prepare kids as well who go into STEM. They don’t offer all AP STEM courses. They don’t offer anything past Calculus. They don’t have strong STEM clubs or robotics team, etc….

What classes do other schools offer past Calculus? Linear algebra is not a “past Calculus” course. You don’t need to take calculus to take that course. Are high schools offering differential equations or something?

Linear algebra is commonly taken after Calculus. This is the typical order because it is a more difficult course. Many schools require Calculus first even if not necessary.

The typical high schools in the burbs offer courses past Calculus such as linear Algebra, differential equations, and/or multivariable calculus. Some schools offer 1 of these, others 2, some all 3. This is your standard high schools.

Of course the magnets offer courses past Calculus.

It is not tecommeb

Walls offers calculus 3. It doesn’t offer linear algebra, but the most advanced kids take it at GW.

So you’re supposed to do dual enrollment for bio if it’s not offered, chem which isn’t offered ever, and physics (is this offered always or only occasionally?) plus math.

Please read the thread to answer most of your questions.

Walls offers AP Physics 1 and C every year. They offer Calculus 3. For the handful of kids who want to take linear algebra, they dual enroll at GW. Walls is on GW’s campus.

Bio is offered every other year. So take it junior, senior or sophomore year.

I’m sure you have many more questions claiming the school has awful STEM course offerings.

Walls does not offer chemistry. And bio is offered occasionally, not regularly. And it’s also only AP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the typical hs in the suburbs does not offer linear algebra.

Actually a lot of the suburban high schools do offer linear algebra now as a dual-enrollment class.

A number of good high schools offer linear algebra at the school. They have enough kids to take it.

My friends son is at Langley and it offers 3 courses past Calculus of which LA is one of them.

Blair offers 3 past Calculus - LA, multivariable calculus and differential equation, and even complex analysis.

If you look at magnet schools in MD, all offer classes past Calculus. Many standard high schools offer at least 1 class past calculus.

Why do we care? We live in DC, and the few kids who need access to those classes can get it. And if a kid can take a full slate of solid classes, but can't take Differential Equations until they're at MIT, oh well? It's not going to wreck their career as a math professor. It just means they will have learned some more history or public speaking or something else worthwhile before they take Diff Eq.

Are you for real?? Get out of your bubble of excuses and low expectations. Walls is supposed to be our “magnet” school and they can’t even offer classes that other standard high schools offer for STEM students.

And you wonder why families with STEM kids don’t stay in DCPS.

BTW, any kid applying to a competitive college in STEM field will be at a huge disadvantage because the majority of kids will have taken these courses.

Come on. Most of the kids I see in CS took AB and no more, and my school is top 30 (and this is my second t30). The honest truth is if you get in a top school, you should retake those classes anyway. They’re taught completely differently (proof based).

You come on. Because I can tell you that any kid going to MIT, like the PP said above, or any competitive school in math, engineering have taken classes past Calculus in high school. Calculus is the floor not the ceiling.

Sure they may have to take linear algebra again in college but you can bet that the kid who already took LA in high school is going to kill it and do well not only in the class but also in other STEM classes that uses math. Ask me how I know. While the kid that just took Cal is going to be at the bottom of the barrel in the class and at a big disadvantage.

The denial from Walls parents how weak the math offerings is just astounding. Don’t make excuses, demand better.

I don't understand what the end goal is with such a miserable approach to academics. You absolutely do not need to do this to have a successful, fulfilling career in STEM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the typical hs in the suburbs does not offer linear algebra.

Actually a lot of the suburban high schools do offer linear algebra now as a dual-enrollment class.

A number of good high schools offer linear algebra at the school. They have enough kids to take it.

My friends son is at Langley and it offers 3 courses past Calculus of which LA is one of them.

Blair offers 3 past Calculus - LA, multivariable calculus and differential equation, and even complex analysis.

If you look at magnet schools in MD, all offer classes past Calculus. Many standard high schools offer at least 1 class past calculus.

Why do we care? We live in DC, and the few kids who need access to those classes can get it. And if a kid can take a full slate of solid classes, but can't take Differential Equations until they're at MIT, oh well? It's not going to wreck their career as a math professor. It just means they will have learned some more history or public speaking or something else worthwhile before they take Diff Eq.

Are you for real?? Get out of your bubble of excuses and low expectations. Walls is supposed to be our “magnet” school and they can’t even offer classes that other standard high schools offer for STEM students.

And you wonder why families with STEM kids don’t stay in DCPS.

BTW, any kid applying to a competitive college in STEM field will be at a huge disadvantage because the majority of kids will have taken these courses.

Come on. Most of the kids I see in CS took AB and no more, and my school is top 30 (and this is my second t30). The honest truth is if you get in a top school, you should retake those classes anyway. They’re taught completely differently (proof based).

You come on. Because I can tell you that any kid going to MIT, like the PP said above, or any competitive school in math, engineering have taken classes past Calculus in high school. Calculus is the floor not the ceiling.

Sure they may have to take linear algebra again in college but you can bet that the kid who already took LA in high school is going to kill it and do well not only in the class but also in other STEM classes that uses math. Ask me how I know. While the kid that just took Cal is going to be at the bottom of the barrel in the class and at a big disadvantage.

The denial from Walls parents how weak the math offerings is just astounding. Don’t make excuses, demand better.

I don't understand what the end goal is with such a miserable approach to academics. You absolutely do not need to do this to have a successful, fulfilling career in STEM.

Regrettably yes you do need to take all the sciences (bio, chem, and physics) plus the hardest math your school offers. I think you could maybe do this via dual enrollment, but it would mean taking time away from extracurriculars or sports which would also make students stand out if the school somehow factored in the difficulty of courses maybe they’d be more students pushing for better course offerings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the typical hs in the suburbs does not offer linear algebra.

Actually a lot of the suburban high schools do offer linear algebra now as a dual-enrollment class.

A number of good high schools offer linear algebra at the school. They have enough kids to take it.

My friends son is at Langley and it offers 3 courses past Calculus of which LA is one of them.

Blair offers 3 past Calculus - LA, multivariable calculus and differential equation, and even complex analysis.

If you look at magnet schools in MD, all offer classes past Calculus. Many standard high schools offer at least 1 class past calculus.

Why do we care? We live in DC, and the few kids who need access to those classes can get it. And if a kid can take a full slate of solid classes, but can't take Differential Equations until they're at MIT, oh well? It's not going to wreck their career as a math professor. It just means they will have learned some more history or public speaking or something else worthwhile before they take Diff Eq.

Are you for real?? Get out of your bubble of excuses and low expectations. Walls is supposed to be our “magnet” school and they can’t even offer classes that other standard high schools offer for STEM students.

And you wonder why families with STEM kids don’t stay in DCPS.

BTW, any kid applying to a competitive college in STEM field will be at a huge disadvantage because the majority of kids will have taken these courses.

Come on. Most of the kids I see in CS took AB and no more, and my school is top 30 (and this is my second t30). The honest truth is if you get in a top school, you should retake those classes anyway. They’re taught completely differently (proof based).

You come on. Because I can tell you that any kid going to MIT, like the PP said above, or any competitive school in math, engineering have taken classes past Calculus in high school. Calculus is the floor not the ceiling.

Sure they may have to take linear algebra again in college but you can bet that the kid who already took LA in high school is going to kill it and do well not only in the class but also in other STEM classes that uses math. Ask me how I know. While the kid that just took Cal is going to be at the bottom of the barrel in the class and at a big disadvantage.

The denial from Walls parents how weak the math offerings is just astounding. Don’t make excuses, demand better.

I don't understand what the end goal is with such a miserable approach to academics. You absolutely do not need to do this to have a successful, fulfilling career in STEM.

Regrettably yes you do need to take all the sciences (bio, chem, and physics) plus the hardest math your school offers. I think you could maybe do this via dual enrollment, but it would mean taking time away from extracurriculars or sports which would also make students stand out if the school somehow factored in the difficulty of courses maybe they’d be more students pushing for better course offerings.

From a pure, instrumental “getting into college” standpoint, it’s to students’ benefit that Walls has limited Math offerings. In a world where the only thing that matters to a college is whether you took the most advanced offering, if a school is incentivized to get kids in the best schools possible… there’s a perverse incentive to keep the ceiling on classes as low as possible. I doubt Walls has worked through the logic here, but still.

From a lifelong love of learning standpoint, that kind of advanced math is a pretty impoverished experience in high school. Very few of the kids who take it have the maturity to really handle the material, and we do have programs for those once every decade kids (eg Lurie). I do agree that it will be easier in college if they saw the material in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the typical hs in the suburbs does not offer linear algebra.

Actually a lot of the suburban high schools do offer linear algebra now as a dual-enrollment class.

A number of good high schools offer linear algebra at the school. They have enough kids to take it.

My friends son is at Langley and it offers 3 courses past Calculus of which LA is one of them.

Blair offers 3 past Calculus - LA, multivariable calculus and differential equation, and even complex analysis.

If you look at magnet schools in MD, all offer classes past Calculus. Many standard high schools offer at least 1 class past calculus.

Why do we care? We live in DC, and the few kids who need access to those classes can get it. And if a kid can take a full slate of solid classes, but can't take Differential Equations until they're at MIT, oh well? It's not going to wreck their career as a math professor. It just means they will have learned some more history or public speaking or something else worthwhile before they take Diff Eq.

Are you for real?? Get out of your bubble of excuses and low expectations. Walls is supposed to be our “magnet” school and they can’t even offer classes that other standard high schools offer for STEM students.

And you wonder why families with STEM kids don’t stay in DCPS.

BTW, any kid applying to a competitive college in STEM field will be at a huge disadvantage because the majority of kids will have taken these courses.

Come on. Most of the kids I see in CS took AB and no more, and my school is top 30 (and this is my second t30). The honest truth is if you get in a top school, you should retake those classes anyway. They’re taught completely differently (proof based).

You come on. Because I can tell you that any kid going to MIT, like the PP said above, or any competitive school in math, engineering have taken classes past Calculus in high school. Calculus is the floor not the ceiling.

Sure they may have to take linear algebra again in college but you can bet that the kid who already took LA in high school is going to kill it and do well not only in the class but also in other STEM classes that uses math. Ask me how I know. While the kid that just took Cal is going to be at the bottom of the barrel in the class and at a big disadvantage.

The denial from Walls parents how weak the math offerings is just astounding. Don’t make excuses, demand better.

I don't understand what the end goal is with such a miserable approach to academics. You absolutely do not need to do this to have a successful, fulfilling career in STEM.

Regrettably yes you do need to take all the sciences (bio, chem, and physics) plus the hardest math your school offers. I think you could maybe do this via dual enrollment, but it would mean taking time away from extracurriculars or sports which would also make students stand out if the school somehow factored in the difficulty of courses maybe they’d be more students pushing for better course offerings.

In some school districts, DE classes are taken at the high school same as any regular class so they do not really take away from anything.