Walls admissions article in the Post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simple.

Have an entrance exam open to any resident of DC who wishes to attend. Top 145 test takers get in, as measured by score. Wait list is ranked by exam score.

That's how my high school, Boston Latin, admitted 7th graders for more than 200 years, until the late 1980s, when an interview was added, presumably to increase minority enrollment. 20 years ago, the school was sued by a white family. The case settled in mediation with a concession to the plaintiffs, interview nixed. But whites did not really win. Asians did. The percentage of Asian students at BL has tripled in this century, while the white percentage remains roughly where it was when the suit was filed.

Perhaps the plaintiffs just wanted merit based entrance exams? Perhaps some of us actually believe race should not be a factor in...pretty much anything, any more than hair color should?

Do you believe that our system has denied people basic civil rights based on their hair color for centuries? Has wealth accumulation, education and employment access been disproportionately skewed in favor of blondes vs red heads in law and practice? To make comparisons between using race as a factor and an arbitrary physical attribute that has not been used to discriminate is intellectually lazy and an exercise in deflection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simple.

Have an entrance exam open to any resident of DC who wishes to attend. Top 145 test takers get in, as measured by score. Wait list is ranked by exam score.

That's how my high school, Boston Latin, admitted 7th graders for more than 200 years, until the late 1980s, when an interview was added, presumably to increase minority enrollment. 20 years ago, the school was sued by a white family. The case settled in mediation with a concession to the plaintiffs, interview nixed. But whites did not really win. Asians did. The percentage of Asian students at BL has tripled in this century, while the white percentage remains roughly where it was when the suit was filed.

Perhaps the plaintiffs just wanted merit based entrance exams? Perhaps some of us actually believe race should not be a factor in...pretty much anything, any more than hair color should?

Race has factored into everything since the country was founded. Historically the way it has factored in is that white people have been advantaged. It’s very telling how we (white people) respond when the conversation about race as a factor seeks to address and change this pattern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious how many students were accepted that live in ward 7 or 8 but didn't go to middle school there. Maybe part of the issue is that students from wards 7 or 8 who are academically inclined are looking for middle schools elsewhere. Is that really Walls' fault?

From the article:

“ Preliminary data shows the new freshman class includes four students from Wards 7 and 8, though the city says it does not have the ward of residence for 39 students. None of these students were enrolled in the traditional public school system.”

So it might be more than four, but based on demographics of the class as a whole, it’s unlikely to be much more. And yes, none from the public MSs in wards 7 and 8.

I think part of the problem is that if you live in a part of the city with mostly underperforming schools, being “academically inclined” is largely a function of whether your family is academically inclined, and thus works hard to get you into a better performing school via the lottery PLUS invests (or even has) the time and energy to get you to school at non-neighborhood schools. Kids in wealthier parts of the city who are naturally academically inclined can just go to their IB schools and take advantage of the opportunities presented. That’s much harder to do in Wards 7 and 8.

How can they verify residency if they don't know what ward their kids live in? Sounds like Ward 9

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious how many students were accepted that live in ward 7 or 8 but didn't go to middle school there. Maybe part of the issue is that students from wards 7 or 8 who are academically inclined are looking for middle schools elsewhere. Is that really Walls' fault?

From the article:

“ Preliminary data shows the new freshman class includes four students from Wards 7 and 8, though the city says it does not have the ward of residence for 39 students. None of these students were enrolled in the traditional public school system.”

So it might be more than four, but based on demographics of the class as a whole, it’s unlikely to be much more. And yes, none from the public MSs in wards 7 and 8.

I think part of the problem is that if you live in a part of the city with mostly underperforming schools, being “academically inclined” is largely a function of whether your family is academically inclined, and thus works hard to get you into a better performing school via the lottery PLUS invests (or even has) the time and energy to get you to school at non-neighborhood schools. Kids in wealthier parts of the city who are naturally academically inclined can just go to their IB schools and take advantage of the opportunities presented. That’s much harder to do in Wards 7 and 8.

How can they verify residency if they don't know what ward their kids live in? Sounds like Ward 9

Doubt it's nefarious. More likely students without a dcps 8th grade transcript coming for private schools. Walls has always provided this onramp for families who bailed on DCPS for middle school to come back for HS, even if it's at the expense of denying qualified DCPS students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC's POPULATION:
45.4% Black or African American
4.1% Asian
5.2% Hispanic White
0.3% Native American and Alaskan Native
42.5% White
4.4% Some Other Race, 0.1% Pacific Islander and 3.3% from two or more races

WALLS BREAKDOWN:
25% Black/African-American
7% Asian
13% Hispanic / Latino
<1% Native American / Alaska Native
50% White non-Hispanic
5% Multiracial

So Walls is actually quite diverse, people always use this word incorrectly. A 95% black school isn't diverse. The problem is we need to get more Black students into Walls. The problem is DC's Black population skews poor. That's what needs to be fixed. Those kids aren't going to elementary and middle schools that prepare them for success. They are lacking resources at home, at school, and in their communities. My guess is most poor Black kids are never told they can take the test and get into a good HS. Walls should start a program, but the problem is far too entrenched for it to be on the shoulders of one magnet public school in the city.

City population isn’t relevant. DCPS population is. According to the Post article, 15% of DCPS students are white; 60% are black.

PP here. Yes this is excellent and necessary information to determine how to fix the problem. That is what we need.

Walls and Banneker are widely known as the two best test-in DCPS high schools and they are roughly the same size. Banneker by reputation is akin to an HBCU and has nearly zero white students. So in effect all of the top white students only apply to Walls while top black students apply to both Walls and Banneker. As a result, Banneker has a higher than average share of black students (73%) while Walls has a higher than average white students (51%). That's largely an artifact of where students apply.

There are three other factors in play. First, Banneker just opened its amazing new state-of-the-art $130 million campus which is now larger and located in much more convenient location. This very likely increased the number of top black students applying to and attending Banneker over Walls this past year. Second, Walls pulls top white students from private middle schools as well. So looking just at the percentage of white students in DCPS understates the base of white students who apply to Walls. Third, the entire Walls leadership team including the principal is black, as is the mayor and school chancellor. It would seem very odd to me that they would have an interest in disadvantaging black students. More likely they are basing entry on which students they think can handle the rigor at Walls. I have a very smart student at Walls who has to work very hard to do well; the academics are no joke.

Funny when DCUM talks about why white kids don’t apply to Banneker many posters will say the academics are no joke and they prefer Walls because it’s not as serious. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious how many students were accepted that live in ward 7 or 8 but didn't go to middle school there. Maybe part of the issue is that students from wards 7 or 8 who are academically inclined are looking for middle schools elsewhere. Is that really Walls' fault?

From the article:

“ Preliminary data shows the new freshman class includes four students from Wards 7 and 8, though the city says it does not have the ward of residence for 39 students. None of these students were enrolled in the traditional public school system.”

So it might be more than four, but based on demographics of the class as a whole, it’s unlikely to be much more. And yes, none from the public MSs in wards 7 and 8.

I think part of the problem is that if you live in a part of the city with mostly underperforming schools, being “academically inclined” is largely a function of whether your family is academically inclined, and thus works hard to get you into a better performing school via the lottery PLUS invests (or even has) the time and energy to get you to school at non-neighborhood schools. Kids in wealthier parts of the city who are naturally academically inclined can just go to their IB schools and take advantage of the opportunities presented. That’s much harder to do in Wards 7 and 8.

How can they verify residency if they don't know what ward their kids live in? Sounds like Ward 9

Doubt it's nefarious. More likely students without a dcps 8th grade transcript coming for private schools. Walls has always provided this onramp for families who bailed on DCPS for middle school to come back for HS, even if it's at the expense of denying qualified DCPS students.

How is at the expense of DCPS students? It's a public school and all residents that meet the criteria are eligible to apply. I've known kids that were home schooled, attended privates, etc. to attend Walls as well as Banneker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious how many students were accepted that live in ward 7 or 8 but didn't go to middle school there. Maybe part of the issue is that students from wards 7 or 8 who are academically inclined are looking for middle schools elsewhere. Is that really Walls' fault?

From the article:

“ Preliminary data shows the new freshman class includes four students from Wards 7 and 8, though the city says it does not have the ward of residence for 39 students. None of these students were enrolled in the traditional public school system.”

So it might be more than four, but based on demographics of the class as a whole, it’s unlikely to be much more. And yes, none from the public MSs in wards 7 and 8.

I think part of the problem is that if you live in a part of the city with mostly underperforming schools, being “academically inclined” is largely a function of whether your family is academically inclined, and thus works hard to get you into a better performing school via the lottery PLUS invests (or even has) the time and energy to get you to school at non-neighborhood schools. Kids in wealthier parts of the city who are naturally academically inclined can just go to their IB schools and take advantage of the opportunities presented. That’s much harder to do in Wards 7 and 8.

How can they verify residency if they don't know what ward their kids live in? Sounds like Ward 9

Doubt it's nefarious. More likely students without a dcps 8th grade transcript coming for private schools. Walls has always provided this onramp for families who bailed on DCPS for middle school to come back for HS, even if it's at the expense of denying qualified DCPS students.

How is at the expense of DCPS students? It's a public school and all residents that meet the criteria are eligible to apply. I've known kids that were home schooled, attended privates, etc. to attend Walls as well as Banneker.

It's not like those families don't have other options -- they've already exercised those options. Turning away highly qualified students from their own system is a pretty big self-own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious how many students were accepted that live in ward 7 or 8 but didn't go to middle school there. Maybe part of the issue is that students from wards 7 or 8 who are academically inclined are looking for middle schools elsewhere. Is that really Walls' fault?

From the article:

“ Preliminary data shows the new freshman class includes four students from Wards 7 and 8, though the city says it does not have the ward of residence for 39 students. None of these students were enrolled in the traditional public school system.”

So it might be more than four, but based on demographics of the class as a whole, it’s unlikely to be much more. And yes, none from the public MSs in wards 7 and 8.

I think part of the problem is that if you live in a part of the city with mostly underperforming schools, being “academically inclined” is largely a function of whether your family is academically inclined, and thus works hard to get you into a better performing school via the lottery PLUS invests (or even has) the time and energy to get you to school at non-neighborhood schools. Kids in wealthier parts of the city who are naturally academically inclined can just go to their IB schools and take advantage of the opportunities presented. That’s much harder to do in Wards 7 and 8.

How can they verify residency if they don't know what ward their kids live in? Sounds like Ward 9

Doubt it's nefarious. More likely students without a dcps 8th grade transcript coming for private schools. Walls has always provided this onramp for families who bailed on DCPS for middle school to come back for HS, even if it's at the expense of denying qualified DCPS students.

How is at the expense of DCPS students? It's a public school and all residents that meet the criteria are eligible to apply. I've known kids that were home schooled, attended privates, etc. to attend Walls as well as Banneker.

It's not like those families don't have other options -- they've already exercised those options. Turning away highly qualified students from their own system is a pretty big self-own.

The main selling point to Walls is scarcity and whiteness

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious how many students were accepted that live in ward 7 or 8 but didn't go to middle school there. Maybe part of the issue is that students from wards 7 or 8 who are academically inclined are looking for middle schools elsewhere. Is that really Walls' fault?

From the article:

“ Preliminary data shows the new freshman class includes four students from Wards 7 and 8, though the city says it does not have the ward of residence for 39 students. None of these students were enrolled in the traditional public school system.”

So it might be more than four, but based on demographics of the class as a whole, it’s unlikely to be much more. And yes, none from the public MSs in wards 7 and 8.

I think part of the problem is that if you live in a part of the city with mostly underperforming schools, being “academically inclined” is largely a function of whether your family is academically inclined, and thus works hard to get you into a better performing school via the lottery PLUS invests (or even has) the time and energy to get you to school at non-neighborhood schools. Kids in wealthier parts of the city who are naturally academically inclined can just go to their IB schools and take advantage of the opportunities presented. That’s much harder to do in Wards 7 and 8.

How can they verify residency if they don't know what ward their kids live in? Sounds like Ward 9

Doubt it's nefarious. More likely students without a dcps 8th grade transcript coming for private schools. Walls has always provided this onramp for families who bailed on DCPS for middle school to come back for HS, even if it's at the expense of denying qualified DCPS students.

How is at the expense of DCPS students? It's a public school and all residents that meet the criteria are eligible to apply. I've known kids that were home schooled, attended privates, etc. to attend Walls as well as Banneker.

It's not like those families don't have other options -- they've already exercised those options. Turning away highly qualified students from their own system is a pretty big self-own.

The main selling point to Walls is scarcity and whiteness

How many do they turn away? Not many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious how many students were accepted that live in ward 7 or 8 but didn't go to middle school there. Maybe part of the issue is that students from wards 7 or 8 who are academically inclined are looking for middle schools elsewhere. Is that really Walls' fault?

From the article:

“ Preliminary data shows the new freshman class includes four students from Wards 7 and 8, though the city says it does not have the ward of residence for 39 students. None of these students were enrolled in the traditional public school system.”

So it might be more than four, but based on demographics of the class as a whole, it’s unlikely to be much more. And yes, none from the public MSs in wards 7 and 8.

I think part of the problem is that if you live in a part of the city with mostly underperforming schools, being “academically inclined” is largely a function of whether your family is academically inclined, and thus works hard to get you into a better performing school via the lottery PLUS invests (or even has) the time and energy to get you to school at non-neighborhood schools. Kids in wealthier parts of the city who are naturally academically inclined can just go to their IB schools and take advantage of the opportunities presented. That’s much harder to do in Wards 7 and 8.

How can they verify residency if they don't know what ward their kids live in? Sounds like Ward 9

Doubt it's nefarious. More likely students without a dcps 8th grade transcript coming for private schools. Walls has always provided this onramp for families who bailed on DCPS for middle school to come back for HS, even if it's at the expense of denying qualified DCPS students.

How is at the expense of DCPS students? It's a public school and all residents that meet the criteria are eligible to apply. I've known kids that were home schooled, attended privates, etc. to attend Walls as well as Banneker.

It's not like those families don't have other options -- they've already exercised those options. Turning away highly qualified students from their own system is a pretty big self-own.

The main selling point to Walls is scarcity and whiteness

How many do they turn away? Not many.

They have about 1000 kids apply each year (I think this year it was 1200?) and they take 140. This year the waistlist moved 90 spots. So let's say they took 250 out of 1200 who wanted the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious how many students were accepted that live in ward 7 or 8 but didn't go to middle school there. Maybe part of the issue is that students from wards 7 or 8 who are academically inclined are looking for middle schools elsewhere. Is that really Walls' fault?

From the article:

“ Preliminary data shows the new freshman class includes four students from Wards 7 and 8, though the city says it does not have the ward of residence for 39 students. None of these students were enrolled in the traditional public school system.”

So it might be more than four, but based on demographics of the class as a whole, it’s unlikely to be much more. And yes, none from the public MSs in wards 7 and 8.

I think part of the problem is that if you live in a part of the city with mostly underperforming schools, being “academically inclined” is largely a function of whether your family is academically inclined, and thus works hard to get you into a better performing school via the lottery PLUS invests (or even has) the time and energy to get you to school at non-neighborhood schools. Kids in wealthier parts of the city who are naturally academically inclined can just go to their IB schools and take advantage of the opportunities presented. That’s much harder to do in Wards 7 and 8.

How can they verify residency if they don't know what ward their kids live in? Sounds like Ward 9

Doubt it's nefarious. More likely students without a dcps 8th grade transcript coming for private schools. Walls has always provided this onramp for families who bailed on DCPS for middle school to come back for HS, even if it's at the expense of denying qualified DCPS students.

How is at the expense of DCPS students? It's a public school and all residents that meet the criteria are eligible to apply. I've known kids that were home schooled, attended privates, etc. to attend Walls as well as Banneker.

It's not like those families don't have other options -- they've already exercised those options. Turning away highly qualified students from their own system is a pretty big self-own.

So, your argument is that families that did not have a viable middle school option that chose to stay in DC by sending their child to private knowing that there are more options in high school is less worthy than a child that went through DCPS middle school? It is a public school that should be available to all residents. Should families with kids in daycare or private preschool be excluded from the pre-K lottery? Should families that have a current seat in a DCPS or charter school be precluded from using the lottery to change schools (aka trade up) since "they have options" already?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious how many students were accepted that live in ward 7 or 8 but didn't go to middle school there. Maybe part of the issue is that students from wards 7 or 8 who are academically inclined are looking for middle schools elsewhere. Is that really Walls' fault?

From the article:

“ Preliminary data shows the new freshman class includes four students from Wards 7 and 8, though the city says it does not have the ward of residence for 39 students. None of these students were enrolled in the traditional public school system.”

So it might be more than four, but based on demographics of the class as a whole, it’s unlikely to be much more. And yes, none from the public MSs in wards 7 and 8.

I think part of the problem is that if you live in a part of the city with mostly underperforming schools, being “academically inclined” is largely a function of whether your family is academically inclined, and thus works hard to get you into a better performing school via the lottery PLUS invests (or even has) the time and energy to get you to school at non-neighborhood schools. Kids in wealthier parts of the city who are naturally academically inclined can just go to their IB schools and take advantage of the opportunities presented. That’s much harder to do in Wards 7 and 8.

How can they verify residency if they don't know what ward their kids live in? Sounds like Ward 9

Doubt it's nefarious. More likely students without a dcps 8th grade transcript coming for private schools. Walls has always provided this onramp for families who bailed on DCPS for middle school to come back for HS, even if it's at the expense of denying qualified DCPS students.

How is at the expense of DCPS students? It's a public school and all residents that meet the criteria are eligible to apply. I've known kids that were home schooled, attended privates, etc. to attend Walls as well as Banneker.

It's not like those families don't have other options -- they've already exercised those options. Turning away highly qualified students from their own system is a pretty big self-own.

The main selling point to Walls is scarcity and whiteness

How many do they turn away? Not many.

They have about 1000 kids apply each year (I think this year it was 1200?) and they take 140. This year the waistlist moved 90 spots. So let's say they took 250 out of 1200 who wanted the school.

They normally offer a test a field that reduces the eligible field significantly. This year they used a low bar for GPA and weighted heavily on a short perfunctory zoom interview. There were many kids who never got off the waitlist who were far more qualified than many of those selected or with enough lottery luck. The whole process was random and haphazard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So, your argument is that families that did not have a viable middle school option that chose to stay in DC by sending their child to private knowing that there are more options in high school is less worthy than a child that went through DCPS middle school? It is a public school that should be available to all residents. Should families with kids in daycare or private preschool be excluded from the pre-K lottery? Should families that have a current seat in a DCPS or charter school be precluded from using the lottery to change schools (aka trade up) since "they have options" already?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious how many students were accepted that live in ward 7 or 8 but didn't go to middle school there. Maybe part of the issue is that students from wards 7 or 8 who are academically inclined are looking for middle schools elsewhere. Is that really Walls' fault?

From the article:

“ Preliminary data shows the new freshman class includes four students from Wards 7 and 8, though the city says it does not have the ward of residence for 39 students. None of these students were enrolled in the traditional public school system.”

So it might be more than four, but based on demographics of the class as a whole, it’s unlikely to be much more. And yes, none from the public MSs in wards 7 and 8.

I think part of the problem is that if you live in a part of the city with mostly underperforming schools, being “academically inclined” is largely a function of whether your family is academically inclined, and thus works hard to get you into a better performing school via the lottery PLUS invests (or even has) the time and energy to get you to school at non-neighborhood schools. Kids in wealthier parts of the city who are naturally academically inclined can just go to their IB schools and take advantage of the opportunities presented. That’s much harder to do in Wards 7 and 8.

How can they verify residency if they don't know what ward their kids live in? Sounds like Ward 9

Doubt it's nefarious. More likely students without a dcps 8th grade transcript coming for private schools. Walls has always provided this onramp for families who bailed on DCPS for middle school to come back for HS, even if it's at the expense of denying qualified DCPS students.

How is at the expense of DCPS students? It's a public school and all residents that meet the criteria are eligible to apply. I've known kids that were home schooled, attended privates, etc. to attend Walls as well as Banneker.

It's not like those families don't have other options -- they've already exercised those options. Turning away highly qualified students from their own system is a pretty big self-own.

The main selling point to Walls is scarcity and whiteness

How many do they turn away? Not many.

They have about 1000 kids apply each year (I think this year it was 1200?) and they take 140. This year the waistlist moved 90 spots. So let's say they took 250 out of 1200 who wanted the school.

They normally offer a test a field that reduces the eligible field significantly. This year they used a low bar for GPA and weighted heavily on a short perfunctory zoom interview. There were many kids who never got off the waitlist who were far more qualified than many of those selected or with enough lottery luck. The whole process was random and haphazard.

Agreed. Many of the most impressive kids I know at Deal (the real outliers) did not get in. Others did. It was just random and did not screen for the best and brightest at all.
They will be fine (some at Wilson and some at the top privates) but a random/haphazard process is never good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC's POPULATION:
45.4% Black or African American
4.1% Asian
5.2% Hispanic White
0.3% Native American and Alaskan Native
42.5% White
4.4% Some Other Race, 0.1% Pacific Islander and 3.3% from two or more races

WALLS BREAKDOWN:
25% Black/African-American
7% Asian
13% Hispanic / Latino
<1% Native American / Alaska Native
50% White non-Hispanic
5% Multiracial

So Walls is actually quite diverse, people always use this word incorrectly. A 95% black school isn't diverse. The problem is we need to get more Black students into Walls. The problem is DC's Black population skews poor. That's what needs to be fixed. Those kids aren't going to elementary and middle schools that prepare them for success. They are lacking resources at home, at school, and in their communities. My guess is most poor Black kids are never told they can take the test and get into a good HS. Walls should start a program, but the problem is far too entrenched for it to be on the shoulders of one magnet public school in the city.

City population isn’t relevant. DCPS population is. According to the Post article, 15% of DCPS students are white; 60% are black.

PP here. Yes this is excellent and necessary information to determine how to fix the problem. That is what we need.

Walls and Banneker are widely known as the two best test-in DCPS high schools and they are roughly the same size. Banneker by reputation is akin to an HBCU and has nearly zero white students. So in effect all of the top white students only apply to Walls while top black students apply to both Walls and Banneker. As a result, Banneker has a higher than average share of black students (73%) while Walls has a higher than average white students (51%). That's largely an artifact of where students apply.

There are three other factors in play. First, Banneker just opened its amazing new state-of-the-art $130 million campus which is now larger and located in much more convenient location. This very likely increased the number of top black students applying to and attending Banneker over Walls this past year. Second, Walls pulls top white students from private middle schools as well. So looking just at the percentage of white students in DCPS understates the base of white students who apply to Walls. Third, the entire Walls leadership team including the principal is black, as is the mayor and school chancellor. It would seem very odd to me that they would have an interest in disadvantaging black students. More likely they are basing entry on which students they think can handle the rigor at Walls. I have a very smart student at Walls who has to work very hard to do well; the academics are no joke.

Funny when DCUM talks about why white kids don’t apply to Banneker many posters will say the academics are no joke and they prefer Walls because it’s not as serious. 🤷🏽‍♀️

No one says that. 😞