Banneker vs. Walls

[Anonymous]

If anyone had kids at both schools, can you compare the workload, type of work given, and college preparation? How has Walls been now that a test is not required? Would students with 504 plans succeed at either school?

[Anonymous]

I am not exactly what you're looking for--I have a kid who started at Banneker, did the summer institute and a few weeks of school, and then got into Walls off the wait list and switched over. So our family had a 5- or 6-week glimpse at Banneker and now more time at Walls. Both are full of high-achieving kids. Both give very heavy workloads; Banneker gave much more summer homework. Banneker has a better location (for us) and better facility; Walls's administration seems much more organized. Banneker has some very strict rules (no shorts or skirts that show knees) and some requirements that seem outmoded to our family (must learn to touch type with fingers on the traditional "home keys").

Be aware that any thread about Banneker on DCUM seems to degenerate into talking about race, DCPS priorities, and SAT scores. You'll hear that you can't get a good education at Banneker, and that white and Asian American kids either can't get in or never choose to go; both are demonstrably false, though I'm sure there are numerous legitimate concerns about the school. Please find families with kids at either or both schools to talk to to get a clearer view.

[Anonymous]

Walls does not currently have anyone on staff to deliver special education services (IEPs)
School leadership is not responsive to parents so if you need to support and provide scaffolding and want to work with the school to enable your child with a 504 to be successful you might not get what you are looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not exactly what you're looking for--I have a kid who started at Banneker, did the summer institute and a few weeks of school, and then got into Walls off the wait list and switched over. So our family had a 5- or 6-week glimpse at Banneker and now more time at Walls. Both are full of high-achieving kids. Both give very heavy workloads; Banneker gave much more summer homework. Banneker has a better location (for us) and better facility; Walls's administration seems much more organized. Banneker has some very strict rules (no shorts or skirts that show knees) and some requirements that seem outmoded to our family (must learn to touch type with fingers on the traditional "home keys").

Be aware that any thread about Banneker on DCUM seems to degenerate into talking about race, DCPS priorities, and SAT scores. You'll hear that you can't get a good education at Banneker, and that white and Asian American kids either can't get in or never choose to go; both are demonstrably false, though I'm sure there are numerous legitimate concerns about the school. Please find families with kids at either or both schools to talk to to get a clearer view.

Not OP, but curious why you switched. If you don’t mind sharing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not exactly what you're looking for--I have a kid who started at Banneker, did the summer institute and a few weeks of school, and then got into Walls off the wait list and switched over. So our family had a 5- or 6-week glimpse at Banneker and now more time at Walls. Both are full of high-achieving kids. Both give very heavy workloads; Banneker gave much more summer homework. Banneker has a better location (for us) and better facility; Walls's administration seems much more organized. Banneker has some very strict rules (no shorts or skirts that show knees) and some requirements that seem outmoded to our family (must learn to touch type with fingers on the traditional "home keys").

Be aware that any thread about Banneker on DCUM seems to degenerate into talking about race, DCPS priorities, and SAT scores. You'll hear that you can't get a good education at Banneker, and that white and Asian American kids either can't get in or never choose to go; both are demonstrably false, though I'm sure there are numerous legitimate concerns about the school. Please find families with kids at either or both schools to talk to to get a clearer view.

Not OP, but curious why you switched. If you don’t mind sharing.

It was my kid's decision. They'd been wanting to go to Walls, had been stung by being waitlisted, and had several friends there.

[Anonymous]

Oh! One more element of kid's decision to switch to Walls: it has far more extracurriculars and sports.

[Anonymous]

I can't compare directly yet. I grew up in DC and these have been good schools for a long time.

MY son is a junior at Banneker. The school attracts smart students and teaches them well. He scored 99% percentile on the PSAT and SAT. The teachers are responsive and seem to enjoy their jobs.

My daughter will start at Walls next year. I'm sure we'll seem a similar caliber of students and, hopefully, teachers.

[Anonymous]

Any thread about Banneker on DCUM "degenerates" into talking about race, DCPS priorities, and SAT scores because there's no sidestepping these matters for the strongest students and prospective students, regardless of race and SES.

I used to volunteer to interview Banneker applicants for my Ivy. Until a couple years ago, I trooped there each February for over a decade to interview two or three students in their top 10 academically. Eventually, I got fed up with students telling me that their guidance counselors and teachers had advised that Banneker applicants don't need half a dozen APs scores of 4 or 5 to be admitted to elite colleges. No Banneker student I interviewed--and I must have talked to two dozen--was admitted to my alma mater. The problem is that the school operates in an affirmative action time warp. Banneker is clearly in dire need of modernization academically, socially and administratively, not in terms of the physical plant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any thread about Banneker on DCUM "degenerates" into talking about race, DCPS priorities, and SAT scores because there's no sidestepping these matters for the strongest students and prospective students, regardless of race and SES.

I used to volunteer to interview Banneker applicants for my Ivy. Until a couple years ago, I trooped there each February for over a decade to interview two or three students in their top 10 academically. Eventually, I got fed up with students telling me that their guidance counselors and teachers had advised that Banneker applicants don't need half a dozen APs scores of 4 or 5 to be admitted to elite colleges. No Banneker student I interviewed--and I must have talked to two dozen--was admitted to my alma mater. The problem is that the school operates in an affirmative action time warp. Banneker is clearly in dire need of modernization academically, socially and administratively, not in terms of the physical plant.

It’s a common IB talking point that “projected IB scores” are enough for admission to elite American colleges. DCI has a much whiter student body than Banneker, and is much newer (so could hardly be stuck in a time warp) but it gives its students the same questionable advice.

[Anonymous]

Bad advice just isn't in short supply in the college counseling offices of DC public high schools. Walls' counseling leaves almost as much to be desired as Banneker's. The best college counseling is done at BASIS, by a mile.

For everybody outside the BASIS orbit, counsel you're own kids if you can, asking friends and family who attended elite colleges to help, and/or hire an independent counselor if you can afford one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any thread about Banneker on DCUM "degenerates" into talking about race, DCPS priorities, and SAT scores because there's no sidestepping these matters for the strongest students and prospective students, regardless of race and SES.

I used to volunteer to interview Banneker applicants for my Ivy. Until a couple years ago, I trooped there each February for over a decade to interview two or three students in their top 10 academically. Eventually, I got fed up with students telling me that their guidance counselors and teachers had advised that Banneker applicants don't need half a dozen APs scores of 4 or 5 to be admitted to elite colleges. No Banneker student I interviewed--and I must have talked to two dozen--was admitted to my alma mater. The problem is that the school operates in an affirmative action time warp. Banneker is clearly in dire need of modernization academically, socially and administratively, not in terms of the physical plant.

It’s a common IB talking point that “projected IB scores” are enough for admission to elite American colleges. DCI has a much whiter student body than Banneker, and is much newer (so could hardly be stuck in a time warp) but it gives its students the same questionable advice.

I don't doubt your experience. But, mine has been different. My child will complete at least 5 AP courses at Banneker. The school takes them seriously. For example, he went to school on a recent Saturday to take a mock exam. He earned a 5 on the AP test he took sophomore year.

Let's face it. There are a too-small number of good public high schools in DC. Let's appreciate the ones we have.

[Anonymous]

^^ I quoted the wrong entry. I meant to quote the person who interviewed for their Alma mater

[Anonymous]

One can heartily appreciate Banneker and still see a pressing need for change. A HS that's 90% black, a little under 10% Latino, and around 1% white with embarrassing average SAT scores just isn't an elite magnet, test-in HS for 2022 in any US city.

Move beyond the affirmative action mindset for college admissions already, Banneker, if just because the Supreme Court is likely to next year.

[Anonymous]

When you advocate for change, but cite out-of-date demographic statistics in order to deny that the change you are advocating is already underway, it begins to look as if you are arguing in bad faith.

[Anonymous]

Which out-of-date stats? Banneker is now 2% white?

Whatever, the school is behind the times and needs to change.