Recommendations for Parent of Black Son With 99th Percentile Test Scores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm moving to the DC area from Chicago, and my black son has a 99th percentile ISEE score and straight-A's. He's very advanced in math and has already completed pre-calculus in 7th grade and is bilingual. I'm not trying to brag, but I want some recommendations for schools that are black-friendly but can also accommodate an advanced student.

Also, would public schools be fine? We are zoned for Jackson-Reed High School in our next home. Is that a good option for advanced black students? Our previous public school was a nightmare, because he was bullied by the other black kids for being too nerdy.

Why does his race matter?

There is something called racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want him to be around other black males, I would do Landon or Bullis or if you want Catholic Damatha or St. John’s.

I’d avoid the all boy Catholic schools, except Damatha.

All the other schools mentioned so far are <5% black students.

Archbishop Carroll High School has a lot of black boys and it isn’t sports focused

[Anonymous]

If you’re definitely looking for private AND for next year, which means applying late, I’d apply to a LOT of schools and then start asking hard questions after acceptance. I feel like most schools talk to talk on acceleration, but then when it’s time to put a schedule together things get wishy washy.

I’d actually recommend not drilling down too much in the application process because 1. You’ll get meaningless empty promises and 2. If you push too hard and seem high maintenance that will hurt your odds of admission. Once you’re admitted, then you can work on getting the details of what they can provide for actual class options for next year (in writing, from the head of the math department and upper school). Also, you’d obviously want a plan going forward for a kid taking calculus freshman year as to how they’ll manage 10th-12th. Most schools only have 1 year past BC calc available on campus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm moving to the DC area from Chicago, and my black son has a 99th percentile ISEE score and straight-A's. He's very advanced in math and has already completed pre-calculus in 7th grade and is bilingual. I'm not trying to brag, but I want some recommendations for schools that are black-friendly but can also accommodate an advanced student.

Also, would public schools be fine? We are zoned for Jackson-Reed High School in our next home. Is that a good option for advanced black students? Our previous public school was a nightmare, because he was bullied by the other black kids for being too nerdy.

Since he is bilingual, check out Washington International School. It is an immersion IB school with an opportunity for a bilingual diploma too.

Otherwise I’d recommend Sidwell, GDS, and Maret. If there is any interest in all-boys then St. Albans.

We are a Black family with boys that toured this past fall and were impressed with the aforementioned schools. Good luck!

Maret?!?! Are you kidding?

Parent of a black recent hs grad. I wouldn't recommend Maret for any black boy who isn't into sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both Sidwell and GDS are diverse and also have a good number of black students. Your child will not be the only 99ile black student.

A word of caution, however—privates will try to work with you, but they typically don’t let kids accelerate over one or two years, especially in math. They do have enrichment and theoretical classes, but I think they are trying to prevent a “race” for higher level math. There are lots of kids in geometry and algebra 2 who have taken coursework in another school or in a separate class. So if your son really wants and needs acceleration, you will have to go outside the school.


If your child is mature, consider NE boarding schools in high school where there are a lot of advanced kids with lots of different interests. Your son will not be the only one and will have a small cohort.

I think GDS is more flexible on this than Sidwell. They offer more high level courses beyond Calc and a wider variety of math courses, in general.

Parent of a Black son who very recently graduated from GDS (I also just posted a note of caution about Maret if your son is not into sports). Definitely no school is perfect, but we were very happy with his hs experience. He was challenged in both the subjects where he excelled, and in the subjects where he maybe wasn't naturally adept. But more importantly, the overall culture and vibe of the school is kind, collaborative, and supportive. He had a wonderful peer group, and also had a lot of encouragement and guidance from teachers and staff. It was four years of tremendous growth academically, socially, and emotionally. And he is now in a top college and doing well. I know that different schools can be best fits for different kids, but did want to share our experience with GDS because we as a family were where you are now six years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both Sidwell and GDS are diverse and also have a good number of black students. Your child will not be the only 99ile black student.

A word of caution, however—privates will try to work with you, but they typically don’t let kids accelerate over one or two years, especially in math. They do have enrichment and theoretical classes, but I think they are trying to prevent a “race” for higher level math. There are lots of kids in geometry and algebra 2 who have taken coursework in another school or in a separate class. So if your son really wants and needs acceleration, you will have to go outside the school.


If your child is mature, consider NE boarding schools in high school where there are a lot of advanced kids with lots of different interests. Your son will not be the only one and will have a small cohort.

I think GDS is more flexible on this than Sidwell. They offer more high level courses beyond Calc and a wider variety of math courses, in general.

Parent of a Black son who very recently graduated from GDS (I also just posted a note of caution about Maret if your son is not into sports). Definitely no school is perfect, but we were very happy with his hs experience. He was challenged in both the subjects where he excelled, and in the subjects where he maybe wasn't naturally adept. But more importantly, the overall culture and vibe of the school is kind, collaborative, and supportive. He had a wonderful peer group, and also had a lot of encouragement and guidance from teachers and staff. It was four years of tremendous growth academically, socially, and emotionally. And he is now in a top college and doing well. I know that different schools can be best fits for different kids, but did want to share our experience with GDS because we as a family were where you are now six years ago.

On courses, if you google GDS Course of Study, you can get the course catalogue for this school year.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand what's so difficult about academically accommodating a student like OP's - just let them take calc BC and dual enroll for math after that.

E.g. school without walls does it, and they're operating within the constraints of being a DCPS school

https://nondegree.gwu.edu/school-without-walls

Also, OP, check out summer math programs like https://www.mathpath.org/ and https://www.mathmountains.org/ - they're a great way for your son to meet like minded peers, and for you to meet parents of kids like him.

You can also check out the AoPS books for enrichment; they're much more challenging than anything else out there.

For example, here are some samples from AoPS precalculus:

https://i.imgur.com/znYloVj.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/NwvmqTv.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/zS4GqPL.jpeg

Compared to the same topic from TJHSST, a top magnet school with a rigorous math program:

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=9B3FCA6FFAE0933B%213434&authkey=%21AB6EG-ZEnPtkz0Y&page=View&wd=target%28Unit%205-%20Polar%20Coordinates%20and%20Functions.one%7C1a3e2cd3-3275-48bc-9100-4f1fcdb65aa6%2FPd.%206%20DeMoivre%27s%20Powers%20Theorem%7C5c4f2deb-4f22-6b47-9797-cee590c3158b%2F%29&wdorigin=NavigationUrl

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you might have to decide which is the priority - diversity, the experience/environment of being in private, or maintaining the extreme math acceleration. It feels like this is a “pick two of three” situation.

What choices would give the first two?

[Anonymous]

OP, send him to Sidwell.

You're welcome. 🙂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

As others have said, avoid STA at all costs. It is not a healthy place for students of color. The school only recently allowed black students to form a BSU. This was also when the school permitted a white student group to form.

This is both blatantly false and lacks context. STA had no affinity groups until recent years. When they changed that policy, there was immediately a BSU. Your characterization is misleading and inflammatory by suggesting racism as the reason for no BSU.

Is there currently an affinity group for white students?

Yes, every other non-affinity group.

We know that, but sounds like a poster was claiming there was a "whites only” affinity group at STA earlier in this thread.

It’s not a “claim,” it’s a fact. There is a "whites only” affinity group at STA.

Is this true? I thought all affinity groups allowed anyone to join that was interested? Does it actually say "whites only?" Honestly the STA parent community has become more and more conservative each year or maybe it is just a small very vocal influential group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

As others have said, avoid STA at all costs. It is not a healthy place for students of color. The school only recently allowed black students to form a BSU. This was also when the school permitted a white student group to form.

This is both blatantly false and lacks context. STA had no affinity groups until recent years. When they changed that policy, there was immediately a BSU. Your characterization is misleading and inflammatory by suggesting racism as the reason for no BSU.

Is there currently an affinity group for white students?

Yes, every other non-affinity group.

We know that, but sounds like a poster was claiming there was a "whites only” affinity group at STA earlier in this thread.

It’s not a “claim,” it’s a fact. There is a "whites only” affinity group at STA.

Is this true? I thought all affinity groups allowed anyone to join that was interested? Does it actually say "whites only?" Honestly the STA parent community has become more and more conservative each year or maybe it is just a small very vocal influential group.

It always was conservative.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell, Thomas Jefferson or GDS. periodt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm moving to the DC area from Chicago, and my black son has a 99th percentile ISEE score and straight-A's. He's very advanced in math and has already completed pre-calculus in 7th grade and is bilingual. I'm not trying to brag, but I want some recommendations for schools that are black-friendly but can also accommodate an advanced student.

Also, would public schools be fine? We are zoned for Jackson-Reed High School in our next home. Is that a good option for advanced black students? Our previous public school was a nightmare, because he was bullied by the other black kids for being too nerdy.

Why does his race matter?

There is something called racism.

There is also something called classism but I'm not letting either stop me from pursuing the best for my smart brown MC children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:black friendly? What do you mean op?

Do you think the ultra liberal dc area schools, from rich to poor, are not black friendly?

As white parents of black kids who are forced to struggle daily with people thinking that “ultra liberal” schools are going to be smooth sailing — may I respectfully suggest that you STFU.

My popular, bright, and well regarded kids are STILL called the N-word as other students attempt to push the envelope or at least argue the edges of it.

You — with the sarcastic and childish retort — are precisely the problem.

Here’s an idea, how about you BECOME the change -you- think is already in this world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm moving to the DC area from Chicago, and my black son has a 99th percentile ISEE score and straight-A's. He's very advanced in math and has already completed pre-calculus in 7th grade and is bilingual. I'm not trying to brag, but I want some recommendations for schools that are black-friendly but can also accommodate an advanced student.

Also, would public schools be fine? We are zoned for Jackson-Reed High School in our next home. Is that a good option for advanced black students? Our previous public school was a nightmare, because he was bullied by the other black kids for being too nerdy.

Why does his race matter?

There is something called racism.

There is also something called classism but I'm not letting either stop me from pursuing the best for my smart brown MC children.

Good for you. Raise your children how you like. OP just wants to minimize the impact anti-black racism will have on their son’s education. Why can’t you respect that?