DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That advanced math is an impoverished experience in high school? Not sure I understand that. Some people love math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That advanced math is an impoverished experience in high school? Not sure I understand that. Some people love math.

+1. Also not very few kids take it. I’m the one whose friend’s kid is at Langley. They have enough kids take it to offer 3 different post Calculus classes so lots of kids take it.

You offer the classes and the families and kids will come. You don’t and they won’t. And that is why Walls is weak in math because why would a family with a STEM kid go there? Oh to take history and public speaking instead of advance math. What a joke. Try convincing a high schooler that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That advanced math is an impoverished experience in high school? Not sure I understand that. Some people love math.

Most 17 year olds placed in a proper proof based calculus course at a college level will get an F. It requires a level of maturity the vast majority of kids- even kids with very high math aptitude- simply do not have. The accelerated timelines of high school semesters would make it worse. Love if math has nothing to do with it, being children- even exceptional children on the relative right tail of the distribution- does.

I’m very serious. Of the 19 who started in my multivariate class freshman year at a top school 6 finished (and they were mostly sophomore and junior prospective math majors). These were typical numbers. The numbers in engineering were a little better, and their Diffeq was far more merciful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That advanced math is an impoverished experience in high school? Not sure I understand that. Some people love math.

I love math and I would have hated taking the same course in high school and then again in college. Sounds like a race to nowhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That advanced math is an impoverished experience in high school? Not sure I understand that. Some people love math.

I love math and I would have hated taking the same course in high school and then again in college. Sounds like a race to nowhere.

So you would rather struggle not ever seeing the material while the other kids have it easy due to having some exposure……

It’s not a race to nowhere when you have a kid who loves math and wants and can do the math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That advanced math is an impoverished experience in high school? Not sure I understand that. Some people love math.

I love math and I would have hated taking the same course in high school and then again in college. Sounds like a race to nowhere.

So you would rather struggle not ever seeing the material while the other kids have it easy due to having some exposure……

It’s not a race to nowhere when you have a kid who loves math and wants and can do the math.

dp - If the student is talented at math, they are going to do well in college even if they haven't pre-taken the class. Here's a question: how many high schools can actually teach high-level math well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That advanced math is an impoverished experience in high school? Not sure I understand that. Some people love math.

I love math and I would have hated taking the same course in high school and then again in college. Sounds like a race to nowhere.

So you would rather struggle not ever seeing the material while the other kids have it easy due to having some exposure……

It’s not a race to nowhere when you have a kid who loves math and wants and can do the math.

dp - If the student is talented at math, they are going to do well in college even if they haven't pre-taken the class. Here's a question: how many high schools can actually teach high-level math well?

Well I know a kid in DMV who took a few post Calculus courses at his high school including Linear Algebra.

Freshman engineering major at a very well known school and getting all A’s including an A in Linear Algebra. It absolutely helped him to do well in his college math class and STEM classes with all the advance math he took.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That advanced math is an impoverished experience in high school? Not sure I understand that. Some people love math.

I love math and I would have hated taking the same course in high school and then again in college. Sounds like a race to nowhere.

So you would rather struggle not ever seeing the material while the other kids have it easy due to having some exposure……

It’s not a race to nowhere when you have a kid who loves math and wants and can do the math.

Why would a kid who loves and is capable at math struggle with a college course?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Because it’s not DCPS’s “crown jewel.” That’s Banneker. As someone else noted, Walls is just popular with the Ward 3 crowd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Because it’s not DCPS’s “crown jewel.” That’s Banneker. As someone else noted, Walls is just popular with the Ward 3 crowd.

And that’s because a lot of Ward 3 doesn’t want to make the commute to Banneker. If you put Banneker in Ward 3, it would be a whole other story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That advanced math is an impoverished experience in high school? Not sure I understand that. Some people love math.

+1. Also not very few kids take it. I’m the one whose friend’s kid is at Langley. They have enough kids take it to offer 3 different post Calculus classes so lots of kids take it.

You offer the classes and the families and kids will come. You don’t and they won’t. And that is why Walls is weak in math because why would a family with a STEM kid go there? Oh to take history and public speaking instead of advance math. What a joke. Try convincing a high schooler that.

Many high schoolers who are interested in humanities want to go to Walls. And SWW describes itself as a humanities oriented high school. There is already a huge demand for limited seats. The narrative should whether Walls is strong enough in ELA. Nevertheless, many students are also interested in science major and can pursue that through Walls- including my DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That advanced math is an impoverished experience in high school? Not sure I understand that. Some people love math.

I love math and I would have hated taking the same course in high school and then again in college. Sounds like a race to nowhere.

So you would rather struggle not ever seeing the material while the other kids have it easy due to having some exposure……

It’s not a race to nowhere when you have a kid who loves math and wants and can do the math.

dp - If the student is talented at math, they are going to do well in college even if they haven't pre-taken the class. Here's a question: how many high schools can actually teach high-level math well?

Well I know a kid in DMV who took a few post Calculus courses at his high school including Linear Algebra.

Freshman engineering major at a very well known school and getting all A’s including an A in Linear Algebra. It absolutely helped him to do well in his college math class and STEM classes with all the advance math he took.

This is the basis for your views? Huh.

Look, Walls should have more advanced science and math offerings.

AND Walls is a solid high school education for a smart, motivated STEM kid.

Both these things can be true.

A high school student doesn't need to pre-take tons of college courses to succeed in college.

Meanwhile, there are not meaningfully better options for a comprehensive high school education for a STEM kid in DC -- public, charter, or private. Possibly J-R, but it has some real off-setting downsides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That advanced math is an impoverished experience in high school? Not sure I understand that. Some people love math.

I love math and I would have hated taking the same course in high school and then again in college. Sounds like a race to nowhere.

So you would rather struggle not ever seeing the material while the other kids have it easy due to having some exposure……

It’s not a race to nowhere when you have a kid who loves math and wants and can do the math.

dp - If the student is talented at math, they are going to do well in college even if they haven't pre-taken the class. Here's a question: how many high schools can actually teach high-level math well?

Well I know a kid in DMV who took a few post Calculus courses at his high school including Linear Algebra.

Freshman engineering major at a very well known school and getting all A’s including an A in Linear Algebra. It absolutely helped him to do well in his college math class and STEM classes with all the advance math he took.

This is the basis for your views? Huh.

Look, Walls should have more advanced science and math offerings.

AND Walls is a solid high school education for a smart, motivated STEM kid.

Both these things can be true.

A high school student doesn't need to pre-take tons of college courses to succeed in college.

Meanwhile, there are not meaningfully better options for a comprehensive high school education for a STEM kid in DC -- public, charter, or private. Possibly J-R, but it has some real off-setting downsides.

Nope. There are better and stronger programs and better options for kids in DC and that is DCI and Basis.

DCPS will just continue to bleed the best STEM students and the families here in denial about the lack of strong STEM programming at the middle and high school are just in denial.

Until we can acknowledge the weaknesses in the system, charters will just continue to gain more traction and DCPS will continue to lose its best students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That advanced math is an impoverished experience in high school? Not sure I understand that. Some people love math.

I love math and I would have hated taking the same course in high school and then again in college. Sounds like a race to nowhere.

So you would rather struggle not ever seeing the material while the other kids have it easy due to having some exposure……

It’s not a race to nowhere when you have a kid who loves math and wants and can do the math.

dp - If the student is talented at math, they are going to do well in college even if they haven't pre-taken the class. Here's a question: how many high schools can actually teach high-level math well?

Well I know a kid in DMV who took a few post Calculus courses at his high school including Linear Algebra.

Freshman engineering major at a very well known school and getting all A’s including an A in Linear Algebra. It absolutely helped him to do well in his college math class and STEM classes with all the advance math he took.

This is the basis for your views? Huh.

Look, Walls should have more advanced science and math offerings.

AND Walls is a solid high school education for a smart, motivated STEM kid.

Both these things can be true.

A high school student doesn't need to pre-take tons of college courses to succeed in college.

Meanwhile, there are not meaningfully better options for a comprehensive high school education for a STEM kid in DC -- public, charter, or private. Possibly J-R, but it has some real off-setting downsides.

JR is not retaining a lot of STEM kids. There is maybe 10 kids in the most advanced math track I hear. That is it. For a school that big in the most wealthy boundary you should have a ton more.

Guess what similarities they have with Walls? No courses offered past Calculus at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That advanced math is an impoverished experience in high school? Not sure I understand that. Some people love math.

I love math and I would have hated taking the same course in high school and then again in college. Sounds like a race to nowhere.

So you would rather struggle not ever seeing the material while the other kids have it easy due to having some exposure……

It’s not a race to nowhere when you have a kid who loves math and wants and can do the math.

dp - If the student is talented at math, they are going to do well in college even if they haven't pre-taken the class. Here's a question: how many high schools can actually teach high-level math well?

Well I know a kid in DMV who took a few post Calculus courses at his high school including Linear Algebra.

Freshman engineering major at a very well known school and getting all A’s including an A in Linear Algebra. It absolutely helped him to do well in his college math class and STEM classes with all the advance math he took.

This is the basis for your views? Huh.

Look, Walls should have more advanced science and math offerings.

AND Walls is a solid high school education for a smart, motivated STEM kid.

Both these things can be true.

A high school student doesn't need to pre-take tons of college courses to succeed in college.

Meanwhile, there are not meaningfully better options for a comprehensive high school education for a STEM kid in DC -- public, charter, or private. Possibly J-R, but it has some real off-setting downsides.

Nope. There are better and stronger programs and better options for kids in DC and that is DCI and Basis.

DCPS will just continue to bleed the best STEM students and the families here in denial about the lack of strong STEM programming at the middle and high school are just in denial.

Until we can acknowledge the weaknesses in the system, charters will just continue to gain more traction and DCPS will continue to lose its best students.

DCI and Basis may have stronger STEM offerings. That alone doesn't make them a stronger choice for high school, even for a STEM kid.