Hardy parents - what are you doing for HS?

[Anonymous]

We’re considering Walls, MacArthur and private, but don’t really know what to do. We will attend open houses, but I’ve always found that open houses that don’t occur during school hours are worthless. I’m tempted to make an excuse to stop by MacArthur during the day to see what it’s like. I’ve heard the Apps are great, but that there are real behavioral problems. I want my DD to feel safe at school. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re considering Walls, MacArthur and private, but don’t really know what to do. We will attend open houses, but I’ve always found that open houses that don’t occur during school hours are worthless. I’m tempted to make an excuse to stop by MacArthur during the day to see what it’s like. I’ve heard the Apps are great, but that there are real behavioral problems. I want my DD to feel safe at school. Thoughts?

I'm on the same page as you but not considering private because it's expensive and we want to save our money for something else. I have friends whos kids go to MacArthur and they say it's a great school but I don't know if they are saying it just to say it or actually mean it. I've heard mixed things about walls and not sure I want dd to go there...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re considering Walls, MacArthur and private, but don’t really know what to do. We will attend open houses, but I’ve always found that open houses that don’t occur during school hours are worthless. I’m tempted to make an excuse to stop by MacArthur during the day to see what it’s like. I’ve heard the Apps are great, but that there are real behavioral problems. I want my DD to feel safe at school. Thoughts?

We are planning on MacArthur. DC is applying to Banneker and Walls, but even if matched I think we will still lean towards MacArthur. We have been impressed with the leadership and are excited about the school. Also the location works better for us than the others.

[Anonymous]

Banneker or MacArthur. We’ll probably also apply to Walls but think the teaching is better at Banneker (personal experience at one; friends’ children at both).

[Anonymous]

MacArthur. We will not apply to Walls or any magnet school. I went to magnet high school abroad and I don't want that for my kids.
Older child went to JR, which I never toured. He is in college now and doing very well.
No to privates also, because of the amount of homework and money.

[Anonymous]

MacArthur or Walls/Banneker. Kid's choice/what they get into. If MacArthur is a shit school and they do well (since all that seems to matter is socioeconomic status), they'll still get into a good college. If it is a good school and they learn, also a good outcome.

[Anonymous]

Walls or MacArthur but I am personally leaning towards MacArthur as the renovations will be complete soon and every year seems to be getting better with more offerings, sports, clubs, etc. The odds of getting into Walls are low and I’m not that impressed with what I heard or the campus but my kid will make the ultimate decision if they have a choice.

[Anonymous]

Our '25 Hardy graduate is now at Duke Ellington, which has exceeded our expectations by orders of magnitude. So much better than we were expecting -- not just in arts but in academics and community.

Hardy '27 kid is not an artsy type, though, and is still hoping for Walls. Older sibling did not get an interview despite 4.0 in 7th grade, so younger sibling has a more realistic perspective on lottery admissions than our family did last year. But Walls is still the goal, and if it falls through, choices are tougher. Banneker is wonderful but too far away. MacArthur is close but not alluring to our 7th grader. DESA not high on their list either due largely to sibling differences. JR, Latin, Basis lottery odds are worse than Walls, and everything else costs money, which depletes the college funds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our '25 Hardy graduate is now at Duke Ellington, which has exceeded our expectations by orders of magnitude. So much better than we were expecting -- not just in arts but in academics and community.

Hardy '27 kid is not an artsy type, though, and is still hoping for Walls. Older sibling did not get an interview despite 4.0 in 7th grade, so younger sibling has a more realistic perspective on lottery admissions than our family did last year. But Walls is still the goal, and if it falls through, choices are tougher. Banneker is wonderful but too far away. MacArthur is close but not alluring to our 7th grader. DESA not high on their list either due largely to sibling differences. JR, Latin, Basis lottery odds are worse than Walls, and everything else costs money, which depletes the college funds.

Good to know! I have read not great things about Duke academically on this board, but every actual Duke parent or student I've talked (not many but a handful) seems to think it's both academically solid and a great group of kids.

[Anonymous]

Duke and Banneker are very impressive from the inside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duke and Banneker are very impressive from the inside.

Really? That is not the impression I get from some people on the inside of Duke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke and Banneker are very impressive from the inside.

Really? That is not the impression I get from some people on the inside of Duke.

PP DESA parent here. I'm guessing you're not referring to the group of freshmen crushing it in Honors Algebra 2? Because I too am basing my impression on "some people on the inside," but we're probably using different samples. Fortunately the school contains multitudes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke and Banneker are very impressive from the inside.

Really? That is not the impression I get from some people on the inside of Duke.

40% of the school is below grade-level in reading. Math is even lower.

Well, it's an arts school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke and Banneker are very impressive from the inside.

Really? That is not the impression I get from some people on the inside of Duke.

40% of the school is below grade-level in reading. Math is even lower.

Well, it's an arts school.

One thing you'll realize is that it doesn't matter what the majority of any school is doing if you're in the cohort that is doing well. If there is a group of freshman "crushing it in Honors Algebra 2" then just make sure your kid gets into a group like that.

[Anonymous]

Is there an instagram account or something that shows where kids go after graduating from Duke Ellington?