Teacher recs for HS apps

[Anonymous]

Can you share if you have info about requirements for different schools?

McKinley Tech - requires one from 8th grade ELA and one from 8th grade math

Does anyone know what these look like? A form with rating scales? Letter format?

[Anonymous]

My understanding is that it's both--ratings followed by a brief narrative. Our MS teachers said they get literally 100+ requests for recommendations. If you submit early, you'll get more of their attention and a more thoughtful narrative. The students who don't submit until the deadline get much more perfunctory narratives because the teachers are overwhelmed.

Ordinarily lottery results aren't affected by when you submit, but for selective schools, the quality of the application can be affected.

Students should tell the teachers as soon as possible that they will be requesting recommendations from them.

Also interesting that McKinley is being more specific about who should be providing the recommendations. My kid had his 7th grade math teacher do his rec.

[Anonymous]

I was told that you can request this year’s or last year’s Math and English teacher. So, if you have a better relationship with last year’s teacher, that is an option.

[Anonymous]

I would have your kid request from the teacher next week. Hopefully that gives the ELA and math teachers time to write a thoughtful letter. If you wait too long, especially at schools like Deal or Hardy, the teachers will have too many late requests and just write generic letters (which I don’t blame them for at all)!

[Anonymous]

Ellington app says math teacher and counselor. Makes no sense for that school but it’s what we will do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ellington app says math teacher and counselor. Makes no sense for that school but it’s what we will do.

Counselor is for behavioral issues.

Math teacher is because it’s not that hard to determine in an interview whether a kid has a decent ELA score, but it is hard to gauge math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ellington app says math teacher and counselor. Makes no sense for that school but it’s what we will do.

Counselor is for behavioral issues.

Math teacher is because it’s not that hard to determine in an interview whether a kid has a decent ELA score, but it is hard to gauge math.

How can an interview tell you if a student can read or write well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ellington app says math teacher and counselor. Makes no sense for that school but it’s what we will do.

Counselor is for behavioral issues.

Math teacher is because it’s not that hard to determine in an interview whether a kid has a decent ELA score, but it is hard to gauge math.

Really makes no sense for Ellington. Then do three recs and allow one from a performing arts teacher or director or instructor.

[Anonymous]

They used to do three recs. Wonder why they dropped ELA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They used to do three recs. Wonder why they dropped ELA.

I think DCPS likes the schools to keep the application process relatively minimal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They used to do three recs. Wonder why they dropped ELA.

I think DCPS likes the schools to keep the application process relatively minimal.

Okay but why math for Ellington? ELA seems more relevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They used to do three recs. Wonder why they dropped ELA.

I think DCPS likes the schools to keep the application process relatively minimal.

Okay but why math for Ellington? ELA seems more relevant.

What’s relevant is the art, but Ellington evaluates that for itself based on audition/portfolio.

Math is relevant because Ellington is a high school. They’re not looking for top math students, and if your kid is an extraordinary talent they’ll presumably get in regardless, but the school is probably interested in confirming that most of the kids they admit have the academic wherewithal to graduate.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone provide info for SWW?