DCI Robotics

[Anonymous]

If your kid is into STEM and/or robotics, consider putting DCI on your lottery list for middle school. I realize it is hard to get into if not from a feeder, but it’s not impossible. There are some spots and someone wins the lottery.

I was at the one of the 2 area FTC robotics qualifier yesterday. DCI robotics team came in 1st place out of 24 teams and they are advancing to regionals. They totally dominated the day, ranking 1st in every round and finished with about 30%, yes 30%, more points than the 2nd place team and those under that. Announcements were actually made about how the team was doing so well in general in a competition. It was amazing to see how fast, accurate, and precise their robot was in scoring points. The school has an amazing robotics club with tremendous teacher running it. They also have a strong math and science department also.

Lots of schools were there competing including Sidwell friends, Deal, Latin, and from the burbs with Bethesda, Mclean, etc…. It was great to see a DC public/charter school do well against private and suburban peers.

Lastly, I was talking to a parent there and the seniors are doing great with college admissions and she knew kids who will be going to Stanford (2), Dartmouth, Cornell, Columbia in the fall These were all different kids and not the same kid.

I’m not here to debate schools but if you have a STEM kid, you should consider DCI.

[Anonymous]

Far from the college application stage but these acceptances above are early decision (ED) I’m assuming because regular acceptances are not sent till later, correct?

[Anonymous]

Robotics is very 2010. AI is going to build all of the robots.

But seriously, that is a great success for those students.

[Anonymous]

Hey DCI booster parent. We all know DCI is a great place and I’m sure the Robotics program is top notch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey DCI booster parent. We all know DCI is a great place and I’m sure the Robotics program is top notch.

Stating facts is not boosting. I would argue that it is nice to see concrete accomplishments of any public or charter school in DC especially against other schools. We need more of this in this town.

I am also sure parents on here with kids who are interested in robotics and such area appreciate the info.

[Anonymous]

Isnt the curriculum at DCI known to be mediocre to easy?

[Anonymous]

The DCI curriculum framework is the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme for grades 6-10. For High School 11-12 students must choose between the IB Diploma Programme or the IB Career-Related Programme. There are strict requirements and assessments for both, and the Diploma Programme is considered more rigorous than AP classes. College credit is awarded for high scores on IB exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isnt the curriculum at DCI known to be mediocre to easy?

Please educate yourself. IB curriculum is much more writing intensive than your traditional curriculum. IB exams overall are more difficult than AP. exams. And you need to get good scores on all your IB exams to reach a minimum total to get the IB diploma. So some kids try and don’t get the diploma. In addition, you need to also do a mini-thesis. It is a whole curriculum requirement.

Contrast this to AP where you can take an hodgepodge of exams you want with no additive score requirements, no extensive written requirements, and no mini-thesis.

If you do really well and get the IB diploma, you absolutely stand out among the dime a dozen applicants with AP and IMO gives you an advantage.

[Anonymous]

My kids will never go to DCI, they are on a completely different path and are happy with another good school.

But DCI succcessfully meeting the needs of high-achieving kids is a good thing for our city. No need to disparage more high quality options even if your child goes elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids will never go to DCI, they are on a completely different path and are happy with another good school.

But DCI succcessfully meeting the needs of high-achieving kids is a good thing for our city. No need to disparage more high quality options even if your child goes elsewhere.

+1. Totally agree. We need more of these options. There is a huge need and demand in this town.

[Anonymous]

We met some of the DCI students through the Capitol City Robotics program last year (a terrific program, btw!). My son is in elementary school and most of the high schools counselors for the program were from DCI and were truly an impressive bunch. The head of capitol city robotics has spoken very highly of DCI's program.

DCI appears to have threaded a terrific needle by having very advanced programming for some kids while still providing strong support for kids who need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Robotics is very 2010. AI is going to build all of the robots.

But seriously, that is a great success for those students.

Yes robotics is about coding and kids get to learn how to code and do it well.

Yes robotics is about engineering (electrical, mechanical, etc,,) and building complex robots from scratch.

Yes, maybe AI will be able to do both in the next decade. But even so, you still need humans who know coding and engineering to modify and improve AI algorithms

But robotics is much more than that. It is about building critical thinking skills, multi-tasking, solving problems, working as a team, thinking on the run, mentoring, and working under pressure in a competition. Lots of these skills translate into the qualities it takes to succeed in life in general and also whatever field you specialize in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isnt the curriculum at DCI known to be mediocre to easy?

Lol get a life

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Robotics is very 2010. AI is going to build all of the robots.

But seriously, that is a great success for those students.

Yes robotics is about coding and kids get to learn how to code and do it well.

Yes robotics is about engineering (electrical, mechanical, etc,,) and building complex robots from scratch.

Yes, maybe AI will be able to do both in the next decade. But even so, you still need humans who know coding and engineering to modify and improve AI algorithms

But robotics is much more than that. It is about building critical thinking skills, multi-tasking, solving problems, working as a team, thinking on the run, mentoring, and working under pressure in a competition. Lots of these skills translate into the qualities it takes to succeed in life in general and also whatever field you specialize in.

Much like we still basic math to kids even though calculators can do it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids will never go to DCI, they are on a completely different path and are happy with another good school.

But DCI succcessfully meeting the needs of high-achieving kids is a good thing for our city. No need to disparage more high quality options even if your child goes elsewhere.

+1. Totally agree. We need more of these options. There is a huge need and demand in this town.

+2.