Forum Index
»
DC Public and Public Charter Schools
Recent Walls Admits from Private?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
Hello, I'm looking to get advice from parents of students recently admitted to Walls from private school.
My student is in 7th and plans to apply during 8th grade year for high school (2027-2028 school year freshman). I'm curious about tips, things you found out and figured out that you wished you would have known sooner. Any helpful anecdote that comes to mind is sincerely appreciated. (especially thoughts from those admitted this year and last year). Those parents of students admitted prior, any regrets or encouraging thoughts on your students' experience as they are ending at Walls and headed to college? I have reviewed the website in terms of DC Lottery, open houses, admission criteria, etc. I have a few questions.[b] What can you share about the essay? Is the essay in person and timed? (elsewhere online this was implied but not stated on the website) Any other testing? I assume along with transcripts and recommendation letters, the private schools send ERBs since we don't do CAPE. Do they review all of 7th and 8th ERBs? If your student has a testing accommodation with the private school when applying was that verification enough for any in-person timed testing? My student does not (yet) have a 504. I understand from the SWW website that it says that after admissions those documents will be accepted. My student and I have started talking about the admissions process and the interview piece, including how competitive admissions is, even with the grades and all the other strengths. I would like to be confident, realistic, and flexible. No matter what, my student has options. I have heard many students check all the boxes and don't get an offer. With that in mind, my student really appreciates planning ahead anyway. What information can you share about the TOUR DAY for admitted students, especially this year's tour day? (My student has hosted shadow students at their school and thinks they will get one for Walls. I said probably not.) I'm also speaking with my student's care team regarding the plan for testing if 504 accommodation is deemed medically appropriate to have those items in line. I will add that having taught at GW as an adjunct professor, that's how I heard about Walls (before kids!) It's an option I have always followed and had interest in, but of course, wanted to wait to see their developments, needs, fit etc. Through the years, I have seen bright students get into Walls and choose their local public. I have seen bright students enter from private and from public. Asking them directly, nobody regrets accepting Walls from private or rejecting Walls for inbound public. My mindset is about being prepared and supporting my student going through the experience. My student has friends in sports who attend Walls and has a good amount of anecdotal feedback. I will help with speaking with students who attend our local public HS as well. Greatly appreciate any support you can provide to a stranger on the internet! |
Anonymous
|
Walls doesn't involve any standardized testing results.
Your private school counselor will be able to help you. Kids apply & get in from private school every year. |
Anonymous
| Bruh, if you can afford private. Stay there. |
Anonymous
|
Pay attention to when letters of recommendation are due. You will need a letter from your kid's 8th grade math and ELA teachers.
The essay is in person, and I think it's timed but not tightly. The interviews this year were one teacher and one student (short, separate parent interview after the kid interviews). You do not choose your interview day or time slot, so keep those two days open Walls does not do shadow days. There are open houses for prospective students and tours for admitted students. The kids at the Walls open house and interviews days were incredibly friendly and helpful. Submit your application on MySchoolDC as early as possible, so that you get all the emails. Read carefully for event details -- because of numbers, most require advance registration. |
Anonymous
| Oh, to add, my kid applied and was accepted this year, and the process overall was pretty easy. It's a bit chaotic, because it's a ton of applicants and all, but we found it straightforward and my kid had a good experience. |
Anonymous
I agree with this. The offerings at walls aren’t great and continue to diminish. |
Anonymous
| On EdScape you can see that the number coming in from anywhere other than a DC public school was a total of 15. So that's everyone from private, homeschooling, and anything out of state. |
Anonymous
Very telling. |
Anonymous
|
It was 22 the year before
|
Anonymous
Telling of what? You need to know how many people applied from private for the number enrolled to mean anything. |
Anonymous
It certainly shows very few private school children applied. Or maybe the admission is biased towards dcps? The Walls from years ago is not the same as the Walls of today. I know some kids who chose Basis, for example, over private because that’s exactly what they were looking for. But there is nothing unique or standout for walls presently. You’re better off private or in a charter that has some unique characteristic that works for your kid. Also since they did away with test scores and grades are such a small part of how they choose students (sad given the grade inflation of dcps middle schools), I don’t want my well prepared kid in a classroom with remedial students. But that’s just my personal opinion. Walls might be a step up for some. This is not the case for those with options. |
Anonymous
Well, from my kids private school at least 15 applied and only one got in. I don’t know all of the kids well but the ones I know are smart kids, several of whom also applied to and were accepted at multiple top privates. |
Anonymous
| The biggest Walls feeders are Deal and Hardy. It's not like it's a school for kids with no other options. |
Anonymous
Walls has something like a 10 percent admit rate. Lots of smart kids who also get into private schools apply; many qualified kids don't get in because there aren't enough spots. So 15 kids applying and 1 getting in isn't crazy. |
Anonymous
+@. Heard they are cutting electives and some courses. |