Thinking of sending my white child to Banneker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if you're obsessed about whether your kid is going to get bullied by the studious, high-achieving Banneker kids, as opposed to whether the Banneker model will be good fit for your particular kid ...you should probably just skip it.

My guess is that white families avoid Banneker because it's a de facto "black space" and it's unclear whether a white kid applying would be seen as intruding, instead of fears of bullying, etc... But I do think it's a large factor in continuing segregation of DCPS in general. Ignoring it isn't going to make it go away.

But 26% of the students there are not black, and that figure is likely to grow slightly in coming years just given demographic trends in DC--so I'm not sure your fears are well-founded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if you're obsessed about whether your kid is going to get bullied by the studious, high-achieving Banneker kids, as opposed to whether the Banneker model will be good fit for your particular kid ...you should probably just skip it.

My guess is that white families avoid Banneker because it's a de facto "black space" and it's unclear whether a white kid applying would be seen as intruding, instead of fears of bullying, etc... But I do think it's a large factor in continuing segregation of DCPS in general. Ignoring it isn't going to make it go away.

Ignoring what? White family's refusal to integrate?

There are a lot of reasons there are hardly any white students at Banneker. That strikes me as a lot more complex than the question why white (and other non-black, non-hispanic) kids are underrepresented in DCPS as a whole.

If that's your fear fine, but then don't go saying, "there are no challenges in DCPS, we just had to go private/MCPS/for our advanced learner!"

I'm curious who goes around saying that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if you're obsessed about whether your kid is going to get bullied by the studious, high-achieving Banneker kids, as opposed to whether the Banneker model will be good fit for your particular kid ...you should probably just skip it.

Yes! People, we're talking Banneker nerds here! You really think these kids are desperate to take out their frustrations on a white kid? I don't think so!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well there’s a difference between being stigmatized for an individual trait — fat, lazy, stupid, etc — and being stigmatized because you’re part of a racial or ethnic group, which is something you can’t escape no matter what you do.

Yes, there's a difference and I wouldn't say it's okay for a white kid to be mocked for being white. But the reality for many white children is that they belong to a powerful racial group that is widely accepted in society generally. It's not always easy to be in the numerical minority in a school but the fact is that white people work and live and shop in many places where they are seen as fitting in and "safe." A few insults will be uncomfortable even painful to a white kid in a majority minority school but it doesn't have the same kind of impact over all. ~mom of white kid who went to DCPS schools and survived. Also, I was called a "white bitch" two times in my majority black neighborhood. Not pleasant but not an issue given all the other white privilege I have.

In Chocolate City, for the last 50 years, it's the precise opposite. Substitute black for white and white for black and you will come closer to the truth.

Nope, I've lived here for 30 years. White privilege still reigns supreme overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Banneker is definitely on my list for my geeky (white) DS who does not like sports and loves doing homework! Maybe it will be easier for him to find a girlfriend there too

+1 It's the best high school in DC. Basic proficiency scores are much higher than for Wilson.

"Best" means different things for different people. Highest test scores, yes. Best social environment? Best well rounded students? Eh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not quite: Banneker is 1% white, so around 5 students. Also a small number of students who identify as Asian and multiple races, plus 20 percent Hispanic/Latino.

http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/Benjamin+Banneker+High+School

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
(2017-18)
Enrollment: 482

Black: 74%
Hispanic/Latino: 20%
White: 1%
Asian: 3%
Pacific/Hawaiian: 0%
Native/Alaskan: 0%
Multiple races: 2%

Being an "only" in any environment can be a slog, regardless of what kind of only you are. By the numbers, OP's kid would be the "only" in a class of about 120 per grade. That kid has to be very comfortable in this position - or such a nerd that they have no notice/care of this anyway

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Banneker is definitely on my list for my geeky (white) DS who does not like sports and loves doing homework! Maybe it will be easier for him to find a girlfriend there too

+1 It's the best high school in DC. Basic proficiency scores are much higher than for Wilson.

"Best" means different things for different people. Highest test scores, yes. Best social environment? Best well rounded students? Eh.

Banneker does not have the highest scores in DC, not even close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not quite: Banneker is 1% white, so around 5 students. Also a small number of students who identify as Asian and multiple races, plus 20 percent Hispanic/Latino.

http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/Benjamin+Banneker+High+School

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
(2017-18)
Enrollment: 482

Black: 74%
Hispanic/Latino: 20%
White: 1%
Asian: 3%
Pacific/Hawaiian: 0%
Native/Alaskan: 0%
Multiple races: 2%

Being an "only" in any environment can be a slog, regardless of what kind of only you are. By the numbers, OP's kid would be the "only" in a class of about 120 per grade. That kid has to be very comfortable in this position - or such a nerd that they have no notice/care of this anyway

This. I don’t know why everyone’s acting like it’s no big deal. Also +1 to poster above who said white parents may feel they’re intruding on black space (or if you must, POC space). In a city where everyone hates the gentrifiers wouldn’t they fear being seen as gentrifying Banneker? I know I think about this, unfortunately, in a lot of spaces in DC. Will I be welcome or seen as there goes the neighborhood? Don’t tell me you’ve never had that thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well there’s a difference between being stigmatized for an individual trait — fat, lazy, stupid, etc — and being stigmatized because you’re part of a racial or ethnic group, which is something you can’t escape no matter what you do.

Yes, there's a difference and I wouldn't say it's okay for a white kid to be mocked for being white. But the reality for many white children is that they belong to a powerful racial group that is widely accepted in society generally. It's not always easy to be in the numerical minority in a school but the fact is that white people work and live and shop in many places where they are seen as fitting in and "safe." A few insults will be uncomfortable even painful to a white kid in a majority minority school but it doesn't have the same kind of impact over all. ~mom of white kid who went to DCPS schools and survived. Also, I was called a "white bitch" two times in my majority black neighborhood. Not pleasant but not an issue given all the other white privilege I have.

In Chocolate City, for the last 50 years, it's the precise opposite. Substitute black for white and white for black and you will come closer to the truth.

Nope, I've lived here for 30 years. White privilege still reigns supreme overall.

Because you say so.

I prefer to look at facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Banneker is definitely on my list for my geeky (white) DS who does not like sports and loves doing homework! Maybe it will be easier for him to find a girlfriend there too

+1 It's the best high school in DC. Basic proficiency scores are much higher than for Wilson.

"Best" means different things for different people. Highest test scores, yes. Best social environment? Best well rounded students? Eh.

Banneker does not have the highest scores in DC, not even close.

Right, and wrong.
https://dcps.dc.gov/publication/dcps-data-set-sat

Second highest average SAT after Walls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not quite: Banneker is 1% white, so around 5 students. Also a small number of students who identify as Asian and multiple races, plus 20 percent Hispanic/Latino.

http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/Benjamin+Banneker+High+School

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
(2017-18)
Enrollment: 482

Black: 74%
Hispanic/Latino: 20%
White: 1%
Asian: 3%
Pacific/Hawaiian: 0%
Native/Alaskan: 0%
Multiple races: 2%

Being an "only" in any environment can be a slog, regardless of what kind of only you are. By the numbers, OP's kid would be the "only" in a class of about 120 per grade. That kid has to be very comfortable in this position - or such a nerd that they have no notice/care of this anyway

This. I don’t know why everyone’s acting like it’s no big deal. Also +1 to poster above who said white parents may feel they’re intruding on black space (or if you must, POC space). In a city where everyone hates the gentrifiers wouldn’t they fear being seen as gentrifying Banneker? I know I think about this, unfortunately, in a lot of spaces in DC. Will I be welcome or seen as there goes the neighborhood? Don’t tell me you’ve never had that thought.

That's the experience of every person of color in America in 99% of the spaces they occupy each day. Not fun is it? Only black friend. Only Asian employee. Only LatinX whatever. But yet we deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Banneker is definitely on my list for my geeky (white) DS who does not like sports and loves doing homework! Maybe it will be easier for him to find a girlfriend there too

+1 It's the best high school in DC. Basic proficiency scores are much higher than for Wilson.

"Best" means different things for different people. Highest test scores, yes. Best social environment? Best well rounded students? Eh.

Banneker does not have the highest scores in DC, not even close.

Right, and wrong.
https://dcps.dc.gov/publication/dcps-data-set-sat

Second highest average SAT after Walls.

Right and right.

Walls is a universe ahead.

Banneker is a faaar second, much closer to Wilson (which doesn't kick out boys like Banneker does) and to McKinley than to Walls.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you talk to the white and Asian kids at Banneker to see how they've fared? There are at least three white kids and two Asians graduating next week. They clearly weren't bullied to death or run out of the building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Banneker is definitely on my list for my geeky (white) DS who does not like sports and loves doing homework! Maybe it will be easier for him to find a girlfriend there too

+1 It's the best high school in DC. Basic proficiency scores are much higher than for Wilson.

"Best" means different things for different people. Highest test scores, yes. Best social environment? Best well rounded students? Eh.

Banneker does not have the highest scores in DC, not even close.

Right, and wrong.
https://dcps.dc.gov/publication/dcps-data-set-sat

Second highest average SAT after Walls.

Right and right.

Walls is a universe ahead.

Banneker is a faaar second, much closer to Wilson (which doesn't kick out boys like Banneker does) and to McKinley than to Walls.

Stop dissing Banneker, which is a fine school with a ton of great smart kids.

What percentage of the posts here are conservative trolls trying to get parents to argue?
10%? 50%?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Banneker is definitely on my list for my geeky (white) DS who does not like sports and loves doing homework! Maybe it will be easier for him to find a girlfriend there too

+1 It's the best high school in DC. Basic proficiency scores are much higher than for Wilson.

"Best" means different things for different people. Highest test scores, yes. Best social environment? Best well rounded students? Eh.

Banneker does not have the highest scores in DC, not even close.

Right, and wrong.
https://dcps.dc.gov/publication/dcps-data-set-sat

Second highest average SAT after Walls.

Right and right.

Walls is a universe ahead.

Banneker is a faaar second, much closer to Wilson (which doesn't kick out boys like Banneker does) and to McKinley than to Walls.

SAT average of 1272 at Walls vs 1109 at Banneker is not that great of a difference when you take the student body's SES into account. SAT scores are a reflection of parent education and wealth. A child of parents who attended college who are middle to upper middle class is going to score well on the SAT regardless of whether they go to SWW or Banneker.

People throw out the SAT thing as a fig leaf to hide their racism.