High schools for a good but not 4.0 student

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I actually think you have a lot of good options. Don't get too hung up on the "reputations" or "priorities" of the schools. Outside of Duke Ellington, I think they're far from universal once you get in the doors.

I'd visit and research:

MacArthur
Banneker
Sojourner Truth
McKinley
Latin (yeah, unlikely, but you never know)
EL Haynes

And I'd at least take a pass through the school lists for diamonds in the rough - Bard? Phelps? Digital Pioneers? Eastern?

Check 'em all out at EdFest, and plan to go to a bunch of open houses. I'm not sure how DCI works for a 9th grade entry, but maybe them too - I mean, it's lottery, clearly you don't need to be fluent. So it's at least worth stopping by at EdFest to chat with them and see what it's like for a new 9th grader without a strong language background.

I bet there are at least a few on that list that would work well for your kid. Rank in true order of preference and cross your fingers.

If you truly strike out (Either MacArthur and Truth don't clear their waitlists this year and you get a bad number, or they don't work for your kid for whatever reason) then I'd prob rent an apartment IB for JR. But honestly, don't listen to all the conventional wisdom of DCUM. I bet if you go in to a bunch of open houses with an open mind, you'll find some solid options for your kid. The high school lottery is way more forgiving than the middle school lottery. Where is she for middle school?

[Anonymous]

I'll also add that the McKinley ELA and social studies departments are very strong, with a range of electives beyond the standard track. There is a theater program and, as PP mentioned, yes there is a track for graphic design.

[Anonymous]

renting in bounds for a year is expensive, but less than private school or moving out of dc. Once you are in a school, you can stay through the terminal grade. Theoretically you could rent just for a couple of months, but I'd do it for a year so it feels legitimate and not scammy. I do think that matters. Plus it will be nice to be close to the school that first year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter loves school and does very well in English and most other classes, but is an average math student and I’m not sure will make the cut off for walls. Banneker seems like a good school, but it’s very academically minded and seems to put less emphasis on things like art which my kid loves. Duke seems to be way too focused on art (it’s a hobby for my kid), and McKinley is too stem focused. We’re looking at sojourner truth. Our in boundary won’t work.

Where do kids go in these situations? Private? Move?

Move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:renting in bounds for a year is expensive, but less than private school or moving out of dc. Once you are in a school, you can stay through the terminal grade. Theoretically you could rent just for a couple of months, but I'd do it for a year so it feels legitimate and not scammy. I do think that matters. Plus it will be nice to be close to the school that first year.

OP here - so it’s allowed to rent in NW for a few months, move back home, and stay at JR through the rest of high school? Is this policy written anywhere?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter loves school and does very well in English and most other classes, but is an average math student and I’m not sure will make the cut off for walls. Banneker seems like a good school, but it’s very academically minded and seems to put less emphasis on things like art which my kid loves. Duke seems to be way too focused on art (it’s a hobby for my kid), and McKinley is too stem focused. We’re looking at sojourner truth. Our in boundary won’t work.

Where do kids go in these situations? Private? Move?

Move.

Why? There's a lot of good opportunities like Banneker, Jackson reed and Macarthur! What middle school does your daughter go to OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:renting in bounds for a year is expensive, but less than private school or moving out of dc. Once you are in a school, you can stay through the terminal grade. Theoretically you could rent just for a couple of months, but I'd do it for a year so it feels legitimate and not scammy. I do think that matters. Plus it will be nice to be close to the school that first year.

OP here - so it’s allowed to rent in NW for a few months, move back home, and stay at JR through the rest of high school? Is this policy written anywhere?

No, you’d have to literally rent an apartment for 4 years. But not to live there so it can be small and simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:renting in bounds for a year is expensive, but less than private school or moving out of dc. Once you are in a school, you can stay through the terminal grade. Theoretically you could rent just for a couple of months, but I'd do it for a year so it feels legitimate and not scammy. I do think that matters. Plus it will be nice to be close to the school that first year.

OP here - so it’s allowed to rent in NW for a few months, move back home, and stay at JR through the rest of high school? Is this policy written anywhere?

No, you’d have to literally rent an apartment for 4 years. But not to live there so it can be small and simple.

Isn’t that still a form of residency fraud?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:renting in bounds for a year is expensive, but less than private school or moving out of dc. Once you are in a school, you can stay through the terminal grade. Theoretically you could rent just for a couple of months, but I'd do it for a year so it feels legitimate and not scammy. I do think that matters. Plus it will be nice to be close to the school that first year.

OP here - so it’s allowed to rent in NW for a few months, move back home, and stay at JR through the rest of high school? Is this policy written anywhere?

No, you’d have to literally rent an apartment for 4 years. But not to live there so it can be small and simple.

Isn’t that still a form of residency fraud?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Capital City had a nice arts program when I looked at them a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

Look at the absentee rates before deciding if a school would be acceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll also add that the McKinley ELA and social studies departments are very strong, with a range of electives beyond the standard track. There is a theater program and, as PP mentioned, yes there is a track for graphic design.

+1 to McKinley Tech. I think a lot of people underestimate how good this school really is.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t write off Walls. Lots of kids there are not 4.0 students, and the math there is not hard. I think a solid B+/A- student would do fine there. The most important aspect of the application is teacher recs, so if your DD has good relationships with their 8th grade math and ELA teachers, that will get them an interview at least. And there is a writing test, which should work in your DD’s favor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t write off Walls. Lots of kids there are not 4.0 students, and the math there is not hard. I think a solid B+/A- student would do fine there. The most important aspect of the application is teacher recs, so if your DD has good relationships with their 8th grade math and ELA teachers, that will get them an interview at least. And there is a writing test, which should work in your DD’s favor.

I was under the impression there is a grade cut off to even get an interview, and the cut off is close to a 4.0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:renting in bounds for a year is expensive, but less than private school or moving out of dc. Once you are in a school, you can stay through the terminal grade. Theoretically you could rent just for a couple of months, but I'd do it for a year so it feels legitimate and not scammy. I do think that matters. Plus it will be nice to be close to the school that first year.

OP here - so it’s allowed to rent in NW for a few months, move back home, and stay at JR through the rest of high school? Is this policy written anywhere?

No, you’d have to literally rent an apartment for 4 years. But not to live there so it can be small and simple.

You have this backwards. If you start at a school, you are allowed to continue to the terminal grade. So, theoretically, you can rent an apartment just for a year that is IB and then stay through the terminal grade. However, you do need to actually live there during the year for it to qualify as your residence under DC law.