McKinley Tech and Banneker - why don't more white students attend?

[Anonymous]

Cohort problems and confidence in DCPS. Nobody wants to be an only. That chicken and egg problem has started to be solved at lower grades, which will advance to secondary schools over time. There is more confidence in DC, in DCPS, and that things will get better over time.

There may not be whites at Banneker today, but it will just be a matter of time.

[Anonymous]

Being an only isn't so bad... as long as the cohort you're joining don't use that to paint a target on your back. My child has had great experiences as an "only," and catastrophic ones. When it's positive, you'd be surprised at how little time it takes to be a non-issue. When it's negative, it can get really ugly pretty damn fast.

[Anonymous]

White family in-bounds for Dunbar and would definitely consider McKinley or Banneker, but my oldest is only in K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:White family in-bounds for Dunbar and would definitely consider McKinley or Banneker, but my oldest is only in K.

+1. As the Eckington/Bloomingdale toddler tsunami grows up, I'm sure McKinley will grow in popularity. That's a lot more likely than Dunbar working out for us, anyway.

[Anonymous]

yes, I agree that McKinley is attractive. We are awaiting word five family in Brookland. My kids are in elementary and are very interested in engineering.

[Anonymous]

I love the idea of McKinley for DS7 and 9. Yes there is a high minority, immigrant, and low-income population-- so much the better. Getting schooled by those kids is exactly what my coddled yuppie offspring need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White family in-bounds for Dunbar and would definitely consider McKinley or Banneker, but my oldest is only in K.

+1. As the Eckington/Bloomingdale toddler tsunami grows up, I'm sure McKinley will grow in popularity. That's a lot more likely than Dunbar working out for us, anyway.

That "tsunami" is in a much broader area than Eckington/Bloomingdale, especially considering that HS kids can travel on their own. I'd be shocked if both schools didn't have notable numbers from Brookland, Petworth, etc. in 5-10 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White family in-bounds for Dunbar and would definitely consider McKinley or Banneker, but my oldest is only in K.

+1. As the Eckington/Bloomingdale toddler tsunami grows up, I'm sure McKinley will grow in popularity. That's a lot more likely than Dunbar working out for us, anyway.

That "tsunami" is in a much broader area than Eckington/Bloomingdale, especially considering that HS kids can travel on their own. I'd be shocked if both schools didn't have notable numbers from Brookland, Petworth, etc. in 5-10 years.

+1. As gentrification creeps East, McKinley's location becomes less and less of a problem. Remember folks, the Noma metro stop didn't exist until a few years ago. Without it, getting to McKinley would have been an ordeal for much of the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Remember folks, the Noma metro stop didn't exist until a few years ago. Without it, getting to McKinley would have been an ordeal for much of the city.

It wasn't called NoMa but it opened in 2004. Time flies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Remember folks, the Noma metro stop didn't exist until a few years ago. Without it, getting to McKinley would have been an ordeal for much of the city.

It wasn't called NoMa but it opened in 2004. Time flies

Crap. I am old.

[Anonymous]

They may be application schools but I don't think they have impressive AP pass rates, graduation rates, etc for "application" schools. The standards in DC are so low sometimes, just because you pass a test doesnt mean anything. I have seen a lot of DCPS graduates in my office as interns and many are functionally illiterate but UDC can't wait to take their loan money for tuition. Its such a racket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They may be application schools but I don't think they have impressive AP pass rates, graduation rates, etc for "application" schools. The standards in DC are so low sometimes, just because you pass a test doesnt mean anything. I have seen a lot of DCPS graduates in my office as interns and many are functionally illiterate but UDC can't wait to take their loan money for tuition. Its such a racket.

+1. They are surprisingly low.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if this is an anomaly or not, but my upper 16th St. area neighbors send one of their kids to McKinley. They are AA but upper middle class and zoned for Deal/Wilson.

My oldest is 4, so I don't really have my finger on the pulse of high school stuff. Anyone know whether McKinley's student body is primarily low SES, or whether there's a significant middle-class contingent attending currently?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if this is an anomaly or not, but my upper 16th St. area neighbors send one of their kids to McKinley. They are AA but upper middle class and zoned for Deal/Wilson.

My oldest is 4, so I don't really have my finger on the pulse of high school stuff. Anyone know whether McKinley's student body is primarily low SES, or whether there's a significant middle-class contingent attending currently?

http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/McKinley+Technology+High+School

59% free lunch eligible. So there seems to be a lot of students who don't qualify for free lunch.

Comparing last year's CAS scores with Wilson, just for fun, Wilson has more kids rated Advanced, but also more at Basic and Below Basic. McKinley has fewer students rated Advanced, but also much fewer at Basic/Below Basic and a really solid Proficient block. Underlying demographic/geographic trends favoring McKinley, I think it's fair to say it'll be an increasingly attractive option in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cohort problems and confidence in DCPS. Nobody wants to be an only. That chicken and egg problem has started to be solved at lower grades, which will advance to secondary schools over time. There is more confidence in DC, in DCPS, and that things will get better over time.

There may not be whites at Banneker today, but it will just be a matter of time.

Not at all convinced. The school has very strong traditions rooted in AA identity/achievement, with support from Howard Univ.