SWW open house

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a pseudo-gifted magnet school, not a regular charter-kids should be accepted based on aptitude and achievement/drive. It is also a school where one needs to be self-motivated, organized and responsible academically. The best way to determine that is the entrance exam, PARCC scores, and grades and interviews. Basing it on lottery numbers will get you students whose parents want them there but are not up for it.

You aren't understanding my suggestion. Right now they take kids with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in 'core classes' + test scores to create an interview pool. And pick from there based on ??? No teacher recommendations, no PARCC scores.

I'm suggesting that they use objective, academic achievement criteria to create the qualified applicant pool and then choose from within that group by lottery. There's no way that their family interviews are separating kids with the desire and interest from the rest. It's done as a cover to keep racial and ethnic balances in place.

+1 Potemkin school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a pseudo-gifted magnet school, not a regular charter-kids should be accepted based on aptitude and achievement/drive. It is also a school where one needs to be self-motivated, organized and responsible academically. The best way to determine that is the entrance exam, PARCC scores, and grades and interviews. Basing it on lottery numbers will get you students whose parents want them there but are not up for it.

You aren't understanding my suggestion. Right now they take kids with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in 'core classes' + test scores to create an interview pool. And pick from there based on ??? No teacher recommendations, no PARCC scores.

I'm suggesting that they use objective, academic achievement criteria to create the qualified applicant pool and then choose from within that group by lottery. There's no way that their family interviews are separating kids with the desire and interest from the rest. It's done as a cover to keep racial and ethnic balances in place.

As I understand it, the admissions test score and interview are both used to determine who is offered admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was back to the school after 5 years. Much different ethnic mix of interested families than 5 years ago. More than 50% white. Used to be 20% or less. The school selection process is murky. I am sure they do take into account racial/ethnic balance.

Agree. The numbers are just too perfect. No other real reason for a family interview.

Black 36%, white 38% .

All other things constant, based on what we saw today, a white student has lower chances of being accepted at SWW if the mix had to stay the same.

Based on what people know of highly qualified (actually near perfect) candidates who don't get in, this is not news.

Sorry, but I don't buy this. Our (white) kid is smart, but does as little work as he can get away with and spends most of his time playing sports. He did well on the test (if you call, they will tell you where your kid's score ranked) and didn't bomb the interview (but also didn't claim that he was dying to go there because he wasn't) and was offered admission. I seriously doubt many "near perfect" candidates were socially engineered out of the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a pseudo-gifted magnet school, not a regular charter-kids should be accepted based on aptitude and achievement/drive. It is also a school where one needs to be self-motivated, organized and responsible academically. The best way to determine that is the entrance exam, PARCC scores, and grades and interviews. Basing it on lottery numbers will get you students whose parents want them there but are not up for it.

You aren't understanding my suggestion. Right now they take kids with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in 'core classes' + test scores to create an interview pool. And pick from there based on ??? No teacher recommendations, no PARCC scores.

I'm suggesting that they use objective, academic achievement criteria to create the qualified applicant pool and then choose from within that group by lottery. There's no way that their family interviews are separating kids with the desire and interest from the rest. It's done as a cover to keep racial and ethnic balances in place.

As I understand it, the admissions test score and interview are both used to determine who is offered admission.

But what's the ratio? And how do you 'judge' the interviews?

I wish it were a true-test in school. In Chicago, for example, admissions to their selective high schools are based on middle school GPA (33.3%), an admission test given in fall of 8th grade (33.3%) and scores on their 7th grade statewide standardized test (33.3%).

[Anonymous]

My kid tells us all the time that in her/his cohort at SWW there are non-white kids who do not belong to SWW and that the selection process left out at least two extremely well-qualified white kids from her middle school charter, who, she/he knows, did very well at the tests.

Racial and ethnic balances are part of the selection process. At least Trogisch did not lie by refusing to respond to the question on race and ethnicity at the open house (and only provided feedback on gender), as one of the PP reported.

I really want to see the outcome of the selection process this year as a larger than ever mass of white applicant is heading towards SWW, from Hardy and Deal (confidence in Wilson is at a record low, with discipline and overcrowding out of control) .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid tells us all the time that in her/his cohort at SWW there are non-white kids who do not belong to SWW and that the selection process left out at least two extremely well-qualified white kids from her middle school charter, who, she/he knows, did very well at the tests.

Racial and ethnic balances are part of the selection process. At least Trogisch did not lie by refusing to respond to the question on race and ethnicity at the open house (and only provided feedback on gender), as one of the PP reported.

I really want to see the outcome of the selection process this year as a larger than ever mass of white applicant is heading towards SWW, from Hardy and Deal (confidence in Wilson is at a record low, with discipline and overcrowding out of control) .

This is consistent with the fact that in DC schools are under the Mayoral control sphere, i.e. are under political control and political guidelines. And this is what you get in return: social engineering in a magnet school.

The correction is low though, no more than the bottom 10-15% of the applicant ranked body is re-ranked to account for ethnicity and social rebalancing (different weighs assigned to students from reward/rising schools than focus/priority schools - this aspect might penalize students from Deal/Hardy/Oyster).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid tells us all the time that in her/his cohort at SWW there are non-white kids who do not belong to SWW and that the selection process left out at least two extremely well-qualified white kids from her middle school charter, who, she/he knows, did very well at the tests.

Racial and ethnic balances are part of the selection process. At least Trogisch did not lie by refusing to respond to the question on race and ethnicity at the open house (and only provided feedback on gender), as one of the PP reported.

I really want to see the outcome of the selection process this year as a larger than ever mass of white applicant is heading towards SWW, from Hardy and Deal (confidence in Wilson is at a record low, with discipline and overcrowding out of control) .

This is consistent with the fact that in DC schools are under the Mayoral control sphere, i.e. are under political control and political guidelines. And this is what you get in return: social engineering in a magnet school.

The correction is low though, no more than the bottom 10-15% of the applicant ranked body is re-ranked to account for ethnicity and social rebalancing (different weighs assigned to students from reward/rising schools than focus/priority schools - this aspect might penalize students from Deal/Hardy/Oyster).

How on earth would you know this?

FWIW, my child (white, female, from NW) was admitted to Walls but chose another school instead. The lack of transparency in admissions is but one thing about Walls that failed to impress, but I do think that as a taxpayer-funded school, they should be required to offer some measure of transparency about admissions. No one should be required to call and request their own test results, for instance.

[Anonymous]

Lack of transparency in admissions (the school prides itself of that, they feel very enlighted and we do not have the intellectual means to grab their godsent ability to pick the best).

Low accountability to the outside community and to parents, including to the HSA.

Patronizing attitude of principal, administrators and some teachers.

A few well-know bad teachers, who should be out but are instead protected by the school administration.

We did not like all of these, but unfortunately we were not smart enough to turn away the school once offered a sport.

Now we are locked in in a mediocre school, whose only merit is to teach to a bunch of students, who, for the majority, are very good and motivated students. Most of them would do well anywhere.

I do not know where the 10-15% figures by the PP come from, but they look accurate to represent the share of students who do not belong to the school at all.

[Anonymous]

Open house looked depressing and uninspiring.

I cannot make sense of how they picked the information they delivered, eg. the lady who gave a presentation on how important the school-family communication is (and her only argument was that the school-family communication is important). Sports coach coordinator looked un-sporty and overweight. Presenters' voices were monotone and bored.

They did not provide any academic reason to apply, except that, those who make it to the final list are the best ones. No indications on the teaching approach to math, or science. Or literature selection. They maybe thought that this is not relevant to us parents (or we would not understand that). Several parents were puzzled and were looking at each other. None of the higher SES parents from Deal I saw left the school with a willingness to apply. Presentations were clearly tailored to more modest families who are inspired by hearing that only the best make it to SWW.

The final motivational monologue by the Principal was pathetic. Reminded me of the speech of General at the beginning of an Officer and and a Gentleman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Open house looked depressing and uninspiring.

I cannot make sense of how they picked the information they delivered, eg. the lady who gave a presentation on how important the school-family communication is (and her only argument was that the school-family communication is important). Sports coach coordinator looked un-sporty and overweight. Presenters' voices were monotone and bored.

They did not provide any academic reason to apply, except that, those who make it to the final list are the best ones. No indications on the teaching approach to math, or science. Or literature selection. They maybe thought that this is not relevant to us parents (or we would not understand that). Several parents were puzzled and were looking at each other. None of the higher SES parents from Deal I saw left the school with a willingness to apply. Presentations were clearly tailored to more modest families who are inspired by hearing that only the best make it to SWW.

The final motivational monologue by the Principal was pathetic. Reminded me of the speech of General at the beginning of an Officer and and a Gentleman.

Sounds like you are not the target audience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was back to the school after 5 years. Much different ethnic mix of interested families than 5 years ago. More than 50% white. Used to be 20% or less. The school selection process is murky. I am sure they do take into account racial/ethnic balance.

Agree. The numbers are just too perfect. No other real reason for a family interview.

Black 36%, white 38% .

All other things constant, based on what we saw today, a white student has lower chances of being accepted at SWW if the mix had to stay the same.

Based on what people know of highly qualified (actually near perfect) candidates who don't get in, this is not news.

Sorry, but I don't buy this. Our (white) kid is smart, but does as little work as he can get away with and spends most of his time playing sports. He did well on the test (if you call, they will tell you where your kid's score ranked) and didn't bomb the interview (but also didn't claim that he was dying to go there because he wasn't) and was offered admission. I seriously doubt many "near perfect" candidates were socially engineered out of the school.

Because he is a boy. It is easier for boys to get admission becuase they have typically 60%+ girls and need more boys. More boys either don't apply or turn them down due to sports. White girls, especially from Ward 3 have very tough competition to get in. Ask around about girls who were not admitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Open house looked depressing and uninspiring.

I cannot make sense of how they picked the information they delivered, eg. the lady who gave a presentation on how important the school-family communication is (and her only argument was that the school-family communication is important). Sports coach coordinator looked un-sporty and overweight. Presenters' voices were monotone and bored.

They did not provide any academic reason to apply, except that, those who make it to the final list are the best ones. No indications on the teaching approach to math, or science. Or literature selection. They maybe thought that this is not relevant to us parents (or we would not understand that). Several parents were puzzled and were looking at each other. None of the higher SES parents from Deal I saw left the school with a willingness to apply. Presentations were clearly tailored to more modest families who are inspired by hearing that only the best make it to SWW.

The final motivational monologue by the Principal was pathetic. Reminded me of the speech of General at the beginning of an Officer and and a Gentleman.

Sounds like you are not the target audience.

NP here. I don't think it's an issue of target audience. The school does the absolute minimum demanded of them because they can get away with it. My DD applied and was admitted but I was so turned off we took a pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Open house looked depressing and uninspiring.

I cannot make sense of how they picked the information they delivered, eg. the lady who gave a presentation on how important the school-family communication is (and her only argument was that the school-family communication is important). Sports coach coordinator looked un-sporty and overweight. Presenters' voices were monotone and bored.

They did not provide any academic reason to apply, except that, those who make it to the final list are the best ones. No indications on the teaching approach to math, or science. Or literature selection. They maybe thought that this is not relevant to us parents (or we would not understand that). Several parents were puzzled and were looking at each other. None of the higher SES parents from Deal I saw left the school with a willingness to apply. Presentations were clearly tailored to more modest families who are inspired by hearing that only the best make it to SWW.

The final motivational monologue by the Principal was pathetic. Reminded me of the speech of General at the beginning of an Officer and and a Gentleman.

Sounds like you are not the target audience.

I guess so. But believe me, I really went with an open heart and mind, wanting to make it work (subject to my son being accepted). I wanted my son and the other parents from my school to leave the building and say "great", or at least "ok". That did not happen. I am very disappointed and kind of angry for the modest attempt the school made to convince us that our kids would have a great academic (and social) experience at SWW. I am not even sure at this point that reason exists.

Based on how it went, I will have a hard time motivating my son to do well at the entrance test and interview. Plus, the other families from my school who came to take a look left shaking heads, so I won't even have the support from his friends.

Believe me, it was really depressing, shabby.

[Anonymous]

It is a DCPS with a waiting list every year. They have no need to market themselves and don't make much of an effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Open house looked depressing and uninspiring.

I cannot make sense of how they picked the information they delivered, eg. the lady who gave a presentation on how important the school-family communication is (and her only argument was that the school-family communication is important). Sports coach coordinator looked un-sporty and overweight. Presenters' voices were monotone and bored.

They did not provide any academic reason to apply, except that, those who make it to the final list are the best ones. No indications on the teaching approach to math, or science. Or literature selection. They maybe thought that this is not relevant to us parents (or we would not understand that). Several parents were puzzled and were looking at each other. None of the higher SES parents from Deal I saw left the school with a willingness to apply. Presentations were clearly tailored to more modest families who are inspired by hearing that only the best make it to SWW.

The final motivational monologue by the Principal was pathetic. Reminded me of the speech of General at the beginning of an Officer and and a Gentleman.

Sounds like you are not the target audience.

I guess so. But believe me, I really went with an open heart and mind, wanting to make it work (subject to my son being accepted). I wanted my son and the other parents from my school to leave the building and say "great", or at least "ok". That did not happen. I am very disappointed and kind of angry for the modest attempt the school made to convince us that our kids would have a great academic (and social) experience at SWW. I am not even sure at this point that reason exists.

Based on how it went, I will have a hard time motivating my son to do well at the entrance test and interview. Plus, the other families from my school who came to take a look left shaking heads, so I won't even have the support from his friends.

Believe me, it was really depressing, shabby.

Take away the high-achieving students and it's just another crappy DCPS school.