Advice from actual Banneker parents.

[Anonymous]

There may be no issue because there are no white students there. But I believe the Principal could still address how she would handle any issues that did occur in teh future. Her answer was non-responsive.

[Anonymous]

There are white students at Banneker but not many. I find the principal's reaction unhelpful.

Granted, I don't think in principle white kids in the minority at Banneker have the same kind of long-term challenges that black kids at a white school face. My view when my white kid was applying to Banneker was that, Yeah, it sucks to be in the minority but you have the rest of your life to be in the majority. And you'll also understand better how certain things have been made incredibly easy for you just on the basis of being white.

Nevertheless, I'm sure it can be tough on the white kids who do go there and it's legitimate to raise it with the principal. But I wouldn't call it a dealbreaker when Banneker offers such a superior education to other DCPS high schools.

But OP my kid didn't get into Banneker so I can't help you. The admissions committee could tell at the interview that she couldn't handle the kind of academic pressure a school like Banneker pours on.

[Anonymous]

But OP my kid didn't get into Banneker so I can't help you. The admissions committee could tell at the interview that she couldn't handle the kind of academic pressure a school like Banneker pours on.

That is fascinating! It reassures me that a public school in DC can be academically rigorous and demanding. We live up the street from Banneker, and sometimes I swim at the pool there - I have often wondered what it would be like for my kid there. (We're white, btw. I was a minority in my majority black/latino high school and the experience has served me well to this day.)

[Anonymous]

Who gives a rat's ass about diversity. I want my kid to be able to read and write and be able to tackle complex mathematics. Leave religion and racial/ethnic politics at home. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a great American not a great Black American. His race is incidental. I respect his struggle but his struggle was America's struggle and it wasn't just a Black thing and yes I understand.