Why don't white students go to Banneker?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone,

I'm a reporter with the Washington City Paper, and I'm working on a story on a question that has been raised several times on this forum: Why don't white students go to Banneker? I'm interested in speaking with parents who fall under one of these categories:

- You have (or recently have) a child at Banneker
- You're considering Banneker
- You opted not to apply to Banneker, or got in but decided not to go there

If you match the description, please feel free to send me an email at awiener (at) washingtoncitypaper (dot) com.

Thanks very much!
Aaron

Because its Majority Black and located in Georgia Avenue near Howard University. Whites will not send their kids to majority black schools regardless of the test scores. People will say "Wilson" but lets be honest the "honor courses" or "humanities program" are Majority white and a school within a school where whites are the majority

Then how do explain all of the sudden interest in Cleveland Elementary School right down the street? White people just discovered it. It frequently appeared on this year's DCUM lottery threads.

(I'm black and didn't mention Cleveland to a soul until my kids got in. It's golden. Also one of the things I loved about Cleveland is that is majority AA/Latino, so my kids get to experience a strong minority populated educational setting, where all of the high achievers and school leadership looked like them.)

Wow, that's racist

Nope, it is not. It is countering a racist society that has a preschool to prison pipeline for Black children. Please stop calling black people racists for trying to counter institutional racism. It is not cute.

Exactly.

Remember in the film about the big upcoming fight, Muhammad Ali commented with astonishment that the airline pilots were black?

It's quite dated, but you get the idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jclLiDjwuE0

It's important that my children see leaders, high achievers, involved parents (especially fathers!), who look like them so that they grow up with an understanding that this is possible. They are constantly fed a narrow stereotype of what AA youth represent, and it's so undermining. I like that they see teachers and families in a positive light and that they are exposed to a broad spectrum of people throughout the black community. African, Caribbean, homegrown DC, affluent, public housing----so much is represented within Cleveland. It's wonderful.

I don't think my stance is comparable to white supremacy. I believe it's more akin to single-sex education. I went to an all-girls school and a majority female college. I had a very different experience than those who went co-ed. Girls speak up in class and excel in math. Girls are strong and capable. Female head of school, female teachers. Great experience.

I also went to Banneker and relished being surrounded by a bunch of fellow black nerds. It felt great to belong and never be afraid of "acting white" or "talking white" when I just wanted to embrace algebra. I'm glad they had us all take Latin our first year there. I only pray my children get in and have the opportunity to be smart and engaged in a safe environment like Banneker. Other predominantly-black high schools punish their nerds. I don't want that for my children.

Understand it or not, it's real.

This is a useful post for Aaron. Between whites who think their white kids will fare better by attending schools with more white kids who test much better than the average Banneker student and those who sense that posters like PP would view them as gate-crashers who would interfere with Banneker's role as an elite school for the black bourgeoisie, there's not a large pool of whites interested in Banneker for their kids, and it shrinks to zero when you factor in the reluctance of white parents to have their kids be the "only" at the school.

It's not rocket science, and it won't change any time soon.

Good summary!

It must be great to be white. In the US, so many non-white people have to experience being the "only". The irony about being the "only" non-white at a predominantly white institution, is that some white people ask, "why are all the non-whites sitting together?" As far as Banneker goes, if white students don't apply and get accepted, Banneker will continue to be a non diverse school. Another irony, some white people on DCUM tend to decry the lack of diversity at Banneker, but will have no problem living in a predominantly white area of the city, enrolling their DC in predominantly white private schools, etc. Lastly, you have the white parents talking about the relatively low SAT scores of Banneker students. According to The Washington Post, Banneker has higher SAT scores than Wilson. Nevertheless, SAT scores aren't everything. According to The Washington Posts Most Challenging High Schools (DMV) list, SWW is ranked number two, however, there are a number of MD and VA schools that post higher SAT averages. For example, both National Cathedral and Langley have higher SAT averages than SWW.

Banneker: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge/schools/2015/list/local/banneker-washington-dc/

Wilson: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge/schools/2015/list/local/woodrow-wilson-washington-dc/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Banneker doesn't fare too well in the latest Challenge Index results. The school does OK at getting kids to take advanced classes, but only 27% of graduates actually pass an AP or IB, which is seriously underwhelming for a magnet-type school. Wilson does better as a neighborhood school with OOB students who effectively treat it as a magnet.

http://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge/schools/2015/list/local/

PP, thanks for sharing, this is very interesting. Ranking of the DC-based high schools, based on that challenge index:

2 School Without Walls Washington DC
3 Washington International School (P) Washington DC
4 Saint Anselm's Abbey (P) Washington DC

19 National Cathedral (P) Washington DC

33 Woodrow Wilson Washington DC
33 Banneker Washington DC

Georgetown Visitation (P) Washington DC

42 Columbia Heights Washington DC

This is totally based on how much the schools push AP exams. It's telling that Sidwell Friemds, St Albans and GDS don't appear on the list at all. Are they "unchallenging" schools?

Yes, I think this ranking technique is way overrated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also for this index, it doesn't matter what the scores were -- just how many students take the AP or IB test. It's a straight ratio of graduates to tests taken.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/how-americas-most-challenging-high-schools-works-the-selection-method/2015/04/14/cfdd9e44-e30a-11e4-905f-cc896d379a32_story.html

Yep -- it's not about who passes, people! It's about how many take the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone,

I'm a reporter with the Washington City Paper, and I'm working on a story on a question that has been raised several times on this forum: Why don't white students go to Banneker? I'm interested in speaking with parents who fall under one of these categories:

- You have (or recently have) a child at Banneker
- You're considering Banneker
- You opted not to apply to Banneker, or got in but decided not to go there

If you match the description, please feel free to send me an email at awiener (at) washingtoncitypaper (dot) com.

Thanks very much!
Aaron

Because its Majority Black and located in Georgia Avenue near Howard University. Whites will not send their kids to majority black schools regardless of the test scores. People will say "Wilson" but lets be honest the "honor courses" or "humanities program" are Majority white and a school within a school where whites are the majority

Then how do explain all of the sudden interest in Cleveland Elementary School right down the street? White people just discovered it. It frequently appeared on this year's DCUM lottery threads.

(I'm black and didn't mention Cleveland to a soul until my kids got in. It's golden. Also one of the things I loved about Cleveland is that is majority AA/Latino, so my kids get to experience a strong minority populated educational setting, where all of the high achievers and school leadership looked like them.)

Wow, that's racist

Nope, it is not. It is countering a racist society that has a preschool to prison pipeline for Black children. Please stop calling black people racists for trying to counter institutional racism. It is not cute.

Exactly.

Remember in the film about the big upcoming fight, Muhammad Ali commented with astonishment that the airline pilots were black?

It's quite dated, but you get the idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jclLiDjwuE0

It's important that my children see leaders, high achievers, involved parents (especially fathers!), who look like them so that they grow up with an understanding that this is possible. They are constantly fed a narrow stereotype of what AA youth represent, and it's so undermining. I like that they see teachers and families in a positive light and that they are exposed to a broad spectrum of people throughout the black community. African, Caribbean, homegrown DC, affluent, public housing----so much is represented within Cleveland. It's wonderful.

I don't think my stance is comparable to white supremacy. I believe it's more akin to single-sex education. I went to an all-girls school and a majority female college. I had a very different experience than those who went co-ed. Girls speak up in class and excel in math. Girls are strong and capable. Female head of school, female teachers. Great experience.

I also went to Banneker and relished being surrounded by a bunch of fellow black nerds. It felt great to belong and never be afraid of "acting white" or "talking white" when I just wanted to embrace algebra. I'm glad they had us all take Latin our first year there. I only pray my children get in and have the opportunity to be smart and engaged in a safe environment like Banneker. Other predominantly-black high schools punish their nerds. I don't want that for my children.

Understand it or not, it's real.

This is a useful post for Aaron. Between whites who think their white kids will fare better by attending schools with more white kids who test much better than the average Banneker student and those who sense that posters like PP would view them as gate-crashers who would interfere with Banneker's role as an elite school for the black bourgeoisie, there's not a large pool of whites interested in Banneker for their kids, and it shrinks to zero when you factor in the reluctance of white parents to have their kids be the "only" at the school.

It's not rocket science, and it won't change any time soon.

Good summary!

It must be great to be white. In the US, so many non-white people have to experience being the "only". The irony about being the "only" non-white at a predominantly white institution, is that some white people ask, "why are all the non-whites sitting together?" As far as Banneker goes, if white students don't apply and get accepted, Banneker will continue to be a non diverse school. Another irony, some white people on DCUM tend to decry the lack of diversity at Banneker, but will have no problem living in a predominantly white area of the city, enrolling their DC in predominantly white private schools, etc. Lastly, you have the white parents talking about the relatively low SAT scores of Banneker students. According to The Washington Post, Banneker has higher SAT scores than Wilson. Nevertheless, SAT scores aren't everything. According to The Washington Posts Most Challenging High Schools (DMV) list, SWW is ranked number two, however, there are a number of MD and VA schools that post higher SAT averages. For example, both National Cathedral and Langley have higher SAT averages than SWW.

Banneker: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge/schools/2015/list/local/banneker-washington-dc/

Wilson: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge/schools/2015/list/local/woodrow-wilson-washington-dc/

Remember all the high-SES black parents who said, in this very same thread, they chose NOT to send their kids to Banneker. It is not really "It must be great to be white," it is more that "It must be great to have a ton of money, and options."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone,

I'm a reporter with the Washington City Paper, and I'm working on a story on a question that has been raised several times on this forum: Why don't white students go to Banneker? I'm interested in speaking with parents who fall under one of these categories:

- You have (or recently have) a child at Banneker
- You're considering Banneker
- You opted not to apply to Banneker, or got in but decided not to go there

If you match the description, please feel free to send me an email at awiener (at) washingtoncitypaper (dot) com.

Thanks very much!
Aaron

Because its Majority Black and located in Georgia Avenue near Howard University. Whites will not send their kids to majority black schools regardless of the test scores. People will say "Wilson" but lets be honest the "honor courses" or "humanities program" are Majority white and a school within a school where whites are the majority

Then how do explain all of the sudden interest in Cleveland Elementary School right down the street? White people just discovered it. It frequently appeared on this year's DCUM lottery threads.

(I'm black and didn't mention Cleveland to a soul until my kids got in. It's golden. Also one of the things I loved about Cleveland is that is majority AA/Latino, so my kids get to experience a strong minority populated educational setting, where all of the high achievers and school leadership looked like them.)

Wow, that's racist

Nope, it is not. It is countering a racist society that has a preschool to prison pipeline for Black children. Please stop calling black people racists for trying to counter institutional racism. It is not cute.

Exactly.

Remember in the film about the big upcoming fight, Muhammad Ali commented with astonishment that the airline pilots were black?

It's quite dated, but you get the idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jclLiDjwuE0

It's important that my children see leaders, high achievers, involved parents (especially fathers!), who look like them so that they grow up with an understanding that this is possible. They are constantly fed a narrow stereotype of what AA youth represent, and it's so undermining. I like that they see teachers and families in a positive light and that they are exposed to a broad spectrum of people throughout the black community. African, Caribbean, homegrown DC, affluent, public housing----so much is represented within Cleveland. It's wonderful.

I don't think my stance is comparable to white supremacy. I believe it's more akin to single-sex education. I went to an all-girls school and a majority female college. I had a very different experience than those who went co-ed. Girls speak up in class and excel in math. Girls are strong and capable. Female head of school, female teachers. Great experience.

I also went to Banneker and relished being surrounded by a bunch of fellow black nerds. It felt great to belong and never be afraid of "acting white" or "talking white" when I just wanted to embrace algebra. I'm glad they had us all take Latin our first year there. I only pray my children get in and have the opportunity to be smart and engaged in a safe environment like Banneker. Other predominantly-black high schools punish their nerds. I don't want that for my children.

Understand it or not, it's real.

This is a useful post for Aaron. Between whites who think their white kids will fare better by attending schools with more white kids who test much better than the average Banneker student and those who sense that posters like PP would view them as gate-crashers who would interfere with Banneker's role as an elite school for the black bourgeoisie, there's not a large pool of whites interested in Banneker for their kids, and it shrinks to zero when you factor in the reluctance of white parents to have their kids be the "only" at the school.

It's not rocket science, and it won't change any time soon.

I don't think this statement is accurate. Banneker is a Title I school:http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/Benjamin+Banneker+High+School

If the statement were true, the scores would likely be even higher. Given that it's Title I, I find the current scores pretty impressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone,

I'm a reporter with the Washington City Paper, and I'm working on a story on a question that has been raised several times on this forum: Why don't white students go to Banneker? I'm interested in speaking with parents who fall under one of these categories:

- You have (or recently have) a child at Banneker
- You're considering Banneker
- You opted not to apply to Banneker, or got in but decided not to go there

If you match the description, please feel free to send me an email at awiener (at) washingtoncitypaper (dot) com.

Thanks very much!
Aaron

Because its Majority Black and located in Georgia Avenue near Howard University. Whites will not send their kids to majority black schools regardless of the test scores. People will say "Wilson" but lets be honest the "honor courses" or "humanities program" are Majority white and a school within a school where whites are the majority

Then how do explain all of the sudden interest in Cleveland Elementary School right down the street? White people just discovered it. It frequently appeared on this year's DCUM lottery threads.

(I'm black and didn't mention Cleveland to a soul until my kids got in. It's golden. Also one of the things I loved about Cleveland is that is majority AA/Latino, so my kids get to experience a strong minority populated educational setting, where all of the high achievers and school leadership looked like them.)

Wow, that's racist

Nope, it is not. It is countering a racist society that has a preschool to prison pipeline for Black children. Please stop calling black people racists for trying to counter institutional racism. It is not cute.

Exactly.

Remember in the film about the big upcoming fight, Muhammad Ali commented with astonishment that the airline pilots were black?

It's quite dated, but you get the idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jclLiDjwuE0

It's important that my children see leaders, high achievers, involved parents (especially fathers!), who look like them so that they grow up with an understanding that this is possible. They are constantly fed a narrow stereotype of what AA youth represent, and it's so undermining. I like that they see teachers and families in a positive light and that they are exposed to a broad spectrum of people throughout the black community. African, Caribbean, homegrown DC, affluent, public housing----so much is represented within Cleveland. It's wonderful.

I don't think my stance is comparable to white supremacy. I believe it's more akin to single-sex education. I went to an all-girls school and a majority female college. I had a very different experience than those who went co-ed. Girls speak up in class and excel in math. Girls are strong and capable. Female head of school, female teachers. Great experience.

I also went to Banneker and relished being surrounded by a bunch of fellow black nerds. It felt great to belong and never be afraid of "acting white" or "talking white" when I just wanted to embrace algebra. I'm glad they had us all take Latin our first year there. I only pray my children get in and have the opportunity to be smart and engaged in a safe environment like Banneker. Other predominantly-black high schools punish their nerds. I don't want that for my children.

Understand it or not, it's real.

This is a useful post for Aaron. Between whites who think their white kids will fare better by attending schools with more white kids who test much better than the average Banneker student and those who sense that posters like PP would view them as gate-crashers who would interfere with Banneker's role as an elite school for the black bourgeoisie, there's not a large pool of whites interested in Banneker for their kids, and it shrinks to zero when you factor in the reluctance of white parents to have their kids be the "only" at the school.

It's not rocket science, and it won't change any time soon.

Let me try this again so the link hopefully works:

I don't think this statement is accurate. Banneker is a Title I school: http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/Benjamin+Banneker+High+School

If the statement were true, the scores would likely be even higher. Given that it's Title I, I find the current scores pretty impressive.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the one or two or three AA respondents who mentioned private should be universalized. Absolutely. All black high-SES parents go private. Of course they do. (Except they don't.)

I pray my kids get into Banneker. I don't want to go private, nor do many other black people with the ability to go that route. But, since that doesn't fit your argument, let's ignore all of that.

When I was at Banneker, most of my black friends lived in Shepherd Park and the like. Kids of doctors and professors. There was a small group of white students who fit right in with the nerd (not black, nerd) culture of the school. They came from a variety of backgrounds. White doesn't equal wealthy after all.

I've been the "only" in a variety of settings. Someone on this thread posted a really interesting article on "white fragility," a term I hadn't heard before. Read it: http://www.alternet.org/culture/why-white-people-freak-out-when-theyre-called-out-about-race

One of the things that's noted in the article is how "discomfort" and "safety" are conflated when white people discuss race. Do you think your children would be unsafe at Banneker, if they are among a very small minority or (gasp!) the only white child in the classroom? What do imagine happening? Uncomfortable conversations? Maybe. That's a great learning experience, talking about privilege, history, politics in an educational setting like the one Banneker provides. Safety issues? Really? As if they'd face physical attacks and worse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It must be great to be white. In the US, so many non-white people have to experience being the "only". The irony about being the "only" non-white at a predominantly white institution, is that some white people ask, "why are all the non-whites sitting together?" As far as Banneker goes, if white students don't apply and get accepted, Banneker will continue to be a non diverse school. Another irony, some white people on DCUM tend to decry the lack of diversity at Banneker, but will have no problem living in a predominantly white area of the city, enrolling their DC in predominantly white private schools, etc. Lastly, you have the white parents talking about the relatively low SAT scores of Banneker students. According to The Washington Post, Banneker has higher SAT scores than Wilson. Nevertheless, SAT scores aren't everything. According to The Washington Posts Most Challenging High Schools (DMV) list, SWW is ranked number two, however, there are a number of MD and VA schools that post higher SAT averages. For example, both National Cathedral and Langley have higher SAT averages than SWW.

Banneker: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge/schools/2015/list/local/banneker-washington-dc/

Wilson: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge/schools/2015/list/local/woodrow-wilson-washington-dc/

It's great to be white some of the time, not so great other times. Depends on the context. Don't other people feel the same way?

But, if the topic is why white students don't go to a magnet school that currently has no white students, the explanations have been provided. For that to change, white families would have to feel they are getting something out of Banneker they aren't getting out of Wilson, a suburban school, or an private. And, right now, they aren't, and there's not exactly a big welcome mat, either. Banneker essentially has become a DCPS high school version of an HBCU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, the one or two or three AA respondents who mentioned private should be universalized. Absolutely. All black high-SES parents go private. Of course they do. (Except they don't.)

I pray my kids get into Banneker. I don't want to go private, nor do many other black people with the ability to go that route. But, since that doesn't fit your argument, let's ignore all of that.

When I was at Banneker, most of my black friends lived in Shepherd Park and the like. Kids of doctors and professors. There was a small group of white students who fit right in with the nerd (not black, nerd) culture of the school. They came from a variety of backgrounds. White doesn't equal wealthy after all.

I've been the "only" in a variety of settings. Someone on this thread posted a really interesting article on "white fragility," a term I hadn't heard before. Read it: http://www.alternet.org/culture/why-white-people-freak-out-when-theyre-called-out-about-race

One of the things that's noted in the article is how "discomfort" and "safety" are conflated when white people discuss race. Do you think your children would be unsafe at Banneker, if they are among a very small minority or (gasp!) the only white child in the classroom? What do imagine happening? Uncomfortable conversations? Maybe. That's a great learning experience, talking about privilege, history, politics in an educational setting like the one Banneker provides. Safety issues? Really? As if they'd face physical attacks and worse?

Funny post. You start by criticizing some overgeneralizations based on what some posters HAVE SAID, and you end up by overgeneralizing based on what NO ONE HAS SAID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It must be great to be white. In the US, so many non-white people have to experience being the "only". The irony about being the "only" non-white at a predominantly white institution, is that some white people ask, "why are all the non-whites sitting together?" As far as Banneker goes, if white students don't apply and get accepted, Banneker will continue to be a non diverse school. Another irony, some white people on DCUM tend to decry the lack of diversity at Banneker, but will have no problem living in a predominantly white area of the city, enrolling their DC in predominantly white private schools, etc. Lastly, you have the white parents talking about the relatively low SAT scores of Banneker students. According to The Washington Post, Banneker has higher SAT scores than Wilson. Nevertheless, SAT scores aren't everything. According to The Washington Posts Most Challenging High Schools (DMV) list, SWW is ranked number two, however, there are a number of MD and VA schools that post higher SAT averages. For example, both National Cathedral and Langley have higher SAT averages than SWW.

Banneker: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge/schools/2015/list/local/banneker-washington-dc/

Wilson: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/highschoolchallenge/schools/2015/list/local/woodrow-wilson-washington-dc/

It's great to be white some of the time, not so great other times. Depends on the context. Don't other people feel the same way?

But, if the topic is why white students don't go to a magnet school that currently has no white students, the explanations have been provided. For that to change, white families would have to feel they are getting something out of Banneker they aren't getting out of Wilson, a suburban school, or an private. And, right now, they aren't, and there's not exactly a big welcome mat, either. Banneker essentially has become a DCPS high school version of an HBCU.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone,

I'm a reporter with the Washington City Paper, and I'm working on a story on a question that has been raised several times on this forum: Why don't white students go to Banneker? I'm interested in speaking with parents who fall under one of these categories:

- You have (or recently have) a child at Banneker
- You're considering Banneker
- You opted not to apply to Banneker, or got in but decided not to go there

If you match the description, please feel free to send me an email at awiener (at) washingtoncitypaper (dot) com.

Thanks very much!
Aaron

Because its Majority Black and located in Georgia Avenue near Howard University. Whites will not send their kids to majority black schools regardless of the test scores. People will say "Wilson" but lets be honest the "honor courses" or "humanities program" are Majority white and a school within a school where whites are the majority

Then how do explain all of the sudden interest in Cleveland Elementary School right down the street? White people just discovered it. It frequently appeared on this year's DCUM lottery threads.

(I'm black and didn't mention Cleveland to a soul until my kids got in. It's golden. Also one of the things I loved about Cleveland is that is majority AA/Latino, so my kids get to experience a strong minority populated educational setting, where all of the high achievers and school leadership looked like them.)

Wow, that's racist

Nope, it is not. It is countering a racist society that has a preschool to prison pipeline for Black children. Please stop calling black people racists for trying to counter institutional racism. It is not cute.

Exactly.

Remember in the film about the big upcoming fight, Muhammad Ali commented with astonishment that the airline pilots were black?

It's quite dated, but you get the idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jclLiDjwuE0

It's important that my children see leaders, high achievers, involved parents (especially fathers!), who look like them so that they grow up with an understanding that this is possible. They are constantly fed a narrow stereotype of what AA youth represent, and it's so undermining. I like that they see teachers and families in a positive light and that they are exposed to a broad spectrum of people throughout the black community. African, Caribbean, homegrown DC, affluent, public housing----so much is represented within Cleveland. It's wonderful.

I don't think my stance is comparable to white supremacy. I believe it's more akin to single-sex education. I went to an all-girls school and a majority female college. I had a very different experience than those who went co-ed. Girls speak up in class and excel in math. Girls are strong and capable. Female head of school, female teachers. Great experience.

I also went to Banneker and relished being surrounded by a bunch of fellow black nerds. It felt great to belong and never be afraid of "acting white" or "talking white" when I just wanted to embrace algebra. I'm glad they had us all take Latin our first year there. I only pray my children get in and have the opportunity to be smart and engaged in a safe environment like Banneker. Other predominantly-black high schools punish their nerds. I don't want that for my children.

Understand it or not, it's real.

This is a useful post for Aaron. Between whites who think their white kids will fare better by attending schools with more white kids who test much better than the average Banneker student and those who sense that posters like PP would view them as gate-crashers who would interfere with Banneker's role as an elite school for the black bourgeoisie, there's not a large pool of whites interested in Banneker for their kids, and it shrinks to zero when you factor in the reluctance of white parents to have their kids be the "only" at the school.

It's not rocket science, and it won't change any time soon.

Let me try this again so the link hopefully works:

I don't think this statement is accurate. Banneker is a Title I school: http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/Benjamin+Banneker+High+School

If the statement were true, the scores would likely be even higher. Given that it's Title I, I find the current scores pretty impressive.

A box is checked, but the percentage of students on assistance is not identified.

Please see the statement from 14:05 noting the black Banneker kids from Shepherd Park whose parents were doctors and professors. If that doesn't fit the definition of "black bourgeoisie," I don't know what does.

[Anonymous]

I would urge the reporter to get detailed data on the IB program. How many students get an IB diploma? What is the range of scores that students earn? From the website, the IB program seems to be the bare minimum. The only science is biology (no physics or chemistry), the only math is math studies (no math standard level or math higher level, which both cover calculus) the only social science is history (no economics, geography, or psychology). For well prepared students, these options seem weak. Perhaps there are more offerings beyond the online listing.

[Anonymous]

To 14:20, the PP in all likelihood attended Banneker 20-30 years ago. I wonder if the makeup has changed since then; just curious. My understanding of Title 1 schools is that a large % of students attending are from low-income backgrounds. Again, makes me even more impressed about current test scores if true.

[Anonymous]

According to USNews last year, 61% of Banneker students were economically disadvantaged and the school did receive Title 1 funding.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/district-of-columbia/districts/district-of-columbia-public-schools/benjamin-banneker-academic-high-school-4650

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To 14:20, the PP in all likelihood attended Banneker 20-30 years ago. I wonder if the makeup has changed since then; just curious. My understanding of Title 1 schools is that a large % of students attending are from low-income backgrounds. Again, makes me even more impressed about current test scores if true.

The Challenge Index has about 27% of Banneker graduates passing at least AP or IB test. There's not much about this statistic that impresses, in either absolute terms or compared to other local schools with high levels of low-income students (Columbia Heights in DC, Mount Vernon and Stuart in Fairfax, Kennedy and Wheaton in Montgomery, Wakefield in Arlington, or TC Williams in Alexandria). For the most part, Banneker only looks good in comparison with other schools in DCPS, and white parents have been avoiding those schools for decades.