Walls admissions article in the Post
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
1) A lot of our kids received interviews of 3 minutes or less. My kid's interview was 90 seconds long with only one stupid question that didn't lead to any conversation. 2) No, you can't tell within 10 minutes who would be a good fit. Prior good grades are the best indicator of future good grades. While my child is extroverted and does well talking to strangers, many introverted kids would do quite well at Walls but not necessarily shine during a brief interview. In fact, given the emphasis on academics and lack of robust extracurriculars and sports, some of the quiet, studious kids might be an even better fit. Walls should have either A) reinstated the test and developed a fair interview process with a standard set of questions or or B) just had a lottery with a GPA cut off. At the very least, Walls could have implemented a standard set of questions, but they chose not to. |
Anonymous
That phrase hit my ear wrong as well. |
Anonymous
Submit one now. |
Anonymous
Thanks. What written records are available? What kind of information could we get with a FOIA request? |
Anonymous
|
To the "Do what Banneker does crowd"...NO!
Never received any interview, period. Reached out a few times via email and phone and still haven't received any communication. There were still going thru apps at least two weeks before the lottery (that's what I was told). At least SWW lets you know where you stand regardless of the outcome. DC applied from a private and I wanna believe that it didn't play a factor. But not getting an interview has got me wondering. Where's the equity in that? Reranked schools in the lottery sensing we were being ghosted and was be admitted to SWW. A lot of families are not as fortunate to have options. DCPS needs to take over all of it with one qualifying process for the selective high schools. |
Anonymous
This was posted earlier. Basically: Keep your request simple. Ask for all "records" that contain: - the formal process by which Walls candidates were ranked - all guidance for interviewers on how questions they were to ask and how they were to rate candidates - all records that provides training for interviewers - all records that provides the weighting for interviews vs GPA and how candidates are ranked in the event of a tie. Also ask for an example of the interview matrix or rubric that is used for each interview. There are some exceptions for what has to be disclosed but this is the type of information that has to be released because it's of public interest. If it exists, they will have to provide it. It is likely it doesn't exist and it will show it was capricious. |
Anonymous
From my observation over the last several years, these admissions process changes and lack of transparency are DCPS driven. Walls' longtime former principal was a staunch advocate for upholding admissions standards and process and was removed from his position. Active (and oblique) changes to the admissions process began after his removal. |
Anonymous
I think it’s telling that the person who wants DCPS to run the whole process from the central office is the person whose child is not currently attending a DCPS school. |
Anonymous
"except to help students who appear to have strong family support"....um, yes, this is problematic. First, we were told (last year) the family interview did not count AT ALL toward the interview. My husband was not available at the time that Walls scheduled interview (we had no say in that time). Did that end up being a mark against my child? Second, it seems to me there is potential discrimination here...what does Walls deem to be "strong parent support"? Were kids with single parents less likely to get in? What about kids with non-English speaking parents? What about kids who live with their grandparents or aunts/uncles? Does Walls prefer stay-at-home moms? |
Anonymous
No thanks--kid happily ensconced at Wilson. Best friend miserable at Walls. |
Anonymous
|
I have no idea if this is a DCPS-driven thing or a Walls-driven thing. I do know that bad policies are often allowed to continue because nobody makes a big enough fuss and somebody with control over the situation somehow benefits from the status quo.
Once a few parents decide it is worth it to demand answers whether by getting the media involved or FOIA, it starts to get uncomfortable...and the cost-benefit calculation of keeping the status quo may change. |
Anonymous
Why? That's the way it runs in most school systems that I have experience with. Mine was a central process years ago. They learned that autonomy leads to lawsuits and big ones. |
Anonymous
The application HSs need a common app where students would upload transcripts, teacher/other recommendations, test scores, essays. |
Anonymous
Banneker sounds like a process failure but the stated policy is closer to private school admission than Walls. Our experience with Banneker was very different than yours (don't know if accepted because accepted at higher ranked school). The execution was clearly a problem. Walls gives lip service to equity but it sure favors private school applicants over the DCPS pipeline even for kids who excel in DCPS MS. Private schools don't struggle to sort through applications, interviews, tests scores. There's no secret sauce. An "application" school must be strategically resourced to handle applications. It shouldn't be an afterthought. I don't know if DCPS running application process is the solution. There should be clear guidelines and an open process so any applicant knows where they stand. Walls should flip the current scoring to a weighted GPA for 26 point and 5 points for an interview. It would get more random but at least reward academic achievement first and foremost. |
Anonymous
So do as I say, not as I do? |