DCC residents - what are your plans for high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this thread is a couple of months old, but the Blair open house is tonight. We're not zoned for Blair, but kid really wants to go there. Currently thinks our zoned high school is third choice. Will they basically be throwing away a choice if they list Blair first on the lottery form?

So is this thread about how Blair is the dream school and screw schools like Einstein or Wheaton, who are building up their reputations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this thread is a couple of months old, but the Blair open house is tonight. We're not zoned for Blair, but kid really wants to go there. Currently thinks our zoned high school is third choice. Will they basically be throwing away a choice if they list Blair first on the lottery form?

So is this thread about how Blair is the dream school and screw schools like Einstein or Wheaton, who are building up their reputations?

Not at all. I'm in-bounds for Blair and my oldest will be using her first slot on Einstein.

[Anonymous]

The kids talk up Blair just as much as the parents. We think Blair is too big for our DC but that where DC wants to go, even though lottery chances are pretty slim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCC parents look at school performance scores the same way every other parent looks at them. The same focus on school performance that drives people to move to schools in the west and up county rather than the DCC plays out within the DCC too.

Blair ranks higher than Einstein but if you moved the magnet into Einstein then Einstein would rank higher than Blair. Even though non-magnet Blair kids aren't doing any better than Einstein kids, Blair families would revolt if they were rezoned into Einstein or Wheaton. Einstein scores much higher than Kennedy. Einstein families would revolt if they were rezoned into Kennedy.

Why you W parents are so obsessed with Blair?
Yes you're a W parent.

W parents are obsessed with Blair because they realize that using simple averages like GS only serves to identify which high-schools draw a higher percentage of rich kids. A better, refined analysis looks at the granular data. When you isolate for race which is proxy a for socioeconomic status there is not much of a disparity between the performance of kids of the same backgrounds across these schools. For example, when you compare average SAT scores for MCPS schools for a larger demographic (greater than 5%), the great schools narrative begins to fall apart and it becomes clear they're not all that different.

Blair 1326
Walter Johnson 1275
Wooton 1262
Churchill 1257
Wheaton 1173
Einstein 1148

Just FYI - a 200 point difference on SAT scores is quite a bit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCC parents look at school performance scores the same way every other parent looks at them. The same focus on school performance that drives people to move to schools in the west and up county rather than the DCC plays out within the DCC too.

Blair ranks higher than Einstein but if you moved the magnet into Einstein then Einstein would rank higher than Blair. Even though non-magnet Blair kids aren't doing any better than Einstein kids, Blair families would revolt if they were rezoned into Einstein or Wheaton. Einstein scores much higher than Kennedy. Einstein families would revolt if they were rezoned into Kennedy.

Why you W parents are so obsessed with Blair?
Yes you're a W parent.

W parents are obsessed with Blair because they realize that using simple averages like GS only serves to identify which high-schools draw a higher percentage of rich kids. A better, refined analysis looks at the granular data. When you isolate for race which is proxy a for socioeconomic status there is not much of a disparity between the performance of kids of the same backgrounds across these schools. For example, when you compare average SAT scores for MCPS schools for a larger demographic (greater than 5%), the great schools narrative begins to fall apart and it becomes clear they're not all that different.

Blair 1326
Walter Johnson 1275
Wooton 1262
Churchill 1257
Wheaton 1173
Einstein 1148

Actually, the magnet kids within that common cohort isn’t that significant. They impact Blair’s scores by about 30 points.
Here’s a ballpark attempt to eliminate the out of boundary magnet scores from Blair’s SAT average for the largest common cohort.

1526 Blair Magnet SAT average
1326 Blair SAT average score for common cohort
250 total number of kids from cohort that took SAT
32 number of out of boundary magnet kids from cohort that took the SAT
where “x” is Blair’s in boundary SAT average for largest common cohort

(250 - 32) / 250 = 87% non-magnet cohort total
13% magnet % of cohort total

0.85x + 0.13 * 1526 = 1326
0.87x + 198 = 1326
0.9x = 1326 – 198
x = (1326 – 198) / 0.87 = 1296 SAT average without

Blair’s SAT average for the largest cohort common to those schools even without magnet scores is still respectable, but mostly aside the point that these schools are pretty much the same when looking at similar cohorts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCC parents look at school performance scores the same way every other parent looks at them. The same focus on school performance that drives people to move to schools in the west and up county rather than the DCC plays out within the DCC too.

Blair ranks higher than Einstein but if you moved the magnet into Einstein then Einstein would rank higher than Blair. Even though non-magnet Blair kids aren't doing any better than Einstein kids, Blair families would revolt if they were rezoned into Einstein or Wheaton. Einstein scores much higher than Kennedy. Einstein families would revolt if they were rezoned into Kennedy.

Why you W parents are so obsessed with Blair?
Yes you're a W parent.

W parents are obsessed with Blair because they realize that using simple averages like GS only serves to identify which high-schools draw a higher percentage of rich kids. A better, refined analysis looks at the granular data. When you isolate for race which is proxy a for socioeconomic status there is not much of a disparity between the performance of kids of the same backgrounds across these schools. For example, when you compare average SAT scores for MCPS schools for a larger demographic (greater than 5%), the great schools narrative begins to fall apart and it becomes clear they're not all that different.

Blair 1326
Walter Johnson 1275
Wooton 1262
Churchill 1257
Wheaton 1173
Einstein 1148

Actually, the magnet kids within that common cohort isn’t that significant. They impact Blair’s scores by about 30 points.
Here’s a ballpark attempt to eliminate the out of boundary magnet scores from Blair’s SAT average for the largest common cohort.

1526 Blair Magnet SAT average
1326 Blair SAT average score for common cohort
250 total number of kids from cohort that took SAT
32 number of out of boundary magnet kids from cohort that took the SAT
where “x” is Blair’s in boundary SAT average for largest common cohort

(250 - 32) / 250 = 87% non-magnet cohort total
13% magnet % of cohort total

0.85x + 0.13 * 1526 = 1326
0.87x + 198 = 1326
0.9x = 1326 – 198
x = (1326 – 198) / 0.87 = 1296 SAT average without

Blair’s SAT average for the largest cohort common to those schools even without magnet scores is still respectable, but mostly aside the point that these schools are pretty much the same when looking at similar cohorts.

This assumes 80% to 85% of the magnet population is from OOB and about 40% of that number belong to that common cohort.

[Anonymous]

To the "creative" numbers poster you have to slice and dice one measurement point and stand on your head to somehow justify that your school is good enough then you have the wrong perspective!

OP- if you're still reading I would consider the social-emotional aspects as well. If your kids are in middle school and their friends aren't planning on all splitting off to different magnets and privates then I would strongly consider staying where you are at now. Its hard to break into new friend groups unless your children are outgoing. Yes they will survive and make friends at another school but it isn't the same. Keep in mind that the kids in the W schools have known a core group of kids since elementary school and this provides an enormous amount of support and confidence for kids entering their high school years. The way the DCC breaks up and everyone tries to escape their home school is a real negative to the kids in some ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCC parents look at school performance scores the same way every other parent looks at them. The same focus on school performance that drives people to move to schools in the west and up county rather than the DCC plays out within the DCC too.

Blair ranks higher than Einstein but if you moved the magnet into Einstein then Einstein would rank higher than Blair. Even though non-magnet Blair kids aren't doing any better than Einstein kids, Blair families would revolt if they were rezoned into Einstein or Wheaton. Einstein scores much higher than Kennedy. Einstein families would revolt if they were rezoned into Kennedy.

Why you W parents are so obsessed with Blair?
Yes you're a W parent.

W parents are obsessed with Blair because they realize that using simple averages like GS only serves to identify which high-schools draw a higher percentage of rich kids. A better, refined analysis looks at the granular data. When you isolate for race which is proxy a for socioeconomic status there is not much of a disparity between the performance of kids of the same backgrounds across these schools. For example, when you compare average SAT scores for MCPS schools for a larger demographic (greater than 5%), the great schools narrative begins to fall apart and it becomes clear they're not all that different.

Blair 1326
Walter Johnson 1275
Wooton 1262
Churchill 1257
Wheaton 1173
Einstein 1148

Actually, the magnet kids within that common cohort isn’t that significant. They impact Blair’s scores by about 30 points.
Here’s a ballpark attempt to eliminate the out of boundary magnet scores from Blair’s SAT average for the largest common cohort.

1526 Blair Magnet SAT average
1326 Blair SAT average score for common cohort
250 total number of kids from cohort that took SAT
32 number of out of boundary magnet kids from cohort that took the SAT
where “x” is Blair’s in boundary SAT average for largest common cohort

(250 - 32) / 250 = 87% non-magnet cohort total
13% magnet % of cohort total

0.85x + 0.13 * 1526 = 1326
0.87x + 198 = 1326
0.9x = 1326 – 198
x = (1326 – 198) / 0.87 = 1296 SAT average without

Blair’s SAT average for the largest cohort common to those schools even without magnet scores is still respectable, but mostly aside the point that these schools are pretty much the same when looking at similar cohorts.

This assumes 80% to 85% of the magnet population is from OOB and about 40% of that number belong to that common cohort.

Excellent analysis thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCC parents look at school performance scores the same way every other parent looks at them. The same focus on school performance that drives people to move to schools in the west and up county rather than the DCC plays out within the DCC too.

Blair ranks higher than Einstein but if you moved the magnet into Einstein then Einstein would rank higher than Blair. Even though non-magnet Blair kids aren't doing any better than Einstein kids, Blair families would revolt if they were rezoned into Einstein or Wheaton. Einstein scores much higher than Kennedy. Einstein families would revolt if they were rezoned into Kennedy.

Why you W parents are so obsessed with Blair?
Yes you're a W parent.

W parents are obsessed with Blair because they realize that using simple averages like GS only serves to identify which high-schools draw a higher percentage of rich kids. A better, refined analysis looks at the granular data. When you isolate for race which is proxy a for socioeconomic status there is not much of a disparity between the performance of kids of the same backgrounds across these schools. For example, when you compare average SAT scores for MCPS schools for a larger demographic (greater than 5%), the great schools narrative begins to fall apart and it becomes clear they're not all that different.

Blair 1326
Walter Johnson 1275
Wooton 1262
Churchill 1257
Wheaton 1173
Einstein 1148

Actually, the magnet kids within that common cohort isn’t that significant. They impact Blair’s scores by about 30 points.
Here’s a ballpark attempt to eliminate the out of boundary magnet scores from Blair’s SAT average for the largest common cohort.

1526 Blair Magnet SAT average
1326 Blair SAT average score for common cohort
250 total number of kids from cohort that took SAT
32 number of out of boundary magnet kids from cohort that took the SAT
where “x” is Blair’s in boundary SAT average for largest common cohort

(250 - 32) / 250 = 87% non-magnet cohort total
13% magnet % of cohort total

0.85x + 0.13 * 1526 = 1326
0.87x + 198 = 1326
0.9x = 1326 – 198
x = (1326 – 198) / 0.87 = 1296 SAT average without

Blair’s SAT average for the largest cohort common to those schools even without magnet scores is still respectable, but mostly aside the point that these schools are pretty much the same when looking at similar cohorts.

This assumes 80% to 85% of the magnet population is from OOB and about 40% of that number belong to that common cohort.

Excellent analysis thanks!

Yes, the lions share of magnet students are Asian and wouldn't impact the 1326 cohort's average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the "creative" numbers poster you have to slice and dice one measurement point and stand on your head to somehow justify that your school is good enough then you have the wrong perspective!

OP- if you're still reading I would consider the social-emotional aspects as well. If your kids are in middle school and their friends aren't planning on all splitting off to different magnets and privates then I would strongly consider staying where you are at now. Its hard to break into new friend groups unless your children are outgoing. Yes they will survive and make friends at another school but it isn't the same. Keep in mind that the kids in the W schools have known a core group of kids since elementary school and this provides an enormous amount of support and confidence for kids entering their high school years. The way the DCC breaks up and everyone tries to escape their home school is a real negative to the kids in some ways.

I feel like maybe you’re not from around here... Most people in the DCC end up choosing their home school for the reasons you state: convenience, friends, community. When they choose a different school it’s because it offers a different academy or magnet program that fits their needs, not to escape anything. If your point is to promote W schools I think you posted in the wrong thread. Here we’re talking about what DCC kids plan to choose.

[Anonymous]

I feel like maybe you’re not from around here... Most people in the DCC end up choosing their home school for the reasons you state: convenience, friends, community. When they choose a different school it’s because it offers a different academy or magnet program that fits their needs, not to escape anything. If your point is to promote W schools I think you posted in the wrong thread. Here we’re talking about what DCC kids plan to choose.

No, I'm in the DCC. "What are your plans for high school?" is a common question around here because many people do not stay at their home schools. Some people move to a better school cluster not always a W as there are plenty of others in the DMV, some people go private, and some people try to get into a magnet program at a different DCC school. It is a negative that close friends get peeled off because the schools aren't that good. No point in being dishonest about it and pretending it doesn't exist.

[Anonymous]

Blair or bust! It's the main reason we moved DCC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I feel like maybe you’re not from around here... Most people in the DCC end up choosing their home school for the reasons you state: convenience, friends, community. When they choose a different school it’s because it offers a different academy or magnet program that fits their needs, not to escape anything. If your point is to promote W schools I think you posted in the wrong thread. Here we’re talking about what DCC kids plan to choose.

No, I'm in the DCC. "What are your plans for high school?" is a common question around here because many people do not stay at their home schools. Some people move to a better school cluster not always a W as there are plenty of others in the DMV, some people go private, and some people try to get into a magnet program at a different DCC school. It is a negative that close friends get peeled off because the schools aren't that good. No point in being dishonest about it and pretending it doesn't exist.

Ok, I wasn’t being dishonest, I just really don’t see this in our Einstein feeder middle school. There were some nervous nellies who used to ask “what are you going to do about middle school” because they intended to move to private or a rich neighborhood, but by high school we seem to be pretty settled in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I feel like maybe you’re not from around here... Most people in the DCC end up choosing their home school for the reasons you state: convenience, friends, community. When they choose a different school it’s because it offers a different academy or magnet program that fits their needs, not to escape anything. If your point is to promote W schools I think you posted in the wrong thread. Here we’re talking about what DCC kids plan to choose.

No, I'm in the DCC. "What are your plans for high school?" is a common question around here because many people do not stay at their home schools. Some people move to a better school cluster not always a W as there are plenty of others in the DMV, some people go private, and some people try to get into a magnet program at a different DCC school. It is a negative that close friends get peeled off because the schools aren't that good. No point in being dishonest about it and pretending it doesn't exist.

Ok, I wasn’t being dishonest, I just really don’t see this in our Einstein feeder middle school. There were some nervous nellies who used to ask “what are you going to do about middle school” because they intended to move to private or a rich neighborhood, but by high school we seem to be pretty settled in.

NP here, my DC's friend group did get scattered to the winds in 9th grade, but as a senior she's got a solid group of friends. The MS friends that are at her HS aren't as close as they used to be. My HS experience was the similar--all my MS friends went to my HS, but it was a time of divergence and meeting new people. Of course it's good to have some friends on the way in, but the odds that those will still be best friends four years later are slim. These things can't be planned out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blair or bust! It's the main reason we moved DCC.

For us it's Einstein or bust! We've got 3 kids in the next 3 years going there. We moved here (Kensington) from private in NYC and we are sooo looking forward to saving tons of money!