S/O High SES students will perform well no matter their peer group

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the PP, most parents assume a HS of 1700 kids would have enough tracked options for high achieving students. Also walls is going be harder to get into as they are now limiting the number of white kids specifically.

Can you provide some support for this assertion?

There was an attempt last year to allow students that did not meet the PARCC standard to sit for the test if they were among the top 15 students academically at their middle school. The school did not give proper notice of the policy change and students were not allowed to sit for the test. I am not aware of any plans other that giving proper notice of this policy change this year. That is only allowing students to sit for the test and yes those students are likely POC given the demographics in DC. This is not, however, an attempt to limit the number of “white kids” at SWW.

If they are otherwise looking at changing the standards for admissions I have not heard of read anything about it. I was fairly tuned in to such discussions last year as I had a student applying that is now a 9th grader there.

They eliminated PARCC requirements and also said they wanted more equal representation from all the wards. That means wards 7 and 8. That’s code for less white kids from ward 3. In fact, last year leaders in DCPS personally went to low achieving middle schools to let them know to have the kids apply.

Can you point me to where SWW gave notice they are changing the requirements for sitting for the exam and the statements re ward representation? I would like to see the context. Thanks.

I've never seen anything precisely about ward representation but the hope is that changing the requirement for sitting for the Walls exam will lead to a more economically diverse student body. They screwed up laslt year by not getting DCPS approval to change the criteria early enough, but intend to use it for 2019-20.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dcs-plan-to-diversify-one-of-its-most-selective-high-schools-is-delayed-by-a-year/2019/02/09/2cceb9a4-2b18-11e9-b2fc-721718903bfc_story.html?arc404=true

This article refers to exactly what I said, allowing the top 15 students at all DCPS middle schools to sit for the test regardless of whether they make the requisite PARCC scores. This is not lowering the actual bar, which is passing the test.

They are lowering the bar for taking the test by eliminating PARCC scores. Then to get the at risk and more diversity in, they can easily lower the bar for who they interview by lowering the cut off score. Then the interview determines who gets in - easy to pick at risk students since no transparency there and all subjective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the PP, most parents assume a HS of 1700 kids would have enough tracked options for high achieving students. Also walls is going be harder to get into as they are now limiting the number of white kids specifically.

Can you provide some support for this assertion?

There was an attempt last year to allow students that did not meet the PARCC standard to sit for the test if they were among the top 15 students academically at their middle school. The school did not give proper notice of the policy change and students were not allowed to sit for the test. I am not aware of any plans other that giving proper notice of this policy change this year. That is only allowing students to sit for the test and yes those students are likely POC given the demographics in DC. This is not, however, an attempt to limit the number of “white kids” at SWW.

If they are otherwise looking at changing the standards for admissions I have not heard of read anything about it. I was fairly tuned in to such discussions last year as I had a student applying that is now a 9th grader there.

They eliminated PARCC requirements and also said they wanted more equal representation from all the wards. That means wards 7 and 8. That’s code for less white kids from ward 3. In fact, last year leaders in DCPS personally went to low achieving middle schools to let them know to have the kids apply.

Can you point me to where SWW gave notice they are changing the requirements for sitting for the exam and the statements re ward representation? I would like to see the context. Thanks.

I've never seen anything precisely about ward representation but the hope is that changing the requirement for sitting for the Walls exam will lead to a more economically diverse student body. They screwed up laslt year by not getting DCPS approval to change the criteria early enough, but intend to use it for 2019-20.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dcs-plan-to-diversify-one-of-its-most-selective-high-schools-is-delayed-by-a-year/2019/02/09/2cceb9a4-2b18-11e9-b2fc-721718903bfc_story.html?arc404=true

This article refers to exactly what I said, allowing the top 15 students at all DCPS middle schools to sit for the test regardless of whether they make the requisite PARCC scores. This is not lowering the actual bar, which is passing the test.

They are lowering the bar for taking the test by eliminating PARCC scores. Then to get the at risk and more diversity in, they can easily lower the bar for who they interview by lowering the cut off score. Then the interview determines who gets in - easy to pick at risk students since no transparency there and all subjective.

Or even if they don't lower the bar significantly (they do not want students who fail or are counseled out) a close-call or tie goes to the student from an underrepresented ward. Which to me is fine, as it's a city-wide school and has never pretended to be only about the test scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the PP, most parents assume a HS of 1700 kids would have enough tracked options for high achieving students. Also walls is going be harder to get into as they are now limiting the number of white kids specifically.

Can you provide some support for this assertion?

There was an attempt last year to allow students that did not meet the PARCC standard to sit for the test if they were among the top 15 students academically at their middle school. The school did not give proper notice of the policy change and students were not allowed to sit for the test. I am not aware of any plans other that giving proper notice of this policy change this year. That is only allowing students to sit for the test and yes those students are likely POC given the demographics in DC. This is not, however, an attempt to limit the number of “white kids” at SWW.

If they are otherwise looking at changing the standards for admissions I have not heard of read anything about it. I was fairly tuned in to such discussions last year as I had a student applying that is now a 9th grader there.

They eliminated PARCC requirements and also said they wanted more equal representation from all the wards. That means wards 7 and 8. That’s code for less white kids from ward 3. In fact, last year leaders in DCPS personally went to low achieving middle schools to let them know to have the kids apply.

Can you point me to where SWW gave notice they are changing the requirements for sitting for the exam and the statements re ward representation? I would like to see the context. Thanks.

I've never seen anything precisely about ward representation but the hope is that changing the requirement for sitting for the Walls exam will lead to a more economically diverse student body. They screwed up laslt year by not getting DCPS approval to change the criteria early enough, but intend to use it for 2019-20.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dcs-plan-to-diversify-one-of-its-most-selective-high-schools-is-delayed-by-a-year/2019/02/09/2cceb9a4-2b18-11e9-b2fc-721718903bfc_story.html?arc404=true

This article refers to exactly what I said, allowing the top 15 students at all DCPS middle schools to sit for the test regardless of whether they make the requisite PARCC scores. This is not lowering the actual bar, which is passing the test.

They are lowering the bar for taking the test by eliminating PARCC scores. Then to get the at risk and more diversity in, they can easily lower the bar for who they interview by lowering the cut off score. Then the interview determines who gets in - easy to pick at risk students since no transparency there and all subjective.

Or even if they don't lower the bar significantly (they do not want students who fail or are counseled out) a close-call or tie goes to the student from an underrepresented ward. Which to me is fine, as it's a city-wide school and has never pretended to be only about the test scores.

Of course they are going to lower the bar. They are trying to recruit kids who can’t even test competent at grade level on the PARCC. That is already a low bar to start with recruitment. It’s obvious you are not facing reality. To follow thru with getting these kids in, they are going to lower the bar for the Walls test. And they will do it quietly just like they did with trying to eliminate PARCC requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the PP, most parents assume a HS of 1700 kids would have enough tracked options for high achieving students. Also walls is going be harder to get into as they are now limiting the number of white kids specifically.

Can you provide some support for this assertion?

There was an attempt last year to allow students that did not meet the PARCC standard to sit for the test if they were among the top 15 students academically at their middle school. The school did not give proper notice of the policy change and students were not allowed to sit for the test. I am not aware of any plans other that giving proper notice of this policy change this year. That is only allowing students to sit for the test and yes those students are likely POC given the demographics in DC. This is not, however, an attempt to limit the number of “white kids” at SWW.

If they are otherwise looking at changing the standards for admissions I have not heard of read anything about it. I was fairly tuned in to such discussions last year as I had a student applying that is now a 9th grader there.

They eliminated PARCC requirements and also said they wanted more equal representation from all the wards. That means wards 7 and 8. That’s code for less white kids from ward 3. In fact, last year leaders in DCPS personally went to low achieving middle schools to let them know to have the kids apply.

Can you point me to where SWW gave notice they are changing the requirements for sitting for the exam and the statements re ward representation? I would like to see the context. Thanks.

I've never seen anything precisely about ward representation but the hope is that changing the requirement for sitting for the Walls exam will lead to a more economically diverse student body. They screwed up laslt year by not getting DCPS approval to change the criteria early enough, but intend to use it for 2019-20.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dcs-plan-to-diversify-one-of-its-most-selective-high-schools-is-delayed-by-a-year/2019/02/09/2cceb9a4-2b18-11e9-b2fc-721718903bfc_story.html?arc404=true

This article refers to exactly what I said, allowing the top 15 students at all DCPS middle schools to sit for the test regardless of whether they make the requisite PARCC scores. This is not lowering the actual bar, which is passing the test.

They are lowering the bar for taking the test by eliminating PARCC scores. Then to get the at risk and more diversity in, they can easily lower the bar for who they interview by lowering the cut off score. Then the interview determines who gets in - easy to pick at risk students since no transparency there and all subjective.

Or even if they don't lower the bar significantly (they do not want students who fail or are counseled out) a close-call or tie goes to the student from an underrepresented ward. Which to me is fine, as it's a city-wide school and has never pretended to be only about the test scores.

Of course they are going to lower the bar. They are trying to recruit kids who can’t even test competent at grade level on the PARCC. That is already a low bar to start with recruitment. It’s obvious you are not facing reality. To follow thru with getting these kids in, they are going to lower the bar for the Walls test. And they will do it quietly just like they did with trying to eliminate PARCC requirements.

I'm not facing reality? I don't send my kids to Walls. I do send my high SES kid to a low SES school so I this debate is fascinating to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the PP, most parents assume a HS of 1700 kids would have enough tracked options for high achieving students. Also walls is going be harder to get into as they are now limiting the number of white kids specifically.

Can you provide some support for this assertion?

There was an attempt last year to allow students that did not meet the PARCC standard to sit for the test if they were among the top 15 students academically at their middle school. The school did not give proper notice of the policy change and students were not allowed to sit for the test. I am not aware of any plans other that giving proper notice of this policy change this year. That is only allowing students to sit for the test and yes those students are likely POC given the demographics in DC. This is not, however, an attempt to limit the number of “white kids” at SWW.

If they are otherwise looking at changing the standards for admissions I have not heard of read anything about it. I was fairly tuned in to such discussions last year as I had a student applying that is now a 9th grader there.

They eliminated PARCC requirements and also said they wanted more equal representation from all the wards. That means wards 7 and 8. That’s code for less white kids from ward 3. In fact, last year leaders in DCPS personally went to low achieving middle schools to let them know to have the kids apply.

Can you point me to where SWW gave notice they are changing the requirements for sitting for the exam and the statements re ward representation? I would like to see the context. Thanks.

I've never seen anything precisely about ward representation but the hope is that changing the requirement for sitting for the Walls exam will lead to a more economically diverse student body. They screwed up laslt year by not getting DCPS approval to change the criteria early enough, but intend to use it for 2019-20.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dcs-plan-to-diversify-one-of-its-most-selective-high-schools-is-delayed-by-a-year/2019/02/09/2cceb9a4-2b18-11e9-b2fc-721718903bfc_story.html?arc404=true

Notice in the article how it said they quietly tried to roll it out. It also says there is not enough at risk students represented and the student body doesn’t represent same percentages as in the city. So who do you think they are trying to target here? White kids in ward 3? If you can’t read in between the lines, not sure what to tell you.

They are eliminating PARCC scores where you just need to be just competent to apply. comoetent at grade level people, no rocket scientist. Goal to attract black and Hispanic kids who don’t test well. How much more obvious can you be? So you don’t even need to be at grade level on PARCC to apply.

These kids who don’t meet the PARCC requirements will go in taking the test. If they don’t do well on PARCC and testing, what would change with taking the admission test at Walls? I’m betting the kids will be weighted which can easily be done quietly since there is not much transparency with the selection criteria.

There is a lot of hypotheticals and supposition in there.

As someone that has a child that went through the process, it can be exasperatingly vague and stressful but as far as the kids I saw that passed the test and were interviewed and who got in it was not that surprising.

Also, the school was not hiding that they made this change. I was told about this at the open house last November in a discussion with the person answering admissions related questions. What the school failed to do was give proper notice, which is a legal issue. Prior to last year there was no PARCC requirement, they allowed anyone with a 3.0 to sit for the test.

The students that get in are going to have to succeed at the school, I would suggest that if they want to expand access to students that have strong aptitude but have had reduced academic opportunities that they provide a separate route and special support once those students arrive to help facilitate success.

[Anonymous]

I mean - does anybody actually know how many Walls students are from east of the Anacostia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the PP, most parents assume a HS of 1700 kids would have enough tracked options for high achieving students. Also walls is going be harder to get into as they are now limiting the number of white kids specifically.

Can you provide some support for this assertion?

There was an attempt last year to allow students that did not meet the PARCC standard to sit for the test if they were among the top 15 students academically at their middle school. The school did not give proper notice of the policy change and students were not allowed to sit for the test. I am not aware of any plans other that giving proper notice of this policy change this year. That is only allowing students to sit for the test and yes those students are likely POC given the demographics in DC. This is not, however, an attempt to limit the number of “white kids” at SWW.

If they are otherwise looking at changing the standards for admissions I have not heard of read anything about it. I was fairly tuned in to such discussions last year as I had a student applying that is now a 9th grader there.

They eliminated PARCC requirements and also said they wanted more equal representation from all the wards. That means wards 7 and 8. That’s code for less white kids from ward 3. In fact, last year leaders in DCPS personally went to low achieving middle schools to let them know to have the kids apply.

Can you point me to where SWW gave notice they are changing the requirements for sitting for the exam and the statements re ward representation? I would like to see the context. Thanks.

I've never seen anything precisely about ward representation but the hope is that changing the requirement for sitting for the Walls exam will lead to a more economically diverse student body. They screwed up laslt year by not getting DCPS approval to change the criteria early enough, but intend to use it for 2019-20.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dcs-plan-to-diversify-one-of-its-most-selective-high-schools-is-delayed-by-a-year/2019/02/09/2cceb9a4-2b18-11e9-b2fc-721718903bfc_story.html?arc404=true

Notice in the article how it said they quietly tried to roll it out. It also says there is not enough at risk students represented and the student body doesn’t represent same percentages as in the city. So who do you think they are trying to target here? White kids in ward 3? If you can’t read in between the lines, not sure what to tell you.

They are eliminating PARCC scores where you just need to be just competent to apply. comoetent at grade level people, no rocket scientist. Goal to attract black and Hispanic kids who don’t test well. How much more obvious can you be? So you don’t even need to be at grade level on PARCC to apply.

These kids who don’t meet the PARCC requirements will go in taking the test. If they don’t do well on PARCC and testing, what would change with taking the admission test at Walls? I’m betting the kids will be weighted which can easily be done quietly since there is not much transparency with the selection criteria.

There is a lot of hypotheticals and supposition in there.

As someone that has a child that went through the process, it can be exasperatingly vague and stressful but as far as the kids I saw that passed the test and were interviewed and who got in it was not that surprising.

Also, the school was not hiding that they made this change. I was told about this at the open house last November in a discussion with the person answering admissions related questions. What the school failed to do was give proper notice, which is a legal issue. Prior to last year there was no PARCC requirement, they allowed anyone with a 3.0 to sit for the test.

The students that get in are going to have to succeed at the school, I would suggest that if they want to expand access to students that have strong aptitude but have had reduced academic opportunities that they provide a separate route and special support once those students arrive to help facilitate success.

This is for everyone upthread: students who applied to SWW in spring of 2019 are the only class in years who had to demonstrate proficiency on the city-wide exam. Since PARCC replaced the DC-CAS, anyone with a 3.0 average from ANY school could sit for the entrance exam. So the proposed policy for students who will apply for 2020-21 remains MORE selective than it has been: to sit for the exam you need a 4 or 5 on PARCC/another standardized test OR be in the top 15 in your class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean - does anybody actually know how many Walls students are from east of the Anacostia?

In 2016/17, 95 students who lived in-bounds for Anacostia, Ballou and Woodson attended Walls. https://dme.dc.gov/node/1269251

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean - does anybody actually know how many Walls students are from east of the Anacostia?

In 2016/17, 95 students who lived in-bounds for Anacostia, Ballou and Woodson attended Walls. https://dme.dc.gov/node/1269251

And a lower percentage of students from both Wards 7 and Ward 8 attend any application school compared to wards 1-6. https://dme.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dme/publication/attachments/SY16-17_High%20School%20Fact%20Sheet_10.06.17.pdf