Banneker interviews

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Kind of amazing how much harder Banneker is to get into this year than just two or three years back. I don't remember reading this kind of angst-ridden thread about Banneker admissions before, at least not in the several years since the renovation opened up a bunch more spots.

More central location is a big reason. Throw in private school tuition increases, higher mortgage rates, etc. and this is what happens. Hopefully the same for McKinley Tech!

I do not see this happening for McKinley Tech unfortunately

Not sure why you would say this. McKinley Tech had the same type of reputation now that Banneker had a few years ago. Good word on the street. Impressive test scores. This year, lots of kids aren't getting interviews for Banneker who would have gotten in any other year. Some of them will go to McKinley Tech rather than spend 180K on privates. Some of those kids will be white. They'll join the growing number of white kids who are already there and boom, five years from now, the conversation is quite different than it is now. I wouldn't be shocked if the conversation were pretty different next year even.

LOL! So optimistic and naive. Don’t think so.

Banneker is getting some more interest because it’s getting harder and harder to crack Walls. But still very, very small percentage of middle and UMC whites families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Kind of amazing how much harder Banneker is to get into this year than just two or three years back. I don't remember reading this kind of angst-ridden thread about Banneker admissions before, at least not in the several years since the renovation opened up a bunch more spots.

More central location is a big reason. Throw in private school tuition increases, higher mortgage rates, etc. and this is what happens. Hopefully the same for McKinley Tech!

Also throw in increased competition for BASIS and Latin starting around four years ago. Some of us EotP were in the first group where most families who went with a DCPS ES or non-DCI feeder charter were shut out of both programs. On top of that, some of the kids who went to BASIS and DCI didn't like the middle schools well enough to want to stay for HS. These 8th graders are seeking greener pastures at Walls and Banneker. We're families that can't afford privates, don't want to move and won't try McKinley, Eastern etc.

The kids at DCI are not looking at Banneker. DCI has a much more robust IB program with lots more offerings and much better scores. BTW, DCI has a very high retention rate and it’s virtually impossible to get into 9th now except a few Chinese spots. You are basically shut out unless in a feeder. So lots of kids are not leaving for Banneker or Walls.

BTW, we toured both Banneker and DCI and DCI offers a ton more sports, extracurriculars, and clubs in addition to better IB offerings.

BS. We know several DCI 8th graders who just interviewed for Banneker along with our son. For some DCI students, the commute to DCI is a good deal shorter. It's also a school with much better discipline that DCI, which appeals to some families. Yes, DCI's IB program is superior, but it's not the be and end all for everybody. Banneker has a much more stable and experienced faculty and staff.

Your anecdotal of a few is not lots of kids. Data doesnt lie.

Poster above asserted that "DCI kids are NOT looking at Banneker." Wrong. A small number are indeed looking at Banneker as noted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Kind of amazing how much harder Banneker is to get into this year than just two or three years back. I don't remember reading this kind of angst-ridden thread about Banneker admissions before, at least not in the several years since the renovation opened up a bunch more spots.

More central location is a big reason. Throw in private school tuition increases, higher mortgage rates, etc. and this is what happens. Hopefully the same for McKinley Tech!

I do not see this happening for McKinley Tech unfortunately

Not sure why you would say this. McKinley Tech had the same type of reputation now that Banneker had a few years ago. Good word on the street. Impressive test scores. This year, lots of kids aren't getting interviews for Banneker who would have gotten in any other year. Some of them will go to McKinley Tech rather than spend 180K on privates. Some of those kids will be white. They'll join the growing number of white kids who are already there and boom, five years from now, the conversation is quite different than it is now. I wouldn't be shocked if the conversation were pretty different next year even.

I agree with this. We live walking distance from McKinley and are already hearing murmurings about this, and for the first time I know a UMC family whose kid enrolled this year. I have kids in upper elementary and would be thrilled if McKinley was talked about the way Banneker currently is when the time comes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Kind of amazing how much harder Banneker is to get into this year than just two or three years back. I don't remember reading this kind of angst-ridden thread about Banneker admissions before, at least not in the several years since the renovation opened up a bunch more spots.

More central location is a big reason. Throw in private school tuition increases, higher mortgage rates, etc. and this is what happens. Hopefully the same for McKinley Tech!

I do not see this happening for McKinley Tech unfortunately

Not sure why you would say this. McKinley Tech had the same type of reputation now that Banneker had a few years ago. Good word on the street. Impressive test scores. This year, lots of kids aren't getting interviews for Banneker who would have gotten in any other year. Some of them will go to McKinley Tech rather than spend 180K on privates. Some of those kids will be white. They'll join the growing number of white kids who are already there and boom, five years from now, the conversation is quite different than it is now. I wouldn't be shocked if the conversation were pretty different next year even.

I agree with this. We live walking distance from McKinley and are already hearing murmurings about this, and for the first time I know a UMC family whose kid enrolled this year. I have kids in upper elementary and would be thrilled if McKinley was talked about the way Banneker currently is when the time comes.

(And we would consider it. I know the US News rankings are all suspect, but the top 5 high schools by their criteria are Walls, Banneker, Basis, McKinley and JR. I think I would send my kids to any of those five schools.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Kind of amazing how much harder Banneker is to get into this year than just two or three years back. I don't remember reading this kind of angst-ridden thread about Banneker admissions before, at least not in the several years since the renovation opened up a bunch more spots.

More central location is a big reason. Throw in private school tuition increases, higher mortgage rates, etc. and this is what happens. Hopefully the same for McKinley Tech!

I do not see this happening for McKinley Tech unfortunately

Not sure why you would say this. McKinley Tech had the same type of reputation now that Banneker had a few years ago. Good word on the street. Impressive test scores. This year, lots of kids aren't getting interviews for Banneker who would have gotten in any other year. Some of them will go to McKinley Tech rather than spend 180K on privates. Some of those kids will be white. They'll join the growing number of white kids who are already there and boom, five years from now, the conversation is quite different than it is now. I wouldn't be shocked if the conversation were pretty different next year even.

I agree with this. We live walking distance from McKinley and are already hearing murmurings about this, and for the first time I know a UMC family whose kid enrolled this year. I have kids in upper elementary and would be thrilled if McKinley was talked about the way Banneker currently is when the time comes.[/quote

I would be thrilled too but I don’t see much happening with McKinley Tech. Maybe I am jaded as I have been around DCPS a very long time. DCPS middle schools in general are pretty bad. They don’t do a good job educating kids so there are not enough high performing students to spread out between Walls, Banneker, JR, MacArthur and McKinley Tech. That is one reason they had to get rid of the Walls test. The test was not particularly hard. It was just there to ensure kids entering Walls were at least ready for grade level work (nothing exceptional). But most kids in the city were shut out because our middle schools are so weak. And McKinley Tech can’t do much advanced STEM if kids are coming in with a weak math and science foundation. That is the depressing reality in DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Kind of amazing how much harder Banneker is to get into this year than just two or three years back. I don't remember reading this kind of angst-ridden thread about Banneker admissions before, at least not in the several years since the renovation opened up a bunch more spots.

More central location is a big reason. Throw in private school tuition increases, higher mortgage rates, etc. and this is what happens. Hopefully the same for McKinley Tech!

I do not see this happening for McKinley Tech unfortunately

Not sure why you would say this. McKinley Tech had the same type of reputation now that Banneker had a few years ago. Good word on the street. Impressive test scores. This year, lots of kids aren't getting interviews for Banneker who would have gotten in any other year. Some of them will go to McKinley Tech rather than spend 180K on privates. Some of those kids will be white. They'll join the growing number of white kids who are already there and boom, five years from now, the conversation is quite different than it is now. I wouldn't be shocked if the conversation were pretty different next year even.

I agree with this. We live walking distance from McKinley and are already hearing murmurings about this, and for the first time I know a UMC family whose kid enrolled this year. I have kids in upper elementary and would be thrilled if McKinley was talked about the way Banneker currently is when the time comes.[/quote

I would be thrilled too but I don’t see much happening with McKinley Tech. Maybe I am jaded as I have been around DCPS a very long time. DCPS middle schools in general are pretty bad. They don’t do a good job educating kids so there are not enough high performing students to spread out between Walls, Banneker, JR, MacArthur and McKinley Tech. That is one reason they had to get rid of the Walls test. The test was not particularly hard. It was just there to ensure kids entering Walls were at least ready for grade level work (nothing exceptional). But most kids in the city were shut out because our middle schools are so weak. And McKinley Tech can’t do much advanced STEM if kids are coming in with a weak math and science foundation. That is the depressing reality in DC

What's different now is that there are charter middle schools and more kids who have stayed in DC instead of moving to the suburbs for a variety of reasons. Interest rates being one of them. Inspired teaching moved to two full classes (50 graduates each year). DC International is full now. Most of the kids who graduated from those schools would have left the city, gone to private or worked their way into the JR stream in past years. We are seeing the fruition of many years of work by many schools to create a better reality for middle school. The reality is changing, and, no, it's not mostly about DCPS, but there are more kids who are not zoned for JR staying in DC now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. Kind of amazing how much harder Banneker is to get into this year than just two or three years back. I don't remember reading this kind of angst-ridden thread about Banneker admissions before, at least not in the several years since the renovation opened up a bunch more spots.

I'm not actually sure it's harder to get into this year. Chatter on this board is not indicative of either how many kids applied altogether or how selective Banneker will be.

When the data come out after the admissions cycle is over, then we'll know if it actually was harder to get into this year.

[Anonymous]

Does Banneker have a theater program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does Banneker have a theater program?

Yes, but nowhere near as serious as Ellington or JR.

[Anonymous]

Based on available stats from prior years, I thought it worked out to roughly 98% of students who interviewed being offered a seat by the start of the school year. That is, the number of people admitted from the waitlist was almost equal to the length of the waitlist. I assume everyone who interviews is either offered a seat or waitlisted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on available stats from prior years, I thought it worked out to roughly 98% of students who interviewed being offered a seat by the start of the school year. That is, the number of people admitted from the waitlist was almost equal to the length of the waitlist. I assume everyone who interviews is either offered a seat or waitlisted.

That is good news

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on available stats from prior years, I thought it worked out to roughly 98% of students who interviewed being offered a seat by the start of the school year. That is, the number of people admitted from the waitlist was almost equal to the length of the waitlist. I assume everyone who interviews is either offered a seat or waitlisted.

Have they made clear how many kids they have interviewed each year? I see from the data that last year they accepted 240 and waitlisted 72. But the year my 11th grader applied (and was accepted), they didn't use a waitlist at all.

https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiYjA5ZmM4Y2MtZThmOC00YjVkLTkwN2EtMzIwNzU2MjYwNmZkIiwidCI6IjJhYTA0NmVlLWIzNGUtNGEzMy05MmI3LTk5OWRmMmJjMGEzMiIsImMiOjF9&pageName=ReportSection

[Anonymous]

I noticed that too. My interpretation is that in those prior years, the fact that there was no waitlist means they had more seats available than qualifying students (subtracting qualifying students who ranked other schools higher preference). I assume the new building increased interest last year. Unless there was a sharp increase in interest from students this year, I would expect a very low chance that a kid who interviewed would not be offered a seat by the time the school year starts. Might be a nail-biter for those who are waitlisted, but the odds of getting in should still be very favorable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I noticed that too. My interpretation is that in those prior years, the fact that there was no waitlist means they had more seats available than qualifying students (subtracting qualifying students who ranked other schools higher preference). I assume the new building increased interest last year. Unless there was a sharp increase in interest from students this year, I would expect a very low chance that a kid who interviewed would not be offered a seat by the time the school year starts. Might be a nail-biter for those who are waitlisted, but the odds of getting in should still be very favorable.

Do you know how many kids they interviewed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I noticed that too. My interpretation is that in those prior years, the fact that there was no waitlist means they had more seats available than qualifying students (subtracting qualifying students who ranked other schools higher preference). I assume the new building increased interest last year. Unless there was a sharp increase in interest from students this year, I would expect a very low chance that a kid who interviewed would not be offered a seat by the time the school year starts. Might be a nail-biter for those who are waitlisted, but the odds of getting in should still be very favorable.

Do you know how many kids they interviewed?

All I know is the numbers from the historical waitlist data. My assumption is that all the kids who are interviewed will either be offered a seat or get waitlisted. So, total number of kids interviewed should be the total number of lottery seats offered plus total number of kids waitlisted. That’s my best guess.