DC NMSFs 2025

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not enough seats at the selective schools for all of the advanced students in the city. DCPS clearly has no intention of finding any kind of solution to this. They’ve pretty much washed their hands of it. So, families have to find a work around, either getting into the selective schools, which involves an element of luck; going private; or moving. And some kids can make some comprehensive schools work, too, if they are self-disciplined and willing to seek out opportunities there.

Lots of kids at selective admissions schools and programs aren't even at grade level. DCPS could easily guarantee a spot for every kid who is actually advanced. That they're definitely not is a separate issue -- but they could.

How do you know tihs? Have you ever even set foot in one? Talked to a teacher?

How do you *not* know this?

Seriously, you're going on stereotypes. The selective schools test well compared to the non-selective schools.

I'm not remotely. I think it's great that McKinley Tech exists, but the median kid takes algebra freshman year and then is getting 3s in math, and then gets an SAT score that's not "advanced". Then there are programs like the early college academy where 4% of the kids are testing proficient in math. It's just not the case that there aren't enough slots for every kid who is, say, taking and passing geometry or algebra 2 in eighth grade or comparably ahead in English, especially since many of them prefer JR or a charter. There's just not a desire to meet that need.

Again, show your math, please. If you want to prove you point, prove it with numbers, not just some magical imagined "median kid." Over and over again it is assumed on this forum that any predominantly black school is inherently inferior.

What in the world are you talking about? I assume you are capable of looking at the school level PARCC data and seeing that almost all of the students at McKinley tech start in algebra and that the median math score is 3. That's not the case at Banneker, it is the case at McKinley, because I'm talking about the numbers, not the race of the student body. You can also look at Bard High School Early College, where 4% of the kids test proficient in math. It's not getting aggregated into another school. This is a selective admissions high school.

If DC wanted to have ONE program that you were guaranteed to get into if you were actually advanced, they could very much do that, just as they choose to serve other student populations. They have chosen not to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not enough seats at the selective schools for all of the advanced students in the city. DCPS clearly has no intention of finding any kind of solution to this. They’ve pretty much washed their hands of it. So, families have to find a work around, either getting into the selective schools, which involves an element of luck; going private; or moving. And some kids can make some comprehensive schools work, too, if they are self-disciplined and willing to seek out opportunities there.

Lots of kids at selective admissions schools and programs aren't even at grade level. DCPS could easily guarantee a spot for every kid who is actually advanced. That they're definitely not is a separate issue -- but they could.

How do you know tihs? Have you ever even set foot in one? Talked to a teacher?

How do you *not* know this?

Seriously, you're going on stereotypes. The selective schools test well compared to the non-selective schools.

I'm not remotely. I think it's great that McKinley Tech exists, but the median kid takes algebra freshman year and then is getting 3s in math, and then gets an SAT score that's not "advanced". Then there are programs like the early college academy where 4% of the kids are testing proficient in math. It's just not the case that there aren't enough slots for every kid who is, say, taking and passing geometry or algebra 2 in eighth grade or comparably ahead in English, especially since many of them prefer JR or a charter. There's just not a desire to meet that need.

Again, show your math, please. If you want to prove you point, prove it with numbers, not just some magical imagined "median kid." Over and over again it is assumed on this forum that any predominantly black school is inherently inferior.

What in the world are you talking about? I assume you are capable of looking at the school level PARCC data and seeing that almost all of the students at McKinley tech start in algebra and that the median math score is 3. That's not the case at Banneker, it is the case at McKinley, because I'm talking about the numbers, not the race of the student body. You can also look at Bard High School Early College, where 4% of the kids test proficient in math. It's not getting aggregated into another school. This is a selective admissions high school.

If DC wanted to have ONE program that you were guaranteed to get into if you were actually advanced, they could very much do that, just as they choose to serve other student populations. They have chosen not to.

There isn’t a single school district in the entire US that offers this. Not one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not enough seats at the selective schools for all of the advanced students in the city. DCPS clearly has no intention of finding any kind of solution to this. They’ve pretty much washed their hands of it. So, families have to find a work around, either getting into the selective schools, which involves an element of luck; going private; or moving. And some kids can make some comprehensive schools work, too, if they are self-disciplined and willing to seek out opportunities there.

Lots of kids at selective admissions schools and programs aren't even at grade level. DCPS could easily guarantee a spot for every kid who is actually advanced. That they're definitely not is a separate issue -- but they could.

How do you know tihs? Have you ever even set foot in one? Talked to a teacher?

How do you *not* know this?

Seriously, you're going on stereotypes. The selective schools test well compared to the non-selective schools.

I'm not remotely. I think it's great that McKinley Tech exists, but the median kid takes algebra freshman year and then is getting 3s in math, and then gets an SAT score that's not "advanced". Then there are programs like the early college academy where 4% of the kids are testing proficient in math. It's just not the case that there aren't enough slots for every kid who is, say, taking and passing geometry or algebra 2 in eighth grade or comparably ahead in English, especially since many of them prefer JR or a charter. There's just not a desire to meet that need.

Again, show your math, please. If you want to prove you point, prove it with numbers, not just some magical imagined "median kid." Over and over again it is assumed on this forum that any predominantly black school is inherently inferior.

What in the world are you talking about? I assume you are capable of looking at the school level PARCC data and seeing that almost all of the students at McKinley tech start in algebra and that the median math score is 3. That's not the case at Banneker, it is the case at McKinley, because I'm talking about the numbers, not the race of the student body. You can also look at Bard High School Early College, where 4% of the kids test proficient in math. It's not getting aggregated into another school. This is a selective admissions high school.

If DC wanted to have ONE program that you were guaranteed to get into if you were actually advanced, they could very much do that, just as they choose to serve other student populations. They have chosen not to.

There isn’t a single school district in the entire US that offers this. Not one.

The selective high school exam is the sole criteria for admissions for Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, and Bronx Science, so if you score at the top, you are guaranteed admissions.

In Chicago, the selective admissions high schools are not purely test in, but it's a significant component.

In DC, you can be that same kid and get into no high school which has even a significant cohort of at-grade-level students. That's a choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not enough seats at the selective schools for all of the advanced students in the city. DCPS clearly has no intention of finding any kind of solution to this. They’ve pretty much washed their hands of it. So, families have to find a work around, either getting into the selective schools, which involves an element of luck; going private; or moving. And some kids can make some comprehensive schools work, too, if they are self-disciplined and willing to seek out opportunities there.

This is literally the same decision at every major city. Not sure why DCPS is being singled out.

NYC doesn’t have nearly the slots in their magnet schools for talented kids…neither does LA, Philly, etc. People either move or go private.

shhh don’t ruin PP’s illusion that it’s solely and purely DCPS standing in the way of their child’s entitlement to the best.

for those PP’s fixated on DC’s supposed lack of HS options for your kid: please, get your head on straight before you begin the college admissions process. Because otherwise when you discover your advanced Larla is not going to just walk into your alma matter (or UMD or UVA), no matter how good her HS, you are going to really be searching for who/what to blame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not enough seats at the selective schools for all of the advanced students in the city. DCPS clearly has no intention of finding any kind of solution to this. They’ve pretty much washed their hands of it. So, families have to find a work around, either getting into the selective schools, which involves an element of luck; going private; or moving. And some kids can make some comprehensive schools work, too, if they are self-disciplined and willing to seek out opportunities there.

Lots of kids at selective admissions schools and programs aren't even at grade level. DCPS could easily guarantee a spot for every kid who is actually advanced. That they're definitely not is a separate issue -- but they could.

How do you know tihs? Have you ever even set foot in one? Talked to a teacher?

How do you *not* know this?

Seriously, you're going on stereotypes. The selective schools test well compared to the non-selective schools.

I'm not remotely. I think it's great that McKinley Tech exists, but the median kid takes algebra freshman year and then is getting 3s in math, and then gets an SAT score that's not "advanced". Then there are programs like the early college academy where 4% of the kids are testing proficient in math. It's just not the case that there aren't enough slots for every kid who is, say, taking and passing geometry or algebra 2 in eighth grade or comparably ahead in English, especially since many of them prefer JR or a charter. There's just not a desire to meet that need.

Again, show your math, please. If you want to prove you point, prove it with numbers, not just some magical imagined "median kid." Over and over again it is assumed on this forum that any predominantly black school is inherently inferior.

What in the world are you talking about? I assume you are capable of looking at the school level PARCC data and seeing that almost all of the students at McKinley tech start in algebra and that the median math score is 3. That's not the case at Banneker, it is the case at McKinley, because I'm talking about the numbers, not the race of the student body. You can also look at Bard High School Early College, where 4% of the kids test proficient in math. It's not getting aggregated into another school. This is a selective admissions high school.

If DC wanted to have ONE program that you were guaranteed to get into if you were actually advanced, they could very much do that, just as they choose to serve other student populations. They have chosen not to.

There isn’t a single school district in the entire US that offers this. Not one.

The selective high school exam is the sole criteria for admissions for Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, and Bronx Science, so if you score at the top, you are guaranteed admissions.

In Chicago, the selective admissions high schools are not purely test in, but it's a significant component.

In DC, you can be that same kid and get into no high school which has even a significant cohort of at-grade-level students. That's a choice.

What you’re missing here is that the kids PPs are talking about almost certainly wouldn’t get into Stuy either. There’s a tiny number of slots vs the number of smart kids. Parents in NYC all sweat it exactly the same as here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not enough seats at the selective schools for all of the advanced students in the city. DCPS clearly has no intention of finding any kind of solution to this. They’ve pretty much washed their hands of it. So, families have to find a work around, either getting into the selective schools, which involves an element of luck; going private; or moving. And some kids can make some comprehensive schools work, too, if they are self-disciplined and willing to seek out opportunities there.

Lots of kids at selective admissions schools and programs aren't even at grade level. DCPS could easily guarantee a spot for every kid who is actually advanced. That they're definitely not is a separate issue -- but they could.

How do you know tihs? Have you ever even set foot in one? Talked to a teacher?

How do you *not* know this?

Seriously, you're going on stereotypes. The selective schools test well compared to the non-selective schools.

I'm not remotely. I think it's great that McKinley Tech exists, but the median kid takes algebra freshman year and then is getting 3s in math, and then gets an SAT score that's not "advanced". Then there are programs like the early college academy where 4% of the kids are testing proficient in math. It's just not the case that there aren't enough slots for every kid who is, say, taking and passing geometry or algebra 2 in eighth grade or comparably ahead in English, especially since many of them prefer JR or a charter. There's just not a desire to meet that need.

Again, show your math, please. If you want to prove you point, prove it with numbers, not just some magical imagined "median kid." Over and over again it is assumed on this forum that any predominantly black school is inherently inferior.

What in the world are you talking about? I assume you are capable of looking at the school level PARCC data and seeing that almost all of the students at McKinley tech start in algebra and that the median math score is 3. That's not the case at Banneker, it is the case at McKinley, because I'm talking about the numbers, not the race of the student body. You can also look at Bard High School Early College, where 4% of the kids test proficient in math. It's not getting aggregated into another school. This is a selective admissions high school.

If DC wanted to have ONE program that you were guaranteed to get into if you were actually advanced, they could very much do that, just as they choose to serve other student populations. They have chosen not to.

There isn’t a single school district in the entire US that offers this. Not one.

The selective high school exam is the sole criteria for admissions for Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, and Bronx Science, so if you score at the top, you are guaranteed admissions.

In Chicago, the selective admissions high schools are not purely test in, but it's a significant component.

In DC, you can be that same kid and get into no high school which has even a significant cohort of at-grade-level students. That's a choice.

What you’re missing here is that the kids PPs are talking about almost certainly wouldn’t get into Stuy either. There’s a tiny number of slots vs the number of smart kids. Parents in NYC all sweat it exactly the same as here.

This is just a stupid argument. We're not asking for a guaranteed spot but a process based on any degree of meritocracy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not enough seats at the selective schools for all of the advanced students in the city. DCPS clearly has no intention of finding any kind of solution to this. They’ve pretty much washed their hands of it. So, families have to find a work around, either getting into the selective schools, which involves an element of luck; going private; or moving. And some kids can make some comprehensive schools work, too, if they are self-disciplined and willing to seek out opportunities there.

Lots of kids at selective admissions schools and programs aren't even at grade level. DCPS could easily guarantee a spot for every kid who is actually advanced. That they're definitely not is a separate issue -- but they could.

How do you know tihs? Have you ever even set foot in one? Talked to a teacher?

How do you *not* know this?

Seriously, you're going on stereotypes. The selective schools test well compared to the non-selective schools.

I'm not remotely. I think it's great that McKinley Tech exists, but the median kid takes algebra freshman year and then is getting 3s in math, and then gets an SAT score that's not "advanced". Then there are programs like the early college academy where 4% of the kids are testing proficient in math. It's just not the case that there aren't enough slots for every kid who is, say, taking and passing geometry or algebra 2 in eighth grade or comparably ahead in English, especially since many of them prefer JR or a charter. There's just not a desire to meet that need.

Again, show your math, please. If you want to prove you point, prove it with numbers, not just some magical imagined "median kid." Over and over again it is assumed on this forum that any predominantly black school is inherently inferior.

What in the world are you talking about? I assume you are capable of looking at the school level PARCC data and seeing that almost all of the students at McKinley tech start in algebra and that the median math score is 3. That's not the case at Banneker, it is the case at McKinley, because I'm talking about the numbers, not the race of the student body. You can also look at Bard High School Early College, where 4% of the kids test proficient in math. It's not getting aggregated into another school. This is a selective admissions high school.

If DC wanted to have ONE program that you were guaranteed to get into if you were actually advanced, they could very much do that, just as they choose to serve other student populations. They have chosen not to.

There isn’t a single school district in the entire US that offers this. Not one.

The selective high school exam is the sole criteria for admissions for Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, and Bronx Science, so if you score at the top, you are guaranteed admissions.

In Chicago, the selective admissions high schools are not purely test in, but it's a significant component.

In DC, you can be that same kid and get into no high school which has even a significant cohort of at-grade-level students. That's a choice.

What you’re missing here is that the kids PPs are talking about almost certainly wouldn’t get into Stuy either. There’s a tiny number of slots vs the number of smart kids. Parents in NYC all sweat it exactly the same as here.

This is just a stupid argument. We're not asking for a guaranteed spot but a process based on any degree of meritocracy.

Whatever you’re asking for, the PP is literally asking for a guaranteed spot and lauding the NYC system because it provides guaranteed spots to the highest scorers. And the current process for admissions at Walls is indisputably based on some degree of merit, because 7th grade GPA is a measure of merit. The fact is that there are more high-GPA 7th graders than there are seats at Walls, so there’s also a degree of uncertainty. But a test-in school would mean even more A students are left out, because high-scoring B students (like my kid) would take up some of the seats. One reason the current process is reasonably popular IRL, however DCUM feels about it, is that many parents believe their lower-scoring A student is more deserving than my higher-scoring B student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not enough seats at the selective schools for all of the advanced students in the city. DCPS clearly has no intention of finding any kind of solution to this. They’ve pretty much washed their hands of it. So, families have to find a work around, either getting into the selective schools, which involves an element of luck; going private; or moving. And some kids can make some comprehensive schools work, too, if they are self-disciplined and willing to seek out opportunities there.

Lots of kids at selective admissions schools and programs aren't even at grade level. DCPS could easily guarantee a spot for every kid who is actually advanced. That they're definitely not is a separate issue -- but they could.

How do you know tihs? Have you ever even set foot in one? Talked to a teacher?

How do you *not* know this?

Seriously, you're going on stereotypes. The selective schools test well compared to the non-selective schools.

I'm not remotely. I think it's great that McKinley Tech exists, but the median kid takes algebra freshman year and then is getting 3s in math, and then gets an SAT score that's not "advanced". Then there are programs like the early college academy where 4% of the kids are testing proficient in math. It's just not the case that there aren't enough slots for every kid who is, say, taking and passing geometry or algebra 2 in eighth grade or comparably ahead in English, especially since many of them prefer JR or a charter. There's just not a desire to meet that need.

Again, show your math, please. If you want to prove you point, prove it with numbers, not just some magical imagined "median kid." Over and over again it is assumed on this forum that any predominantly black school is inherently inferior.

What in the world are you talking about? I assume you are capable of looking at the school level PARCC data and seeing that almost all of the students at McKinley tech start in algebra and that the median math score is 3. That's not the case at Banneker, it is the case at McKinley, because I'm talking about the numbers, not the race of the student body. You can also look at Bard High School Early College, where 4% of the kids test proficient in math. It's not getting aggregated into another school. This is a selective admissions high school.

If DC wanted to have ONE program that you were guaranteed to get into if you were actually advanced, they could very much do that, just as they choose to serve other student populations. They have chosen not to.

There isn’t a single school district in the entire US that offers this. Not one.

The selective high school exam is the sole criteria for admissions for Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, and Bronx Science, so if you score at the top, you are guaranteed admissions.

In Chicago, the selective admissions high schools are not purely test in, but it's a significant component.

In DC, you can be that same kid and get into no high school which has even a significant cohort of at-grade-level students. That's a choice.

What you’re missing here is that the kids PPs are talking about almost certainly wouldn’t get into Stuy either. There’s a tiny number of slots vs the number of smart kids. Parents in NYC all sweat it exactly the same as here.

This is just a stupid argument. We're not asking for a guaranteed spot but a process based on any degree of meritocracy.

Whatever you’re asking for, the PP is literally asking for a guaranteed spot and lauding the NYC system because it provides guaranteed spots to the highest scorers. And the current process for admissions at Walls is indisputably based on some degree of merit, because 7th grade GPA is a measure of merit. The fact is that there are more high-GPA 7th graders than there are seats at Walls, so there’s also a degree of uncertainty. But a test-in school would mean even more A students are left out, because high-scoring B students (like my kid) would take up some of the seats. One reason the current process is reasonably popular IRL, however DCUM feels about it, is that many parents believe their lower-scoring A student is more deserving than my higher-scoring B student.

No, because grades would likely also matter, so they would let in the high scoring A students. There are so few seats at Walls, they can fill it with this group.

Right now, there is a large pool of A students -- some from easy A schools and some from challenging schools. Right now they have no clue who the high scoring kids are, so some high scoring A students are losing out to low scoring A students. Adding a test would help to divide up that group and find the truly top students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not enough seats at the selective schools for all of the advanced students in the city. DCPS clearly has no intention of finding any kind of solution to this. They’ve pretty much washed their hands of it. So, families have to find a work around, either getting into the selective schools, which involves an element of luck; going private; or moving. And some kids can make some comprehensive schools work, too, if they are self-disciplined and willing to seek out opportunities there.

Lots of kids at selective admissions schools and programs aren't even at grade level. DCPS could easily guarantee a spot for every kid who is actually advanced. That they're definitely not is a separate issue -- but they could.

How do you know tihs? Have you ever even set foot in one? Talked to a teacher?

How do you *not* know this?

Seriously, you're going on stereotypes. The selective schools test well compared to the non-selective schools.

I'm not remotely. I think it's great that McKinley Tech exists, but the median kid takes algebra freshman year and then is getting 3s in math, and then gets an SAT score that's not "advanced". Then there are programs like the early college academy where 4% of the kids are testing proficient in math. It's just not the case that there aren't enough slots for every kid who is, say, taking and passing geometry or algebra 2 in eighth grade or comparably ahead in English, especially since many of them prefer JR or a charter. There's just not a desire to meet that need.

Again, show your math, please. If you want to prove you point, prove it with numbers, not just some magical imagined "median kid." Over and over again it is assumed on this forum that any predominantly black school is inherently inferior.

What in the world are you talking about? I assume you are capable of looking at the school level PARCC data and seeing that almost all of the students at McKinley tech start in algebra and that the median math score is 3. That's not the case at Banneker, it is the case at McKinley, because I'm talking about the numbers, not the race of the student body. You can also look at Bard High School Early College, where 4% of the kids test proficient in math. It's not getting aggregated into another school. This is a selective admissions high school.

If DC wanted to have ONE program that you were guaranteed to get into if you were actually advanced, they could very much do that, just as they choose to serve other student populations. They have chosen not to.

There isn’t a single school district in the entire US that offers this. Not one.

The selective high school exam is the sole criteria for admissions for Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, and Bronx Science, so if you score at the top, you are guaranteed admissions.

In Chicago, the selective admissions high schools are not purely test in, but it's a significant component.

In DC, you can be that same kid and get into no high school which has even a significant cohort of at-grade-level students. That's a choice.

What you’re missing here is that the kids PPs are talking about almost certainly wouldn’t get into Stuy either. There’s a tiny number of slots vs the number of smart kids. Parents in NYC all sweat it exactly the same as here.

This is just a stupid argument. We're not asking for a guaranteed spot but a process based on any degree of meritocracy.

Whatever you’re asking for, the PP is literally asking for a guaranteed spot and lauding the NYC system because it provides guaranteed spots to the highest scorers. And the current process for admissions at Walls is indisputably based on some degree of merit, because 7th grade GPA is a measure of merit. The fact is that there are more high-GPA 7th graders than there are seats at Walls, so there’s also a degree of uncertainty. But a test-in school would mean even more A students are left out, because high-scoring B students (like my kid) would take up some of the seats. One reason the current process is reasonably popular IRL, however DCUM feels about it, is that many parents believe their lower-scoring A student is more deserving than my higher-scoring B student.

No, because grades would likely also matter, so they would let in the high scoring A students. There are so few seats at Walls, they can fill it with this group.

Right now, there is a large pool of A students -- some from easy A schools and some from challenging schools. Right now they have no clue who the high scoring kids are, so some high scoring A students are losing out to low scoring A students. Adding a test would help to divide up that group and find the truly top students.

Obviously a system designed for your personal convenience would do that. But where is the urban American school system that looks at grades and scores and nothing else? The NYC system being held up as a model does not consider grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not enough seats at the selective schools for all of the advanced students in the city. DCPS clearly has no intention of finding any kind of solution to this. They’ve pretty much washed their hands of it. So, families have to find a work around, either getting into the selective schools, which involves an element of luck; going private; or moving. And some kids can make some comprehensive schools work, too, if they are self-disciplined and willing to seek out opportunities there.

Lots of kids at selective admissions schools and programs aren't even at grade level. DCPS could easily guarantee a spot for every kid who is actually advanced. That they're definitely not is a separate issue -- but they could.

How do you know tihs? Have you ever even set foot in one? Talked to a teacher?

How do you *not* know this?

Seriously, you're going on stereotypes. The selective schools test well compared to the non-selective schools.

I'm not remotely. I think it's great that McKinley Tech exists, but the median kid takes algebra freshman year and then is getting 3s in math, and then gets an SAT score that's not "advanced". Then there are programs like the early college academy where 4% of the kids are testing proficient in math. It's just not the case that there aren't enough slots for every kid who is, say, taking and passing geometry or algebra 2 in eighth grade or comparably ahead in English, especially since many of them prefer JR or a charter. There's just not a desire to meet that need.

Again, show your math, please. If you want to prove you point, prove it with numbers, not just some magical imagined "median kid." Over and over again it is assumed on this forum that any predominantly black school is inherently inferior.

What in the world are you talking about? I assume you are capable of looking at the school level PARCC data and seeing that almost all of the students at McKinley tech start in algebra and that the median math score is 3. That's not the case at Banneker, it is the case at McKinley, because I'm talking about the numbers, not the race of the student body. You can also look at Bard High School Early College, where 4% of the kids test proficient in math. It's not getting aggregated into another school. This is a selective admissions high school.

If DC wanted to have ONE program that you were guaranteed to get into if you were actually advanced, they could very much do that, just as they choose to serve other student populations. They have chosen not to.

There isn’t a single school district in the entire US that offers this. Not one.

The selective high school exam is the sole criteria for admissions for Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, and Bronx Science, so if you score at the top, you are guaranteed admissions.

In Chicago, the selective admissions high schools are not purely test in, but it's a significant component.

In DC, you can be that same kid and get into no high school which has even a significant cohort of at-grade-level students. That's a choice.

What you’re missing here is that the kids PPs are talking about almost certainly wouldn’t get into Stuy either. There’s a tiny number of slots vs the number of smart kids. Parents in NYC all sweat it exactly the same as here.

This is just a stupid argument. We're not asking for a guaranteed spot but a process based on any degree of meritocracy.

Whatever you’re asking for, the PP is literally asking for a guaranteed spot and lauding the NYC system because it provides guaranteed spots to the highest scorers. And the current process for admissions at Walls is indisputably based on some degree of merit, because 7th grade GPA is a measure of merit. The fact is that there are more high-GPA 7th graders than there are seats at Walls, so there’s also a degree of uncertainty. But a test-in school would mean even more A students are left out, because high-scoring B students (like my kid) would take up some of the seats. One reason the current process is reasonably popular IRL, however DCUM feels about it, is that many parents believe their lower-scoring A student is more deserving than my higher-scoring B student.

No, because grades would likely also matter, so they would let in the high scoring A students. There are so few seats at Walls, they can fill it with this group.

Right now, there is a large pool of A students -- some from easy A schools and some from challenging schools. Right now they have no clue who the high scoring kids are, so some high scoring A students are losing out to low scoring A students. Adding a test would help to divide up that group and find the truly top students.

Obviously a system designed for your personal convenience would do that. But where is the urban American school system that looks at grades and scores and nothing else? The NYC system being held up as a model does not consider grades.

Lowell in San Francisco (arguably the most similar city to DC). Look at the criteria -- grades and test and essay.

https://www.sfusd.edu/schools/enroll/apply/applying-lowell-high-school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:There are not enough seats at the selective schools for all of the advanced students in the city. DCPS clearly has no intention of finding any kind of solution to this. They’ve pretty much washed their hands of it. So, families have to find a work around, either getting into the selective schools, which involves an element of luck; going private; or moving. And some kids can make some comprehensive schools work, too, if they are self-disciplined and willing to seek out opportunities there.

Lots of kids at selective admissions schools and programs aren't even at grade level. DCPS could easily guarantee a spot for every kid who is actually advanced. That they're definitely not is a separate issue -- but they could.

How do you know tihs? Have you ever even set foot in one? Talked to a teacher?

How do you *not* know this?

Seriously, you're going on stereotypes. The selective schools test well compared to the non-selective schools.

I'm not remotely. I think it's great that McKinley Tech exists, but the median kid takes algebra freshman year and then is getting 3s in math, and then gets an SAT score that's not "advanced". Then there are programs like the early college academy where 4% of the kids are testing proficient in math. It's just not the case that there aren't enough slots for every kid who is, say, taking and passing geometry or algebra 2 in eighth grade or comparably ahead in English, especially since many of them prefer JR or a charter. There's just not a desire to meet that need.

Again, show your math, please. If you want to prove you point, prove it with numbers, not just some magical imagined "median kid." Over and over again it is assumed on this forum that any predominantly black school is inherently inferior.

What in the world are you talking about? I assume you are capable of looking at the school level PARCC data and seeing that almost all of the students at McKinley tech start in algebra and that the median math score is 3. That's not the case at Banneker, it is the case at McKinley, because I'm talking about the numbers, not the race of the student body. You can also look at Bard High School Early College, where 4% of the kids test proficient in math. It's not getting aggregated into another school. This is a selective admissions high school.

If DC wanted to have ONE program that you were guaranteed to get into if you were actually advanced, they could very much do that, just as they choose to serve other student populations. They have chosen not to.

There isn’t a single school district in the entire US that offers this. Not one.

The selective high school exam is the sole criteria for admissions for Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, and Bronx Science, so if you score at the top, you are guaranteed admissions.

In Chicago, the selective admissions high schools are not purely test in, but it's a significant component.

In DC, you can be that same kid and get into no high school which has even a significant cohort of at-grade-level students. That's a choice.

What you’re missing here is that the kids PPs are talking about almost certainly wouldn’t get into Stuy either. There’s a tiny number of slots vs the number of smart kids. Parents in NYC all sweat it exactly the same as here.

This is just a stupid argument. We're not asking for a guaranteed spot but a process based on any degree of meritocracy.

sure you are.

[Anonymous]

What would be the issue with a system that combines grades and a test score as elements of admission? Wouldn’t that be most effective in identifying the top students?

Why are people afraid of a standardized test?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it’s better for a kid to be getting straight As in easier classes or at a grade-inflated middle school than to be coming from a more challenging academic experience where their grades aren’t as high.

This is a huge flaw in the system.

We actively made this decision very recently -- our choice was between a mediocre DCPS school where my straight A, 98th percentile type kid would have most likely gotten As but not learned as much, and BASIS, where he will have to work very hard to get As but would learn a ton.

We did BASIS. I have no regrets, he is thrilled to be learning and would have been bored at the other school. But I fully accept that it might make his likelihood of getting into Walls lower. unless there was a test!

But your child can stay at BASIS if he doesn't get into Walls, and he will continue to learn a ton. Whereas those children who are at a mediocre MS facing a terrible HS need to get into Walls to have a chance to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not enough seats at the selective schools for all of the advanced students in the city. DCPS clearly has no intention of finding any kind of solution to this. They’ve pretty much washed their hands of it. So, families have to find a work around, either getting into the selective schools, which involves an element of luck; going private; or moving. And some kids can make some comprehensive schools work, too, if they are self-disciplined and willing to seek out opportunities there.

Lots of kids at selective admissions schools and programs aren't even at grade level. DCPS could easily guarantee a spot for every kid who is actually advanced. That they're definitely not is a separate issue -- but they could.

How do you know tihs? Have you ever even set foot in one? Talked to a teacher?

How do you *not* know this?

Seriously, you're going on stereotypes. The selective schools test well compared to the non-selective schools.

I'm not remotely. I think it's great that McKinley Tech exists, but the median kid takes algebra freshman year and then is getting 3s in math, and then gets an SAT score that's not "advanced". Then there are programs like the early college academy where 4% of the kids are testing proficient in math. It's just not the case that there aren't enough slots for every kid who is, say, taking and passing geometry or algebra 2 in eighth grade or comparably ahead in English, especially since many of them prefer JR or a charter. There's just not a desire to meet that need.

Again, show your math, please. If you want to prove you point, prove it with numbers, not just some magical imagined "median kid." Over and over again it is assumed on this forum that any predominantly black school is inherently inferior.

What in the world are you talking about? I assume you are capable of looking at the school level PARCC data and seeing that almost all of the students at McKinley tech start in algebra and that the median math score is 3. That's not the case at Banneker, it is the case at McKinley, because I'm talking about the numbers, not the race of the student body. You can also look at Bard High School Early College, where 4% of the kids test proficient in math. It's not getting aggregated into another school. This is a selective admissions high school.

If DC wanted to have ONE program that you were guaranteed to get into if you were actually advanced, they could very much do that, just as they choose to serve other student populations. They have chosen not to.

There isn’t a single school district in the entire US that offers this. Not one.

The selective high school exam is the sole criteria for admissions for Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, and Bronx Science, so if you score at the top, you are guaranteed admissions.

In Chicago, the selective admissions high schools are not purely test in, but it's a significant component.

In DC, you can be that same kid and get into no high school which has even a significant cohort of at-grade-level students. That's a choice.

What you’re missing here is that the kids PPs are talking about almost certainly wouldn’t get into Stuy either. There’s a tiny number of slots vs the number of smart kids. Parents in NYC all sweat it exactly the same as here.

This is just a stupid argument. We're not asking for a guaranteed spot but a process based on any degree of meritocracy.

Whatever you’re asking for, the PP is literally asking for a guaranteed spot and lauding the NYC system because it provides guaranteed spots to the highest scorers. And the current process for admissions at Walls is indisputably based on some degree of merit, because 7th grade GPA is a measure of merit. The fact is that there are more high-GPA 7th graders than there are seats at Walls, so there’s also a degree of uncertainty. But a test-in school would mean even more A students are left out, because high-scoring B students (like my kid) would take up some of the seats. One reason the current process is reasonably popular IRL, however DCUM feels about it, is that many parents believe their lower-scoring A student is more deserving than my higher-scoring B student.

No, because grades would likely also matter, so they would let in the high scoring A students. There are so few seats at Walls, they can fill it with this group.

Right now, there is a large pool of A students -- some from easy A schools and some from challenging schools. Right now they have no clue who the high scoring kids are, so some high scoring A students are losing out to low scoring A students. Adding a test would help to divide up that group and find the truly top students.

Obviously a system designed for your personal convenience would do that. But where is the urban American school system that looks at grades and scores and nothing else? The NYC system being held up as a model does not consider grades.

Lowell in San Francisco (arguably the most similar city to DC). Look at the criteria -- grades and test and essay.

https://www.sfusd.edu/schools/enroll/apply/applying-lowell-high-school

But it’s not just grades and test scores. It’s also a bunch of non-academic factors, including demonstrated ability to overcome hardship and attendance at an underrepresented middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are not enough seats at the selective schools for all of the advanced students in the city. DCPS clearly has no intention of finding any kind of solution to this. They’ve pretty much washed their hands of it. So, families have to find a work around, either getting into the selective schools, which involves an element of luck; going private; or moving. And some kids can make some comprehensive schools work, too, if they are self-disciplined and willing to seek out opportunities there.

Lots of kids at selective admissions schools and programs aren't even at grade level. DCPS could easily guarantee a spot for every kid who is actually advanced. That they're definitely not is a separate issue -- but they could.

How do you know tihs? Have you ever even set foot in one? Talked to a teacher?

How do you *not* know this?

Seriously, you're going on stereotypes. The selective schools test well compared to the non-selective schools.

I'm not remotely. I think it's great that McKinley Tech exists, but the median kid takes algebra freshman year and then is getting 3s in math, and then gets an SAT score that's not "advanced". Then there are programs like the early college academy where 4% of the kids are testing proficient in math. It's just not the case that there aren't enough slots for every kid who is, say, taking and passing geometry or algebra 2 in eighth grade or comparably ahead in English, especially since many of them prefer JR or a charter. There's just not a desire to meet that need.

Again, show your math, please. If you want to prove you point, prove it with numbers, not just some magical imagined "median kid." Over and over again it is assumed on this forum that any predominantly black school is inherently inferior.

What in the world are you talking about? I assume you are capable of looking at the school level PARCC data and seeing that almost all of the students at McKinley tech start in algebra and that the median math score is 3. That's not the case at Banneker, it is the case at McKinley, because I'm talking about the numbers, not the race of the student body. You can also look at Bard High School Early College, where 4% of the kids test proficient in math. It's not getting aggregated into another school. This is a selective admissions high school.

If DC wanted to have ONE program that you were guaranteed to get into if you were actually advanced, they could very much do that, just as they choose to serve other student populations. They have chosen not to.

There is no city in the country that ‘guarantees’ as you put it, a spot for every ‘actually advanced’ kid. You really think NYC guarantees a spot for every advanced kid? You are ridiculous and clearly unserious about actually making DCPS better.