Banneker versus School Without Walls

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hmm...seems something is missing:

SWW: mostly white
Banneker: mostly black

Not sure what that says to you OP, if anything, but it's what most people seem to talk about a lot on here.

To be fair: SWW is actually only ~half white, not mostly white. But this statement is otherwise correct. Banneker is ~2% white.
I also believe the demographics are different gender-wise, too--my impression is that SWW is closer to 50/50, whereas Banneker is 2/3 or 3/4 girls.

The PP who give a list early in this thread seems right on. My family has had experience with both schools.

Both have a lot of AP classes, but SWW offers more (for instance, Banneker only has AB Calculus, not BC.)
SWW has more clubs and sports.
Both give a lot of homework. Banneker seems to include some busywork in that chunk, including a lot of summer homework.
Banneker requires more community service.
Banneker has much better facilities, with the new building and grounds. It's also easier to get to by Metro and bus.
SWW is nominally humanities-focused while Banneker is general academics focused.
Banneker requires a year of Latin and three years of another language; I think SWW requires three years total of foreign languages.
Both seem to have hard-working, achievement-focused kids who are in general supportive of each other.

Hope this helps, OP!

any DCPS student requiring more advanced math has university level options, including BC

Dual enrollment is not as easy as you make it out to be. Students have to apply and be accepted into dual enrollment. Some colleges only offer a limited choice as to what dual enrollment students can take. Students also then have to commute to the college and coordinate the college class with their other HS courses. The logistical challenges are not minor. This is why not many students take advantage of dual enrollment

Banneker and Walls have logistical advantages with proximity to Howard and GW. Acceptance is less the issue than logistics for students prepared for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hmm...seems something is missing:

SWW: mostly white
Banneker: mostly black

Not sure what that says to you OP, if anything, but it's what most people seem to talk about a lot on here.

To be fair: SWW is actually only ~half white, not mostly white. But this statement is otherwise correct. Banneker is ~2% white.
I also believe the demographics are different gender-wise, too--my impression is that SWW is closer to 50/50, whereas Banneker is 2/3 or 3/4 girls.

The PP who give a list early in this thread seems right on. My family has had experience with both schools.

Both have a lot of AP classes, but SWW offers more (for instance, Banneker only has AB Calculus, not BC.)
SWW has more clubs and sports.
Both give a lot of homework. Banneker seems to include some busywork in that chunk, including a lot of summer homework.
Banneker requires more community service.
Banneker has much better facilities, with the new building and grounds. It's also easier to get to by Metro and bus.
SWW is nominally humanities-focused while Banneker is general academics focused.
Banneker requires a year of Latin and three years of another language; I think SWW requires three years total of foreign languages.
Both seem to have hard-working, achievement-focused kids who are in general supportive of each other.

Hope this helps, OP!

any DCPS student requiring more advanced math has university level options, including BC

Dual enrollment is not as easy as you make it out to be. Students have to apply and be accepted into dual enrollment. Some colleges only offer a limited choice as to what dual enrollment students can take. Students also then have to commute to the college and coordinate the college class with their other HS courses. The logistical challenges are not minor. This is why not many students take advantage of dual enrollment

Banneker and Walls have logistical advantages with proximity to Howard and GW. Acceptance is less the issue than logistics for students prepared for it.

It’s not just acceptance. It’s fitting the course they want into their schedule (most take the dual enrollment class outside of school hours). Lots of kids have sports or extracurriculars and can’t commit to the college schedule. And they can’t just take any class they want, there has to be space in the course and the universities have to allow it. It’s not as easy as you may think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very few Banneker kids do the IB DP. Even fewer earn an an IB diploma. Check out the difference between DCI, an IB for all school, and Banneker’s IB DP graduation numbers (even with selective admissions. Mind Boggling.

They only allow 25 students do the IB path.

Banneker has 525 students and only 5% are capable of the IB path? So out of those 5%, how many actually earn the IB diploma?

Capable? My son went to Banneker and I loved it! Maybe the kids don't want or need it. Not everyone wants an IB diploma. We didn't even consider it. Banneker's latin's program alone is worth it.

[Anonymous]

Banneker has kids with IEPs and 504s.

[Anonymous]

Key stats strangely unmentioned as yet:

Banneker is roughly 1% white, 0% Asian, 10% Latino and 89% AA. No idea if this will change in their new building but it might not.

Doesn't seem like a very 21st century student body to me.

[Anonymous]

OP here. The under-represented white population I think reflects the white community overlooking what looks to be an amazing school. The physical location may play a role too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The under-represented white population I think reflects the white community overlooking what looks to be an amazing school. The physical location may play a role too.

yep. I also think Ward 6 parents who want drill-and-kill (no judgment) can more easily enroll in Basis than go through and application process. For me personally my (white) kid has ADHD and I don’t think he could make it happily through a homework-heavy program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Key stats strangely unmentioned as yet:

Banneker is roughly 1% white, 0% Asian, 10% Latino and 89% AA. No idea if this will change in their new building but it might not.

Doesn't seem like a very 21st century student body to me.

And who’s fault is that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The under-represented white population I think reflects the white community overlooking what looks to be an amazing school. The physical location may play a role too.

100%. Particularly about white families overlooking. As was mentioned earlier in the thread, I think it's generally easier to get to Banneker from most of the city than to Walls, but people of all races and ethnicities manage the Walls commute. (Ward 7 and 8 families don't, but that's another topic.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The under-represented white population I think reflects the white community overlooking what looks to be an amazing school. The physical location may play a role too.

i think the new, very visible building, as well as the high number of white families who are enrolled in the elementary schools in Shaw, will change that in the coming years. (I'm at one of those schools and all the gentrifiers are quite excited about Banneker and definitely see it as a desirable option).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Key stats strangely unmentioned as yet:

Banneker is roughly 1% white, 0% Asian, 10% Latino and 89% AA. No idea if this will change in their new building but it might not.

Doesn't seem like a very 21st century student body to me.

And who’s fault is that?

You tell me. It's far from clear to me that the Mayor, DCPS higher-ups, corporate and Howard Univ supporters of Banneker and and the school's leadership, faculty and community want lots of white and Asian students to enroll. What evidence do we have that they do? The program's tradition isn't for this to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The under-represented white population I think reflects the white community overlooking what looks to be an amazing school. The physical location may play a role too.

i think the new, very visible building, as well as the high number of white families who are enrolled in the elementary schools in Shaw, will change that in the coming years. (I'm at one of those schools and all the gentrifiers are quite excited about Banneker and definitely see it as a desirable option).

DP. I'm sorry, this makes me chuckle. White families in Shaw and Logan Circle have been optimistic about "turning around" the ES schools and the middle and high schools for years. Nothing changes. I've lived in this area for 15 years. Ever notice the dearth of kids above the age of 10 in these neighborhoods? Families move as their kids hit mid to late elementary because there is no acceptable MS or HS path. Moving Banneker to this area doesn't really change that. If you don't get into Banneker or lottery into a different school, your option is Cardozo. None of those families are going to send their kids to Cardozo.

It's great that all of you are excited, but you'll get more realistic as your kid gets older.

[Anonymous]

THIS. Undeniably true. A DCPS test-in middle school program with a city-wide draw wouldn't hurt. I'm not holding my breath.

[Anonymous]

I don't see why anyone would be trying to keep whites out of the school. I think it is more that this school is well known in the African American community and is being over-looked by whites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very few Banneker kids do the IB DP. Even fewer earn an an IB diploma. Check out the difference between DCI, an IB for all school, and Banneker’s IB DP graduation numbers (even with selective admissions. Mind Boggling.

They only allow 25 students do the IB path.

Is this a selection because they think the other students can’t hack it? Why don’t they open it to all like DCI?

It’s a small school with a finite number of teachers. 25 is the number of kids that can do IB. They also have AP. DCI makes all the kids take one track. They’re different schools. I get it you love DCI. Great! I’m happy for you.

Not quite right on DCI. They have an IB diploma and IB career program. They have many similarities, but a few key differences. And both are IB sanctioned.