DCI middle and high school current experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

I appreciate your perspective. I am a PP with a 9th grader. She and her friends are all having a great year and I know that she would say HS is better than MS. That seems to be an almost universal view. As you say, MS is just a pain.

Our perspective is that while kids can have a great time in HS at DCI, their admins aren't too serious about supporting the academics and extra curriculars UMC families who aren't URM to aim high in college admissions. They're thrilled when your UMC kid scores 3s and 4s on IB Diploma exams vs. 6s and 7s. Attending an open houses at the test-in IBD program in MoCo taught us what we were missing, DCI admins can be a real pain. If DCI is the best you can do for HS, you want to go in with your eyes open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

I appreciate your perspective. I am a PP with a 9th grader. She and her friends are all having a great year and I know that she would say HS is better than MS. That seems to be an almost universal view. As you say, MS is just a pain.

Our perspective is that while kids can have a great time in HS at DCI, their admins aren't too serious about supporting the academics and extra curriculars UMC families who aren't URM to aim high in college admissions. They're thrilled when your UMC kid scores 3s and 4s on IB Diploma exams vs. 6s and 7s. Attending an open houses at the test-in IBD program in MoCo taught us what we were missing, DCI admins can be a real pain. If DCI is the best you can do for HS, you want to go in with your eyes open.

Oh look! There’s the MoCo poster who went to an open house years ago and have no clue about what is happening at the school, has no kids at the school, who can’t move on and keeps posting on every DCI thread.

Your premise is completely false. If UMC 1st gen are getting into Ivy, they sure are not getting 3 and 4’s and you know that. They are scoring high in classes and on exams and doubt tgeur families are supplementing outside like crazy.

This is one of the parameters you want to look at is if lower SES kids who are URM and 1st gen are doing well at a school. If they are then the academics and staff is strong.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a MoCo poster and my eldest attended DCI for 2 yrs. currently in at a different high school. We researched the DCI HS situation thoroughly. I wish I were wrong. The poster above who noted that DCI students cracking Ivies at first gen is right. Denial may feel good, but it's still denial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

We left DCI for Walls for our science oriented eldest. Not many kids go from DCI to Walls but there are some. Walls has been OK for AP Chemistry and surprisingly good for Physics (1,2 and C taught) and Calc, both AB and BC. Walls isn't good for AP Bio, not even taught every year. It's not that hard to find science HS internships and volunteer gigs in DC, particularly at NASA, NAS and the Smithsonian museums.

A couple of my kid's Walls friends volunteer at the Air and Space Museum throuuh their HS internhip program. If you're looking for more advanced language than Walls teaches, you can find it at GW.

Thank you, this is super helpful. Do you know why so few kids do? Is it that they don't apply, aren't admitted, or choose not to take a spot?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

I appreciate your perspective. I am a PP with a 9th grader. She and her friends are all having a great year and I know that she would say HS is better than MS. That seems to be an almost universal view. As you say, MS is just a pain.

Our perspective is that while kids can have a great time in HS at DCI, their admins aren't too serious about supporting the academics and extra curriculars UMC families who aren't URM to aim high in college admissions. They're thrilled when your UMC kid scores 3s and 4s on IB Diploma exams vs. 6s and 7s. Attending an open houses at the test-in IBD program in MoCo taught us what we were missing, DCI admins can be a real pain. If DCI is the best you can do for HS, you want to go in with your eyes open.

No offense, but either you or someone like you has posted this exact info before. I'm not looking to game the Ivy admissions system, but I want my kid to be able to reach her potential. Also worried IBD is too focused on writing, which is not her strong suit. We're all very well aware of the limitations of DCI. I'm looking to know the experience of current students, not in comparisons with MoCo. I hope you understand where I'm coming from.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]I'm not a MoCo poster and my eldest attended DCI for 2 yrs. currently in at a different high school. We researched the DCI HS situation thoroughly. I wish I were wrong. The poster above who noted that DCI students cracking Ivies at first gen is right. Denial may feel good, but it's still denial.[/quote]

you obviously don’t have the information that you think you have - as I recall, only one of the four ivy admits last year at dci was first gen. I think one was a minority but def not first gen. And also a couple white kids, which seems to be what you think counts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

We left DCI for Walls for our science oriented eldest. Not many kids go from DCI to Walls but there are some. Walls has been OK for AP Chemistry and surprisingly good for Physics (1,2 and C taught) and Calc, both AB and BC. Walls isn't good for AP Bio, not even taught every year. It's not that hard to find science HS internships and volunteer gigs in DC, particularly at NASA, NAS and the Smithsonian museums.

A couple of my kid's Walls friends volunteer at the Air and Space Museum throuuh their HS internhip program. If you're looking for more advanced language than Walls teaches, you can find it at GW.

Thank you, this is super helpful. Do you know why so few kids do? Is it that they don't apply, aren't admitted, or choose not to take a spot?

I am not direct PP, but am the PP with the 9th grader that responded above. From my daughter's cohort, some applied, I think many got in (but maybe not all) and a few took the spot. But most did not. I do not know the reasons why for most, but school choice in DC does present the "grass is greener" conundrum. This was the case for two of my DD's friends. They were happy at DCI but applied to Walls because it is a good school but at the end of the day, they weren't sure that Walls was a better choice than DCI. The students did not want to leave DCI, which makes a big difference. This is just an N of 2 of course. This N of 2 have not regretted their decision, so far at least.

We did not apply because my daughter is math & science-oriented and we had a different view of the curriculum than PP. But it is great to hear that Walls is working out for that family in that regard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

We left DCI for Walls for our science oriented eldest. Not many kids go from DCI to Walls but there are some. Walls has been OK for AP Chemistry and surprisingly good for Physics (1,2 and C taught) and Calc, both AB and BC. Walls isn't good for AP Bio, not even taught every year. It's not that hard to find science HS internships and volunteer gigs in DC, particularly at NASA, NAS and the Smithsonian museums.

A couple of my kid's Walls friends volunteer at the Air and Space Museum throuuh their HS internhip program. If you're looking for more advanced language than Walls teaches, you can find it at GW.

Thank you, this is super helpful. Do you know why so few kids do? Is it that they don't apply, aren't admitted, or choose not to take a spot?

I am not direct PP, but am the PP with the 9th grader that responded above. From my daughter's cohort, some applied, I think many got in (but maybe not all) and a few took the spot. But most did not. I do not know the reasons why for most, but school choice in DC does present the "grass is greener" conundrum. This was the case for two of my DD's friends. They were happy at DCI but applied to Walls because it is a good school but at the end of the day, they weren't sure that Walls was a better choice than DCI. The students did not want to leave DCI, which makes a big difference. This is just an N of 2 of course. This N of 2 have not regretted their decision, so far at least.

We did not apply because my daughter is math & science-oriented and we had a different view of the curriculum than PP. But it is great to hear that Walls is working out for that family in that regard.

I should clarify that we did not consider applying to Walls for many other reasons, primarily being that we are happy at DCI and did not consider any other options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

We left DCI for Walls for our science oriented eldest. Not many kids go from DCI to Walls but there are some. Walls has been OK for AP Chemistry and surprisingly good for Physics (1,2 and C taught) and Calc, both AB and BC. Walls isn't good for AP Bio, not even taught every year. It's not that hard to find science HS internships and volunteer gigs in DC, particularly at NASA, NAS and the Smithsonian museums.

A couple of my kid's Walls friends volunteer at the Air and Space Museum throuuh their HS internhip program. If you're looking for more advanced language than Walls teaches, you can find it at GW.

Thank you, this is super helpful. Do you know why so few kids do? Is it that they don't apply, aren't admitted, or choose not to take a spot?

If kids and families are happy at a school, why would they consider leaving or applying to Walls? Especially now with DCPS’s even worst admission criteria and dilution of sorting out high performing students?

Frankly, I would run far from DCPS. Things overall are going downhill in terms of academic rigor and high performing peer groups WOTP and at Walls. It’s only going to get worst post pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

We left DCI for Walls for our science oriented eldest. Not many kids go from DCI to Walls but there are some. Walls has been OK for AP Chemistry and surprisingly good for Physics (1,2 and C taught) and Calc, both AB and BC. Walls isn't good for AP Bio, not even taught every year. It's not that hard to find science HS internships and volunteer gigs in DC, particularly at NASA, NAS and the Smithsonian museums.

A couple of my kid's Walls friends volunteer at the Air and Space Museum throuuh their HS internhip program. If you're looking for more advanced language than Walls teaches, you can find it at GW.

Thank you, this is super helpful. Do you know why so few kids do? Is it that they don't apply, aren't admitted, or choose not to take a spot?

Don't mean to cause offense, but from our perspective, most UMC DCI parents care more about diversity and the the globalism/world citizenry of IBD than we do. We just want to the best academics we can find in a DC public high schools without living in-boundary for JR pyramid.

We were prepared to leave DCI for more challenging academics, a higher performing peer group and more experienced teachers than you get at DCI overall. Few DCI families of top performers seem to think in those terms. We only know one other former DCI family at Walls.

As you may have heard, Walls admissions has become a real crap shoot recently. But not difficult to see that they favor STEM stars who apply.

If your kid clears the Walls application GPA cut-off (easily done from DCI) and is strong in STEM, you want to emphasize math skills on hte application and in the interview. If you stuck with DPCS through 5th grade, make sure Walls knows that when you apply. They seem to prefer kids who came up through the system, at least part way.

I wouldn't stop at DCI MS core academics if you're shooting for Walls. Make sure your kid reads more, writes better, does harder math than DCI requires. If you want to shoot for GW language classes, do more there.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

We left DCI for Walls for our science oriented eldest. Not many kids go from DCI to Walls but there are some. Walls has been OK for AP Chemistry and surprisingly good for Physics (1,2 and C taught) and Calc, both AB and BC. Walls isn't good for AP Bio, not even taught every year. It's not that hard to find science HS internships and volunteer gigs in DC, particularly at NASA, NAS and the Smithsonian museums.

A couple of my kid's Walls friends volunteer at the Air and Space Museum throuuh their HS internhip program. If you're looking for more advanced language than Walls teaches, you can find it at GW.

Thank you, this is super helpful. Do you know why so few kids do? Is it that they don't apply, aren't admitted, or choose not to take a spot?

If kids and families are happy at a school, why would they consider leaving or applying to Walls? Especially now with DCPS’s even worst admission criteria and dilution of sorting out high performing students?

Frankly, I would run far from DCPS. Things overall are going downhill in terms of academic rigor and high performing peer groups WOTP and at Walls. It’s only going to get worst post pandemic.

OK, but what's the alternative in DC public? Lots of inexperienced teachers and high teacher turnover at DCI along with weak students. Just not the case at Walls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

We left DCI for Walls for our science oriented eldest. Not many kids go from DCI to Walls but there are some. Walls has been OK for AP Chemistry and surprisingly good for Physics (1,2 and C taught) and Calc, both AB and BC. Walls isn't good for AP Bio, not even taught every year. It's not that hard to find science HS internships and volunteer gigs in DC, particularly at NASA, NAS and the Smithsonian museums.

A couple of my kid's Walls friends volunteer at the Air and Space Museum throuuh their HS internhip program. If you're looking for more advanced language than Walls teaches, you can find it at GW.

Thank you, this is super helpful. Do you know why so few kids do? Is it that they don't apply, aren't admitted, or choose not to take a spot?

If kids and families are happy at a school, why would they consider leaving or applying to Walls? Especially now with DCPS’s even worst admission criteria and dilution of sorting out high performing students?

Frankly, I would run far from DCPS. Things overall are going downhill in terms of academic rigor and high performing peer groups WOTP and at Walls. It’s only going to get worst post pandemic.

OK, but what's the alternative in DC public? Lots of inexperienced teachers and high teacher turnover at DCI along with weak students. Just not the case at Walls.

Yea no, Walks definitely has weaker students with recent incoming class, teacher turnover is high, many teachers just cruise and are apathetic, and DCPS fired a decent principal because he pushback and did not agree with their policies.

Now there is a weak principal who is just talk and not competent. It’s a bad sign for the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

We left DCI for Walls for our science oriented eldest. Not many kids go from DCI to Walls but there are some. Walls has been OK for AP Chemistry and surprisingly good for Physics (1,2 and C taught) and Calc, both AB and BC. Walls isn't good for AP Bio, not even taught every year. It's not that hard to find science HS internships and volunteer gigs in DC, particularly at NASA, NAS and the Smithsonian museums.

A couple of my kid's Walls friends volunteer at the Air and Space Museum throuuh their HS internhip program. If you're looking for more advanced language than Walls teaches, you can find it at GW.

Thank you, this is super helpful. Do you know why so few kids do? Is it that they don't apply, aren't admitted, or choose not to take a spot?

Don't mean to cause offense, but from our perspective, most UMC DCI parents care more about diversity and the the globalism/world citizenry of IBD than we do. We just want to the best academics we can find in a DC public high schools without living in-boundary for JR pyramid.

We were prepared to leave DCI for more challenging academics, a higher performing peer group and more experienced teachers than you get at DCI overall. Few DCI families of top performers seem to think in those terms. We only know one other former DCI family at Walls.

As you may have heard, Walls admissions has become a real crap shoot recently. But not difficult to see that they favor STEM stars who apply.

If your kid clears the Walls application GPA cut-off (easily done from DCI) and is strong in STEM, you want to emphasize math skills on hte application and in the interview. If you stuck with DPCS through 5th grade, make sure Walls knows that when you apply. They seem to prefer kids who came up through the system, at least part way.

I wouldn't stop at DCI MS core academics if you're shooting for Walls. Make sure your kid reads more, writes better, does harder math than DCI requires. If you want to shoot for GW language classes, do more there.

Good luck!

Your description of the Walls application process is way off. Walls doesn't favor STEM stars, there is no way to emphasize math skills in the application, and the interview is a joke.

[Anonymous]

My kid used the interview to mention math accomplishments and how she came up through DCPS. You do what you can with the brief interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

We left DCI for Walls for our science oriented eldest. Not many kids go from DCI to Walls but there are some. Walls has been OK for AP Chemistry and surprisingly good for Physics (1,2 and C taught) and Calc, both AB and BC. Walls isn't good for AP Bio, not even taught every year. It's not that hard to find science HS internships and volunteer gigs in DC, particularly at NASA, NAS and the Smithsonian museums.

A couple of my kid's Walls friends volunteer at the Air and Space Museum throuuh their HS internhip program. If you're looking for more advanced language than Walls teaches, you can find it at GW.

Thank you, this is super helpful. Do you know why so few kids do? Is it that they don't apply, aren't admitted, or choose not to take a spot?

Don't mean to cause offense, but from our perspective, most UMC DCI parents care more about diversity and the the globalism/world citizenry of IBD than we do. We just want to the best academics we can find in a DC public high schools without living in-boundary for JR pyramid.

We were prepared to leave DCI for more challenging academics, a higher performing peer group and more experienced teachers than you get at DCI overall. Few DCI families of top performers seem to think in those terms. We only know one other former DCI family at Walls.

As you may have heard, Walls admissions has become a real crap shoot recently. But not difficult to see that they favor STEM stars who apply.

If your kid clears the Walls application GPA cut-off (easily done from DCI) and is strong in STEM, you want to emphasize math skills on hte application and in the interview. If you stuck with DPCS through 5th grade, make sure Walls knows that when you apply. They seem to prefer kids who came up through the system, at least part way.

I wouldn't stop at DCI MS core academics if you're shooting for Walls. Make sure your kid reads more, writes better, does harder math than DCI requires. If you want to shoot for GW language classes, do more there.

Good luck!

Your description of the Walls application process is way off. Walls doesn't favor STEM stars, there is no way to emphasize math skills in the application, and the interview is a joke.

Disagree that they don't favor STEM stars. Many BASIS 8th graders crack Walls.