McKinley tech incoming families

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who graduated Banneker in 2022 (spent senior year in the new building) and a child who is a rising Junior at McKinley Tech. For both kids, they got into their first choice high schools. Both schools are open and accepting to kids from all backgrounds. Most of the teachers at both schools have been there a while and truly want the students to succeed. Both schools try to accept kids who want to excel and show lots of drive (even if they have not taken all the highest math classes like Algebra 1 and Geometry at their middle schools). Both schools do have challenges in communicating information to parents (both communicating enough info and with communicating the information in a timely manner) - but that is not a unique concern in DCPS.

Banneker is well suited to kids who will enjoy a challenge and want to follow a more liberal arts path. In the new building, the number of students will grow and the school will be able to offer more options for AP and coursework. My child who declared as a Math major at competitive liberal arts college was well prepared!

McKinley kids need to have a tech interest - engineering, biotechnology, or computer science/digital media. They will be taking courses in those areas as well as all the core high school classes. McKinley does have more options for electives (eg concert band) than Banneker.

Genuinely wondering why McKinley has 0% of students scoring a 5 on PARCC and only 14% of kids scoring a 4.

https://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/McKinley+Technology+High+School

Because the school population is socioeconomically disadvantaged. For example, 33 percent of students are at risk, which means homeless, very poor, or in foster care. (https://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/McKinley+Technology+High+School) That doesn't mean the other 2/3 are well off; few are from highly educated families. One ranking that adjusts for those factors puts McKinley ahead of Wilson (https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/district-of-columbia)

Some would argue that means that shows 1) it's a good school and 2) academically successful kids will thrive there. For #1, I'd say probably (though I don't know much), but that doesn't imply 2. Even if it is a good school for the kids that go there, that doesn't necessarily mean that a 8th grader who's already academically advanced would be challenged enough to learn a lot, though it could.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who graduated Banneker in 2022 (spent senior year in the new building) and a child who is a rising Junior at McKinley Tech. For both kids, they got into their first choice high schools. Both schools are open and accepting to kids from all backgrounds. Most of the teachers at both schools have been there a while and truly want the students to succeed. Both schools try to accept kids who want to excel and show lots of drive (even if they have not taken all the highest math classes like Algebra 1 and Geometry at their middle schools). Both schools do have challenges in communicating information to parents (both communicating enough info and with communicating the information in a timely manner) - but that is not a unique concern in DCPS.

Banneker is well suited to kids who will enjoy a challenge and want to follow a more liberal arts path. In the new building, the number of students will grow and the school will be able to offer more options for AP and coursework. My child who declared as a Math major at competitive liberal arts college was well prepared!

McKinley kids need to have a tech interest - engineering, biotechnology, or computer science/digital media. They will be taking courses in those areas as well as all the core high school classes. McKinley does have more options for electives (eg concert band) than Banneker.

Genuinely wondering why McKinley has 0% of students scoring a 5 on PARCC and only 14% of kids scoring a 4.

https://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/McKinley+Technology+High+School

Because the school population is socioeconomically disadvantaged. For example, 33 percent of students are at risk, which means homeless, very poor, or in foster care. (https://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/McKinley+Technology+High+School) That doesn't mean the other 2/3 are well off; few are from highly educated families. One ranking that adjusts for those factors puts McKinley ahead of Wilson (https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/district-of-columbia)

Some would argue that means that shows 1) it's a good school and 2) academically successful kids will thrive there. For #1, I'd say probably (though I don't know much), but that doesn't imply 2. Even if it is a good school for the kids that go there, that doesn't necessarily mean that a 8th grader who's already academically advanced would be challenged enough to learn a lot, though it could.

If an 8th grader completed Algebra 1 and did very well in it, would there be a class with similarly high performers there for child to join at McKinley? My guess from these stats is no?

[Anonymous]

I believe it's because of the way the PARCC test works. Since the high school PARCC is only for Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry, it doesn't pick up results for kids who didn't take those PARCC tests because they are in other math classes. For example only 27 McKinley Tech kids took the Geometry PARCC. So you're not seeing data on kids enrolled upper level math classes at all. I wish they wouldn't report the data this way, it's so misleading and unhelpful. Unfortunately I do not know of any better source that's publicly available.

You can see the math course offerings on the website here:
https://www.mckinleytech.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=417594&type=d

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who graduated Banneker in 2022 (spent senior year in the new building) and a child who is a rising Junior at McKinley Tech. For both kids, they got into their first choice high schools. Both schools are open and accepting to kids from all backgrounds. Most of the teachers at both schools have been there a while and truly want the students to succeed. Both schools try to accept kids who want to excel and show lots of drive (even if they have not taken all the highest math classes like Algebra 1 and Geometry at their middle schools). Both schools do have challenges in communicating information to parents (both communicating enough info and with communicating the information in a timely manner) - but that is not a unique concern in DCPS.

Banneker is well suited to kids who will enjoy a challenge and want to follow a more liberal arts path. In the new building, the number of students will grow and the school will be able to offer more options for AP and coursework. My child who declared as a Math major at competitive liberal arts college was well prepared!

McKinley kids need to have a tech interest - engineering, biotechnology, or computer science/digital media. They will be taking courses in those areas as well as all the core high school classes. McKinley does have more options for electives (eg concert band) than Banneker.

Genuinely wondering why McKinley has 0% of students scoring a 5 on PARCC and only 14% of kids scoring a 4.

https://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/McKinley+Technology+High+School

Because the school population is socioeconomically disadvantaged. For example, 33 percent of students are at risk, which means homeless, very poor, or in foster care. (https://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/McKinley+Technology+High+School) That doesn't mean the other 2/3 are well off; few are from highly educated families. One ranking that adjusts for those factors puts McKinley ahead of Wilson (https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/district-of-columbia)

Some would argue that means that shows 1) it's a good school and 2) academically successful kids will thrive there. For #1, I'd say probably (though I don't know much), but that doesn't imply 2. Even if it is a good school for the kids that go there, that doesn't necessarily mean that a 8th grader who's already academically advanced would be challenged enough to learn a lot, though it could.

If an 8th grader completed Algebra 1 and did very well in it, would there be a class with similarly high performers there for child to join at McKinley? My guess from these stats is no?

You can see the math offerings here:
https://www.mckinleytech.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=417594&type=d

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who graduated Banneker in 2022 (spent senior year in the new building) and a child who is a rising Junior at McKinley Tech. For both kids, they got into their first choice high schools. Both schools are open and accepting to kids from all backgrounds. Most of the teachers at both schools have been there a while and truly want the students to succeed. Both schools try to accept kids who want to excel and show lots of drive (even if they have not taken all the highest math classes like Algebra 1 and Geometry at their middle schools). Both schools do have challenges in communicating information to parents (both communicating enough info and with communicating the information in a timely manner) - but that is not a unique concern in DCPS.

Banneker is well suited to kids who will enjoy a challenge and want to follow a more liberal arts path. In the new building, the number of students will grow and the school will be able to offer more options for AP and coursework. My child who declared as a Math major at competitive liberal arts college was well prepared!

McKinley kids need to have a tech interest - engineering, biotechnology, or computer science/digital media. They will be taking courses in those areas as well as all the core high school classes. McKinley does have more options for electives (eg concert band) than Banneker.

Genuinely wondering why McKinley has 0% of students scoring a 5 on PARCC and only 14% of kids scoring a 4.

https://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/McKinley+Technology+High+School

No DCPS HS has many PARCC 5s on math. SWW only has 5%. Banneker has 3% (but 52% 4s). Jackson Reed has 0%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who graduated Banneker in 2022 (spent senior year in the new building) and a child who is a rising Junior at McKinley Tech. For both kids, they got into their first choice high schools. Both schools are open and accepting to kids from all backgrounds. Most of the teachers at both schools have been there a while and truly want the students to succeed. Both schools try to accept kids who want to excel and show lots of drive (even if they have not taken all the highest math classes like Algebra 1 and Geometry at their middle schools). Both schools do have challenges in communicating information to parents (both communicating enough info and with communicating the information in a timely manner) - but that is not a unique concern in DCPS.

Banneker is well suited to kids who will enjoy a challenge and want to follow a more liberal arts path. In the new building, the number of students will grow and the school will be able to offer more options for AP and coursework. My child who declared as a Math major at competitive liberal arts college was well prepared!

McKinley kids need to have a tech interest - engineering, biotechnology, or computer science/digital media. They will be taking courses in those areas as well as all the core high school classes. McKinley does have more options for electives (eg concert band) than Banneker.

Genuinely wondering why McKinley has 0% of students scoring a 5 on PARCC and only 14% of kids scoring a 4.

https://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/McKinley+Technology+High+School

No DCPS HS has many PARCC 5s on math. SWW only has 5%. Banneker has 3% (but 52% 4s). Jackson Reed has 0%.

Right. Because of how the PARCC test works. I loathe that we have this test and that the reporting is so inaccurate and misleading!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who graduated Banneker in 2022 (spent senior year in the new building) and a child who is a rising Junior at McKinley Tech. For both kids, they got into their first choice high schools. Both schools are open and accepting to kids from all backgrounds. Most of the teachers at both schools have been there a while and truly want the students to succeed. Both schools try to accept kids who want to excel and show lots of drive (even if they have not taken all the highest math classes like Algebra 1 and Geometry at their middle schools). Both schools do have challenges in communicating information to parents (both communicating enough info and with communicating the information in a timely manner) - but that is not a unique concern in DCPS.

Banneker is well suited to kids who will enjoy a challenge and want to follow a more liberal arts path. In the new building, the number of students will grow and the school will be able to offer more options for AP and coursework. My child who declared as a Math major at competitive liberal arts college was well prepared!

McKinley kids need to have a tech interest - engineering, biotechnology, or computer science/digital media. They will be taking courses in those areas as well as all the core high school classes. McKinley does have more options for electives (eg concert band) than Banneker.

Genuinely wondering why McKinley has 0% of students scoring a 5 on PARCC and only 14% of kids scoring a 4.

https://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/McKinley+Technology+High+School

No DCPS HS has many PARCC 5s on math. SWW only has 5%. Banneker has 3% (but 52% 4s). Jackson Reed has 0%.

Right. Because of how the PARCC test works. I loathe that we have this test and that the reporting is so inaccurate and misleading!

Well, you can see that Banneker does significantly better than Walls and McKinley and JR …

[Anonymous]

I posted earlier about my rising junior - came into McKinley with both Algebra 1 and Geometry from Deal. Took Algebra II as freshman and pre-calc as 10th grader. No issues with scheduling. Not sure how many other kids came in that scenario. I think that many who start with Algebra 1 as 9th graders will 'double-up' in tenth and take both geometry and algebra II. The guidance counselor we worked with is very good at trying to get all the kids the classes they need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who graduated Banneker in 2022 (spent senior year in the new building) and a child who is a rising Junior at McKinley Tech. For both kids, they got into their first choice high schools. Both schools are open and accepting to kids from all backgrounds. Most of the teachers at both schools have been there a while and truly want the students to succeed. Both schools try to accept kids who want to excel and show lots of drive (even if they have not taken all the highest math classes like Algebra 1 and Geometry at their middle schools). Both schools do have challenges in communicating information to parents (both communicating enough info and with communicating the information in a timely manner) - but that is not a unique concern in DCPS.

Banneker is well suited to kids who will enjoy a challenge and want to follow a more liberal arts path. In the new building, the number of students will grow and the school will be able to offer more options for AP and coursework. My child who declared as a Math major at competitive liberal arts college was well prepared!

McKinley kids need to have a tech interest - engineering, biotechnology, or computer science/digital media. They will be taking courses in those areas as well as all the core high school classes. McKinley does have more options for electives (eg concert band) than Banneker.

Really helpful and happy that you had such a positive experience at both schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who graduated Banneker in 2022 (spent senior year in the new building) and a child who is a rising Junior at McKinley Tech. For both kids, they got into their first choice high schools. Both schools are open and accepting to kids from all backgrounds. Most of the teachers at both schools have been there a while and truly want the students to succeed. Both schools try to accept kids who want to excel and show lots of drive (even if they have not taken all the highest math classes like Algebra 1 and Geometry at their middle schools). Both schools do have challenges in communicating information to parents (both communicating enough info and with communicating the information in a timely manner) - but that is not a unique concern in DCPS.

Banneker is well suited to kids who will enjoy a challenge and want to follow a more liberal arts path. In the new building, the number of students will grow and the school will be able to offer more options for AP and coursework. My child who declared as a Math major at competitive liberal arts college was well prepared!

McKinley kids need to have a tech interest - engineering, biotechnology, or computer science/digital media. They will be taking courses in those areas as well as all the core high school classes. McKinley does have more options for electives (eg concert band) than Banneker.

Thank you! This should be stickied as it is one of the most useful posts ever on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who graduated Banneker in 2022 (spent senior year in the new building) and a child who is a rising Junior at McKinley Tech. For both kids, they got into their first choice high schools. Both schools are open and accepting to kids from all backgrounds. Most of the teachers at both schools have been there a while and truly want the students to succeed. Both schools try to accept kids who want to excel and show lots of drive (even if they have not taken all the highest math classes like Algebra 1 and Geometry at their middle schools). Both schools do have challenges in communicating information to parents (both communicating enough info and with communicating the information in a timely manner) - but that is not a unique concern in DCPS.

Banneker is well suited to kids who will enjoy a challenge and want to follow a more liberal arts path. In the new building, the number of students will grow and the school will be able to offer more options for AP and coursework. My child who declared as a Math major at competitive liberal arts college was well prepared!

McKinley kids need to have a tech interest - engineering, biotechnology, or computer science/digital media. They will be taking courses in those areas as well as all the core high school classes. McKinley does have more options for electives (eg concert band) than Banneker.

Genuinely wondering why McKinley has 0% of students scoring a 5 on PARCC and only 14% of kids scoring a 4.

https://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/McKinley+Technology+High+School

No DCPS HS has many PARCC 5s on math. SWW only has 5%. Banneker has 3% (but 52% 4s). Jackson Reed has 0%.

Right. Because of how the PARCC test works. I loathe that we have this test and that the reporting is so inaccurate and misleading!

Well, you can see that Banneker does significantly better than Walls and McKinley and JR …

Actually, Walls did better than Banneker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who graduated Banneker in 2022 (spent senior year in the new building) and a child who is a rising Junior at McKinley Tech. For both kids, they got into their first choice high schools. Both schools are open and accepting to kids from all backgrounds. Most of the teachers at both schools have been there a while and truly want the students to succeed. Both schools try to accept kids who want to excel and show lots of drive (even if they have not taken all the highest math classes like Algebra 1 and Geometry at their middle schools). Both schools do have challenges in communicating information to parents (both communicating enough info and with communicating the information in a timely manner) - but that is not a unique concern in DCPS.

Banneker is well suited to kids who will enjoy a challenge and want to follow a more liberal arts path. In the new building, the number of students will grow and the school will be able to offer more options for AP and coursework. My child who declared as a Math major at competitive liberal arts college was well prepared!

McKinley kids need to have a tech interest - engineering, biotechnology, or computer science/digital media. They will be taking courses in those areas as well as all the core high school classes. McKinley does have more options for electives (eg concert band) than Banneker.

Genuinely wondering why McKinley has 0% of students scoring a 5 on PARCC and only 14% of kids scoring a 4.

https://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/McKinley+Technology+High+School

No DCPS HS has many PARCC 5s on math. SWW only has 5%. Banneker has 3% (but 52% 4s). Jackson Reed has 0%.

Right. Because of how the PARCC test works. I loathe that we have this test and that the reporting is so inaccurate and misleading!

Well, you can see that Banneker does significantly better than Walls and McKinley and JR …

Actually, Walls did better than Banneker.

No, the whole point is it's hard to tell which school is doing better, because there's only data on a portion of the students and a portion of the classes. And you'd have to look at the grade levels of the kids taking the tests, too. For a 9th grader to get a 4 on the Algebra I PARCC is appropriate, for a 12th grader that's not so hot.

[Anonymous]

I know several teachers at McKinley who have been there for a while. They really like the school and say the student population is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted earlier about my rising junior - came into McKinley with both Algebra 1 and Geometry from Deal. Took Algebra II as freshman and pre-calc as 10th grader. No issues with scheduling. Not sure how many other kids came in that scenario. I think that many who start with Algebra 1 as 9th graders will 'double-up' in tenth and take both geometry and algebra II. The guidance counselor we worked with is very good at trying to get all the kids the classes they need.

Is doubling up an option at Banneker as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who graduated Banneker in 2022 (spent senior year in the new building) and a child who is a rising Junior at McKinley Tech. For both kids, they got into their first choice high schools. Both schools are open and accepting to kids from all backgrounds. Most of the teachers at both schools have been there a while and truly want the students to succeed. Both schools try to accept kids who want to excel and show lots of drive (even if they have not taken all the highest math classes like Algebra 1 and Geometry at their middle schools). Both schools do have challenges in communicating information to parents (both communicating enough info and with communicating the information in a timely manner) - but that is not a unique concern in DCPS.

Banneker is well suited to kids who will enjoy a challenge and want to follow a more liberal arts path. In the new building, the number of students will grow and the school will be able to offer more options for AP and coursework. My child who declared as a Math major at competitive liberal arts college was well prepared!

McKinley kids need to have a tech interest - engineering, biotechnology, or computer science/digital media. They will be taking courses in those areas as well as all the core high school classes. McKinley does have more options for electives (eg concert band) than Banneker.

Thank you! This should be stickied as it is one of the most useful posts ever on DCUM.

Agreed. This was extremely helpful as a new Banneker parent.

DD just completed the summer program for incoming freshman (BSI) and has new friends coming from KIPP, Deal, Stuart Hobson, and DCPS charters she didn’t recognize by name. I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of MSs represented. Fwiw, DD is coming from private.

The teaching staff seems to include quite a few former Banneker students, which I took as a good sign. Same for current parents.