New to Banneker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do any Banneker families know how to best tap resources in the school? Our 9th grader is completely overwhelmed and she does not know where to turn

I'd recommend starting with the 9th grade counselor. She seems genuinely kind and helpful, and my kid had a good experience seeking assistance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I heard from my daughter (who's friends go to Banneker) that they get A LOT of homework and many end up transferring to walls in sophomore year.

There are very few new Walls admits in 10th grade, so the idea that "many" students from one school end up transferring there is obviously completely ridiculous.

Even if only 2-3 transfer to walls, many still transfer out of Banneker.

Just to provide some hard numbers:

The class of 2026 had:
168 students in 9th grade,
162 students in 10th grade,
155 students in 11th grade, and now has
153 students in 12th grade.

Banneker does not backfill, so that’s a total of 15/168 students who have left over three years. I would not call that “many,” but I’m not really interested in debating the meaning of the word “many.” The numbers are what they are.

Actually that's not completely accurate. According to US News and & World Report there is an enrollment of 245 students in 9th grade and 162 in 10th grade. And as you stated, Banneker does not backfill so you can obviously see the numbers decreasing.
Please get your facts right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I heard from my daughter (who's friends go to Banneker) that they get A LOT of homework and many end up transferring to walls in sophomore year.

There are very few new Walls admits in 10th grade, so the idea that "many" students from one school end up transferring there is obviously completely ridiculous.

Even if only 2-3 transfer to walls, many still transfer out of Banneker.

Just to provide some hard numbers:

The class of 2026 had:
168 students in 9th grade,
162 students in 10th grade,
155 students in 11th grade, and now has
153 students in 12th grade.

Banneker does not backfill, so that’s a total of 15/168 students who have left over three years. I would not call that “many,” but I’m not really interested in debating the meaning of the word “many.” The numbers are what they are.

Actually that's not completely accurate. According to US News and & World Report there is an enrollment of 245 students in 9th grade and 162 in 10th grade. And as you stated, Banneker does not backfill so you can obviously see the numbers decreasing.
Please get your facts right.

I don't know who's correct but I as well have heard that Banneker can be extremely draining and overwhelming for students causing them to transfer out. They also have a disappointingly low college readiness rate (75) compared to Walls and Basis for all the hard work they put in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I heard from my daughter (who's friends go to Banneker) that they get A LOT of homework and many end up transferring to walls in sophomore year.

There are very few new Walls admits in 10th grade, so the idea that "many" students from one school end up transferring there is obviously completely ridiculous.

Even if only 2-3 transfer to walls, many still transfer out of Banneker.

Just to provide some hard numbers:

The class of 2026 had:
168 students in 9th grade,
162 students in 10th grade,
155 students in 11th grade, and now has
153 students in 12th grade.

Banneker does not backfill, so that’s a total of 15/168 students who have left over three years. I would not call that “many,” but I’m not really interested in debating the meaning of the word “many.” The numbers are what they are.

Actually that's not completely accurate. According to US News and & World Report there is an enrollment of 245 students in 9th grade and 162 in 10th grade. And as you stated, Banneker does not backfill so you can obviously see the numbers decreasing.
Please get your facts right.

I would not trust US News & World Report to have accurate enrollment numbers for any school. I am a researcher who sometimes has to pull data on schools and USN&WR often has incorrect info. Also do not trust Niche or Great Schools. I would only rely on enrollment numbers provided by the school or district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I heard from my daughter (who's friends go to Banneker) that they get A LOT of homework and many end up transferring to walls in sophomore year.

There are very few new Walls admits in 10th grade, so the idea that "many" students from one school end up transferring there is obviously completely ridiculous.

Even if only 2-3 transfer to walls, many still transfer out of Banneker.

Just to provide some hard numbers:

The class of 2026 had:
168 students in 9th grade,
162 students in 10th grade,
155 students in 11th grade, and now has
153 students in 12th grade.

Banneker does not backfill, so that’s a total of 15/168 students who have left over three years. I would not call that “many,” but I’m not really interested in debating the meaning of the word “many.” The numbers are what they are.

Actually that's not completely accurate. According to US News and & World Report there is an enrollment of 245 students in 9th grade and 162 in 10th grade. And as you stated, Banneker does not backfill so you can obviously see the numbers decreasing.

Please get your facts right.

What’s your problem with the school? You sure seem to have one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I heard from my daughter (who's friends go to Banneker) that they get A LOT of homework and many end up transferring to walls in sophomore year.

There are very few new Walls admits in 10th grade, so the idea that "many" students from one school end up transferring there is obviously completely ridiculous.

Even if only 2-3 transfer to walls, many still transfer out of Banneker.

Just to provide some hard numbers:

The class of 2026 had:
168 students in 9th grade,
162 students in 10th grade,
155 students in 11th grade, and now has
153 students in 12th grade.

Banneker does not backfill, so that’s a total of 15/168 students who have left over three years. I would not call that “many,” but I’m not really interested in debating the meaning of the word “many.” The numbers are what they are.

Actually that's not completely accurate. According to US News and & World Report there is an enrollment of 245 students in 9th grade and 162 in 10th grade. And as you stated, Banneker does not backfill so you can obviously see the numbers decreasing.
Please get your facts right.

My facts are correct. They are from the OSSE audits. They are actually consistent with your numbers: note how you agree about the 162 10th graders. Your numbers are a snapshot of the 2023-24 school year, while mine are a longitudinal survey of the class of 2026 over time.

Banneker doesn’t enroll the same number of freshmen every year. The class of 2027 (the 9th graders in your numbers) was especially large. This year they are juniors; the class is down to 224.

This year they have:
208 9th graders
179 10th graders (this class started with 188)
224 11th graders (this class started with 245)
153 12th graders (this class started with 168)

https://www.benjaminbanneker.org/ourpages/auto/2025/10/21/27554456/25-26%20Banneker%20Information%20Resources.pdf?rnd=1761072180399

See how the junior class is bigger than the sophomore class? By your logic, we would have to conclude that Banneker enrolled 45 new juniors this year! But that’s not what happened at all. The unusually large class of 2027 is just working its way through school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I heard from my daughter (who's friends go to Banneker) that they get A LOT of homework and many end up transferring to walls in sophomore year.

There are very few new Walls admits in 10th grade, so the idea that "many" students from one school end up transferring there is obviously completely ridiculous.

Even if only 2-3 transfer to walls, many still transfer out of Banneker.

Just to provide some hard numbers:

The class of 2026 had:
168 students in 9th grade,
162 students in 10th grade,
155 students in 11th grade, and now has
153 students in 12th grade.

Banneker does not backfill, so that’s a total of 15/168 students who have left over three years. I would not call that “many,” but I’m not really interested in debating the meaning of the word “many.” The numbers are what they are.

Actually that's not completely accurate. According to US News and & World Report there is an enrollment of 245 students in 9th grade and 162 in 10th grade. And as you stated, Banneker does not backfill so you can obviously see the numbers decreasing.

Please get your facts right.

What’s your problem with the school? You sure seem to have one.

Oh nothing. Just heard some things from multiple parents, students and sources.

[Anonymous]

On college readiness I think the gap is between what it takes to get in and how to succeed in college. The GPA requirement is achievable without good study habits at several middle schools. Then you’re put in a situation where you have to work a lot on your own and it’s academic culturally in ways many kids are not exposed to. They make the kids work and if they don’t know how to grind every day, there are consequences for only doing half the homework. They don’t solve it for you. A better school would probably hedge the gap. I don’t think that’s SWW, but rather a Banneker with more dedicated after school support eg staffed study hall. And who knows how much that would cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I heard from my daughter (who's friends go to Banneker) that they get A LOT of homework and many end up transferring to walls in sophomore year.

There are very few new Walls admits in 10th grade, so the idea that "many" students from one school end up transferring there is obviously completely ridiculous.

Even if only 2-3 transfer to walls, many still transfer out of Banneker.

Just to provide some hard numbers:

The class of 2026 had:
168 students in 9th grade,
162 students in 10th grade,
155 students in 11th grade, and now has
153 students in 12th grade.

Banneker does not backfill, so that’s a total of 15/168 students who have left over three years. I would not call that “many,” but I’m not really interested in debating the meaning of the word “many.” The numbers are what they are.

Actually that's not completely accurate. According to US News and & World Report there is an enrollment of 245 students in 9th grade and 162 in 10th grade. And as you stated, Banneker does not backfill so you can obviously see the numbers decreasing.
Please get your facts right.

Enrollment numbers are different due to the new building which can hold more students than the old building. Therefore the new classes are enrolling more students than they used to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On college readiness I think the gap is between what it takes to get in and how to succeed in college. The GPA requirement is achievable without good study habits at several middle schools. Then you’re put in a situation where you have to work a lot on your own and it’s academic culturally in ways many kids are not exposed to. They make the kids work and if they don’t know how to grind every day, there are consequences for only doing half the homework. They don’t solve it for you. A better school would probably hedge the gap. I don’t think that’s SWW, but rather a Banneker with more dedicated after school support eg staffed study hall. And who knows how much that would cost.

This has not been our experience. Teachers have office hours daily, during multiple times (lunch, after school, etc) so there is plenty of availability for support.

[Anonymous]

You’re right that the teachers are very available. I’m just trying to think of what the students who presently don’t get through more of the homework need to succeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On college readiness I think the gap is between what it takes to get in and how to succeed in college. The GPA requirement is achievable without good study habits at several middle schools. Then you’re put in a situation where you have to work a lot on your own and it’s academic culturally in ways many kids are not exposed to. They make the kids work and if they don’t know how to grind every day, there are consequences for only doing half the homework. They don’t solve it for you. A better school would probably hedge the gap. I don’t think that’s SWW, but rather a Banneker with more dedicated after school support eg staffed study hall. And who knows how much that would cost.

This has not been our experience. Teachers have office hours daily, during multiple times (lunch, after school, etc) so there is plenty of availability for support.

There are also multiple days of afterschool tutoring available with kids in need of additional support directed to it. I don't think the 8:12 PP could have any actual experience with Banneker and still say these things. How exhausting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On college readiness I think the gap is between what it takes to get in and how to succeed in college. The GPA requirement is achievable without good study habits at several middle schools. Then you’re put in a situation where you have to work a lot on your own and it’s academic culturally in ways many kids are not exposed to. They make the kids work and if they don’t know how to grind every day, there are consequences for only doing half the homework. They don’t solve it for you. A better school would probably hedge the gap. I don’t think that’s SWW, but rather a Banneker with more dedicated after school support eg staffed study hall. And who knows how much that would cost.

They 100% have staffed study hall after school at least twice a week and every one of my childs teachers has offered office hours thus far. The engaged and supportive staff is my favorite thing about the school as a parent (and I am not someone who is glazing. There are also many downsides including a wildly abrupt onboarding/first semester that it very difficult for even the best students to tackle)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On college readiness I think the gap is between what it takes to get in and how to succeed in college. The GPA requirement is achievable without good study habits at several middle schools. Then you’re put in a situation where you have to work a lot on your own and it’s academic culturally in ways many kids are not exposed to. They make the kids work and if they don’t know how to grind every day, there are consequences for only doing half the homework. They don’t solve it for you. A better school would probably hedge the gap. I don’t think that’s SWW, but rather a Banneker with more dedicated after school support eg staffed study hall. And who knows how much that would cost.

They 100% have staffed study hall after school at least twice a week and every one of my childs teachers has offered office hours thus far. The engaged and supportive staff is my favorite thing about the school as a parent (and I am not someone who is glazing. There are also many downsides including a wildly abrupt onboarding/first semester that it very difficult for even the best students to tackle)

The office hours and teacher-staffed study halls have been lifesavers for my kid! It was a rocky start, but they're feeling better as they learn to self advocate, talk to and work with teachers, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On college readiness I think the gap is between what it takes to get in and how to succeed in college. The GPA requirement is achievable without good study habits at several middle schools. Then you’re put in a situation where you have to work a lot on your own and it’s academic culturally in ways many kids are not exposed to. They make the kids work and if they don’t know how to grind every day, there are consequences for only doing half the homework. They don’t solve it for you. A better school would probably hedge the gap. I don’t think that’s SWW, but rather a Banneker with more dedicated after school support eg staffed study hall. And who knows how much that would cost.

They 100% have staffed study hall after school at least twice a week and every one of my childs teachers has offered office hours thus far. The engaged and supportive staff is my favorite thing about the school as a parent (and I am not someone who is glazing. There are also many downsides including a wildly abrupt onboarding/first semester that it very difficult for even the best students to tackle)

The office hours and teacher-staffed study halls have been lifesavers for my kid! It was a rocky start, but they're feeling better as they learn to self advocate, talk to and work with teachers, etc.

Any advice on getting a kid to embrace that they need to take advantage of these resources?