Banneker SAT averages: 494 Math; 502 Reading

[Anonymous]

Banneker has never been, and has never tried to be, Bronx Sci. It's a FUBU school for kids whose self-image is more tied to being black than to being smart. DC kids who see themselves as smart first and black second tend to end up at one of the "Big 3" or St. Anselm's, or even Wilson or Walls.

[Anonymous]

This is a ridiculous discussion. I grew up in NYC and as a PP noted, Banneker was never intended to be a Bronx Science. It couldn't if it wanted to be because the dynamics--not to mention the demographics--are totally different here inside DC (not to be confused with the DC metro area).

Banneker is a good, solid school with a great reputation. I'll say this again, test scores don't tell the whole story and aren't "the end" of the story.

I'm still trying to figure out what your agenda is with this post. OP--you do not sound like a concerned parent, just an anonymous poster with an axe to grind.

BTW--I have no horse in this race--other than a respect for the history of Banneker. My children are all under 8.

[Anonymous]

Banneker is also a safe place for kids-- you don't see kids fighting there, etc. They leave their [book-filled] backpacks in the hallway and nobody touches them. I think the teachers are some of the most proud and committed teachers in the system-- they believe in their students. That said, probably with more school choice these days, Banneker doesn't have the pick of the crop like it used to so I would guess scores are down. It used to be the only game in town besides privates because Walls wasn't all that and Wilson was pretty much a gigantic mess (where there was fighting). Banneker was the school of choice for AA nerds who didn't go private. Now AA nerds can go to Cap City, Latin, Friendship, SEED, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Banneker has never been, and has never tried to be, Bronx Sci. It's a FUBU school for kids whose self-image is more tied to being black than to being smart. DC kids who see themselves as smart first and black second tend to end up at one of the "Big 3" or St. Anselm's, or even Wilson or Walls.

This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Since when did students at Banneker care more about being black than smart. Where do you get your small minded ideas? Banneker is a great school. Instead of focusing on SAT scores, look at where the kids are going to college and how much scholarship money they get (apparently, the largest amount in DC). I did horribly on my SATs and LSATs. I must have gotten into college and law school based on affirmative action. Oh yeah, I went to a historically black college and a well regarded DC majority law school, which I might add, I graduated in the top 10% of my class, passed the bar and went to work for a very large law firm. How could all of this been possible based on my mediocre SAT scores?

[Anonymous]

Some people just thrive on feeling superior to others and comparing test scores is how they do it.

Some of these people may have everything they need to live a good life - a good education, good job, nice home, but still they enjoy comparing themselves to others and finding others wanting.

It's possible that without the test scores they wouldn't know for sure that they were better than these other people who also seem to be leading the good life, so knowing the scores are helpful to them in that regard.

They can know that they are still on top.

[Anonymous]

Instead of focusing on SAT scores, look at where the kids are going to college and how much scholarship money they get (apparently, the largest amount in DC). I did horribly on my SATs and LSATs. I must have gotten into college and law school based on affirmative action. Oh yeah, I went to a historically black college and a well regarded DC majority law school, which I might add, I graduated in the top 10% of my class, passed the bar and went to work for a very large law firm. How could all of this been possible based on my mediocre SAT scores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Banneker is also a safe place for kids-- you don't see kids fighting there, etc. They leave their [book-filled] backpacks in the hallway and nobody touches them. I think the teachers are some of the most proud and committed teachers in the system-- they believe in their students. That said, probably with more school choice these days, Banneker doesn't have the pick of the crop like it used to so I would guess scores are down. It used to be the only game in town besides privates because Walls wasn't all that and Wilson was pretty much a gigantic mess (where there was fighting). Banneker was the school of choice for AA nerds who didn't go private. Now AA nerds can go to Cap City, Latin, Friendship, SEED, etc.

I'm intrigued by this description because although my kids aren't AA, I sincerely hope they grow up to be nerds. There was no high school like this where I grew up, also a majority AA urban community, I ended up at a private HS. If my DDs thought they could hack the social aspect of being the (only? one of few?) Caucasians at the school I'd consider it for them.

[Anonymous]

I think you'd have to take a tour with your kids. I would definitely investigate it.

Several years ago a child who got the highest possible score on the SAT was from Banneker (I think it's 2400?). She got her pick of scholarships. And when GW does that scholarship thing where they go to the school and hand out full rides to several top DC students-- last year they went to Banneker and gave out a scholarship. I think the boy already had other offers-- he was quite sweet about it but did not commit to GW on camera.

The school is also small, which means teachers know the kids well (~500 students?), and I don't believe there are a lot of extramurals like varsity sports, which means the school focuses with single-mindedness on ONE THING -- academics. I imagine they might have chess club, debate team, Mathaletes and It's Academic teams, etc.

[Anonymous]

I think it may also be because Banneker is predominantly AA, and AAs, regardless of economic status, tend not to perform as well on the SAT.

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/06/21/sat

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Umm - OK. A Howard education doesn't compare to a Harvard education. That's a pretty non-controversial statement. Are you saying that Howard is a better education than Harvard? That's against all conventional wisdom - care to explain why?

I should ignore this, but I won't....conventional wisdom may be more of a lemming mentality
I went to Howard, and despite all the issues there, I never received a single lecture from a grad student...all the lectures were direct from faculty...
I could walk up to the Dean's office and be seen that day, for a problem...Renowned physicists such as Dr W Henry would sit at my table in the cafeteria, and converse with myself and other students...I'm not looking to send my DC's to Howard, it's too close to home , but I'm not looking for Harvard either...that's too much $$$$ to not even be taught by a 'real' lecturer

[Anonymous]

Knowing a few of the Banneker kids, and their parents, I've got to disagree with the 'more black than smart' poster...the kids I know who have gone there have been SENT (lol) by parents who are looking for a traditional school set-up (Banneker is more traditional than other DC high schools), looking for academic focus (everyone is going to college, like it or not) and looking for a SAFE place for their DC's ...I don't consider any of those parents strongly afrocentric...
As to bright black kids going to the private schools here, again I don't agree...the truly stellar ones are shipping out to boarding schools in the northeast and midatlantic...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm - OK. A Howard education doesn't compare to a Harvard education. That's a pretty non-controversial statement. Are you saying that Howard is a better education than Harvard? That's against all conventional wisdom - care to explain why?

I should ignore this, but I won't....conventional wisdom may be more of a lemming mentality
I went to Howard, and despite all the issues there, I never received a single lecture from a grad student...all the lectures were direct from faculty...
I could walk up to the Dean's office and be seen that day, for a problem...Renowned physicists such as Dr W Henry would sit at my table in the cafeteria, and converse with myself and other students...I'm not looking to send my DC's to Howard, it's too close to home , but I'm not looking for Harvard either...that's too much $$$$ to not even be taught by a 'real' lecturer

You don't say!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm - OK. A Howard education doesn't compare to a Harvard education. That's a pretty non-controversial statement. Are you saying that Howard is a better education than Harvard? That's against all conventional wisdom - care to explain why?

I should ignore this, but I won't....conventional wisdom may be more of a lemming mentality
I went to Howard, and despite all the issues there, I never received a single lecture from a grad student...all the lectures were direct from faculty...
I could walk up to the Dean's office and be seen that day, for a problem...Renowned physicists such as Dr W Henry would sit at my table in the cafeteria, and converse with myself and other students...I'm not looking to send my DC's to Howard, it's too close to home , but I'm not looking for Harvard either...that's too much $$$$ to not even be taught by a 'real' lecturer

By this rationale, my small liberal arts college in VA is also "better" than Harvard. And so is just about every community college in the country.

Glad to see Howard is teaching its graduates the finer points of logic, though. Must be quite a rigorous program.

[Anonymous]

Back to the topic, does anyone have scores for DCPS' other flagship schools? Wilson, Walls and Ellington?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back to the topic, does anyone have scores for DCPS' other flagship schools? Wilson, Walls and Ellington?

My understanding is that schools - public and private - aren't obliged to post SATs and many of them don't. it's the same with AP scores.

And different from DC-CAS and NAEP, which are government sponsored and required testing programs.