Private school kids who went on to Wilson: how are they doing?

[Anonymous]

14:37 reading the post above mine. It could be the hand holding. We did private before we moved to DC and DCPS and that was the biggest difference. If your son was at private all the way up, he (and you) could be finding it challenging to be independent.

Also, when I was remarking how our 3rd grade year got off to a bad start, my very honest friend with kids at a Big-3 said that 3rd grade there was also not the strongest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thanks for the comments. I agree that Wilson offers lots of intangibles, and my child is enjoying them (teams, etc.). I just don't think that it offers strong academics--at least so far in 9th grade. It's disconcerting that no one disputes that, and that several parents report on slightly better academics in 10th-12th. That's nice, but I feel like we might have a lost year on our hands. How can that be?

Sorry for the earlier error: Wilson does indeed offer honors 9th grade biology, and my son is taking it. It doesn't seems to offer any lab time, and appears to be among his weakest classes. Glad to hear that a PP's child nonetheless managed to become a sci major in college.

I guess I'm just wondering why we are all settling for this situation in what is supposed to be the strongest general high school in the city. There are some really smart kids at Wilson, and some smart and dedicated teachers. Why is the curriculum so shallow and uninspiring?

NP here. It seems like your only complaint is homework and the biology class. You're now upset that people aren't upset as you. Your son doesn't complain about school but he isn't happy with the lack of labs. What else do you want besides more homework, that is new material and more challenging? Is your son complaining about anything else? How do you know the academics aren't up to snuff? Does your son tell you what they do/discuss in class?

With your last statement you are just trying to rile everyone up. It seems like you need to talk to the principal, accept it, and/or move on.

Thanks, you're definitely right about the 3 options at the end of your post.

And yes, one can question my son's extracurricular involvements and ask if he's "making the most of the experience, " but he is doing a sport and another regular extracurricular, so I don't think that's the issue.

No, I don't expect others to be as upset as I am, but I do think our kids would all be better off if Wilson looked at the 9th grade curriculum (which I see from previous posters and talking to other parents has always been an issue) and tried to bring it up to a higher level. I'm hardly the first person to mention this. Regardless, I'm done posting for now since this has devolved into "What's wrong with OP's son?" when I think the actual question is "How can Wilson's 9th grade academics be improved?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thanks for the comments. I agree that Wilson offers lots of intangibles, and my child is enjoying them (teams, etc.). I just don't think that it offers strong academics--at least so far in 9th grade. It's disconcerting that no one disputes that, and that several parents report on slightly better academics in 10th-12th. That's nice, but I feel like we might have a lost year on our hands. How can that be?

Sorry for the earlier error: Wilson does indeed offer honors 9th grade biology, and my son is taking it. It doesn't seems to offer any lab time, and appears to be among his weakest classes. Glad to hear that a PP's child nonetheless managed to become a sci major in college.

I guess I'm just wondering why we are all settling for this situation in what is supposed to be the strongest general high school in the city. There are some really smart kids at Wilson, and some smart and dedicated teachers. Why is the curriculum so shallow and uninspiring?

NP here. It seems like your only complaint is homework and the biology class. You're now upset that people aren't upset as you. Your son doesn't complain about school but he isn't happy with the lack of labs. What else do you want besides more homework, that is new material and more challenging? Is your son complaining about anything else? How do you know the academics aren't up to snuff? Does your son tell you what they do/discuss in class?

With your last statement you are just trying to rile everyone up. It seems like you need to talk to the principal, accept it, and/or move on.

Thanks, you're definitely right about the 3 options at the end of your post.

And yes, one can question my son's extracurricular involvements and ask if he's "making the most of the experience, " but he is doing a sport and another regular extracurricular, so I don't think that's the issue.

No, I don't expect others to be as upset as I am, but I do think our kids would all be better off if Wilson looked at the 9th grade curriculum (which I see from previous posters and talking to other parents has always been an issue) and tried to bring it up to a higher level. I'm hardly the first person to mention this. Regardless, I'm done posting for now since this has devolved into "What's wrong with OP's son?" when I think the actual question is "How can Wilson's 9th grade academics be improved?"

Because people are saying the problem isn't the 9th grade academics...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I know kids in Montgomery and Firfax county will start APs in 9th grade though...

I am coming from a place where several of my friends left high school after two years and went to college. And I still have to ask, why on earth would you want your kid taking AP classes in 9th grade?

Bingo

[Anonymous]

It doesn't seem like OP wants AP classes, but ones with more hands-on activities (and perhaps, homework).

[Anonymous]

This is why we didn't send out kids to Wilson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't they take APs in 9th at Wilson?

I thought that AP classes were open enrollment and kind of chaotic as opposed to the honors classes. Am I wrong?

AP classes are more accessible than in many private high schools, but not completely open. If you have a C in Precal, you'll have a hard time getting into Cal BC as I recall

What about starting with a clean slate in 10th. Is it true the classes are huge and some of the kids disruptive? And for those whose kids are aggressive about taking APs, how many did they take on avg before graduation and in each grade?

I take it there are no required AP courses which is a huge plus. But will anyone stop a kid from taking 3/4 AP classes in any given year? We heard recently on this forum that the average competitive student from her magnet (MD or Va highschool) takes 7-10 APs before graduation. If you are starting in 10th grade, that gives you only two years where colleges will actually see your AP scores before admission, and I certainly did not want to take a bunch of AP classes my senior year.

Not critiquing at all. Zoned for Wilson, oldest kid completely turned off by Walls last year (also accepted like OP's kid), at BASIS DC now, and just sincerely trying to figure all of this out.......

BASIS has gotten slammed for having 9th graders take APs (and for allowing 8th graders have the option in World History), but here I learn that kids at high schools in Fairfax and Md are taking AP courses in 9th grade as well, and that some Wilson parents wish their 9th graders had the option.

Well my 9th grader is taking AP courses at BASIS but wondering about Wilson and the quality of their AP courses and whether to switch in 10th. Experiencing "diversity" is not an issue (BASIS is quite diverse) and most of our child's serious extra currics (which are fairly time consuming) are outside of school.

So for us it is completely coming down to academics, the same way it sounds like OP is feeling. Nothing wrong with your kid except that he is bright and used to a certain level of academic rigor. BASIS kills our kids with homework, but they learn an enormous amount. The question is whether at Wilson one can find a happy medium.

How many kids in general are in each AP course? And why is it that in talking to my friends at Wilson I have gotten the impression that the Honors classes are more controlled and more of a slam dunk than the AP courses which are open to all and perhaps overpopulated? Please don't flame, but do tell. TIA

[Anonymous]

My recent Wilson grad had 10 AP classes by graduation, starting in 10th grade, 11 exams though because Physics counted as 2 exams. And he had classmates with MORE APs, one had 12 exams passed.

[Anonymous]

Wilson's 9th grade experience is unequivocally bad-- it dramatically improves with the opening up of AP courses in 10th and particularly 11th grade, but something needs to change.

The impression that Honors courses are "more of a slam dunk" and more controlled than AP courses is wrong. APs are self-selected for generally the best students.

At Wilson, if you want to be a successful student, you have to be self-motivating (unlike at some private schools, the administration won't hold your hand)-- but there are plenty of opportunities to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wilson's 9th grade experience is unequivocally bad-- it dramatically improves with the opening up of AP courses in 10th and particularly 11th grade, but something needs to change.

The impression that Honors courses are "more of a slam dunk" and more controlled than AP courses is wrong. APs are self-selected for generally the best students.

At Wilson, if you want to be a successful student, you have to be self-motivating (unlike at some private schools, the administration won't hold your hand)-- but there are plenty of opportunities to learn.

Asssertion #1? False. Unequivocally so.
Assertion #2? True
Asssertion #3? True

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Asssertion #1? False. Unequivocally so.

Oh? AP classes aren't open to 9th grade students, so they are lumped together with students who are disruptive and unmotivated, such as World History, a mandatory non-honors non-AP class. Generally, the worst teachers at Wilson are assigned to teach 9th grade honors/non-honors courses. The work is generally busywork.
What makes you say this is false?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Asssertion #1? False. Unequivocally so.

Oh? AP classes aren't open to 9th grade students, so they are lumped together with students who are disruptive and unmotivated, such as World History, a mandatory non-honors non-AP class. Generally, the worst teachers at Wilson are assigned to teach 9th grade honors/non-honors courses. The work is generally busywork.
What makes you say this is false?

so great the BASIS kids who have already taken this World History AP who travel in 9th grade are put into this class? Sounds like paradise.... Unfortunately once they leave they cannot come back

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Asssertion #1? False. Unequivocally so.

Oh? AP classes aren't open to 9th grade students, so they are lumped together with students who are disruptive and unmotivated, such as World History, a mandatory non-honors non-AP class. Generally, the worst teachers at Wilson are assigned to teach 9th grade honors/non-honors courses. The work is generally busywork.
What makes you say this is false?

so great the BASIS kids who have already taken this World History AP who travel in 9th grade are put into this class? Sounds like paradise.... Unfortunately once they leave they cannot come back

Wilson offers 7 AP credits worth of classes in their History and Social courses. You'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Asssertion #1? False. Unequivocally so.

Oh? AP classes aren't open to 9th grade students, so they are lumped together with students who are disruptive and unmotivated, such as World History, a mandatory non-honors non-AP class. Generally, the worst teachers at Wilson are assigned to teach 9th grade honors/non-honors courses. The work is generally busywork.
What makes you say this is false?

My ultra-smart child's 9th grade World History experience with a great teacher and excellent and similarly smart classmates make me say this is false.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Asssertion #1? False. Unequivocally so.

Oh? AP classes aren't open to 9th grade students, so they are lumped together with students who are disruptive and unmotivated, such as World History, a mandatory non-honors non-AP class. Generally, the worst teachers at Wilson are assigned to teach 9th grade honors/non-honors courses. The work is generally busywork.
What makes you say this is false?

My ultra-smart child's 9th grade World History experience with a great teacher and excellent and similarly smart classmates make me say this is false.

Ok but there is unanimity on the fact that
a) 9th graders cannot take AP classes and
b) perhaps there is more "mixing" than some would like - by 9th grade at BASIS all the disruptive kids have left

and in 9th grade at Basis the academically advanced kids are taking 4 AP classes (two required - AP US Gov't and whatever Calculus course they are in - AB or BC), and then two electives - either AP Chem or AP Computer Science, and then either AP Psych or AP Environmental Science. Mostly taught by awesome teachers. A good way to rack up those AP's when all they want to see from 9th-12th is consistent improvement (and not abject failure) and a 3 guarantees you an A in the class if you haven't flubbed the course so...............

I do wonder about the kid who transferred in 11th grade to Wilson. Wilson does not have an IB program, right? And that must have been this year because this year is the first year we have 11th graders. So I guess identifying the kid and figuring out the story would not be that hard........ we have less than 20 11th graders. At any rate, these kids started BASIS DC in 8th grade so if you compare our college admissions to Wilson next year Wilson will win hands down.

But I do think BASIS has a good thing going, more for the private school type of kid probably, although there is no hand holding or molly coddling of parents and kids are expected to take responsibility for their academic careers at the age of ten, and having so much homework at that age can be a bit rough, but the academic rigor is unparallelled and I have heard from others at privates that it may be easier to go to a different school than to have a play based curriculum suddenly go all academic on you but the real problem is we only admit kids in 5th and 6th grade. Or actually that is the real solution. Get them early, keep the committed ones, and allow the rest to go to Wilson or go private, especially after 8th grade.

PS Congrats to Wilson on their two NMSF's, only ones from ANY public or charter school in Washington DC this year![b]