Wilson HS

[Anonymous]

Ideally, there would be more kids like 9:30's in the tracked classes.

[Anonymous]

9:30, I'm 9:10 and I agree with you. I'm white and I do lament the 2 or 3-track system that seems to be in place at Wilson, for all the reasons you describe. It's problematic.

I can't, however, go so far as to walk the walk by selling our house, leaving our neighborhood of 15 years, and moving our entire family to, say, somewhere in Silver Spring in pursuit of a high school that's 25% white, 25% black, 25% hispanic, 25% Asian AND rigorous. That's too drastic a step for our family, the equation could well be different for others.

[Anonymous]

The issue at Deal several years ago was stemming from 3 parents who didn't like the principal's disciplining approach. My kids were there at the time and we completely supported her approach - she was tough and fair. Deal had some issues with discipline back then and I for one an glad it is so much improved. I have child in 4th grade that will be at Deal and I am thankful for the academic and school culture changes.

[Anonymous]

I'm black and I've heard for years about a culture of low expectations for black kids (especially boys) at Deal and Wilson. That problem seems to have been alleviated at Deal, but it's one of the reasons that we sent our kids to private after elementary school and nearly all our friends did the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But isn't there something yucky about having your kids in a segregated environment. I am black and my kids will attend Deal and I have no doubt that they would be able to excel in one of Wilson's academies. The problem is if you are one of a few black kids in those academies within a school where most of the kids of your race may not be performing as well...I just question whether or not this is a good environment for my kids. And what kind of message does it send to white kids? I want my kids to be in a place where they see kids of all types excel - not just a chosen few. High school should be challenging, but not at the expense of self-image/esteem. Maybe I am totally overthinking it....I have a ways to go yet.

You are not overthinking it, my child is only 5 and I am already worried about high school. She is currently one of the JLKM schools and I cannot even imagine sending her to Wilson as it currently stands (Deal, I am not so sure). I cant see how the general segregated environment at Wilson can be anything but a distraction to those minority children who are performing well.

[Anonymous]

How about getting involved with the PTA's at Wilson, Walls, Latin, Ellington, Banneker (is Banneker predominantly AA? Should it be more diverse in much the same way that Wilson should be more integrated?) NOW, so that there are MORE great choices for all of our kids, and future kids of the city, later? And hopefully if these schools gained or built on their stability--which they will if given love and support, more attention could be given to schools further outlying. Maybe, one day, DC could have a public HS system where people actually opted in instead of out?

[Anonymous]

The segregation is something that jarred me about Deal. The kids are tracked into Math and English classes and they are predominantly white, then you go to the classes that are not tracked and the racial difference was startling. I don't know what the answer is, but it was disturbing to me.

[Anonymous]

I agree with you 9:30 but I think that's where the discrepancies in DC come into play, the majority of the black middle class has chosen to move out of DC or to go private. So the more prepared kids with wealthier educated parents who are in the academies tend to be white, their AA counterparts aren't at Wilson. For AA boys the scores at the upper NW elementaries are much lower. In an ideal world I'd love for it to be more racially diverse, and as a white parent I'm quite concerned about the message it sends too. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you 9:30 but I think that's where the discrepancies in DC come into play, the majority of the black middle class has chosen to move out of DC or to go private. So the more prepared kids with wealthier educated parents who are in the academies tend to be white, their AA counterparts aren't at Wilson. For AA boys the scores at the upper NW elementaries are much lower. In an ideal world I'd love for it to be more racially diverse, and as a white parent I'm quite concerned about the message it sends too. Ugh.

They're at Banneker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you 9:30 but I think that's where the discrepancies in DC come into play, the majority of the black middle class has chosen to move out of DC or to go private. So the more prepared kids with wealthier educated parents who are in the academies tend to be white, their AA counterparts aren't at Wilson. For AA boys the scores at the upper NW elementaries are much lower. In an ideal world I'd love for it to be more racially diverse, and as a white parent I'm quite concerned about the message it sends too. Ugh.

They're at Banneker

9:30 here. Sorry to say, I don't think they necessarily opt for Banneker - those who can afford it go private. I have seen this myself over and over. And black families I know with boys are in private, sometimes leaving the JKLM schools in mid-stream.

I was actually impressed with Deal though (and I was very reluctant). The classes I saw were diverse, the academics are strong and the principal seems to have it together - I felt it would be hard for us to justify the expense of private, when we are zoned for Deal. Even more important, many of my daughter's friends are planning to attend and having that social network intact for middle school trumps alot of other stuff like metal detectors, for example. Just hoping Wilson rises to the same level sometime soon. I guess we will see what happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you 9:30 but I think that's where the discrepancies in DC come into play, the majority of the black middle class has chosen to move out of DC or to go private. So the more prepared kids with wealthier educated parents who are in the academies tend to be white, their AA counterparts aren't at Wilson. For AA boys the scores at the upper NW elementaries are much lower. In an ideal world I'd love for it to be more racially diverse, and as a white parent I'm quite concerned about the message it sends too. Ugh.

They're at Banneker

9:30 here. Sorry to say, I don't think they necessarily opt for Banneker - those who can afford it go private. I have seen this myself over and over. And black families I know with boys are in private, sometimes leaving the JKLM schools in mid-stream.

I was actually impressed with Deal though (and I was very reluctant). The classes I saw were diverse, the academics are strong and the principal seems to have it together - I felt it would be hard for us to justify the expense of private, when we are zoned for Deal. Even more important, many of my daughter's friends are planning to attend and having that social network intact for middle school trumps alot of other stuff like metal detectors, for example. Just hoping Wilson rises to the same level sometime soon. I guess we will see what happens.

Interesting, PP. But then, why not consider Banneker instead of Wilson? The boys (and girls too) there certainly don't suffer from a culture racially-tinged with low expectations!

[Anonymous]

I also agree that they are in private school or have moved to the burbs. Not saying that there aren't bright kids at Banneker but they aren't kids who live in NW.

[Anonymous]

Banneker is located in NW, why would not some of the students reside in NW

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you 9:30 but I think that's where the discrepancies in DC come into play, the majority of the black middle class has chosen to move out of DC or to go private. So the more prepared kids with wealthier educated parents who are in the academies tend to be white, their AA counterparts aren't at Wilson. For AA boys the scores at the upper NW elementaries are much lower. In an ideal world I'd love for it to be more racially diverse, and as a white parent I'm quite concerned about the message it sends too. Ugh.

They're at Banneker

9:30 here. Sorry to say, I don't think they necessarily opt for Banneker - those who can afford it go private. I have seen this myself over and over. And black families I know with boys are in private, sometimes leaving the JKLM schools in mid-stream.

I was actually impressed with Deal though (and I was very reluctant). The classes I saw were diverse, the academics are strong and the principal seems to have it together - I felt it would be hard for us to justify the expense of private, when we are zoned for Deal. Even more important, many of my daughter's friends are planning to attend and having that social network intact for middle school trumps alot of other stuff like metal detectors, for example. Just hoping Wilson rises to the same level sometime soon. I guess we will see what happens.

Stop hoping and get involved with the school; the four years while your child is there is way too little time to impact a school. If you are a neighbor, BE a neighbor--get positively involved. Ask to meet the principal, volunteer, pitch in money, say hi to the kids at the bus stop and let them know that you know where they go to school).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you 9:30 but I think that's where the discrepancies in DC come into play, the majority of the black middle class has chosen to move out of DC or to go private. So the more prepared kids with wealthier educated parents who are in the academies tend to be white, their AA counterparts aren't at Wilson. For AA boys the scores at the upper NW elementaries are much lower. In an ideal world I'd love for it to be more racially diverse, and as a white parent I'm quite concerned about the message it sends too. Ugh.

They're at Banneker

9:30 here. Sorry to say, I don't think they necessarily opt for Banneker - those who can afford it go private. I have seen this myself over and over. And black families I know with boys are in private, sometimes leaving the JKLM schools in mid-stream.

I was actually impressed with Deal though (and I was very reluctant). The classes I saw were diverse, the academics are strong and the principal seems to have it together - I felt it would be hard for us to justify the expense of private, when we are zoned for Deal. Even more important, many of my daughter's friends are planning to attend and having that social network intact for middle school trumps alot of other stuff like metal detectors, for example. Just hoping Wilson rises to the same level sometime soon. I guess we will see what happens.

Interesting, PP. But then, why not consider Banneker instead of Wilson? The boys (and girls too) there certainly don't suffer from a culture racially-tinged with low expectations!

I don't know that I would completely cross Banneker off the list, like I said before we have a ways to go. I just know from personal experience the black families I know don't talk about Banneker as an option and perhaps it is about geography. Banneker is impressive, but diversity should cut both ways. We are at a JKLM school that has a healthy number of black kids and kids from other races/backgrounds. My kids seriously have friends from nearly every possible combination of diversity you can imagine, especially if you stretch the definition of diversity beyond race. I think it makes the school experience richer and I don't know that I would want to give that up. But there it is again there is no perfect scenario with DCPS - we want it all.