Middle and high school on Capitol Hill

[Anonymous]

Chicago has a great idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But there is plenty of evidence from across the country that unless well designed, gifted/test-in programs end up becoming disproportionately white.

Until they become disproportionately Asian, at which point whites suddenly become really concerned about the lack of black and hispanic students.

Chicago's magnet admissions formula seems to be successful at producing diverse, high-achieving selective-admission magnet high schools.

Chicago's formula for high school magnet admissions is:

33% 7th grade PARCC
33% middle school GPA
33% test specific to each magnet school

Plus they classify each neighborhood into one of four SES tiers, and each tier is guaranteed at least 17.5% of the admissions slots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But there is plenty of evidence from across the country that unless well designed, gifted/test-in programs end up becoming disproportionately white.

Until they become disproportionately Asian, at which point whites suddenly become really concerned about the lack of black and hispanic students.

Chicago's magnet admissions formula seems to be successful at producing diverse, high-achieving selective-admission magnet high schools.

Chicago's formula for high school magnet admissions is:

33% 7th grade PARCC
33% middle school GPA
33% test specific to each magnet school

Plus they classify each neighborhood into one of four SES tiers, and each tier is guaranteed at least 17.5% of the admissions slots.

DC mums would never let that part slide.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Actually, Banneker's average SAT scores are slightly above the national average, in the low 500s. Banneker admins and parents routinely claim that the SAT is racist on these boards, favoring affluent white kids who can afford expensive test prep. Actually, kids can do all the free test prep they want on Khan Academy on-line (Khan has a contract with Educational Testing Services to provide free test prep for the new SAT, which was rolled out last year). Kids scoring in the low 500s just can't be reading much for pleasure, or doing well in algebra and geometry.

But still when comparing, you ought to compare Banneker's averages to nationwide AA averages or nationwide poverty averages and you will see Banneker scores quite higher than true peer comparisons. With so many smart Ivy grads in this board, I'm always surprised when people blindly assess Banneker against a non peer group. Isn't that the first thing they teach you when studying averages?

I think that every single person commenting on this thread would be incredibly disappointed if his/her child scored in the low 500s on the SAT. I know I would be. I also know that none of my peers in "advanced" classes in high school had such low scores.

Were your peers all black and majority in poverty? Imagine what a 40% white non poverty Banneker would look like.

Walls?

Right. And Banneker could look just like Walls in terms of SATs if they had the same profile, then people wouldn't have to stress out about Walls interviews as there could be two great schools to try for.

Banneker had better PARCC scores than Walls! So in that respect, it would result in a worse profile.

Banneker is an excellent school. As for HS PARCC scores, the experience at Wilson was a bit cautionary. Students largely prioritized other college preparatory work like AP exams above PARCC and the scores reflected it. Many advanced students blew off PARCC entirely. That's not a knock on Banneker (or Walls which also had high PARCC) but it could be a question of how much the school prioritized PARCC as a point of emphasis.

Banneker and Walls students did what they were asked to for PARCC (eg take the test), and they also took AP and IB exams. The only ones who blew them off are a portion of Wilson students.

Perhaps Banneker and Walls kids did more prep for AP all year long (as they were supposed to) and weren't so concerned with a couple in-class review sessions.

The WIlson kids could have asked for after school or Saturday make up prep sessions where there were conflicts. Instead they caused all sorts of drama.

So it's the Wilson kids that are "riff raff" that we should all be avoiding (kidding), yet Banneker is the only school whites avoid like the plague. Again, I will point out that the Banneker kids are the minority kids you'd actually want your kid to be around. I'll never understand why the whites in this city avoid Banneker.

While I would be open to the possibility of Banneker when the time comes, I would need to get answers to a couple of questions first.

1) Do kids in the IB program get scores of 6 and 7 on the higher level exams? If students do not come from disadvantaged homes, top colleges will be looking for scores like this.

2) I have a STEM.kid. Banneker IB students do the easiest math track, which is akin to AP Calculus AB. If Banneker doesn't have a more advanced math option than that, my child may be better off at Wilson, which has a track record of kids getting 5's on the AP Calculus BC exam. The suburban schools offer multivariate calculus as well. Banneker also offers AP biology and IB biology, but Wilson offers many more advanced science classes like AP Chemistry, AP Physics etc.

[Anonymous]

I've been interviewing Banneker students for my Ivy for 15 years. The odd student gets in. I speak to the school's IB Diploma coordinator from time to time, mainly to ask how students are scoring. To my knowledge, 6s and 7s on IBP exams are really rare at Banneker. Their IBD pass points total hovers in the mid 20s (on a pass scale of 24-45 points) and a good third of the kids who pursue the IBD fail to pass. Their model is clearly to provide a springboard for low SES AA and Latino students to reach top colleges.

No, Banneker does not teach Cal BC, or, for that matter, Physics 2 (called Physics BC until 2014), Physics C: Electronics and Magnetism, or Physics C: Mechanics. Moreover, they haven't produced a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist in a decade. If you're high SES and your student is white or Asian, top Banneker STEM scores are really unlikely to fly at top colleges. Perhaps you could supplement to bridge the gap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been interviewing Banneker students for my Ivy for 15 years. The odd student gets in. I speak to the school's IB Diploma coordinator from time to time, mainly to ask how students are scoring. To my knowledge, 6s and 7s on IBP exams are really rare at Banneker. Their IBD pass points total hovers in the mid 20s (on a pass scale of 24-45 points) and a good third of the kids who pursue the IBD fail to pass. Their model is clearly to provide a springboard for low SES AA and Latino students to reach top colleges.

No, Banneker does not teach Cal BC, or, for that matter, Physics 2 (called Physics BC until 2014), Physics C: Electronics and Magnetism, or Physics C: Mechanics. Moreover, they haven't produced a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist in a decade. If you're high SES and your student is white or Asian, top Banneker STEM scores are really unlikely to fly at top colleges. Perhaps you could supplement to bridge the gap.

why would you assume your "stem kid" would do so much differently at Banneker than Wilson (leaving aside the course offerings?) I feel like people are constantly moving the goal posts. "My sweet, book hungry kid can't possibly go to class with all those kids at Jefferson who have 20% proficiency rates and come from the projects!!"

"what about banneker which is full of bright hard working kids with great results?"

"they never had a national merit finalist!!"

just say it.

[Anonymous]

I would not choose a school where the most advanced classes are less challenging than our local HS and the SAT scores are meh which is also far away from our house. It doesn't matter which color the kids are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not choose a school where the most advanced classes are less challenging than our local HS and the SAT scores are meh which is also far away from our house. It doesn't matter which color the kids are.

What is your IB high school? If it's Wilson, then you don't need to consider Banneker.

But if your IB choice is Eastern or Ballou or Coolidge or Cardozo vs. Banneker, why not Banneker?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not choose a school where the most advanced classes are less challenging than our local HS and the SAT scores are meh which is also far away from our house. It doesn't matter which color the kids are.

That's a good point, but test about the Eotp/Cap Hill white students that are above average but not super advanced? The ones clamoring to get into Latin? Banneker seems better than Latin in every measure. Also, it would behoove you to stop looking at their SAT scores as frankly it's not accurate or fair. Anyone with basic statistics class can determine that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not choose a school where the most advanced classes are less challenging than our local HS and the SAT scores are meh which is also far away from our house. It doesn't matter which color the kids are.

That's a good point, but test about the Eotp/Cap Hill white students that are above average but not super advanced? The ones clamoring to get into Latin? Banneker seems better than Latin in every measure. Also, it would behoove you to stop looking at their SAT scores as frankly it's not accurate or fair. Anyone with basic statistics class can determine that.

What are Washington Latin's SAT scores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not choose a school where the most advanced classes are less challenging than our local HS and the SAT scores are meh which is also far away from our house. It doesn't matter which color the kids are.

That's a good point, but test about the Eotp/Cap Hill white students that are above average but not super advanced? The ones clamoring to get into Latin? Banneker seems better than Latin in every measure. Also, it would behoove you to stop looking at their SAT scores as frankly it's not accurate or fair. Anyone with basic statistics class can determine that.

What are Washington Latin's SAT scores?

They don't seem to release them. Their website states that they are higher than the DC and national average.

[Anonymous]

Hi, Latin parent here. We are new to the school so still learning about it. Just got an announcement about summer school offerings which will include option to complete Algebra so students can take Geometry in 8th ( I think I got that right). Happy to hear there are options for students to advance. I was getting worried after reading pp whose dc was not being challenged. Current WL parents correct me if I have gotten something wrong- still lots to learn about the school!

[Anonymous]

Latin is loosening up on math tracking issues, after coming under heavy pressure from high SES parents to do this in the last 4 or 5 years, but that's about it. BASIS has been letting their most advanced math students take geometry in 7th all along. If your kid is an advanced, highly motivated humanities student at Latin, being in class with many peers who aren't is hardly the end of the world, but it's just OK. Latin has produced just one National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist in 5 graduating classes, while many area suburban schools and privates produce a dozen each fall (and TJ produces four dozen). If your kid is especially bright and motivated, I'd look into academic summer camps, tutors and on-line course work. Plenty of Latin parents supplement without telling others, particularly those who don't plan to stay for HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Latin is loosening up on math tracking issues, after coming under heavy pressure from high SES parents to do this in the last 4 or 5 years, but that's about it. BASIS has been letting their most advanced math students take geometry in 7th all along. If your kid is an advanced, highly motivated humanities student at Latin, being in class with many peers who aren't is hardly the end of the world, but it's just OK. Latin has produced just one National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist in 5 graduating classes, while many area suburban schools and privates produce a dozen each fall (and TJ produces four dozen). If your kid is especially bright and motivated, I'd look into academic summer camps, tutors and on-line course work. Plenty of Latin parents supplement without telling others, particularly those who don't plan to stay for HS.

Has the new Head of School changed anything else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been interviewing Banneker students for my Ivy for 15 years. The odd student gets in. I speak to the school's IB Diploma coordinator from time to time, mainly to ask how students are scoring. To my knowledge, 6s and 7s on IBP exams are really rare at Banneker. Their IBD pass points total hovers in the mid 20s (on a pass scale of 24-45 points) and a good third of the kids who pursue the IBD fail to pass. Their model is clearly to provide a springboard for low SES AA and Latino students to reach top colleges.

No, Banneker does not teach Cal BC, or, for that matter, Physics 2 (called Physics BC until 2014), Physics C: Electronics and Magnetism, or Physics C: Mechanics. Moreover, they haven't produced a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist in a decade. If you're high SES and your student is white or Asian, top Banneker STEM scores are really unlikely to fly at top colleges. Perhaps you could supplement to bridge the gap.

why would you assume your "stem kid" would do so much differently at Banneker than Wilson (leaving aside the course offerings?) I feel like people are constantly moving the goal posts. "My sweet, book hungry kid can't possibly go to class with all those kids at Jefferson who have 20% proficiency rates and come from the projects!!"

"what about banneker which is full of bright hard working kids with great results?"

"they never had a national merit finalist!!"

I'm going to stay that low SES, bright, hard-working AA kids don't need the "great results" (particularly where standardized test scores go) that high SES whites and Asians do to crack elite colleges. Where's the path to Banneker for white and Asian Hill kids? If they go to Hobson, they generally move on to privates or Walls. If they go to Latin or BASIS for MS, they generally stay for HS, or move on to privates or Walls. If the move to Upper NW, they generally go to Deal and Wilson, or privates. It's not as though it's "Banneker or the burbs," not yet anyway. Maybe as it becomes tougher to get into Walls, more whites will head to Banneker. Can't read the tea leaves on that one.

just say it.