Walls Versus DCI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Do you have kids at both schools? Because the AP math scores at Walls are good. I just am not sure how you are making the delineation that kids in those classes aren’t prepared.


Just for some context, last year was the first year DCI offered AP precalc and they had a 98% pass rate. This is the first year with AP Calc AB so they don’t have any data. Still very impressive for 10th grade math as an advanced track but they do need to screen kids better. Some are properly advanced and others just have parents that bully their way into the track.


Bravo for DCI! Impressive for 10th graders.

Looking forward to seeing AP Cal scores for 10th graders this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do you have kids at both schools? Because the AP math scores at Walls are good. I just am not sure how you are making the delineation that kids in those classes aren’t prepared.

Just for some context, last year was the first year DCI offered AP precalc and they had a 98% pass rate. This is the first year with AP Calc AB so they don’t have any data. Still very impressive for 10th grade math as an advanced track but they do need to screen kids better. Some are properly advanced and others just have parents that bully their way into the track.

How can you see AP math scores at Walls only? I can only find DCPS wide scores.

I don’t know and would be interested to see but it’s a well known fact that Walls is not STEM oriented and weak in STEM.

They don’t even offer the full AP selection of STEM courses every year.

The have strong teachers in science and a cohort of very STEM-oriented students. That's good enough for my strong STEM kid.

I think the "well known fact" that PP speaks of is not very factual.

Just because there is a small cohort of STEM kids does not mean it is a school strong in STEM. Yes, Walls is known as a more humanities school and not STEM.

It is a well known fact that the school does not even offer a full load of AP STEM courses every year.

[Anonymous]

So what are the AP math scores at Walls and passing rate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what are the AP math scores at Walls and passing rate?

Good question. Do you know where to find this data, because I don't. All I've seen are general AP Pass rates.

[Anonymous]

https://dcps.dc.gov/publication/ap-score-data-sets

I don't think you can find more specific information on line from any of the schools.

[Anonymous]

Are grades inflated at DCI? I heard half the middle school gets straight As (Principal's List)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do you have kids at both schools? Because the AP math scores at Walls are good. I just am not sure how you are making the delineation that kids in those classes aren’t prepared.

Just for some context, last year was the first year DCI offered AP precalc and they had a 98% pass rate. This is the first year with AP Calc AB so they don’t have any data. Still very impressive for 10th grade math as an advanced track but they do need to screen kids better. Some are properly advanced and others just have parents that bully their way into the track.

How can you see AP math scores at Walls only? I can only find DCPS wide scores.

I don’t know and would be interested to see but it’s a well known fact that Walls is not STEM oriented and weak in STEM.

They don’t even offer the full AP selection of STEM courses every year.

The have strong teachers in science and a cohort of very STEM-oriented students. That's good enough for my strong STEM kid.

I think the "well known fact" that PP speaks of is not very factual.

Just because there is a small cohort of STEM kids does not mean it is a school strong in STEM. Yes, Walls is known as a more humanities school and not STEM.

It is a well known fact that the school does not even offer a full load of AP STEM courses every year.

But how can anyone claim to know the AP math and science scores at Walls? DCPS does not release that data. So unless you are a math or science teacher at Walls or a Walls administrator, you can’t see AP scores in those specific disciplines.

Also Walls doesn’t offer all science APs every year but they do have lots of advanced math electives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are grades inflated at DCI? I heard half the middle school gets straight As (Principal's List)

That is objectively false. Principals list is really hard and requires straight As. Honor roll is much harder. I can’t post because it would violate people’s privacy but this is just false.

If anything teachers have expectations that are too high. My kids struggle with PE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Do you have kids at both schools? Because the AP math scores at Walls are good. I just am not sure how you are making the delineation that kids in those classes aren’t prepared.


Just for some context, last year was the first year DCI offered AP precalc and they had a 98% pass rate. This is the first year with AP Calc AB so they don’t have any data. Still very impressive for 10th grade math as an advanced track but they do need to screen kids better. Some are properly advanced and others just have parents that bully their way into the track.

Sorry but this untrue. You cannot “bully” your way into advanced math or double advanced math. The only way is to perform at a certain level in NWEA map tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do you have kids at both schools? Because the AP math scores at Walls are good. I just am not sure how you are making the delineation that kids in those classes aren’t prepared.

Just for some context, last year was the first year DCI offered AP precalc and they had a 98% pass rate. This is the first year with AP Calc AB so they don’t have any data. Still very impressive for 10th grade math as an advanced track but they do need to screen kids better. Some are properly advanced and others just have parents that bully their way into the track.

Sorry but this untrue. You cannot “bully” your way into advanced math or double advanced math. The only way is to perform at a certain level in NWEA map tests.

Good to hear that at least DCI is using objective data for their math tracking and placement.

[Anonymous]

To place into advanced math at 6th grade you need an 80% or higher in the NWEA plus a teacher recommendation. In my experience they usually require a pattern of 80%+ achievement on the NWEA, not an outlier test. To get double advanced math, i believe it’s 90%+ on multiple NWEA tests, a 6 average in advanced math, and a 5 on the PARCC plus teacher recommendation. No amount of bullying will let them override these requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To place into advanced math at 6th grade you need an 80% or higher in the NWEA plus a teacher recommendation. In my experience they usually require a pattern of 80%+ achievement on the NWEA, not an outlier test. To get double advanced math, i believe it’s 90%+ on multiple NWEA tests, a 6 average in advanced math, and a 5 on the PARCC plus teacher recommendation. No amount of bullying will let them override these requirements.

This is great info and how high the bar is to get into the advance classes. This allows only students who are ready in and who can handle acceleration and won’t slow down the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To place into advanced math at 6th grade you need an 80% or higher in the NWEA plus a teacher recommendation. In my experience they usually require a pattern of 80%+ achievement on the NWEA, not an outlier test. To get double advanced math, i believe it’s 90%+ on multiple NWEA tests, a 6 average in advanced math, and a 5 on the PARCC plus teacher recommendation. No amount of bullying will let them override these requirements.

This is great info and how high the bar is to get into the advance classes. This allows only students who are ready in and who can handle acceleration and won’t slow down the class.

Yes and DCI also offers a lot of support classes for children who are struggling in math and English. They are very quick to put kids in support classes and take a more wait and see approach to promoting kids to the advanced classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do you have kids at both schools? Because the AP math scores at Walls are good. I just am not sure how you are making the delineation that kids in those classes aren’t prepared.

Just for some context, last year was the first year DCI offered AP precalc and they had a 98% pass rate. This is the first year with AP Calc AB so they don’t have any data. Still very impressive for 10th grade math as an advanced track but they do need to screen kids better. Some are properly advanced and others just have parents that bully their way into the track.

How can you see AP math scores at Walls only? I can only find DCPS wide scores.

What does this mean? 98% of people scored a 3 or higher on the AP exam? Or that 98% of the kids earned a D or higher in the class? Did everyone who took AP precalc also take the AP exam for it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Do you have kids at both schools? Because the AP math scores at Walls are good. I just am not sure how you are making the delineation that kids in those classes aren’t prepared.

Just for some context, last year was the first year DCI offered AP precalc and they had a 98% pass rate. This is the first year with AP Calc AB so they don’t have any data. Still very impressive for 10th grade math as an advanced track but they do need to screen kids better. Some are properly advanced and others just have parents that bully their way into the track.

What does this mean? 98% of people scored a 3 or higher on the AP exam? Or that 98% of the kids earned a D or higher in the class? Did everyone who took AP precalc also take the AP exam for it?