How are things going at Walls this year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Terrible. No french department. Uninspired teachers. Lots of busy work. Administration is unresponsive. There is nothing impressive about this school.

What grade is your student in?

What do you mean, no French department? The French teachers all quit and haven't been replaced? What happens during French classes?

One quit and one retired in August- not much time to hire in these times. The second French teacher will start in January after Winter break. They prioritized the existing teacher to French 1 and AP French. The students in French 2/3 have been given some assignments but it took awhile to get going. My DC does Duolingo and we will supplement with an immersion camp this summer. Honestly, I'm rather glad it was French without a teacher rather than math or science etc.

Interesting comment about school spirit- I thought Homecoming was very well attended and it was nice to see kids from all over the city attend.

Ok, this was my question. I know it's not the same as an actual language class but the PP complaining about access to online options for French given the situation confused me because Duolingo is free and easily available and would be an easy way to supplement in the meantime. Depending on level, Duolingo plus a little extra effort (say, reading a novel in French or committing to reading one article a day in Le Monde) would be fine.

Not saying it's good that Walls is scrambling for French teachers but many schools have been struggling to locate math and science teachers, and elementary schools have gone weeks and months without permanent Kindergarten teachers. In comparison to what the rest of the district is dealing with, this just doesn't seem like that big of a deal. A bummer, but a manageable one.

Duolingo is not free except for the basics.

The free and the paid versions are almost identical except you have to watch ads with the free version.

Sad that Walls can’t teach French and kids have to use Duolingo. DCPS gets over $830 million a year, right? Where is the money going?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to the EdFest meeting on Saturday, there will be no admissions test this year (2022-23 school year) and it sounded like there is no urgency to bring it back.

Sad. DCPS ruined SWW.

Another one bites the dust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a practice PSAT? Don’t tenth graders take the PSAT?

Anybody can take the PSAT but only 11th graders qualify for National Merit scholarships. Some MS and HS GT programs use the PSAT as a screen test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the EdFest meeting on Saturday, there will be no admissions test this year (2022-23 school year) and it sounded like there is no urgency to bring it back.

Sad. DCPS ruined SWW.

Another one bites the dust.

The Walls admissions test was very easy for the strongest applicants, a pale shadow of the SSAT in NYC used for admission to Stuyvesant, Bronx Science etc.

The Walls interview has been the bigger problem for years. It's an open secret that the interview is used to identify minority students who didn't test well, on an easy test for admission to a HS magnet program. Boston Latin used interviews similarly in the late 1980s and early 1990s, until school leaders were forced to ditch them over 20 years ago, to settle pending litigation. A suit was brought in 1996 (Mclauglin by McLaughlin vs. Boston School Committee) by a white applicant with a competitive entrance exam score who was denied admission to BL.

I really wish somebody would sue Walls over lack of transparency in admissions. High time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the EdFest meeting on Saturday, there will be no admissions test this year (2022-23 school year) and it sounded like there is no urgency to bring it back.

Sad. DCPS ruined SWW.

Another one bites the dust.

The Walls admissions test was very easy for the strongest applicants, a pale shadow of the SSAT in NYC used for admission to Stuyvesant, Bronx Science etc.

The Walls interview has been the bigger problem for years. It's an open secret that the interview is used to identify minority students who didn't test well, on an easy test for admission to a HS magnet program. Boston Latin used interviews similarly in the late 1980s and early 1990s, until school leaders were forced to ditch them over 20 years ago, to settle pending litigation. A suit was brought in 1996 (Mclauglin by McLaughlin vs. Boston School Committee) by a white applicant with a competitive entrance exam score who was denied admission to BL.

I really wish somebody would sue Walls over lack of transparency in admissions. High time.

But Walls never disclosed your score - so how would you know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the EdFest meeting on Saturday, there will be no admissions test this year (2022-23 school year) and it sounded like there is no urgency to bring it back.

Sad. DCPS ruined SWW.

Another one bites the dust.

The Walls admissions test was very easy for the strongest applicants, a pale shadow of the SSAT in NYC used for admission to Stuyvesant, Bronx Science etc.

The Walls interview has been the bigger problem for years. It's an open secret that the interview is used to identify minority students who didn't test well, on an easy test for admission to a HS magnet program. Boston Latin used interviews similarly in the late 1980s and early 1990s, until school leaders were forced to ditch them over 20 years ago, to settle pending litigation. A suit was brought in 1996 (Mclauglin by McLaughlin vs. Boston School Committee) by a white applicant with a competitive entrance exam score who was denied admission to BL.

I really wish somebody would sue Walls over lack of transparency in admissions. High time.

But Walls never disclosed your score - so how would you know?

And the interviews took place after they made cuts based on the placement test

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the EdFest meeting on Saturday, there will be no admissions test this year (2022-23 school year) and it sounded like there is no urgency to bring it back.

Sad. DCPS ruined SWW.

Another one bites the dust.

The Walls admissions test was very easy for the strongest applicants, a pale shadow of the SSAT in NYC used for admission to Stuyvesant, Bronx Science etc.

The Walls interview has been the bigger problem for years. It's an open secret that the interview is used to identify minority students who didn't test well, on an easy test for admission to a HS magnet program. Boston Latin used interviews similarly in the late 1980s and early 1990s, until school leaders were forced to ditch them over 20 years ago, to settle pending litigation. A suit was brought in 1996 (Mclauglin by McLaughlin vs. Boston School Committee) by a white applicant with a competitive entrance exam score who was denied admission to BL.

I really wish somebody would sue Walls over lack of transparency in admissions. High time.

But Walls never disclosed your score - so how would you know?

I think you were able to request your score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 10th grader is having a great year. Finally making connections and this makes a huge difference. Walls is the right place for him.

However - I agree with the comments on the administration. Over the last year, they lost their Principal and an AP.

The replacements do not come close.

Can you provide examples of how they do not compare? I've seen a number of comments about how admin is subpar.

In a meeting and AP was there, introduced himself, and turned off screen / put self on mute claiming background noise.
The AP actually stepped away and when was asked a direct question - was not available.
AP was supposed to follow up on an action from the meeting and never did.

NP and I am not surprised to read this in the slightest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to the EdFest meeting on Saturday, there will be no admissions test this year (2022-23 school year) and it sounded like there is no urgency to bring it back.

Unfortunately, SWW will just slide into mediocrity, Basis DC will quickly supplant SWW as the best high school, if it hasn't already.

A lot of parents that passed up Basis DC for 5th grade in the lottery will regret that decision.

SWW for 9th grade no longer looks like a great option for the most academically minded kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the EdFest meeting on Saturday, there will be no admissions test this year (2022-23 school year) and it sounded like there is no urgency to bring it back.

Sad. DCPS ruined SWW.

Another one bites the dust.

The Walls admissions test was very easy for the strongest applicants, a pale shadow of the SSAT in NYC used for admission to Stuyvesant, Bronx Science etc.

The Walls interview has been the bigger problem for years. It's an open secret that the interview is used to identify minority students who didn't test well, on an easy test for admission to a HS magnet program. Boston Latin used interviews similarly in the late 1980s and early 1990s, until school leaders were forced to ditch them over 20 years ago, to settle pending litigation. A suit was brought in 1996 (Mclauglin by McLaughlin vs. Boston School Committee) by a white applicant with a competitive entrance exam score who was denied admission to BL.

I really wish somebody would sue Walls over lack of transparency in admissions. High time.

But Walls never disclosed your score - so how would you know?

And the interviews took place after they made cuts based on the placement test

An embarrassingly easy placement test, pitched at around a 7th grade level. The interview was definitely used to identify AA applicants to keep too many high-scoring whites from enrolling. There are far better ways to strive for racial diversity and balance. Hint: far more elementary and middle school challenge for the most able students in DCPS, particularly poor minority kids.

[Anonymous]

Yep. No exam at Walls for next year either.

Even Ellington is keeping is "academic placement assessment" but zilch for Walls.

https://www.myschooldc.org/sites/default/files/dc/sites/myschooldc/SY22-23%20Selective%20High%20School%20Requirements.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the EdFest meeting on Saturday, there will be no admissions test this year (2022-23 school year) and it sounded like there is no urgency to bring it back.

Unfortunately, SWW will just slide into mediocrity, Basis DC will quickly supplant SWW as the best high school, if it hasn't already.

A lot of parents that passed up Basis DC for 5th grade in the lottery will regret that decision.

SWW for 9th grade no longer looks like a great option for the most academically minded kids.

I don't see SWW's development trajectory as becoming more intertwined with BASIS', mainly because the venn diagram overlap between potential students is mainly just Ward 6.

SWW draws heavily from both Upper NW AND Ward 6, while BASIS doesn't. Very few parents who are in-boundary for Deal bother with BASIS, and BASIS hardly admits for 6th grade and doesn't admit after 6th.

What I see happening as Walls slips is that Wilson and suburban privates become more of a draw for DC public school families of high achievers. You're going to see more Upper NW and Ward 6 families renting and buying suburban properties just for HS, with parents returning to their DC homes as empty nesters. You're also going to see DC, MD and VA parochial high schools charging HS tuition in the 20s (St. John's, DeMatha, Gonzaga) enjoy a popularity boost.

[Anonymous]

As SWW slips, Wilson will rise somewhat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the EdFest meeting on Saturday, there will be no admissions test this year (2022-23 school year) and it sounded like there is no urgency to bring it back.

Unfortunately, SWW will just slide into mediocrity, Basis DC will quickly supplant SWW as the best high school, if it hasn't already.

A lot of parents that passed up Basis DC for 5th grade in the lottery will regret that decision.

SWW for 9th grade no longer looks like a great option for the most academically minded kids.

I don't see SWW's development trajectory as becoming more intertwined with BASIS', mainly because the venn diagram overlap between potential students is mainly just Ward 6.

SWW draws heavily from both Upper NW AND Ward 6, while BASIS doesn't. Very few parents who are in-boundary for Deal bother with BASIS, and BASIS hardly admits for 6th grade and doesn't admit after 6th.

What I see happening as Walls slips is that Wilson and suburban privates become more of a draw for DC public school families of high achievers. You're going to see more Upper NW and Ward 6 families renting and buying suburban properties just for HS, with parents returning to their DC homes as empty nesters. You're also going to see DC, MD and VA parochial high schools charging HS tuition in the 20s (St. John's, DeMatha, Gonzaga) enjoy a popularity boost.

Fair points but don’t forget:

1) Up until now, a relatively big chunk of some of Basis DC’s best students have decamped to SWW for 9th grade. Basis is less likely to lose them now.

2) Basis is in a super convenient location downtown, near multiple metro stops and bus lines. It it just as easy to get to Basis as it is to SWW from Upper NW. Lots of parents commute downtown from Upper NW during regular non-Covid times.

3) Some parents don’t care much about academics in middle school and just opt for Deal/Hardy, thinking that if their kids do OK they will apply to SWW and, if the kids don’t get in, they can go to Wilson/Jackson-Reed. Now, with the issues with SWW and problems at Wilson, we will likely see more parents from Wards 3 and 2 try to lottery into Basis for 5th grade so that they have Basis as an option for high school.

[Anonymous]

Many sought after privates are still waiving the test this year and also giving signs of not bringing it back (Maret, St Albans, GDS)

https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2020/08/31/pandemic-has-proven-standardized-tests-dont-measure-whats-important-opinion