DCI middle and high school current experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

We left DCI for Walls for our science oriented eldest. Not many kids go from DCI to Walls but there are some. Walls has been OK for AP Chemistry and surprisingly good for Physics (1,2 and C taught) and Calc, both AB and BC. Walls isn't good for AP Bio, not even taught every year. It's not that hard to find science HS internships and volunteer gigs in DC, particularly at NASA, NAS and the Smithsonian museums.

A couple of my kid's Walls friends volunteer at the Air and Space Museum throuuh their HS internhip program. If you're looking for more advanced language than Walls teaches, you can find it at GW.

Thank you, this is super helpful. Do you know why so few kids do? Is it that they don't apply, aren't admitted, or choose not to take a spot?

Don't mean to cause offense, but from our perspective, most UMC DCI parents care more about diversity and the the globalism/world citizenry of IBD than we do. We just want to the best academics we can find in a DC public high schools without living in-boundary for JR pyramid.

We were prepared to leave DCI for more challenging academics, a higher performing peer group and more experienced teachers than you get at DCI overall. Few DCI families of top performers seem to think in those terms. We only know one other former DCI family at Walls.

As you may have heard, Walls admissions has become a real crap shoot recently. But not difficult to see that they favor STEM stars who apply.

If your kid clears the Walls application GPA cut-off (easily done from DCI) and is strong in STEM, you want to emphasize math skills on hte application and in the interview. If you stuck with DPCS through 5th grade, make sure Walls knows that when you apply. They seem to prefer kids who came up through the system, at least part way.

I wouldn't stop at DCI MS core academics if you're shooting for Walls. Make sure your kid reads more, writes better, does harder math than DCI requires. If you want to shoot for GW language classes, do more there.

Good luck!

Your description of the Walls application process is way off. Walls doesn't favor STEM stars, there is no way to emphasize math skills in the application, and the interview is a joke.

Disagree that they don't favor STEM stars. Many BASIS 8th graders crack Walls.

Sure, a few BASIS kids go there but many of those do so for less STEM. BASIS requires a lot more STEM than Walls.

The point is that this isn't private school, and the application process isn't geared on selecting people based on particular strengths.

You are confusing cause and effect.

[Anonymous]

You have a kid who went from DCI or BASIS to Walls? Let me guess, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

We left DCI for Walls for our science oriented eldest. Not many kids go from DCI to Walls but there are some. Walls has been OK for AP Chemistry and surprisingly good for Physics (1,2 and C taught) and Calc, both AB and BC. Walls isn't good for AP Bio, not even taught every year. It's not that hard to find science HS internships and volunteer gigs in DC, particularly at NASA, NAS and the Smithsonian museums.

A couple of my kid's Walls friends volunteer at the Air and Space Museum throuuh their HS internhip program. If you're looking for more advanced language than Walls teaches, you can find it at GW.

Thank you, this is super helpful. Do you know why so few kids do? Is it that they don't apply, aren't admitted, or choose not to take a spot?

Don't mean to cause offense, but from our perspective, most UMC DCI parents care more about diversity and the the globalism/world citizenry of IBD than we do. We just want to the best academics we can find in a DC public high schools without living in-boundary for JR pyramid.

We were prepared to leave DCI for more challenging academics, a higher performing peer group and more experienced teachers than you get at DCI overall. Few DCI families of top performers seem to think in those terms. We only know one other former DCI family at Walls.

As you may have heard, Walls admissions has become a real crap shoot recently. But not difficult to see that they favor STEM stars who apply.

If your kid clears the Walls application GPA cut-off (easily done from DCI) and is strong in STEM, you want to emphasize math skills on hte application and in the interview. If you stuck with DPCS through 5th grade, make sure Walls knows that when you apply. They seem to prefer kids who came up through the system, at least part way.

I wouldn't stop at DCI MS core academics if you're shooting for Walls. Make sure your kid reads more, writes better, does harder math than DCI requires. If you want to shoot for GW language classes, do more there.

Good luck!

Your description of the Walls application process is way off. Walls doesn't favor STEM stars, there is no way to emphasize math skills in the application, and the interview is a joke.

Disagree that they don't favor STEM stars. Many BASIS 8th graders crack Walls.

Sure, a few BASIS kids go there but many of those do so for less STEM. BASIS requires a lot more STEM than Walls.

The point is that this isn't private school, and the application process isn't geared on selecting people based on particular strengths.

You are confusing cause and effect.

Right, so tell us what it's geared at?

[Anonymous]

We have one kid that did DCI for middle coming from a feeder that we moved to a private for high school this year. We also have a 4th grader we plan to just go ahead and move to private in 6th. We didn't hate it but our kid was not thriving there and so we made the difficult, albeit expensive, choice to move and are very grateful we did. But we have many friends with kids there that like it and are doing well. The ones that are happiest have high-achieving, motivated girls who are active in sports and clubs. My thoughts on your questions in particular:

-academic rigor (math, sciences, ELA, writing, etc)
I'd say mediocre and very teacher dependent. You at least get some differentiation in math but writing instruction was particularly underwhelming. This was the case for our DCI feeder, too. It became even more clear to us when we moved our kid to a private with a very strong writing curriculum and emphasis.

-specials (languages, music, art, sports, etc)
Specials are aligned with your language and assigned based on schedule availability and not interest so it's a real crap shoot what you'll get. For kids that are say really interested in art, their options could be limited. This was a major downside for my kid in particular.

-socio-emotional support and behavior management (middle school and high school)
I actually found this to be pretty decent for a school with a large and varied student body including the counseling available but like other posters, my kid frequently complained of being surrounded by unmotivated kids. The advisor your kid is assigned to can make a big difference in their experience, too.

-sports (all genders)
DCI is actually great for sports and have teams that have done really well for a new school.

-diversity (students, teachers, staff, etc)-we’ve looked at the available data from 2021 on student demographics
This is another area where DCI is strong. Probably the most diverse middle/high school in DC.

-commute (do most kids live nearby…we don’t!)
Lots of kids live nearby and lots come from all over the city.

-technology (how much time are they really on laptops)
Pretty much everything is done on a laptop. This came in handy when everything went remote for the pandemic but is another reason we left the school- way too reliant on tech for our taste. Particularly considering the IB exams are all written.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

We left DCI for Walls for our science oriented eldest. Not many kids go from DCI to Walls but there are some. Walls has been OK for AP Chemistry and surprisingly good for Physics (1,2 and C taught) and Calc, both AB and BC. Walls isn't good for AP Bio, not even taught every year. It's not that hard to find science HS internships and volunteer gigs in DC, particularly at NASA, NAS and the Smithsonian museums.

A couple of my kid's Walls friends volunteer at the Air and Space Museum throuuh their HS internhip program. If you're looking for more advanced language than Walls teaches, you can find it at GW.

Thank you, this is super helpful. Do you know why so few kids do? Is it that they don't apply, aren't admitted, or choose not to take a spot?

Don't mean to cause offense, but from our perspective, most UMC DCI parents care more about diversity and the the globalism/world citizenry of IBD than we do. We just want to the best academics we can find in a DC public high schools without living in-boundary for JR pyramid.

We were prepared to leave DCI for more challenging academics, a higher performing peer group and more experienced teachers than you get at DCI overall. Few DCI families of top performers seem to think in those terms. We only know one other former DCI family at Walls.

As you may have heard, Walls admissions has become a real crap shoot recently. But not difficult to see that they favor STEM stars who apply.

If your kid clears the Walls application GPA cut-off (easily done from DCI) and is strong in STEM, you want to emphasize math skills on hte application and in the interview. If you stuck with DPCS through 5th grade, make sure Walls knows that when you apply. They seem to prefer kids who came up through the system, at least part way.

I wouldn't stop at DCI MS core academics if you're shooting for Walls. Make sure your kid reads more, writes better, does harder math than DCI requires. If you want to shoot for GW language classes, do more there.

Good luck!

Your description of the Walls application process is way off. Walls doesn't favor STEM stars, there is no way to emphasize math skills in the application, and the interview is a joke.

Disagree that they don't favor STEM stars. Many BASIS 8th graders crack Walls.

Sure, a few BASIS kids go there but many of those do so for less STEM. BASIS requires a lot more STEM than Walls.

The point is that this isn't private school, and the application process isn't geared on selecting people based on particular strengths.

You are confusing cause and effect.

Right, so tell us what it's geared at?

GPA and then a 3 minute interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

We left DCI for Walls for our science oriented eldest. Not many kids go from DCI to Walls but there are some. Walls has been OK for AP Chemistry and surprisingly good for Physics (1,2 and C taught) and Calc, both AB and BC. Walls isn't good for AP Bio, not even taught every year. It's not that hard to find science HS internships and volunteer gigs in DC, particularly at NASA, NAS and the Smithsonian museums.

A couple of my kid's Walls friends volunteer at the Air and Space Museum throuuh their HS internhip program. If you're looking for more advanced language than Walls teaches, you can find it at GW.

Thank you, this is super helpful. Do you know why so few kids do? Is it that they don't apply, aren't admitted, or choose not to take a spot?

Don't mean to cause offense, but from our perspective, most UMC DCI parents care more about diversity and the the globalism/world citizenry of IBD than we do. We just want to the best academics we can find in a DC public high schools without living in-boundary for JR pyramid.

We were prepared to leave DCI for more challenging academics, a higher performing peer group and more experienced teachers than you get at DCI overall. Few DCI families of top performers seem to think in those terms. We only know one other former DCI family at Walls.

As you may have heard, Walls admissions has become a real crap shoot recently. But not difficult to see that they favor STEM stars who apply.

If your kid clears the Walls application GPA cut-off (easily done from DCI) and is strong in STEM, you want to emphasize math skills on hte application and in the interview. If you stuck with DPCS through 5th grade, make sure Walls knows that when you apply. They seem to prefer kids who came up through the system, at least part way.

I wouldn't stop at DCI MS core academics if you're shooting for Walls. Make sure your kid reads more, writes better, does harder math than DCI requires. If you want to shoot for GW language classes, do more there.

Good luck!

Your description of the Walls application process is way off. Walls doesn't favor STEM stars, there is no way to emphasize math skills in the application, and the interview is a joke.

Disagree that they don't favor STEM stars. Many BASIS 8th graders crack Walls.

Sure, a few BASIS kids go there but many of those do so for less STEM. BASIS requires a lot more STEM than Walls.

The point is that this isn't private school, and the application process isn't geared on selecting people based on particular strengths.

You are confusing cause and effect.

Right, so tell us what it's geared at?

GPA and then a 3 minute interview.

Seriously? What the hell. They don't so much as review an applicant's transcript?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

We left DCI for Walls for our science oriented eldest. Not many kids go from DCI to Walls but there are some. Walls has been OK for AP Chemistry and surprisingly good for Physics (1,2 and C taught) and Calc, both AB and BC. Walls isn't good for AP Bio, not even taught every year. It's not that hard to find science HS internships and volunteer gigs in DC, particularly at NASA, NAS and the Smithsonian museums.

A couple of my kid's Walls friends volunteer at the Air and Space Museum throuuh their HS internhip program. If you're looking for more advanced language than Walls teaches, you can find it at GW.

Thank you, this is super helpful. Do you know why so few kids do? Is it that they don't apply, aren't admitted, or choose not to take a spot?

Don't mean to cause offense, but from our perspective, most UMC DCI parents care more about diversity and the the globalism/world citizenry of IBD than we do. We just want to the best academics we can find in a DC public high schools without living in-boundary for JR pyramid.

We were prepared to leave DCI for more challenging academics, a higher performing peer group and more experienced teachers than you get at DCI overall. Few DCI families of top performers seem to think in those terms. We only know one other former DCI family at Walls.

As you may have heard, Walls admissions has become a real crap shoot recently. But not difficult to see that they favor STEM stars who apply.

If your kid clears the Walls application GPA cut-off (easily done from DCI) and is strong in STEM, you want to emphasize math skills on hte application and in the interview. If you stuck with DPCS through 5th grade, make sure Walls knows that when you apply. They seem to prefer kids who came up through the system, at least part way.

I wouldn't stop at DCI MS core academics if you're shooting for Walls. Make sure your kid reads more, writes better, does harder math than DCI requires. If you want to shoot for GW language classes, do more there.

Good luck!

Your description of the Walls application process is way off. Walls doesn't favor STEM stars, there is no way to emphasize math skills in the application, and the interview is a joke.

Disagree that they don't favor STEM stars. Many BASIS 8th graders crack Walls.

Sure, a few BASIS kids go there but many of those do so for less STEM. BASIS requires a lot more STEM than Walls.

The point is that this isn't private school, and the application process isn't geared on selecting people based on particular strengths.

You are confusing cause and effect.

Right, so tell us what it's geared at?

GPA and then a 3 minute interview.

Did your kid get into Walls after a 3 minute interview? My child, who was admitted, had a 10 minute (virtual) interview. I know because I timed it.

[Anonymous]

10 minutes is more than enough for the kid to highlight academic and extra-curricular achievement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10 minutes is more than enough for the kid to highlight academic and extra-curricular achievement.

If he does that, the interviewer might decide your kid is a braggart who doesn’t “fit.” But please, try it out and report back!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have one kid that did DCI for middle coming from a feeder that we moved to a private for high school this year. We also have a 4th grader we plan to just go ahead and move to private in 6th. We didn't hate it but our kid was not thriving there and so we made the difficult, albeit expensive, choice to move and are very grateful we did. But we have many friends with kids there that like it and are doing well. The ones that are happiest have high-achieving, motivated girls who are active in sports and clubs. My thoughts on your questions in particular:

-academic rigor (math, sciences, ELA, writing, etc)
I'd say mediocre and very teacher dependent. You at least get some differentiation in math but writing instruction was particularly underwhelming. This was the case for our DCI feeder, too. It became even more clear to us when we moved our kid to a private with a very strong writing curriculum and emphasis.

-specials (languages, music, art, sports, etc)
Specials are aligned with your language and assigned based on schedule availability and not interest so it's a real crap shoot what you'll get. For kids that are say really interested in art, their options could be limited. This was a major downside for my kid in particular.

-socio-emotional support and behavior management (middle school and high school)
I actually found this to be pretty decent for a school with a large and varied student body including the counseling available but like other posters, my kid frequently complained of being surrounded by unmotivated kids. The advisor your kid is assigned to can make a big difference in their experience, too.

-sports (all genders)
DCI is actually great for sports and have teams that have done really well for a new school.

-diversity (students, teachers, staff, etc)-we’ve looked at the available data from 2021 on student demographics
This is another area where DCI is strong. Probably the most diverse middle/high school in DC.

-commute (do most kids live nearby…we don’t!)
Lots of kids live nearby and lots come from all over the city.

-technology (how much time are they really on laptops)
Pretty much everything is done on a laptop. This came in handy when everything went remote for the pandemic but is another reason we left the school- way too reliant on tech for our taste. Particularly considering the IB exams are all written.

Not pp, but another feeder parent wanting to say thanks for this detailed post.

Our friends seen mostly happy at DCI. The kids I've talked to also are happy and told my fifth grader "it's so much better than elementary!" They seem to love done clubs in particular.

I had no idea that the IB exams are all written. By hand? Is that true? That is an odd for with a school that touts its 1:1 technology focus. After the pandemic, my fifth grader can barely write legibly, and the school has done more and more on the computer "to get ready for DCI "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have one kid that did DCI for middle coming from a feeder that we moved to a private for high school this year. We also have a 4th grader we plan to just go ahead and move to private in 6th. We didn't hate it but our kid was not thriving there and so we made the difficult, albeit expensive, choice to move and are very grateful we did. But we have many friends with kids there that like it and are doing well. The ones that are happiest have high-achieving, motivated girls who are active in sports and clubs. My thoughts on your questions in particular:

-academic rigor (math, sciences, ELA, writing, etc)
I'd say mediocre and very teacher dependent. You at least get some differentiation in math but writing instruction was particularly underwhelming. This was the case for our DCI feeder, too. It became even more clear to us when we moved our kid to a private with a very strong writing curriculum and emphasis.

-specials (languages, music, art, sports, etc)
Specials are aligned with your language and assigned based on schedule availability and not interest so it's a real crap shoot what you'll get. For kids that are say really interested in art, their options could be limited. This was a major downside for my kid in particular.

-socio-emotional support and behavior management (middle school and high school)
I actually found this to be pretty decent for a school with a large and varied student body including the counseling available but like other posters, my kid frequently complained of being surrounded by unmotivated kids. The advisor your kid is assigned to can make a big difference in their experience, too.

-sports (all genders)
DCI is actually great for sports and have teams that have done really well for a new school.

-diversity (students, teachers, staff, etc)-we’ve looked at the available data from 2021 on student demographics
This is another area where DCI is strong. Probably the most diverse middle/high school in DC.

-commute (do most kids live nearby…we don’t!)
Lots of kids live nearby and lots come from all over the city.

-technology (how much time are they really on laptops)
Pretty much everything is done on a laptop. This came in handy when everything went remote for the pandemic but is another reason we left the school- way too reliant on tech for our taste. Particularly considering the IB exams are all written.

Not pp, but another feeder parent wanting to say thanks for this detailed post.

Our friends seen mostly happy at DCI. The kids I've talked to also are happy and told my fifth grader "it's so much better than elementary!" They seem to love done clubs in particular.

I had no idea that the IB exams are all written. By hand? Is that true? That is an odd for with a school that touts its 1:1 technology focus. After the pandemic, my fifth grader can barely write legibly, and the school has done more and more on the computer "to get ready for DCI "

Aren't IB exams required to be taken with pen and paper? I don't think that is just a DCI thing.

Students will take the SAT online starting next year. What about IB exams?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. You sound like a parent who never got off the BASIS wait list for a math oriented student. Thanks for all the detail.

How do you cope with the lack of challenge and homework and the fact that the kid hates DCI (if I got that right). You supplement in core subjects? Language?

So you don't plan to stay for high school? You're shooting for...Walls? Privates? Planning to move from DC? We're in a DCI feeder, wondering if we should jump to BASIS or one of the Latins if we have the chance this year.

Yup, I am that parent. Cope: Hope for the best. I'm not certain my kid wouldn't have hated any other middle school, because middle school. Though she may have been stressed out by work instead of being bored. We supplement in foreign language and spend a lot of time on her sport. Would prefer not to stay for high school, but not sure we'll have other options. Still considering moving or private (though unlikely). Looking into all the application high schools of course, but they are mostly all humanities oriented.

We left DCI for Walls for our science oriented eldest. Not many kids go from DCI to Walls but there are some. Walls has been OK for AP Chemistry and surprisingly good for Physics (1,2 and C taught) and Calc, both AB and BC. Walls isn't good for AP Bio, not even taught every year. It's not that hard to find science HS internships and volunteer gigs in DC, particularly at NASA, NAS and the Smithsonian museums.

A couple of my kid's Walls friends volunteer at the Air and Space Museum throuuh their HS internhip program. If you're looking for more advanced language than Walls teaches, you can find it at GW.

Thank you, this is super helpful. Do you know why so few kids do? Is it that they don't apply, aren't admitted, or choose not to take a spot?

Don't mean to cause offense, but from our perspective, most UMC DCI parents care more about diversity and the the globalism/world citizenry of IBD than we do. We just want to the best academics we can find in a DC public high schools without living in-boundary for JR pyramid.

We were prepared to leave DCI for more challenging academics, a higher performing peer group and more experienced teachers than you get at DCI overall. Few DCI families of top performers seem to think in those terms. We only know one other former DCI family at Walls.

As you may have heard, Walls admissions has become a real crap shoot recently. But not difficult to see that they favor STEM stars who apply.

If your kid clears the Walls application GPA cut-off (easily done from DCI) and is strong in STEM, you want to emphasize math skills on hte application and in the interview. If you stuck with DPCS through 5th grade, make sure Walls knows that when you apply. They seem to prefer kids who came up through the system, at least part way.

I wouldn't stop at DCI MS core academics if you're shooting for Walls. Make sure your kid reads more, writes better, does harder math than DCI requires. If you want to shoot for GW language classes, do more there.

Good luck!

Your description of the Walls application process is way off. Walls doesn't favor STEM stars, there is no way to emphasize math skills in the application, and the interview is a joke.

Disagree that they don't favor STEM stars. Many BASIS 8th graders crack Walls.

Sure, a few BASIS kids go there but many of those do so for less STEM. BASIS requires a lot more STEM than Walls.

The point is that this isn't private school, and the application process isn't geared on selecting people based on particular strengths.

You are confusing cause and effect.

I agree with above. Walls is more a humanities school, definitely not STEM. If your kid is into STEM, Basis is the better school by far.

[Anonymous]

This is wrong. As somebody else noted, Walls teaches BC Calc and Physics 2 and C every year. They also teach AP Chem, every other year. Those are serious high school STEM classes, without even having to tap into GW math classes. Some Walls students get into good engineering programs with their high-octane high school math. We know kids who went from Walls to Cornell Engineering, Rensselaer and Carnegie Mellon. Sure, BASIS offers more serious STEM classes, but that's no use if you didn't get in at 5th grade. Many kids who apply through the lottery don't these days.

[Anonymous]

IB essays are all pen and paper. Even in Chinese. Unless you have a related disability and can get Geneva to ok your typewritten accommodation, which requires documentation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is wrong. As somebody else noted, Walls teaches BC Calc and Physics 2 and C every year. They also teach AP Chem, every other year. Those are serious high school STEM classes, without even having to tap into GW math classes. Some Walls students get into good engineering programs with their high-octane high school math. We know kids who went from Walls to Cornell Engineering, Rensselaer and Carnegie Mellon. Sure, BASIS offers more serious STEM classes, but that's no use if you didn't get in at 5th grade. Many kids who apply through the lottery don't these days.

Just because Walls offers a few of the courses above and some kids go into STEM, does not mean it’s a STEM school. It is just not.