When will Walls interview notices come out??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for posting that link....a couple of things jump out:

1) a 3.8 GPA is regarded the same as a 4.0 for the purpose of their rubric...given how easy grading is (at least at my child's middle school), that's really interesting. A child who has two B+, two A-s and one A in the five core classes (and As in PE, Music, Art, and Health) would be given the same 5 points as a kid with all As.

2) The 31/36 points given to the interview is just bizarre. Where on earth did they come up with that ratio and do they provide the specific rubric for that anywhere? 86% weight for the subjective interview seems like a recipe for abuse.....

This is the issue I have with the GPA cutoff - a 4.0 from some schools is not the same as a 4.0 from others. Some kids will be well prepared for the Walls curriculum, some won't.

Agreed but it's no different than college admissions.There are those that say the test wasn't fair. Some schools were simply preparing kids better than others. None of it is perfect. Same complaints every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom of ASD kid here. My point isn’t just that process seems arbitrary—it also strikes me as discriminatory.

It’s also a crappy admissions process. Part of DC’s race to the bottom.

Very simple-don't apply. Every school is not a fit for all types of kids. Top GPA and an interview is very clear. Not liking something doesn't make it arbitrary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom of ASD kid here. My point isn’t just that process seems arbitrary—it also strikes me as discriminatory.

It’s also a crappy admissions process. Part of DC’s race to the bottom.

Very simple-don't apply. Every school is not a fit for all types of kids. Top GPA and an interview is very clear. Not liking something doesn't make it arbitrary.

Having an interview be a major determinant of admissions allows SWW to shape their class, intentionally or unintentionally. It's a huge opportunity for bias. We also know that interview length and questions vary, so it's not like there's a standard set of questions and rubric. That is arbitrary.

But the problem is not that there's one school in DC that does this, it's that there are zero schools in DC where a kid with high grades and test scores is guaranteed admission and where they'll get anything approaching an appropriate education. You either live in a particular neighborhood, you win the lottery to a couple of charters, you win the interview lottery to a couple of selective admissions high schools, or all DC has for you are schools where a rounding error number of kids are going to have your academic needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for posting that link....a couple of things jump out:

1) a 3.8 GPA is regarded the same as a 4.0 for the purpose of their rubric...given how easy grading is (at least at my child's middle school), that's really interesting. A child who has two B+, two A-s and one A in the five core classes (and As in PE, Music, Art, and Health) would be given the same 5 points as a kid with all As.

2) The 31/36 points given to the interview is just bizarre. Where on earth did they come up with that ratio and do they provide the specific rubric for that anywhere? 86% weight for the subjective interview seems like a recipe for abuse.....

Your scenario in #1 would be a 3.6 not 3.8.

average of 3.3 + 3.3 + 3.7 + 3.7 + 4.0 + 4.0 *2 (for the 4 electives, each with 0.5 credit) = 3.75, rounded to 3.8

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for posting that link....a couple of things jump out:

1) a 3.8 GPA is regarded the same as a 4.0 for the purpose of their rubric...given how easy grading is (at least at my child's middle school), that's really interesting. A child who has two B+, two A-s and one A in the five core classes (and As in PE, Music, Art, and Health) would be given the same 5 points as a kid with all As.

2) The 31/36 points given to the interview is just bizarre. Where on earth did they come up with that ratio and do they provide the specific rubric for that anywhere? 86% weight for the subjective interview seems like a recipe for abuse.....

This is the issue I have with the GPA cutoff - a 4.0 from some schools is not the same as a 4.0 from others. Some kids will be well prepared for the Walls curriculum, some won't.

That’s the case in high school, college, and life. Some people will be better prepared academically than others because…they attended schools that provided “better” preparation. A student who earns a 4.0 (and attends) a Title 1 middle school should have a chance to attend Walls. That student may be a very hard worker that can make up for lost ground. It’s not that student’s fault they attended a poorly resourced school. Those students bloomed where they were planted, and likely overcame hardship and trauma you can’t imagine.

Remember, talent is equally distributed. Opportunity is not.

I agree, but I don’t think an interview solves this. Have quotas by assigned high school, teacher or school recommendations, or something to spread the opportunity. But we have no idea if the interview questions are supposed to target one demographic or another, or what problem the interview is trying to solve. Totally arbitrary, or, worse, biased.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom of ASD kid here. My point isn’t just that process seems arbitrary—it also strikes me as discriminatory.

It’s also a crappy admissions process. Part of DC’s race to the bottom.

Very simple-don't apply. Every school is not a fit for all types of kids. Top GPA and an interview is very clear. Not liking something doesn't make it arbitrary.

Having an interview be a major determinant of admissions allows SWW to shape their class, intentionally or unintentionally. It's a huge opportunity for bias. We also know that interview length and questions vary, so it's not like there's a standard set of questions and rubric. That is arbitrary.

But the problem is not that there's one school in DC that does this, it's that there are zero schools in DC where a kid with high grades and test scores is guaranteed admission and where they'll get anything approaching an appropriate education. You either live in a particular neighborhood, you win the lottery to a couple of charters, you win the interview lottery to a couple of selective admissions high schools, or all DC has for you are schools where a rounding error number of kids are going to have your academic needs.

So private schools interview so no complaining about them. We went thru that and was no different than SWW. What it sounds like is that you are pissed that you can't "prepare" for it. People have been doing that and gaming the testing system for years. Last I checked Banneker also.provides a good education for the type of kids you described. What's wrong with applying there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom of ASD kid here. My point isn’t just that process seems arbitrary—it also strikes me as discriminatory.

It’s also a crappy admissions process. Part of DC’s race to the bottom.

Very simple-don't apply. Every school is not a fit for all types of kids. Top GPA and an interview is very clear. Not liking something doesn't make it arbitrary.

Having an interview be a major determinant of admissions allows SWW to shape their class, intentionally or unintentionally. It's a huge opportunity for bias. We also know that interview length and questions vary, so it's not like there's a standard set of questions and rubric. That is arbitrary.

But the problem is not that there's one school in DC that does this, it's that there are zero schools in DC where a kid with high grades and test scores is guaranteed admission and where they'll get anything approaching an appropriate education. You either live in a particular neighborhood, you win the lottery to a couple of charters, you win the interview lottery to a couple of selective admissions high schools, or all DC has for you are schools where a rounding error number of kids are going to have your academic needs.

So private schools interview so no complaining about them. We went thru that and was no different than SWW. What it sounds like is that you are pissed that you can't "prepare" for it. People have been doing that and gaming the testing system for years. Last I checked Banneker also.provides a good education for the type of kids you described. What's wrong with applying there?

Banneker is also not transparent and bases 60% of its decision on the interview. Thats HUGE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom of ASD kid here. My point isn’t just that process seems arbitrary—it also strikes me as discriminatory.

It’s also a crappy admissions process. Part of DC’s race to the bottom.

Very simple-don't apply. Every school is not a fit for all types of kids. Top GPA and an interview is very clear. Not liking something doesn't make it arbitrary.

Having an interview be a major determinant of admissions allows SWW to shape their class, intentionally or unintentionally. It's a huge opportunity for bias. We also know that interview length and questions vary, so it's not like there's a standard set of questions and rubric. That is arbitrary.

But the problem is not that there's one school in DC that does this, it's that there are zero schools in DC where a kid with high grades and test scores is guaranteed admission and where they'll get anything approaching an appropriate education. You either live in a particular neighborhood, you win the lottery to a couple of charters, you win the interview lottery to a couple of selective admissions high schools, or all DC has for you are schools where a rounding error number of kids are going to have your academic needs.

So private schools interview so no complaining about them. We went thru that and was no different than SWW. What it sounds like is that you are pissed that you can't "prepare" for it. People have been doing that and gaming the testing system for years. Last I checked Banneker also.provides a good education for the type of kids you described. What's wrong with applying there?

Private institutions are private. They owe nothing to the public in terms of transparency.

Banneker also heavily uses an interview process. They are the other school in "a couple of selective admissions high schools."

And it's not about gaming anything. It's about what to do with advanced kids if you're EOTP in DC. All of your options have a significant amount of randomness. It makes it really hard to plan. There are other school systems that don't this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom of ASD kid here. My point isn’t just that process seems arbitrary—it also strikes me as discriminatory.

It’s also a crappy admissions process. Part of DC’s race to the bottom.

Very simple-don't apply. Every school is not a fit for all types of kids. Top GPA and an interview is very clear. Not liking something doesn't make it arbitrary.

Having an interview be a major determinant of admissions allows SWW to shape their class, intentionally or unintentionally. It's a huge opportunity for bias. We also know that interview length and questions vary, so it's not like there's a standard set of questions and rubric. That is arbitrary.

But the problem is not that there's one school in DC that does this, it's that there are zero schools in DC where a kid with high grades and test scores is guaranteed admission and where they'll get anything approaching an appropriate education. You either live in a particular neighborhood, you win the lottery to a couple of charters, you win the interview lottery to a couple of selective admissions high schools, or all DC has for you are schools where a rounding error number of kids are going to have your academic needs.

So private schools interview so no complaining about them. We went thru that and was no different than SWW. What it sounds like is that you are pissed that you can't "prepare" for it. People have been doing that and gaming the testing system for years. Last I checked Banneker also.provides a good education for the type of kids you described. What's wrong with applying there?

Private institutions are private. They owe nothing to the public in terms of transparency.

Banneker also heavily uses an interview process. They are the other school in "a couple of selective admissions high schools."

And it's not about gaming anything. It's about what to do with advanced kids if you're EOTP in DC. All of your options have a significant amount of randomness. It makes it really hard to plan. There are other school systems that don't this.

PP..We are EOTP and have dealt with all of it. A lot of private schools get Federal money so they kinda do owe a degree of transparency. If you want a degree of certainty, just move to a place that is fair to you.

I guess you don't know about the lottery in MoCo and cutoffs in other magnet programs around the country. The point is that randomness exists in all of them as well as luck of the draw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom of ASD kid here. My point isn’t just that process seems arbitrary—it also strikes me as discriminatory.

It’s also a crappy admissions process. Part of DC’s race to the bottom.

Try Banneker! There are a few kids with ASD who attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom of ASD kid here. My point isn’t just that process seems arbitrary—it also strikes me as discriminatory.

It’s also a crappy admissions process. Part of DC’s race to the bottom.

Very simple-don't apply. Every school is not a fit for all types of kids. Top GPA and an interview is very clear. Not liking something doesn't make it arbitrary.

Having an interview be a major determinant of admissions allows SWW to shape their class, intentionally or unintentionally. It's a huge opportunity for bias. We also know that interview length and questions vary, so it's not like there's a standard set of questions and rubric. That is arbitrary.

But the problem is not that there's one school in DC that does this, it's that there are zero schools in DC where a kid with high grades and test scores is guaranteed admission and where they'll get anything approaching an appropriate education. You either live in a particular neighborhood, you win the lottery to a couple of charters, you win the interview lottery to a couple of selective admissions high schools, or all DC has for you are schools where a rounding error number of kids are going to have your academic needs.

So private schools interview so no complaining about them. We went thru that and was no different than SWW. What it sounds like is that you are pissed that you can't "prepare" for it. People have been doing that and gaming the testing system for years. Last I checked Banneker also.provides a good education for the type of kids you described. What's wrong with applying there?

Banneker is also not transparent and bases 60% of its decision on the interview. Thats HUGE.

Incorrect, the recommendations are 60%. There is no penalty for not having recommendations, no real GPA requirement, etc. It's just bizarre. Far worse than Walls..there is not even a waitlist.

https://www.myschooldc.org/sites/default/files/u421/SY23-24_Banneker_AdmissionProcessRubric_FINAL.pdf

[Anonymous]

Banneker's approach seems way more appropriate than Walls.
Why doesn't Walls include an essay and recommendations if they are so concerned about "fit"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom of ASD kid here. My point isn’t just that process seems arbitrary—it also strikes me as discriminatory.

It’s also a crappy admissions process. Part of DC’s race to the bottom.

Very simple-don't apply. Every school is not a fit for all types of kids. Top GPA and an interview is very clear. Not liking something doesn't make it arbitrary.

Having an interview be a major determinant of admissions allows SWW to shape their class, intentionally or unintentionally. It's a huge opportunity for bias. We also know that interview length and questions vary, so it's not like there's a standard set of questions and rubric. That is arbitrary.

But the problem is not that there's one school in DC that does this, it's that there are zero schools in DC where a kid with high grades and test scores is guaranteed admission and where they'll get anything approaching an appropriate education. You either live in a particular neighborhood, you win the lottery to a couple of charters, you win the interview lottery to a couple of selective admissions high schools, or all DC has for you are schools where a rounding error number of kids are going to have your academic needs.

So private schools interview so no complaining about them. We went thru that and was no different than SWW. What it sounds like is that you are pissed that you can't "prepare" for it. People have been doing that and gaming the testing system for years. Last I checked Banneker also.provides a good education for the type of kids you described. What's wrong with applying there?

Banneker is also not transparent and bases 60% of its decision on the interview. Thats HUGE.

Incorrect, the recommendations are 60%. There is no penalty for not having recommendations, no real GPA requirement, etc. It's just bizarre. Far worse than Walls..there is not even a waitlist.

https://www.myschooldc.org/sites/default/files/u421/SY23-24_Banneker_AdmissionProcessRubric_FINAL.pdf


Oh yes, you are right that its the recs that are worth so much not the interview. It still seems oddly skewed but I giving a breakdown is helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom of ASD kid here. My point isn’t just that process seems arbitrary—it also strikes me as discriminatory.

It’s also a crappy admissions process. Part of DC’s race to the bottom.

Very simple-don't apply. Every school is not a fit for all types of kids. Top GPA and an interview is very clear. Not liking something doesn't make it arbitrary.

NP. An interview is by definition subjective and arbitrary. Walls is not fooling anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom of ASD kid here. My point isn’t just that process seems arbitrary—it also strikes me as discriminatory.

It’s also a crappy admissions process. Part of DC’s race to the bottom.

Very simple-don't apply. Every school is not a fit for all types of kids. Top GPA and an interview is very clear. Not liking something doesn't make it arbitrary.

Having an interview be a major determinant of admissions allows SWW to shape their class, intentionally or unintentionally. It's a huge opportunity for bias. We also know that interview length and questions vary, so it's not like there's a standard set of questions and rubric. That is arbitrary.

But the problem is not that there's one school in DC that does this, it's that there are zero schools in DC where a kid with high grades and test scores is guaranteed admission and where they'll get anything approaching an appropriate education. You either live in a particular neighborhood, you win the lottery to a couple of charters, you win the interview lottery to a couple of selective admissions high schools, or all DC has for you are schools where a rounding error number of kids are going to have your academic needs.

So private schools interview so no complaining about them. We went thru that and was no different than SWW. What it sounds like is that you are pissed that you can't "prepare" for it. People have been doing that and gaming the testing system for years. Last I checked Banneker also.provides a good education for the type of kids you described. What's wrong with applying there?

Banneker is also not transparent and bases 60% of its decision on the interview. Thats HUGE.

Incorrect, the recommendations are 60%. There is no penalty for not having recommendations, no real GPA requirement, etc. It's just bizarre. Far worse than Walls..there is not even a waitlist.

https://www.myschooldc.org/sites/default/files/u421/SY23-24_Banneker_AdmissionProcessRubric_FINAL.pdf

As Aristotle once said, "Is a rubric without defined standards still a rubric?"