McKinley tech incoming families

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted earlier about my rising junior - came into McKinley with both Algebra 1 and Geometry from Deal. Took Algebra II as freshman and pre-calc as 10th grader. No issues with scheduling. Not sure how many other kids came in that scenario. I think that many who start with Algebra 1 as 9th graders will 'double-up' in tenth and take both geometry and algebra II. The guidance counselor we worked with is very good at trying to get all the kids the classes they need.

Is doubling up an option at Banneker as well?

Not sure about the doubling-up of math classes at Banneker - you would need to check in with the counselors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe it's because of the way the PARCC test works. Since the high school PARCC is only for Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry, it doesn't pick up results for kids who didn't take those PARCC tests because they are in other math classes. For example only 27 McKinley Tech kids took the Geometry PARCC. So you're not seeing data on kids enrolled upper level math classes at all. I wish they wouldn't report the data this way, it's so misleading and unhelpful. Unfortunately I do not know of any better source that's publicly available.

You can see the math course offerings on the website here:
https://www.mckinleytech.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=417594&type=d

This! My kid was in 10th grade and in AP stats. There was no PARCC for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who graduated Banneker in 2022 (spent senior year in the new building) and a child who is a rising Junior at McKinley Tech. For both kids, they got into their first choice high schools. Both schools are open and accepting to kids from all backgrounds. Most of the teachers at both schools have been there a while and truly want the students to succeed. Both schools try to accept kids who want to excel and show lots of drive (even if they have not taken all the highest math classes like Algebra 1 and Geometry at their middle schools). Both schools do have challenges in communicating information to parents (both communicating enough info and with communicating the information in a timely manner) - but that is not a unique concern in DCPS.

Banneker is well suited to kids who will enjoy a challenge and want to follow a more liberal arts path. In the new building, the number of students will grow and the school will be able to offer more options for AP and coursework. My child who declared as a Math major at competitive liberal arts college was well prepared!

McKinley kids need to have a tech interest - engineering, biotechnology, or computer science/digital media. They will be taking courses in those areas as well as all the core high school classes. McKinley does have more options for electives (eg concert band) than Banneker.

Thank you! This should be stickied as it is one of the most useful posts ever on DCUM.

Agreed. This was extremely helpful as a new Banneker parent.

DD just completed the summer program for incoming freshman (BSI) and has new friends coming from KIPP, Deal, Stuart Hobson, and DCPS charters she didn’t recognize by name. I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of MSs represented. Fwiw, DD is coming from private.

The teaching staff seems to include quite a few former Banneker students, which I took as a good sign. Same for current parents.

I have a sophomore at Banneker who attended Deal. We have been very happy with the school. She has loved her teachers and friends. The teachers are wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who graduated Banneker in 2022 (spent senior year in the new building) and a child who is a rising Junior at McKinley Tech. For both kids, they got into their first choice high schools. Both schools are open and accepting to kids from all backgrounds. Most of the teachers at both schools have been there a while and truly want the students to succeed. Both schools try to accept kids who want to excel and show lots of drive (even if they have not taken all the highest math classes like Algebra 1 and Geometry at their middle schools). Both schools do have challenges in communicating information to parents (both communicating enough info and with communicating the information in a timely manner) - but that is not a unique concern in DCPS.

Banneker is well suited to kids who will enjoy a challenge and want to follow a more liberal arts path. In the new building, the number of students will grow and the school will be able to offer more options for AP and coursework. My child who declared as a Math major at competitive liberal arts college was well prepared!

McKinley kids need to have a tech interest - engineering, biotechnology, or computer science/digital media. They will be taking courses in those areas as well as all the core high school classes. McKinley does have more options for electives (eg concert band) than Banneker.

Genuinely wondering why McKinley has 0% of students scoring a 5 on PARCC and only 14% of kids scoring a 4.

https://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/McKinley+Technology+High+School

No DCPS HS has many PARCC 5s on math. SWW only has 5%. Banneker has 3% (but 52% 4s). Jackson Reed has 0%.

Right. Because of how the PARCC test works. I loathe that we have this test and that the reporting is so inaccurate and misleading!

The high school PARCC is ridiculous. Many states us one of the PSATs or SAT to meet their state testing requirement. DC should never have run with the useful high school PARCC. Plenty of high school students, both low and high SES, blow it off when they take it, or don't take it at all.

[Anonymous]

We've been happy with McKinley Tech. DC has been able to take several AP classes, has friends, several extracurricular options, etc. Something I didn't expect but was pleased with was the non-STEM elective choices seem to be broad (piano, women's history, acting, etc.). Competent teachers who seem like they've been teaching for a while. Like everywhere, some are stronger than others; some easier to work with than others.

We found that communication is better now that they are using Parent Square. Some teachers don't use it (which is annoying), but admin and the AP counselor consistently use do.

The previous poster who said that students need a STEM interest is right. DC had to choose a specific STEM track at the end of 9th grade... I can't remember all the options, but I know computer science and health science were two. They take multiple classes in that track in 10, 11, and 12 grade. McKinley kids also have to graduate with more math than DCPS requires, which was important to us.

Honestly, McKinley was a breath of fresh air after a horrendous middle school experience (all too familiar in DCPS... no discipline, no communication, no expectations, no grade-level work). We're happy we landed at McKinley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The high school PARCC is ridiculous. Many states us one of the PSATs or SAT to meet their state testing requirement.

DCPS actually provides the SAT averages for highschools here:

https://dcps.dc.gov/publication/dcps-data-set-sat

Walls is the only school with scores well above the national average. Banneker and Jackson-Reed are at the same level as the national average (Banneker slightly above the national average). All other DCPS schools are below.

Naturally, this is the average so there's going to be groups of students significantly higher (and lower).

[Anonymous]

Not sure why McKinley cannot be a true STEM magnate school like TJ or Blair. Doubt DCPS will ever turn it into a school like those...if they did, it would be the most sought-after HS in DC, no question.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t the principal of McKinley Tech also principal of McKinley middle school? It used to be that way and it was frustrating because the principal did not have much time to focus on McKinley Tech HS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the principal of McKinley Tech also principal of McKinley middle school? It used to be that way and it was frustrating because the principal did not have much time to focus on McKinley Tech HS

It still is that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the principal of McKinley Tech also principal of McKinley middle school? It used to be that way and it was frustrating because the principal did not have much time to focus on McKinley Tech HS

It still is that way.

This is not accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the principal of McKinley Tech also principal of McKinley middle school? It used to be that way and it was frustrating because the principal did not have much time to focus on McKinley Tech HS

It still is that way.

This is not accurate.

How? Ms. Kortni Stafford, is indeed the principal over both McKinley Middle and McKinley Tech High. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kortnistafford/

https://www.mckinleymiddle.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=417622&type=d

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the principal of McKinley Tech also principal of McKinley middle school? It used to be that way and it was frustrating because the principal did not have much time to focus on McKinley Tech HS

It still is that way.

This is not accurate.

How? Ms. Kortni Stafford, is indeed the principal over both McKinley Middle and McKinley Tech High. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kortnistafford/

https://www.mckinleymiddle.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=417622&type=d

It looks like both schools have two Assistant Principals? Wouldn't the APs be handling more of the day to day of each school, and Ms. Stafford be overseeing their work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t the principal of McKinley Tech also principal of McKinley middle school? It used to be that way and it was frustrating because the principal did not have much time to focus on McKinley Tech HS

It still is that way.

This is not accurate.

How? Ms. Kortni Stafford, is indeed the principal over both McKinley Middle and McKinley Tech High. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kortnistafford/

https://www.mckinleymiddle.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=417622&type=d

It looks like both schools have two Assistant Principals? Wouldn't the APs be handling more of the day to day of each school, and Ms. Stafford be overseeing their work?

Yes, not refuting that. But the statement from the poster that she is not the principal over both, is just untrue. Just like the principal of Walls is also the principal of SWW @Francis-Stevens. And the principal at Watkins and Peabody is also the same.

[Anonymous]

Poster is getting caught up over semantics.

The middle school is practically separate from the high school. The administrators who oversee and run the middle school are given autonomy to run the middle school. Principal Stafford is their supervisor.

Her primary focus is the high school.

[Anonymous]

Completely amazed by my kids first day experience. McKinley is very very organized, every student had their schedule and attended classes on day one. My child reported class sizes of no more than 15 and had every class requested during orientation.

I loved that there was a full orientation week and a separate orientation for parents last week. My student felt welcomed and is excited for Friday's convocation/ pep rally.