The test is definitely back in SF for Lowell. I'm 💯 sure. (my goddaughter took it and got in last year.) |
The test is also back at Stuyvesant in NYC https://stuy.enschool.org/m/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=126615&type=d |
And it’s back Boston too. People are just making up nonsense. |
So did. And you are wrong. |
Hunter too. All the NYC schools are back to normal test in. |
NYC, Boston, Chicago & San Fran all definitely back. Don’t know about the others. |
It seems DCPS/Walls think having an entrance exam for Walls is an equity issue. Have any of these other schools that have re-instated their exam addressed this issue? |
Everyone assumes that the entering percentage of black students would massively decline with a return to testing.
I’m not sure they are wrong or what to do about it. |
IMHO, Chicago addressed their HS magnets equity issue thoughtfully half a century ago and hasn’t stopped. Chicago alone admits magnet students via college type comprehensive applications. They also talent scout exceptionally capable poor minority students and help them prep to apply, essentially from a young age. Michelle Obama and her brother came up through the system of course. By contrast, DC increasingly goes for cheap shortcuts to promoting equity, which stinks. Where’s the ES and MS GT programming in DCPS? |
I think the assumption is the test will create a lack of diversity in terms of social economic status. But I do think they never really dig deep into why certain middle schools or wards are underrepresented at the school. And they don’t seem to want to recognize that for some kids it’s just a far commute that isn’t worth it. |
Right, but far from the only reason. Where IS the GT programming in DCPS middle schools? The kids who are hurt the most by the practice of lumping 6th-8th graders into most of the same classes, regardless of ability or achievement, are the academically advanced poor kids. In the weaker DCPS middle schools, there are no middle school honors classes at all, not even for math. The prep for Walls is inadequate in most DCPS programs and that's putting it mildly. |
The commute thing is a red herring. People are plenty willing to travel to Duke from all wards, and it doesn't even have a Metro station in walking distance. |
Duke and Walls are not the same thing. If you want to be a dancer or artist, you are willing to not only travel to Duke but have a much longer school day than other kids. Walls is a good school but doesn’t have such specific programming as Duke. |
I'm not buying the above re "specific programming." I used to happily commute over an hour on two trains and a bus to get to Stuyvesant from Queens. Many of my classmates had even longer and more difficult commutes, from Staten Island or certain neighborhoods in the Bronx. Walls generally isn't worth a challenging commute from Ward 8 or wherever because it's just not all that great. Specific programming isn't the issue, iffy facilities, leadership and even academics at Walls post Covid are. DCPS could do much better by its strongest high school students. |
It's also back for Dallas and Philadelphia as well. Houston requires you to have been recognized as "gifted and talented" by previous school testing. So basically it's DC and Miami that don't rely on testing. And I wouldn't base anything on Miami (horrendous school district). |