Banneker versus School Without Walls

[Anonymous]

I find it hilarious that the Banneker boosters defend the poor scores because Banneker is a title 1 school yet kids in similar SES magnet and test in schools in NYC have much higher SAT averages in the 1300’s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not willing to bet that. I don't remember seeing a single name from Banneker on the PSAT National Merit Scholarship semifinalist list in the last decade. Meanwhile, Walls has had as many as 5 semifinalists per year in the last decade, and 1-2 almost every year, as has Wilson.

Before you standardized test-hostile types jump on calling the PSAT worthless and racist, perhaps it's worth noting that roughly 1/3 the class of TJ HS in Fairfax makes the grade on the PSAT for NM almost every year, more than 100 students with AAs among them. In a nutshell, far more AA students ace the PSAT at TJ in a single year than at Banneker in a decade. DC can do better.

TJ is not a Title 1 school.

TJ admits poor minority kids, graduates them, and sends on them to elite colleges on massive fi aid. I tutored a TJ kid who fit that description not long ago, a NM Semifinalist who qualified for free school meals. What he had that his DCPS counterparts lack were full-time GT programs from Grade 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it hilarious that the Banneker boosters defend the poor scores because Banneker is a title 1 school yet kids in similar SES magnet and test in schools in NYC have much higher SAT averages in the 1300’s.

Not so hilarious. More like criminal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it hilarious that the Banneker boosters defend the poor scores because Banneker is a title 1 school yet kids in similar SES magnet and test in schools in NYC have much higher SAT averages in the 1300’s.

NYC (and other cities) have true magnet programs and it makes a huge difference. DC is the only city I know of that doesn't have one. I've heard it's an equity issue but at some point the city has to give all kids the best opportunity. It needs to be a major political issue. All the kids in privates, I'd view them as my clients that I want in the fold. You have to offer what people need and want.

Banneker and Walls both get kids into great colleges. It just seems that DC parents have to work so much harder for results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not willing to bet that. I don't remember seeing a single name from Banneker on the PSAT National Merit Scholarship semifinalist list in the last decade. Meanwhile, Walls has had as many as 5 semifinalists per year in the last decade, and 1-2 almost every year, as has Wilson.

Before you standardized test-hostile types jump on calling the PSAT worthless and racist, perhaps it's worth noting that roughly 1/3 the class of TJ HS in Fairfax makes the grade on the PSAT for NM almost every year, more than 100 students with AAs among them. In a nutshell, far more AA students ace the PSAT at TJ in a single year than at Banneker in a decade. DC can do better.

TJ is not a Title 1 school.

TJ admits poor minority kids, graduates them, and sends on them to elite colleges on massive fi aid. I tutored a TJ kid who fit that description not long ago, a NM Semifinalist who qualified for free school meals. What he had that his DCPS counterparts lack were full-time GT programs from Grade 3.

The full-time GT program is critical and a necessary. I was one of those kids and was fully prepared for a top college.

[Anonymous]

I also accrued the benefit of K-8 GT programs. I had no trouble academically at an elite college, despite the fact that I must have been in the bottom 10% in my class financially.

I see no chance of DC starting up ES or MS GT under this mayor and chancellor.

Michelle Rhee used to talk about starting up GT programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it hilarious that the Banneker boosters defend the poor scores because Banneker is a title 1 school yet kids in similar SES magnet and test in schools in NYC have much higher SAT averages in the 1300’s.

NYC (and other cities) have true magnet programs and it makes a huge difference. DC is the only city I know of that doesn't have one. I've heard it's an equity issue but at some point the city has to give all kids the best opportunity. It needs to be a major political issue. All the kids in privates, I'd view them as my clients that I want in the fold. You have to offer what people need and want.

Banneker and Walls both get kids into great colleges. It just seems that DC parents have to work so much harder for results.

The problem is that many AA voters in this city, and their political champions, hear GT and think "preferential treatment for rich white families." Those of us who are minorities and elite college grads whose lives were transformed by full-time GT programs are the only ones who can advocate for change without being slammed as racist and elitist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Again, feel free to go someplace else. Banneker isn’t for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Again, feel free to go someplace else. Banneker isn’t for you.

I’m not that PP, but I’m actually INTERESTED in Banneker. The SAT scores are not going to sway me one way or the other.

I’d love to see more on this thread about ANY other topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Again, feel free to go someplace else. Banneker isn’t for you.

Many families will including this minority family.

The dead horse is the Banneker people who play the race card when UMC white families make other choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Again, feel free to go someplace else. Banneker isn’t for you.

Many families will including this minority family.

The dead horse is the Banneker people who play the race card when UMC white families make other choices.

What? What are you talking about?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Again, feel free to go someplace else. Banneker isn’t for you.

I’m not that PP, but I’m actually INTERESTED in Banneker. The SAT scores are not going to sway me one way or the other.

I’d love to see more on this thread about ANY other topic.

There is also a junior summer trip. Pre-pandemic is was to foreign countries (Spanish or French speaking). But I think this year they are going around the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Again, feel free to go someplace else. Banneker isn’t for you.

I’m not that PP, but I’m actually INTERESTED in Banneker. The SAT scores are not going to sway me one way or the other.

I’d love to see more on this thread about ANY other topic.

There is also a junior summer trip. Pre-pandemic is was to foreign countries (Spanish or French speaking). But I think this year they are going around the US.

Also there are many posts about Banneker in the archive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Again, feel free to go someplace else. Banneker isn’t for you.

Many families will including this minority family.

The dead horse is the Banneker people who play the race card when UMC white families make other choices.

What? What are you talking about?!

Search the Banneker threads. Lots of posts accusing families of being racist on why they don’t choose Banneker. It’s not race. It’s because of poor SAT scores and the lack of robust extracurriculars and clubs.

Most high performing kids with a solid education can easily score 1200 plus with no effort and are involved in many extracurriculars in addition to sports. Why would they send their kid to a school with a subpar SAT average with barely any extracurriculars or clubs and sports?

These families make other choices. But the Banneker crew defend the school by saying it’s because of racism. Ultimately, these people enable DCPS to continue to have low standards and continue the status quo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Again, feel free to go someplace else. Banneker isn’t for you.

I’m not that PP, but I’m actually INTERESTED in Banneker. The SAT scores are not going to sway me one way or the other.

I’d love to see more on this thread about ANY other topic.

There is also a junior summer trip. Pre-pandemic is was to foreign countries (Spanish or French speaking). But I think this year they are going around the US.

That’s a DCPS initiative, not Banneker specific.