DCI or Deal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so will relaxing the PARCC standards at Walls actually lead to those kids being admitted? Don't they just interview the top 250 (or similar) scoring kids on the Walls test?
Is this standard also being changed?

This was the first and only year Walls ever used the PARCC for admissions. It has always used its own test.

Apparently from my understanding, they did not take the top scoring students from their tests before. They tried to get an even representation from all wards and also demographically. Then they changed it to the top scorers and screening criteria of PARCC 4 or 5. Now they are going back to the old system. So to answer your question, no it’s not going to be the top scoring kids.

That’s the way it was yet Walls students still managed to get nearly 100% on PARCC. Do you all really think a fluke of getting a 3 one year should shape the entire future of high school and inevitably college? Or should another shot at a test and interview help balance that one time you got a 3 because you couldn’t sleep the night before because of XYZ?

This is true. My DC’s seventh grade math teacher was unable to devote himself full time to his/her professional responsibilities. The week before the parcc, I spoke to the parents of one of DC’s classmates, and we both agreed our DCs had little chance of passing. Despite much home preparation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not disagreeing that DCPS curriculum might not be very challenging. What I find funny is that you thought a lackluster immersion programme would somehow make it challenging for your kid. But to each their own.

I agree that DCPS curriculum is weak.

Being in an immersion program is more challenging than a traditional curriculum. The child is learning vocabulary, reading, writing in 2 completely different languages at the same time. In addition, they have to be able to switch back and forth between 2 languages which also helps develop executive functioning skills.

You might not think so and each person is entitled to their own opinion. But I can tell you that there are a number of families whose child is advanced that are going the language immersion route due to the more challenging curriculum.

DCI curriculum is not stronger than DCPS's. Don't kid yourself.
If you are truly looking for challenges for your bright kids, move to VA or MD.

[Anonymous]

Or try BASIS. Then we can talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not disagreeing that DCPS curriculum might not be very challenging. What I find funny is that you thought a lackluster immersion programme would somehow make it challenging for your kid. But to each their own.

I agree that DCPS curriculum is weak.

Being in an immersion program is more challenging than a traditional curriculum. The child is learning vocabulary, reading, writing in 2 completely different languages at the same time. In addition, they have to be able to switch back and forth between 2 languages which also helps develop executive functioning skills.

You might not think so and each person is entitled to their own opinion. But I can tell you that there are a number of families whose child is advanced that are going the language immersion route due to the more challenging curriculum.

DCI curriculum is not stronger than DCPS's. Don't kid yourself.
If you are truly looking for challenges for your bright kids, move to VA or MD.

Where do your kids go to school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so will relaxing the PARCC standards at Walls actually lead to those kids being admitted? Don't they just interview the top 250 (or similar) scoring kids on the Walls test?
Is this standard also being changed?

This was the first and only year Walls ever used the PARCC for admissions. It has always used its own test.

No. A proficient score on DCCAS was part of the process. The 3-4 year recent period of not using any statewide test to determine who could take the Walls test is the outlier.

Back then though there were fewer wealthy kids in the city and the SWW student body was more diverse economically.

Why should Banneker and McKinley and Coolidge Early College use PARCC but Walls shouldn’t? It just doesn’t make sense.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are people getting the info that they have lowered the bar for Walls, my understanding, and I looked at this alit as my child is going there this fall, is that they have always based admissions on their own test, those that score in the top 250 scores get an interview. They will tell you what the test score cut off is and you can ask for your child’s score. The interview process is a little opaque but getting to the interview is not.

The only thing this article pertains to is whether a student has the opportunity to sit for the test.

That’s not how it worked in the past. There was no cut off for the top scorers to then get an interview. They tried to balance it geographically and also demographically. So higher chance of a lower scorers from ward 7 or 8 getting in than a higher scoring student from ward 3. They can’t balance it geographically if they just take the top scorers.

The new system was fair in that there was a PARCC criteria to take the test just like all the other test in schools. Then the top scorers would get an interview. Now they are going back to the old way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so will relaxing the PARCC standards at Walls actually lead to those kids being admitted? Don't they just interview the top 250 (or similar) scoring kids on the Walls test?
Is this standard also being changed?

This was the first and only year Walls ever used the PARCC for admissions. It has always used its own test.

Apparently from my understanding, they did not take the top scoring students from their tests before. They tried to get an even representation from all wards and also demographically. Then they changed it to the top scorers and screening criteria of PARCC 4 or 5. Now they are going back to the old system. So to answer your question, no it’s not going to be the top scoring kids.

That’s the way it was yet Walls students still managed to get nearly 100% on PARCC. Do you all really think a fluke of getting a 3 one year should shape the entire future of high school and inevitably college? Or should another shot at a test and interview help balance that one time you got a 3 because you couldn’t sleep the night before because of XYZ?

Well then why do you have PARCC requirements at other schools like Bennekar?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are people getting the info that they have lowered the bar for Walls, my understanding, and I looked at this alit as my child is going there this fall, is that they have always based admissions on their own test, those that score in the top 250 scores get an interview. They will tell you what the test score cut off is and you can ask for your child’s score. The interview process is a little opaque but getting to the interview is not.

The only thing this article pertains to is whether a student has the opportunity to sit for the test.

That’s not how it worked in the past. There was no cut off for the top scorers to then get an interview. They tried to balance it geographically and also demographically. So higher chance of a lower scorers from ward 7 or 8 getting in than a higher scoring student from ward 3. They can’t balance it geographically if they just take the top scorers.

The new system was fair in that there was a PARCC criteria to take the test just like all the other test in schools. Then the top scorers would get an interview. Now they are going back to the old way.

On what do you base your statements that (1) there was no test score cut off for the interviews under the old system and (2) that they are going back to the “old way”?

While the PARCC score was not a requirement to sit for the test before this past year, there were requirements and it wa s test and interview process. At the open house I discussed admissions questions and the top 250 score methodology was explained and that it had been that way for some time. Did you have students that went their previously? Did you work for DCPS or the school itself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not disagreeing that DCPS curriculum might not be very challenging. What I find funny is that you thought a lackluster immersion programme would somehow make it challenging for your kid. But to each their own.

I agree that DCPS curriculum is weak.

Being in an immersion program is more challenging than a traditional curriculum. The child is learning vocabulary, reading, writing in 2 completely different languages at the same time. In addition, they have to be able to switch back and forth between 2 languages which also helps develop executive functioning skills.

You might not think so and each person is entitled to their own opinion. But I can tell you that there are a number of families whose child is advanced that are going the language immersion route due to the more challenging curriculum.

DCI curriculum is not stronger than DCPS's. Don't kid yourself.
If you are truly looking for challenges for your bright kids, move to VA or MD.

Where do your kids go to school?

No answer from PP. Why do people think kids in MD and VA are learning something totally different from kids in DC? Outside of specialized programs in a handful of places in all three districts, the content is the same, as are the standards of learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not disagreeing that DCPS curriculum might not be very challenging. What I find funny is that you thought a lackluster immersion programme would somehow make it challenging for your kid. But to each their own.

I agree that DCPS curriculum is weak.

Being in an immersion program is more challenging than a traditional curriculum. The child is learning vocabulary, reading, writing in 2 completely different languages at the same time. In addition, they have to be able to switch back and forth between 2 languages which also helps develop executive functioning skills.

You might not think so and each person is entitled to their own opinion. But I can tell you that there are a number of families whose child is advanced that are going the language immersion route due to the more challenging curriculum.

DCI curriculum is not stronger than DCPS's. Don't kid yourself.
If you are truly looking for challenges for your bright kids, move to VA or MD.

Where do your kids go to school?

No answer from PP. Why do people think kids in MD and VA are learning something totally different from kids in DC? Outside of specialized programs in a handful of places in all three districts, the content is the same, as are the standards of learning.

I’m Pp. I have had kids at a charter immersion school, JKLM, Deal.
I meant if you want challenges move to magnet schools in MD and VA.
We bit the bullet and the kids are now attending “Big 3” and it’s not perfect either, but they are thriving.

[Anonymous]

Or if you want more challenges for an advanced learner, stay in the city neighborhood you love, and provide the challenges yourself until the kids can test in to Walls. It's been done many times by many parents. We paid around 10K per year in 7th and 8th grade to supplement while at Deal. At least we didn't pay 40+K for Sidwell, NCS, WIS etc. Kid got into Walls. Kid is, er, thriving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or if you want more challenges for an advanced learner, stay in the city neighborhood you love, and provide the challenges yourself until the kids can test in to Walls. It's been done many times by many parents. We paid around 10K per year in 7th and 8th grade to supplement while at Deal. At least we didn't pay 40+K for Sidwell, NCS, WIS etc. Kid got into Walls. Kid is, er, thriving.

Yes, there are many ways to do it. As recent immigrants, we did not feel like we knew quite how to navigate DCPS administration and teachers, how to get them to listen to us. During our time at DCPS, we did not feel like we advocated for our kids well and we felt our concerns were dismissed. We tried the supplementing approach with tutors etc, but felt our kids needed (wanted) more than a few hours a week of scholarly engagement. We speak 3 languages, we travel as much as we can, we go to high and low brow concerts and shows.

This does not take anything away from your approach. Glad your kids are thriving.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, DCI!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/righting-the-wrong-of-not-writing-high-schoolers-finally-tackle-major-research-papers/2019/06/27/9ac74cc8-97b0-11e9-830a-21b9b36b64ad_story.html?utm_term=.b204f842b56f&wpisrc=nl_sb_smartbrief

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you, DCI!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/righting-the-wrong-of-not-writing-high-schoolers-finally-tackle-major-research-papers/2019/06/27/9ac74cc8-97b0-11e9-830a-21b9b36b64ad_story.html?utm_term=.b204f842b56f&wpisrc=nl_sb_smartbrief

Let’s wait until someone from DCI passes. The rep from DCI who testified before the PCSB would not commit to a number - or rough percentage of 11th graders who were on track for an IB diploma. As opposed to on track for a DC diploma.

[Anonymous]

It's not about whether you earn the IB Diploma or not, it's what skills you've learned and mastered. Kids can earn IB certificates in specific classes without having to earn the whole diploma. That's why it's a great education. Kids don't learn whether they earned the full diploma until the summer after they graduate.