Washington International School's college matriculation rivals STA/NCS... why no attention?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid graduated from WIS a few years ago. DC got into several top LACs and desirable public universities like UCLA, Michigan and UNC with a ACT score of 31 and grades of 6's and 5's in most of the WIS classes (that would be the equivalent of B+ and Bs at other private high schools). We think the rigor of the IB program/reputation of WIS/and personal interaction with admissions officers visiting the school (graduating class only has about 60 students) definitely helped DC with admissions. Friends at comparable Big 3 schools needed a higher testing score and probably a better GPA to get into the same schools. I should add that DC is not a minority or an athlete but did have some unique volunteering extracurriculars that could have helped with admissions.

Michigan likes IB. Michigan's top feeders for in-state include several public IB schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid graduated from WIS a few years ago. DC got into several top LACs and desirable public universities like UCLA, Michigan and UNC with a ACT score of 31 and grades of 6's and 5's in most of the WIS classes (that would be the equivalent of B+ and Bs at other private high schools). We think the rigor of the IB program/reputation of WIS/and personal interaction with admissions officers visiting the school (graduating class only has about 60 students) definitely helped DC with admissions. Friends at comparable Big 3 schools needed a higher testing score and probably a better GPA to get into the same schools. I should add that DC is not a minority or an athlete but did have some unique volunteering extracurriculars that could have helped with admissions.

Too much identifying information here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid graduated from WIS a few years ago. DC got into several top LACs and desirable public universities like UCLA, Michigan and UNC with a ACT score of 31 and grades of 6's and 5's in most of the WIS classes (that would be the equivalent of B+ and Bs at other private high schools). We think the rigor of the IB program/reputation of WIS/and personal interaction with admissions officers visiting the school (graduating class only has about 60 students) definitely helped DC with admissions. Friends at comparable Big 3 schools needed a higher testing score and probably a better GPA to get into the same schools. I should add that DC is not a minority or an athlete but did have some unique volunteering extracurriculars that could have helped with admissions.

Too much identifying information here.

So much so that you could identify them? Or just that you would be uncomfortable sharing to that level?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never see WIS discussed but it appears to be just as competent at sending kids to the Ivies as STA/NCS, Sidwell, and GDS. So why do we pretend it doesn't exist?

Maybe because their admits are the token Italians, Ghanans, brasilians at the colleges they get admitted to?

Just reminding everyone of this comment. Shockingly anti-immigrant.

Not too surprising when they can’t spell “Ghanaian” or “Brazilian” correctly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never see WIS discussed but it appears to be just as competent at sending kids to the Ivies as STA/NCS, Sidwell, and GDS. So why do we pretend it doesn't exist?

Maybe because their admits are the token Italians, Ghanans, brasilians at the colleges they get admitted to?

Just reminding everyone of this comment. Shockingly anti-immigrant.

Not too surprising when they can’t spell “Ghanaian” or “Brazilian” correctly.

💀 The WIS haters always send their best and their brightest 🤣

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid graduated from WIS a few years ago. DC got into several top LACs and desirable public universities like UCLA, Michigan and UNC with a ACT score of 31 and grades of 6's and 5's in most of the WIS classes (that would be the equivalent of B+ and Bs at other private high schools). We think the rigor of the IB program/reputation of WIS/and personal interaction with admissions officers visiting the school (graduating class only has about 60 students) definitely helped DC with admissions. Friends at comparable Big 3 schools needed a higher testing score and probably a better GPA to get into the same schools. I should add that DC is not a minority or an athlete but did have some unique volunteering extracurriculars that could have helped with admissions.

Too much identifying information here.

Dramatic much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid graduated from WIS a few years ago. DC got into several top LACs and desirable public universities like UCLA, Michigan and UNC with a ACT score of 31 and grades of 6's and 5's in most of the WIS classes (that would be the equivalent of B+ and Bs at other private high schools). We think the rigor of the IB program/reputation of WIS/and personal interaction with admissions officers visiting the school (graduating class only has about 60 students) definitely helped DC with admissions. Friends at comparable Big 3 schools needed a higher testing score and probably a better GPA to get into the same schools. I should add that DC is not a minority or an athlete but did have some unique volunteering extracurriculars that could have helped with admissions.

Too much identifying information here.

If PP feels comfortable sharing that much info, what's it to you? It's helpful for the rest of us!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never see WIS discussed but it appears to be just as competent at sending kids to the Ivies as STA/NCS, Sidwell, and GDS. So why do we pretend it doesn't exist?

Maybe because their admits are the token Italians, Ghanans, brasilians at the colleges they get admitted to?

Just reminding everyone of this comment. Shockingly anti-immigrant.

Not too surprising when they can’t spell “Ghanaian” or “Brazilian” correctly.

💀 The WIS haters always send their best and their brightest 🤣

They're so demure, so mindful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody cares about that school

Sorry that your kid was rejected.

1. We never even thought of that school, let alone applied.

2. Everyone gets into that school

3. Have you seen the facilities? LOL.

Interesting that someone who never even thought of that schools knows so well what the facilities look like. And yes, I have seen them and they compared well to other privates in the area, though their playground in the lower school could certainly be nicer. Their upper campus is beautiful.
It is outright wrong that everyone gets in. I know several full pay families, including with siblings attending, whose kids were rejected. One of those families had both their twins accepted to Beauvoir. The school looks for fit and the reality is that not every kid/family can handle the language immersion aspect.

WIS’ Upper School library is an absolute joke. I honestly thought our tour guide was kidding when she showed us the “library.” The theater and athletic facilities are also subpar. Overall, the campus is meh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody cares about that school

Sorry that your kid was rejected.

1. We never even thought of that school, let alone applied.

2. Everyone gets into that school

3. Have you seen the facilities? LOL.

Interesting that someone who never even thought of that schools knows so well what the facilities look like. And yes, I have seen them and they compared well to other privates in the area, though their playground in the lower school could certainly be nicer. Their upper campus is beautiful.
It is outright wrong that everyone gets in. I know several full pay families, including with siblings attending, whose kids were rejected. One of those families had both their twins accepted to Beauvoir. The school looks for fit and the reality is that not every kid/family can handle the language immersion aspect.

WIS’ Upper School library is an absolute joke. I honestly thought our tour guide was kidding when she showed us the “library.” The theater and athletic facilities are also subpar. Overall, the campus is meh.

Sure, a very nice public library is practically across the street, so why would the school bother to recreate something the students can already access very easily from campus? Instead, the money was spent on amazing science labs, a design tech studio, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody cares about that school

Sorry that your kid was rejected.

1. We never even thought of that school, let alone applied.

2. Everyone gets into that school

3. Have you seen the facilities? LOL.

Interesting that someone who never even thought of that schools knows so well what the facilities look like. And yes, I have seen them and they compared well to other privates in the area, though their playground in the lower school could certainly be nicer. Their upper campus is beautiful.
It is outright wrong that everyone gets in. I know several full pay families, including with siblings attending, whose kids were rejected. One of those families had both their twins accepted to Beauvoir. The school looks for fit and the reality is that not every kid/family can handle the language immersion aspect.

WIS’ Upper School library is an absolute joke. I honestly thought our tour guide was kidding when she showed us the “library.” The theater and athletic facilities are also subpar. Overall, the campus is meh.

Sure, a very nice public library is practically across the street, so why would the school bother to recreate something the students can already access very easily from campus? Instead, the money was spent on amazing science labs, a design tech studio, etc.

If I’m paying $57,000+ per year, my children’s school library better be nice and on campus. A public library, down a steep hill and two blocks away is unacceptable. GDS, the Cathedral schools, and Sidwell all have access to a public library on Wisconsin Avenue, within a short distance from their campuses. However, none of those schools are trying to pass off a single room (that’s not even full of books), as a library.

WIS’ science labs do not make up for the rest of its mediocre campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody cares about that school

Sorry that your kid was rejected.

1. We never even thought of that school, let alone applied.

2. Everyone gets into that school

3. Have you seen the facilities? LOL.

Interesting that someone who never even thought of that schools knows so well what the facilities look like. And yes, I have seen them and they compared well to other privates in the area, though their playground in the lower school could certainly be nicer. Their upper campus is beautiful.
It is outright wrong that everyone gets in. I know several full pay families, including with siblings attending, whose kids were rejected. One of those families had both their twins accepted to Beauvoir. The school looks for fit and the reality is that not every kid/family can handle the language immersion aspect.

WIS’ Upper School library is an absolute joke. I honestly thought our tour guide was kidding when she showed us the “library.” The theater and athletic facilities are also subpar. Overall, the campus is meh.

Sure, a very nice public library is practically across the street, so why would the school bother to recreate something the students can already access very easily from campus? Instead, the money was spent on amazing science labs, a design tech studio, etc.

If I’m paying $57,000+ per year, my children’s school library better be nice and on campus. A public library, down a steep hill and two blocks away is unacceptable. GDS, the Cathedral schools, and Sidwell all have access to a public library on Wisconsin Avenue, within a short distance from their campuses. However, none of those schools are trying to pass off a single room (that’s not even full of books), as a library.

WIS’ science labs do not make up for the rest of its mediocre campus.

To be honest, I only recall using my high school's library a handful of times and that was before people really accepted online sources beyond online newspapers... everything is digital now adays and while I love a good physical book, I haven't really used a library since elementary school. The WIS elementary school library is fully stocked so I don't understand what the point of overly investing in storing physical books that will likely never be touched...

[Anonymous]

I think wis is an excellent program but they can only afford 1 teacher per class in 2nd and up and I found that unacceptable for the price. It’s not like the classes are tiny either

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think wis is an excellent program but they can only afford 1 teacher per class in 2nd and up and I found that unacceptable for the price. It’s not like the classes are tiny either

Their support teachers just look different then what you are used to. They pull kids who struggle for 1:1 support to catch them up to their peers as quickly as possible. Just because there is only 1 teacher in the room, doesn't mean there is 1 teacher supporting the class and I'm not sure why another human body would need to stand there when students who need additional support are being given it in a private and direct setting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think wis is an excellent program but they can only afford 1 teacher per class in 2nd and up and I found that unacceptable for the price. It’s not like the classes are tiny either

Their support teachers just look different then what you are used to. They pull kids who struggle for 1:1 support to catch them up to their peers as quickly as possible. Just because there is only 1 teacher in the room, doesn't mean there is 1 teacher supporting the class and I'm not sure why another human body would need to stand there when students who need additional support are being given it in a private and direct setting.

They have lots of staff at the primary school with the job of providing push in & pull out interventions to students that need them. It's done on a student-by-student basis, rather than per class. That allows them to allocate special education resources where they would be most useful. Also keep in mind their SAL/FAL program effectively adds an extra teacher to the Spanish & French days for grades 2 and up, it's just a lot less visible because children who need the support receive it outside the classroom until they catch up. The net result averages more than 2 teachers per class, but done in a highly targeted way.