Private school kids who went on to Wilson: how are they doing?

[Anonymous]

I would love to hear about others' experiences with their kids switching from private school to Wilson. Our child switched for 9th grade, and so far we're finding that the academics are a definite step down from private 8th grade. There are a few bright spots,and I will say that overall my son seems happy to go to school every day. Generally, though, there's very little homework and most of that is just busywork. The assigned reading is really minimal, even in honors classes, and there don't seem to be any books sent home at all except in English class. Our child has straight As despite rarely doing any work at home. There seems to be a lot class time spent on discipline and paperwork.

I am well aware that my expectations may be skewed by having had my kids in private school (one religious, one independent), although our kids were in a large pubic school before we moved to DC. I definitely didn't expect Wilson to be this disorganized, and I thought we could at least expect a generally high academic level, since some Wilson students do get into top colleges. Are these kids mostly educating themselves?

Should we just hang in there and hope that things improve in 10th grade when he can move into a lot of AP courses? I suppose Walls is an option for us for next year since he did get admitted for 9th grade, but didn't want to go there for several reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would love to hear about others' experiences with their kids switching from private school to Wilson. Our child switched for 9th grade, and so far we're finding that the academics are a definite step down from private 8th grade. There are a few bright spots,and I will say that overall my son seems happy to go to school every day. Generally, though, there's very little homework and most of that is just busywork. The assigned reading is really minimal, even in honors classes, and there don't seem to be any books sent home at all except in English class. Our child has straight As despite rarely doing any work at home. There seems to be a lot class time spent on discipline and paperwork.

I am well aware that my expectations may be skewed by having had my kids in private school (one religious, one independent), although our kids were in a large pubic school before we moved to DC. I definitely didn't expect Wilson to be this disorganized, and I thought we could at least expect a generally high academic level, since some Wilson students do get into top colleges. Are these kids mostly educating themselves?

Should we just hang in there and hope that things improve in 10th grade when he can move into a lot of AP courses? I suppose Walls is an option for us for next year since he did get admitted for 9th grade, but didn't want to go there for several reasons.

Walls at 10th is tough. They only backfill slots available because of attrition. Last year there were fewer than 10 openings and dozens applied via the lottery.

[Anonymous]

10:55, thanks, I don't think he really wants to switch to Walls. I realize that there wouldn't be many spots there anyway, and that it would also be tough to get back into private school for 10th (especially the one he was in, where very few spots ever open). We knew this was a risk, and I'm hoping that it will be better for 10th grade, but would prefer to hear honest responses.

[Anonymous]

AP will help. Assign him reading yourself in the meantime. He'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Your kid will be fine. There are more AP courses and the honors courses become more differentiated as the kids move on to 10th grade and up.

Does your child plan on participating in extracurriculars? Those are a great way to hone skills and get in a group of kids that are highly skilled and interested in the same things as your chilld. I'll put in a plug for the newspaper, which is extremely high quality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would love to hear about others' experiences with their kids switching from private school to Wilson. Our child switched for 9th grade, and so far we're finding that the academics are a definite step down from private 8th grade. There are a few bright spots,and I will say that overall my son seems happy to go to school every day. Generally, though, there's very little homework and most of that is just busywork. The assigned reading is really minimal, even in honors classes, and there don't seem to be any books sent home at all except in English class. Our child has straight As despite rarely doing any work at home. There seems to be a lot class time spent on discipline and paperwork.

I am well aware that my expectations may be skewed by having had my kids in private school (one religious, one independent), although our kids were in a large pubic school before we moved to DC. I definitely didn't expect Wilson to be this disorganized, and I thought we could at least expect a generally high academic level, since some Wilson students do get into top colleges. Are these kids mostly educating themselves?

Should we just hang in there and hope that things improve in 10th grade when he can move into a lot of AP courses? I suppose Walls is an option for us for next year since he did get admitted for 9th grade, but didn't want to go there for several reasons.

Why did you leave private school? It sounds like it was working for you

[Anonymous]

My kid left a small, intensive and well regarded private in mid-high school because he wanted to enjoy a bigger pond. That has been achieved, great kids and a lot of fun. The AP classes are very challenging and I hear that grade 9 is just a warm up for what is to come. Is he bothered by the work? The sports and extracurriculars will keep him very busy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid left a small, intensive and well regarded private in mid-high school because he wanted to enjoy a bigger pond. That has been achieved, great kids and a lot of fun. The AP classes are very challenging and I hear that grade 9 is just a warm up for what is to come. Is he bothered by the work? The sports and extracurriculars will keep him very busy.

what if he doesn't want to do sports? Or does everyone at Wilson as well as privates need to do sports to be "well rounded?"

Aren't AP classes, unlike honor classes, open to every single student who wants to enroll?

I thought the kids had to teach themselves APs and that the Honors classes are the only selective tracked ones?

[Anonymous]

PP -- plenty of Wilson kids don't "do sports". But even jumping on the frisbee team is a great way to integrate. There are millions of things to do outside of sports, theatre-robotics-debate-journalism/school apper/year book.

[Anonymous]

I don't think anyone is disputing that Wilson has lots of extracurriculars. The question was about the academic level.

[Anonymous]

This is disturbing. So 9th grade is really basically a wasted year at Wilson for smart kids? Does it really improve with APs in 10th?

[Anonymous]

That is ridiculous to waste 9th grade, that is an important year.

[Anonymous]

I don't see how having Algebra II, honors English and history, and level III language in 9th grade could be a waste.

[Anonymous]

My DC took Honors Algebra 2/Level 4 language/Honors English/Honors Biology/and a few other classes in 9th, it was a busy enough year. I know kids in Montgomery and Firfax county will start APs in 9th grade though...

[Anonymous]

Fairfax, sorry