Recommendations for Parent of Black Son With 99th Percentile Test Scores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look at STA, Sidwell and GDS. All have 10-15% Black students and are strong academically. In my son's class at STA a couple of years ago, one of his classmates was in multi-variable calculus as a sophomore - but there will not a whole group of kids doing this that early.

Lots of complaints of racism at Saint Albans.

For years and years and years.

And antisemitism.

[Anonymous]

Check out GDS. Lots of really smart kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look at STA, Sidwell and GDS. All have 10-15% Black students and are strong academically. In my son's class at STA a couple of years ago, one of his classmates was in multi-variable calculus as a sophomore - but there will not a whole group of kids doing this that early.

Lots of complaints of racism at Saint Albans.

+1. Specifically, STA’s history department

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd say be wary of privates when it comes to math, because they tend to really be concerned with "equity" and lowering competition. If your kid is capable of doing calculus as a freshman, don't be shocked if they deny this request and put him in Algebra II. They'll give you some excuse like "we think it's best for his personal development" but in reality they don't want to make the other kids and their parents upset or anxious.

That was not our experience, so it would be a good question for OP to put to the schools she visits. Some schools have math PhD teachers who can teach any kid up to whatever level they want and do not mind having even 1:1 classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look at STA, Sidwell and GDS. All have 10-15% Black students and are strong academically. In my son's class at STA a couple of years ago, one of his classmates was in multi-variable calculus as a sophomore - but there will not a whole group of kids doing this that early.

Lots of complaints of racism at Saint Albans.

+1. Specifically, STA’s history department

Especially antiblack racism.

[Anonymous]

GDS - many post-Calculus math courses and the school accommodates kids who are advanced in math, particularly in high school

[Anonymous]

Maret. I know of a number of smart black guys there who went on to Ivies. I also like the SWW idea. JR can be tough for a really smart black guy not into sports.

[Anonymous]

As others have said, avoid STA at all costs. It is not a healthy place for students of color. The school only recently allowed black students to form a BSU. This was also when the school permitted a white student group to form.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As others have said, avoid STA at all costs. It is not a healthy place for students of color. The school only recently allowed black students to form a BSU. This was also when the school permitted a white student group to form.

I could have sworn NCS’s BSU did co-events with STA’s BSU way back when I was in HS. Was I dreaming? Or did they disband it and then reform at some point?

[Anonymous]

Regarding concerns for accommodating a kid already doing recall in middle, DCPS has formal relationships with several local universities (most prominently GW), where HS students can college courses for college credit. They should be able to get him into advanced math courses once he has completed calculus at his high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As others have said, avoid STA at all costs. It is not a healthy place for students of color. The school only recently allowed black students to form a BSU. This was also when the school permitted a white student group to form.

They have a white student group at STA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regarding concerns for accommodating a kid already doing recall in middle, DCPS has formal relationships with several local universities (most prominently GW), where HS students can college courses for college credit. They should be able to get him into advanced math courses once he has completed calculus at his high school.

https://dcps.dc.gov/node/1355411 My kid took classes at Georgetown and had 9 credits under their belt that transferred to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As others have said, avoid STA at all costs. It is not a healthy place for students of color. The school only recently allowed black students to form a BSU. This was also when the school permitted a white student group to form.

They have a white student group at STA?

NP. Yes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both Sidwell and GDS are diverse and also have a good number of black students. Your child will not be the only 99ile black student.

A word of caution, however—privates will try to work with you, but they typically don’t let kids accelerate over one or two years, especially in math. They do have enrichment and theoretical classes, but I think they are trying to prevent a “race” for higher level math. There are lots of kids in geometry and algebra 2 who have taken coursework in another school or in a separate class. So if your son really wants and needs acceleration, you will have to go outside the school.


If your child is mature, consider NE boarding schools in high school where there are a lot of advanced kids with lots of different interests. Your son will not be the only one and will have a small cohort.

I think GDS is more flexible on this than Sidwell. They offer more high level courses beyond Calc and a wider variety of math courses, in general.

[Anonymous]

Move to Poolesville HS.