Middle school options

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did SH and are now at Banneker. No regrets. But I know folks have real issues with SH.

No regrets because your kid got into Banneker!

Pretty much everyone from the DCUM kids crew at SH this year got into Walls, Banneker or Duke. Most got their first choice of those. The minority who didn’t seemed to share a 7th grade English teacher, so choose wisely.

You don’t actually know that. And definitely not the story at EH.

We do have last year's data.

144 SH 8th graders. 85 4+ on ELA CAPE, 56 took Algebra I (rough proxy for kids likely to apply to application schools). 19 to McKinley, 18 to Duke, 15 to Banneker, n<10 to Walls. 21 not in audit.

111 EH 8th graders. 43 4+ on ELA CAPE, 46 took Algebra I or Geometry (math number might include some 7th graders). 10 to Banneker. n<10 each to Walls, Duke, McKinley. 13 not in audit.

If n<10 on the higher end, overall admissions seem roughly in line with what you would expect. But definitely not a guarantee.

What? No then , not everyone got into Walls, Banneker, or Duke.

Walls is less than 10%. And you cannot assume it is close to 10.

Dukes academics is weak and the only kids that go there are in the arts, music.

McKinley is not a consideration for many families.

Terrible advice to move to SH or EH IN for middle school.

I am the PP and I standby what I said: in the current class, basically all of the kids who have DCUM type parents got into application schools or privates. Looking at the numbers from the year before, roughly the same number of kids got into an application schools as took Algebra I (not any particular score, just *took*). DCUM kids *take* Algebra I. This is not even asking for a 4, just taking the class! That's not even counting the not in audit kids, at least half of whom left for solid privates/Catholics. In the end, there are 10-15 more kids going to good schools than kids who took Algebra I. That works for me. YMMV.

Sorry but you are making assumptions that you don’t know to be a fact. You don’t know which kids from what class got into where.

Kids can choose to take real easy classes to get an A and higher GPA.

Yoir reasoning is a fallacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did SH and are now at Banneker. No regrets. But I know folks have real issues with SH.

No regrets because your kid got into Banneker!

Pretty much everyone from the DCUM kids crew at SH this year got into Walls, Banneker or Duke. Most got their first choice of those. The minority who didn’t seemed to share a 7th grade English teacher, so choose wisely.

You don’t actually know that. And definitely not the story at EH.

We do have last year's data.

144 SH 8th graders. 85 4+ on ELA CAPE, 56 took Algebra I (rough proxy for kids likely to apply to application schools). 19 to McKinley, 18 to Duke, 15 to Banneker, n<10 to Walls. 21 not in audit.

111 EH 8th graders. 43 4+ on ELA CAPE, 46 took Algebra I or Geometry (math number might include some 7th graders). 10 to Banneker. n<10 each to Walls, Duke, McKinley. 13 not in audit.

If n<10 on the higher end, overall admissions seem roughly in line with what you would expect. But definitely not a guarantee.

What? No then , not everyone got into Walls, Banneker, or Duke.

Walls is less than 10%. And you cannot assume it is close to 10.

Dukes academics is weak and the only kids that go there are in the arts, music.

McKinley is not a consideration for many families.

Terrible advice to move to SH or EH IN for middle school.

I am the PP and I standby what I said: in the current class, basically all of the kids who have DCUM type parents got into application schools or privates. Looking at the numbers from the year before, roughly the same number of kids got into an application schools as took Algebra I (not any particular score, just *took*). DCUM kids *take* Algebra I. This is not even asking for a 4, just taking the class! That's not even counting the not in audit kids, at least half of whom left for solid privates/Catholics. In the end, there are 10-15 more kids going to good schools than kids who took Algebra I. That works for me. YMMV.

Sorry but you are making assumptions that you don’t know to be a fact. You don’t know which kids from what class got into where.

Kids can choose to take real easy classes to get an A and higher GPA.

Yoir reasoning is a fallacy.

I know this particular 8th grade class very well because my kid is in it. I would not pretend I know where every single kid is going, but I do know the destinations of most kids going to applications or privates and I would know if one of the academic kids got shut out. Believe me or not, I don't care.

And I cannot think of a single good to excellent student who opted out of Algebra I. I am sure they exist, but they are so few as to be rounding error.

[Anonymous]

Walls n<10.

That’s all you need to know.

Plan accordingly

[Anonymous]

At what DCPS middle school(s) do kids have the choice of which math class to take, or any course selection that "allows an easy A"? That was never on the table at our school. DC chose one elective and everything else was assigned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did SH and are now at Banneker. No regrets. But I know folks have real issues with SH.

No regrets because your kid got into Banneker!

Pretty much everyone from the DCUM kids crew at SH this year got into Walls, Banneker or Duke. Most got their first choice of those. The minority who didn’t seemed to share a 7th grade English teacher, so choose wisely.

You don’t actually know that. And definitely not the story at EH.

+1. Seriously and I doubt it.

Right. I have no regrets about sticking with DCPS from PK through middle school even though we struck out on applications … but there is no way I could advise someone to move to a DCPS MS in MS with no IB HS that is acceptable.

+1. If OP struck out in the lottery with charters, I would move to the close in burbs for good pyramid.

If she wants to stay in the city, then only option is Deal to JR for guaranteed decent track. That’s it.

I would not do Hardy to McArthur with how poor the scores are at MA not to mention the other issues.

MacArthur parent here. Please don’t talk about our school if you’re not a parent there. It’s a great school. Not everyone is obsessed with test scores. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did SH and are now at Banneker. No regrets. But I know folks have real issues with SH.

No regrets because your kid got into Banneker!

Pretty much everyone from the DCUM kids crew at SH this year got into Walls, Banneker or Duke. Most got their first choice of those. The minority who didn’t seemed to share a 7th grade English teacher, so choose wisely.

You don’t actually know that. And definitely not the story at EH.

We do have last year's data.

144 SH 8th graders. 85 4+ on ELA CAPE, 56 took Algebra I (rough proxy for kids likely to apply to application schools). 19 to McKinley, 18 to Duke, 15 to Banneker, n<10 to Walls. 21 not in audit.

111 EH 8th graders. 43 4+ on ELA CAPE, 46 took Algebra I or Geometry (math number might include some 7th graders). 10 to Banneker. n<10 each to Walls, Duke, McKinley. 13 not in audit.

If n<10 on the higher end, overall admissions seem roughly in line with what you would expect. But definitely not a guarantee.

What? No then , not everyone got into Walls, Banneker, or Duke.

Walls is less than 10%. And you cannot assume it is close to 10.

Dukes academics is weak and the only kids that go there are in the arts, music.

McKinley is not a consideration for many families.

Terrible advice to move to SH or EH IN for middle school.

I am the PP and I standby what I said: in the current class, basically all of the kids who have DCUM type parents got into application schools or privates. Looking at the numbers from the year before, roughly the same number of kids got into an application schools as took Algebra I (not any particular score, just *took*). DCUM kids *take* Algebra I. This is not even asking for a 4, just taking the class! That's not even counting the not in audit kids, at least half of whom left for solid privates/Catholics. In the end, there are 10-15 more kids going to good schools than kids who took Algebra I. That works for me. YMMV.

Well no, you’re totally wrong.

- EH parent on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did SH and are now at Banneker. No regrets. But I know folks have real issues with SH.

No regrets because your kid got into Banneker!

Pretty much everyone from the DCUM kids crew at SH this year got into Walls, Banneker or Duke. Most got their first choice of those. The minority who didn’t seemed to share a 7th grade English teacher, so choose wisely.

You don’t actually know that. And definitely not the story at EH.

We do have last year's data.

144 SH 8th graders. 85 4+ on ELA CAPE, 56 took Algebra I (rough proxy for kids likely to apply to application schools). 19 to McKinley, 18 to Duke, 15 to Banneker, n<10 to Walls. 21 not in audit.

111 EH 8th graders. 43 4+ on ELA CAPE, 46 took Algebra I or Geometry (math number might include some 7th graders). 10 to Banneker. n<10 each to Walls, Duke, McKinley. 13 not in audit.

If n<10 on the higher end, overall admissions seem roughly in line with what you would expect. But definitely not a guarantee.

What? No then , not everyone got into Walls, Banneker, or Duke.

Walls is less than 10%. And you cannot assume it is close to 10.

Dukes academics is weak and the only kids that go there are in the arts, music.

McKinley is not a consideration for many families.

Terrible advice to move to SH or EH IN for middle school.

I am the PP and I standby what I said: in the current class, basically all of the kids who have DCUM type parents got into application schools or privates. Looking at the numbers from the year before, roughly the same number of kids got into an application schools as took Algebra I (not any particular score, just *took*). DCUM kids *take* Algebra I. This is not even asking for a 4, just taking the class! That's not even counting the not in audit kids, at least half of whom left for solid privates/Catholics. In the end, there are 10-15 more kids going to good schools than kids who took Algebra I. That works for me. YMMV.

And this is also not counting the handful to DCI/Walls/Latin or the clump to MacArthur, all of which I would also count as good schools, but where admission is truly random.

There were like 0 seats for 9th graders to Latin and DCI. having your HS plan be Walls is likely much more feasible than having it be Latin! And lol, if OP would send her kid across town to MacArthur, why not just move there now for MS …

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did SH and are now at Banneker. No regrets. But I know folks have real issues with SH.

No regrets because your kid got into Banneker!

Pretty much everyone from the DCUM kids crew at SH this year got into Walls, Banneker or Duke. Most got their first choice of those. The minority who didn’t seemed to share a 7th grade English teacher, so choose wisely.

You don’t actually know that. And definitely not the story at EH.

We do have last year's data.

144 SH 8th graders. 85 4+ on ELA CAPE, 56 took Algebra I (rough proxy for kids likely to apply to application schools). 19 to McKinley, 18 to Duke, 15 to Banneker, n<10 to Walls. 21 not in audit.

111 EH 8th graders. 43 4+ on ELA CAPE, 46 took Algebra I or Geometry (math number might include some 7th graders). 10 to Banneker. n<10 each to Walls, Duke, McKinley. 13 not in audit.

If n<10 on the higher end, overall admissions seem roughly in line with what you would expect. But definitely not a guarantee.

What? No then , not everyone got into Walls, Banneker, or Duke.

Walls is less than 10%. And you cannot assume it is close to 10.

Dukes academics is weak and the only kids that go there are in the arts, music.

McKinley is not a consideration for many families.

Terrible advice to move to SH or EH IN for middle school.

I am the PP and I standby what I said: in the current class, basically all of the kids who have DCUM type parents got into application schools or privates. Looking at the numbers from the year before, roughly the same number of kids got into an application schools as took Algebra I (not any particular score, just *took*). DCUM kids *take* Algebra I. This is not even asking for a 4, just taking the class! That's not even counting the not in audit kids, at least half of whom left for solid privates/Catholics. In the end, there are 10-15 more kids going to good schools than kids who took Algebra I. That works for me. YMMV.

Sorry but you are making assumptions that you don’t know to be a fact. You don’t know which kids from what class got into where.

Kids can choose to take real easy classes to get an A and higher GPA.

Yoir reasoning is a fallacy.

I know this particular 8th grade class very well because my kid is in it. I would not pretend I know where every single kid is going, but I do know the destinations of most kids going to applications or privates and I would know if one of the academic kids got shut out. Believe me or not, I don't care.

And I cannot think of a single good to excellent student who opted out of Algebra I. I am sure they exist, but they are so few as to be rounding error.

Kick rocks. You don’t know anywhere near as much as you think you do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did SH and are now at Banneker. No regrets. But I know folks have real issues with SH.

No regrets because your kid got into Banneker!

Pretty much everyone from the DCUM kids crew at SH this year got into Walls, Banneker or Duke. Most got their first choice of those. The minority who didn’t seemed to share a 7th grade English teacher, so choose wisely.

You don’t actually know that. And definitely not the story at EH.

We do have last year's data.

144 SH 8th graders. 85 4+ on ELA CAPE, 56 took Algebra I (rough proxy for kids likely to apply to application schools). 19 to McKinley, 18 to Duke, 15 to Banneker, n<10 to Walls. 21 not in audit.

111 EH 8th graders. 43 4+ on ELA CAPE, 46 took Algebra I or Geometry (math number might include some 7th graders). 10 to Banneker. n<10 each to Walls, Duke, McKinley. 13 not in audit.

If n<10 on the higher end, overall admissions seem roughly in line with what you would expect. But definitely not a guarantee.

What? No then , not everyone got into Walls, Banneker, or Duke.

Walls is less than 10%. And you cannot assume it is close to 10.

Dukes academics is weak and the only kids that go there are in the arts, music.

McKinley is not a consideration for many families.

Terrible advice to move to SH or EH IN for middle school.

I am the PP and I standby what I said: in the current class, basically all of the kids who have DCUM type parents got into application schools or privates. Looking at the numbers from the year before, roughly the same number of kids got into an application schools as took Algebra I (not any particular score, just *took*). DCUM kids *take* Algebra I. This is not even asking for a 4, just taking the class! That's not even counting the not in audit kids, at least half of whom left for solid privates/Catholics. In the end, there are 10-15 more kids going to good schools than kids who took Algebra I. That works for me. YMMV.

Sorry but you are making assumptions that you don’t know to be a fact. You don’t know which kids from what class got into where.

Kids can choose to take real easy classes to get an A and higher GPA.

Yoir reasoning is a fallacy.

I know this particular 8th grade class very well because my kid is in it. I would not pretend I know where every single kid is going, but I do know the destinations of most kids going to applications or privates and I would know if one of the academic kids got shut out. Believe me or not, I don't care.

And I cannot think of a single good to excellent student who opted out of Algebra I. I am sure they exist, but they are so few as to be rounding error.

Kick rocks. You don’t know anywhere near as much as you think you do.

Do you think there are a large number of DCPS middle schoolers not taking higher level math classes (and their parents and the schools are ok with this) so that their GPA is higher for application HS? Where is this happening?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did SH and are now at Banneker. No regrets. But I know folks have real issues with SH.

No regrets because your kid got into Banneker!

Pretty much everyone from the DCUM kids crew at SH this year got into Walls, Banneker or Duke. Most got their first choice of those. The minority who didn’t seemed to share a 7th grade English teacher, so choose wisely.

You don’t actually know that. And definitely not the story at EH.

We do have last year's data.

144 SH 8th graders. 85 4+ on ELA CAPE, 56 took Algebra I (rough proxy for kids likely to apply to application schools). 19 to McKinley, 18 to Duke, 15 to Banneker, n<10 to Walls. 21 not in audit.

111 EH 8th graders. 43 4+ on ELA CAPE, 46 took Algebra I or Geometry (math number might include some 7th graders). 10 to Banneker. n<10 each to Walls, Duke, McKinley. 13 not in audit.

If n<10 on the higher end, overall admissions seem roughly in line with what you would expect. But definitely not a guarantee.

What? No then , not everyone got into Walls, Banneker, or Duke.

Walls is less than 10%. And you cannot assume it is close to 10.

Dukes academics is weak and the only kids that go there are in the arts, music.

McKinley is not a consideration for many families.

Terrible advice to move to SH or EH IN for middle school.

I am the PP and I standby what I said: in the current class, basically all of the kids who have DCUM type parents got into application schools or privates. Looking at the numbers from the year before, roughly the same number of kids got into an application schools as took Algebra I (not any particular score, just *took*). DCUM kids *take* Algebra I. This is not even asking for a 4, just taking the class! That's not even counting the not in audit kids, at least half of whom left for solid privates/Catholics. In the end, there are 10-15 more kids going to good schools than kids who took Algebra I. That works for me. YMMV.

Sorry but you are making assumptions that you don’t know to be a fact. You don’t know which kids from what class got into where.

Kids can choose to take real easy classes to get an A and higher GPA.

Yoir reasoning is a fallacy.

I know this particular 8th grade class very well because my kid is in it. I would not pretend I know where every single kid is going, but I do know the destinations of most kids going to applications or privates and I would know if one of the academic kids got shut out. Believe me or not, I don't care.

And I cannot think of a single good to excellent student who opted out of Algebra I. I am sure they exist, but they are so few as to be rounding error.

Kick rocks. You don’t know anywhere near as much as you think you do.

Do you think there are a large number of DCPS middle schoolers not taking higher level math classes (and their parents and the schools are ok with this) so that their GPA is higher for application HS? Where is this happening?

I think your assumptions are totally garbled and don’t match what I actually know about many kids (including my own).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did SH and are now at Banneker. No regrets. But I know folks have real issues with SH.

No regrets because your kid got into Banneker!

Pretty much everyone from the DCUM kids crew at SH this year got into Walls, Banneker or Duke. Most got their first choice of those. The minority who didn’t seemed to share a 7th grade English teacher, so choose wisely.

You don’t actually know that. And definitely not the story at EH.

We do have last year's data.

144 SH 8th graders. 85 4+ on ELA CAPE, 56 took Algebra I (rough proxy for kids likely to apply to application schools). 19 to McKinley, 18 to Duke, 15 to Banneker, n<10 to Walls. 21 not in audit.

111 EH 8th graders. 43 4+ on ELA CAPE, 46 took Algebra I or Geometry (math number might include some 7th graders). 10 to Banneker. n<10 each to Walls, Duke, McKinley. 13 not in audit.

If n<10 on the higher end, overall admissions seem roughly in line with what you would expect. But definitely not a guarantee.

What? No then , not everyone got into Walls, Banneker, or Duke.

Walls is less than 10%. And you cannot assume it is close to 10.

Dukes academics is weak and the only kids that go there are in the arts, music.

McKinley is not a consideration for many families.

Terrible advice to move to SH or EH IN for middle school.

I am the PP and I standby what I said: in the current class, basically all of the kids who have DCUM type parents got into application schools or privates. Looking at the numbers from the year before, roughly the same number of kids got into an application schools as took Algebra I (not any particular score, just *took*). DCUM kids *take* Algebra I. This is not even asking for a 4, just taking the class! That's not even counting the not in audit kids, at least half of whom left for solid privates/Catholics. In the end, there are 10-15 more kids going to good schools than kids who took Algebra I. That works for me. YMMV.

Sorry but you are making assumptions that you don’t know to be a fact. You don’t know which kids from what class got into where.

Kids can choose to take real easy classes to get an A and higher GPA.

Yoir reasoning is a fallacy.

I know this particular 8th grade class very well because my kid is in it. I would not pretend I know where every single kid is going, but I do know the destinations of most kids going to applications or privates and I would know if one of the academic kids got shut out. Believe me or not, I don't care.

And I cannot think of a single good to excellent student who opted out of Algebra I. I am sure they exist, but they are so few as to be rounding error.

Kick rocks. You don’t know anywhere near as much as you think you do.

Do you think there are a large number of DCPS middle schoolers not taking higher level math classes (and their parents and the schools are ok with this) so that their GPA is higher for application HS? Where is this happening?

Sorry but Algebra 1 in 8th is not a higher level math class. It is on grade level and the other class is remedial. Let’s not fool ourselves to think that there is advance math going on here. It is mediocre and average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your only criteria is safety (real and perceived) for a sensitive, timid girl, how would you rank these middle schools?

I’m thinking about vaping or bullying in bathrooms, videotaped fights, afterschool chaos at bus stops and grocery stores, etc

Latin. Hands down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your only criteria is safety (real and perceived) for a sensitive, timid girl, how would you rank these middle schools?

I’m thinking about vaping or bullying in bathrooms, videotaped fights, afterschool chaos at bus stops and grocery stores, etc

Latin. Hands down.

Latin is literally a lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your only criteria is safety (real and perceived) for a sensitive, timid girl, how would you rank these middle schools?

I’m thinking about vaping or bullying in bathrooms, videotaped fights, afterschool chaos at bus stops and grocery stores, etc

Latin. Hands down.

All-girls private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did SH and are now at Banneker. No regrets. But I know folks have real issues with SH.

No regrets because your kid got into Banneker!

Pretty much everyone from the DCUM kids crew at SH this year got into Walls, Banneker or Duke. Most got their first choice of those. The minority who didn’t seemed to share a 7th grade English teacher, so choose wisely.

No, this is not true based on data given.

If you assume Walls is 5 kids for the <10, and count Banneker and Duke, that is only 26% of the class go into application high school.

This is based on the assumption that you even want your kid to go to all 3 schools which is a very, very small number of families if any.

If you just look at Walls and Banneker for kids from SH, it’s about only 14%. Again based on the assumption that families want both schools which some don’t. These numbers are not good.

Data is from SY24-25. Presumably this person is talking about SY25-26 admissions.

And you think 1 year is going to make any significant difference and it still won’t be less than 10 kids to Walls out of about 150 kids?

Best case scenario with 9 kids, that is 6%. Worst case with 2 it’s like 1%

I think you're not doing an appropriate comparison and therefore have no standing to say whether or not PP's anecdote is accurate.

It's probably not that different year to year, but many people are fine with an outcome other than Walls.

I think admissions are getting more competitive every year, not less. Moving to a MS on the assumption that your kid will get into Walls is not very smart.

If the only acceptable outcome is Walls, then sure. I don't think that's the conversation here.

Banneker isn’t a lock either. Duke is very particular and McKinley isn’t for everyone.

Not an application school but DCI does offer some spots for 9th but not many. You can list them also for high school. But going in this late, your kid won’t be in the highest track in lots of subjects and unlikely to get the IB diploma because of the language test.

Plenty of kids in schools outside of DCI speak better Spanish than the kids at DCI. The language test isn’t a problem for them.