Walls admissions requirements for 2021 Applicants

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This massively advantages DCPS kids, which is maybe the point? DCPS had crazy grading rules during the pandemic, which basically made getting not an A for a remotely diligent kid hard. Privates and charters, including popular feeders like BASIS, did not have those same policies.

I hadn’t thought of that but you are correct. I am not sure if that was DCPS’ intention, but it will be a consequence.

[Anonymous]

Agree, PP. I can only speak for Basis, but they sure weren't handing out As last year. Lots of very hard working, capable kids who have had a hard curriculum and will have nowhere near straight As.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree, PP. I can only speak for Basis, but they sure weren't handing out As last year. Lots of very hard working, capable kids who have had a hard curriculum and will have nowhere near straight As.

Meanwhile the formally B and C students at Deal who were taking math 3 years below the Basis kids (i.e. 7th grade math) will make the cut.

(not a Basis parent).

[Anonymous]

Walls isn't going to weight classes. An A in 7th grade math counts the same as an A in Algebra I, II or Geometry.

It is my understanding that DCPS middle schools do not have "honors" (officially) (Even it they did it won't matter.)....in the Walls GPA calculation an A in 7th grade ELA will count the same as an A in pre-AP ELA.

In addition, an A in Spanish (full year) will count the same as an A in Algebra I or World History/Geography or Science.

A Walls Administrator said if it is on the transcript it will be included in the GPA calculation. It will not be limited to CORE Only.

A is 4.0
A- is 3.7
B+ is 3.3
B is 3.0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Walls isn't going to weight classes. An A in 7th grade math counts the same as an A in Algebra I, II or Geometry.

It is my understanding that DCPS middle schools do not have "honors" (officially) (Even it they did it won't matter.)....in the Walls GPA calculation an A in 7th grade ELA will count the same as an A in pre-AP ELA.

In addition, an A in Spanish (full year) will count the same as an A in Algebra I or World History/Geography or Science.

A Walls Administrator said if it is on the transcript it will be included in the GPA calculation. It will not be limited to CORE Only.

A is 4.0
A- is 3.7
B+ is 3.3
B is 3.0

Wow, they are not going to look at what the class was--like colleges do? That's crazy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls isn't going to weight classes. An A in 7th grade math counts the same as an A in Algebra I, II or Geometry.

It is my understanding that DCPS middle schools do not have "honors" (officially) (Even it they did it won't matter.)....in the Walls GPA calculation an A in 7th grade ELA will count the same as an A in pre-AP ELA.

In addition, an A in Spanish (full year) will count the same as an A in Algebra I or World History/Geography or Science.

A Walls Administrator said if it is on the transcript it will be included in the GPA calculation. It will not be limited to CORE Only.

A is 4.0
A- is 3.7
B+ is 3.3
B is 3.0

Wow, they are not going to look at what the class was--like colleges do? That's crazy

Yes, it's crazy since kids are routinely taking math 4 levels apart in 7th grade at Deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree, PP. I can only speak for Basis, but they sure weren't handing out As last year. Lots of very hard working, capable kids who have had a hard curriculum and will have nowhere near straight As.

Meanwhile the formally B and C students at Deal who were taking math 3 years below the Basis kids (i.e. 7th grade math) will make the cut.

(not a Basis parent).

Interesting. This process will disadvantage Basis 8th graders because they are taking harder classes than their peers and don't benefit as much from grade inflation. The result will probably be more Basis 8th graders staying on for 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree, PP. I can only speak for Basis, but they sure weren't handing out As last year. Lots of very hard working, capable kids who have had a hard curriculum and will have nowhere near straight As.

Meanwhile the formally B and C students at Deal who were taking math 3 years below the Basis kids (i.e. 7th grade math) will make the cut.

(not a Basis parent).

Interesting. This process will disadvantage Basis 8th graders because they are taking harder classes than their peers and don't benefit as much from grade inflation. The result will probably be more Basis 8th graders staying on for 9th grade.

Who knows what will happen. I think before anyone gets alarmed we should see how it plays out. It's clear that Walls is trying to assemble an academically strong cohort. They could have easily gone to a straight lottery of all kids with a 3.5 GPA
like the magnet schools in other cities are doing this year (Boston Latin and NYC application high schools as two examples). Walls chose not to do this. I bet 100% the list of 500 they come up with includes strong kids from Basis and Latin or kids at Deal who have an A- in 7th grade geometry.
It doesn't serve their end goal at all to have a cohort heavy on kids with As in remedial math at Deal. Remember, none of this is transparent so they could easily adjust things. Plus we have no way of knowing how many kids actually have straight As.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree, PP. I can only speak for Basis, but they sure weren't handing out As last year. Lots of very hard working, capable kids who have had a hard curriculum and will have nowhere near straight As.

Meanwhile the formally B and C students at Deal who were taking math 3 years below the Basis kids (i.e. 7th grade math) will make the cut.

(not a Basis parent).

Same for the B/C students at every DCPS MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree, PP. I can only speak for Basis, but they sure weren't handing out As last year. Lots of very hard working, capable kids who have had a hard curriculum and will have nowhere near straight As.

Meanwhile the formally B and C students at Deal who were taking math 3 years below the Basis kids (i.e. 7th grade math) will make the cut.

(not a Basis parent).

Same for the B/C students at every DCPS MS.

We are not applying to Walls, but I would definitely advocate for remedying this. The grades should be looked at in context + interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This massively advantages DCPS kids, which is maybe the point? DCPS had crazy grading rules during the pandemic, which basically made getting not an A for a remotely diligent kid hard. Privates and charters, including popular feeders like BASIS, did not have those same policies.

At this point, all we can do is see how it plays out. My kid is appying from a private and earned a mix of As and A-s last year, and had to work hard during the spring. On the positive side, I was concerned about how the admissions test, so at least that is one less worry. I am hoping an applicant pool of 500 is large enough that they will make the cut.

[Anonymous]

There are other application HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are other application HS.

Banneker and Tech are no competition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are other application HS.

Banneker and Tech are no competition.

Oh you mean for white families afraid of minorities, yes I guess not.

[Anonymous]

Banneker is a good school. Tech isn't in the same league