Student Stratification at Selective High Schools

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not. Under Bowser, no way.

What does Walls' admissions process have to do with the Mayor's office?

Nothing..the test was the decision of the Principal just like the adding the interview. The issue was math-DCPS middle schools don't have the same offerings. So a lot of kids were at a disadvantage. Maybe the test comes back--who knows. Personally, I think the school needs a refresh of teachers. Too many are just "there" and suck!

The test is not coming back. The reason it was removed was the pandemic. Then they decided it was an equity/access issue from DCPS/Central Office/Mayor. Not going to back to a test. Has nothing to do with DCPS middle school math offerings.

As for your comments on the teachers, nice to know how you feel about veteran staff!

Lots of cities scrapped admissions tests for magnet schools during the pandemic.

Except for DC, they have all returned to the tests.

Which schools? The famous longstanding Boston, Chicago, New York, San Fran, Miami and Dallas and Houston test in high school magnets? Not a one. Check.

NYC, Boston, Chicago & San Fran all definitely back. Don’t know about the others.

It's also back for Dallas and Philadelphia as well. Houston requires you to have been recognized as "gifted and talented" by previous school testing.

So basically it's DC and Miami that don't rely on testing. And I wouldn't base anything on Miami (horrendous school district).

Why is DC such an outlier?

I find it baffling. What's going on in central office? Is no one paying attention to what's going on in other cities?

I do they DCPS as a whole is focusing on the bottom (addressing truancy) and seems to NGAF about the most academically advanced kids. I felt that change even within our own elementary school pre pandemic vs post.

They never have cared about academically advanced kids. They figure they'll be fine no matter what. And they're not actually wrong. Even though it seems unfair to those of us whose children are being poorly served by this approach.

But you need to understand how they define fine. If the kid is going to any college at all, that’s fine in DCPS book, even if it’s UDC.

That’s not fine in my family’s book. A great mind is a terrible thing to waste and academically inclined kids in the system are not being challenged to reach their full potential at all. And that is why we chose not to play the game of the race to the bottom.

By extension, it’s wild to me that DC is comfortable with UDC being as bad as it is.

[Anonymous]

DC is a "private school" city and that contributes to the mindset. People that are from here are just used to it. It's mind boggling! Fenty seemed to have the right idea but we know how that went. You have to advocate for what you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not. Under Bowser, no way.

What does Walls' admissions process have to do with the Mayor's office?

Nothing..the test was the decision of the Principal just like the adding the interview. The issue was math-DCPS middle schools don't have the same offerings. So a lot of kids were at a disadvantage. Maybe the test comes back--who knows. Personally, I think the school needs a refresh of teachers. Too many are just "there" and suck!

The test is not coming back. The reason it was removed was the pandemic. Then they decided it was an equity/access issue from DCPS/Central Office/Mayor. Not going to back to a test. Has nothing to do with DCPS middle school math offerings.

As for your comments on the teachers, nice to know how you feel about veteran staff!

Lots of cities scrapped admissions tests for magnet schools during the pandemic.

Except for DC, they have all returned to the tests.

Which schools? The famous longstanding Boston, Chicago, New York, San Fran, Miami and Dallas and Houston test in high school magnets? Not a one. Check.

NYC, Boston, Chicago & San Fran all definitely back. Don’t know about the others.

It's also back for Dallas and Philadelphia as well. Houston requires you to have been recognized as "gifted and talented" by previous school testing.

So basically it's DC and Miami that don't rely on testing. And I wouldn't base anything on Miami (horrendous school district).

Why is DC such an outlier?

I find it baffling. What's going on in central office? Is no one paying attention to what's going on in other cities?

I do they DCPS as a whole is focusing on the bottom (addressing truancy) and seems to NGAF about the most academically advanced kids. I felt that change even within our own elementary school pre pandemic vs post.

They never have cared about academically advanced kids. They figure they'll be fine no matter what. And they're not actually wrong. Even though it seems unfair to those of us whose children are being poorly served by this approach.

But you need to understand how they define fine. If the kid is going to any college at all, that’s fine in DCPS book, even if it’s UDC.

That’s not fine in my family’s book. A great mind is a terrible thing to waste and academically inclined kids in the system are not being challenged to reach their full potential at all. And that is why we chose not to play the game of the race to the bottom.

\

I'm curious what you mean by this. My kids have also not been challenged, but we don't have the means to send them to private school. I suppose we could have moved to the suburbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not. Under Bowser, no way.

What does Walls' admissions process have to do with the Mayor's office?

Nothing..the test was the decision of the Principal just like the adding the interview. The issue was math-DCPS middle schools don't have the same offerings. So a lot of kids were at a disadvantage. Maybe the test comes back--who knows. Personally, I think the school needs a refresh of teachers. Too many are just "there" and suck!

The test is not coming back. The reason it was removed was the pandemic. Then they decided it was an equity/access issue from DCPS/Central Office/Mayor. Not going to back to a test. Has nothing to do with DCPS middle school math offerings.

As for your comments on the teachers, nice to know how you feel about veteran staff!

Lots of cities scrapped admissions tests for magnet schools during the pandemic.

Except for DC, they have all returned to the tests.

Which schools? The famous longstanding Boston, Chicago, New York, San Fran, Miami and Dallas and Houston test in high school magnets? Not a one. Check.

NYC, Boston, Chicago & San Fran all definitely back. Don’t know about the others.

It's also back for Dallas and Philadelphia as well. Houston requires you to have been recognized as "gifted and talented" by previous school testing.

So basically it's DC and Miami that don't rely on testing. And I wouldn't base anything on Miami (horrendous school district).

Why is DC such an outlier?

I find it baffling. What's going on in central office? Is no one paying attention to what's going on in other cities?

I do they DCPS as a whole is focusing on the bottom (addressing truancy) and seems to NGAF about the most academically advanced kids. I felt that change even within our own elementary school pre pandemic vs post.

They never have cared about academically advanced kids. They figure they'll be fine no matter what. And they're not actually wrong. Even though it seems unfair to those of us whose children are being poorly served by this approach.

But you need to understand how they define fine. If the kid is going to any college at all, that’s fine in DCPS book, even if it’s UDC.

That’s not fine in my family’s book. A great mind is a terrible thing to waste and academically inclined kids in the system are not being challenged to reach their full potential at all. And that is why we chose not to play the game of the race to the bottom.

\

I'm curious what you mean by this. My kids have also not been challenged, but we don't have the means to send them to private school. I suppose we could have moved to the suburbs.

I think they mean that DC just has incredibly low expectations and is satisfied with people meeting them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a "private school" city and that contributes to the mindset. People that are from here are just used to it. It's mind boggling! Fenty seemed to have the right idea but we know how that went. You have to advocate for what you want.

The reason why DC is a private school city is because DCPS is so bad.

You can bet if DC had tracking, G&T starting in elementary and also middle, and magnets with all these schools having high standards that private school demand and tuition would plummet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a "private school" city and that contributes to the mindset. People that are from here are just used to it. It's mind boggling! Fenty seemed to have the right idea but we know how that went. You have to advocate for what you want.

It’s not, at all. 19% of K-12 students in DC attend private school. That’s about the same as NYC and slightly higher than LA. It’s about half the rate of my hometown (Cleveland Heights, OH).

If you want to actually understand DCPS, looking beyond your bubble would help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is a "private school" city and that contributes to the mindset. People that are from here are just used to it. It's mind boggling! Fenty seemed to have the right idea but we know how that went. You have to advocate for what you want.

It’s not, at all. 19% of K-12 students in DC attend private school. That’s about the same as NYC and slightly higher than LA. It’s about half the rate of my hometown (Cleveland Heights, OH).

If you want to actually understand DCPS, looking beyond your bubble would help.

DP. Reality is, it would be much higher if families could afford it. Lots of families can’t so they move to the burbs.

19% is not the real stats on how many students opt out of DCPS if you look at the loss to the burbs too. Plus 50% of the current students in DC attend charters. Charters are not private but another big exodus from DCPS. Add all that up and DC is likely with one if the lowest percentages of students actually in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is a "private school" city and that contributes to the mindset. People that are from here are just used to it. It's mind boggling! Fenty seemed to have the right idea but we know how that went. You have to advocate for what you want.

It’s not, at all. 19% of K-12 students in DC attend private school. That’s about the same as NYC and slightly higher than LA. It’s about half the rate of my hometown (Cleveland Heights, OH).

If you want to actually understand DCPS, looking beyond your bubble would help.

DP. Reality is, it would be much higher if families could afford it. Lots of families can’t so they move to the burbs.

19% is not the real stats on how many students opt out of DCPS if you look at the loss to the burbs too. Plus 50% of the current students in DC attend charters. Charters are not private but another big exodus from DCPS. Add all that up and DC is likely with one if the lowest percentages of students actually in DCPS.

NP and PP said DC is a private school city. And it’s not. Charters are public schools. No they aren’t DCPS but they are free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is a "private school" city and that contributes to the mindset. People that are from here are just used to it. It's mind boggling! Fenty seemed to have the right idea but we know how that went. You have to advocate for what you want.

It’s not, at all. 19% of K-12 students in DC attend private school. That’s about the same as NYC and slightly higher than LA. It’s about half the rate of my hometown (Cleveland Heights, OH).

If you want to actually understand DCPS, looking beyond your bubble would help.

DP. Reality is, it would be much higher if families could afford it. Lots of families can’t so they move to the burbs.

19% is not the real stats on how many students opt out of DCPS if you look at the loss to the burbs too. Plus 50% of the current students in DC attend charters. Charters are not private but another big exodus from DCPS. Add all that up and DC is likely with one if the lowest percentages of students actually in DCPS.

I don’t agree. There are people like me who could afford a private school (actually kids went private for years) but then I realized my kids were surrounded by rich douchebags. They were being groomed to be future douchebags. They attend DCPS.

[Anonymous]

OK, if but if you don't live in Upper NW and your academically advanced kid doesn't crack Walls, or maybe Banneker, attending DCPS for high school is generally a disaster. I'm not convinced that most of the kids at all the private schools in this area are douchebags. Many kids at private schools in this city would surely attend public if our public schools were on a par with the better programs in neighboring jurisdictions. My nieces and nephews in N VA seem to attend public high schools that are twice as good as J-R and Walls in every respect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, if but if you don't live in Upper NW and your academically advanced kid doesn't crack Walls, or maybe Banneker, attending DCPS for high school is generally a disaster. I'm not convinced that most of the kids at all the private schools in this area are douchebags. Many kids at private schools in this city would surely attend public if our public schools were on a par with the better programs in neighboring jurisdictions. My nieces and nephews in N VA seem to attend public high schools that are twice as good as J-R and Walls in every respect.

This. Some people just don’t accept the reality that the “best” schools in this town is mediocre at best. Also that best in terms of rigor is degrading in the name of equity as can be seen by honors for all at JR and no test in at Walls.

You can choose to go DCPS and not private or move to the burbs but don’t kid yourself that your kid is getting anything close to the experiences these other kids are getting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, if but if you don't live in Upper NW and your academically advanced kid doesn't crack Walls, or maybe Banneker, attending DCPS for high school is generally a disaster. I'm not convinced that most of the kids at all the private schools in this area are douchebags. Many kids at private schools in this city would surely attend public if our public schools were on a par with the better programs in neighboring jurisdictions. My nieces and nephews in N VA seem to attend public high schools that are twice as good as J-R and Walls in every respect.

Please explain how you know your nieces high schools are all twice as good as JR and walls in every aspect. Claims like this when you haven’t set foot in all of these schools, had kids attend these schools, observed classes at theses schools is ridiculous. Generally what you are claiming is that your nieces’ schools have more UMC or rich kids at their schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, if but if you don't live in Upper NW and your academically advanced kid doesn't crack Walls, or maybe Banneker, attending DCPS for high school is generally a disaster. I'm not convinced that most of the kids at all the private schools in this area are douchebags. Many kids at private schools in this city would surely attend public if our public schools were on a par with the better programs in neighboring jurisdictions. My nieces and nephews in N VA seem to attend public high schools that are twice as good as J-R and Walls in every respect.

Please explain how you know your nieces high schools are all twice as good as JR and walls in every aspect. Claims like this when you haven’t set foot in all of these schools, had kids attend these schools, observed classes at theses schools is ridiculous. Generally what you are claiming is that your nieces’ schools have more UMC or rich kids at their schools.

I've lived in DC for many years working as an independent high school admissions counselor with clients from a variety of DMV schools, public and private. The kids I counsel from the better Arlington and MoCo high schools clearly have access to much better facilities, programming, ECs and advanced academic offerings than the J-R and Walls kids, other than perhaps those who pursue dual enrollment options at GWU.

From what I can tell, the biggest difference between DCPS and the suburban jurisdictions is that the latter don't tend to offer AP or IB Diploma courses for all. Suburban students must meet prerequisites to enroll in these courses, e.g. earning at least a B+ in an honors or "intensified" Pre-AP subject to qualify to enroll in the AP or IBD subject up the chain. What my DC clients tell me is that this still isn't the system in DCPS or, for the most part, in DC charter either. Almost anybody can waltz into a J-R AP class and admissions standards for Walls are undoubtedly falling.

[Anonymous]

The inconvenient truth.

[Anonymous]

Having spent >6 years in DCPS, there are lots of douchebags there too... not sure what your point is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is a "private school" city and that contributes to the mindset. People that are from here are just used to it. It's mind boggling! Fenty seemed to have the right idea but we know how that went. You have to advocate for what you want.

It’s not, at all. 19% of K-12 students in DC attend private school. That’s about the same as NYC and slightly higher than LA. It’s about half the rate of my hometown (Cleveland Heights, OH).

If you want to actually understand DCPS, looking beyond your bubble would help.

DP. Reality is, it would be much higher if families could afford it. Lots of families can’t so they move to the burbs.

19% is not the real stats on how many students opt out of DCPS if you look at the loss to the burbs too. Plus 50% of the current students in DC attend charters. Charters are not private but another big exodus from DCPS. Add all that up and DC is likely with one if the lowest percentages of students actually in DCPS.

I don’t agree. There are people like me who could afford a private school (actually kids went private for years) but then I realized my kids were surrounded by rich douchebags. They were being groomed to be future douchebags. They attend DCPS.