Recent Walls Admits from Private?

[Anonymous]

Walls is a mediocre school at best. Most of the kids are bright but not the smartest. DCPS dysfunction and headaches continues at Walls.. Principal is not good.

You won’t be so disappointed if you go in with above knowledge and not rose colored glasses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls doesn't have the smartest students. It has bright students, but not necessarily the smartest.

If they wanted the smartest students, they would use a test to determine admissions.

Instead, they use 10-minute interviews conducted by unqualified, untrained interviewers to select on some fuzzy something-or-nother about "demanding one's education."

Private schools use test scores, 30+ minute interviews, multiple student-written essays, multiple parent-written essays, and shadow days -- in addition to transcripts and recommendations.

Who do you think is better at picking the best students?

Are you new to DC? This isn't a reflection of the standards at Walls. it's a reflection of the politics of Washington D.C. The last thing people want here is an elite publicly funded high school that is mostly Asian and White. Have you not ever noticed that we have zero schools that look like Bronx Sci or Stuy or TJ or Boston Latin? If the admissions standards seem vague, it's to allow the school to try to get the demographic mix that is required.

That is funny because I know so many mediocre white kids who game the system by taking the easiest classes at mediocre dcps schools knowing their kids would drown at Basis or even Latin. Walls is easy and a great fit for an average student who would struggle at a really good school.

This sounds like speculation based on some kind of schadenfreude or wishful thinking. The half a dozen Walls kids I know are exceptionally bright, engaged, and incredibly motivated. Meanwhile, the private school kids… well, they certainly are well-traveled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls doesn't have the smartest students. It has bright students, but not necessarily the smartest.

If they wanted the smartest students, they would use a test to determine admissions.

Instead, they use 10-minute interviews conducted by unqualified, untrained interviewers to select on some fuzzy something-or-nother about "demanding one's education."

Private schools use test scores, 30+ minute interviews, multiple student-written essays, multiple parent-written essays, and shadow days -- in addition to transcripts and recommendations.

Who do you think is better at picking the best students?

I don't know the exact percentage, but a significant number of kids who attend Sidwell, GDS, Maret as examples have been there since K. They obviously, didn't have to do any of the things mentioned above.

They do all those things, except for the student-written essays! There is a standardized test kids take for private preschool and kindergarten, but not for Walls.

Well, there aren't transcripts and recommendations either.

Yes, for PK-4 and up there are recommendations. Preschool teachers write recommendations for kindergarten. Preschool kids also have progress reports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls doesn't have the smartest students. It has bright students, but not necessarily the smartest.

If they wanted the smartest students, they would use a test to determine admissions.

Instead, they use 10-minute interviews conducted by unqualified, untrained interviewers to select on some fuzzy something-or-nother about "demanding one's education."

Private schools use test scores, 30+ minute interviews, multiple student-written essays, multiple parent-written essays, and shadow days -- in addition to transcripts and recommendations.

Who do you think is better at picking the best students?

I don't know the exact percentage, but a significant number of kids who attend Sidwell, GDS, Maret as examples have been there since K. They obviously, didn't have to do any of the things mentioned above.

They do all those things, except for the student-written essays! There is a standardized test kids take for private preschool and kindergarten, but not for Walls.

The idea of giving standardized tests to four year olds seems ridiculous, unless they're just using it to screen out kids with learning disabilities, in which case it's despicable.

Judge for yourself:
https://www.pearsonassessments.com/en-us/Store/Professional-Assessments/Cognition-%26-Neuro/Wechsler-Preschool-and-Primary-Scale-of-Intelligence-%7C-Fourth-Edition/p/100000102

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls doesn't have the smartest students. It has bright students, but not necessarily the smartest.

If they wanted the smartest students, they would use a test to determine admissions.

Instead, they use 10-minute interviews conducted by unqualified, untrained interviewers to select on some fuzzy something-or-nother about "demanding one's education."

Private schools use test scores, 30+ minute interviews, multiple student-written essays, multiple parent-written essays, and shadow days -- in addition to transcripts and recommendations.

Who do you think is better at picking the best students?

Are you new to DC? This isn't a reflection of the standards at Walls. it's a reflection of the politics of Washington D.C. The last thing people want here is an elite publicly funded high school that is mostly Asian and White. Have you not ever noticed that we have zero schools that look like Bronx Sci or Stuy or TJ or Boston Latin? If the admissions standards seem vague, it's to allow the school to try to get the demographic mix that is required.

That is funny because I know so many mediocre white kids who game the system by taking the easiest classes at mediocre dcps schools knowing their kids would drown at Basis or even Latin. Walls is easy and a great fit for an average student who would struggle at a really good school.

This sounds like speculation based on some kind of schadenfreude or wishful thinking. The half a dozen Walls kids I know are exceptionally bright, engaged, and incredibly motivated. Meanwhile, the private school kids… well, they certainly are well-traveled.

Every Walls kid I know is bright, engaged and motivated, too. I would gladly send my kids there, and I also personally have a public school preference over private (learn how to hustle, kids).

However, Sidwell has many stars and we all know it. The Sidwell graduates I know as an adult are leaders in their fields and super intelligent people. And look at their college results this year -- I lost count of the T20 (and T5) matches. https://www.instagram.com/sidwellseniors2026/

I'm sure there are some kids there who are wealthy and mediocre. But the school attracts and culvitates very smart people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls doesn't have the smartest students. It has bright students, but not necessarily the smartest.

If they wanted the smartest students, they would use a test to determine admissions.

Instead, they use 10-minute interviews conducted by unqualified, untrained interviewers to select on some fuzzy something-or-nother about "demanding one's education."

Private schools use test scores, 30+ minute interviews, multiple student-written essays, multiple parent-written essays, and shadow days -- in addition to transcripts and recommendations.

Who do you think is better at picking the best students?

Are you new to DC? This isn't a reflection of the standards at Walls. it's a reflection of the politics of Washington D.C. The last thing people want here is an elite publicly funded high school that is mostly Asian and White. Have you not ever noticed that we have zero schools that look like Bronx Sci or Stuy or TJ or Boston Latin? If the admissions standards seem vague, it's to allow the school to try to get the demographic mix that is required.

That is funny because I know so many mediocre white kids who game the system by taking the easiest classes at mediocre dcps schools knowing their kids would drown at Basis or even Latin. Walls is easy and a great fit for an average student who would struggle at a really good school.

This sounds like speculation based on some kind of schadenfreude or wishful thinking. The half a dozen Walls kids I know are exceptionally bright, engaged, and incredibly motivated. Meanwhile, the private school kids… well, they certainly are well-traveled.

I know some walls kids that are bright and motivated. Recently the vast majority are there mostly to escape their dcps inbound high schools, not for any intellectual curiosity. This makes sense since the standards are so low for admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls doesn't have the smartest students. It has bright students, but not necessarily the smartest.

If they wanted the smartest students, they would use a test to determine admissions.

Instead, they use 10-minute interviews conducted by unqualified, untrained interviewers to select on some fuzzy something-or-nother about "demanding one's education."

Private schools use test scores, 30+ minute interviews, multiple student-written essays, multiple parent-written essays, and shadow days -- in addition to transcripts and recommendations.

Who do you think is better at picking the best students?

I don't know the exact percentage, but a significant number of kids who attend Sidwell, GDS, Maret as examples have been there since K. They obviously, didn't have to do any of the things mentioned above.

They do all those things, except for the student-written essays! There is a standardized test kids take for private preschool and kindergarten, but not for Walls.

The idea of giving standardized tests to four year olds seems ridiculous, unless they're just using it to screen out kids with learning disabilities, in which case it's despicable.

Judge for yourself:
https://www.pearsonassessments.com/en-us/Store/Professional-Assessments/Cognition-%26-Neuro/Wechsler-Preschool-and-Primary-Scale-of-Intelligence-%7C-Fourth-Edition/p/100000102

What year is it? I thought we stopped believing in IQ tests a hundred years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls doesn't have the smartest students. It has bright students, but not necessarily the smartest.

If they wanted the smartest students, they would use a test to determine admissions.

Instead, they use 10-minute interviews conducted by unqualified, untrained interviewers to select on some fuzzy something-or-nother about "demanding one's education."

Private schools use test scores, 30+ minute interviews, multiple student-written essays, multiple parent-written essays, and shadow days -- in addition to transcripts and recommendations.

Who do you think is better at picking the best students?

I don't know the exact percentage, but a significant number of kids who attend Sidwell, GDS, Maret as examples have been there since K. They obviously, didn't have to do any of the things mentioned above.

They do all those things, except for the student-written essays! There is a standardized test kids take for private preschool and kindergarten, but not for Walls.

The idea of giving standardized tests to four year olds seems ridiculous, unless they're just using it to screen out kids with learning disabilities, in which case it's despicable.

Judge for yourself:
https://www.pearsonassessments.com/en-us/Store/Professional-Assessments/Cognition-%26-Neuro/Wechsler-Preschool-and-Primary-Scale-of-Intelligence-%7C-Fourth-Edition/p/100000102

What year is it? I thought we stopped believing in IQ tests a hundred years ago.

We don't trust psychologists enough to allow them to prescribe antibiotics, but somehow they're capable of measuring intelligence. Ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls doesn't have the smartest students. It has bright students, but not necessarily the smartest.

If they wanted the smartest students, they would use a test to determine admissions.

Instead, they use 10-minute interviews conducted by unqualified, untrained interviewers to select on some fuzzy something-or-nother about "demanding one's education."

Private schools use test scores, 30+ minute interviews, multiple student-written essays, multiple parent-written essays, and shadow days -- in addition to transcripts and recommendations.

Who do you think is better at picking the best students?

Are you new to DC? This isn't a reflection of the standards at Walls. it's a reflection of the politics of Washington D.C. The last thing people want here is an elite publicly funded high school that is mostly Asian and White. Have you not ever noticed that we have zero schools that look like Bronx Sci or Stuy or TJ or Boston Latin? If the admissions standards seem vague, it's to allow the school to try to get the demographic mix that is required.

That is funny because I know so many mediocre white kids who game the system by taking the easiest classes at mediocre dcps schools knowing their kids would drown at Basis or even Latin. Walls is easy and a great fit for an average student who would struggle at a really good school.

This sounds like speculation based on some kind of schadenfreude or wishful thinking. The half a dozen Walls kids I know are exceptionally bright, engaged, and incredibly motivated. Meanwhile, the private school kids… well, they certainly are well-traveled.

I know some walls kids that are bright and motivated. Recently the vast majority are there mostly to escape their dcps inbound high schools, not for any intellectual curiosity. This makes sense since the standards are so low for admission.

It's hilarious how obviously made up this is. This is like a small child trying to tell a lie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls doesn't have the smartest students. It has bright students, but not necessarily the smartest.

If they wanted the smartest students, they would use a test to determine admissions.

Instead, they use 10-minute interviews conducted by unqualified, untrained interviewers to select on some fuzzy something-or-nother about "demanding one's education."

Private schools use test scores, 30+ minute interviews, multiple student-written essays, multiple parent-written essays, and shadow days -- in addition to transcripts and recommendations.

Who do you think is better at picking the best students?

Are you new to DC? This isn't a reflection of the standards at Walls. it's a reflection of the politics of Washington D.C. The last thing people want here is an elite publicly funded high school that is mostly Asian and White. Have you not ever noticed that we have zero schools that look like Bronx Sci or Stuy or TJ or Boston Latin? If the admissions standards seem vague, it's to allow the school to try to get the demographic mix that is required.

That is funny because I know so many mediocre white kids who game the system by taking the easiest classes at mediocre dcps schools knowing their kids would drown at Basis or even Latin. Walls is easy and a great fit for an average student who would struggle at a really good school.

This sounds like speculation based on some kind of schadenfreude or wishful thinking. The half a dozen Walls kids I know are exceptionally bright, engaged, and incredibly motivated. Meanwhile, the private school kids… well, they certainly are well-traveled.

I know some walls kids that are bright and motivated. Recently the vast majority are there mostly to escape their dcps inbound high schools, not for any intellectual curiosity. This makes sense since the standards are so low for admission.

It's hilarious how obviously made up this is. This is like a small child trying to tell a lie.

GPA is only 10% of admission, no standardized test is used, no evaluation as to whether children took the most difficult courses at school, no real criteria except a single 10 min interview by another child. It’s essentially a lottery. If you don’t rigorously seek the best students and try to attract them with good courses, you won’t get them. And it definitely shows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls doesn't have the smartest students. It has bright students, but not necessarily the smartest.

If they wanted the smartest students, they would use a test to determine admissions.

Instead, they use 10-minute interviews conducted by unqualified, untrained interviewers to select on some fuzzy something-or-nother about "demanding one's education."

Private schools use test scores, 30+ minute interviews, multiple student-written essays, multiple parent-written essays, and shadow days -- in addition to transcripts and recommendations.

Who do you think is better at picking the best students?

Are you new to DC? This isn't a reflection of the standards at Walls. it's a reflection of the politics of Washington D.C. The last thing people want here is an elite publicly funded high school that is mostly Asian and White. Have you not ever noticed that we have zero schools that look like Bronx Sci or Stuy or TJ or Boston Latin? If the admissions standards seem vague, it's to allow the school to try to get the demographic mix that is required.

That is funny because I know so many mediocre white kids who game the system by taking the easiest classes at mediocre dcps schools knowing their kids would drown at Basis or even Latin. Walls is easy and a great fit for an average student who would struggle at a really good school.

This sounds like speculation based on some kind of schadenfreude or wishful thinking. The half a dozen Walls kids I know are exceptionally bright, engaged, and incredibly motivated. Meanwhile, the private school kids… well, they certainly are well-traveled.

I know some walls kids that are bright and motivated. Recently the vast majority are there mostly to escape their dcps inbound high schools, not for any intellectual curiosity. This makes sense since the standards are so low for admission.

It's hilarious how obviously made up this is. This is like a small child trying to tell a lie.

GPA is only 10% of admission, no standardized test is used, no evaluation as to whether children took the most difficult courses at school, no real criteria except a single 10 min interview by another child. It’s essentially a lottery. If you don’t rigorously seek the best students and try to attract them with good courses, you won’t get them. And it definitely shows.

You would be the worst lawyer ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls doesn't have the smartest students. It has bright students, but not necessarily the smartest.

If they wanted the smartest students, they would use a test to determine admissions.

Instead, they use 10-minute interviews conducted by unqualified, untrained interviewers to select on some fuzzy something-or-nother about "demanding one's education."

Private schools use test scores, 30+ minute interviews, multiple student-written essays, multiple parent-written essays, and shadow days -- in addition to transcripts and recommendations.

Who do you think is better at picking the best students?

I don't know the exact percentage, but a significant number of kids who attend Sidwell, GDS, Maret as examples have been there since K. They obviously, didn't have to do any of the things mentioned above.

They do all those things, except for the student-written essays! There is a standardized test kids take for private preschool and kindergarten, but not for Walls.

The idea of giving standardized tests to four year olds seems ridiculous, unless they're just using it to screen out kids with learning disabilities, in which case it's despicable.

Judge for yourself:
https://www.pearsonassessments.com/en-us/Store/Professional-Assessments/Cognition-%26-Neuro/Wechsler-Preschool-and-Primary-Scale-of-Intelligence-%7C-Fourth-Edition/p/100000102

What year is it? I thought we stopped believing in IQ tests a hundred years ago.

We don't trust psychologists enough to allow them to prescribe antibiotics, but somehow they're capable of measuring intelligence. Ok.

Wow your understanding of science really explains why you think the garbage stem offerings at walls are acceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls doesn't have the smartest students. It has bright students, but not necessarily the smartest.

If they wanted the smartest students, they would use a test to determine admissions.

Instead, they use 10-minute interviews conducted by unqualified, untrained interviewers to select on some fuzzy something-or-nother about "demanding one's education."

Private schools use test scores, 30+ minute interviews, multiple student-written essays, multiple parent-written essays, and shadow days -- in addition to transcripts and recommendations.

Who do you think is better at picking the best students?

Are you new to DC? This isn't a reflection of the standards at Walls. it's a reflection of the politics of Washington D.C. The last thing people want here is an elite publicly funded high school that is mostly Asian and White. Have you not ever noticed that we have zero schools that look like Bronx Sci or Stuy or TJ or Boston Latin? If the admissions standards seem vague, it's to allow the school to try to get the demographic mix that is required.

That is funny because I know so many mediocre white kids who game the system by taking the easiest classes at mediocre dcps schools knowing their kids would drown at Basis or even Latin. Walls is easy and a great fit for an average student who would struggle at a really good school.

This sounds like speculation based on some kind of schadenfreude or wishful thinking. The half a dozen Walls kids I know are exceptionally bright, engaged, and incredibly motivated. Meanwhile, the private school kids… well, they certainly are well-traveled.

I know some walls kids that are bright and motivated. Recently the vast majority are there mostly to escape their dcps inbound high schools, not for any intellectual curiosity. This makes sense since the standards are so low for admission.

It's hilarious how obviously made up this is. This is like a small child trying to tell a lie.

GPA is only 10% of admission, no standardized test is used, no evaluation as to whether children took the most difficult courses at school, no real criteria except a single 10 min interview by another child. It’s essentially a lottery. If you don’t rigorously seek the best students and try to attract them with good courses, you won’t get them. And it definitely shows.

You would be the worst lawyer ever.

Thanks. But that doesn’t change the weak admissions criteria at walls. Explains a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls doesn't have the smartest students. It has bright students, but not necessarily the smartest.

If they wanted the smartest students, they would use a test to determine admissions.

Instead, they use 10-minute interviews conducted by unqualified, untrained interviewers to select on some fuzzy something-or-nother about "demanding one's education."

Private schools use test scores, 30+ minute interviews, multiple student-written essays, multiple parent-written essays, and shadow days -- in addition to transcripts and recommendations.

Who do you think is better at picking the best students?

Are you new to DC? This isn't a reflection of the standards at Walls. it's a reflection of the politics of Washington D.C. The last thing people want here is an elite publicly funded high school that is mostly Asian and White. Have you not ever noticed that we have zero schools that look like Bronx Sci or Stuy or TJ or Boston Latin? If the admissions standards seem vague, it's to allow the school to try to get the demographic mix that is required.

That is funny because I know so many mediocre white kids who game the system by taking the easiest classes at mediocre dcps schools knowing their kids would drown at Basis or even Latin. Walls is easy and a great fit for an average student who would struggle at a really good school.

This sounds like speculation based on some kind of schadenfreude or wishful thinking. The half a dozen Walls kids I know are exceptionally bright, engaged, and incredibly motivated. Meanwhile, the private school kids… well, they certainly are well-traveled.

I know some walls kids that are bright and motivated. Recently the vast majority are there mostly to escape their dcps inbound high schools, not for any intellectual curiosity. This makes sense since the standards are so low for admission.

It's hilarious how obviously made up this is. This is like a small child trying to tell a lie.

GPA is only 10% of admission, no standardized test is used, no evaluation as to whether children took the most difficult courses at school, no real criteria except a single 10 min interview by another child. It’s essentially a lottery. If you don’t rigorously seek the best students and try to attract them with good courses, you won’t get them. And it definitely shows.

You would be the worst lawyer ever.

Thanks. But that doesn’t change the weak admissions criteria at walls. Explains a lot.

And yet they routinely send kids to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls doesn't have the smartest students. It has bright students, but not necessarily the smartest.

If they wanted the smartest students, they would use a test to determine admissions.

Instead, they use 10-minute interviews conducted by unqualified, untrained interviewers to select on some fuzzy something-or-nother about "demanding one's education."

Private schools use test scores, 30+ minute interviews, multiple student-written essays, multiple parent-written essays, and shadow days -- in addition to transcripts and recommendations.

Who do you think is better at picking the best students?

Are you new to DC? This isn't a reflection of the standards at Walls. it's a reflection of the politics of Washington D.C. The last thing people want here is an elite publicly funded high school that is mostly Asian and White. Have you not ever noticed that we have zero schools that look like Bronx Sci or Stuy or TJ or Boston Latin? If the admissions standards seem vague, it's to allow the school to try to get the demographic mix that is required.

That is funny because I know so many mediocre white kids who game the system by taking the easiest classes at mediocre dcps schools knowing their kids would drown at Basis or even Latin. Walls is easy and a great fit for an average student who would struggle at a really good school.

This sounds like speculation based on some kind of schadenfreude or wishful thinking. The half a dozen Walls kids I know are exceptionally bright, engaged, and incredibly motivated. Meanwhile, the private school kids… well, they certainly are well-traveled.

I know some walls kids that are bright and motivated. Recently the vast majority are there mostly to escape their dcps inbound high schools, not for any intellectual curiosity. This makes sense since the standards are so low for admission.

It's hilarious how obviously made up this is. This is like a small child trying to tell a lie.

GPA is only 10% of admission, no standardized test is used, no evaluation as to whether children took the most difficult courses at school, no real criteria except a single 10 min interview by another child. It’s essentially a lottery. If you don’t rigorously seek the best students and try to attract them with good courses, you won’t get them. And it definitely shows.

You would be the worst lawyer ever.

Thanks. But that doesn’t change the weak admissions criteria at walls. Explains a lot.

And yet they routinely send kids to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford....

I’m sure there are some brilliant kids but it doesn’t change the fact that the school has declined considerably, right along with its admission standards. There are kids from JR Wilson, Basis, Latin, DCI, Eastern, Coolidge, etc that also have those admissions. Walls should blow them out of the water but they do not.