SWoW - What's it really like?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I can't figure out how SWW has just 0.7% special needs enrollment. There are many 2E children who could handle the workload with some minimal IEP supports."

Because the principal has publicly said that special needs kids don't pass their test. If you have a 2E kid and hear that, you go some place else. Our advocate has told us that many kids with sped needs at SWW have problems getting their needs met.

I agree. Have 2E kid and it scares me away. Can't risk that at high school. Someone should sue.

[Anonymous]

Adding to above - how would the principal even know who the spec Ed students are? That shouldn't be disclosed until after admission. Sketchy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I can't figure out how SWW has just 0.7% special needs enrollment. There are many 2E children who could handle the workload with some minimal IEP supports."

Because the principal has publicly said that special needs kids don't pass their test. If you have a 2E kid and hear that, you go some place else. Our advocate has told us that many kids with sped needs at SWW have problems getting their needs met.

I know this will be unpopular, but so what. I am so sick of every school having to accommodate every student. Why can't there be a free HS option that is for right high achieving kids? Why should that only be available in private schools? My child has suffered through years in the classroom where the pace of instruction is glacial because of accommodations being provided to others. When do the kids who are fast learners get to learn in their least restrictive environment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"I can't figure out how SWW has just 0.7% special needs enrollment. There are many 2E children who could handle the workload with some minimal IEP supports."

Because the principal has publicly said that special needs kids don't pass their test. If you have a 2E kid and hear that, you go some place else. Our advocate has told us that many kids with sped needs at SWW have problems getting their needs met.

I know this will be unpopular, but so what. I am so sick of every school having to accommodate every student. Why can't there be a free HS option that is for right high achieving kids? Why should that only be available in private schools? My child has suffered through years in the classroom where the pace of instruction is glacial because of accommodations being provided to others. When do the kids who are fast learners get to learn in their least restrictive environment?

You have a gross misunderstanding of the needs of most 2E kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"I can't figure out how SWW has just 0.7% special needs enrollment. There are many 2E children who could handle the workload with some minimal IEP supports."

Because the principal has publicly said that special needs kids don't pass their test. If you have a 2E kid and hear that, you go some place else. Our advocate has told us that many kids with sped needs at SWW have problems getting their needs met.

I know this will be unpopular, but so what. I am so sick of every school having to accommodate every student. Why can't there be a free HS option that is for right high achieving kids? Why should that only be available in private schools? My child has suffered through years in the classroom where the pace of instruction is glacial because of accommodations being provided to others. When do the kids who are fast learners get to learn in their least restrictive environment?

Because it's a public school, not a private school. And the rights of students with disabilities are protected by the constitution. And PP is right - you don't understand what 2E means.

No one is asking for SWW should have to change its curriculum. But they shouldn't be able to use their test and interview process to weed out smart, sometimes gifted students who may have dyslexia or dysgraphia or a chronic medical condition that require basic technological or time accommodations.

I'm all for having a test-in school but the process needs to be more transparent. Allow all students who make the GPA cut off to take the exam and admit the 140 students who do the best. No interviews or subjective data should be factored in. And if a child has a documented disability he/she should be allowed to use those accommodations for the entrance exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"I can't figure out how SWW has just 0.7% special needs enrollment. There are many 2E children who could handle the workload with some minimal IEP supports."

Because the principal has publicly said that special needs kids don't pass their test. If you have a 2E kid and hear that, you go some place else. Our advocate has told us that many kids with sped needs at SWW have problems getting their needs met.

I know this will be unpopular, but so what. I am so sick of every school having to accommodate every student. Why can't there be a free HS option that is for right high achieving kids? Why should that only be available in private schools? My child has suffered through years in the classroom where the pace of instruction is glacial because of accommodations being provided to others. When do the kids who are fast learners get to learn in their least restrictive environment?

Because it's a public school, not a private school. And the rights of students with disabilities are protected by the constitution. And PP is right - you don't understand what 2E means.

No one is asking for SWW should have to change its curriculum. But they shouldn't be able to use their test and interview process to weed out smart, sometimes gifted students who may have dyslexia or dysgraphia or a chronic medical condition that require basic technological or time accommodations.

I'm all for having a test-in school but the process needs to be more transparent. Allow all students who make the GPA cut off to take the exam and admit the 140 students who do the best. No interviews or subjective data should be factored in. And if a child has a documented disability he/she should be allowed to use those accommodations for the entrance exam.

The other application high schools require interviews. Should they all be eliminated?

[Anonymous]

IMO - yes. At a minimum it should be disclosed how much of the process they count for (eg 5% or whatever). One should also be able to request the scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IMO - yes. At a minimum it should be disclosed how much of the process they count for (eg 5% or whatever). One should also be able to request the scores.

I agree, the process should be more transparent. However, nterviews are part of life.

[Anonymous]

Oh and I would stop the practice of current SWW students conducting or even attending the interviews. I know they don't fly solo anymore but it still seems a bad practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh and I would stop the practice of current SWW students conducting or even attending the interviews. I know they don't fly solo anymore but it still seems a bad practice.

The interview was a waste of time. The interviewers didn't seem to know why they were asking some of the questions except that they were on a list of questions provided by SWW. Maybe they should be replaced with teacher recommendations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh and I would stop the practice of current SWW students conducting or even attending the interviews. I know they don't fly solo anymore but it still seems a bad practice.

The interview was a waste of time. The interviewers didn't seem to know why they were asking some of the questions except that they were on a list of questions provided by SWW. Maybe they should be replaced with teacher recommendations.

Interviewing is a skill. An interview conducted by an unskilled interviewer is painful -- especially when the interviewee is unskilled as well. The place to learn the skill is not on other students in a situation with real consequences.

[Anonymous]

And those interviews are being used to decide who does and doesn't get in since all the students asked to interview made the GPA and test score cutoff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi,
Our son is looking forward to applying to SWoW. We are relatively new to DC and have heard mostly great things about the school. Based on what folks have told us, it also seems a great fit (he's self-motivated, strong study skills, etc - not the same for our younger son). We know only a few families with firsthand knowledge, and would love any feedback folks could provide.

Another question ---- we are also considering private high school (but struggling with the cost). What are people's thoughts on comparing the education/experience at SWoW with local private schools? It seems from what we have read together with high school ratings, the the two may be quite similar. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Of course, none of this matters if he is not accepted. ?
Thanks.

Here's a ranking of local public and private high schools, FWIW. https://www.lotusprep.com/best-high-schools-dc/ The consensus, as far as I can tell, is that SWW has a lot of bright kids but it's still DCPS.

Wow no Prince Georges County schools at all? DeMatha? Elizabeth Seton? Roosevelt? Oxon Hill HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi,
Our son is looking forward to applying to SWoW. We are relatively new to DC and have heard mostly great things about the school. Based on what folks have told us, it also seems a great fit (he's self-motivated, strong study skills, etc - not the same for our younger son). We know only a few families with firsthand knowledge, and would love any feedback folks could provide.

Another question ---- we are also considering private high school (but struggling with the cost). What are people's thoughts on comparing the education/experience at SWoW with local private schools? It seems from what we have read together with high school ratings, the the two may be quite similar. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Of course, none of this matters if he is not accepted. ?
Thanks.

Here's a ranking of local public and private high schools, FWIW. https://www.lotusprep.com/best-high-schools-dc/ The consensus, as far as I can tell, is that SWW has a lot of bright kids but it's still DCPS.

Wow no Prince Georges County schools at all? DeMatha? Elizabeth Seton? Roosevelt? Oxon Hill HS?

The Lotus Prep ranking is based on three factors: average SAT scores, percentage of National Merit Scholarship semifinalist, percentage of Presidential Scholars. NMS is based entirely on PSAT scores. Presidential Scholars require a good SAT score. So basically what they are counting is standardized test scores, three different ways. There's more to education that that.

[Anonymous]

^^ Well Lotus Prep is a test prep company.