Compare Latin to Wilson for High School

[Anonymous]

What are the pluses or minuses of each and how do they compare? Why would you choose one for your child over another?

[Anonymous]

Latin is a charter school and much smaller. Wilson is a traditional high school and much larger. Think about what makes sense for your commute.

[Anonymous]

Good luck getting into Latin. Pure lottery. Chances aren’t great.

Wilson is guaranteed if you live in-bounds.

[Anonymous]

Totally different experiences, both have their pros and cons. As PP said, Latin is small with only 90 or so kids per grade. Wilson has upwards of 500 kids in a grade these days I think. The diverse populations are similar, however. And at both schools there are Honors and non-Honors classes. Really depends on a) whether or not you can get into Latin and b) what kind of environment your kid wants for high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the pluses or minuses of each and how do they compare? Why would you choose one for your child over another?

I assume you are currently enrolled in Latin MS and thinking about staying vs going to Wilson which is your IB school? The families I know who were in this position were at Latin b/c their oldest won the lottery for middle school when Hardy was not an option. Once they were at Latin - their social network with friends became stronger each year and they wanted to stay through graduation. [although I also know of a few who did not go to Wilson or Latin]

Wilson is a large urban HS. You walk through metal detectors. Like many DCPS, the performance and behavior challenges have changed as the city has gone through a major gentrification the last 10 years - but it is still an very large urban high school.

[Anonymous]

You have to apply to Latin for 5th grade. That's their main admission year. Then they take maybe 1-2 kids each year for 6th, 7th, 8th and maybe more for 9th? I don't actually know.
But the main admission year (by far) is 5th. Many parents don't want to do this because it means leaving their DCPS elementary a year early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the pluses or minuses of each and how do they compare? Why would you choose one for your child over another?

I assume you are currently enrolled in Latin MS and thinking about staying vs going to Wilson which is your IB school? The families I know who were in this position were at Latin b/c their oldest won the lottery for middle school when Hardy was not an option. Once they were at Latin - their social network with friends became stronger each year and they wanted to stay through graduation. [although I also know of a few who did not go to Wilson or Latin]

Wilson is a large urban HS. You walk through metal detectors. Like many DCPS, the performance and behavior challenges have changed as the city has gone through a major gentrification the last 10 years - but it is still an very large urban high school.

Would you mind sharing what you mean by continuing to call it an urban school? Other that metal detectors (which would have prevented Haynes stabbing and many school shootings), what are you saying by calling it Urban over and over agin?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to apply to Latin for 5th grade. That's their main admission year. Then they take maybe 1-2 kids each year for 6th, 7th, 8th and maybe more for 9th? I don't actually know.
But the main admission year (by far) is 5th. Many parents don't want to do this because it means leaving their DCPS elementary a year early.

Many parents do apply in 5th as indicated by their lottery numbers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the pluses or minuses of each and how do they compare? Why would you choose one for your child over another?

I assume you are currently enrolled in Latin MS and thinking about staying vs going to Wilson which is your IB school? The families I know who were in this position were at Latin b/c their oldest won the lottery for middle school when Hardy was not an option. Once they were at Latin - their social network with friends became stronger each year and they wanted to stay through graduation. [although I also know of a few who did not go to Wilson or Latin]

Wilson is a large urban HS. You walk through metal detectors. Like many DCPS, the performance and behavior challenges have changed as the city has gone through a major gentrification the last 10 years - but it is still an very large urban high school.

Would you mind sharing what you mean by continuing to call it an urban school? Other that metal detectors (which would have prevented Haynes stabbing and many school shootings), what are you saying by calling it Urban over and over agin?

Yes, please PP explain what you mean by urban high school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the pluses or minuses of each and how do they compare? Why would you choose one for your child over another?

I assume you are currently enrolled in Latin MS and thinking about staying vs going to Wilson which is your IB school? The families I know who were in this position were at Latin b/c their oldest won the lottery for middle school when Hardy was not an option. Once they were at Latin - their social network with friends became stronger each year and they wanted to stay through graduation. [although I also know of a few who did not go to Wilson or Latin]

Wilson is a large urban HS. You walk through metal detectors. Like many DCPS, the performance and behavior challenges have changed as the city has gone through a major gentrification the last 10 years - but it is still an very large urban high school.

Would you mind sharing what you mean by continuing to call it an urban school? Other that metal detectors (which would have prevented Haynes stabbing and many school shootings), what are you saying by calling it Urban over and over agin?

Yes, please PP explain what you mean by urban high school!

That it's not rural or suburban?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the pluses or minuses of each and how do they compare? Why would you choose one for your child over another?

I assume you are currently enrolled in Latin MS and thinking about staying vs going to Wilson which is your IB school? The families I know who were in this position were at Latin b/c their oldest won the lottery for middle school when Hardy was not an option. Once they were at Latin - their social network with friends became stronger each year and they wanted to stay through graduation. [although I also know of a few who did not go to Wilson or Latin]

Wilson is a large urban HS. You walk through metal detectors. Like many DCPS, the performance and behavior challenges have changed as the city has gone through a major gentrification the last 10 years - but it is still an very large urban high school.

Would you mind sharing what you mean by continuing to call it an urban school? Other that metal detectors (which would have prevented Haynes stabbing and many school shootings), what are you saying by calling it Urban over and over agin?

Yes, please PP explain what you mean by urban high school!

That it's not rural or suburban?

No - they mean that there are people of color there that might hurt their snowflake.

[Anonymous]

To answer OP's question, my DD is a high schooler at Latin and we love the small classes, amazing teachers, and non-competitive sports (i.e. my DD can actually be on a team). However, it is a small environment socially, which may not be right for every kid. My sense from the few families we know at Wilson is that it is a big, fun school with lots going on but not a lot of individual attention from the teachers or administrators.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the pluses or minuses of each and how do they compare? Why would you choose one for your child over another?

I assume you are currently enrolled in Latin MS and thinking about staying vs going to Wilson which is your IB school? The families I know who were in this position were at Latin b/c their oldest won the lottery for middle school when Hardy was not an option. Once they were at Latin - their social network with friends became stronger each year and they wanted to stay through graduation. [although I also know of a few who did not go to Wilson or Latin]

Wilson is a large urban HS. You walk through metal detectors. Like many DCPS, the performance and behavior challenges have changed as the city has gone through a major gentrification the last 10 years - but it is still an very large urban high school.

Would you mind sharing what you mean by continuing to call it an urban school? Other that metal detectors (which would have prevented Haynes stabbing and many school shootings), what are you saying by calling it Urban over and over agin?

Yes, please PP explain what you mean by urban high school!

That it's not rural or suburban?

Every school in DC would fit that definition. There would be no point in saying in on a DC thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To answer OP's question, my DD is a high schooler at Latin and we love the small classes, amazing teachers, and non-competitive sports (i.e. my DD can actually be on a team). However, it is a small environment socially, which may not be right for every kid. My sense from the few families we know at Wilson is that it is a big, fun school with lots going on but not a lot of individual attention from the teachers or administrators.

I get a sense that you don't know many smart kids at Wilson.

Also, doesn't Latin have a good basketball team?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer OP's question, my DD is a high schooler at Latin and we love the small classes, amazing teachers, and non-competitive sports (i.e. my DD can actually be on a team). However, it is a small environment socially, which may not be right for every kid. My sense from the few families we know at Wilson is that it is a big, fun school with lots going on but not a lot of individual attention from the teachers or administrators.

I get a sense that you don't know many smart kids at Wilson.

Also, doesn't Latin have a good basketball team?

Actually, the kids we know went to Ivies and the like, and their parents said they didn't need that much individual attention which is why Wilson worked well for them. But we don't know a ton so perhaps I am wrong on that.

And Latin's sports teams aren't terrible, they just don't seem as competitive as bigger schools' teams. And this year there are a couple of nationally ranked runners at Latin and there are a few boys who play top level soccer and basketball outside of school.