Walls vs Private- How Would You Compare

[Anonymous]

Any 5 minute conversation with her on any topic related to Walls will convince any shrewd parent that she’s a high octane dimwit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the Ivey League crew please drop the jerk off session about the meaning of interviews. I don't care.

As someone who has a kid heading towards high school fast who is strongly considering private given how Walls has become very unclear in its admission practice, I'd like to hear from people with actual children who have attended relevant schools.

We sent our children to Walls. We'd have sent them to a private if we could have afforded one easily. DCPS is only so wonderful, and Walls isn't the school it was five or ten years ago. Hint: Bowser.

You don't have kids there now and haven't for years judging by your own post. So how do you know what the school is or isn't right now?

. No kid there for all of 5 months. The development trajectory for Walls just isn’t positive. The school is just OK, manageable not more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the Ivey League crew please drop the jerk off session about the meaning of interviews. I don't care.

As someone who has a kid heading towards high school fast who is strongly considering private given how Walls has become very unclear in its admission practice, I'd like to hear from people with actual children who have attended relevant schools.

We sent our children to Walls. We'd have sent them to a private if we could have afforded one easily. DCPS is only so wonderful, and Walls isn't the school it was five or ten years ago. Hint: Bowser.

You don't have kids there now and haven't for years judging by your own post. So how do you know what the school is or isn't right now?

. No kid there for all of 5 months. The development trajectory for Walls just isn’t positive. The school is just OK, manageable not more.

Little thing called the pandemic may have had a real impact....

[Anonymous]

Too easy to whitewash Walls’ increasing mediocrity as pandemic related when poor DCPS policy, funding and leadership decisions are the real culprits.

[Anonymous]

The principal is an empty suit, and it's so discouraging. She is a zero. And it's obvious to the kids, and any parents who are tuned in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: The principal is an empty suit, and it's so discouraging. She is a zero. And it's obvious to the kids, and any parents who are tuned in.

I suspect she may just be a puppet, a yes person to central and Browser. Much easier to handle and do what they want with the school than previous head.

[Anonymous]

Yes, sad but true. I’m worried about Walls under her.

[Anonymous]

Y’all miss Trogisch?

[Anonymous]

I have a daughter at Walls and wouldn't consider sending her to privates. The bullying is likely worse at the privates and the education is likely similar considering that walls has excellent teachers. Walls (like any DCPS school) also offers the opportunity to register for college classes (for a select few full time and for others on a course by course basis). I have trouble matching our personal experience to all of the walls bashing. On the side of the elite privates i will say that the resources are better and appear to some parents as feeling more like college campuses in terms of resources with multimillion dollar donations. If you are looking for more resources privates will have those. Walls and DCPS cannot match privates in terms of sports either. To us high teacher quality and advanced classes is enough, and we do not like high pressure with sports - even walls is a little higher pressure than we would like. As mentioned with the college classes there are also some advantages that you will not have at privates. For anyone interested in debate the Washington Urban Debate League is only for public school kids and their kids I believe do better than the private school kids. The peer group is also important. There is no question that the walls kids are top notch academically. In college admissions your child is at a disadvantage at private school because the kids, many of whom are legacies, compete against each other for early decision to elite privates. Walls kids often attend public universities so they can get DC TAG. Walls has many longtime teachers and retaining teachers is one of the most portant roles of a principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a daughter at Walls and wouldn't consider sending her to privates. The bullying is likely worse at the privates and the education is likely similar considering that walls has excellent teachers. Walls (like any DCPS school) also offers the opportunity to register for college classes (for a select few full time and for others on a course by course basis). I have trouble matching our personal experience to all of the walls bashing. On the side of the elite privates i will say that the resources are better and appear to some parents as feeling more like college campuses in terms of resources with multimillion dollar donations. If you are looking for more resources privates will have those. Walls and DCPS cannot match privates in terms of sports either. To us high teacher quality and advanced classes is enough, and we do not like high pressure with sports - even walls is a little higher pressure than we would like. As mentioned with the college classes there are also some advantages that you will not have at privates. For anyone interested in debate the Washington Urban Debate League is only for public school kids and their kids I believe do better than the private school kids. The peer group is also important. There is no question that the walls kids are top notch academically. In college admissions your child is at a disadvantage at private school because the kids, many of whom are legacies, compete against each other for early decision to elite privates. Walls kids often attend public universities so they can get DC TAG. Walls has many longtime teachers and retaining teachers is one of the most portant roles of a principal.

Thanks for sharing the debate info. I was not aware of the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Y’all miss Trogisch?

The guy that tried to hire his wife as an AP and screwed up the admissions pilot . Of course they miss him. He thought the rules didn't apply to him. There are ways to advocate for things and methods to get you fired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a daughter at Walls and wouldn't consider sending her to privates. The bullying is likely worse at the privates and the education is likely similar considering that walls has excellent teachers. Walls (like any DCPS school) also offers the opportunity to register for college classes (for a select few full time and for others on a course by course basis). I have trouble matching our personal experience to all of the walls bashing. On the side of the elite privates i will say that the resources are better and appear to some parents as feeling more like college campuses in terms of resources with multimillion dollar donations. If you are looking for more resources privates will have those. Walls and DCPS cannot match privates in terms of sports either. To us high teacher quality and advanced classes is enough, and we do not like high pressure with sports - even walls is a little higher pressure than we would like. As mentioned with the college classes there are also some advantages that you will not have at privates. For anyone interested in debate the Washington Urban Debate League is only for public school kids and their kids I believe do better than the private school kids. The peer group is also important. There is no question that the walls kids are top notch academically. In college admissions your child is at a disadvantage at private school because the kids, many of whom are legacies, compete against each other for early decision to elite privates. Walls kids often attend public universities so they can get DC TAG. Walls has many longtime teachers and retaining teachers is one of the most portant roles of a principal.

You make some good points. That said, posters are hardly "Walls bashing" to note that new head is a cipher and that watering down admissions standards at Bowser's behest was a terrible idea. All the Walls kids are hardly top notch academically. Just not the case, not anymore. I wish things were different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y’all miss Trogisch?

The guy that tried to hire his wife as an AP and screwed up the admissions pilot . Of course they miss him. He thought the rules didn't apply to him. There are ways to advocate for things and methods to get you fired.

He certainly wasn't perfect, but was a strong leader and a sharp guy who methodically built Walls into DCPS' academic powerhouse. The admissions pilot was a travesty that should never have been introduced.

Now we've got an empty suit at the helm. This development is something to cheer about?

She is indeed a dimwit and yes, the kids know it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a daughter at Walls and wouldn't consider sending her to privates. The bullying is likely worse at the privates and the education is likely similar considering that walls has excellent teachers. Walls (like any DCPS school) also offers the opportunity to register for college classes (for a select few full time and for others on a course by course basis). I have trouble matching our personal experience to all of the walls bashing. On the side of the elite privates i will say that the resources are better and appear to some parents as feeling more like college campuses in terms of resources with multimillion dollar donations. If you are looking for more resources privates will have those. Walls and DCPS cannot match privates in terms of sports either. To us high teacher quality and advanced classes is enough, and we do not like high pressure with sports - even walls is a little higher pressure than we would like. As mentioned with the college classes there are also some advantages that you will not have at privates. For anyone interested in debate the Washington Urban Debate League is only for public school kids and their kids I believe do better than the private school kids. The peer group is also important. There is no question that the walls kids are top notch academically. In college admissions your child is at a disadvantage at private school because the kids, many of whom are legacies, compete against each other for early decision to elite privates. Walls kids often attend public universities so they can get DC TAG. Walls has many longtime teachers and retaining teachers is one of the most portant roles of a principal.

You make some good points. That said, posters are hardly "Walls bashing" to note that new head is a cipher and that watering down admissions standards at Bowser's behest was a terrible idea. All the Walls kids are hardly top notch academically. Just not the case, not anymore. I wish things were different.

OP, if you don't want to pay for a private and are willing to do the legwork and pay to add enrichment and challenge that Walls can't offer your family, the program works out as a springboard for elite college admissions.

Plenty of UMC Walls families spend thousands annually to top up the experience with tutors, enrichment camps, language immersion programs, independent college counselors and so forth. We spend at least 10K annually to supplement. We don't want our kids in private schools rubbing shoulders with a bunch of privileged kids, no matter how good the academics might be. We'd rather move to the burbs for a good public high school. But we have Walls so haven't moved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y’all miss Trogisch?

The guy that tried to hire his wife as an AP and screwed up the admissions pilot . Of course they miss him. He thought the rules didn't apply to him. There are ways to advocate for things and methods to get you fired.

He certainly wasn't perfect, but was a strong leader and a sharp guy who methodically built Walls into DCPS' academic powerhouse. The admissions pilot was a travesty that should never have been introduced.

Now we've got an empty suit at the helm. This development is something to cheer about?

She is indeed a dimwit and yes, the kids know it.

All a matter of opinion and perception. I don't know her well enough to make such mean spirited comments. I do know she has a real tough job right now. Maybe one of you geniuses should apply for the gig and tell your bosses what you're not going to do.