So is the Walls cut-off this year a 4.0?

[Anonymous]

The point is that figuring out who are the strongest students who will benefit the most from SWW (and be the worst-served by other schools) is not difficult. Using straight As and interviews is not how you do it. SWW has this current process not because "there just aren't room for all of all of the best-qualified kids" or "all processes are arbitrary" or whatever but because that's not the student body they're trying to get.

[Anonymous]

No 5s in algebra at any of the Hill middle schools? Whoa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No 5s in algebra at any of the Hill middle schools? Whoa.

How is this surprising?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No 5s in algebra at any of the Hill middle schools? Whoa.

I don't know if that's true. There were 6 proficient at EH and 4 at SH and I don't think you can break it down more into 4 vs. 5.

That said, both schools are putting a ton of kids into algebra who are not proficient. Just really low rates. Combined with the grade 8 scores, it looks like they're sticking nearly all the kids who are even close to grade level in algebra. Which you can see Deal is not doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are electives (art, music, gym) included in the calculation?

or just the 5 core classes?

-math
-ELA
-history
-science
-foreign language

Everything that has a grade is input into GPA.

Here is how they calculated GPA: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/sites/dcpsenrollment/files/page_content/attachments/SWW%20GPA%20Scale_SY%2022-23%20Admissions%20Update%20FINAL.pdf

It doesn't make a difference a SWW since the cutoff was almost 4.0, but the footnote infuriates me.

*Note: In response to the COVID-19 health emergency DCPS has prioritized equity and rigor in our
grading policies to ensure all students are supported academically as they navigate the challenges of the
pandemic. For SY19-20, SY20-21, and SY21-22 DCPS has modified its grading policy so that students who
earn a “C” and/or “D” grade will see it displayed on their transcript as passing grades of “P,” indicating
that a student demonstrated proficiency in the course.

Homogenizing a C and D and pretending like both "demonstrated proficiency" illustrates the degree to which DCPS is just passing kids along in the system and setting them up for failure.

Sample 7th grade report report card for DCPS:

Grade-level Math: D (shows up as "P")
Grade-level English: D
Grade-level Science: D
Grade-level Social Studies: D
Grade-level Foreign Language: D
Art: A
PE: A

For “equity” reasons, this student has a 4.0 GPA and receives an interview at Walls.

Sample 7th grade report card for DC charter school:

Advanced Math: 90% (A-)
Advanced English: 90% (A-)
Advanced Science: 90% (A-)
Advanced Social Studies: 90% (A-)
Advanced Foreign Language: 90% (A-)
Art: 98% (A)
PE: 98% (A)

This student receives no “equity” bump and has a 3.7 GPA and is denied an interview at Walls.

Does anyone really think that Walls is accepting the best and brightest in DC under the current admission system?

....Not the way it works.

The current system is used as a proxy for behavior/learning disabilities. They are using grades to get kids who are well behaved and who don't need supports. They are NOT getting the best or highest achieving from an academic standpoint. And they are fine with that. They actually prefer it--as a parent of two students who have gone through the school, what they want is "easy" kids. Kids who are very high achievers are not easy to educate.[i

Oh my..Tell that to teachers that have to deal with disruptions daily. High Achieving and well behaved are normally traits that appear together. Very bizarre...

No, you're missing my point...achievement and behavior are correlated. But very high achieving kids are not easy to educate--not because of their behavior but because they demand more from their educators (they need to be challenged). Wallls is not interested in those very high achieving kids...it takes too much work.

So, they just use GPA to proxy for behavior...it helps them screen out the "problem" kids under the ruse of academic merit. If they really wanted the smartest or hardest workers or most resilient (or name your superlative), they would use other factors in their admissions policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are electives (art, music, gym) included in the calculation?

or just the 5 core classes?

-math
-ELA
-history
-science
-foreign language

Everything that has a grade is input into GPA.

Here is how they calculated GPA: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/sites/dcpsenrollment/files/page_content/attachments/SWW%20GPA%20Scale_SY%2022-23%20Admissions%20Update%20FINAL.pdf

It doesn't make a difference a SWW since the cutoff was almost 4.0, but the footnote infuriates me.

*Note: In response to the COVID-19 health emergency DCPS has prioritized equity and rigor in our
grading policies to ensure all students are supported academically as they navigate the challenges of the
pandemic. For SY19-20, SY20-21, and SY21-22 DCPS has modified its grading policy so that students who
earn a “C” and/or “D” grade will see it displayed on their transcript as passing grades of “P,” indicating
that a student demonstrated proficiency in the course.

Homogenizing a C and D and pretending like both "demonstrated proficiency" illustrates the degree to which DCPS is just passing kids along in the system and setting them up for failure.

Sample 7th grade report report card for DCPS:

Grade-level Math: D (shows up as "P")
Grade-level English: D
Grade-level Science: D
Grade-level Social Studies: D
Grade-level Foreign Language: D
Art: A
PE: A

For “equity” reasons, this student has a 4.0 GPA and receives an interview at Walls.

Sample 7th grade report card for DC charter school:

Advanced Math: 90% (A-)
Advanced English: 90% (A-)
Advanced Science: 90% (A-)
Advanced Social Studies: 90% (A-)
Advanced Foreign Language: 90% (A-)
Art: 98% (A)
PE: 98% (A)

This student receives no “equity” bump and has a 3.7 GPA and is denied an interview at Walls.

Does anyone really think that Walls is accepting the best and brightest in DC under the current admission system?

....Not the way it works.

The current system is used as a proxy for behavior/learning disabilities. They are using grades to get kids who are well behaved and who don't need supports. They are NOT getting the best or highest achieving from an academic standpoint. And they are fine with that. They actually prefer it--as a parent of two students who have gone through the school, what they want is "easy" kids. Kids who are very high achievers are not easy to educate.[i

Oh my..Tell that to teachers that have to deal with disruptions daily. High Achieving and well behaved are normally traits that appear together. Very bizarre...

No, you're missing my point...achievement and behavior are correlated. But very high achieving kids are not easy to educate--not because of their behavior but because they demand more from their educators (they need to be challenged). Wallls is not interested in those very high achieving kids...it takes too much work.

So, they just use GPA to proxy for behavior...it helps them screen out the "problem" kids under the ruse of academic merit. If they really wanted the smartest or hardest workers or most resilient (or name your superlative), they would use other factors in their admissions policy.

So what? Walls doesn’t need to admit the smartest students—merely smart is good enough. You may also be interested to know that personality plays a much bigger part than IQ in financial success. Walls’ admissions process seems to embody this fact.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lawrencelight/2017/06/13/why-the-secret-to-getting-rich-isnt-being-smart/?sh=408cb506589a

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are electives (art, music, gym) included in the calculation?

or just the 5 core classes?

-math
-ELA
-history
-science
-foreign language

Everything that has a grade is input into GPA.

Here is how they calculated GPA: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/sites/dcpsenrollment/files/page_content/attachments/SWW%20GPA%20Scale_SY%2022-23%20Admissions%20Update%20FINAL.pdf

It doesn't make a difference a SWW since the cutoff was almost 4.0, but the footnote infuriates me.

*Note: In response to the COVID-19 health emergency DCPS has prioritized equity and rigor in our
grading policies to ensure all students are supported academically as they navigate the challenges of the
pandemic. For SY19-20, SY20-21, and SY21-22 DCPS has modified its grading policy so that students who
earn a “C” and/or “D” grade will see it displayed on their transcript as passing grades of “P,” indicating
that a student demonstrated proficiency in the course.

Homogenizing a C and D and pretending like both "demonstrated proficiency" illustrates the degree to which DCPS is just passing kids along in the system and setting them up for failure.

Sample 7th grade report report card for DCPS:

Grade-level Math: D (shows up as "P")
Grade-level English: D
Grade-level Science: D
Grade-level Social Studies: D
Grade-level Foreign Language: D
Art: A
PE: A

For “equity” reasons, this student has a 4.0 GPA and receives an interview at Walls.

Sample 7th grade report card for DC charter school:

Advanced Math: 90% (A-)
Advanced English: 90% (A-)
Advanced Science: 90% (A-)
Advanced Social Studies: 90% (A-)
Advanced Foreign Language: 90% (A-)
Art: 98% (A)
PE: 98% (A)

This student receives no “equity” bump and has a 3.7 GPA and is denied an interview at Walls.

Does anyone really think that Walls is accepting the best and brightest in DC under the current admission system?

....Not the way it works.

The current system is used as a proxy for behavior/learning disabilities. They are using grades to get kids who are well behaved and who don't need supports. They are NOT getting the best or highest achieving from an academic standpoint. And they are fine with that. They actually prefer it--as a parent of two students who have gone through the school, what they want is "easy" kids. Kids who are very high achievers are not easy to educate.[i

Oh my..Tell that to teachers that have to deal with disruptions daily. High Achieving and well behaved are normally traits that appear together. Very bizarre...

No, you're missing my point...achievement and behavior are correlated. But very high achieving kids are not easy to educate--not because of their behavior but because they demand more from their educators (they need to be challenged). Wallls is not interested in those very high achieving kids...it takes too much work.

So, they just use GPA to proxy for behavior...it helps them screen out the "problem" kids under the ruse of academic merit. If they really wanted the smartest or hardest workers or most resilient (or name your superlative), they would use other factors in their admissions policy.

So what? Walls doesn’t need to admit the smartest students—merely smart is good enough. You may also be interested to know that personality plays a much bigger part than IQ in financial success. Walls’ admissions process seems to embody this fact.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lawrencelight/2017/06/13/why-the-secret-to-getting-rich-isnt-being-smart/?sh=408cb506589a

I have some negative thoughts about the SWW admissions processes, but the idea that they're intentionally not serving the brightest kids because they're optimizing for financially successful graduates instead-- now that is just some bizarre conspiracy shit. So, ok, that is not what's happening here. All that is happening is that, given the national pushback against standardized tests, DCPS doesn't want to reinstate them for admissions. So Walls has GPA and interviews. The latter are totally arbitrary and there are a lot of complaints about. The higher the GPA cutoff, the less you're picking your class via the interview. The difference between a 3.8 and a 3.9 may be nothing, but at least no one can accuse you of using GPA requirements to discriminate on the basis of appearance or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if they’re weeding out kids with special needs, regardless of whether they’re high-performing, then they’re discriminating.

Signed mom of a highly-gifted, academically-motivated kid with ASD who’s at the top of her current class, yet who may not get into Walls due to the interview. Same child would definitely get accepted into a test-in program.

Then you should have moved to Maryland or Virginia where she could apply to a test-in program. Stop shouting into the wind. This is on YOU!

No, actually this is on DCPS, as federal law protects my child from discrimination on the basis of her disability. In any case, we have other options for high school. But I’m tempted to bring the lawsuit anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are electives (art, music, gym) included in the calculation?

or just the 5 core classes?

-math
-ELA
-history
-science
-foreign language

Everything that has a grade is input into GPA.

Here is how they calculated GPA: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/sites/dcpsenrollment/files/page_content/attachments/SWW%20GPA%20Scale_SY%2022-23%20Admissions%20Update%20FINAL.pdf

It doesn't make a difference a SWW since the cutoff was almost 4.0, but the footnote infuriates me.

*Note: In response to the COVID-19 health emergency DCPS has prioritized equity and rigor in our
grading policies to ensure all students are supported academically as they navigate the challenges of the
pandemic. For SY19-20, SY20-21, and SY21-22 DCPS has modified its grading policy so that students who
earn a “C” and/or “D” grade will see it displayed on their transcript as passing grades of “P,” indicating
that a student demonstrated proficiency in the course.

Homogenizing a C and D and pretending like both "demonstrated proficiency" illustrates the degree to which DCPS is just passing kids along in the system and setting them up for failure.

Sample 7th grade report report card for DCPS:

Grade-level Math: D (shows up as "P")
Grade-level English: D
Grade-level Science: D
Grade-level Social Studies: D
Grade-level Foreign Language: D
Art: A
PE: A

For “equity” reasons, this student has a 4.0 GPA and receives an interview at Walls.

Sample 7th grade report card for DC charter school:

Advanced Math: 90% (A-)
Advanced English: 90% (A-)
Advanced Science: 90% (A-)
Advanced Social Studies: 90% (A-)
Advanced Foreign Language: 90% (A-)
Art: 98% (A)
PE: 98% (A)

This student receives no “equity” bump and has a 3.7 GPA and is denied an interview at Walls.

Does anyone really think that Walls is accepting the best and brightest in DC under the current admission system?

....Not the way it works.

The current system is used as a proxy for behavior/learning disabilities. They are using grades to get kids who are well behaved and who don't need supports. They are NOT getting the best or highest achieving from an academic standpoint. And they are fine with that. They actually prefer it--as a parent of two students who have gone through the school, what they want is "easy" kids. Kids who are very high achievers are not easy to educate.[i

Oh my..Tell that to teachers that have to deal with disruptions daily. High Achieving and well behaved are normally traits that appear together. Very bizarre...

No, you're missing my point...achievement and behavior are correlated. But very high achieving kids are not easy to educate--not because of their behavior but because they demand more from their educators (they need to be challenged). Wallls is not interested in those very high achieving kids...it takes too much work.

So, they just use GPA to proxy for behavior...it helps them screen out the "problem" kids under the ruse of academic merit. If they really wanted the smartest or hardest workers or most resilient (or name your superlative), they would use other factors in their admissions policy.

Well tell this to the kids that are there now. They are demanding a lot of teachers. Most seem to just be "there". Damn shame how sad some are. If all DCPS middle schools were equal, a test would be fair. I'm willing to bet the majority of Walls' student body comes from Deal. They just simply had the kids to offer more programming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are electives (art, music, gym) included in the calculation?

or just the 5 core classes?

-math
-ELA
-history
-science
-foreign language

Everything that has a grade is input into GPA.

Here is how they calculated GPA: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/sites/dcpsenrollment/files/page_content/attachments/SWW%20GPA%20Scale_SY%2022-23%20Admissions%20Update%20FINAL.pdf

It doesn't make a difference a SWW since the cutoff was almost 4.0, but the footnote infuriates me.

*Note: In response to the COVID-19 health emergency DCPS has prioritized equity and rigor in our
grading policies to ensure all students are supported academically as they navigate the challenges of the
pandemic. For SY19-20, SY20-21, and SY21-22 DCPS has modified its grading policy so that students who
earn a “C” and/or “D” grade will see it displayed on their transcript as passing grades of “P,” indicating
that a student demonstrated proficiency in the course.

Homogenizing a C and D and pretending like both "demonstrated proficiency" illustrates the degree to which DCPS is just passing kids along in the system and setting them up for failure.

Sample 7th grade report report card for DCPS:

Grade-level Math: D (shows up as "P")
Grade-level English: D
Grade-level Science: D
Grade-level Social Studies: D
Grade-level Foreign Language: D
Art: A
PE: A

For “equity” reasons, this student has a 4.0 GPA and receives an interview at Walls.

Sample 7th grade report card for DC charter school:

Advanced Math: 90% (A-)
Advanced English: 90% (A-)
Advanced Science: 90% (A-)
Advanced Social Studies: 90% (A-)
Advanced Foreign Language: 90% (A-)
Art: 98% (A)
PE: 98% (A)

This student receives no “equity” bump and has a 3.7 GPA and is denied an interview at Walls.

Does anyone really think that Walls is accepting the best and brightest in DC under the current admission system?

....Not the way it works.

The current system is used as a proxy for behavior/learning disabilities. They are using grades to get kids who are well behaved and who don't need supports. They are NOT getting the best or highest achieving from an academic standpoint. And they are fine with that. They actually prefer it--as a parent of two students who have gone through the school, what they want is "easy" kids. Kids who are very high achievers are not easy to educate.[i

Oh my..Tell that to teachers that have to deal with disruptions daily. High Achieving and well behaved are normally traits that appear together. Very bizarre...

No, you're missing my point...achievement and behavior are correlated. But very high achieving kids are not easy to educate--not because of their behavior but because they demand more from their educators (they need to be challenged). Wallls is not interested in those very high achieving kids...it takes too much work.

So, they just use GPA to proxy for behavior...it helps them screen out the "problem" kids under the ruse of academic merit. If they really wanted the smartest or hardest workers or most resilient (or name your superlative), they would use other factors in their admissions policy.

So what? Walls doesn’t need to admit the smartest students—merely smart is good enough. You may also be interested to know that personality plays a much bigger part than IQ in financial success. Walls’ admissions process seems to embody this fact.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lawrencelight/2017/06/13/why-the-secret-to-getting-rich-isnt-being-smart/?sh=408cb506589a

I have some negative thoughts about the SWW admissions processes, but the idea that they're intentionally not serving the brightest kids because they're optimizing for financially successful graduates instead-- now that is just some bizarre conspiracy shit. So, ok, that is not what's happening here. All that is happening is that, given the national pushback against standardized tests, DCPS doesn't want to reinstate them for admissions. So Walls has GPA and interviews. The latter are totally arbitrary and there are a lot of complaints about. The higher the GPA cutoff, the less you're picking your class via the interview. The difference between a 3.8 and a 3.9 may be nothing, but at least no one can accuse you of using GPA requirements to discriminate on the basis of appearance or whatever.

But if Walls wanted the "brightest" students, they could ask for teacher recommendations or essays or SOMETHING that might help differentiate the 4.0s from each other. But they don't. And if they didn't want the interview to cause accusations of discrimination or bias, they would scrap it and put all the kids that pass the GPA threshold into a lottery and call it a day (they could weight it by Ward for diversity). But they don't. They have opted for the least transparent, most subjective of systems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if they’re weeding out kids with special needs, regardless of whether they’re high-performing, then they’re discriminating.

Signed mom of a highly-gifted, academically-motivated kid with ASD who’s at the top of her current class, yet who may not get into Walls due to the interview. Same child would definitely get accepted into a test-in program.

Then you should have moved to Maryland or Virginia where she could apply to a test-in program. Stop shouting into the wind. This is on YOU!

No, actually this is on DCPS, as federal law protects my child from discrimination on the basis of her disability. In any case, we have other options for high school. But I’m tempted to bring the lawsuit anyway.

If you're complaining here, we know nothing will happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are electives (art, music, gym) included in the calculation?

or just the 5 core classes?

-math
-ELA
-history
-science
-foreign language

Everything that has a grade is input into GPA.

Here is how they calculated GPA: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/sites/dcpsenrollment/files/page_content/attachments/SWW%20GPA%20Scale_SY%2022-23%20Admissions%20Update%20FINAL.pdf

It doesn't make a difference a SWW since the cutoff was almost 4.0, but the footnote infuriates me.

*Note: In response to the COVID-19 health emergency DCPS has prioritized equity and rigor in our
grading policies to ensure all students are supported academically as they navigate the challenges of the
pandemic. For SY19-20, SY20-21, and SY21-22 DCPS has modified its grading policy so that students who
earn a “C” and/or “D” grade will see it displayed on their transcript as passing grades of “P,” indicating
that a student demonstrated proficiency in the course.

Homogenizing a C and D and pretending like both "demonstrated proficiency" illustrates the degree to which DCPS is just passing kids along in the system and setting them up for failure.

Sample 7th grade report report card for DCPS:

Grade-level Math: D (shows up as "P")
Grade-level English: D
Grade-level Science: D
Grade-level Social Studies: D
Grade-level Foreign Language: D
Art: A
PE: A

For “equity” reasons, this student has a 4.0 GPA and receives an interview at Walls.

Sample 7th grade report card for DC charter school:

Advanced Math: 90% (A-)
Advanced English: 90% (A-)
Advanced Science: 90% (A-)
Advanced Social Studies: 90% (A-)
Advanced Foreign Language: 90% (A-)
Art: 98% (A)
PE: 98% (A)

This student receives no “equity” bump and has a 3.7 GPA and is denied an interview at Walls.

Does anyone really think that Walls is accepting the best and brightest in DC under the current admission system?

....Not the way it works.

The current system is used as a proxy for behavior/learning disabilities. They are using grades to get kids who are well behaved and who don't need supports. They are NOT getting the best or highest achieving from an academic standpoint. And they are fine with that. They actually prefer it--as a parent of two students who have gone through the school, what they want is "easy" kids. Kids who are very high achievers are not easy to educate.[i

Oh my..Tell that to teachers that have to deal with disruptions daily. High Achieving and well behaved are normally traits that appear together. Very bizarre...

No, you're missing my point...achievement and behavior are correlated. But very high achieving kids are not easy to educate--not because of their behavior but because they demand more from their educators (they need to be challenged). Wallls is not interested in those very high achieving kids...it takes too much work.

So, they just use GPA to proxy for behavior...it helps them screen out the "problem" kids under the ruse of academic merit. If they really wanted the smartest or hardest workers or most resilient (or name your superlative), they would use other factors in their admissions policy.

So what? Walls doesn’t need to admit the smartest students—merely smart is good enough. You may also be interested to know that personality plays a much bigger part than IQ in financial success. Walls’ admissions process seems to embody this fact.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lawrencelight/2017/06/13/why-the-secret-to-getting-rich-isnt-being-smart/?sh=408cb506589a

I have some negative thoughts about the SWW admissions processes, but the idea that they're intentionally not serving the brightest kids because they're optimizing for financially successful graduates instead-- now that is just some bizarre conspiracy shit. So, ok, that is not what's happening here. All that is happening is that, given the national pushback against standardized tests, DCPS doesn't want to reinstate them for admissions. So Walls has GPA and interviews. The latter are totally arbitrary and there are a lot of complaints about. The higher the GPA cutoff, the less you're picking your class via the interview. The difference between a 3.8 and a 3.9 may be nothing, but at least no one can accuse you of using GPA requirements to discriminate on the basis of appearance or whatever.

This. 100% and completely all of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if they’re weeding out kids with special needs, regardless of whether they’re high-performing, then they’re discriminating.

Signed mom of a highly-gifted, academically-motivated kid with ASD who’s at the top of her current class, yet who may not get into Walls due to the interview. Same child would definitely get accepted into a test-in program.

Then you should have moved to Maryland or Virginia where she could apply to a test-in program. Stop shouting into the wind. This is on YOU!

No, actually this is on DCPS, as federal law protects my child from discrimination on the basis of her disability. In any case, we have other options for high school. But I’m tempted to bring the lawsuit anyway.

Just…do it!

[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:are electives (art, music, gym) included in the calculation?

or just the 5 core classes?

-math
-ELA
-history
-science
-foreign language

Everything that has a grade is input into GPA.

Here is how they calculated GPA: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/sites/dcpsenrollment/files/page_content/attachments/SWW%20GPA%20Scale_SY%2022-23%20Admissions%20Update%20FINAL.pdf

It doesn't make a difference a SWW since the cutoff was almost 4.0, but the footnote infuriates me.

*Note: In response to the COVID-19 health emergency DCPS has prioritized equity and rigor in our
grading policies to ensure all students are supported academically as they navigate the challenges of the
pandemic. For SY19-20, SY20-21, and SY21-22 DCPS has modified its grading policy so that students who
earn a “C” and/or “D” grade will see it displayed on their transcript as passing grades of “P,” indicating
that a student demonstrated proficiency in the course.

Homogenizing a C and D and pretending like both "demonstrated proficiency" illustrates the degree to which DCPS is just passing kids along in the system and setting them up for failure.

Sample 7th grade report report card for DCPS:

Grade-level Math: D (shows up as "P")
Grade-level English: D
Grade-level Science: D
Grade-level Social Studies: D
Grade-level Foreign Language: D
Art: A
PE: A

For “equity” reasons, this student has a 4.0 GPA and receives an interview at Walls.

Sample 7th grade report card for DC charter school:

Advanced Math: 90% (A-)
Advanced English: 90% (A-)
Advanced Science: 90% (A-)
Advanced Social Studies: 90% (A-)
Advanced Foreign Language: 90% (A-)
Art: 98% (A)
PE: 98% (A)

This student receives no “equity” bump and has a 3.7 GPA and is denied an interview at Walls.

Does anyone really think that Walls is accepting the best and brightest in DC under the current admission system?

....Not the way it works.

The current system is used as a proxy for behavior/learning disabilities. They are using grades to get kids who are well behaved and who don't need supports. They are NOT getting the best or highest achieving from an academic standpoint. And they are fine with that. They actually prefer it--as a parent of two students who have gone through the school, what they want is "easy" kids. Kids who are very high achievers are not easy to educate.[i

Oh my..Tell that to teachers that have to deal with disruptions daily. High Achieving and well behaved are normally traits that appear together. Very bizarre...

No, you're missing my point...achievement and behavior are correlated. But very high achieving kids are not easy to educate--not because of their behavior but because they demand more from their educators (they need to be challenged). Wallls is not interested in those very high achieving kids...it takes too much work.

So, they just use GPA to proxy for behavior...it helps them screen out the "problem" kids under the ruse of academic merit. If they really wanted the smartest or hardest workers or most resilient (or name your superlative), they would use other factors in their admissions policy.

So what? Walls doesn’t need to admit the smartest students—merely smart is good enough. You may also be interested to know that personality plays a much bigger part than IQ in financial success. Walls’ admissions process seems to embody this fact.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lawrencelight/2017/06/13/why-the-secret-to-getting-rich-isnt-being-smart/?sh=408cb506589a

I have some negative thoughts about the SWW admissions processes, but the idea that they're intentionally not serving the brightest kids because they're optimizing for financially successful graduates instead-- now that is just some bizarre conspiracy shit. So, ok, that is not what's happening here. All that is happening is that, given the national pushback against standardized tests, DCPS doesn't want to reinstate them for admissions. So Walls has GPA and interviews. The latter are totally arbitrary and there are a lot of complaints about. The higher the GPA cutoff, the less you're picking your class via the interview. The difference between a 3.8 and a 3.9 may be nothing, but at least no one can accuse you of using GPA requirements to discriminate on the basis of appearance or whatever.

This. 100% and completely all of this.

Only problem is the actual rubric says something different. The interview is 86% of the total.

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Anonymous wrote:are electives (art, music, gym) included in the calculation?

or just the 5 core classes?

-math
-ELA
-history
-science
-foreign language

Everything that has a grade is input into GPA.

Here is how they calculated GPA: https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/sites/dcpsenrollment/files/page_content/attachments/SWW%20GPA%20Scale_SY%2022-23%20Admissions%20Update%20FINAL.pdf

It doesn't make a difference a SWW since the cutoff was almost 4.0, but the footnote infuriates me.

*Note: In response to the COVID-19 health emergency DCPS has prioritized equity and rigor in our
grading policies to ensure all students are supported academically as they navigate the challenges of the
pandemic. For SY19-20, SY20-21, and SY21-22 DCPS has modified its grading policy so that students who
earn a “C” and/or “D” grade will see it displayed on their transcript as passing grades of “P,” indicating
that a student demonstrated proficiency in the course.

Homogenizing a C and D and pretending like both "demonstrated proficiency" illustrates the degree to which DCPS is just passing kids along in the system and setting them up for failure.

Sample 7th grade report report card for DCPS:

Grade-level Math: D (shows up as "P")
Grade-level English: D
Grade-level Science: D
Grade-level Social Studies: D
Grade-level Foreign Language: D
Art: A
PE: A

For “equity” reasons, this student has a 4.0 GPA and receives an interview at Walls.

Sample 7th grade report card for DC charter school:

Advanced Math: 90% (A-)
Advanced English: 90% (A-)
Advanced Science: 90% (A-)
Advanced Social Studies: 90% (A-)
Advanced Foreign Language: 90% (A-)
Art: 98% (A)
PE: 98% (A)

This student receives no “equity” bump and has a 3.7 GPA and is denied an interview at Walls.

Does anyone really think that Walls is accepting the best and brightest in DC under the current admission system?

....Not the way it works.

The current system is used as a proxy for behavior/learning disabilities. They are using grades to get kids who are well behaved and who don't need supports. They are NOT getting the best or highest achieving from an academic standpoint. And they are fine with that. They actually prefer it--as a parent of two students who have gone through the school, what they want is "easy" kids. Kids who are very high achievers are not easy to educate.[i

Oh my..Tell that to teachers that have to deal with disruptions daily. High Achieving and well behaved are normally traits that appear together. Very bizarre...

No, you're missing my point...achievement and behavior are correlated. But very high achieving kids are not easy to educate--not because of their behavior but because they demand more from their educators (they need to be challenged). Wallls is not interested in those very high achieving kids...it takes too much work.

So, they just use GPA to proxy for behavior...it helps them screen out the "problem" kids under the ruse of academic merit. If they really wanted the smartest or hardest workers or most resilient (or name your superlative), they would use other factors in their admissions policy.

So what? Walls doesn’t need to admit the smartest students—merely smart is good enough. You may also be interested to know that personality plays a much bigger part than IQ in financial success. Walls’ admissions process seems to embody this fact.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lawrencelight/2017/06/13/why-the-secret-to-getting-rich-isnt-being-smart/?sh=408cb506589a

I have some negative thoughts about the SWW admissions processes, but the idea that they're intentionally not serving the brightest kids because they're optimizing for financially successful graduates instead-- now that is just some bizarre conspiracy shit. So, ok, that is not what's happening here. All that is happening is that, given the national pushback against standardized tests, DCPS doesn't want to reinstate them for admissions. So Walls has GPA and interviews. The latter are totally arbitrary and there are a lot of complaints about. The higher the GPA cutoff, the less you're picking your class via the interview. The difference between a 3.8 and a 3.9 may be nothing, but at least no one can accuse you of using GPA requirements to discriminate on the basis of appearance or whatever.

This. 100% and completely all of this.

Only problem is the actual rubric says something different. The interview is 86% of the total.

It is 100% of the total because everyone being interviewed gets the same number of points for their GPA.