DC NMSFs 2025

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if more schools will start offering summer PSAT prep programs. Seems like Banneker, McKinley Tech, BASIS, Latin, DCI, Truth, etc. would have a group of students who, with more prep, could have a shot at NMSF. It would be a good investment for the schools in that it could get them more publicity and applicants...a virtuous cycle.

Getting NMSF in DC (with the highest cut-off in the nation) means performing at the level of a 1590-1600 SAT.

If you can get a bunch of kids at these DC schools to that level with "more prep" then you will accomplish what educators in America have never been able to do and you will make the national news.

Exactly.

And this whole JR conversation is crazy. At minimum, it is the perspective of a couple of people who clearly are still burned up about covid policies AND have a very narrow view of the population of successful students at JR.

First, the idea that the 15 or whatever kids in the eighth grade Algebra 2 class are all of the “academic superstars” is ridiculous, for a million reasons, not least of which is that many kids who could go the hyper-accelerated math route choose not to. Many parents (me, I’m one of these parents) don’t think it’s the best way to do math instruction and that Calc BC in 11th grade is plenty accelerated.

Second, the fact that only one JR kid happened to score an essentially perfect PSAT score on a single test given on a single day is not an indictment of the rest of the class. Get a grip, people. If it had been three kids (which is what I think it was last year), would that have mattered materially? If a bunch of kids missed the cut off by one point, does that matter?

This is like yelling into the wind, but it’s crazy that a couple of people with tired, old bones to pick and very narrow perspectives are taken as authorities on the quality of JR’s student body.

The truth is the quality of JR’s body has absolutely gone down hill if you are talking about high performing kids. The trend has been lots more of these families are not tracking to JR with the advent of honors for all and dumbing down even more the curriculum.

Common knowledge and you seem to be in complete denial of it.

The J-R cohort that my kid hangs out with are incredibly smart; no different than the peers of my older DC who graduated a few years ago.

Your anecdotal experience does not dispute the fact that the percentage of high performing kids at a school with the highest concentration of UMC and UC families in the city is small.

Stats don’t lie and why for the size of the school, only 1 kid made it. Also look at SAT averages.

Gosh these type of PPs are tiresome. We get it, your family is better than all of ours. If you’re so great move to Virginia and your kid can go to TJ; or to MD and get them into the Blair magnet.

No one is saying that. What I find tiresome are people who do t acknowledge facts and reality.

what facts/reality? you seem to be wanting to prove that JR is terrible and full of underachievement. if so put your money where your mouth is and get your “advanced child” into TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if more schools will start offering summer PSAT prep programs. Seems like Banneker, McKinley Tech, BASIS, Latin, DCI, Truth, etc. would have a group of students who, with more prep, could have a shot at NMSF. It would be a good investment for the schools in that it could get them more publicity and applicants...a virtuous cycle.

Getting NMSF in DC (with the highest cut-off in the nation) means performing at the level of a 1590-1600 SAT.

If you can get a bunch of kids at these DC schools to that level with "more prep" then you will accomplish what educators in America have never been able to do and you will make the national news.

Exactly.

And this whole JR conversation is crazy. At minimum, it is the perspective of a couple of people who clearly are still burned up about covid policies AND have a very narrow view of the population of successful students at JR.

First, the idea that the 15 or whatever kids in the eighth grade Algebra 2 class are all of the “academic superstars” is ridiculous, for a million reasons, not least of which is that many kids who could go the hyper-accelerated math route choose not to. Many parents (me, I’m one of these parents) don’t think it’s the best way to do math instruction and that Calc BC in 11th grade is plenty accelerated.

Second, the fact that only one JR kid happened to score an essentially perfect PSAT score on a single test given on a single day is not an indictment of the rest of the class. Get a grip, people. If it had been three kids (which is what I think it was last year), would that have mattered materially? If a bunch of kids missed the cut off by one point, does that matter?

This is like yelling into the wind, but it’s crazy that a couple of people with tired, old bones to pick and very narrow perspectives are taken as authorities on the quality of JR’s student body.

The truth is the quality of JR’s body has absolutely gone down hill if you are talking about high performing kids. The trend has been lots more of these families are not tracking to JR with the advent of honors for all and dumbing down even more the curriculum.

Common knowledge and you seem to be in complete denial of it.

The J-R cohort that my kid hangs out with are incredibly smart; no different than the peers of my older DC who graduated a few years ago.

Your anecdotal experience does not dispute the fact that the percentage of high performing kids at a school with the highest concentration of UMC and UC families in the city is small.

Stats don’t lie and why for the size of the school, only 1 kid made it. Also look at SAT averages.

Gosh these type of PPs are tiresome. We get it, your family is better than all of ours. If you’re so great move to Virginia and your kid can go to TJ; or to MD and get them into the Blair magnet.

No one is saying that. What I find tiresome are people who do t acknowledge facts and reality.

what facts/reality? you seem to be wanting to prove that JR is terrible and full of underachievement. if so put your money where your mouth is and get your “advanced child” into TJ.

You sound defensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public:

Walls (6)
BASIS (3)
Latin (2)
DCI (2)
J-R (1)

Private:

Sidwell (11)
GDS (7)
STA (6)
NCS (3)
WIS (2)
SJC (2)
Maret (1)
Field (1)
Gonzaga (1)

JR is huge and lots more students than the other 4 schools above them and only had 1. i would have expected better.

JR sucks. Very little to no learning going on.

I personally know of 7 J-R students who have SAT scores over 1520…for whatever reason they didn’t do as well on the PSAT.

How on earth do you know this?

Um…because kids talk about their SAT scores with their friends? And my kid is friends with these kids (though my kid is not a 1520+ kid).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of defensive J-R parents here.

1/538 NMSF is not impressive.

Nobody has suggested that it is impressive. People are just suggesting that it is indicative of a mass exodus of high achieving kids from the school, which those of us with kids at the school know is pure nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if more schools will start offering summer PSAT prep programs. Seems like Banneker, McKinley Tech, BASIS, Latin, DCI, Truth, etc. would have a group of students who, with more prep, could have a shot at NMSF. It would be a good investment for the schools in that it could get them more publicity and applicants...a virtuous cycle.

Getting NMSF in DC (with the highest cut-off in the nation) means performing at the level of a 1590-1600 SAT.

If you can get a bunch of kids at these DC schools to that level with "more prep" then you will accomplish what educators in America have never been able to do and you will make the national news.

Exactly.

And this whole JR conversation is crazy. At minimum, it is the perspective of a couple of people who clearly are still burned up about covid policies AND have a very narrow view of the population of successful students at JR.

First, the idea that the 15 or whatever kids in the eighth grade Algebra 2 class are all of the “academic superstars” is ridiculous, for a million reasons, not least of which is that many kids who could go the hyper-accelerated math route choose not to. Many parents (me, I’m one of these parents) don’t think it’s the best way to do math instruction and that Calc BC in 11th grade is plenty accelerated.

Second, the fact that only one JR kid happened to score an essentially perfect PSAT score on a single test given on a single day is not an indictment of the rest of the class. Get a grip, people. If it had been three kids (which is what I think it was last year), would that have mattered materially? If a bunch of kids missed the cut off by one point, does that matter?

This is like yelling into the wind, but it’s crazy that a couple of people with tired, old bones to pick and very narrow perspectives are taken as authorities on the quality of JR’s student body.

The truth is the quality of JR’s body has absolutely gone down hill if you are talking about high performing kids. The trend has been lots more of these families are not tracking to JR with the advent of honors for all and dumbing down even more the curriculum.

Common knowledge and you seem to be in complete denial of it.

The J-R cohort that my kid hangs out with are incredibly smart; no different than the peers of my older DC who graduated a few years ago.

Your anecdotal experience does not dispute the fact that the percentage of high performing kids at a school with the highest concentration of UMC and UC families in the city is small.

Stats don’t lie and why for the size of the school, only 1 kid made it. Also look at SAT averages.

Gosh these type of PPs are tiresome. We get it, your family is better than all of ours. If you’re so great move to Virginia and your kid can go to TJ; or to MD and get them into the Blair magnet.

No one is saying that. What I find tiresome are people who do t acknowledge facts and reality.

what facts/reality? you seem to be wanting to prove that JR is terrible and full of underachievement. if so put your money where your mouth is and get your “advanced child” into TJ.

You sound defensive.

No, there’s nothing to be defensive about. I know who my kid is. If your kid is advanced NMSF material and too good for JR, godspeed to TJ because your kid should have no problem getting admitted there, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of defensive J-R parents here.

1/538 NMSF is not impressive.

Nobody has suggested that it is impressive. People are just suggesting that it is indicative of a mass exodus of high achieving kids from the school, which those of us with kids at the school know is pure nonsense.

+1

People on this site are always saying DCPS schools have terrible test scores, blah blah. But then when JR has a poor turnout they twist themselves into a pretzel to show how the high achievers left. It’s sort of sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if more schools will start offering summer PSAT prep programs. Seems like Banneker, McKinley Tech, BASIS, Latin, DCI, Truth, etc. would have a group of students who, with more prep, could have a shot at NMSF. It would be a good investment for the schools in that it could get them more publicity and applicants...a virtuous cycle.

Getting NMSF in DC (with the highest cut-off in the nation) means performing at the level of a 1590-1600 SAT.

If you can get a bunch of kids at these DC schools to that level with "more prep" then you will accomplish what educators in America have never been able to do and you will make the national news.

Exactly.

And this whole JR conversation is crazy. At minimum, it is the perspective of a couple of people who clearly are still burned up about covid policies AND have a very narrow view of the population of successful students at JR.

First, the idea that the 15 or whatever kids in the eighth grade Algebra 2 class are all of the “academic superstars” is ridiculous, for a million reasons, not least of which is that many kids who could go the hyper-accelerated math route choose not to. Many parents (me, I’m one of these parents) don’t think it’s the best way to do math instruction and that Calc BC in 11th grade is plenty accelerated.

Second, the fact that only one JR kid happened to score an essentially perfect PSAT score on a single test given on a single day is not an indictment of the rest of the class. Get a grip, people. If it had been three kids (which is what I think it was last year), would that have mattered materially? If a bunch of kids missed the cut off by one point, does that matter?

This is like yelling into the wind, but it’s crazy that a couple of people with tired, old bones to pick and very narrow perspectives are taken as authorities on the quality of JR’s student body.

The truth is the quality of JR’s body has absolutely gone down hill if you are talking about high performing kids. The trend has been lots more of these families are not tracking to JR with the advent of honors for all and dumbing down even more the curriculum.

Common knowledge and you seem to be in complete denial of it.

The J-R cohort that my kid hangs out with are incredibly smart; no different than the peers of my older DC who graduated a few years ago.

Your anecdotal experience does not dispute the fact that the percentage of high performing kids at a school with the highest concentration of UMC and UC families in the city is small.

Stats don’t lie and why for the size of the school, only 1 kid made it. Also look at SAT averages.

Gosh these type of PPs are tiresome. We get it, your family is better than all of ours. If you’re so great move to Virginia and your kid can go to TJ; or to MD and get them into the Blair magnet.

No one is saying that. What I find tiresome are people who do t acknowledge facts and reality.

what facts/reality? you seem to be wanting to prove that JR is terrible and full of underachievement. if so put your money where your mouth is and get your “advanced child” into TJ.

You sound defensive.

No, there’s nothing to be defensive about. I know who my kid is. If your kid is advanced NMSF material and too good for JR, godspeed to TJ because your kid should have no problem getting admitted there, right?

Wait, kids can choose between JR and TJ? How?

[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:I wonder if more schools will start offering summer PSAT prep programs. Seems like Banneker, McKinley Tech, BASIS, Latin, DCI, Truth, etc. would have a group of students who, with more prep, could have a shot at NMSF. It would be a good investment for the schools in that it could get them more publicity and applicants...a virtuous cycle.

Getting NMSF in DC (with the highest cut-off in the nation) means performing at the level of a 1590-1600 SAT.

If you can get a bunch of kids at these DC schools to that level with "more prep" then you will accomplish what educators in America have never been able to do and you will make the national news.

Exactly.

And this whole JR conversation is crazy. At minimum, it is the perspective of a couple of people who clearly are still burned up about covid policies AND have a very narrow view of the population of successful students at JR.

First, the idea that the 15 or whatever kids in the eighth grade Algebra 2 class are all of the “academic superstars” is ridiculous, for a million reasons, not least of which is that many kids who could go the hyper-accelerated math route choose not to. Many parents (me, I’m one of these parents) don’t think it’s the best way to do math instruction and that Calc BC in 11th grade is plenty accelerated.

Second, the fact that only one JR kid happened to score an essentially perfect PSAT score on a single test given on a single day is not an indictment of the rest of the class. Get a grip, people. If it had been three kids (which is what I think it was last year), would that have mattered materially? If a bunch of kids missed the cut off by one point, does that matter?

This is like yelling into the wind, but it’s crazy that a couple of people with tired, old bones to pick and very narrow perspectives are taken as authorities on the quality of JR’s student body.

The truth is the quality of JR’s body has absolutely gone down hill if you are talking about high performing kids. The trend has been lots more of these families are not tracking to JR with the advent of honors for all and dumbing down even more the curriculum.

Common knowledge and you seem to be in complete denial of it.

The J-R cohort that my kid hangs out with are incredibly smart; no different than the peers of my older DC who graduated a few years ago.

Your anecdotal experience does not dispute the fact that the percentage of high performing kids at a school with the highest concentration of UMC and UC families in the city is small.

Stats don’t lie and why for the size of the school, only 1 kid made it. Also look at SAT averages.

Gosh these type of PPs are tiresome. We get it, your family is better than all of ours. If you’re so great move to Virginia and your kid can go to TJ; or to MD and get them into the Blair magnet.

No one is saying that. What I find tiresome are people who do t acknowledge facts and reality.

what facts/reality? you seem to be wanting to prove that JR is terrible and full of underachievement. if so put your money where your mouth is and get your “advanced child” into TJ.

You sound defensive.

No, there’s nothing to be defensive about. I know who my kid is. If your kid is advanced NMSF material and too good for JR, godspeed to TJ because your kid should have no problem getting admitted there, right?

Wait, kids can choose between JR and TJ? How?

My point is that the PP who is too good for JR (because JR has too few NMSF) should just move to Virginia and send their kid to TJ. Because why bother with such and inferior school when your kid is so brilliant that SURELY TJ would be a snap. No need to worry about JR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if more schools will start offering summer PSAT prep programs. Seems like Banneker, McKinley Tech, BASIS, Latin, DCI, Truth, etc. would have a group of students who, with more prep, could have a shot at NMSF. It would be a good investment for the schools in that it could get them more publicity and applicants...a virtuous cycle.

Getting NMSF in DC (with the highest cut-off in the nation) means performing at the level of a 1590-1600 SAT.

If you can get a bunch of kids at these DC schools to that level with "more prep" then you will accomplish what educators in America have never been able to do and you will make the national news.

Exactly.

And this whole JR conversation is crazy. At minimum, it is the perspective of a couple of people who clearly are still burned up about covid policies AND have a very narrow view of the population of successful students at JR.

First, the idea that the 15 or whatever kids in the eighth grade Algebra 2 class are all of the “academic superstars” is ridiculous, for a million reasons, not least of which is that many kids who could go the hyper-accelerated math route choose not to. Many parents (me, I’m one of these parents) don’t think it’s the best way to do math instruction and that Calc BC in 11th grade is plenty accelerated.

Second, the fact that only one JR kid happened to score an essentially perfect PSAT score on a single test given on a single day is not an indictment of the rest of the class. Get a grip, people. If it had been three kids (which is what I think it was last year), would that have mattered materially? If a bunch of kids missed the cut off by one point, does that matter?

This is like yelling into the wind, but it’s crazy that a couple of people with tired, old bones to pick and very narrow perspectives are taken as authorities on the quality of JR’s student body.

The truth is the quality of JR’s body has absolutely gone down hill if you are talking about high performing kids. The trend has been lots more of these families are not tracking to JR with the advent of honors for all and dumbing down even more the curriculum.

Common knowledge and you seem to be in complete denial of it.

The J-R cohort that my kid hangs out with are incredibly smart; no different than the peers of my older DC who graduated a few years ago.

Your anecdotal experience does not dispute the fact that the percentage of high performing kids at a school with the highest concentration of UMC and UC families in the city is small.

Stats don’t lie and why for the size of the school, only 1 kid made it. Also look at SAT averages.

It was infinitely better than schools like Burke and Visitation that have significantly higher income families and had zero NMSFs.

Every year there are a bunch of people that make the same tired arguments about NMSF. Not sure what benefit you derive from it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if more schools will start offering summer PSAT prep programs. Seems like Banneker, McKinley Tech, BASIS, Latin, DCI, Truth, etc. would have a group of students who, with more prep, could have a shot at NMSF. It would be a good investment for the schools in that it could get them more publicity and applicants...a virtuous cycle.

Getting NMSF in DC (with the highest cut-off in the nation) means performing at the level of a 1590-1600 SAT.

If you can get a bunch of kids at these DC schools to that level with "more prep" then you will accomplish what educators in America have never been able to do and you will make the national news.

Exactly.

And this whole JR conversation is crazy. At minimum, it is the perspective of a couple of people who clearly are still burned up about covid policies AND have a very narrow view of the population of successful students at JR.

First, the idea that the 15 or whatever kids in the eighth grade Algebra 2 class are all of the “academic superstars” is ridiculous, for a million reasons, not least of which is that many kids who could go the hyper-accelerated math route choose not to. Many parents (me, I’m one of these parents) don’t think it’s the best way to do math instruction and that Calc BC in 11th grade is plenty accelerated.

Second, the fact that only one JR kid happened to score an essentially perfect PSAT score on a single test given on a single day is not an indictment of the rest of the class. Get a grip, people. If it had been three kids (which is what I think it was last year), would that have mattered materially? If a bunch of kids missed the cut off by one point, does that matter?

This is like yelling into the wind, but it’s crazy that a couple of people with tired, old bones to pick and very narrow perspectives are taken as authorities on the quality of JR’s student body.

The truth is the quality of JR’s body has absolutely gone down hill if you are talking about high performing kids. The trend has been lots more of these families are not tracking to JR with the advent of honors for all and dumbing down even more the curriculum.

Common knowledge and you seem to be in complete denial of it.

The J-R cohort that my kid hangs out with are incredibly smart; no different than the peers of my older DC who graduated a few years ago.

Your anecdotal experience does not dispute the fact that the percentage of high performing kids at a school with the highest concentration of UMC and UC families in the city is small.

Stats don’t lie and why for the size of the school, only 1 kid made it. Also look at SAT averages.

It was infinitely better than schools like Burke and Visitation that have significantly higher income families and had zero NMSFs.

Every year there are a bunch of people that make the same tired arguments about NMSF. Not sure what benefit you derive from it.

You’re determined to make excuses for this mediocre public school. One NMSF, out of a grade with 500+ students, is shameful. You’re just too defensive to admit it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if more schools will start offering summer PSAT prep programs. Seems like Banneker, McKinley Tech, BASIS, Latin, DCI, Truth, etc. would have a group of students who, with more prep, could have a shot at NMSF. It would be a good investment for the schools in that it could get them more publicity and applicants...a virtuous cycle.

Getting NMSF in DC (with the highest cut-off in the nation) means performing at the level of a 1590-1600 SAT.

If you can get a bunch of kids at these DC schools to that level with "more prep" then you will accomplish what educators in America have never been able to do and you will make the national news.

Exactly.

And this whole JR conversation is crazy. At minimum, it is the perspective of a couple of people who clearly are still burned up about covid policies AND have a very narrow view of the population of successful students at JR.

First, the idea that the 15 or whatever kids in the eighth grade Algebra 2 class are all of the “academic superstars” is ridiculous, for a million reasons, not least of which is that many kids who could go the hyper-accelerated math route choose not to. Many parents (me, I’m one of these parents) don’t think it’s the best way to do math instruction and that Calc BC in 11th grade is plenty accelerated.

Second, the fact that only one JR kid happened to score an essentially perfect PSAT score on a single test given on a single day is not an indictment of the rest of the class. Get a grip, people. If it had been three kids (which is what I think it was last year), would that have mattered materially? If a bunch of kids missed the cut off by one point, does that matter?

This is like yelling into the wind, but it’s crazy that a couple of people with tired, old bones to pick and very narrow perspectives are taken as authorities on the quality of JR’s student body.

The truth is the quality of JR’s body has absolutely gone down hill if you are talking about high performing kids. The trend has been lots more of these families are not tracking to JR with the advent of honors for all and dumbing down even more the curriculum.

Common knowledge and you seem to be in complete denial of it.

The J-R cohort that my kid hangs out with are incredibly smart; no different than the peers of my older DC who graduated a few years ago.

Your anecdotal experience does not dispute the fact that the percentage of high performing kids at a school with the highest concentration of UMC and UC families in the city is small.

Stats don’t lie and why for the size of the school, only 1 kid made it. Also look at SAT averages.

It was infinitely better than schools like Burke and Visitation that have significantly higher income families and had zero NMSFs.

Every year there are a bunch of people that make the same tired arguments about NMSF. Not sure what benefit you derive from it.

You’re determined to make excuses for this mediocre public school. One NMSF, out of a grade with 500+ students, is shameful. You’re just too defensive to admit it.

If this mediocre school isn’t good enough for your children - again, Blair magnet would be happy to have them.

[Anonymous]

JR and TJ are almost exactly the same size schools.

JR: 1 NMSF
TJ: 81 NMSF

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:JR and TJ are almost exactly the same size schools.

JR: 1 NMSF
TJ: 81 NMSF

Now you’re being stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:JR and TJ are almost exactly the same size schools.

JR: 1 NMSF
TJ: 81 NMSF

So your kid is in TJ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:JR and TJ are almost exactly the same size schools.

JR: 1 NMSF
TJ: 81 NMSF

TJ had more than all schools in DC but remember that DC is capped at 30-50 NMSFs.