Recommendations for Parent of Black Son With 99th Percentile Test Scores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

As others have said, avoid STA at all costs. It is not a healthy place for students of color. The school only recently allowed black students to form a BSU. This was also when the school permitted a white student group to form.

This is both blatantly false and lacks context. STA had no affinity groups until recent years. When they changed that policy, there was immediately a BSU. Your characterization is misleading and inflammatory by suggesting racism as the reason for no BSU.

Is there currently an affinity group for white students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd say be wary of privates when it comes to math, because they tend to really be concerned with "equity" and lowering competition. If your kid is capable of doing calculus as a freshman, don't be shocked if they deny this request and put him in Algebra II. They'll give you some excuse like "we think it's best for his personal development" but in reality they don't want to make the other kids and their parents upset or anxious.

Every private school we talked to was willing and able to accelerate in math.

To the degree OP mentions - Calc by 9th probably, maybe even 8th? Most private schools we looked at offered a year or two of post-Calc math, not three or four. And private schools typically can’t offer the DE classes that publics do with local colleges.

Race aside (because I have no experience with a minority child anyway), if OP wants their son to remain that far accelerated, I question whether more than one or two private schools to accommodate it.

DP
I would question why OP wants him to be this accelerated in one subject if he can be in an environment that would also allow him to broaden into different areas, like finance or leadership, while learning the soft skills needed for success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm moving to the DC area from Chicago, and my black son has a 99th percentile ISEE score and straight-A's. He's very advanced in math and has already completed pre-calculus in 7th grade and is bilingual. I'm not trying to brag, but I want some recommendations for schools that are black-friendly but can also accommodate an advanced student.

Also, would public schools be fine? We are zoned for Jackson-Reed High School in our next home. Is that a good option for advanced black students? Our previous public school was a nightmare, because he was bullied by the other black kids for being too nerdy.

Since he is bilingual, check out Washington International School. It is an immersion IB school with an opportunity for a bilingual diploma too.

Otherwise I’d recommend Sidwell, GDS, and Maret. If there is any interest in all-boys then St. Albans.

We are a Black family with boys that toured this past fall and were impressed with the aforementioned schools. Good luck!

Second WIS - they are very academically rigorous. We had hoped for WIS for my DC but they were not admitted, unfortunately. We are happy at their current private but I'm confident when I say that WIS academics (language and math) were stronger. They are a very small school though; not many slots so admission is very competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St. Andrew's in Potomac tends to be more diverse than a lot of peer schools.

This child is more advanced that what St. Andrew's can offer him. Same with Bullis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St Anslem’s may be a great fit. Diverse demographics and great for bright and academically motivated boys.

Not diverse. Black boys have historically left St. A's.

[Anonymous]

If you are open to boarding schools, they would have a lot of academic peers for your bright son.

You don’t mention finances, but if needed, they are far more generous with financial aid than private day schools. (We were stunned by how much more so for our child.)

Close to DC, we are fans of St. Andrew’s in Delaware. If you want to head north, there are countless others. And it is worth reaching out now to see if admissions are *truly* closed for the year. For the right kid, maybe not. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Boarding

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

As others have said, avoid STA at all costs. It is not a healthy place for students of color. The school only recently allowed black students to form a BSU. This was also when the school permitted a white student group to form.

This is both blatantly false and lacks context. STA had no affinity groups until recent years. When they changed that policy, there was immediately a BSU. Your characterization is misleading and inflammatory by suggesting racism as the reason for no BSU.

Is there currently an affinity group for white students?

Yes. It’s called “the student body.” Glad to help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want him to be around other black males, I would do Landon or Bullis or if you want Catholic Damatha or St. John’s.

I’d avoid the all boy Catholic schools, except Damatha.

All the other schools mentioned so far are <5% black students.

For Catholic Carroll and McNamara should also be in the conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Anslem’s may be a great fit. Diverse demographics and great for bright and academically motivated boys.

Not diverse. Black boys have historically left St. A's.

St Anselms is very diverse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are open to boarding schools, they would have a lot of academic peers for your bright son.

You don’t mention finances, but if needed, they are far more generous with financial aid than private day schools. (We were stunned by how much more so for our child.)

Close to DC, we are fans of St. Andrew’s in Delaware. If you want to head north, there are countless others. And it is worth reaching out now to see if admissions are *truly* closed for the year. For the right kid, maybe not. Good luck.

Agree, OP wait until next year for the 9th grade application and have your very bright child apply to Exeter, Andover. Chaote Rosemary etc. Those schools will have better resources than privates in DC and more $$$ for an advanced child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Anslem’s may be a great fit. Diverse demographics and great for bright and academically motivated boys.

Not diverse. Black boys have historically left St. A's.

Not true. See page 33 for 2024 graduating class. (Maybe you are talking about the one Black kid who left this year after three years of extremely disruptive and threatening behavior and failing grades. He was admitted because he had an older brother there, who did well, but allowed too stay longer than he should have. That had nothing to do with being Black.)

http://www.parishtimes.com/uploads/8/3/6/6/8366083/opt0524.pdf

So classy to bring an identifiable minor into the discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Anslem’s may be a great fit. Diverse demographics and great for bright and academically motivated boys.

Not diverse. Black boys have historically left St. A's.

Not true. See page 33 for 2024 graduating class. (Maybe you are talking about the one Black kid who left this year after three years of extremely disruptive and threatening behavior and failing grades. He was admitted because he had an older brother there, who did well, but allowed too stay longer than he should have. That had nothing to do with being Black.)

http://www.parishtimes.com/uploads/8/3/6/6/8366083/opt0524.pdf

So classy to bring an identifiable minor into the discussion.

NP. There is nothing "identifiable" about a minor in that post. And if you are a SAAS parent this is not new info.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Anslem’s may be a great fit. Diverse demographics and great for bright and academically motivated boys.

Not diverse. Black boys have historically left St. A's.

St Anselms is very diverse.

+1. Typically about 40% POC and 15-25% AA.

[Anonymous]

Not stinker - Baltimore. Far fingers on small screen with auto-incorrect!