DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And the typical hs in the suburbs does not offer linear algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the typical hs in the suburbs does not offer linear algebra.

Actually a lot of the suburban high schools do offer linear algebra now as a dual-enrollment class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the typical hs in the suburbs does not offer linear algebra.

Actually a lot of the suburban high schools do offer linear algebra now as a dual-enrollment class.

Linear algebra--and pretty much any other class--is also offered in DCPS via dual-enrollment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many AP tests do kids take from Latin/Basis/Walls?

I’m assuming no AP from Banneker or DCI bc they’re IB.

Banneker is AP and IB. My 9th grader is in pre-AP and honors courses.

Pre-IB or Pre-AP? When do students take AP classes and what grades?

10th grade. And my kid selected the AP track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCI has AP options in every nearly subject- English, African American history, science, and pre calc and calc. No foreign language AP for some reason. These are taken 9&10th grade and i believe placement is based on MAP test score. This is relatively new at DCI, I could be wrong.

11th and 12th grade it’s all IB.

This is for IB track. Not sure about career.

That is great to hear! I did not know this. So the high performing kids can not only take AP classes in 9th and 10th grade but also the AP tests. This will further strengthen their college applications with good AP scores to show mastery in addition to the IB courses, grades, and diploma.

It is commonly known that the IB language test is much, much harder than the AP language test so maybe if they have to take that then no need to do AP language.

Yes this is why our family did not opt to apply to Walls which seems like a good school but doesn’t offer the same level of rigorous curriculum as offered by DCI.

DCI is more rigorous than Walls? Haven’t really heard that before.

The highest track possibly so.

We can debate that forever but the fact is Walls is going downhill thanks to DCPS and DCI is on an upward trajectory by offering students more - more advance math, more AP courses earlier, more tracking and uses objective standardized testing for placement..

You can’t say that about Walls and they have taken away any objective testing.

Walls obviously doesn’t have tracks like DCI but the highest achieving kids at Walls take really challenging schedules- 5 APs junior and senior years, 2 or 3 APs sophomore year, dual enrollment classes, etc.

No interest in walls but dci has IB math AA and AI. The highest math track will take ap pre calculus and calculus as freshmen and sophomores. It also offers IB HL and SL in chemistry, biology, physics and environmental science. One of the reasons we felt walls was not a good fit was the lack of science offerings. Plus the related STEM clubs and extra curricular activities were not present at walls or not as popular. Walls won’t prepare children sufficiently for stem based careers.

Thanks for the response- of course you had to make an unfounded dig and claim in the last sentence, but otherwise an actually informative post. And don’t worry about those Walls kids, plenty go into stem based careers.

No one is saying Walks kids can’t go into STEM fields but it’s a well known fact that Walls is not strong in STEM and is more a humanities field.

Walls is not going to prepare kids as well who go into STEM. They don’t offer all AP STEM courses. They don’t offer anything past Calculus. They don’t have strong STEM clubs or robotics team, etc….

What classes do other schools offer past Calculus? Linear algebra is not a “past Calculus” course. You don’t need to take calculus to take that course. Are high schools offering differential equations or something?

Linear algebra is commonly taken after Calculus. This is the typical order because it is a more difficult course. Many schools require Calculus first even if not necessary.

The typical high schools in the burbs offer courses past Calculus such as linear Algebra, differential equations, and/or multivariable calculus. Some schools offer 1 of these, others 2, some all 3. This is your standard high schools.

Of course the magnets offer courses past Calculus.

It is not tecommeb

Walls offers calculus 3. It doesn’t offer linear algebra, but the most advanced kids take it at GW.

So you’re supposed to do dual enrollment for bio if it’s not offered, chem which isn’t offered ever, and physics (is this offered always or only occasionally?) plus math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many AP tests do kids take from Latin/Basis/Walls?

I’m assuming no AP from Banneker or DCI bc they’re IB.

Banneker is AP and IB. My 9th grader is in pre-AP and honors courses.

Pre-IB or Pre-AP? When do students take AP classes and what grades?

10th grade. And my kid selected the AP track.

Banneker seems like a stronger choice based on offerings than walls. What am I missing? Why is walls praised so much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the typical hs in the suburbs does not offer linear algebra.

Actually a lot of the suburban high schools do offer linear algebra now as a dual-enrollment class.

Every high school in dc offers dual enrollment.

[Anonymous]

One thing to know is families will apply to DCPS selective schools, and once they don’t hear back regarding an interview or if their child is not accepted, many will proceed to bash the schools on DCUM and come up with various versions of « my kid is the best, if they’d didn’t get an interview, their selection process is trash », « it’s a bad school anyway ».

[Anonymous]

ive heard banneker has a lot of homework - its a great fit for some high-achieving kids. walls is considered to be more if you are smart and successful enough to get in you will likely succeed there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing to know is families will apply to DCPS selective schools, and once they don’t hear back regarding an interview or if their child is not accepted, many will proceed to bash the schools on DCUM and come up with various versions of « my kid is the best, if they’d didn’t get an interview, their selection process is trash », « it’s a bad school anyway ».

One thing I know for sure is that no one on this thread has bashed any school. But there does seem to be at least one thin skinned mean spirited poster who cannot tolerate anything short of “YOUR CHOICES WERE THE BEST”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many AP tests do kids take from Latin/Basis/Walls?

I’m assuming no AP from Banneker or DCI bc they’re IB.

Banneker is AP and IB. My 9th grader is in pre-AP and honors courses.

Pre-IB or Pre-AP? When do students take AP classes and what grades?

10th grade. And my kid selected the AP track.

Banneker seems like a stronger choice based on offerings than walls. What am I missing? Why is walls praised so much?

Because it’s popular with the WOTP crowd. It’s very heavily populated with Deal & Hardy kids.

Our DC has had interviews at both and prefers Banneker. The workload does seem like a lot, but DC is excited for the challenge and is excited about the IB program. Also the facilities and faculty are excellent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many AP tests do kids take from Latin/Basis/Walls?

I’m assuming no AP from Banneker or DCI bc they’re IB.

Banneker is AP and IB. My 9th grader is in pre-AP and honors courses.

Pre-IB or Pre-AP? When do students take AP classes and what grades?

10th grade. And my kid selected the AP track.

Banneker seems like a stronger choice based on offerings than walls. What am I missing? Why is walls praised so much?

Because it’s popular with the WOTP crowd. It’s very heavily populated with Deal & Hardy kids.

Our DC has had interviews at both and prefers Banneker. The workload does seem like a lot, but DC is excited for the challenge and is excited about the IB program. Also the facilities and faculty are excellent.

I think the IB diploma is really valuable. Too bad it’s not offered at many high schools.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:DCI has AP options in every nearly subject- English, African American history, science, and pre calc and calc. No foreign language AP for some reason. These are taken 9&10th grade and i believe placement is based on MAP test score. This is relatively new at DCI, I could be wrong.

11th and 12th grade it’s all IB.

This is for IB track. Not sure about career.

That is great to hear! I did not know this. So the high performing kids can not only take AP classes in 9th and 10th grade but also the AP tests. This will further strengthen their college applications with good AP scores to show mastery in addition to the IB courses, grades, and diploma.

It is commonly known that the IB language test is much, much harder than the AP language test so maybe if they have to take that then no need to do AP language.

Yes this is why our family did not opt to apply to Walls which seems like a good school but doesn’t offer the same level of rigorous curriculum as offered by DCI.

DCI is more rigorous than Walls? Haven’t really heard that before.

The highest track possibly so.

We can debate that forever but the fact is Walls is going downhill thanks to DCPS and DCI is on an upward trajectory by offering students more - more advance math, more AP courses earlier, more tracking and uses objective standardized testing for placement..

You can’t say that about Walls and they have taken away any objective testing.

Walls obviously doesn’t have tracks like DCI but the highest achieving kids at Walls take really challenging schedules- 5 APs junior and senior years, 2 or 3 APs sophomore year, dual enrollment classes, etc.

No interest in walls but dci has IB math AA and AI. The highest math track will take ap pre calculus and calculus as freshmen and sophomores. It also offers IB HL and SL in chemistry, biology, physics and environmental science. One of the reasons we felt walls was not a good fit was the lack of science offerings. Plus the related STEM clubs and extra curricular activities were not present at walls or not as popular. Walls won’t prepare children sufficiently for stem based careers.

Thanks for the response- of course you had to make an unfounded dig and claim in the last sentence, but otherwise an actually informative post. And don’t worry about those Walls kids, plenty go into stem based careers.

No one is saying Walks kids can’t go into STEM fields but it’s a well known fact that Walls is not strong in STEM and is more a humanities field.

Walls is not going to prepare kids as well who go into STEM. They don’t offer all AP STEM courses. They don’t offer anything past Calculus. They don’t have strong STEM clubs or robotics team, etc….

What classes do other schools offer past Calculus? Linear algebra is not a “past Calculus” course. You don’t need to take calculus to take that course. Are high schools offering differential equations or something?

Linear algebra is commonly taken after Calculus. This is the typical order because it is a more difficult course. Many schools require Calculus first even if not necessary.

The typical high schools in the burbs offer courses past Calculus such as linear Algebra, differential equations, and/or multivariable calculus. Some schools offer 1 of these, others 2, some all 3. This is your standard high schools.

Of course the magnets offer courses past Calculus.

It is not tecommeb

Walls offers calculus 3. It doesn’t offer linear algebra, but the most advanced kids take it at GW.

So you’re supposed to do dual enrollment for bio if it’s not offered, chem which isn’t offered ever, and physics (is this offered always or only occasionally?) plus math.

Please read the thread to answer most of your questions.

Walls offers AP Physics 1 and C every year. They offer Calculus 3. For the handful of kids who want to take linear algebra, they dual enroll at GW. Walls is on GW’s campus.

Bio is offered every other year. So take it junior, senior or sophomore year.

I’m sure you have many more questions claiming the school has awful STEM course offerings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many AP tests do kids take from Latin/Basis/Walls?

I’m assuming no AP from Banneker or DCI bc they’re IB.

Banneker is AP and IB. My 9th grader is in pre-AP and honors courses.

Pre-IB or Pre-AP? When do students take AP classes and what grades?

10th grade. And my kid selected the AP track.

Banneker seems like a stronger choice based on offerings than walls. What am I missing? Why is walls praised so much?

Because it’s popular with the WOTP crowd. It’s very heavily populated with Deal & Hardy kids.

Our DC has had interviews at both and prefers Banneker. The workload does seem like a lot, but DC is excited for the challenge and is excited about the IB program. Also the facilities and faculty are excellent.

I have never seen Banneker and don’t know much about it, but I keep hearing that’s where all the kids want to go this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing to know is families will apply to DCPS selective schools, and once they don’t hear back regarding an interview or if their child is not accepted, many will proceed to bash the schools on DCUM and come up with various versions of « my kid is the best, if they’d didn’t get an interview, their selection process is trash », « it’s a bad school anyway ».

The reality is that we’re now at the point where some of the kids rejected by Walls 4-5 years ago are getting top SAT scores and going to elite colleges and universities, even as some kids at Walls don’t get those scores and don’t get into those same schools. Does that reality mean that the admissions process at Walls is “trash”? I don’t think so. It’s a somewhat random process, that’s all.