McKinley Tech and Banneker - why don't more white students attend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know very much about either school. Are they neighborhood schools and the student population reflects that?

They're both city-wide application only public schools. With great academic results.

+1. This is the point of the question, I believe. High SES parents clamoring for schools that have high academic standards, particularly white parents whose children are not zoned for the Deal/Wilson feeder, but who do not give McKinley and Banneker a chance either.

There was a long Banneker thread here a few months ago. Essentially, yes, academics there are higher than other black-majority schools, but lower than TJ, Wilson, SWS, so there's no particular reason why a white family would choose to send their kids there.

Have you looked at test scores and college admission rates? Where do you get your information about Banneker having lower academics than SWS or Wilson? As a previous poster stated, many white students probably would not pass the admission test. Anyway, the school is doing quite well without white students.

Current Banneker parent here, regarding the bolded, Banneker does not have an admissions test. There is an interview and an essay.

Thank you. Can you clarify something else: is there some kind of counselling out for kids, especially boys, who are not up to academic standards? I've heard that happens often, but not sure how, and whether it's purely voluntary or not.

There is definitely counseling out, and it isn't just for boys (I know a girl who was told she was not going to 'make it' during her and she withdrew, transferring to CHEC). I have never found anything in writing but have heard that one must maintain a 2.5 GPA, which is actually challenging given Banneker's unusual grading scale.

Thank you. That explains what some PP claimed before -- "Banneker's graduation rate: 100%, Banneker's college acceptance rate: 100%" Those rates obviously exclude everyone who has been counselled out.

That doesn't take away from the fact that it still has high graduation and college acceptance rates. Private schools counsel out kids that cant cut it but no one tries to make their outcomes look fake. I think Banneker is doing a wonderful job.

False analogy. People here are comparing Banneker to Wilson, not to Sidwell. Yes, Banneker is doing a wonderful job, and, yes, it should be no surprise why whites prefer to send their kids to Wilson or other public options --- better results, closer, and more diverse.

[Anonymous]

We are not considering Bannecker for my white dd simply because it
is about to undergo a renovation and kids will be in a holding school for 2 yrs.
That is not fun in HS. Once it is renovated though, I bet people of all
races will rush to apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are not considering Bannecker for my white dd simply because it
is about to undergo a renovation and kids will be in a holding school for 2 yrs.
That is not fun in HS. Once it is renovated though, I bet people of all
races will rush to apply.

With the test results that came out today, I hope more people rethink this mindset. Banneker kicked ass at PARCC. Nominal difference with SWW and SWW has 20% while Banneker has 60%. wow!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know very much about either school. Are they neighborhood schools and the student population reflects that?

They're both city-wide application only public schools. With great academic results.

+1. This is the point of the question, I believe. High SES parents clamoring for schools that have high academic standards, particularly white parents whose children are not zoned for the Deal/Wilson feeder, but who do not give McKinley and Banneker a chance either.

There was a long Banneker thread here a few months ago. Essentially, yes, academics there are higher than other black-majority schools, but lower than TJ, Wilson, SWS, so there's no particular reason why a white family would choose to send their kids there.

Have you looked at test scores and college admission rates? Where do you get your information about Banneker having lower academics than SWS or Wilson? As a previous poster stated, many white students probably would not pass the admission test. Anyway, the school is doing quite well without white students.

Current Banneker parent here, regarding the bolded, Banneker does not have an admissions test. There is an interview and an essay.

Thank you. Can you clarify something else: is there some kind of counselling out for kids, especially boys, who are not up to academic standards? I've heard that happens often, but not sure how, and whether it's purely voluntary or not.

There is definitely counseling out, and it isn't just for boys (I know a girl who was told she was not going to 'make it' during her and she withdrew, transferring to CHEC). I have never found anything in writing but have heard that one must maintain a 2.5 GPA, which is actually challenging given Banneker's unusual grading scale.

Thank you. That explains what some PP claimed before -- "Banneker's graduation rate: 100%, Banneker's college acceptance rate: 100%" Those rates obviously exclude everyone who has been counselled out.

That doesn't take away from the fact that it still has high graduation and college acceptance rates. Private schools counsel out kids that cant cut it but no one tries to make their outcomes look fake. I think Banneker is doing a wonderful job.

False analogy. People here are comparing Banneker to Wilson, not to Sidwell. Yes, Banneker is doing a wonderful job, and, yes, it should be no surprise why whites prefer to send their kids to Wilson or other public options --- better results, closer, and more diverse.

It is not a false analogy. You're trying to belittle Banneker's achievement because they counsel out. No one does that with other schools that counsel out either. It is a perfect analogy. But I get it. You don't want to concede that an all AA school can be high achieving. Bury your head in the sand if you like. I think the school is doing quite well and it's good that they have standards and stick with them. (Not that it should matter, but I'm white, and I'm quite chuffed at this school's achievement, although I have no reason to be.)

[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 don't know very much about either school. Are they neighborhood schools and the student population reflects that?

They're both city-wide application only public schools. With great academic results.

+1. This is the point of the question, I believe. High SES parents clamoring for schools that have high academic standards, particularly white parents whose children are not zoned for the Deal/Wilson feeder, but who do not give McKinley and Banneker a chance either.

There was a long Banneker thread here a few months ago. Essentially, yes, academics there are higher than other black-majority schools, but lower than TJ, Wilson, SWS, so there's no particular reason why a white family would choose to send their kids there.

Have you looked at test scores and college admission rates? Where do you get your information about Banneker having lower academics than SWS or Wilson? As a previous poster stated, many white students probably would not pass the admission test. Anyway, the school is doing quite well without white students.

Current Banneker parent here, regarding the bolded, Banneker does not have an admissions test. There is an interview and an essay.

Thank you. Can you clarify something else: is there some kind of counselling out for kids, especially boys, who are not up to academic standards? I've heard that happens often, but not sure how, and whether it's purely voluntary or not.

There is definitely counseling out, and it isn't just for boys (I know a girl who was told she was not going to 'make it' during her and she withdrew, transferring to CHEC). I have never found anything in writing but have heard that one must maintain a 2.5 GPA, which is actually challenging given Banneker's unusual grading scale.

Thank you. That explains what some PP claimed before -- "Banneker's graduation rate: 100%, Banneker's college acceptance rate: 100%" Those rates obviously exclude everyone who has been counselled out.

That doesn't take away from the fact that it still has high graduation and college acceptance rates. Private schools counsel out kids that cant cut it but no one tries to make their outcomes look fake. I think Banneker is doing a wonderful job.

False analogy. People here are comparing Banneker to Wilson, not to Sidwell. Yes, Banneker is doing a wonderful job, and, yes, it should be no surprise why whites prefer to send their kids to Wilson or other public options --- better results, closer, and more diverse.

It is not a false analogy. You're trying to belittle Banneker's achievement because they counsel out. No one does that with other schools that counsel out either. It is a perfect analogy. But I get it. You don't want to concede that an all AA school can be high achieving. Bury your head in the sand if you like. I think the school is doing quite well and it's good that they have standards and stick with them. (Not that it should matter, but I'm white, and I'm quite chuffed at this school's achievement, although I have no reason to be.)

Dude, or duddete, I'm not trying to belittle anyone. Banneker is doing a great job. AND they are counselling people out, a luxury that Wilson does not have. SWS does have it, and it's one of the reasons why its results are spectacular.

See? Can you hold multiple thoughts at once?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know very much about either school. Are they neighborhood schools and the student population reflects that?

They're both city-wide application only public schools. With great academic results.

+1. This is the point of the question, I believe. High SES parents clamoring for schools that have high academic standards, particularly white parents whose children are not zoned for the Deal/Wilson feeder, but who do not give McKinley and Banneker a chance either.

There was a long Banneker thread here a few months ago. Essentially, yes, academics there are higher than other black-majority schools, but lower than TJ, Wilson, SWS, so there's no particular reason why a white family would choose to send their kids there.

Have you looked at test scores and college admission rates? Where do you get your information about Banneker having lower academics than SWS or Wilson? As a previous poster stated, many white students probably would not pass the admission test. Anyway, the school is doing quite well without white students.

Current Banneker parent here, regarding the bolded, Banneker does not have an admissions test. There is an interview and an essay.

Thank you. Can you clarify something else: is there some kind of counselling out for kids, especially boys, who are not up to academic standards? I've heard that happens often, but not sure how, and whether it's purely voluntary or not.

I'm the patent who wants kids to not be accepted, because they can't handle pressure. If accepted, I want them counseled out. Find the best education experience for your child, instead of ruining it for everyone.

If your boy is a problem, save the rest of us from him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know very much about either school. Are they neighborhood schools and the student population reflects that?

They're both city-wide application only public schools. With great academic results.

+1. This is the point of the question, I believe. High SES parents clamoring for schools that have high academic standards, particularly white parents whose children are not zoned for the Deal/Wilson feeder, but who do not give McKinley and Banneker a chance either.

There was a long Banneker thread here a few months ago. Essentially, yes, academics there are higher than other black-majority schools, but lower than TJ, Wilson, SWS, so there's no particular reason why a white family would choose to send their kids there.

Have you looked at test scores and college admission rates? Where do you get your information about Banneker having lower academics than SWS or Wilson? As a previous poster stated, many white students probably would not pass the admission test. Anyway, the school is doing quite well without white students.

Current Banneker parent here, regarding the bolded, Banneker does not have an admissions test. There is an interview and an essay.

Thank you. Can you clarify something else: is there some kind of counselling out for kids, especially boys, who are not up to academic standards? I've heard that happens often, but not sure how, and whether it's purely voluntary or not.

I'm the patent who wants kids to not be accepted, because they can't handle pressure. If accepted, I want them counseled out. Find the best education experience for your child, instead of ruining it for everyone.

If your boy is a problem, save the rest of us from him.

Are you nuts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not considering Bannecker for my white dd simply because it
is about to undergo a renovation and kids will be in a holding school for 2 yrs.
That is not fun in HS. Once it is renovated though, I bet people of all
races will rush to apply.

With the test results that came out today, I hope more people rethink this mindset. Banneker kicked ass at PARCC. Nominal difference with SWW and SWW has 20% while Banneker has 60%. wow!

What? SWW beat Banneker at reading by 20 points, and math by 40! How is that anywhere near nominal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not considering Bannecker for my white dd simply because it
is about to undergo a renovation and kids will be in a holding school for 2 yrs.
That is not fun in HS. Once it is renovated though, I bet people of all
races will rush to apply.

With the test results that came out today, I hope more people rethink this mindset. Banneker kicked ass at PARCC. Nominal difference with SWW and SWW has 20% while Banneker has 60%. wow!

What? SWW beat Banneker at reading by 20 points, and math by 40! How is that anywhere near nominal?

Hey folks, why don't we leave SWW and Banneker aside for a couple of days, and discuss the dismal state of DC public education, per today's PARCC results?

Should Kaya resign?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Hey folks, why don't we leave SWW and Banneker aside for a couple of days, and discuss the dismal state of DC public education, per today's PARCC results?

Should Kaya resign?

Those are some depressing scores, but I don't know what getting rid of Kaya Henderson would do. Do you really think someone else can solve this better?

[Anonymous]

Paying hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate failing schools clearly hasn't worked, and that was Kaya's idea. Maybe someone else will actually have a plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Paying hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate failing schools clearly hasn't worked, and that was Kaya's idea. Maybe someone else will actually have a plan.

So you think that kids from tougher situations should be left with crappy conditions in their schools?

Congratulations, you get the heartless award of the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Paying hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate failing schools clearly hasn't worked, and that was Kaya's idea. Maybe someone else will actually have a plan.

So you think that kids from tougher situations should be left with crappy conditions in their schools?

Congratulations, you get the heartless award of the day.

That is exactly what PP thinks. PP truly believes that until students from underperforming schools achieve at the same level as their snowflake, then they should continue to languish in a squalid school building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Paying hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate failing schools clearly hasn't worked, and that was Kaya's idea. Maybe someone else will actually have a plan.

So you think that kids from tougher situations should be left with crappy conditions in their schools?

Congratulations, you get the heartless award of the day.

Congrats, YOU get the heartless and brainless award of the day.

I'm not the previous PP, but her point is clear. Shiny buildings do not great schools make -- as we can see in any of the recent academic scores. Rather than continue to fail kids and more kids, those dismal schools should be closed down, and a serious plan established to offer a better alternative. One hundred million dollars equal either one shinny school building or 2-year salaries for 1,000 teachers.

Admit it, you don't care about the kids.

[Anonymous]

I know this had been said before, but some kids just don't want to learn. And their parents, in many cases can't help them or push them.

It's sad that this is the reality, but what can be done? I hear about wrap around services etc. but you can only do so much. It's a lost cause.

Until there is no more poverty we will face test score as such in the future. I feel bad for these kids, but I'm worried about my own in their up and coming school.