Banneker v. Wilson

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My understanding (based largely on one friend with a kid there, so take it with a grain of salt) is that Banneker is very into piling on the homework and tests. Academic rigor = many many assignments which may or may not be too easy, or too hard--keeping kids occupied much of the day with academic work. THis is the opposite of what would suit us or our kid, but YMMV. Wilson has less of that, more ability for the kid to choose a mix of classes, more extracurriculars.

This is the opposite of what would suit your kid? Doing academic work at school?

[Anonymous]

And now we are back to what was said earlier in this thread — wealthier (and whiter) parents know on some level that their kids don’t have to put on the same amount of work to earn a place in college or the workforce.

First generation prospective college students and most black students can’t afford to take that approach. They still need to work harder to prove that they belong at a good college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And now we are back to what was said earlier in this thread — wealthier (and whiter) parents know on some level that their kids don’t have to put on the same amount of work to earn a place in college or the workforce.

First generation prospective college students and most black students can’t afford to take that approach. They still need to work harder to prove that they belong at a good college.

Actually if you read the links earlier in the thread from a Banneker graduate, it sounds like a lot of what they are doing is making up for gaps in the preparation of a lot of bright kids that have been ill served by DCPS’s less successful schools. My kid has been well served by DCPS’s schools and does not need that kind of hand holding and it would completely turn her off from school.

[Anonymous]

"-keeping kids occupied much of the day with academic work. THis is the opposite of what would suit us or our kid, but YMMV. Wilson has less of that, more ability for the kid to choose a mix of classes, more extracurriculars."


"This is the opposite of what would suit your kid? Doing academic work at school?"

It's not just at school, it's many hours at home of what may or may not be interesting work. I would rather have my kid read, talk to their siblings, draw, sleep 9 hours, pursue interests that genuinely engage them than spend hours on memorization & online quizzes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"-keeping kids occupied much of the day with academic work. THis is the opposite of what would suit us or our kid, but YMMV. Wilson has less of that, more ability for the kid to choose a mix of classes, more extracurriculars."


"This is the opposite of what would suit your kid? Doing academic work at school?"

It's not just at school, it's many hours at home of what may or may not be interesting work. I would rather have my kid read, talk to their siblings, draw, sleep 9 hours, pursue interests that genuinely engage them than spend hours on memorization & online quizzes

But you would put your kid at Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

But you would put your kid at Sidwell.

Nope!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And now we are back to what was said earlier in this thread — wealthier (and whiter) parents know on some level that their kids don’t have to put on the same amount of work to earn a place in college or the workforce.

First generation prospective college students and most black students can’t afford to take that approach. They still need to work harder to prove that they belong at a good college.

Yeah right. Just keep telling yourself that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And now we are back to what was said earlier in this thread — wealthier (and whiter) parents know on some level that their kids don’t have to put on the same amount of work to earn a place in college or the workforce.

First generation prospective college students and most black students can’t afford to take that approach. They still need to work harder to prove that they belong at a good college.

+1000
Asian parent here. I’d pick Banneker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In STEM, Banneker offers AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Environmental Science and AP Stat. Their IB program only offers Biology at Higher Level and math studies at Standard Level. Math studies; is the lowest level of IB math offered, and it is geared toward kids who won't major in STEM in college. It is lower level math than AP Calc AB.

Wilson offers AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Physics (both parts), AP Calc AB and BC, AP Comp Sci, AP Environmental Science, and AP Stat. I think my STEM kid will be more at home at Wilson.

Why not McKinley?

DP: A few years ago, some of the kids at Deal who were interested McKinley asked about math classes and pointed out that they had already taken Geometry and Algebra II t Deal. They wanted to know what the math track would be like. McKinley wasn't prepared for these kids. The kids were really disappointed because they wanted a STEM school. They chose Wilson for SciMaTech.

I can't speak for a few years ago, but I don't think this is still true. The school offers Honors PreCalc and AP Calc (AB and BC), a couple AP computer science courses. And then they've got honors and AP bio, chem and physics, and very interesting biotech and IT departments/offerings. I don't think you could say they aren't prepared for advanced math students today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And now we are back to what was said earlier in this thread — wealthier (and whiter) parents know on some level that their kids don’t have to put on the same amount of work to earn a place in college or the workforce.

First generation prospective college students and most black students can’t afford to take that approach. They still need to work harder to prove that they belong at a good college.

Actually if you read the links earlier in the thread from a Banneker graduate, it sounds like a lot of what they are doing is making up for gaps in the preparation of a lot of bright kids that have been ill served by DCPS’s less successful schools. My kid has been well served by DCPS’s schools and does not need that kind of hand holding and it would completely turn her off from school.

This. I have been wanting to post this for as long as this thread has been running, but I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.
The hard work Banneker students are putting in is the hard work of catching up that other prospective high-schoolers don't need because they have been better prepared from preschool to 8th grade. Banneker is a magnet school for disadvantaged smart and hardworking kids whose academic needs weren't fully met for most of their education. Why would it be racist for upper middle class hothousing-without-even-noticing white parents to think that Banneker isn't right for their kids? Why do folks love to say "look deep inside of yourself, because there is racism there if you don't even consider Banneker for your kid" when it so clearly has a mission that doesn't match the need of most white families in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In STEM, Banneker offers AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Environmental Science and AP Stat. Their IB program only offers Biology at Higher Level and math studies at Standard Level. Math studies; is the lowest level of IB math offered, and it is geared toward kids who won't major in STEM in college. It is lower level math than AP Calc AB.

Wilson offers AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Physics (both parts), AP Calc AB and BC, AP Comp Sci, AP Environmental Science, and AP Stat. I think my STEM kid will be more at home at Wilson.

Why not McKinley?

DP: A few years ago, some of the kids at Deal who were interested McKinley asked about math classes and pointed out that they had already taken Geometry and Algebra II t Deal. They wanted to know what the math track would be like. McKinley wasn't prepared for these kids. The kids were really disappointed because they wanted a STEM school. They chose Wilson for SciMaTech.

I can't speak for a few years ago, but I don't think this is still true. The school offers Honors PreCalc and AP Calc (AB and BC), a couple AP computer science courses. And then they've got honors and AP bio, chem and physics, and very interesting biotech and IT departments/offerings. I don't think you could say they aren't prepared for advanced math students today.

You are correct. The PPP is posting out of date information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And now we are back to what was said earlier in this thread — wealthier (and whiter) parents know on some level that their kids don’t have to put on the same amount of work to earn a place in college or the workforce.

First generation prospective college students and most black students can’t afford to take that approach. They still need to work harder to prove that they belong at a good college.

Actually if you read the links earlier in the thread from a Banneker graduate, it sounds like a lot of what they are doing is making up for gaps in the preparation of a lot of bright kids that have been ill served by DCPS’s less successful schools. My kid has been well served by DCPS’s schools and does not need that kind of hand holding and it would completely turn her off from school.

This. I have been wanting to post this for as long as this thread has been running, but I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.
The hard work Banneker students are putting in is the hard work of catching up that other prospective high-schoolers don't need because they have been better prepared from preschool to 8th grade. Banneker is a magnet school for disadvantaged smart and hardworking kids whose academic needs weren't fully met for most of their education. Why would it be racist for upper middle class hothousing-without-even-noticing white parents to think that Banneker isn't right for their kids? Why do folks love to say "look deep inside of yourself, because there is racism there if you don't even consider Banneker for your kid" when it so clearly has a mission that doesn't match the need of most white families in DC?

What?

Every student at Banneker must score a 4 or 5 on PARCC, write an essay, complete an interview, and carry a 3.0 GPA for admissions.

On what basis are you asserting that their academic needs "weren't fully met" or that they are disadvantaged? Only 20% are eligible for an at-risk designation, fewer than Wilson (24%).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And now we are back to what was said earlier in this thread — wealthier (and whiter) parents know on some level that their kids don’t have to put on the same amount of work to earn a place in college or the workforce.

First generation prospective college students and most black students can’t afford to take that approach. They still need to work harder to prove that they belong at a good college.

Actually if you read the links earlier in the thread from a Banneker graduate, it sounds like a lot of what they are doing is making up for gaps in the preparation of a lot of bright kids that have been ill served by DCPS’s less successful schools. My kid has been well served by DCPS’s schools and does not need that kind of hand holding and it would completely turn her off from school.

This. I have been wanting to post this for as long as this thread has been running, but I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.
The hard work Banneker students are putting in is the hard work of catching up that other prospective high-schoolers don't need because they have been better prepared from preschool to 8th grade. Banneker is a magnet school for disadvantaged smart and hardworking kids whose academic needs weren't fully met for most of their education. Why would it be racist for upper middle class hothousing-without-even-noticing white parents to think that Banneker isn't right for their kids? Why do folks love to say "look deep inside of yourself, because there is racism there if you don't even consider Banneker for your kid" when it so clearly has a mission that doesn't match the need of most white families in DC?

What?

Every student at Banneker must score a 4 or 5 on PARCC, write an essay, complete an interview, and carry a 3.0 GPA for admissions.

On what basis are you asserting that their academic needs "weren't fully met" or that they are disadvantaged? Only 20% are eligible for an at-risk designation, fewer than Wilson (24%).

I asserted their academic needs weren't fully met based on this post by a Banneker grad https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/648781.page#11072989

She said :

90% of us went to elementary and middle schools with lackluster academics and rampant behavior problems.

With the exception of the handful of kids who went to private schools or relocated from somewhere outside of the District, everyone had to deal with the same B.S. and is happy to be done with that.

after years of getting A's for doing little to no work, some people couldn't adjust to 2-3 hours of homework every night and being challenged for small mistakes. I was a straight A student my entire life. Banneker is the first place I ever got a C, then a D, and eventually an F. They used to tell us all the time that being in the top 10% of our middle school class meant absolutely nothing because DC has the worst education system in the country.

my personal opinion is that Banneker is for those kids who are from DCPS and who need to be given adequate college prep and need to erase some of the damage that DCPS does.

[Anonymous]

Did it occur to you that the Banneker grad provided good but dated information that may or may not be relevant to 2019?

That PP went to UNC and got a MA from GWU. So at least 6 and probably more years ago.

Things in DC education are changing rapidly. The most talented kid in my kid's HRC class (now a freshman in college) went to Banneker and then Hardy.

They were hardly ill-prepared or underserved in elementary or middle school and went on to Barnard on a scholarship.

[Anonymous]

Oops - obviously Hardy than Banneker.