In-boundary schools worth considering?

[Anonymous]

Hello! I've been searching the forums and getting a lot of great information. What I'm not seeing necessarily is solid opinions (that's perhaps an oxymoron) on any in-boundary DC high schools that are worth considering. I have a current 8th grader & we will be moving to DC for next school year (2022-2023), starting high school there in 9th grade. We are flexible about where we live in the city, though our budget is not Georgetown necessarily. From what I'm hearing here, we might be able to find something in Wilson boundaries, but I'm wondering if there are really no other good high schools in-boundary. Our son is into engineering/tech, and is a motivated, social kid. I'm going to explore and apply to selective schools, but we're public school only kind of family. Any info on any other in-boundary schools to consider in DC proper (not VA or MD)? Thank you in advance!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello! I've been searching the forums and getting a lot of great information. What I'm not seeing necessarily is solid opinions (that's perhaps an oxymoron) on any in-boundary DC high schools that are worth considering. I have a current 8th grader & we will be moving to DC for next school year (2022-2023), starting high school there in 9th grade. We are flexible about where we live in the city, though our budget is not Georgetown necessarily. From what I'm hearing here, we might be able to find something in Wilson boundaries, but I'm wondering if there are really no other good high schools in-boundary. Our son is into engineering/tech, and is a motivated, social kid. I'm going to explore and apply to selective schools, but we're public school only kind of family. Any info on any other in-boundary schools to consider in DC proper (not VA or MD)? Thank you in advance!

You have it right, the only really strong by-right high school is probably Wilson. But if you include charter and test-in schools there are many more options, they just aren't admitted by geography.

[Anonymous]

Wilson has by far the highest test scores. I think a motivated kid can do fine at other schools so long as they aren't distracted by a majority of kids working below grade level. For example, Eastern has an International Baccalaureate program. A smart and focused kid who will do well anywhere might do well there and would stand out.

But Wilson is certainly the safest bet for having a larger group of kids working at grade level. It's also bigger than the other high schools so there are more electives and extracurriculars offered. There are charters and magnet schools too but you'd need to see how the lottery goes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wilson has by far the highest test scores. I think a motivated kid can do fine at other schools so long as they aren't distracted by a majority of kids working below grade level. For example, Eastern has an International Baccalaureate program. A smart and focused kid who will do well anywhere might do well there and would stand out.

But Wilson is certainly the safest bet for having a larger group of kids working at grade level. It's also bigger than the other high schools so there are more electives and extracurriculars offered. There are charters and magnet schools too but you'd need to see how the lottery goes.

Are charters and magnet schools different from selective schools? I'm obviously still very early on in my planning, so Google is my friend, but can't hurt to ask!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wilson has by far the highest test scores. I think a motivated kid can do fine at other schools so long as they aren't distracted by a majority of kids working below grade level. For example, Eastern has an International Baccalaureate program. A smart and focused kid who will do well anywhere might do well there and would stand out.

But Wilson is certainly the safest bet for having a larger group of kids working at grade level. It's also bigger than the other high schools so there are more electives and extracurriculars offered. There are charters and magnet schools too but you'd need to see how the lottery goes.

Are charters and magnet schools different from selective schools? I'm obviously still very early on in my planning, so Google is my friend, but can't hurt to ask!

People use different words to describe them, but magnet schools are test-in schools like School Without Walls, Banneker and Duke Ellington. Anyone can apply but there is selective admission criteria. Charters are city-wide schools. There are no selective admission criteria, but you need to lottery for a spot, as there are often more applicants than available slots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wilson has by far the highest test scores. I think a motivated kid can do fine at other schools so long as they aren't distracted by a majority of kids working below grade level. For example, Eastern has an International Baccalaureate program. A smart and focused kid who will do well anywhere might do well there and would stand out.

But Wilson is certainly the safest bet for having a larger group of kids working at grade level. It's also bigger than the other high schools so there are more electives and extracurriculars offered. There are charters and magnet schools too but you'd need to see how the lottery goes.

OP do not send your kid to Eastern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wilson has by far the highest test scores. I think a motivated kid can do fine at other schools so long as they aren't distracted by a majority of kids working below grade level. For example, Eastern has an International Baccalaureate program. A smart and focused kid who will do well anywhere might do well there and would stand out.

But Wilson is certainly the safest bet for having a larger group of kids working at grade level. It's also bigger than the other high schools so there are more electives and extracurriculars offered. There are charters and magnet schools too but you'd need to see how the lottery goes.

Are charters and magnet schools different from selective schools? I'm obviously still very early on in my planning, so Google is my friend, but can't hurt to ask!

People use different words to describe them, but magnet schools are test-in schools like School Without Walls, Banneker and Duke Ellington. Anyone can apply but there is selective admission criteria. Charters are city-wide schools. There are no selective admission criteria, but you need to lottery for a spot, as there are often more applicants than available slots.

McKinley Tech could b a good fit for OP.

[Anonymous]

Longtime DC resident and DCPS parent. Do yourself a favor and move to Northern Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wilson has by far the highest test scores. I think a motivated kid can do fine at other schools so long as they aren't distracted by a majority of kids working below grade level. For example, Eastern has an International Baccalaureate program. A smart and focused kid who will do well anywhere might do well there and would stand out.

But Wilson is certainly the safest bet for having a larger group of kids working at grade level. It's also bigger than the other high schools so there are more electives and extracurriculars offered. There are charters and magnet schools too but you'd need to see how the lottery goes.

This thinking is nuts. Eastern IBD program is essentially hopeless. Ask any UMC parent on Capitol Hill that's looked into the program. Eastern's average pass points totals for IB are in the mid 20s on a 24-45 points pass scale. That's basically a D in IBD terms. There are any number of suburban IBD programs in the Metro area, in Fairfax, Arlington and Montgomery Country, with pass points totals in the mid to high 30s, sort of an B+ or A- in IBD terms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wilson has by far the highest test scores. I think a motivated kid can do fine at other schools so long as they aren't distracted by a majority of kids working below grade level. For example, Eastern has an International Baccalaureate program. A smart and focused kid who will do well anywhere might do well there and would stand out.

But Wilson is certainly the safest bet for having a larger group of kids working at grade level. It's also bigger than the other high schools so there are more electives and extracurriculars offered. There are charters and magnet schools too but you'd need to see how the lottery goes.

Are charters and magnet schools different from selective schools? I'm obviously still very early on in my planning, so Google is my friend, but can't hurt to ask!

People use different words to describe them, but magnet schools are test-in schools like School Without Walls, Banneker and Duke Ellington. Anyone can apply but there is selective admission criteria. Charters are city-wide schools. There are no selective admission criteria, but you need to lottery for a spot, as there are often more applicants than available slots.

McKinley Tech could b a good fit for OP.

Watch out. We know a couple white families at McKinley Tech. The school's teachers, college counselors and admins cheer when kids score 3s on AP math and sciences, all but useless scores for white kids applying to competitive colleges. Those kids need 4s and 5s on AP. The program serves low SES minorities who are welcome at elite colleges with 3s on AP tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wilson has by far the highest test scores. I think a motivated kid can do fine at other schools so long as they aren't distracted by a majority of kids working below grade level. For example, Eastern has an International Baccalaureate program. A smart and focused kid who will do well anywhere might do well there and would stand out.

But Wilson is certainly the safest bet for having a larger group of kids working at grade level. It's also bigger than the other high schools so there are more electives and extracurriculars offered. There are charters and magnet schools too but you'd need to see how the lottery goes.

Are charters and magnet schools different from selective schools? I'm obviously still very early on in my planning, so Google is my friend, but can't hurt to ask!

People use different words to describe them, but magnet schools are test-in schools like School Without Walls, Banneker and Duke Ellington. Anyone can apply but there is selective admission criteria. Charters are city-wide schools. There are no selective admission criteria, but you need to lottery for a spot, as there are often more applicants than available slots.

McKinley Tech could b a good fit for OP.

Watch out. We know a couple white families at McKinley Tech. The school's teachers, college counselors and admins cheer when kids score 3s on AP math and sciences, all but useless scores for white kids applying to competitive colleges. Those kids need 4s and 5s on AP. The program serves low SES minorities who are welcome at elite colleges with 3s on AP tests.

Who said I want my white kid to go to an elite college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wilson has by far the highest test scores. I think a motivated kid can do fine at other schools so long as they aren't distracted by a majority of kids working below grade level. For example, Eastern has an International Baccalaureate program. A smart and focused kid who will do well anywhere might do well there and would stand out.

But Wilson is certainly the safest bet for having a larger group of kids working at grade level. It's also bigger than the other high schools so there are more electives and extracurriculars offered. There are charters and magnet schools too but you'd need to see how the lottery goes.

Are charters and magnet schools different from selective schools? I'm obviously still very early on in my planning, so Google is my friend, but can't hurt to ask!

People use different words to describe them, but magnet schools are test-in schools like School Without Walls, Banneker and Duke Ellington. Anyone can apply but there is selective admission criteria. Charters are city-wide schools. There are no selective admission criteria, but you need to lottery for a spot, as there are often more applicants than available slots.

McKinley Tech could b a good fit for OP.

Watch out. We know a couple white families at McKinley Tech. The school's teachers, college counselors and admins cheer when kids score 3s on AP math and sciences, all but useless scores for white kids applying to competitive colleges. Those kids need 4s and 5s on AP. The program serves low SES minorities who are welcome at elite colleges with 3s on AP tests.

Who said I want my white kid to go to an elite college?

If you consider a school good because the have a program, McKinley or Eastern (with IB) qualifies as good. If good requires that program actually be taught to a standard where kids do well on the outside assessments, then neither are good

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Longtime DC resident and DCPS parent. Do yourself a favor and move to Northern Virginia.

Longtime DC resident, DCPS parent, and person who grew up in northern Virginia—move to upper NW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Longtime DC resident and DCPS parent. Do yourself a favor and move to Northern Virginia.

Longtime DC resident, DCPS parent, and person who grew up in northern Virginia—move to upper NW.

I mean, this advice boils down to "Be Rich" and that's not particularly helpful advice for anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Longtime DC resident and DCPS parent. Do yourself a favor and move to Northern Virginia.

Longtime DC resident, DCPS parent, and person who grew up in northern Virginia—move to upper NW.

I mean, this advice boils down to "Be Rich" and that's not particularly helpful advice for anyone.

Which is basically the truth if you want a decent inbound HS in DC.