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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

I’m a DCPS HS teacher and no way would I send my kid to McKinley over Walls. Walls has a much higher performing student cohort [/quote]

Which is great if you are part of that higher-performing student cohort. But what if you're not? If you come to Walls, take Algebra 1 as freshman, and don't score proficient, that puts you in like the bottom 10%. Does the school know what to do with you? Are you getting the opportunities that Walls is helpful for? At McKinley, that's three-quarters of the freshman class. No one is going to write you off, they will work with you, and you will have a peer group and classes being taught at an appropriate level. [/quote]

A student taking Algebra 1 as a freshman should know he's at least year (really, 2) behind the curve already at Walls or JR. It would be advisable to take the course in summer school before freshman year to prepare, and depending on summer school results take be well prepared for Algebra 1 as a freshman or push on to Geometry.

[/quote]

I have been a teacher my entire life, and my kid is a very high achiever: 4.0, extracurriculars, etc. I prefer McKinley over Walls for what they offer and for the culture of the school. I’m sure the kids at Walls are great, but the school culture comes off as a little toxic (I get that from a teacher there I’ve spoken to who told me a little about how the kids interact on a daily basis.) We are also black, and I’ve heard SWW leans toward being self-segregated. I also know that even “the best” schools and “the best” teachers can show unfair treatment to black kids. I’m not saying Walls does this, but I am saying that there are a lot of factors involved than just test scores when considering schools for our family. We also like Banneker, but McKinley is high on our list. And Banneker cannot rival McKinley’s engineering program (nor can Walls), and my kid is interested in that program. So I’m not clutching my pearls that McKinley will let in some kids with a 3.0. Some parents need to get real. That’s just dumb. The kids there are serious, the teachers are dedicated, and it’s an all around solid school. If my kid got to study with Ken Lesley, I’d be very happy. I went to the open house last night, and I couldn’t believe what these kids do or the opportunities they get. Too much to list here. I’m aware that not all the kids at McKinley are performing at the highest level as the kids at the open house, but many are doing spectacular things. My kid is excited to potentially join that cohort, and I have no doubt he’d thrive at McKinley. If someone’s knee jerk reaction is that it’s not a good school without having actually investigated by going to open houses, STEM Fests, talking to students, teachers, admins, fellow parents, etc., then I’m glad they are staying away. I don’t think McKinley is interested in parents like them either. Win Win all around. [/quote]

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