Reply to Banneker versus School Without Walls

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here. Thanks to everyone for your feedback! Today I visited Banneker with my daughter. The building is breathtaking - an open concept with many common spaces, magnificent art room with outdoor art space. If anything seems to be lacking (e.g. electives, restricted foreign languages) this may be because Banneker has long been cramped in tight quarters. Banneker will be able to double in size over time and hire more teachers. There are some misconceptions/outdated information in some of these posts. I specifically asked about math (one post said they do not offer BC Calculus), and was told that although there is not a lot of demand for the most accelerated math they will accommodate students who are ahead. The tour guide said for example that a student had entered ninth grade who had already completed algebra 2/trig and that they accommodated this student. She said that the kids are a studious bunch some of whom take AP macroeconomics as an after school activity. The building is quiet despite it's open concept, and nothing ever gets stolen. They also have many sports and partnerships with other schools if a sport is lacking. They teach Shakespeare and they take the kids to a Shakespeare play every year (except during covid). The tour guide was one of the English teachers, and her commitment to rigorous and engaging instruction really showed. She looked like a really fun teacher, and said that her students were very well prepared for college (even that college was easy for them compared to Banneker). Positive impression of the principal. The IB program sounds small but very rigorous. I would encourage anyone who is interested to get a building tour. There is also a recorded open house online.[/quote]

+1 I asked about math also. The kid has to test out the actually class to take the advanced class. In my experience, this is the norm. Our tour guide was a science teacher (and robotics club sponsor) who was enthusiastic about the kids. They have had to hire additional science teachers because of demand. In anticipate more offerings s they grow into the space...[/quote]

I don’t think that’s a bad policy but other schools do not let kids test out of classes.  Banneker makes all freshmen take Algebra I regardless of middle school transcript.  The only way out of that is to test.  At other DCPS high schools if the kid has Algebra I on their transcript from middle school they are automatically given that credit.[/quote]

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