Anonymous
02/19/2026 09:38
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Gotta have an excellent 7th grade GPA. Spend 6th grade teaching your kid study and organization skills so they can earn a good GPA in 7th.
There is an application rubric on MyschoolDC that sets out the requirements for each school.
Look into Sojourner Truth as another lottery option.
I would look into all the threads circulating now about Walls etc. It’s not as straightforward as just getting a good GPA in 7th grade. It’s definitely a necessity, but it’s essentially a crap shoot in many cases and no one really knows why some get in and some don’t.
This. There is no black & white answer for who gets in Walls and who doesn't. And that's true for all of the selective schools. People here just hyperfocus on Walls.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 07:51
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I would also like to know about Latin, Basis and DCI. Sorry to piggyback but I’m considering all options as well as DCPS.
The best (and nearly only) way to get into DCI is through a feeder elementary school. There are a handful of true lottery kids, but it’s rare.
It's not that rare right now. It will become more rare.
https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay
DCI's lottery seats are mostly going to kids from feeder schools. It is not reflected in the tableau site, but the feeder kids get first dibs at the lottery spots that are over and above the feeder school's allocated spots.
But you can see on each feeder school's data in that database whether there were actually any feeder kids who didn't get a feeder spot.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 07:43
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I would also like to know about Latin, Basis and DCI. Sorry to piggyback but I’m considering all options as well as DCPS.
The best (and nearly only) way to get into DCI is through a feeder elementary school. There are a handful of true lottery kids, but it’s rare.
It's not that rare right now. It will become more rare.
https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay
DCI's lottery seats are mostly going to kids from feeder schools. It is not reflected in the tableau site, but the feeder kids get first dibs at the lottery spots that are over and above the feeder school's allocated spots.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 07:35
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Gotta have an excellent 7th grade GPA. Spend 6th grade teaching your kid study and organization skills so they can earn a good GPA in 7th.
There is an application rubric on MyschoolDC that sets out the requirements for each school.
Look into Sojourner Truth as another lottery option.
I would look into all the threads circulating now about Walls etc. It’s not as straightforward as just getting a good GPA in 7th grade. It’s definitely a necessity, but it’s essentially a crap shoot in many cases and no one really knows why some get in and some don’t.
This is why there's a lot of talk about Eastern in my social circle. Seems like it's at the end of everyone's list.
What does this comment mean? That students will be going to Eastern? That they are considering it?
To answer the original question, from our experience this year -- Banneker has an essay on MySchoolDC app. McKinley and Walls have you do the essay in person when you come for the interview. McKinley interview is a group (3-4 8th graders, a few teaches, and one current student). Not sure about Walls or Banneker. Eastern has an honors program (EPIC) you can apply to, but it is not on MySchool, so you put Eastern on your lottery list (or don't, if you are at a feeder) and complete the EPIC application separately. For those thinking of Duke Ellington - each program is a separate option on MySchoolDC, and I think you are only allowed to apply to two.
I mean that people seem to be listing Eastern as a school they will attend if they don't get into a selective school or Latin. I went to the Eastern open house and it was well-attended. It's in my list.
I predict a significant bump at Eastern this year in the EPIC/pre-IB program. So many families impacted by DOGE that won’t have other options.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 06:34
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Gotta have an excellent 7th grade GPA. Spend 6th grade teaching your kid study and organization skills so they can earn a good GPA in 7th.
There is an application rubric on MyschoolDC that sets out the requirements for each school.
Look into Sojourner Truth as another lottery option.
I would look into all the threads circulating now about Walls etc. It’s not as straightforward as just getting a good GPA in 7th grade. It’s definitely a necessity, but it’s essentially a crap shoot in many cases and no one really knows why some get in and some don’t.
This is why there's a lot of talk about Eastern in my social circle. Seems like it's at the end of everyone's list.
What does this comment mean? That students will be going to Eastern? That they are considering it?
To answer the original question, from our experience this year -- Banneker has an essay on MySchoolDC app. McKinley and Walls have you do the essay in person when you come for the interview. McKinley interview is a group (3-4 8th graders, a few teaches, and one current student). Not sure about Walls or Banneker. Eastern has an honors program (EPIC) you can apply to, but it is not on MySchool, so you put Eastern on your lottery list (or don't, if you are at a feeder) and complete the EPIC application separately. For those thinking of Duke Ellington - each program is a separate option on MySchoolDC, and I think you are only allowed to apply to two.
I mean that people seem to be listing Eastern as a school they will attend if they don't get into a selective school or Latin. I went to the Eastern open house and it was well-attended. It's in my list.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 06:27
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I would also like to know about Latin, Basis and DCI. Sorry to piggyback but I’m considering all options as well as DCPS.
The best (and nearly only) way to get into DCI is through a feeder elementary school. There are a handful of true lottery kids, but it’s rare.
It's not that rare right now. It will become more rare.
https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay
Anonymous
02/19/2026 00:30
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:I would also like to know about Latin, Basis and DCI. Sorry to piggyback but I’m considering all options as well as DCPS.
The best (and nearly only) way to get into DCI is through a feeder elementary school. There are a handful of true lottery kids, but it’s rare.
Anonymous
02/18/2026 23:40
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Also, save your post or question for after May 1. Parents at application schools are in the throes of essay/interview process and do not yet have hot takes for 7th graders.
Anonymous
02/18/2026 23:32
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Gotta have an excellent 7th grade GPA. Spend 6th grade teaching your kid study and organization skills so they can earn a good GPA in 7th.
There is an application rubric on MyschoolDC that sets out the requirements for each school.
Look into Sojourner Truth as another lottery option.
I would look into all the threads circulating now about Walls etc. It’s not as straightforward as just getting a good GPA in 7th grade. It’s definitely a necessity, but it’s essentially a crap shoot in many cases and no one really knows why some get in and some don’t.
This is why there's a lot of talk about Eastern in my social circle. Seems like it's at the end of everyone's list.
What does this comment mean? That students will be going to Eastern? That they are considering it?
To answer the original question, from our experience this year -- Banneker has an essay on MySchoolDC app. McKinley and Walls have you do the essay in person when you come for the interview. McKinley interview is a group (3-4 8th graders, a few teaches, and one current student). Not sure about Walls or Banneker. Eastern has an honors program (EPIC) you can apply to, but it is not on MySchool, so you put Eastern on your lottery list (or don't, if you are at a feeder) and complete the EPIC application separately. For those thinking of Duke Ellington - each program is a separate option on MySchoolDC, and I think you are only allowed to apply to two.
Anonymous
02/18/2026 21:37
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Gotta have an excellent 7th grade GPA. Spend 6th grade teaching your kid study and organization skills so they can earn a good GPA in 7th.
There is an application rubric on MyschoolDC that sets out the requirements for each school.
Look into Sojourner Truth as another lottery option.
I would look into all the threads circulating now about Walls etc. It’s not as straightforward as just getting a good GPA in 7th grade. It’s definitely a necessity, but it’s essentially a crap shoot in many cases and no one really knows why some get in and some don’t.
This is why there's a lot of talk about Eastern in my social circle. Seems like it's at the end of everyone's list.
Anonymous
02/18/2026 21:32
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
I'm approaching this by helping my kid get the best GPA she can, and by doing some research into non-selective schools my DC can get into without a good lottery number. And I'm fortunate enough to be able to move and have my ducks in a row financially and to rent out my current place if it comes to that. So sort of a three part strategy.
Anonymous
02/18/2026 21:03
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Gotta have an excellent 7th grade GPA. Spend 6th grade teaching your kid study and organization skills so they can earn a good GPA in 7th.
There is an application rubric on MyschoolDC that sets out the requirements for each school.
Look into Sojourner Truth as another lottery option.
I would look into all the threads circulating now about Walls etc. It’s not as straightforward as just getting a good GPA in 7th grade. It’s definitely a necessity, but it’s essentially a crap shoot in many cases and no one really knows why some get in and some don’t.
Anonymous
02/18/2026 20:56
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Gotta have an excellent 7th grade GPA. Spend 6th grade teaching your kid study and organization skills so they can earn a good GPA in 7th.
There is an application rubric on MyschoolDC that sets out the requirements for each school.
Look into Sojourner Truth as another lottery option.
There is an application rubric on MyschoolDC that sets out the requirements for each school.
Look into Sojourner Truth as another lottery option.
Anonymous
02/18/2026 20:46
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
I would also like to know about Latin, Basis and DCI. Sorry to piggyback but I’m considering all options as well as DCPS.
Anonymous
02/18/2026 20:39
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
I’m a parent of a rising middle schooler. I am starting to think about DCPS’s selective high schools.
What should I know about the application process generally?
I have a shallow depth of knowledge re Walls and Banneker. What are the major differences of these two schools with regard to the application/admission process?
As I learn more about the other schools (excluding Ellington, which is not in the cards), for what should I be looking out?
What should I know about the application process generally?
I have a shallow depth of knowledge re Walls and Banneker. What are the major differences of these two schools with regard to the application/admission process?
As I learn more about the other schools (excluding Ellington, which is not in the cards), for what should I be looking out?