Anonymous
03/06/2026 22:39
Subject: Re:New to Banneker
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anyone else have recent info on whether an admitted child will be allowed to enroll as a 9th grader if they cannot attend summer bridge? I know this is a very privileged thing to ask, but our child really wants to go to Banneker but also is deeply committed to the final year of a life-changing Quaker summer camp that involves a 10-day hike and the culmination of six years of growth and community. If she got in and Banneker said no to missing it and then she had to choose, she would choose camp (it's that critical to her identity and community), in which case she should change her rankings so that she can have a shot at her #2 choice school. But if there's a good chance that Banneker will allow her to miss summer bridge (and of course she'd do any work/testing required; she just wouldn't attend the program itself), then she will stick with Banneker as her #1 choice. (FYI, we referenced this question a bit in the family interview, but the Dean of Students and a teacher basically just gave us blank stares and nodded when we said we would "cross that bridge if and when she's lucky enough to be offered a spot.")
Thank you so much in advance for any recent insights into what the school might do in this situation!!
Fire at the center forever. My DD was bawling last year after aging out of the regular camp.
BSI is highly recommended, but not required. Several students last year did not attend and began the year just fine. I do suggest that your student connect with a peer to find out what might be due at the beginning of the year as some of that is assigned in BSI. If memory serves me, they read "Passing" last summer.
All of Bannekers summer work will be posted on their website. It feels like a lot but is a good early exercise in time management.
Anonymous
03/06/2026 19:19
Subject: Re:New to Banneker
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anyone else have recent info on whether an admitted child will be allowed to enroll as a 9th grader if they cannot attend summer bridge? I know this is a very privileged thing to ask, but our child really wants to go to Banneker but also is deeply committed to the final year of a life-changing Quaker summer camp that involves a 10-day hike and the culmination of six years of growth and community. If she got in and Banneker said no to missing it and then she had to choose, she would choose camp (it's that critical to her identity and community), in which case she should change her rankings so that she can have a shot at her #2 choice school. But if there's a good chance that Banneker will allow her to miss summer bridge (and of course she'd do any work/testing required; she just wouldn't attend the program itself), then she will stick with Banneker as her #1 choice. (FYI, we referenced this question a bit in the family interview, but the Dean of Students and a teacher basically just gave us blank stares and nodded when we said we would "cross that bridge if and when she's lucky enough to be offered a spot.")
Thank you so much in advance for any recent insights into what the school might do in this situation!!
Fire at the center forever. My DD was bawling last year after aging out of the regular camp.
BSI is highly recommended, but not required. Several students last year did not attend and began the year just fine. I do suggest that your student connect with a peer to find out what might be due at the beginning of the year as some of that is assigned in BSI. If memory serves me, they read "Passing" last summer.
Anonymous
03/06/2026 08:59
Subject: New to Banneker
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:As a parent participant this past year, I found the Banneker parent interview more engaging and interesting. Three reps from the school. They were open, honest, and inquisitive towards me. (Also funny.) The Walls interview, by contrast, was one teacher and one student and seemed more like a formal chore. The Banneker folks seemed to actually enjoy the meeting.
Yes, limited sample size, so don’t read into this. But I did notice a clear difference.
This exact experience at both this year.
+1
After completing both interviews we switched the ranking of our lottery application to put Banneker #1
My kid made the choice to do this, too. He was accepted into Banneker and loves it. The academic structure of the school is what really appealed to him.
Anonymous
03/06/2026 03:53
Subject: New to Banneker
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:As a parent participant this past year, I found the Banneker parent interview more engaging and interesting. Three reps from the school. They were open, honest, and inquisitive towards me. (Also funny.) The Walls interview, by contrast, was one teacher and one student and seemed more like a formal chore. The Banneker folks seemed to actually enjoy the meeting.
Yes, limited sample size, so don’t read into this. But I did notice a clear difference.
This exact experience at both this year.
+1
After completing both interviews we switched the ranking of our lottery application to put Banneker #1
Wasn’t aware this could be done!
Anonymous
03/05/2026 22:58
Subject: New to Banneker
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:As a parent participant this past year, I found the Banneker parent interview more engaging and interesting. Three reps from the school. They were open, honest, and inquisitive towards me. (Also funny.) The Walls interview, by contrast, was one teacher and one student and seemed more like a formal chore. The Banneker folks seemed to actually enjoy the meeting.
Yes, limited sample size, so don’t read into this. But I did notice a clear difference.
This exact experience at both this year.
+1
After completing both interviews we switched the ranking of our lottery application to put Banneker #1
Anonymous
03/05/2026 20:20
Subject: New to Banneker
Anonymous wrote:As a parent participant this past year, I found the Banneker parent interview more engaging and interesting. Three reps from the school. They were open, honest, and inquisitive towards me. (Also funny.) The Walls interview, by contrast, was one teacher and one student and seemed more like a formal chore. The Banneker folks seemed to actually enjoy the meeting.
Yes, limited sample size, so don’t read into this. But I did notice a clear difference.
This exact experience at both this year.
Anonymous
03/05/2026 15:02
Subject: New to Banneker
Thank you all so much for the info on BSI! Much, much appreciated!
Anonymous
03/05/2026 14:36
Subject: New to Banneker
My kid was in SYEP and attended BSI. He missed the first full week of each. Not a big deal. But: there is summer work assigned that kids are then tested on in the fall. I don’t know what they do if the kids don’t attend BSI.
Anonymous
03/04/2026 16:32
Subject: New to Banneker
Can confirm it is OK to skip summer bridge at Banneker -- our current Banneker student skipped for very similar reasons.
For others, if you think your student will or might attend bridge, sign up by March 6 for the DC summer youth employment program. Going to summer bridge can be their SYEP "job" and they'll get paid for it. I did not know this, and if they wait until they find out/decide on high school it's too late to apply for SYEP. Applying to SYEP doesn't commit the student to doing it, it just puts them in they system so they can.
For others, if you think your student will or might attend bridge, sign up by March 6 for the DC summer youth employment program. Going to summer bridge can be their SYEP "job" and they'll get paid for it. I did not know this, and if they wait until they find out/decide on high school it's too late to apply for SYEP. Applying to SYEP doesn't commit the student to doing it, it just puts them in they system so they can.
Anonymous
03/04/2026 16:08
Subject: Re:New to Banneker
We are in the same boat with Duke Ellington. The program DC is applying to had a three-week “required” program last year that was the first three weeks of July. They won’t announce this summer’s dates until April they said. We opted not raise it during the family interview and are just hoping it’s later in the summer or OK to skip if camp is already paid for.
Anonymous
03/04/2026 15:53
Subject: Re:New to Banneker
Anonymous wrote:Anyone else have recent info on whether an admitted child will be allowed to enroll as a 9th grader if they cannot attend summer bridge? I know this is a very privileged thing to ask, but our child really wants to go to Banneker but also is deeply committed to the final year of a life-changing Quaker summer camp that involves a 10-day hike and the culmination of six years of growth and community. If she got in and Banneker said no to missing it and then she had to choose, she would choose camp (it's that critical to her identity and community), in which case she should change her rankings so that she can have a shot at her #2 choice school. But if there's a good chance that Banneker will allow her to miss summer bridge (and of course she'd do any work/testing required; she just wouldn't attend the program itself), then she will stick with Banneker as her #1 choice. (FYI, we referenced this question a bit in the family interview, but the Dean of Students and a teacher basically just gave us blank stares and nodded when we said we would "cross that bridge if and when she's lucky enough to be offered a spot.")
Thank you so much in advance for any recent insights into what the school might do in this situation!!
Fire at the center forever. My DD was bawling last year after aging out of the regular camp.