Anonymous
02/19/2026 16:59
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
I only have experience with Walls and Banneker.
Myschooldc
Walls: 2 teacher reqs and transcripts
Banneker: 2 teacher reqs, transcripts and essay
Interview
Walls: In person writing sample, student interview, parent
Banneker: In-person writing sample, student interview, parent and family interview
Myschooldc
Walls: 2 teacher reqs and transcripts
Banneker: 2 teacher reqs, transcripts and essay
Interview
Walls: In person writing sample, student interview, parent
Banneker: In-person writing sample, student interview, parent and family interview
Anonymous
02/19/2026 15:58
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
All feeder kids got spots at DCI for this year’s 6th grade even with the expansion of a few schools.
If feeder schools have open seats, then those seats will go to other feeder schools who don’t have enough seats before any non-feeder kids get considered. So your best shot is thru feeder schools.
If not coming from feeder, you still have a chance but much less, and your best shot is french or mandarin. It doesn’t mean you should not list spanish track if that is your 1st choice but also list the other tracks if you are open to those languages.
But that rule about kids from other feeders is only for 6th, is my understanding.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 15:40
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For Walls, you really, really need to understand that there is a massive amount of luck involved, even if your kid wildly exceeds the baseline stuff.
That is what parents say with no accountability. My child is not even in Walls and I am fairly confident they are in the running because they have a massive extracurricular load in addition to the standard 4.0. This discussion is the same for college admissions. It is kind of interesting that the answers to the test are available but people don't want to see it. Develop well rounded humans and the process will recognize them. Focus on metrics and validation of their mental superiority and the process will not.
Ugh, I hope for their sake that your kid gets into Walls, and then into whatever elite college you’re so sure they’ll get into without a decent SAT score.
The fact is that some of the most well-rounded kids I know got in to Walls — and some of the most well-rounded kids I know were rejected. The admissions process at Walls is a jury-rigged, fly-by-night operation compared to admissions at an elite college. That inevitably introduces a lot of randomness into the process.
This, kids with EC and top grades did not get in. There is no transparency and rhyme or reason. It’s totally random and luck.
You have no control over it, no matter now great an applicant your kid is.
Don’t rely on it and make sure you have other options or even better, of better options, move on.
This is true but some people here want to believe that their precious darling is more important and better than other kids and that is why they got in 🙏🏼 #braggingrights
I would believe that its random. But I also know a couple families where all their kids get in to Walls (and the kids are very smart and wonderful).
If you flip a coin twice, sometimes it will come up heads both times. Sometimes even three times in a row or more.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 15:29
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For Walls, you really, really need to understand that there is a massive amount of luck involved, even if your kid wildly exceeds the baseline stuff.
That is what parents say with no accountability. My child is not even in Walls and I am fairly confident they are in the running because they have a massive extracurricular load in addition to the standard 4.0. This discussion is the same for college admissions. It is kind of interesting that the answers to the test are available but people don't want to see it. Develop well rounded humans and the process will recognize them. Focus on metrics and validation of their mental superiority and the process will not.
Ugh, I hope for their sake that your kid gets into Walls, and then into whatever elite college you’re so sure they’ll get into without a decent SAT score.
The fact is that some of the most well-rounded kids I know got in to Walls — and some of the most well-rounded kids I know were rejected. The admissions process at Walls is a jury-rigged, fly-by-night operation compared to admissions at an elite college. That inevitably introduces a lot of randomness into the process.
This, kids with EC and top grades did not get in. There is no transparency and rhyme or reason. It’s totally random and luck.
You have no control over it, no matter now great an applicant your kid is.
Don’t rely on it and make sure you have other options or even better, of better options, move on.
This is true but some people here want to believe that their precious darling is more important and better than other kids and that is why they got in 🙏🏼 #braggingrights
I would believe that its random. But I also know a couple families where all their kids get in to Walls (and the kids are very smart and wonderful).
Anonymous
02/19/2026 15:25
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For Walls, you really, really need to understand that there is a massive amount of luck involved, even if your kid wildly exceeds the baseline stuff.
That is what parents say with no accountability. My child is not even in Walls and I am fairly confident they are in the running because they have a massive extracurricular load in addition to the standard 4.0. This discussion is the same for college admissions. It is kind of interesting that the answers to the test are available but people don't want to see it. Develop well rounded humans and the process will recognize them. Focus on metrics and validation of their mental superiority and the process will not.
Ugh, I hope for their sake that your kid gets into Walls, and then into whatever elite college you’re so sure they’ll get into without a decent SAT score.
The fact is that some of the most well-rounded kids I know got in to Walls — and some of the most well-rounded kids I know were rejected. The admissions process at Walls is a jury-rigged, fly-by-night operation compared to admissions at an elite college. That inevitably introduces a lot of randomness into the process.
This, kids with EC and top grades did not get in. There is no transparency and rhyme or reason. It’s totally random and luck.
You have no control over it, no matter now great an applicant your kid is.
Don’t rely on it and make sure you have other options or even better, of better options, move on.
This is true but some people here want to believe that their precious darling is more important and better than other kids and that is why they got in 🙏🏼 #braggingrights
Anonymous
02/19/2026 14:31
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For Walls, you really, really need to understand that there is a massive amount of luck involved, even if your kid wildly exceeds the baseline stuff.
That is what parents say with no accountability. My child is not even in Walls and I am fairly confident they are in the running because they have a massive extracurricular load in addition to the standard 4.0. This discussion is the same for college admissions. It is kind of interesting that the answers to the test are available but people don't want to see it. Develop well rounded humans and the process will recognize them. Focus on metrics and validation of their mental superiority and the process will not.
Ugh, I hope for their sake that your kid gets into Walls, and then into whatever elite college you’re so sure they’ll get into without a decent SAT score.
The fact is that some of the most well-rounded kids I know got in to Walls — and some of the most well-rounded kids I know were rejected. The admissions process at Walls is a jury-rigged, fly-by-night operation compared to admissions at an elite college. That inevitably introduces a lot of randomness into the process.
This, kids with EC and top grades did not get in. There is no transparency and rhyme or reason. It’s totally random and luck.
You have no control over it, no matter now great an applicant your kid is.
Don’t rely on it and make sure you have other options or even better, of better options, move on.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 14:19
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For Walls, you really, really need to understand that there is a massive amount of luck involved, even if your kid wildly exceeds the baseline stuff.
That is what parents say with no accountability. My child is not even in Walls and I am fairly confident they are in the running because they have a massive extracurricular load in addition to the standard 4.0. This discussion is the same for college admissions. It is kind of interesting that the answers to the test are available but people don't want to see it. Develop well rounded humans and the process will recognize them. Focus on metrics and validation of their mental superiority and the process will not.
Ugh, I hope for their sake that your kid gets into Walls, and then into whatever elite college you’re so sure they’ll get into without a decent SAT score.
The fact is that some of the most well-rounded kids I know got in to Walls — and some of the most well-rounded kids I know were rejected. The admissions process at Walls is a jury-rigged, fly-by-night operation compared to admissions at an elite college. That inevitably introduces a lot of randomness into the process.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 14:11
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:For Walls, you really, really need to understand that there is a massive amount of luck involved, even if your kid wildly exceeds the baseline stuff.
That is what parents say with no accountability. My child is not even in Walls and I am fairly confident they are in the running because they have a massive extracurricular load in addition to the standard 4.0. This discussion is the same for college admissions. It is kind of interesting that the answers to the test are available but people don't want to see it. Develop well rounded humans and the process will recognize them. Focus on metrics and validation of their mental superiority and the process will not.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 13:32
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
For Walls, you really, really need to understand that there is a massive amount of luck involved, even if your kid wildly exceeds the baseline stuff.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 13:28
Subject: Re:DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
My son goes to walls and I think that his extracurriculars stood out and distinguished him from other kids vying for a space. He has a unique set of interests and they’re not just recent hobbies. He’s been engaged in them for years. Some of his friends who got accepted into walls also had some unique extracurriculars. That is the only thing I can think of that I believe helped him get in because there are tons of kids with great grades and recommendations who didn’t make it in.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 12:29
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
All feeder kids got spots at DCI for this year’s 6th grade even with the expansion of a few schools.
If feeder schools have open seats, then those seats will go to other feeder schools who don’t have enough seats before any non-feeder kids get considered. So your best shot is thru feeder schools.
If not coming from feeder, you still have a chance but much less, and your best shot is french or mandarin. It doesn’t mean you should not list spanish track if that is your 1st choice but also list the other tracks if you are open to those languages.
Do we know how many total mandarin students DCI took? I know all YY kids who wanted a spot got one. But I didn’t think there were more than a handful outside of that
All the data is in the waitlist tableau
Anonymous
02/19/2026 11:06
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
All feeder kids got spots at DCI for this year’s 6th grade even with the expansion of a few schools.
If feeder schools have open seats, then those seats will go to other feeder schools who don’t have enough seats before any non-feeder kids get considered. So your best shot is thru feeder schools.
If not coming from feeder, you still have a chance but much less, and your best shot is french or mandarin. It doesn’t mean you should not list spanish track if that is your 1st choice but also list the other tracks if you are open to those languages.
Do we know how many total mandarin students DCI took? I know all YY kids who wanted a spot got one. But I didn’t think there were more than a handful outside of that
Anonymous
02/19/2026 10:47
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Anonymous wrote: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.
All feeder kids got spots at DCI for this year’s 6th grade even with the expansion of a few schools.
If feeder schools have open seats, then those seats will go to other feeder schools who don’t have enough seats before any non-feeder kids get considered. So your best shot is thru feeder schools.
If not coming from feeder, you still have a chance but much less, and your best shot is french or mandarin. It doesn’t mean you should not list spanish track if that is your 1st choice but also list the other tracks if you are open to those languages.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 10:47
Subject: DCPS Selective HSs: What to know.
Re. Walls, it's important to understand that the GPA and teacher recs are the BASELINE. You can't even more forward without those components. Beyond that, a lot of luck, because there are too many applicants vying for the spots. And possibly better interviewing skills/ability to write an essay in person.
What people are trying to say is, even having all that doesn't guarantee you a spot.
What people are trying to say is, even having all that doesn't guarantee you a spot.
Anonymous
02/19/2026 10:30
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. 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.
I think the administration wanted to diversify the selective schools, so it’s a leeetle black and white. I agree that people overindex on walls but it’s also true for Banneker and McKinley tech.