Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child applied this year --Deal, 4.0 GPA, had a ten-minute interview with one teacher (no students) that she described as a really fun and interesting conversation. She prepared for the interview and took it seriously. She is waitlisted with a number in the 170s. Looking at the lottery data for this year, they offered 170 spots and put 211 kids on the waitlist. That means she was in the 340s out of a total of 381 students. No idea why!

I'm so sorry. Honestly, I would submit a FOIA request. I wish I had done it last year when the same thing happened to my DC. It is total a total BS process and they will continue to do it until they can't get away with it anymore.

The FOIA process is really simple but they will drag it out as long as they can (up to five weeks or something like that). Keep your request simple. Just ask for all records that contain guidance for interviewers on how they are supposed to rate candidates, all records that provides training for interviewers on how they are supposed to interview candidates, all records that provides the weighting for interviews vs GPA and how candidates are ranked in the event of a tie. Also ask for an example of the interview matrix or rubric that is used for each interview.

They will either have to provide you with these or it will be exposed that they have no guidelines for the process.

This^

+1
From another parent who was disgusted at the process last year and wishes we submitted a FOIA then...

Submit one now.

No thanks--kid happily ensconced at Wilson. Best friend miserable at Walls.

So do as I say, not as I do?

Anonymous wrote:To the "Do what Banneker does crowd"...NO!

Never received any interview, period. Reached out a few times via email and phone and still haven't received any communication. There were still going thru apps at least two weeks before the lottery (that's what I was told). At least SWW lets you know where you stand regardless of the outcome.

DC applied from a private and I wanna believe that it didn't play a factor. But not getting an interview has got me wondering. Where's the equity in that?

Reranked schools in the lottery sensing we were being ghosted and was be admitted to SWW. A lot of families are not as fortunate to have options.

DCPS needs to take over all of it with one qualifying process for the selective high schools.

Banneker sounds like a process failure but the stated policy is closer to private school admission than Walls. Our experience with Banneker was very different than yours (don't know if accepted because accepted at higher ranked school). The execution was clearly a problem. Walls gives lip service to equity but it sure favors private school applicants over the DCPS pipeline even for kids who excel in DCPS MS. Private schools don't struggle to sort through applications, interviews, tests scores. There's no secret sauce. An "application" school must be strategically resourced to handle applications. It shouldn't be an afterthought.

I don't know if DCPS running application process is the solution. There should be clear guidelines and an open process so any applicant knows where they stand. Walls should flip the current scoring to a weighted GPA for 26 point and 5 points for an interview. It would get more random but at least reward academic achievement first and foremost.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the "Do what Banneker does crowd"...NO!

Never received any interview, period. Reached out a few times via email and phone and still haven't received any communication. There were still going thru apps at least two weeks before the lottery (that's what I was told). At least SWW lets you know where you stand regardless of the outcome.

DC applied from a private and I wanna believe that it didn't play a factor. But not getting an interview has got me wondering. Where's the equity in that?

Reranked schools in the lottery sensing we were being ghosted and was be admitted to SWW. A lot of families are not as fortunate to have options.

DCPS needs to take over all of it with one qualifying process for the selective high schools.

From my observation over the last several years, these admissions process changes and lack of transparency are DCPS driven. Walls' longtime former principal was a staunch advocate for upholding admissions standards and process and was removed from his position. Active (and oblique) changes to the admissions process began after his removal.

I think it’s telling that the person who wants DCPS to run the whole process from the central office is the person whose child is not currently attending a DCPS school.

Why? That's the way it runs in most school systems that I have experience with. Mine was a central process years ago. They learned that autonomy leads to lawsuits and big ones.

The application HSs need a common app where students would upload transcripts, teacher/other recommendations, test scores, essays.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the "Do what Banneker does crowd"...NO!

Never received any interview, period. Reached out a few times via email and phone and still haven't received any communication. There were still going thru apps at least two weeks before the lottery (that's what I was told). At least SWW lets you know where you stand regardless of the outcome.

DC applied from a private and I wanna believe that it didn't play a factor. But not getting an interview has got me wondering. Where's the equity in that?

Reranked schools in the lottery sensing we were being ghosted and was be admitted to SWW. A lot of families are not as fortunate to have options.

DCPS needs to take over all of it with one qualifying process for the selective high schools.

From my observation over the last several years, these admissions process changes and lack of transparency are DCPS driven. Walls' longtime former principal was a staunch advocate for upholding admissions standards and process and was removed from his position. Active (and oblique) changes to the admissions process began after his removal.

I think it’s telling that the person who wants DCPS to run the whole process from the central office is the person whose child is not currently attending a DCPS school.

Why? That's the way it runs in most school systems that I have experience with. Mine was a central process years ago. They learned that autonomy leads to lawsuits and big ones.

I have no idea if this is a DCPS-driven thing or a Walls-driven thing. I do know that bad policies are often allowed to continue because nobody makes a big enough fuss and somebody with control over the situation somehow benefits from the status quo.

Once a few parents decide it is worth it to demand answers whether by getting the media involved or FOIA, it starts to get uncomfortable...and the cost-benefit calculation of keeping the status quo may change.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child applied this year --Deal, 4.0 GPA, had a ten-minute interview with one teacher (no students) that she described as a really fun and interesting conversation. She prepared for the interview and took it seriously. She is waitlisted with a number in the 170s. Looking at the lottery data for this year, they offered 170 spots and put 211 kids on the waitlist. That means she was in the 340s out of a total of 381 students. No idea why!

I'm so sorry. Honestly, I would submit a FOIA request. I wish I had done it last year when the same thing happened to my DC. It is total a total BS process and they will continue to do it until they can't get away with it anymore.

The FOIA process is really simple but they will drag it out as long as they can (up to five weeks or something like that). Keep your request simple. Just ask for all records that contain guidance for interviewers on how they are supposed to rate candidates, all records that provides training for interviewers on how they are supposed to interview candidates, all records that provides the weighting for interviews vs GPA and how candidates are ranked in the event of a tie. Also ask for an example of the interview matrix or rubric that is used for each interview.

They will either have to provide you with these or it will be exposed that they have no guidelines for the process.

This^

+1
From another parent who was disgusted at the process last year and wishes we submitted a FOIA then...

Submit one now.

No thanks--kid happily ensconced at Wilson. Best friend miserable at Walls.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCUM won’t like my post, but I am a teacher who does the interviews. I’m not defending two questions or three minutes or whatever, but I can tell you that after 10 years of being at the school, it is possible to see within ten minutes who is a good fit. Parent interview portion does not factor into the score except to help students who appear to have strong family support. However, with gpa inflation the past two years due to WS plus the ban on getting parcc scores plus random charter schools who have weird report cards, it is very difficult to assess candidates, honestly.

I would support an application ranking system with no interview, just lottery of qualified students. I hate interview days and would rather be teaching.

Interesting...we were told last year that the parent interview had zero bearing on the score. But it appears there may be exceptions.

What does “strong family support” mean and how is it relevant to student qualifications?

That phrase hit my ear wrong as well.

"except to help students who appear to have strong family support"....um, yes, this is problematic.

First, we were told (last year) the family interview did not count AT ALL toward the interview. My husband was not available at the time that Walls scheduled interview (we had no say in that time). Did that end up being a mark against my child?

Second, it seems to me there is potential discrimination here...what does Walls deem to be "strong parent support"? Were kids with single parents less likely to get in? What about kids with non-English speaking parents? What about kids who live with their grandparents or aunts/uncles? Does Walls prefer stay-at-home moms?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the "Do what Banneker does crowd"...NO!

Never received any interview, period. Reached out a few times via email and phone and still haven't received any communication. There were still going thru apps at least two weeks before the lottery (that's what I was told). At least SWW lets you know where you stand regardless of the outcome.

DC applied from a private and I wanna believe that it didn't play a factor. But not getting an interview has got me wondering. Where's the equity in that?

Reranked schools in the lottery sensing we were being ghosted and was be admitted to SWW. A lot of families are not as fortunate to have options.

DCPS needs to take over all of it with one qualifying process for the selective high schools.

From my observation over the last several years, these admissions process changes and lack of transparency are DCPS driven. Walls' longtime former principal was a staunch advocate for upholding admissions standards and process and was removed from his position. Active (and oblique) changes to the admissions process began after his removal.

I think it’s telling that the person who wants DCPS to run the whole process from the central office is the person whose child is not currently attending a DCPS school.

Anonymous wrote:To the "Do what Banneker does crowd"...NO!

Never received any interview, period. Reached out a few times via email and phone and still haven't received any communication. There were still going thru apps at least two weeks before the lottery (that's what I was told). At least SWW lets you know where you stand regardless of the outcome.

DC applied from a private and I wanna believe that it didn't play a factor. But not getting an interview has got me wondering. Where's the equity in that?

Reranked schools in the lottery sensing we were being ghosted and was be admitted to SWW. A lot of families are not as fortunate to have options.

DCPS needs to take over all of it with one qualifying process for the selective high schools.

From my observation over the last several years, these admissions process changes and lack of transparency are DCPS driven. Walls' longtime former principal was a staunch advocate for upholding admissions standards and process and was removed from his position. Active (and oblique) changes to the admissions process began after his removal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCUM won’t like my post, but I am a teacher who does the interviews. I’m not defending two questions or three minutes or whatever, but I can tell you that after 10 years of being at the school, it is possible to see within ten minutes who is a good fit. Parent interview portion does not factor into the score except to help students who appear to have strong family support. However, with gpa inflation the past two years due to WS plus the ban on getting parcc scores plus random charter schools who have weird report cards, it is very difficult to assess candidates, honestly.

I would support an application ranking system with no interview, just lottery of qualified students. I hate interview days and would rather be teaching.

Thanks. What written records are available? What kind of information could we get with a FOIA request?

This was posted earlier. Basically:

Keep your request simple. Ask for all "records" that contain:
- the formal process by which Walls candidates were ranked
- all guidance for interviewers on how questions they were to ask and how they were to rate candidates
- all records that provides training for interviewers
- all records that provides the weighting for interviews vs GPA and how candidates are ranked in the event of a tie.
Also ask for an example of the interview matrix or rubric that is used for each interview.

There are some exceptions for what has to be disclosed but this is the type of information that has to be released because it's of public interest. If it exists, they will have to provide it. It is likely it doesn't exist and it will show it was capricious.

To the "Do what Banneker does crowd"...NO!

Never received any interview, period. Reached out a few times via email and phone and still haven't received any communication. There were still going thru apps at least two weeks before the lottery (that's what I was told). At least SWW lets you know where you stand regardless of the outcome.

DC applied from a private and I wanna believe that it didn't play a factor. But not getting an interview has got me wondering. Where's the equity in that?

Reranked schools in the lottery sensing we were being ghosted and was be admitted to SWW. A lot of families are not as fortunate to have options.

DCPS needs to take over all of it with one qualifying process for the selective high schools.

Anonymous wrote:DCUM won’t like my post, but I am a teacher who does the interviews. I’m not defending two questions or three minutes or whatever, but I can tell you that after 10 years of being at the school, it is possible to see within ten minutes who is a good fit. Parent interview portion does not factor into the score except to help students who appear to have strong family support. However, with gpa inflation the past two years due to WS plus the ban on getting parcc scores plus random charter schools who have weird report cards, it is very difficult to assess candidates, honestly.

I would support an application ranking system with no interview, just lottery of qualified students. I hate interview days and would rather be teaching.

Thanks. What written records are available? What kind of information could we get with a FOIA request?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child applied this year --Deal, 4.0 GPA, had a ten-minute interview with one teacher (no students) that she described as a really fun and interesting conversation. She prepared for the interview and took it seriously. She is waitlisted with a number in the 170s. Looking at the lottery data for this year, they offered 170 spots and put 211 kids on the waitlist. That means she was in the 340s out of a total of 381 students. No idea why!

I'm so sorry. Honestly, I would submit a FOIA request. I wish I had done it last year when the same thing happened to my DC. It is total a total BS process and they will continue to do it until they can't get away with it anymore.

The FOIA process is really simple but they will drag it out as long as they can (up to five weeks or something like that). Keep your request simple. Just ask for all records that contain guidance for interviewers on how they are supposed to rate candidates, all records that provides training for interviewers on how they are supposed to interview candidates, all records that provides the weighting for interviews vs GPA and how candidates are ranked in the event of a tie. Also ask for an example of the interview matrix or rubric that is used for each interview.

They will either have to provide you with these or it will be exposed that they have no guidelines for the process.

This^

+1
From another parent who was disgusted at the process last year and wishes we submitted a FOIA then...

Submit one now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCUM won’t like my post, but I am a teacher who does the interviews. I’m not defending two questions or three minutes or whatever, but I can tell you that after 10 years of being at the school, it is possible to see within ten minutes who is a good fit. Parent interview portion does not factor into the score except to help students who appear to have strong family support. However, with gpa inflation the past two years due to WS plus the ban on getting parcc scores plus random charter schools who have weird report cards, it is very difficult to assess candidates, honestly.

I would support an application ranking system with no interview, just lottery of qualified students. I hate interview days and would rather be teaching.

Interesting...we were told last year that the parent interview had zero bearing on the score. But it appears there may be exceptions.

What does “strong family support” mean and how is it relevant to student qualifications?

That phrase hit my ear wrong as well.

Anonymous wrote:DCUM won’t like my post, but I am a teacher who does the interviews. I’m not defending two questions or three minutes or whatever, but I can tell you that after 10 years of being at the school, it is possible to see within ten minutes who is a good fit. Parent interview portion does not factor into the score except to help students who appear to have strong family support. However, with gpa inflation the past two years due to WS plus the ban on getting parcc scores plus random charter schools who have weird report cards, it is very difficult to assess candidates, honestly.

I would support an application ranking system with no interview, just lottery of qualified students. I hate interview days and would rather be teaching.

1) A lot of our kids received interviews of 3 minutes or less. My kid's interview was 90 seconds long with only one stupid question that didn't lead to any conversation.
2) No, you can't tell within 10 minutes who would be a good fit. Prior good grades are the best indicator of future good grades. While my child is extroverted and does well talking to strangers, many introverted kids would do quite well at Walls but not necessarily shine during a brief interview. In fact, given the emphasis on academics and lack of robust extracurriculars and sports, some of the quiet, studious kids might be an even better fit.

Walls should have either A) reinstated the test and developed a fair interview process with a standard set of questions or or B) just had a lottery with a GPA cut off. At the very least, Walls could have implemented a standard set of questions, but they chose not to.