Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a completely new poster, but even after reading all of these posts (meaning, including the explanations as to why the college admissions process is so different than it was 25-30 years ago), I still think what OP is asking is a valid point. Yes, admissions is different nowadays, much more "random" to some extent, and many colleges have risen in competitiveness to entry and quality of instruction/education (which is wonderful), but there are still kids who get into top 50 colleges, incl plenty from the public high schools in this area and I don't just mean Langley and Whitman. I think there are a number of reasons why Latin's list is not comparable (even on a relative basis since it is such a smaller school), many of which are cited on this thread, but many of which are not, and I think are the ones that possibly concern OP. I'm not going to speculate in specifics since I do think that Latin is a great high school with a great mission and hits an important niche in the DC system.

Wow, this sounds ominous. The reasons can't even be mentioned?!

Well, I'll bite, as a NP.

I personally wonder why more of the class didn't at least get accepted into more competitive programs. As lower-middle-class divorced woman, I don't need to be school on the price tag of Tufts vs. U Md.-Baltimore. I understand that one of those costs a fraction of the other.

But, why not apply and apply for scholarships from 3rd party foundations? Esp. foundations that give out big checks to promising kids of color -- which describes a very large majority of Latin's Class of 2015.

Which brings me to ... fully 1 in 4 Latin HS kids are poor. I'd wager another 25% come from "not middle class" households. Those families (and remember, I'm one of them) absolutely ARE eligible for grants and complete tuition waivers at places like, say, Ivy league schools. Williiams and Ponoma. While it's true that a family of $175K HHI will need to cough up $35,000 a year for college, a family of $43,000 will not. They'd get a free ride, IF they could get in.

So back to the original question: why don't they apply? Or do they, and they don't get in?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, 08:45.

It would be nice if some of the previous posters would sheepishly come back and acknowledge how out of touch and yes, ignorant, their comments made them sound.

NP--After reading this entire thread, I still think that the list of colleges where Latin's students were accepted is unimpressive. Those schools are fine for would-be first generation college students, but not for our future fourth generation college graduates. Based on that list, I would take my chances with my IB school (Wilson) before I choose Latin. However, my children will attend a private high school after they complete their public school education at our JKLM and Deal.

Let them eat cake?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, 08:45.

It would be nice if some of the previous posters would sheepishly come back and acknowledge how out of touch and yes, ignorant, their comments made them sound.

NP--After reading this entire thread, I still think that the list of colleges where Latin's students were accepted is unimpressive. Those schools are fine for would-be first generation college students, but not for our future fourth generation college graduates. Based on that list, I would take my chances with my IB school (Wilson) before I choose Latin. However, my children will attend a private high school after they complete their public school education at our JKLM and Deal.

And again, if you can afford private high school, you likely have a very different financial situation than many of the families at Latin. Congratulations, you are wealthy and have different options from the rest of us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This list is not an advertisement for the high school. It is a congratulatory note to children who have just competed 12'years of schooling.

+1 Latin doesn't need to advertise; it already has the longest waiting list of any charter!

Err, of course they advertise. We've received more than a few mailings from them and other charters.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, 08:45.

It would be nice if some of the previous posters would sheepishly come back and acknowledge how out of touch and yes, ignorant, their comments made them sound.

NP--After reading this entire thread, I still think that the list of colleges where Latin's students were accepted is unimpressive. Those schools are fine for would-be first generation college students, but not for our future fourth generation college graduates. Based on that list, I would take my chances with my IB school (Wilson) before I choose Latin. However, my children will attend a private high school after they complete their public school education at our JKLM and Deal.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a completely new poster, but even after reading all of these posts (meaning, including the explanations as to why the college admissions process is so different than it was 25-30 years ago), I still think what OP is asking is a valid point. Yes, admissions is different nowadays, much more "random" to some extent, and many colleges have risen in competitiveness to entry and quality of instruction/education (which is wonderful), but there are still kids who get into top 50 colleges, incl plenty from the public high schools in this area and I don't just mean Langley and Whitman. I think there are a number of reasons why Latin's list is not comparable (even on a relative basis since it is such a smaller school), many of which are cited on this thread, but many of which are not, and I think are the ones that possibly concern OP. I'm not going to speculate in specifics since I do think that Latin is a great high school with a great mission and hits an important niche in the DC system.

Wow, this sounds ominous. The reasons can't even be mentioned?!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This list is not an advertisement for the high school. It is a congratulatory note to children who have just competed 12'years of schooling.

It is a congratulatory note that lists the colleges to which they have been accepted.

The kids did great - I'm happy for all of them.

But when I look at the list to evaluate Latin, I see three of the USNWR top 50 schools overall (Case Western Reserve, U of Rochester, Penn State), four of the top 50 liberal arts colleges (Barnard, Colby College, Lafayette, Oberlin, Denison), and three of the top 50 public schools (U of Maryland. Rutgers, Vermont) .

To me that does not look great - I'd like to see more highly rated schools. But maybe I am missing something. (And yes, I know the USNWR ratings are not the be-all and end-all of lists).

What do Case Western, Rochester, Lafayette, Oberlin, Denison, Rutgers, and Vermont have in common? They are well known for offering significant merit aid to qualified applicants.

I'm a completely new poster, but even after reading all of these posts (meaning, including the explanations as to why the college admissions process is so different than it was 25-30 years ago), I still think what OP is asking is a valid point. Yes, admissions is different nowadays, much more "random" to some extent, and many colleges have risen in competitiveness to entry and quality of instruction/education (which is wonderful), but there are still kids who get into top 50 colleges, incl plenty from the public high schools in this area and I don't just mean Langley and Whitman. I think there are a number of reasons why Latin's list is not comparable (even on a relative basis since it is such a smaller school), many of which are cited on this thread, but many of which are not, and I think are the ones that possibly concern OP. I'm not going to speculate in specifics since I do think that Latin is a great high school with a great mission and hits an important niche in the DC system.

Thanks, 08:45.

It would be nice if some of the previous posters would sheepishly come back and acknowledge how out of touch and yes, ignorant, their comments made them sound.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:which schools are on the list?

It's a long list - 4 columns Just to give you an example, here are the first five in each column

Albright College
Allegheny College of Maryland
American U
Bethune-Cookman
Bowie State

Hampershire College--it's Hampshire
Hofstra U.
Hollins University
Iona College
Jacksonville Univ.

NOVA
Oberlin
Ohio U
Old Dominion
Pace Univeristy

George Washington
U of Tampa
Coast Guard Academy
U of Akron
U of Denver

Outside of U of Maryland,there does not appear to be a strong flagship state college in the list at all.

Fixed that above.

Remember that this is a list of ACCEPTANCES, not a list of where students are attending. Presumably all the students had "safeties" on their lists. The student who was accepted at Oberlin, e.g., might also be the one who applied to and was accepted at Hampshire College (a fine school BTW, at which students can cross-register for classes at Amherst, Smith, UMass-Amherst, and Mt. Holyoke) and the University of Denver.

I think many "DC middle class" posters don't understand the reality of college tuition and admissions today.

The first thing to know is that admissions to elite colleges these days is shockingly competitive. It's nice that you think your kid is headed to an elite college, but know that most smart, hard-working, high-GPA/high SAT kids who are active and involved are rejected from elite schools. In fact, most high schools in the country have NO students going to elite schools. None.

The second thing to know is that the elite private colleges offer ONLY financial aid, not merit aid. (There are a few exceptions--Duke, Vanderbilt--but fewer than 5% of students at these schools receive merit-based scholarships.)

The third thing to know is that the cost of attendance for out-of-state students at many flagship publics is as high as elite privates. Michigan, Berkeley--OOS cost of attendance is ~$60k. And neither Michigan nor Berkeley is generous with aid for OOS students. The DC TAG amount hardly makes a dent.

The fourth thing to know is that many DC-area "middle class" families are shocked to learn how little financial aid they qualify for. Please look at the colored chart in this article (scroll down):

http://www.forbes.com/sites/troyonink/2014/11/28/2015-guide-to-fafsa-css-profile-college-financial-aid-and-expected-family-contribution-efc/

Find your AGI and weep. A family with an AGI of $175k and 2 children has an expected family contribution of $40k. And since virtually all of the elite colleges also consider the value of your primary home in determining financial need, people who own real estate in high-COL areas can consider that $40k the *minimum* they might be expected to spend.

The fifth thing to know is that if move down to the tier below the elite, and you find many fine colleges that offer merit scholarships. Instead of spending $40k or $50k a year, with a merit scholarship from these schools you might pay $25k or $30k. That's a big difference.

This list looks just as I would expect for a very small, urban, public, open-enrollment high school. It's quite respectable, IMO. (FWIW, my kids go to a very large, suburban, public, open-enrollment high school that is very highly ranked.)

Anonymous wrote:OP-you sound like you want 'guarantees' for what's after HS (a "lottery that equates to success for my child"). Most Latin families, ours included, value the HS experience itself where our child got a great education in a great community, and did not fall of the map as we feel might have happened in a different environment. If you want guarantees send your child to Deal/Wilson or Walls--with a proven track record of big ticket schools. Do know however, that you'd better have confidence that your child is a big fish there since I'm guessing that the Wilson students who do go to big ticket schools have outstanding grades, sports, testing etc. In many ways, it's easier to be THAT kid at Latin--but again, is your kid THAT kid or are you projecting? You do understand Latin has only graduated about 4 classes, has sixty kids in the graduating class, and that it is not in any way, shape or form, an application HS? Our child is graduating Latin this year. I can confidently say that colleges seemed to 'get' that Latin is a special, unique place--not just checking off a box on your way to somewhere else. Our child got into many 'reach' schools as did many of our child's classmates. When kids are getting into their 'reaches', and getting gobs of aid, that speaks well to the college application process. We are very happy OP. However, I am a little worried as a departing family that so many incoming families are looking for 'guarantees', not the experience the school clearly says it offers: a classics education drawing from all four corners of the city, educating children who will serve --humbly and ethically, embracing meaningful futures. And OP, just so you know, in the last few weeks of HS--now that application madness and APs are over - our kid is still learning, discussing, enjoying the community and having fun. There is no peeling off. It's "good to the last drop". Graduation is going to be a multi-tissue affair.

Thanks for posting this. I am a neighbor of the school and must confess that I had the typical older person's wariness of a having a HS move into the neighborhood. I was 100% mistaken to feel that way. The students are great and we love having the school as a neighbor.

^^thanks for this much needed context, pp. Congrats to you and your family.

OP-you sound like you want 'guarantees' for what's after HS (a "lottery that equates to success for my child"). Most Latin families, ours included, value the HS experience itself where our child got a great education in a great community, and did not fall of the map as we feel might have happened in a different environment. If you want guarantees send your child to Deal/Wilson or Walls--with a proven track record of big ticket schools. Do know however, that you'd better have confidence that your child is a big fish there since I'm guessing that the Wilson students who do go to big ticket schools have outstanding grades, sports, testing etc. In many ways, it's easier to be THAT kid at Latin--but again, is your kid THAT kid or are you projecting? You do understand Latin has only graduated about 4 classes, has sixty kids in the graduating class, and that it is not in any way, shape or form, an application HS? Our child is graduating Latin this year. I can confidently say that colleges seemed to 'get' that Latin is a special, unique place--not just checking off a box on your way to somewhere else. Our child got into many 'reach' schools as did many of our child's classmates. When kids are getting into their 'reaches', and getting gobs of aid, that speaks well to the college application process. We are very happy OP. However, I am a little worried as a departing family that so many incoming families are looking for 'guarantees', not the experience the school clearly says it offers: a classics education drawing from all four corners of the city, educating children who will serve --humbly and ethically, embracing meaningful futures. And OP, just so you know, in the last few weeks of HS--now that application madness and APs are over - our kid is still learning, discussing, enjoying the community and having fun. There is no peeling off. It's "good to the last drop". Graduation is going to be a multi-tissue affair.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This list is not an advertisement for the high school. It is a congratulatory note to children who have just competed 12'years of schooling.

+1 Latin doesn't need to advertise; it already has the longest waiting list of any charter!

Go ahead and congratulate yourself for winning the lottery. I did too. Now I want to make sure that winning that lottery equates to success for my child.

I'm the poster you're responding to, and contrary to your jumped-to conclusion, we haven't been in the lottery yet but will be next year and would love to get into Latin. To us, "success for my child" equates to an excellent secondary education. We don't see secondary education just as a means to a HYP end.