Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if MacArthur has scheduled their open house yet?

Yes, the next in-person one is 12/5 6-7:30 and another one 1/13 11-12:30

There will also be a virtual session this week 11/28 6-7pm.
Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/65bbc3d5-efef-44a4-9fc9-c50400427a65@2aa046ee-b34e-4a33-92b7-999df2bc0a32

We went with Arlington for HS from DCPS vs. MoCo. In MoCo, the best HS programs in areas we could afford to live were test-in magnet programs. Not so in Arlington.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for sharing the requirements. Am I the only one who thinks that family and parent interviews seem a bit strange for a public school?

I get why it is done but this seems to privilege kids with “good” families or higher-income families.

I think an orphaned kid or one without active parents would be much more deserving of a spot. Hopefully this is being considered if family members cannot show up at an interview.

Without a rubric or structured interview process there is no way to know whether it is good or bad. DCPS's stated goal in revamping the admission process was to "diversity" the school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for sharing the requirements. Am I the only one who thinks that family and parent interviews seem a bit strange for a public school?

I get why it is done but this seems to privilege kids with “good” families or higher-income families.

I think an orphaned kid or one without active parents would be much more deserving of a spot. Hopefully this is being considered if family members cannot show up at an interview.

It could also be a negative for high income families if they have filled enough of those spots and would like to balance the class with just as motivated parents who aren’t as affluent. The meeting the families is about looking for commitment but also ensuring diversity among the class.

That sounds like absolute speculation.

Sounds like accurate insight.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for sharing the requirements. Am I the only one who thinks that family and parent interviews seem a bit strange for a public school?

I get why it is done but this seems to privilege kids with “good” families or higher-income families.

I think an orphaned kid or one without active parents would be much more deserving of a spot. Hopefully this is being considered if family members cannot show up at an interview.

It could also be a negative for high income families if they have filled enough of those spots and would like to balance the class with just as motivated parents who aren’t as affluent. The meeting the families is about looking for commitment but also ensuring diversity among the class.

That sounds like absolute speculation.

OP you mention renting in moco, how desirable or feasible is that for you? We were planning to move anyways so that's the route we took and are very happy with the schools here.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for sharing the requirements. Am I the only one who thinks that family and parent interviews seem a bit strange for a public school?

I get why it is done but this seems to privilege kids with “good” families or higher-income families.

I think an orphaned kid or one without active parents would be much more deserving of a spot. Hopefully this is being considered if family members cannot show up at an interview.

I don't know for sure, but I imagine that they allow a range of "guardians" to come with them, but yes, someone does have to come.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for sharing the requirements. Am I the only one who thinks that family and parent interviews seem a bit strange for a public school?

I get why it is done but this seems to privilege kids with “good” families or higher-income families.

I think an orphaned kid or one without active parents would be much more deserving of a spot. Hopefully this is being considered if family members cannot show up at an interview.

It could also be a negative for high income families if they have filled enough of those spots and would like to balance the class with just as motivated parents who aren’t as affluent. The meeting the families is about looking for commitment but also ensuring diversity among the class.

Thanks for sharing the requirements. Am I the only one who thinks that family and parent interviews seem a bit strange for a public school?

I get why it is done but this seems to privilege kids with “good” families or higher-income families.

I think an orphaned kid or one without active parents would be much more deserving of a spot. Hopefully this is being considered if family members cannot show up at an interview.

Our kid wants a bigger school.

He doesn't want to go to private school.

So, he's applying to SWW, Banneker & McKinley Tech. His preference is that order.

Then he'll enter the lottery for any other schools that let in kids that are relatively close to our home.
DCI
Latin
Cap City.
Sojourner Truth

That's about our preference level. I suspect we'll also put MacArthur on the list, since they accept kids out of boundary.

It all makes me a little nervous, but I feel confident that he'll have good options at the end of the day.

It looks like DCPS has updated their eligibility criteria for this year's application cycle.

See: https://www.myschooldc.org/sites/default/files/dc/sites/myschooldc/page/20231114_2024_Selective_High_School_Requirements_FINAL.pdf

Of note:
*No minimum required or recommended GPA for Banneker
*SWW "recommends" GPA of 3.0 or above (same language as McKinley Tech)
*SWW, Banneker, and McKinley all require teacher recs this year (2 for SWW, 3 for the others)
*SWW has added an in-person essay to their process
*All the schools want to look at grades from 7th grade and 1st quarter of 8th grade

The rubric used to assess applicants is not out yet - web site says it will be ready by EdFest, which is 12/9. Until then, we don't have any information about how the schools weight different parts of the process.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:serious Q, content-related: if your kid could get into Banneker or SWW, why would you send them to JR?

SWW is not the best choice if your kid is science/math oriented. For instance AP Chem/AP Physics C etc aren't offered every year. They don't have AP Comp Sci courses. If humanities isn't your kid's jam, then the more comprehensive offerings at JR would work better.

Several SWW graduates last year went onto well known Engineering schools so it doesn’t seem to hold them back. Also, last year they offered a math class higher than AP Calculus BC so I’m not sure it is a big issue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How difficult is it to get into Banneker? Are there GPA or PARC score requirements?

There is a GPA requirement of 3.5. It’s tough to get in. I know kids who were not accepted.

DD had a 3.3 and is in the freshman class. 2.5 was the cutoff for consideration last year. Admissions is more holistic. That said, I had a really good feeling during the interview that she was deemed a good fit.

Wow, that is a really low cut off.

I don't know that anyone is getting in with a 2.7, but the cutoff was a 2.5. It was a bonus for families like ours as DD's previously school was known for grade deflation. She transferred in 8th grade and had a 4.0 but wasn't working nearly as hard as she did for the 3.3 in 7th. She was eliminated by our 2nd choice (SWW) as a result.