Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 13:32     Subject: DC Selective High School Interviews

Two years ago I remember Banneker did at least two waves of invites, so I wouldn't worry yet. Also there are two interview days. If no one has been invited yet to Feb 18, then it's definitely too soon to worry.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 13:14     Subject: Re:DC Selective High School Interviews

Well now I'm getting worried that my kid has NOT heard from Banneker... but neither have any of their classmates who I would expect to be interviewed. I know one of the recommendations only got submitted Monday night just before the deadline, so fingers crossed.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 10:26     Subject: DC Selective High School Interviews

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:from last year, what questions were asked during the interview and what was the writing sample about?
having ours coming up wednesday in a week and really want to get into Banneker.
thanks


Re: the interview. I suggest asking a family friend or two to do a mock interview with your kid. Even if over zoom. My kid is shy and this prep helped immensely. Ask about academic goals, study habits, academic challenges and how they’ve overcome, what they’ll do when the going gets rough, college and career goals, things they do for fun, how they’ll try making friends, club interests, etc.

And like a job interview, have your kid practice asking questions of the interviewers. It will be a panel of 2-3 teachers and/or other admins. They may come across as intimidating and warn about how tough school is, ask how your kid handles competition, etc. Or they might be warm and fuzzy; no guarantee who you’ll get.

I’ll be honest — the interview completely turned me off the school and I thought my kid would feel the same way. But it fired him up; he absolutely loved their approach. And the school has been a great fit.


Does anybody know how many people are in the interviews at McKinley and how it is structured? I have heard there are multiple students per interview, it is more a 'group' structure. Is that correct?


McKinley interviews are groups of applicants and a group of interviewers that includes at least one student.


Do they ask the kids questions one at a time, or is more a group discussion/dialogue type interview? I feel like I have seen group interviews handled well, and poorly...


I'll ask my kid tonight and get back to you.


Do they need to bring anything or is the essay portion done on a computer?



NVM, they sent out a FAQ
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 10:25     Subject: DC Selective High School Interviews

NVM, they sent out a FAQ
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2026 10:21     Subject: DC Selective High School Interviews

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:from last year, what questions were asked during the interview and what was the writing sample about?
having ours coming up wednesday in a week and really want to get into Banneker.
thanks


Re: the interview. I suggest asking a family friend or two to do a mock interview with your kid. Even if over zoom. My kid is shy and this prep helped immensely. Ask about academic goals, study habits, academic challenges and how they’ve overcome, what they’ll do when the going gets rough, college and career goals, things they do for fun, how they’ll try making friends, club interests, etc.

And like a job interview, have your kid practice asking questions of the interviewers. It will be a panel of 2-3 teachers and/or other admins. They may come across as intimidating and warn about how tough school is, ask how your kid handles competition, etc. Or they might be warm and fuzzy; no guarantee who you’ll get.

I’ll be honest — the interview completely turned me off the school and I thought my kid would feel the same way. But it fired him up; he absolutely loved their approach. And the school has been a great fit.


Does anybody know how many people are in the interviews at McKinley and how it is structured? I have heard there are multiple students per interview, it is more a 'group' structure. Is that correct?


McKinley interviews are groups of applicants and a group of interviewers that includes at least one student.


Do they ask the kids questions one at a time, or is more a group discussion/dialogue type interview? I feel like I have seen group interviews handled well, and poorly...


I'll ask my kid tonight and get back to you.


Do they need to bring anything or is the essay portion done on a computer?
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 13:09     Subject: Re:DC Selective High School Interviews

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We heard from Banneker last night. Nothing from Wall yet. Will we get an email from Walls that DS did NOT get an interview, or is no news, no news?


Walls will send an email if not selected to interview.


This did not happen last year.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 09:07     Subject: DC Selective High School Interviews

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:from last year, what questions were asked during the interview and what was the writing sample about?
having ours coming up wednesday in a week and really want to get into Banneker.
thanks


Re: the interview. I suggest asking a family friend or two to do a mock interview with your kid. Even if over zoom. My kid is shy and this prep helped immensely. Ask about academic goals, study habits, academic challenges and how they’ve overcome, what they’ll do when the going gets rough, college and career goals, things they do for fun, how they’ll try making friends, club interests, etc.

And like a job interview, have your kid practice asking questions of the interviewers. It will be a panel of 2-3 teachers and/or other admins. They may come across as intimidating and warn about how tough school is, ask how your kid handles competition, etc. Or they might be warm and fuzzy; no guarantee who you’ll get.

I’ll be honest — the interview completely turned me off the school and I thought my kid would feel the same way. But it fired him up; he absolutely loved their approach. And the school has been a great fit.


It's because every year, students and parents whine about the volume of homework and act as if they had no clue what they were walking into. EVERY year. Current parent and I find it annoying as hell. There are kids who thrive under those conditions and your son sounds like one of them.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 08:57     Subject: Re:DC Selective High School Interviews

Anonymous wrote:We heard from Banneker last night. Nothing from Wall yet. Will we get an email from Walls that DS did NOT get an interview, or is no news, no news?


Walls will send an email if not selected to interview.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 20:05     Subject: Re:DC Selective High School Interviews

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Everyone gets into banneker. If your not accepted it because they didnt have enough space. I know people who had B’s and even C’s but still got in. They were also pretty badly behaved in middle school. And before you say anything, I have a child at banneker and another at walls and a third at JR.


This is absolutely not true. My son didn't get into Banneker. Many kids don't get into Banneker. Believe it or not, it's quite selective. Maybe they don't make the choices you would, but they choose and the majority of kids who apply don't get in.


My kid did not get into Banneker either, but I assumed that was because they did get in to an application school that they ranked ahead of Banneker.


This is not the same as not getting in to Banneker. You cannot ever know if you were accepted to a school you rank lower than the school you were accepted to. So this is not an example of your kid not getting in.
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 19:52     Subject: DC Selective High School Interviews

I don't think they are invited yet
Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 19:32     Subject: Re:DC Selective High School Interviews

Anyone hear from SWW for upcoming interviews?
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 13:12     Subject: Re:DC Selective High School Interviews

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Everyone gets into banneker. If your not accepted it because they didnt have enough space. I know people who had B’s and even C’s but still got in. They were also pretty badly behaved in middle school. And before you say anything, I have a child at banneker and another at walls and a third at JR.


This is absolutely not true. My son didn't get into Banneker. Many kids don't get into Banneker. Believe it or not, it's quite selective. Maybe they don't make the choices you would, but they choose and the majority of kids who apply don't get in.


My kid did not get into Banneker either, but I assumed that was because they did get in to an application school that they ranked ahead of Banneker.


Yes, it was.

I know several parents whose well behaved children didn't get into Banneker. It may have been true at some point that everyone gets in, but it's not now.


One thing I'd be curious about, but I am sure it changes year to year, is what percent of kids get interviews, and then what percent get accepted into the various schools. I'd imagine the waitlist moves a little bit as well, if kids are looking at both public and privates? Or get into a school they put at #2 and then later get into their number 1?
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 12:35     Subject: Re:DC Selective High School Interviews

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Everyone gets into banneker. If your not accepted it because they didnt have enough space. I know people who had B’s and even C’s but still got in. They were also pretty badly behaved in middle school. And before you say anything, I have a child at banneker and another at walls and a third at JR.


This is absolutely not true. My son didn't get into Banneker. Many kids don't get into Banneker. Believe it or not, it's quite selective. Maybe they don't make the choices you would, but they choose and the majority of kids who apply don't get in.


My kid did not get into Banneker either, but I assumed that was because they did get in to an application school that they ranked ahead of Banneker.


Yes, it was.

I know several parents whose well behaved children didn't get into Banneker. It may have been true at some point that everyone gets in, but it's not now.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 12:25     Subject: Re:DC Selective High School Interviews

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Everyone gets into banneker. If your not accepted it because they didnt have enough space. I know people who had B’s and even C’s but still got in. They were also pretty badly behaved in middle school. And before you say anything, I have a child at banneker and another at walls and a third at JR.


This is absolutely not true. My son didn't get into Banneker. Many kids don't get into Banneker. Believe it or not, it's quite selective. Maybe they don't make the choices you would, but they choose and the majority of kids who apply don't get in.


My kid did not get into Banneker either, but I assumed that was because they did get in to an application school that they ranked ahead of Banneker.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 12:22     Subject: DC Selective High School Interviews

Anonymous wrote:Just got notice from Banneker for interview on 2/11.


Wow. Not much notice. Anyone get a Walls interview?