Because BASIS is offers far more serious HS academics than any other DC public school other than the fast track at J-R and Walls for humanities subjects. I don't care for their AP cram school approach and didn't take the 5th grade spot we got, but there's no denying that their math and science middle and high school prep is head and shoulders above that offered at any other DC public school. There's also no denying that some of the black families EotP who would have gone with Banneker or a DCPS middle school like Stuart Hobson in the past now head to BASIS. Banneker doesn't seem to be getting any students into MIT, Cal Tech, Princeton engineering. BASIS does.
Banneker's mediocre STEM prep has lost its sheen with BASIS in town.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Not a fair post. You're missing the point. PP didn't argue against a majority black school. They argued in favor of higher standards, tougher academics, stronger ecs and more diversity, e.g. Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, Bronx Science etc. New Yorkers get it.

New York City has over ten times the population of DC.

NYC has 9 test-in magnet high schools, each of them majority Asian in a city where Asians aren't even 15% of the total population. Boston, with a population roughly the same size as DC's has supported two such high schools for more than a century, Boston Latin and Cambridge Rindge and Latin. Come on, the barrier isn't size of DC's population. It's the race and class politics of test-in high schools coupled with a lack of ambition. Thankfully, BASIS DC has shaken things up.

How has Basis Dc shaken up the magnet high school landscape in DC?

It's ridiculous how anybody who criticizes Banneker on these threads is shouted down as racist, misinformed and/or an imposter. If you switch from BASIS to Banneker, be prepared for STEM classes that aren't sufficiently challenging (no point in complaining). You should also be prepared for academic ECs that aren't very competitive or serious, e.g. debate, robotics, classics competitions and comparatively weak college counseling. The school could be so much more than it is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Not a fair post. You're missing the point. PP didn't argue against a majority black school. They argued in favor of higher standards, tougher academics, stronger ecs and more diversity, e.g. Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, Bronx Science etc. New Yorkers get it.

New York City has over ten times the population of DC.

NYC has 9 test-in magnet high schools, each of them majority Asian in a city where Asians aren't even 15% of the total population. Boston, with a population roughly the same size as DC's has supported two such high schools for more than a century, Boston Latin and Cambridge Rindge and Latin. Come on, the barrier isn't size of DC's population. It's the race and class politics of test-in high schools coupled with a lack of ambition. Thankfully, BASIS DC has shaken things up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please remember in your analysis that non white does not equal poor. A non-white UMC student may not feel as comfortable at Banneker as a non-white middle or lower-middle class student. I am black UMC. I would consider sending my kid to Basis but not Banneker.

Uh, I know quite a few black UMC kids at Banneker. The school population is 27% at-risk and also high-achieving. I think it is a real misunderstanding of the school (and a disservice to your kid!) to think that a black UMC kid might not feel comfortable.

Any urban kid might not feel comfortable in any school where more than 80% of students belong to a single race. The lack of racial diversity at Banneker in a real drag. If DCPS wants Banneker to diversify, system leaders could make that happen. DCPS could start by making sure that more photos of white and Asian students appear on the Banneker web site and marketing materials. Banneker could also ditch some of the rules that tend to turn off UMC parents. The school could focus on raising Banneker's comparatively weak standardized test scores, offering more serious STEM and language classes and expanding and strengthening EC offerings.

You're kidding! There aren't enough excellent majority-white spaces--we need to make an excellent majority-Black space more diverse???

Agree! As the parent of a white freshman at Banneker, there is no need to change marketing materials! What’s wrong with seeing Black students? It is odd to me that this is seen as a negative. I don’t care that there aren’t more white students nor does my kid. What rules do UMC parents object to? More serious classes?! You clearly know nothing about Banneker.

Easy one. Banneker could be a better school if it attracted a more diverse student body, was more welcoming to non-blacks. You're v. unusual. Banneker isn't fantastic academically across the board and doesn't offer many competitive ECs. There's plenty of room for improvement. I know a good deal about Banneker since I've volunteered there on and off for years. I'm not white. I attended a NYC test-in GT elementary school, middle school and magnet high school before going to an Ivy on a Pell Grant. DC doesn't support a single real magnet high school on a par with those in NYC, Boston, Chicago, cities in Texas etc. which is a shame.

I’m going to reject the idea that Banneker is unwelcoming to non-Black students. I think you completely dismiss the long held anger/animosity regarding school integration among whites. The vestiges are still with us. You are also comparing DC to large state school systems, which is completely unrealistic. Can DCPS improve some things? Sure. We like Banneker. Great teachers and nice kids.

You post often on Banneker threads. I’m always appalled that you come on here to tear down the school and its students. I really hope my kid has no interactions with you. You seem like an a**.

Agreed as I recognize this poster as well.

Banneker receives more applicants than spots. It doesn't need to anything to attract additional applicants. Its Title 1 status is new and intentional. It's both prudent and beneficial to our city's youth. The school is also centrally located and on the best campus in the DCPS system.

Anonymous wrote:NP. Not a fair post. You're missing the point. PP didn't argue against a majority black school. They argued in favor of higher standards, tougher academics, stronger ecs and more diversity, e.g. Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, Bronx Science etc. New Yorkers get it.

New York City has over ten times the population of DC.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t believe that that poster is a current volunteer at Banneker. I believe, based entirely on the DCUM archives, that they were an Ivy alumni interviewer at Banneker until roughly a decade ago when they were removed from that position, an incident about which a person identifying as their spouse posted at the time. Since then, they have posted consistently on Banneker threads, with the constant theme that Banneker has to attract more white and Asian students, and that to do so, the school must become a test-in magnet like the one they attended in 1980s NYC. I would not put much weight on their comments, and I would not worry about encountering them at Banneker today.

Whatever. Banneker isn't short on volunteers. PP isn't wrong that it wouldn't hurt Banneker to beef up its academics and ECs here in the post Affirmative Action era. I wouldn't put much weight on the comments of parents who come here to claim that Banneker is stellar as is. There are certainly many good teachers and the building is much better than it used to be, but the administration is stuck in a different decade, along with the college counselors.

NP. Not a fair post. You're missing the point. PP didn't argue against a majority black school. They argued in favor of higher standards, tougher academics, stronger ecs and more diversity, e.g. Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, Bronx Science etc. New Yorkers get it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please remember in your analysis that non white does not equal poor. A non-white UMC student may not feel as comfortable at Banneker as a non-white middle or lower-middle class student. I am black UMC. I would consider sending my kid to Basis but not Banneker.

Uh, I know quite a few black UMC kids at Banneker. The school population is 27% at-risk and also high-achieving. I think it is a real misunderstanding of the school (and a disservice to your kid!) to think that a black UMC kid might not feel comfortable.

Any urban kid might not feel comfortable in any school where more than 80% of students belong to a single race. The lack of racial diversity at Banneker in a real drag. If DCPS wants Banneker to diversify, system leaders could make that happen. DCPS could start by making sure that more photos of white and Asian students appear on the Banneker web site and marketing materials. Banneker could also ditch some of the rules that tend to turn off UMC parents. The school could focus on raising Banneker's comparatively weak standardized test scores, offering more serious STEM and language classes and expanding and strengthening EC offerings.

You're kidding! There aren't enough excellent majority-white spaces--we need to make an excellent majority-Black space more diverse???

Agree! As the parent of a white freshman at Banneker, there is no need to change marketing materials! What’s wrong with seeing Black students? It is odd to me that this is seen as a negative. I don’t care that there aren’t more white students nor does my kid. What rules do UMC parents object to? More serious classes?! You clearly know nothing about Banneker.

Easy one. Banneker could be a better school if it attracted a more diverse student body, was more welcoming to non-blacks. You're v. unusual. Banneker isn't fantastic academically across the board and doesn't offer many competitive ECs. There's plenty of room for improvement. I know a good deal about Banneker since I've volunteered there on and off for years. I'm not white. I attended a NYC test-in GT elementary school, middle school and magnet high school before going to an Ivy on a Pell Grant. DC doesn't support a single real magnet high school on a par with those in NYC, Boston, Chicago, cities in Texas etc. which is a shame.

If you see an image of a group of Black kids at a school like Banneker and don’t think scholar, smart, or academic achievement that’s on you. There is no reaching people who are afraid of their child attending a majority Black school.

I don’t believe that that poster is a current volunteer at Banneker. I believe, based entirely on the DCUM archives, that they were an Ivy alumni interviewer at Banneker until roughly a decade ago when they were removed from that position, an incident about which a person identifying as their spouse posted at the time. Since then, they have posted consistently on Banneker threads, with the constant theme that Banneker has to attract more white and Asian students, and that to do so, the school must become a test-in magnet like the one they attended in 1980s NYC. I would not put much weight on their comments, and I would not worry about encountering them at Banneker today.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please remember in your analysis that non white does not equal poor. A non-white UMC student may not feel as comfortable at Banneker as a non-white middle or lower-middle class student. I am black UMC. I would consider sending my kid to Basis but not Banneker.

Uh, I know quite a few black UMC kids at Banneker. The school population is 27% at-risk and also high-achieving. I think it is a real misunderstanding of the school (and a disservice to your kid!) to think that a black UMC kid might not feel comfortable.

Any urban kid might not feel comfortable in any school where more than 80% of students belong to a single race. The lack of racial diversity at Banneker in a real drag. If DCPS wants Banneker to diversify, system leaders could make that happen. DCPS could start by making sure that more photos of white and Asian students appear on the Banneker web site and marketing materials. Banneker could also ditch some of the rules that tend to turn off UMC parents. The school could focus on raising Banneker's comparatively weak standardized test scores, offering more serious STEM and language classes and expanding and strengthening EC offerings.

You're kidding! There aren't enough excellent majority-white spaces--we need to make an excellent majority-Black space more diverse???

Agree! As the parent of a white freshman at Banneker, there is no need to change marketing materials! What’s wrong with seeing Black students? It is odd to me that this is seen as a negative. I don’t care that there aren’t more white students nor does my kid. What rules do UMC parents object to? More serious classes?! You clearly know nothing about Banneker.

Easy one. Banneker could be a better school if it attracted a more diverse student body, was more welcoming to non-blacks. You're v. unusual. Banneker isn't fantastic academically across the board and doesn't offer many competitive ECs. There's plenty of room for improvement. I know a good deal about Banneker since I've volunteered there on and off for years. I'm not white. I attended a NYC test-in GT elementary school, middle school and magnet high school before going to an Ivy on a Pell Grant. DC doesn't support a single real magnet high school on a par with those in NYC, Boston, Chicago, cities in Texas etc. which is a shame.

I’m going to reject the idea that Banneker is unwelcoming to non-Black students. I think you completely dismiss the long held anger/animosity regarding school integration among whites. The vestiges are still with us. You are also comparing DC to large state school systems, which is completely unrealistic. Can DCPS improve some things? Sure. We like Banneker. Great teachers and nice kids.

You post often on Banneker threads. I’m always appalled that you come on here to tear down the school and its students. I really hope my kid has no interactions with you. You seem like an a**.

+1. PP sounds like a racist. I'm sorry they are volunteering at a school they obviously doesn't respect.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please remember in your analysis that non white does not equal poor. A non-white UMC student may not feel as comfortable at Banneker as a non-white middle or lower-middle class student. I am black UMC. I would consider sending my kid to Basis but not Banneker.

Uh, I know quite a few black UMC kids at Banneker. The school population is 27% at-risk and also high-achieving. I think it is a real misunderstanding of the school (and a disservice to your kid!) to think that a black UMC kid might not feel comfortable.

Any urban kid might not feel comfortable in any school where more than 80% of students belong to a single race. The lack of racial diversity at Banneker in a real drag. If DCPS wants Banneker to diversify, system leaders could make that happen. DCPS could start by making sure that more photos of white and Asian students appear on the Banneker web site and marketing materials. Banneker could also ditch some of the rules that tend to turn off UMC parents. The school could focus on raising Banneker's comparatively weak standardized test scores, offering more serious STEM and language classes and expanding and strengthening EC offerings.

You're kidding! There aren't enough excellent majority-white spaces--we need to make an excellent majority-Black space more diverse???

Agree! As the parent of a white freshman at Banneker, there is no need to change marketing materials! What’s wrong with seeing Black students? It is odd to me that this is seen as a negative. I don’t care that there aren’t more white students nor does my kid. What rules do UMC parents object to? More serious classes?! You clearly know nothing about Banneker.

Easy one. Banneker could be a better school if it attracted a more diverse student body, was more welcoming to non-blacks. You're v. unusual. Banneker isn't fantastic academically across the board and doesn't offer many competitive ECs. There's plenty of room for improvement. I know a good deal about Banneker since I've volunteered there on and off for years. I'm not white. I attended a NYC test-in GT elementary school, middle school and magnet high school before going to an Ivy on a Pell Grant. DC doesn't support a single real magnet high school on a par with those in NYC, Boston, Chicago, cities in Texas etc. which is a shame.

We don't have any test in magnet schools. Thanks for bringing your Ivy League level observations to the masses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please remember in your analysis that non white does not equal poor. A non-white UMC student may not feel as comfortable at Banneker as a non-white middle or lower-middle class student. I am black UMC. I would consider sending my kid to Basis but not Banneker.

Uh, I know quite a few black UMC kids at Banneker. The school population is 27% at-risk and also high-achieving. I think it is a real misunderstanding of the school (and a disservice to your kid!) to think that a black UMC kid might not feel comfortable.

Any urban kid might not feel comfortable in any school where more than 80% of students belong to a single race. The lack of racial diversity at Banneker in a real drag. If DCPS wants Banneker to diversify, system leaders could make that happen. DCPS could start by making sure that more photos of white and Asian students appear on the Banneker web site and marketing materials. Banneker could also ditch some of the rules that tend to turn off UMC parents. The school could focus on raising Banneker's comparatively weak standardized test scores, offering more serious STEM and language classes and expanding and strengthening EC offerings.

You're kidding! There aren't enough excellent majority-white spaces--we need to make an excellent majority-Black space more diverse???

Agree! As the parent of a white freshman at Banneker, there is no need to change marketing materials! What’s wrong with seeing Black students? It is odd to me that this is seen as a negative. I don’t care that there aren’t more white students nor does my kid. What rules do UMC parents object to? More serious classes?! You clearly know nothing about Banneker.

Easy one. Banneker could be a better school if it attracted a more diverse student body, was more welcoming to non-blacks. You're v. unusual. Banneker isn't fantastic academically across the board and doesn't offer many competitive ECs. There's plenty of room for improvement. I know a good deal about Banneker since I've volunteered there on and off for years. I'm not white. I attended a NYC test-in GT elementary school, middle school and magnet high school before going to an Ivy on a Pell Grant. DC doesn't support a single real magnet high school on a par with those in NYC, Boston, Chicago, cities in Texas etc. which is a shame.

I’m going to reject the idea that Banneker is unwelcoming to non-Black students. I think you completely dismiss the long held anger/animosity regarding school integration among whites. The vestiges are still with us. You are also comparing DC to large state school systems, which is completely unrealistic. Can DCPS improve some things? Sure. We like Banneker. Great teachers and nice kids.

You post often on Banneker threads. I’m always appalled that you come on here to tear down the school and its students. I really hope my kid has no interactions with you. You seem like an a**.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please remember in your analysis that non white does not equal poor. A non-white UMC student may not feel as comfortable at Banneker as a non-white middle or lower-middle class student. I am black UMC. I would consider sending my kid to Basis but not Banneker.

Uh, I know quite a few black UMC kids at Banneker. The school population is 27% at-risk and also high-achieving. I think it is a real misunderstanding of the school (and a disservice to your kid!) to think that a black UMC kid might not feel comfortable.

Any urban kid might not feel comfortable in any school where more than 80% of students belong to a single race. The lack of racial diversity at Banneker in a real drag. If DCPS wants Banneker to diversify, system leaders could make that happen. DCPS could start by making sure that more photos of white and Asian students appear on the Banneker web site and marketing materials. Banneker could also ditch some of the rules that tend to turn off UMC parents. The school could focus on raising Banneker's comparatively weak standardized test scores, offering more serious STEM and language classes and expanding and strengthening EC offerings.

You're kidding! There aren't enough excellent majority-white spaces--we need to make an excellent majority-Black space more diverse???

Agree! As the parent of a white freshman at Banneker, there is no need to change marketing materials! What’s wrong with seeing Black students? It is odd to me that this is seen as a negative. I don’t care that there aren’t more white students nor does my kid. What rules do UMC parents object to? More serious classes?! You clearly know nothing about Banneker.

My DD is horrified at rule barring the wearing of sweatpants

Kids can’t wear sweatpants at Banneker?

They can. They do. Mine does, all the time.

My kid does all the time too. I think PP is confusing sweatpants and leggings. Banneker doesn’t allow leggings, unless they’re flared.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please remember in your analysis that non white does not equal poor. A non-white UMC student may not feel as comfortable at Banneker as a non-white middle or lower-middle class student. I am black UMC. I would consider sending my kid to Basis but not Banneker.

Uh, I know quite a few black UMC kids at Banneker. The school population is 27% at-risk and also high-achieving. I think it is a real misunderstanding of the school (and a disservice to your kid!) to think that a black UMC kid might not feel comfortable.

Any urban kid might not feel comfortable in any school where more than 80% of students belong to a single race. The lack of racial diversity at Banneker in a real drag. If DCPS wants Banneker to diversify, system leaders could make that happen. DCPS could start by making sure that more photos of white and Asian students appear on the Banneker web site and marketing materials. Banneker could also ditch some of the rules that tend to turn off UMC parents. The school could focus on raising Banneker's comparatively weak standardized test scores, offering more serious STEM and language classes and expanding and strengthening EC offerings.

You're kidding! There aren't enough excellent majority-white spaces--we need to make an excellent majority-Black space more diverse???

Agree! As the parent of a white freshman at Banneker, there is no need to change marketing materials! What’s wrong with seeing Black students? It is odd to me that this is seen as a negative. I don’t care that there aren’t more white students nor does my kid. What rules do UMC parents object to? More serious classes?! You clearly know nothing about Banneker.

Easy one. Banneker could be a better school if it attracted a more diverse student body, was more welcoming to non-blacks. You're v. unusual. Banneker isn't fantastic academically across the board and doesn't offer many competitive ECs. There's plenty of room for improvement. I know a good deal about Banneker since I've volunteered there on and off for years. I'm not white. I attended a NYC test-in GT elementary school, middle school and magnet high school before going to an Ivy on a Pell Grant. DC doesn't support a single real magnet high school on a par with those in NYC, Boston, Chicago, cities in Texas etc. which is a shame.