Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passing the test is not a set score. The top 250 scores pass the test and are then interviewed.

Also, the Post article said that since more students pass the score than can be admitted, that the lottery plays a role.

However, last year at the open house they said they decide person by person.

It is a really non-transparent process. I"m not sure anyone, outside the school's administration, truly knows how decisions are made. I'm not convinced they fully abide by the process they discuss.

The article was incorrect- there is not a "passing score" on the entrance exam. The top 200 or whatever number of students get to the interview phase. Every year that cut off is different based on student scores. It's not as if everyone who scores 80% or above every year gets an interview. So no one "passes" and doesn't get an interview.

The email sent out to invite students to take the test says those students who "pass" the test will be invited for interviews. I took that to mean there was a pass score?

There is a passing score, but it is a function of how kids score on the test. I was told 250, but the waitlist from last year looks like more as there were 140 admits, 123 on waitlist and probably some students that got into a school they ranked higher on their lottery choices.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passing the test is not a set score. The top 250 scores pass the test and are then interviewed.

Also, the Post article said that since more students pass the score than can be admitted, that the lottery plays a role.

However, last year at the open house they said they decide person by person.

It is a really non-transparent process. I"m not sure anyone, outside the school's administration, truly knows how decisions are made. I'm not convinced they fully abide by the process they discuss.

The article was incorrect- there is not a "passing score" on the entrance exam. The top 200 or whatever number of students get to the interview phase. Every year that cut off is different based on student scores. It's not as if everyone who scores 80% or above every year gets an interview. So no one "passes" and doesn't get an interview.

The email sent out to invite students to take the test says those students who "pass" the test will be invited for interviews. I took that to mean there was a pass score?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone point me to the data on how far the wait list for 9th moved last year. The MSDC data only shows Amit’s and total waitlist.

An administrator I spoke with at the open house said that they reliably will go to at least #20 on the waitlist.

For 18-19 admission offers to 76 people on the WL were made by June, and another 9 were made by August. So 85 people out of a total WL of 123.

https://public.tableau.com/profile/aaron2446#!/vizhome/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData/MSDCPublicDisplay

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passing the test is not a set score. The top 250 scores pass the test and are then interviewed.

Also, the Post article said that since more students pass the score than can be admitted, that the lottery plays a role.

However, last year at the open house they said they decide person by person.

It is a really non-transparent process. I"m not sure anyone, outside the school's administration, truly knows how decisions are made. I'm not convinced they fully abide by the process they discuss.

I believe the Post got it wrong on the lottery issue. It is confusing because it is part of the “lottery system” MySchoolDC but they order the list of kids that go to the interview round. Not sure how test scores are combined with the interview.

No one knows.

For all the application schools, the lottery comes into play with the ranking of your choices.

For example, you apply to SWW and pass the test/ace the interview and SWW puts you on the admitted list they submit to DCPS/MSDC. But, while you decided to apply to SWW, you really liked Washington Latin more and ranked it first on your MSDC application. If you secure a 9th-grade lottery seat at Latin, you forfeit your slot at SWW because Latin was ranked first. In fact, you will never know that you got into Walls.

They put this process into effect because students were applying to more than one application school, causing lots of shuffling and waitlist churn after the application school results came out.

Anonymous wrote:Can someone point me to the data on how far the wait list for 9th moved last year. The MSDC data only shows Amit’s and total waitlist.

An administrator I spoke with at the open house said that they reliably will go to at least #20 on the waitlist.

Can someone point me to the data on how far the wait list for 9th moved last year. The MSDC data only shows Amit’s and total waitlist.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passing the test is not a set score. The top 250 scores pass the test and are then interviewed.

Also, the Post article said that since more students pass the score than can be admitted, that the lottery plays a role.

However, last year at the open house they said they decide person by person.

It is a really non-transparent process. I"m not sure anyone, outside the school's administration, truly knows how decisions are made. I'm not convinced they fully abide by the process they discuss.

I believe the Post got it wrong on the lottery issue. It is confusing because it is part of the “lottery system” MySchoolDC but they order the list of kids that go to the interview round. Not sure how test scores are combined with the interview.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passing the test is not a set score. The top 250 scores pass the test and are then interviewed.

Also, the Post article said that since more students pass the score than can be admitted, that the lottery plays a role.

However, last year at the open house they said they decide person by person.

It is a really non-transparent process. I"m not sure anyone, outside the school's administration, truly knows how decisions are made. I'm not convinced they fully abide by the process they discuss.

Yes, non-transparent and confusing. At the website, they still talk about the lottery.

I also heard only seniors interview the candidates, not teachers.

That's how it was a few years back, but not anymore. Students and teachers interview.

The lottery is mentioned on the website because that's how they gather applications and how they admit students who applied at multiple schools (e.g. you apply to SWW, Banneker and Ellington and all 3 schools admit you. The lottery comes into play in your ranking -- you will only be admitted to the one you listed first and never be told that you got into the 2 others).

What I wish they'd do is take the pool of students who pass the exam and interview stages, and use the master lottery number to determine which of that ~300-350 candidates will get offers.

I wish they could come up with a word other than "lottery" to describe the process.

Something like "arbitrary process to plug our cronies while looking good"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passing the test is not a set score. The top 250 scores pass the test and are then interviewed.

Also, the Post article said that since more students pass the score than can be admitted, that the lottery plays a role.

However, last year at the open house they said they decide person by person.

It is a really non-transparent process. I"m not sure anyone, outside the school's administration, truly knows how decisions are made. I'm not convinced they fully abide by the process they discuss.

Yes, non-transparent and confusing. At the website, they still talk about the lottery.

I also heard only seniors interview the candidates, not teachers.

That's how it was a few years back, but not anymore. Students and teachers interview.

The lottery is mentioned on the website because that's how they gather applications and how they admit students who applied at multiple schools (e.g. you apply to SWW, Banneker and Ellington and all 3 schools admit you. The lottery comes into play in your ranking -- you will only be admitted to the one you listed first and never be told that you got into the 2 others).

What I wish they'd do is take the pool of students who pass the exam and interview stages, and use the master lottery number to determine which of that ~300-350 candidates will get offers.

I wish they could come up with a word other than "lottery" to describe the process.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passing the test is not a set score. The top 250 scores pass the test and are then interviewed.

Also, the Post article said that since more students pass the score than can be admitted, that the lottery plays a role.

However, last year at the open house they said they decide person by person.

It is a really non-transparent process. I"m not sure anyone, outside the school's administration, truly knows how decisions are made. I'm not convinced they fully abide by the process they discuss.

The article was incorrect- there is not a "passing score" on the entrance exam. The top 200 or whatever number of students get to the interview phase. Every year that cut off is different based on student scores. It's not as if everyone who scores 80% or above every year gets an interview. So no one "passes" and doesn't get an interview.

Which is why....

It stinks of corruption

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passing the test is not a set score. The top 250 scores pass the test and are then interviewed.

Also, the Post article said that since more students pass the score than can be admitted, that the lottery plays a role.

However, last year at the open house they said they decide person by person.

It is a really non-transparent process. I"m not sure anyone, outside the school's administration, truly knows how decisions are made. I'm not convinced they fully abide by the process they discuss.

Yes, non-transparent and confusing. At the website, they still talk about the lottery.

I also heard only seniors interview the candidates, not teachers.

That's how it was a few years back, but not anymore. Students and teachers interview.

The lottery is mentioned on the website because that's how they gather applications and how they admit students who applied at multiple schools (e.g. you apply to SWW, Banneker and Ellington and all 3 schools admit you. The lottery comes into play in your ranking -- you will only be admitted to the one you listed first and never be told that you got into the 2 others).

What I wish they'd do is take the pool of students who pass the exam and interview stages, and use the master lottery number to determine which of that ~300-350 candidates will get offers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is SWW still good for a kid who is into Science and Math? Should we stay at Wilson?

Look at the course offerings at both. AP is the most advanced courses offered, but students at all DCPS high schools can pursue dual enrollment at a local college if your student can make the schedule work with the rest of their classes.

SWW offers these Math/Science AP courses: Physics C, Cal AB, Biology, Environmental Science.

Wilson offers these Math/Science AP courses: Biology, Chemistry, 2 AP Physics courses, Environmental Science, Calc AB, Calc BC

Those are not all of the math and science AP courses offered at Walls.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passing the test is not a set score. The top 250 scores pass the test and are then interviewed.

Also, the Post article said that since more students pass the score than can be admitted, that the lottery plays a role.

However, last year at the open house they said they decide person by person.

It is a really non-transparent process. I"m not sure anyone, outside the school's administration, truly knows how decisions are made. I'm not convinced they fully abide by the process they discuss.

The article was incorrect- there is not a "passing score" on the entrance exam. The top 200 or whatever number of students get to the interview phase. Every year that cut off is different based on student scores. It's not as if everyone who scores 80% or above every year gets an interview. So no one "passes" and doesn't get an interview.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passing the test is not a set score. The top 250 scores pass the test and are then interviewed.

Also, the Post article said that since more students pass the score than can be admitted, that the lottery plays a role.

However, last year at the open house they said they decide person by person.

It is a really non-transparent process. I"m not sure anyone, outside the school's administration, truly knows how decisions are made. I'm not convinced they fully abide by the process they discuss.

Yes, non-transparent and confusing. At the website, they still talk about the lottery.

I also heard only seniors interview the candidates, not teachers.

The process stinks of high corruption.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passing the test is not a set score. The top 250 scores pass the test and are then interviewed.

Also, the Post article said that since more students pass the score than can be admitted, that the lottery plays a role.

However, last year at the open house they said they decide person by person.

It is a really non-transparent process. I"m not sure anyone, outside the school's administration, truly knows how decisions are made. I'm not convinced they fully abide by the process they discuss.

Yes, non-transparent and confusing. At the website, they still talk about the lottery.

I also heard only seniors interview the candidates, not teachers.