Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone,

I'm a reporter with the Washington City Paper, and I'm working on a story on a question that has been raised several times on this forum: Why don't white students go to Banneker? I'm interested in speaking with parents who fall under one of these categories:

- You have (or recently have) a child at Banneker
- You're considering Banneker
- You opted not to apply to Banneker, or got in but decided not to go there

If you match the description, please feel free to send me an email at awiener (at) washingtoncitypaper (dot) com.

Thanks very much!
Aaron

Because its Majority Black and located in Georgia Avenue near Howard University. Whites will not send their kids to majority black schools regardless of the test scores. People will say "Wilson" but lets be honest the "honor courses" or "humanities program" are Majority white and a school within a school where whites are the majority

Then how do explain all of the sudden interest in Cleveland Elementary School right down the street? White people just discovered it. It frequently appeared on this year's DCUM lottery threads.

(I'm black and didn't mention Cleveland to a soul until my kids got in. It's golden. Also one of the things I loved about Cleveland is that is majority AA/Latino, so my kids get to experience a strong minority populated educational setting, where all of the high achievers and school leadership looked like them.)

Wow, that's racist

Nope, it is not. It is countering a racist society that has a preschool to prison pipeline for Black children. Please stop calling black people racists for trying to counter institutional racism. It is not cute.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's socioeconomic too. Many of you do not seem to realize that there is a large contingent of high SES AA families that opt out of DCPS and charters after ES and go private.

So true! Most of my high SES AA friends, relatives, and myself included opt out of DCPS period. We all send our children to private schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone,

I'm a reporter with the Washington City Paper, and I'm working on a story on a question that has been raised several times on this forum: Why don't white students go to Banneker? I'm interested in speaking with parents who fall under one of these categories:

- You have (or recently have) a child at Banneker
- You're considering Banneker
- You opted not to apply to Banneker, or got in but decided not to go there

If you match the description, please feel free to send me an email at awiener (at) washingtoncitypaper (dot) com.

Thanks very much!
Aaron

Because its Majority Black and located in Georgia Avenue near Howard University. Whites will not send their kids to majority black schools regardless of the test scores. People will say "Wilson" but lets be honest the "honor courses" or "humanities program" are Majority white and a school within a school where whites are the majority

Then how do explain all of the sudden interest in Cleveland Elementary School right down the street? White people just discovered it. It frequently appeared on this year's DCUM lottery threads.

(I'm black and didn't mention Cleveland to a soul until my kids got in. It's golden. Also one of the things I loved about Cleveland is that is majority AA/Latino, so my kids get to experience a strong minority populated educational setting, where all of the high achievers and school leadership looked like them.)

Wow, that's racist

Nope, it is not. It is countering a racist society that has a preschool to prison pipeline for Black children. Please stop calling black people racists for trying to counter institutional racism. It is not cute.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a topic that should be addressed in your piece – SAT scores. How does a selective admission school score below the national average on the SAT?

Below is data taken directly from the Banneker web site:
http://benjaminbanneker.k12.dc.us/about_bbahs.html

READING
DCPS 473
Banneker 496
National 496

MATH
DCPS 466
Banneker 506
National 514



WRITING
DCPS 461
Banneker 486
National 488

Those Banneker scores seem surprisingly low. If true, well, that answers the reporter's question.

I was thinking the same thing. For a test in school, the scores aren't anything special. It would be helpful to compare them to Wilson and TJ in Va, a real test in school. As for parents not sending their white kids to a majority AA school, that really oversimplifies the issues. its that a white kid would likely be the ONLY white kid in the entire school. I would worry about bullying, exclusion etc if that were my kid. No one wants to be the ONLY. Most white parents have their elem kids in majority non white elem schools but parents worry less about elem. By middle and high school, parents with high achieving kids (And also likely higher income), know its time to really buckle down and get hard core into academics, IB, AP and honors. Also, middle and HS is when the really serious behvaviroal and violent issues start to play out as the kids get older. The challenges of very low income kids really becomes a different reality at that age.

This. I moved to DC from Europe without much of a clue about race relations in this country. It didn't take long living in DC to realize that there is quite a bit of anti-white sentiment among black people in this town. I am a liberal and know that there are partially understandable reasons for that, but it is this fact that makes me not want to send my kids to a school that is almost entirely or even majority black, regardless of test scores.

Agreed. I got a very similar impression when moving here (from California). That attitude, combined with clearly lower test and SAT scores than relevant alternatives, makes it very unlikely our kids will go to Banneker.

So are the race relations different or better in California? Is this a DC thing? I have lived in California as well, but in a community with virtually no AA, so I did not experience it there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a topic that should be addressed in your piece – SAT scores. How does a selective admission school score below the national average on the SAT?

Below is data taken directly from the Banneker web site:
http://benjaminbanneker.k12.dc.us/about_bbahs.html

READING
DCPS 473
Banneker 496
National 496

MATH
DCPS 466
Banneker 506
National 514



WRITING
DCPS 461
Banneker 486
National 488

Those Banneker scores seem surprisingly low. If true, well, that answers the reporter's question.

I was thinking the same thing. For a test in school, the scores aren't anything special. It would be helpful to compare them to Wilson and TJ in Va, a real test in school. As for parents not sending their white kids to a majority AA school, that really oversimplifies the issues. its that a white kid would likely be the ONLY white kid in the entire school. I would worry about bullying, exclusion etc if that were my kid. No one wants to be the ONLY. Most white parents have their elem kids in majority non white elem schools but parents worry less about elem. By middle and high school, parents with high achieving kids (And also likely higher income), know its time to really buckle down and get hard core into academics, IB, AP and honors. Also, middle and HS is when the really serious behvaviroal and violent issues start to play out as the kids get older. The challenges of very low income kids really becomes a different reality at that age.

This. I moved to DC from Europe without much of a clue about race relations in this country. It didn't take long living in DC to realize that there is quite a bit of anti-white sentiment among black people in this town. I am a liberal and know that there are partially understandable reasons for that, but it is this fact that makes me not want to send my kids to a school that is almost entirely or even majority black, regardless of test scores.

I'm from Europe too, don't pull the race card on this one, there are so many racial incidents and the rise of the far right in Europe right now. You clearly don't know much about American history, if you say "I am a liberal and know there are partially understandable reasons for that..." You do know we just had Emancipation Day and the significance of that don't you. I actually think the race relations here, though many, are at least out in the open and Americans for the most part are attempting to understand and work on it. Europe likes to sit back and feel superior and pretend that they don't have any issues.

Oh please, PP was just sharing his own opinions, without the arrogance and judgment you are bringing to the table. Get of your high horse...you dont even sound European.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a topic that should be addressed in your piece – SAT scores. How does a selective admission school score below the national average on the SAT?

Below is data taken directly from the Banneker web site:
http://benjaminbanneker.k12.dc.us/about_bbahs.html

READING
DCPS 473
Banneker 496
National 496

MATH
DCPS 466
Banneker 506
National 514



WRITING
DCPS 461
Banneker 486
National 488

Those Banneker scores seem surprisingly low. If true, well, that answers the reporter's question.

I was thinking the same thing. For a test in school, the scores aren't anything special. It would be helpful to compare them to Wilson and TJ in Va, a real test in school. As for parents not sending their white kids to a majority AA school, that really oversimplifies the issues. its that a white kid would likely be the ONLY white kid in the entire school. I would worry about bullying, exclusion etc if that were my kid. No one wants to be the ONLY. Most white parents have their elem kids in majority non white elem schools but parents worry less about elem. By middle and high school, parents with high achieving kids (And also likely higher income), know its time to really buckle down and get hard core into academics, IB, AP and honors. Also, middle and HS is when the really serious behvaviroal and violent issues start to play out as the kids get older. The challenges of very low income kids really becomes a different reality at that age.

This. I moved to DC from Europe without much of a clue about race relations in this country. It didn't take long living in DC to realize that there is quite a bit of anti-white sentiment among black people in this town. I am a liberal and know that there are partially understandable reasons for that, but it is this fact that makes me not want to send my kids to a school that is almost entirely or even majority black, regardless of test scores.

I'm from Europe too, don't pull the race card on this one, there are so many racial incidents and the rise of the far right in Europe right now. You clearly don't know much about American history, if you say "I am a liberal and know there are partially understandable reasons for that..." You do know we just had Emancipation Day and the significance of that don't you. I actually think the race relations here, though many, are at least out in the open and Americans for the most part are attempting to understand and work on it. Europe likes to sit back and feel superior and pretend that they don't have any issues.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a topic that should be addressed in your piece – SAT scores. How does a selective admission school score below the national average on the SAT?

Below is data taken directly from the Banneker web site:
http://benjaminbanneker.k12.dc.us/about_bbahs.html

READING
DCPS 473
Banneker 496
National 496

MATH
DCPS 466
Banneker 506
National 514



WRITING
DCPS 461
Banneker 486
National 488

Those Banneker scores seem surprisingly low. If true, well, that answers the reporter's question.

I was thinking the same thing. For a test in school, the scores aren't anything special. It would be helpful to compare them to Wilson and TJ in Va, a real test in school. As for parents not sending their white kids to a majority AA school, that really oversimplifies the issues. its that a white kid would likely be the ONLY white kid in the entire school. I would worry about bullying, exclusion etc if that were my kid. No one wants to be the ONLY. Most white parents have their elem kids in majority non white elem schools but parents worry less about elem. By middle and high school, parents with high achieving kids (And also likely higher income), know its time to really buckle down and get hard core into academics, IB, AP and honors. Also, middle and HS is when the really serious behvaviroal and violent issues start to play out as the kids get older. The challenges of very low income kids really becomes a different reality at that age.

This. I moved to DC from Europe without much of a clue about race relations in this country. It didn't take long living in DC to realize that there is quite a bit of anti-white sentiment among black people in this town. I am a liberal and know that there are partially understandable reasons for that, but it is this fact that makes me not want to send my kids to a school that is almost entirely or even majority black, regardless of test scores.

Agreed. I got a very similar impression when moving here (from California). That attitude, combined with clearly lower test and SAT scores than relevant alternatives, makes it very unlikely our kids will go to Banneker.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a topic that should be addressed in your piece – SAT scores. How does a selective admission school score below the national average on the SAT?

Below is data taken directly from the Banneker web site:
http://benjaminbanneker.k12.dc.us/about_bbahs.html

READING
DCPS 473
Banneker 496
National 496

MATH
DCPS 466
Banneker 506
National 514



WRITING
DCPS 461
Banneker 486
National 488

Those Banneker scores seem surprisingly low. If true, well, that answers the reporter's question.

I was thinking the same thing. For a test in school, the scores aren't anything special. It would be helpful to compare them to Wilson and TJ in Va, a real test in school. As for parents not sending their white kids to a majority AA school, that really oversimplifies the issues. its that a white kid would likely be the ONLY white kid in the entire school. I would worry about bullying, exclusion etc if that were my kid. No one wants to be the ONLY. Most white parents have their elem kids in majority non white elem schools but parents worry less about elem. By middle and high school, parents with high achieving kids (And also likely higher income), know its time to really buckle down and get hard core into academics, IB, AP and honors. Also, middle and HS is when the really serious behvaviroal and violent issues start to play out as the kids get older. The challenges of very low income kids really becomes a different reality at that age.

This. I moved to DC from Europe without much of a clue about race relations in this country. It didn't take long living in DC to realize that there is quite a bit of anti-white sentiment among black people in this town. I am a liberal and know that there are partially understandable reasons for that, but it is this fact that makes me not want to send my kids to a school that is almost entirely or even majority black, regardless of test scores.

I'm from Europe too, don't pull the race card on this one, there are so many racial incidents and the rise of the far right in Europe right now. You clearly don't know much about American history, if you say "I am a liberal and know there are partially understandable reasons for that..." You do know we just had Emancipation Day and the significance of that don't you. I actually think the race relations here, though many, are at least out in the open and Americans for the most part are attempting to understand and work on it. Europe likes to sit back and feel superior and pretend that they don't have any issues.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an honest question and would appreciate an honest answer. We are a white family with a white son and are on the wait list for Cleveland. Will we not be welcome because the students and parents are predominately of color? To the PP who states how important it is for her child to be with high achieving AAs (and I get that!) will you not feel comfortable with my family at Cleveland?

I'm the PP. We could meet for coffee at Kafe Bohem, like I have with other parents (moms and dads, black and white). I've never heard an unwelcoming comment or bad experience with parents from any group, including gay couples with kids who attend. One of the things I love about the school is the family atmosphere. If you get a spot, you'd be mad not to take it. Let me know the grade and language, I'll introduce myself.

I assess Cleveland's value from my perspective. I posted to highlight what I see as a plus. You'll find Cleveland great for your own reasons. Flat out, it's a terrific school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a topic that should be addressed in your piece – SAT scores. How does a selective admission school score below the national average on the SAT?

Below is data taken directly from the Banneker web site:
http://benjaminbanneker.k12.dc.us/about_bbahs.html

READING
DCPS 473
Banneker 496
National 496

MATH
DCPS 466
Banneker 506
National 514



WRITING
DCPS 461
Banneker 486
National 488

Those Banneker scores seem surprisingly low. If true, well, that answers the reporter's question.

I was thinking the same thing. For a test in school, the scores aren't anything special. It would be helpful to compare them to Wilson and TJ in Va, a real test in school. As for parents not sending their white kids to a majority AA school, that really oversimplifies the issues. its that a white kid would likely be the ONLY white kid in the entire school. I would worry about bullying, exclusion etc if that were my kid. No one wants to be the ONLY. Most white parents have their elem kids in majority non white elem schools but parents worry less about elem. By middle and high school, parents with high achieving kids (And also likely higher income), know its time to really buckle down and get hard core into academics, IB, AP and honors. Also, middle and HS is when the really serious behvaviroal and violent issues start to play out as the kids get older. The challenges of very low income kids really becomes a different reality at that age.

This. I moved to DC from Europe without much of a clue about race relations in this country. It didn't take long living in DC to realize that there is quite a bit of anti-white sentiment among black people in this town. I am a liberal and know that there are partially understandable reasons for that, but it is this fact that makes me not want to send my kids to a school that is almost entirely or even majority black, regardless of test scores.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone,

I'm a reporter with the Washington City Paper, and I'm working on a story on a question that has been raised several times on this forum: Why don't white students go to Banneker? I'm interested in speaking with parents who fall under one of these categories:

- You have (or recently have) a child at Banneker
- You're considering Banneker
- You opted not to apply to Banneker, or got in but decided not to go there

If you match the description, please feel free to send me an email at awiener (at) washingtoncitypaper (dot) com.

Thanks very much!
Aaron

Because its Majority Black and located in Georgia Avenue near Howard University. Whites will not send their kids to majority black schools regardless of the test scores. People will say "Wilson" but lets be honest the "honor courses" or "humanities program" are Majority white and a school within a school where whites are the majority

Then how do explain all of the sudden interest in Cleveland Elementary School right down the street? White people just discovered it. It frequently appeared on this year's DCUM lottery threads.

(I'm black and didn't mention Cleveland to a soul until my kids got in. It's golden. Also one of the things I loved about Cleveland is that is majority AA/Latino, so my kids get to experience a strong minority populated educational setting, where all of the high achievers and school leadership looked like them.)

Wow, that's racist

Yup. PP is openly saying that they don't want white students around, because they would destroy that spirit of a place "where all of the high achievers and school leadership looked like them."

Amazing

I'm the PP and what I am openly saying is that I was very pleased that my children have an abundance of role models at Cleveland (and Banneker), positives images of themselves reflected back at them, that this is an aspect of their educational experience that I paid attention to and highly value. Yup.

It's wonderful that there are responsible, caring black men throughout the school who counter by their very presence the pervasive negative image of black men. They get to walk past the men hanging out on the corners and see black men in positive leadership positions on a daily basis, and interact with these men in a way that powerfully relates to them that caregiving is a positive aspect of manhood, not a weakness. Young girls get to see the respect and authority black women can attain through education, when most of what they're offered is of the Video Vixen variety. Great role models. Positive, empowering atmosphere, and a strong sense of community. None of this has anything to do with what you choose to do with your children and quite a bit of what I choose to do with mine.

Let's see how much of this assets-based perspective makes it into the WP article.

So only black role models? Many white kids think of neil de grass Tyson as their role model. Sounds like the aa community needs a different perspective than skin color.

I am not The Black Community. I'm a mother of children who attend Cleveland Elementary School. My perspective.

Why is the idea of black children looking up to black role models so threatening anyway? And, where did I say "only"?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an honest question and would appreciate an honest answer. We are a white family with a white son and are on the wait list for Cleveland. Will we not be welcome because the students and parents are predominately of color? To the PP who states how important it is for her child to be with high achieving AAs (and I get that!) will you not feel comfortable with my family at Cleveland?

I'm the PP. We could meet for coffee at Kafe Bohem, like I have with other parents (moms and dads, black and white). I've never heard an unwelcoming comment or bad experience with parents from any group, including gay couples with kids who attend. One of the things I love about the school is the family atmosphere. If you get a spot, you'd be mad not to take it. Let me know the grade and language, I'll introduce myself.

I assess Cleveland's value from my perspective. I posted to highlight what I see as a plus. You'll find Cleveland great for your own reasons. Flat out, it's a terrific school.