# What do you think about DC's new all-boy high school? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 22, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678 "2016-08-22T22:30:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/1 "2016-08-22T22:30:28Z")
I’m all for all-male high schools. I’m all for all-black male high schools. That is, if that creates the environment for success. What do you think? > **[The country’s newest all-boys public high school opens its doors](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/the-countrys-newest-all-boys-public-high-school-opens-its-doors/2016/08/22/a09a78e6-688d-11e6-99bf-f0cf3a6449a6_story.html)** > > School opens for 110 freshmen at Ron Brown College Prep, the only single-sex public school in D.C. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/2 "2016-08-22T22:37:33Z")
So this is a school being renovated at a cost of $58 million and that will have, at most, 600 students. If it succeeds, part of that will be because it’s a fairly new (and presumably well-equipped) school with a relatively small student body. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/3 "2016-08-22T22:38:38Z")
I think single sex schools are often a good idea. My only concern is that education for girls will get slighted by this. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/4 "2016-08-22T22:40:46Z")
I think there are positives to be gained from an all-boys school, and I think my experience at one was worthwhile. Adding that opportunity without the incredible expense that typically comes with private education is something I’m willing to support. I have no way of predicting its success, but I’ll be hoping for it. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/5 "2016-08-22T22:45:15Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > I think single sex schools are often a good idea. My only concern is that education for girls will get slighted by this. That concern has already been predictably raised, but girls have better outcomes anyway, as do white kids, though not what I’d call optimum. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/6 "2016-08-22T23:30:53Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I’m all for all-male high schools. I’m all for all-black male high schools. I’m worried that, if I say that too enthusiastically, I’ll sound _incredibly_ racist. (“Hell, yeah! I want EVERY town to have an all-black-male high school!”) ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/7 "2016-08-22T23:37:09Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I’m worried that, if I say that too enthusiastically, I’ll sound _incredibly_ racist. > > (“Hell, yeah! I want EVERY town to have an all-black-male high school!”) I know. It’s walking on broken glass. I’m against segregation. Of course blacks should have their own schools! All the news articles I read say “all boys school.” None of them say “all black boys school.” Technically, I’m sure non-blacks are allowed to apply. Based on the videos I’ve watched of opening day, none have. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/8 "2016-08-22T23:40:22Z")
We have all boys and all boys public schools in Dallas, both 6-12. We have an all girls STEM school, k-8, opening this year. We also have art schools, stem schools, etc. Etc. One of the advantages of a huge system is that you can provide a variety of environments to suit different kids. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/9 "2016-08-23T00:06:26Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > All the news articles I read say “all boys school.” None of them say “all black boys school.” Technically, I’m sure non-blacks are allowed to apply. Based on the videos I’ve watched of opening day, none have. Ward 7, where the school is located, is 95% black. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/10 "2016-08-23T00:15:00Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Ward 7, where the school is located, is 95% black. That’s weird. Not the demographics, but being limited to one school district. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/11 "2016-08-23T01:22:06Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > I think single sex schools are often a good idea. My only concern is that education for girls will get slighted by this. Does education for boys get slighted by all-girls schools? If not, then why would this? ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/12 "2016-08-23T03:43:50Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > That’s weird. Not the demographics, but being limited to one school district. The student body of the entire DC Public Schools is about two-thirds black; whites comprised 13% of the school population in the last school year. (Hispanics 18%, other 4%) cite Any attempt to open this up to other school districts runs headlong into cross-border conflicts, because any other district would be in another state (Virginia or Maryland), with its own state standards and regulations, its own governing bodies, etc. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/13 "2016-08-23T10:22:14Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > So this is a school being renovated at a cost of $58 million and that will have, at most, 600 students. If it succeeds, part of that will be because it’s a fairly new (and presumably well-equipped) school with a relatively small student body. Nailed it. An all-boys school with zero budget would be no better than any other school with zero budget, I suspect. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/14 "2016-08-23T11:47:58Z")
Is that form of segregation legal or ethical? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/15 "2016-08-23T12:13:35Z")
Cleveland has a large number of all-black public schools, not because they’re officially designated as such, but because the only kids who go to Cleveland public schools are those whose families can’t afford to move to the suburbs or pay private school tuition, and that means mostly black. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/16 "2016-08-23T12:30:44Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > That’s weird. Not the demographics, but being limited to one school district. It’s pretty normal not to let kids enroll at schools where their households don’t pay taxes. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/17 "2016-08-23T12:37:51Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > Any attempt to open this up to other school districts runs headlong into cross-border conflicts, because any other district would be in another state (Virginia or Maryland), with its own state standards and regulations, its own governing bodies, etc. While it does happen (people in the 'burbs sending their kids to DC public schools, legitimately or by fraud), it’s rare. DC is surrounded by some of the very best school systems in the country (Prince George’s County notwithstanding ;)). ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/18 "2016-08-23T13:18:34Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > It’s pretty normal not to let kids enroll at schools where their households don’t pay taxes. Yeah I know but this seems like a special school so why not open it up to boys around the district, particularly if it has good results? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/19 "2016-08-23T13:35:52Z")
The school’s capacity is only 600 students. My guess is that they can easily fill the school with local kids. So why open it to kids from outside the district? ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678/20 "2016-08-23T13:38:58Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Yeah I know but this seems like a special school so why not open it up to boys around the district, particularly if it has good results? How do you pick which ones get in? Merit testing and lotteries are both an option, but around here, a new model is “choice” schools, where students in the attendance zone get first priority and then only open slots are made available for other kids. Ideally, it keeps the community tied more tightly to the school and allows kids without transportation options to still have the option to attend a good school. ETA: Full disclosure, I work in a school with the merit testing model, and there’s a lot to be said for that, too. I like having a district big enough to do both. On the other hand, transportation is by far the single biggest expense we have: we bus kids from all over the district, including late activity busses, and it costs a fortune. But without busses, we’d be cutting out many of the poor kids. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-dcs-new-all-boy-high-school/763678.md?page=2)