Which Schools Are Good with Stem an Robotics?

[Anonymous]

We have a middle school boy and are looking at Potomac, STA, Landon, Maret, and Burke so far. Any experience in that area with these schools? Any more options?

[Anonymous]

It’s not a popular view on this board, but Flint Hill probably has the best robotics program in the area.

https://www.insidenova.com/news/education/flint-hill-school-team-finds-success-in-robotics-competition/article_ab512c5e-9836-11e9-83ea-af9ed3ed5f69.html

And no, my DC does not go to FH. DC goes to a Catholic HS.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell has a robotics lab.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not a popular view on this board, but Flint Hill probably has the best robotics program in the area.

https://www.insidenova.com/news/education/flint-hill-school-team-finds-success-in-robotics-competition/article_ab512c5e-9836-11e9-83ea-af9ed3ed5f69.html

And no, my DC does not go to FH. DC goes to a Catholic HS.




You're correct, Flint Hill is not popular on this board and for good reason.

[Anonymous]

Cranbrook School in Detroit. It has a 120-person robotics team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cranbrook School in Detroit. It has a 120-person robotics team.

A very helpful suggestion.

And a large robotics team does not mean that it's a good experience. 120 people cannot work effectively together, nor is there enough work for everyone to get substantive tasks.

[Anonymous]

Unless you have a kid in robotics (which I do), you do not realize that there are at least 4 different robotics competitions in which schools opt to participate:

- FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is a popular, national competition where you build full-size robots that compete in district, regional (if you advance out of districts) and national competitions. GDS participates in FRC, Sidwell does not...not sure on the others;

- FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a national competition involving simpler robots. Not sure which schools participate in FTC (I believe if you go to www.firstinspires.org you can get a listing of schools in the area that compete in all these challenges);

- VEX Robotics is kind of like a glorified lego robotics competition...I know STA competes in VEX;

- Sidwell competes in the underwater robotics competition...those are large robots that have to navigate underwater challenges...not sure which other schools participate in that

I have never seen Burke at any robotics competitions...as far as I know they don't claim to be a STEM school and not sure they really emphasize that aspect

As you might expect, the STEM magnet schools like TJ and Blair are huge for STEM...honestly, they devote far more resources to STEM programs than any private. Bullis has a pretty sophisticated STEM lab, though not sure what they do on the Robotics front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cranbrook School in Detroit. It has a 120-person robotics team.

A very helpful suggestion.

And a large robotics team does not mean that it's a good experience. 120 people cannot work effectively together, nor is there enough work for everyone to get substantive tasks.

Maybe try Thomas Jefferson or Montgomery Blair? Closer to home and both have excellent robotics teams.

[Anonymous]

I think St. Stephen’s St Agnes has a recognized program.

https://www.sssas.org/news-detail?pk=1066435&nc=11417&fromId=239758

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not a popular view on this board, but Flint Hill probably has the best robotics program in the area.

https://www.insidenova.com/news/education/flint-hill-school-team-finds-success-in-robotics-competition/article_ab512c5e-9836-11e9-83ea-af9ed3ed5f69.html

And no, my DC does not go to FH. DC goes to a Catholic HS.




You're correct, Flint Hill is not popular on this board and for good reason.

What’s that good reason? Could they possibly be the best school for a kid interested in stem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cranbrook School in Detroit. It has a 120-person robotics team.

A very helpful suggestion.

And a large robotics team does not mean that it's a good experience. 120 people cannot work effectively together, nor is there enough work for everyone to get substantive tasks.

Wrongo. The club has groups competing to represent the school. I’ve never seen a robotics lab with 30 kids tooling away on a Sunday afternoon. It’s also a boarding school.

[Anonymous]

I have don't a lot of research on this as my son is also a STEM kid. Flint Hill has the most offerings by far. Their Robotics class can be taken for credit and is not just an after school program. Look at the course catalogs and see for yourself, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have don't a lot of research on this as my son is also a STEM kid. Flint Hill has the most offerings by far. Their Robotics class can be taken for credit and is not just an after school program. Look at the course catalogs and see for yourself, OP.

I should add that I looked at GDS, Burke, Sidwell Flint Hill, and Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have don't a lot of research on this as my son is also a STEM kid. Flint Hill has the most offerings by far. Their Robotics class can be taken for credit and is not just an after school program. Look at the course catalogs and see for yourself, OP.

I should add that I looked at GDS, Burke, Sidwell Flint Hill, and Potomac.

Where did you end up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cranbrook School in Detroit. It has a 120-person robotics team.

A very helpful suggestion.

And a large robotics team does not mean that it's a good experience. 120 people cannot work effectively together, nor is there enough work for everyone to get substantive tasks.

Wrongo. The club has groups competing to represent the school. I’ve never seen a robotics lab with 30 kids tooling away on a Sunday afternoon. It’s also a boarding school.

It’s also likely to be strong given the school’s proximity to the auto industry.