Please tell me about Potomac School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is more of a statement about the parent who said it and not the school (I hope) but one parent said to me, "it has all of the kids you would want your kid to hang out with, none of the riffraff!" He meant white, wealthy, and conservative. Yuck!

i need more context or details to know why you are sure that's what he meant. When i visit the school or talk with parents with kids there, i see/hear about a decent amount of diversity.

No way that's what he meant. Just a good group of kids, and diverse.

Regardless of what he meant, anyone who refers to any children as "riffraff" is pretty gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it ethnically diverse though? I feel that my "brown" child will feel as if she is very different from the rest. I just don't want my child to feel insecure or feel the need to "fit in" when and if they attend Potomac.

Any thoughts?

Check the website for diversity numbers or call the admissions and ask, they will be up front and tell you.
My DC's class seems to have students from many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds with many "shades" of skin, I think your "brown" child will see many other "brown" children, but also many who are not.

Thanks for your reply. This is nice to hear. I really value ethnic diversity which is why I was hesitant about putting my DC in a private school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We also thought hard about Potomac. So many great things about the school, and were very excited DC got in since it is hard to get accepted. But we felt the same as many others on this board - it was just cold and uninviting. Objectively, it seemed like a good choice, but ultimately we had to go with our gut and go to a school where we felt a warm and welcoming community. Potomac was not that school.

She was not just cold. She was snappy and unwilling to answer any question when I spoke to her on my very first call. I thought it was my accent. But if she could not even deal with someone who speaks perfect English with a little foreign accent, she is not qualified to be an initial contact person or an admission staff. Maybe Potomac is a good school, but she turned me away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Why do parents need warm and fuzzy from admissions staff? It was my expectation for my child, not for me. How did the AD/staff treat your child?

They bribed her with a cookie, which I felt was totally inappropriate.

I also still stand by my belief that the admissions staff should be warm and welcoming. I wouldn't care if a surgeon was warm and welcoming or an asshole. But a person that is supposed to represent the school and make me and my kid feel good about the place should be warm and welcoming. [/quote

The Admission officer I spoke to was not just cold. She was snappy with a very snobby attitude and unwilling to answer any question on my very first call. I thought it was my accent. But if she could not even deal with someone who speaks perfect English with a little foreign accent, she is not qualified to be an initial contact person or an admission staff. Maybe Potomac is a good school, but she turned me away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on all of the posts/information provided about the AD, its not possible to make a decision without factoring in her very cold attitude against the parents...those foot the bill and pay her compensation which whatever that may be..is not deserved. One can't separate the AD from the school. She represents the school!

So true. That says so much about the school. But how can you trust an administration team who can not even see the problem of their AD staff and deal with it after such a public outcry???
Unless passing the AD staff cold treatments is designed to be part of the Potomac's "screening precess"?

[Anonymous]

They were warm and friendly to us. That said, the school is very academic, exclusive, rich and snobby.

[Anonymous]

The person who you all are referring to is no longer at the school- left summer 2015... so these 2016 posts are based on old experiences. We applied and dealt with this person before 2015 and had a great experience. We chose Potomac after being accepted at otehr DC schools as well, could not be happier. Welcoming community, great expereince. School is NOT "rich and snobby." Have been very impressed and delighted with people we have met. You will have jerks whereever you go in life if you look for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The person who you all are referring to is no longer at the school- left summer 2015... so these 2016 posts are based on old experiences. We applied and dealt with this person before 2015 and had a great experience. We chose Potomac after being accepted at otehr DC schools as well, could not be happier. Welcoming community, great expereince. School is NOT "rich and snobby." Have been very impressed and delighted with people we have met. You will have jerks whereever you go in life if you look for them.

I know you are trying to offset the negatives about this AD and share your good experience, but your post comes off a little dismissive.

[Anonymous]

Potomac parent here: DC just started at Potomac this school year.

The AD many here are referring to is no longer with Potomac by summer of 2015. Clearly all those still complaining about the AD are not current applicants and are trying the stir the pot!

And yes, I agreed, the old AD was not great (that's why she is no longer at Potomac!)

Move on, people.

[Anonymous]

Its basically just like a large, suburban public school. Nothing special, mediocre academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its basically just like a large, suburban public school. Nothing special, mediocre academics.

Could not be further from the truth.

Signed parent with kids at several private schools in the area including Potomac.

There is something really special and unique about the community and the level of parent and teacher involvement relative to others. If you are not there I suppose it would be hard to speak to anything more than experience applying in or perceptions from afar...

[Anonymous]

Having DCs in public and other privates - and having toured Potomac several times during various admissions cycles - I agree the prior AD was not warm but she is gone now. The school is different. Solid academics but less stress is how it feels - which is great compared to most of the schools in this area (public or private).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its basically just like a large, suburban public school. Nothing special, mediocre academics.

Anyone who says such a thing about Potomac has clearly never experienced the School. From the joyous approach to elementary education, the healthy-competition in the extremely rigorous Upper School, the stunning campus that rivals most colleges, and most importantly, the profoundly close-knit community, it has been an honor for my family to be a part of Potomac, because that is what this amazing institution truly becomes, a part of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Potomac parent here: DC just started at Potomac this school year.

The AD many here are referring to is no longer with Potomac by summer of 2015. Clearly all those still complaining about the AD are not current applicants and are trying the stir the pot!

And yes, I agreed, the old AD was not great (that's why she is no longer at Potomac!)

Move on, people.

+1. My 2 kids started at Potomac this year and love it. We've found it to be a warm & welcoming community with amazing teachers & resources. I wouldn't give much thought to posters who are commenting on an AD who is gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its basically just like a large, suburban public school. Nothing special, mediocre academics.

This. We applied with the old AD who was a real turn off. I know families who are spending their entire salary to attend and uber rich, just like the other privates. We didn't think it was anything special and ended up at another Big 3.