Poolesville versus Blair?

[Anonymous]

We are going to be moving and have the flexibility to move to either location. I'm interested in hearing a comparison of these high school magnets. (Let’s just assume for the sake of the discussion that my kids would get into either magnet program.) What specifics can you tell me about the academics, what are the students like, what’s the school culture like, which school has happier kids, strengths and weaknesses of each, and anything you’d like to share. I’m also curious to hear about which school might be a better environment for a shy, non-sporty guy who may have a hard time in a huge school environment. Is one school better than the other in terms of letting a student carve out a smaller-feeling school experience?

[Anonymous]

Isn't poolsville the #1 HS in Moco? I'd pick that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are going to be moving and have the flexibility to move to either location. I'm interested in hearing a comparison of these high school magnets. (Let’s just assume for the sake of the discussion that my kids would get into either magnet program.) What specifics can you tell me about the academics, what are the students like, what’s the school culture like, which school has happier kids, strengths and weaknesses of each, and anything you’d like to share. I’m also curious to hear about which school might be a better environment for a shy, non-sporty guy who may have a hard time in a huge school environment. Is one school better than the other in terms of letting a student carve out a smaller-feeling school experience?

This is splitting hairs. In terms of the education opportunities, they're basically the same. They offer the same classes (mostly) and have many talented teachers. Blair is a large diverse school. Poolesville is less diverse and kind of run down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't poolsville the #1 HS in Moco? I'd pick that.

That isn't a meaningful metric. All it means is Poolesville has fewer low-SES students dragging down the school's overall average on a petty awful state assessment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't poolsville the #1 HS in Moco? I'd pick that.

I agree that the same kid would be fine in either, but when comparing these programs Blair seems to have far more prestigious awards and college admissions as listed by Bethesda Beat

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't poolsville the #1 HS in Moco? I'd pick that.

I agree that the same kid would be fine in either, but when comparing these programs Blair seems to have far more prestigious awards and college admissions as listed by Bethesda Beat

How do the non honors-program kids compare?

[Anonymous]

Large Q- do you want a more urban or more rural lifestyle? And are you commuting to anywhere?

[Anonymous]

If you want a "smaller school experience," Poolesville is your best bet. Blair is the largest high school in the county, by far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want a "smaller school experience," Poolesville is your best bet. Blair is the largest high school in the county, by far.

Blair magnet SAT average is higher. They have more Regeneron scholars, better overall college admissions, and members of the US physics and math olympiads so don't think your statement is accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a "smaller school experience," Poolesville is your best bet. Blair is the largest high school in the county, by far.

Blair magnet SAT average is higher. They have more Regeneron scholars, better overall college admissions, and members of the US physics and math olympiads so don't think your statement is accurate.

Huh? PP was talking about size. And of course they have more kids going to top schools and in the olympiads - they have more kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't poolsville the #1 HS in Moco? I'd pick that.

I agree that the same kid would be fine in either, but when comparing these programs Blair seems to have far more prestigious awards and college admissions as listed by Bethesda Beat

How do the non honors-program kids compare?

Isn't all of Poolesville a magnet these days? I mean between the STEM manget and global ecology there was 1/3 of the school not in a magnet so I think they just decided everyone there is in a magnet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a "smaller school experience," Poolesville is your best bet. Blair is the largest high school in the county, by far.

Blair magnet SAT average is higher. They have more Regeneron scholars, better overall college admissions, and members of the US physics and math olympiads so don't think your statement is accurate.

Huh? PP was talking about size. And of course they have more kids going to top schools and in the olympiads - they have more kids.

I'm sure the same kid will do fine at either school and would base any decision more on where you want to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are going to be moving and have the flexibility to move to either location. I'm interested in hearing a comparison of these high school magnets. (Let’s just assume for the sake of the discussion that my kids would get into either magnet program.) What specifics can you tell me about the academics, what are the students like, what’s the school culture like, which school has happier kids, strengths and weaknesses of each, and anything you’d like to share. I’m also curious to hear about which school might be a better environment for a shy, non-sporty guy who may have a hard time in a huge school environment. Is one school better than the other in terms of letting a student carve out a smaller-feeling school experience?

If you're talking about the magnets, Blair is second to none in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a "smaller school experience," Poolesville is your best bet. Blair is the largest high school in the county, by far.

Blair magnet SAT average is higher. They have more Regeneron scholars, better overall college admissions, and members of the US physics and math olympiads so don't think your statement is accurate.

Huh? PP was talking about size. And of course they have more kids going to top schools and in the olympiads - they have more kids.

I'm sure the same kid will do fine at either school and would base any decision more on where you want to live.

Agree. Blair stem magnet is possibly more competitive on the math/computer science side. Depends on where you want to live though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a "smaller school experience," Poolesville is your best bet. Blair is the largest high school in the county, by far.

Blair magnet SAT average is higher. They have more Regeneron scholars, better overall college admissions, and members of the US physics and math olympiads so don't think your statement is accurate.

Huh? PP was talking about size. And of course they have more kids going to top schools and in the olympiads - they have more kids.

I'm sure the same kid will do fine at either school and would base any decision more on where you want to live.

Agree. Blair stem magnet is possibly more competitive on the math/computer science side. Depends on where you want to live though.

It's likely your kid would do perfectly fine at either IF they got in and that's a big IF. Plenty of really talented and bright kids get overlooked for one reason or another. There just aren't that many spots.