Recent experience in RM IB and Poolesville Global Ecology

[Anonymous]

My child has been accepted at both. Need to decide. He is pretty even in terms of academic strength. Good at math but strong in social sciences and languages too. Hoping to get into a top college (not necessarily HYP, but the next tier). Where would he have the best chance?

[Anonymous]

My impression is those are very different, although I didn't have a kid in either.

I think RM IB is more high pressure academic achievement focused while the kids happy at Global Ecology are the ones who really buy into the mission statement of that program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child has been accepted at both. Need to decide. He is pretty even in terms of academic strength. Good at math but strong in social sciences and languages too. Hoping to get into a top college (not necessarily HYP, but the next tier). Where would he have the best chance?

If he hopes to get into a top college then RMIB is the way to go, it’s a no brainer.

[Anonymous]

Global Ecology is the most relaxed magnet program. Not saying the kids aren’t top notch students, but the program is not as rigorous as RMIB. Those are pretty different programs.

[Anonymous]

RMIB is much more intense than GE program. No comparison. Flip side is GE is much more "balanced" program than RMIB - an ideal HS experience. Some rigor but not mental issue level intensity. As for your college expectation, IB will be better even though, i have to say, that's not the right way to decide. We had one kid in GE, two in RMIB.

[Anonymous]

I think your kid should pick the program with the right rigorous level. You don’t want it to be too rigorous—if it’s too rigorous they may need to stay up too late to stay on par with the others, and then not get enough sleep and be too stressed to maintain good grades. This would be counterproductive. Good luck on the choice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child has been accepted at both. Need to decide. He is pretty even in terms of academic strength. Good at math but strong in social sciences and languages too. Hoping to get into a top college (not necessarily HYP, but the next tier). Where would he have the best chance?

No question RM.

None zero none.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child has been accepted at both. Need to decide. He is pretty even in terms of academic strength. Good at math but strong in social sciences and languages too. Hoping to get into a top college (not necessarily HYP, but the next tier). Where would he have the best chance?

Impossible to say for sure, but I think college admission from home school can be an advantage over competing with other magnet kids.

[Anonymous]

How's the commute to either school? What about extracurriculars?

[Anonymous]

My child is in global at phs as a ninth grader. It’s an ok program. My child says most of the time it feels like a wanna be magnet. The classes aren’t challenging, and everything is an easy “A.” The only class that is somewhat challenging is their seminar course. The teachers are a hit or miss, like all high schools.

[Anonymous]

My kid is a 10th grader at RMIB. She turned down Poolesville Global Ecology because of the commute.

So far, RMIB has been great. I hear that Junior year is a nightmare, so we’ll see. Nice group of kids. Good teachers and excellent extracurricular opportunities without an insane commute. She plays a sport and an instrument and has time for both.

[Anonymous]

I have a child in poolesville (smacs) who is friends with many global kids. For those on the waitlist/pool for global ecology, you will see a LOT of movement, there are generally 2-3 wave of admittances. With each wave offering about 10 seats. No other magnet has this kind of movement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How's the commute to either school? What about extracurriculars?

We are kind of in the middle of two schools. it looks like 25 minutes on the bus to either school. Or a twenty minutes drive either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a 10th grader at RMIB. She turned down Poolesville Global Ecology because of the commute.

So far, RMIB has been great. I hear that Junior year is a nightmare, so we’ll see. Nice group of kids. Good teachers and excellent extracurricular opportunities without an insane commute. She plays a sport and an instrument and has time for both.

Thanks! Does she have any safety concerns about RM? Some of the comments on DCUM about RM make more a bit worried.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a 10th grader at RMIB. She turned down Poolesville Global Ecology because of the commute.

So far, RMIB has been great. I hear that Junior year is a nightmare, so we’ll see. Nice group of kids. Good teachers and excellent extracurricular opportunities without an insane commute. She plays a sport and an instrument and has time for both.

Thanks! Does she have any safety concerns about RM? Some of the comments on DCUM about RM make more a bit worried.

I mean honestly why should your entire high school memory be around being in a top tier college.

Poolesville is the better and safer school. If you want to be the parent that pushes for a potential for a top tier college but also possible mental health and exhaustion in a below average school, take the gamble.