Baltimore Private School for HS Girl

[Anonymous]

I have a daughter who will be starting 8th this year at a magnet program in Baltimore (Ingenuity). She has very good grades, and plays a musical instrument at a reasonably high level through Peabody Prep. Also does a sport somewhat seriously, but not one that is offered through schools.

She will apply for Poly and City, and maybe BSA, but we also plan on applying to private schools. Looking for one that is academically challenging, especially in STEM, but won't drown her in homework, since she has two out-of-school commitments that take a fair amount of time. A strong visual arts program would be a plus. I think she'd do well at a girls school, but co-ed is fine too.

She has lots of friends at Park, so that's definitely on the list. We know less about Bryn Mawr, Friends, RPCS, and SPSG. I think the culture at McDonough is probably too sporty for her, but we'll probably at least go to an open house.

Any thoughts/recs?

[Anonymous]

Friends probably has the best music program, Bryn Mawr the best STEM.

My gut instinct is that you will like Friends very much for music and art and coming from a public school (a lot of ingenuity kids are families who'd love to go to Friends but are priced out). But in STEM Friends will be weaker than Bryn Mawr and won't have the very best STEM classes that Poly can offer. A bit of a tradeoff will have to happen. Visit all these schools plus RPCS and Park and you'll know what works and is acceptable.

SPSG is culturally quite different from Friends and even BMS. Closer to RPCS. I like SPSG and would prefer it for my child over Friends but I'm being frank about cultural fit.

[Anonymous]

Check out Bryn Mawr for sure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out Bryn Mawr for sure

+1. I’d take a look at NDP as well.

[Anonymous]

SPSG is very much 2nd fiddle to the boys school. As in the boys have their own chapel and go to old at Paul’s church downtown for special occasions. By contrast, girls use their gym for chapel and on special occasions get to use boys’ chapel. Also they limit AP classes and in general the classes are not as strong. I do live boys’ IB program, but girls are not allowed to do full IB

[Anonymous]

I have kid at BSA. Academics are …. Disappointing. I’d strongly avoid if she is also candidate for poly. You and she will be disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Check out Park and Bryn Mawr. Both will have strong academics. Our impression: Park's schedule will allow more flexible time to practice an instrument or pursue other interests during the school day. Bryn Mawr has a very strong STEM program but also tougher homework demands.

Friends does have a great music and arts program, but there will be a trade off as someone else mentioned because their STEM offerings did not seem as strong.

Echoing the PP, I have also heard that BSA academics are disappointing. Avoid unless your daughter clearly wants to be a musician.

We many of the schools mentioned above and my DD ended up at Bryn Mawr.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a good candidate for Bryn Mawr. Skip the city schools.

[Anonymous]

Look at science offerings at RPCS - bio in 9th then the more science focused girls are encouraged to take physics and Chem sophomore year. Which seems like it will lead to not so much depth bc so much content.
By contrast, BMS starts with physics, then chem, then bio for jr year. Bc bio is traditionally the “easiest,” girls can also then double up with AP science jr year if they want. It’s just a better thought out program.

[Anonymous]

Carver worked well for one friend. The easy academics meant she had time for CTY and other academic enrichment at JHU. She went to an Ivy League school and later became a STEM professor

[Anonymous]

Rigorous and not much homework don’t go together. Your daughter is going to have to pick one or the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at science offerings at RPCS - bio in 9th then the more science focused girls are encouraged to take physics and Chem sophomore year. Which seems like it will lead to not so much depth bc so much content.
By contrast, BMS starts with physics, then chem, then bio for jr year. Bc bio is traditionally the “easiest,” girls can also then double up with AP science jr year if they want. It’s just a better thought out program.

My DD is starting at BMS and I was confused about this sequence. Why put the easiest science course last? But now that you've explained it this makes sense because it will make it a bit easier to take other challenging courses in their junior year.

[Anonymous]

Have you looked at St. Timothy's?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you looked at St. Timothy's?

It's never been known for rigorous academics. Very few people in Baltimore look at St. Timothy's or even consider it when looking at other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you looked at St. Timothy's?

It's never been known for rigorous academics. Very few people in Baltimore look at St. Timothy's or even consider it when looking at other schools.

I'd say most of us don't consider it because it's not close. But it does have an IB program, and IB is known to be a rigorous curriculum.