Best options for high school

[Anonymous]

I'm getting increasingly nervous about the high school situation in MCPS both academically and safety wise. I have a smart kid in advanced classes in middle school (map scores in the 90th-99th percentile-with math being the biggest strength). What would be the best options- child is slated to go to sherwood.
- take whatever advanced classes are available in 9th and 10th at sherwood and then do the dual enrollment MC program for 11 and 12th grade? Which classes would be best?
-project lead the way at sherwood?
-apply to blair/wheaton magnets? Is it lottery based? (If not...then the map scores will not be high enough)
-apply to good counsel instead?
I

[Anonymous]

Don’t get your news about the state of HS from DCUM. The combination of trolls and chicken littles really skews information. Sherwood has strong programs and a close community. That’s worth a lot. PLTW + AP classes will be a strong academic program. You don’t need to apply to magnets and pick up a commute unless your kid super passionate about something already. MC is an option, but if Sherwood is you home school, I’m guessing that’s pretty far. Talk to your neighbors for firsthand information.

[Anonymous]

I don't think you can apply to Wheaton, unless kid is at a DCC middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t get your news about the state of HS from DCUM. The combination of trolls and chicken littles really skews information. Sherwood has strong programs and a close community. That’s worth a lot. PLTW + AP classes will be a strong academic program. You don’t need to apply to magnets and pick up a commute unless your kid super passionate about something already. MC is an option, but if Sherwood is you home school, I’m guessing that’s pretty far. Talk to your neighbors for firsthand information.

I agree with this—some dcum widely panned schools are great, with friendly diverse creative students and the atmosphere is not overly competitive or materialistic. Those crazed W dcum posters are a reflection of how hard they force their kids to take on 1000 AP classes and activities starting at age 2. I don’t say anything because I don’t want the secret to get out about my cluster. So yes you should try to get info from your neighborhood—that would be the best source.

[Anonymous]

If you are a person of color I would think twice about Sherwood. There have been racial incidents with kids at the school belittling those of other races. I think that could happen at any school but what was scary was how the teachers and administration handled it by not doing anything. Avoid.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the above to take the MCPS badgers with a grain of salt. It’s not a perfect system but I think HS is actually the strongest aspect of MCPS. There are so many honors and AP classes to challenge even the most gifted kids. But it’s also ok not to always choose the most rigorous load. I think DE is a also a terrific option. DD benefited greatly from classes taken at USG through MC senior year (I think different schools do it at different locations). They really prepared her for college expectations, research and group projects.

As for safety, we are at Wootton and haven’t had any issues. We’ve known families from most schools around the county through our kids sports teams and DH’s coworkers and rarely hear any express serious concerns. Ask neighborhood parents if their kids feel safe at Sherwood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above to take the MCPS badgers with a grain of salt. It’s not a perfect system but I think HS is actually the strongest aspect of MCPS. There are so many honors and AP classes to challenge even the most gifted kids. But it’s also ok not to always choose the most rigorous load. I think DE is a also a terrific option. DD benefited greatly from classes taken at USG through MC senior year (I think different schools do it at different locations). They really prepared her for college expectations, research and group projects.

As for safety, we are at Wootton and haven’t had any issues. We’ve known families from most schools around the county through our kids sports teams and DH’s coworkers and rarely hear any express serious concerns. Ask neighborhood parents if their kids feel safe at Sherwood.

Sorry that should say bashers.

[Anonymous]

What about RMIB? If the kid like writing that’s a good option for good classes and a great student body of caring motivated kids.

I also agree with others that at almost any MVPS HS, the school is big enough that the kid can take plenty of advanced classes and almost never interact with the kids who are totally blowing off their education. Those kids aren’t in AP Calc nor are they in the robotics club, movie club, book club, etc. The fights and so forth are almost exclusively between the kids that aren’t engaged in school—the ones that want an education just turn around and head the other way when they see trouble brewing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm getting increasingly nervous about the high school situation in MCPS both academically and safety wise. I have a smart kid in advanced classes in middle school (map scores in the 90th-99th percentile-with math being the biggest strength). What would be the best options- child is slated to go to sherwood.
- take whatever advanced classes are available in 9th and 10th at sherwood and then do the dual enrollment MC program for 11 and 12th grade? Which classes would be best?
-project lead the way at sherwood?
-apply to blair/wheaton magnets? Is it lottery based? (If not...then the map scores will not be high enough)
-apply to good counsel instead?
I

Don’t do the MC route. The content might be advanced but the instruction isn’t a sure thing. Also, socially that’s a bad option.

If your kid is advanced in stem, private school isn’t the place for them. MCPS has way more advanced options for him.

He will be so bored and unhappy in 9th and 10th at Sherwood. Def have him apply to the criteria based magnets.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I hear Massachusetts has nice schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm getting increasingly nervous about the high school situation in MCPS both academically and safety wise. I have a smart kid in advanced classes in middle school (map scores in the 90th-99th percentile-with math being the biggest strength). What would be the best options- child is slated to go to sherwood.
- take whatever advanced classes are available in 9th and 10th at sherwood and then do the dual enrollment MC program for 11 and 12th grade? Which classes would be best?
-project lead the way at sherwood?
-apply to blair/wheaton magnets? Is it lottery based? (If not...then the map scores will not be high enough)
-apply to good counsel instead?
I

Don’t do the MC route. The content might be advanced but the instruction isn’t a sure thing. Also, socially that’s a bad option.

If your kid is advanced in stem, private school isn’t the place for them. MCPS has way more advanced options for him.

He will be so bored and unhappy in 9th and 10th at Sherwood. Def have him apply to the criteria based magnets.

Good luck.

I agree with PPs that you don't need to be nervous about HS in MCPS. And you're right that 90% MAP scores are not at all a sure thing to be admitted to the Criteria based magnets. (RMIB, Blair SMCS, Poolsville Global Ecology). There are more options: A new social justice leadership academy at Whitman, the Regional IB programs. Sherwood has a special ag science program (CASE) too. Here is the whole list: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iOZqNQ1ug40Z4HAaaoCIxxL4vx-22PukRl44-XBo5qw/preview

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are a person of color I would think twice about Sherwood. There have been racial incidents with kids at the school belittling those of other races. I think that could happen at any school but what was scary was how the teachers and administration handled it by not doing anything. Avoid.

So it's like a W?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are a person of color I would think twice about Sherwood. There have been racial incidents with kids at the school belittling those of other races. I think that could happen at any school but what was scary was how the teachers and administration handled it by not doing anything. Avoid.

So it's like a W?

Sure, why not? It has a "W" in it, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are a person of color I would think twice about Sherwood. There have been racial incidents with kids at the school belittling those of other races. I think that could happen at any school but what was scary was how the teachers and administration handled it by not doing anything. Avoid.

So it's like a W?

There may be racism at Ws like at any other schook, but the kids are not usually as stupid as to shout out racial insults against players at a public sports game and the administration takes incidents really seriously.

[Anonymous]

Sit down with your student and review the different programs that Sherwood offers. Do they have one that sounds interesting to them? If not, take a look at the other programs in the county in which your student is eligible.

Overall, students need to be motivated to get the most out of MCPS programs these days. There is very little consequences for their lack of effort / poor attendance, so the best thing you can do may be to find a program that excites your student.

Try not to worry too much about what others think about the school or program. In the end, it has to be a good match for your student's interests and long term goals.

I wish you the best of luck!