Watkins mill IB vs Richard Montgomery

[Anonymous]

Both Watkins Mill and Richard Montgomery have IB, both are accredited from the same IB org, both give same IB diploma, but it is two different schools.
How do programs, intercity, teachers, experiences compare?
I know RMIB is pretty intense, but what about WMIB?
What about both schools safety and overall student body goals and tendencies?
Would WMIB be a bit less intense than MR?
What WMHS computer silence/tech teachers? Are they liked by kids and know how to teach?

[Anonymous]

A lot less intense than RM.

[Anonymous]

Safety and security: Watkins Mill and RM both have problems in this regard. They have been violent assaults and weapons scares at both schools.

In terms of differences: RMIB is a countywide magnet program. Your child is going to have a hard time getting in. If your child leaves in the regional area for WMIB, they'll have an easier time getting in there than at RMIB.

I would expect WMIB to be less intense than RMIB. RMIB has the most experienced IB teachers in Montgomery County. They also have the highest success rate with IB diplomas as well. So if your kid can handle the grind, it pays off. But again: its a countywide magnet program that's very competitive so your kid might not get in.

[Anonymous]

Watkins Mill HS is on lockdown once a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Watkins Mill HS is on lockdown once a week.

Stop being a liar and a tool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Watkins Mill HS is on lockdown once a week.

Stop being a liar and a tool.

I'm not a liar, my kid goes there. They were just on lockdown for the entire day 2 days ago because someone brought a weapon on school property. Maybe you enjoy police scouring the school and outside property with drones, but I don't. Its not safe.
Thankfully, my kid won't be there next year. And yes, they are on lockdown or shelter in place frequently.

[Anonymous]

The cohort program at Kennedy is really nice and I'd assume it's similar at Watkins.

College admissions? Also amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Watkins Mill HS is on lockdown once a week.

Stop being a liar and a tool.

I'm not a liar, my kid goes there. They were just on lockdown for the entire day 2 days ago because someone brought a weapon on school property. Maybe you enjoy police scouring the school and outside property with drones, but I don't. Its not safe.
Thankfully, my kid won't be there next year. And yes, they are on lockdown or shelter in place frequently.

Yes, you're lying. It's not on lock down once a week and there was no gun.
DP

[Anonymous]

You want to minimize your kid's commute. High school start times are way too early for their sleep patterns. If your kid can wake up as late as possible and get to school really fast, it's the best thing you can do for their success. As you said, the IB will be the same at both schools.

[Anonymous]

Can someone speak to the actual metrics between the 2 cohorts in these programs? What's the average SAT score, what percent got into top 20 colleges, how many AP exams were taken/passed, IB diploma pass rate, etc.?

Our kid got into both. We are much much loser to WM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone speak to the actual metrics between the 2 cohorts in these programs? What's the average SAT score, what percent got into top 20 colleges, how many AP exams were taken/passed, IB diploma pass rate, etc.?

Our kid got into both. We are much much loser to WM.

You have to consider a number of factors:

On the one hand for RM:

- The outcomes in IB are better because the best IB teachers are there and have been running the IB curriculum at the highest level
- This means his peer group at RM will be more impressive academically than the one at the regional

On the other hand for WM:

- If your kid is quite gifted, you know what they say about being a big fish in a small pond. The competition and threshold to stand out at WM is going to be lower than at RM, which is more competitive
- Furthermore, college admissions are based on school profile. Your kid has a better change of standing out at WM than RM, where there are going to more similarly academically strong kids than them.

So it's really about what you're prioritizing. If you're prioritizing your kid having the best network, with the strongest academic kids, in a highly competitive environment, pick RM.

If you want something that's smaller, less competitive, and maybe even more nurturing and attentive, than I think WM is better. Just know that the quality in terms of peers and instructors is likely to be lower than RM's. As long as you're fine with that tradeoff, then you can go with WM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone speak to the actual metrics between the 2 cohorts in these programs? What's the average SAT score, what percent got into top 20 colleges, how many AP exams were taken/passed, IB diploma pass rate, etc.?

Our kid got into both. We are much much loser to WM.

No, nobody has this information. In fact, there isn't even an IB Diploma pass rate for the application program at Watkins Mill, yet. The first class for the application program will get their IB Diplomas this summer.

Also, other kids' SAT scores don't increase or decrease your kid's SAT score, and if you're seeing the application IB program as a way to increase your child's chances of being admitted to a fancy-pants college - well, don't do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you want something that's smaller, less competitive, and maybe even more nurturing and attentive, than I think WM is better. Just know that the quality in terms of peers and instructors is likely to be lower than RM's. As long as you're fine with that tradeoff, then you can go with WM.

Does anybody think it's seriously icky to talk about the "quality" of high school students? Especially when it's about the students' family demographics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you want something that's smaller, less competitive, and maybe even more nurturing and attentive, than I think WM is better. Just know that the quality in terms of peers and instructors is likely to be lower than RM's. As long as you're fine with that tradeoff, then you can go with WM.

Does anybody think it's seriously icky to talk about the "quality" of high school students? Especially when it's about the students' family demographics?

No. I do not think it is seriously icky to talk about it. You need to make good decisions for your kid. WMHS is seriously ghetto. Your kid will stand out amongst the peers and the chances to get into a top quality school is higher because there is zero competition. Our home school is WMHS. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

If you are asking this question, I am afraid RMIB is going to be too stressful for your kid. You are too unaware and unprepared.

However, WMIB is not going to be rigorous enough because your kid will not have even an average cohort.

You might want to send your kid to WMHS and make them take AP classes. It is going to be a very lonely experience for your kid, no matter what school they go to.

Prophetic words. Come back and comment on this in a year or two.