Montgomery Co. Schools

[Anonymous]

If you could send your child to any public HS in Montgomery Co., which would you choose and why?

[Anonymous]

Or, if you have chosen a particular HS for your child, why have you chosen it and are you happy with your decision?

[Anonymous]

I chose Walter Johnson cluster - kids are just starting elementary school. I chose for the high academic standards with less pressure than say Churchhill, Whitman or Wooten, smaller overall size, and relative diversity of the student body.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I chose Walter Johnson cluster - kids are just starting elementary school. I chose for the high academic standards with less pressure than say Churchhill, Whitman or Wooten, smaller overall size, and relative diversity of the student body.

We did the same. We have a second grader who performs 'above grade level' for now, but we DID NOT want him in a high pressure cooker district. (Almost did Churchill or Wootton) So we also chose WJ, and feel that at least on the elementary level, the values, culture, and academics are a great fit for him & our family.

[Anonymous]

I went to Wootten. I don't remember it being considered high pressure. I remember Whitman was considered that (which is why my parents chose the Wootten cluster way back when. Wow, times have changed. I WJ a very good high school? I have nothing to reference other than my mother went there back in early 1960's.

[Anonymous]

We bought where we did to be in the B-CC district. High quality schools and close-in, urban location.

[Anonymous]

Richard Montgomery for the IB program
Blair or Poolesville for their Science/Math magnet programs
Down County? Probably Walter Johnson
Up County? Quince Orchard

I live in the Wootten district right now.

[dhill]

Anonymous wrote:If you could send your child to any public HS in Montgomery Co., which would you choose and why?

After having countless discussions on what is the best MCPS school, I decided to create a website that may help in making your decision www.reviewmcpsmd.com It has socioeconomic and test score information for each MCPS school, and allows parents and older students to rate their school. Please feel free to use it and I would welcome any comments.

I live in Takoma Park and my son is in the math and science magnet at Takoma Park Middle School and my daughter is at the Communications Arts Program at Blair. We have been very impressed with both of these programs.

[Anonymous]

We chose Whitman and are very happy with it. Came in from a private school. It's certainly challenging but not what I would call a pressure cooker, at least compared to the kids we know in private schools. In fact there seem to be plenty of options for kids and you can mix challenging and less challenging classes by subject depending on strengths/interests. I think maybe for a kid who is taking all regular rather than honors/AP classes it might not be the best fit because those classes seem to be a bit more remedial and not that many kids take non honors classes. So you probably need to judge where your child would be in that mix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Up County? Quince Orchard

I live in the Wootten district right now.

We currently live in the QO cluster & assumed we would try to move to Wootton (literally across the street) before DS reaches school age. I'd love to hear your thoughts on why you'd prefer QO over Wottoon. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We chose Whitman and are very happy with it. Came in from a private school. It's certainly challenging but not what I would call a pressure cooker, at least compared to the kids we know in private schools. In fact there seem to be plenty of options for kids and you can mix challenging and less challenging classes by subject depending on strengths/interests. I think maybe for a kid who is taking all regular rather than honors/AP classes it might not be the best fit because those classes seem to be a bit more remedial and not that many kids take non honors classes. So you probably need to judge where your child would be in that mix.

I am having a hard time reconciling the idea that it's not a pressure cooker with the idea that not many kids take non honors classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We chose Whitman and are very happy with it. Came in from a private school. It's certainly challenging but not what I would call a pressure cooker, at least compared to the kids we know in private schools. In fact there seem to be plenty of options for kids and you can mix challenging and less challenging classes by subject depending on strengths/interests. I think maybe for a kid who is taking all regular rather than honors/AP classes it might not be the best fit because those classes seem to be a bit more remedial and not that many kids take non honors classes. So you probably need to judge where your child would be in that mix.

I am having a hard time reconciling the idea that it's not a pressure cooker with the idea that not many kids take non honors classes.

The honors classes don't seem to be unusually challenging - they seem to be about the right level for smart kids. And this is a group of kids who gets the highest SAT scores in the state so generally they are able to do the work. It might depend on what you are looking for in a school. I don't equate challenging with pressure cooker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We chose Whitman and are very happy with it. Came in from a private school. It's certainly challenging but not what I would call a pressure cooker, at least compared to the kids we know in private schools. In fact there seem to be plenty of options for kids and you can mix challenging and less challenging classes by subject depending on strengths/interests. I think maybe for a kid who is taking all regular rather than honors/AP classes it might not be the best fit because those classes seem to be a bit more remedial and not that many kids take non honors classes. So you probably need to judge where your child would be in that mix.

I am having a hard time reconciling the idea that it's not a pressure cooker with the idea that not many kids take non honors classes.

The honors classes don't seem to be unusually challenging - they seem to be about the right level for smart kids. And this is a group of kids who gets the highest SAT scores in the state so generally they are able to do the work. It might depend on what you are looking for in a school. I don't equate challenging with pressure cooker.

There's a book written by Alexandra Robbins -- The Overachievers -- which is based on Whitman High School.

[Anonymous]

Some of the kids in the book were Whitman kids, and the author went there. I am sure there are overachievers at Whitman, and also at WJ, Wooten and the other MCPS schools. And there are LOTS of them at the private schools. But there are plenty of smart, well adjusted HS kids at all of these places too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this is a group of kids who gets the highest SAT scores in the state

My sense is that any school where this is part of the school's general self-perception is likely to be more of a pressure cooker than I would like (I say this having gone to a school very much like this, and having done very well etc.)