Homework load at Baltimore area private high schools?

[Anonymous]

My kid is at at K-8 and in the process of applying to private high schools. She's very smart but not super studious, some executive function weakness. I don't want her to end up drowned by the homework load. What is the homework load realistically like for a kid in honors classes at your childrens' private high schools? Area there schools you'd recommend for a kid who is bright enough to keep up with advanced material but struggles when there's a significant homework load?

[Anonymous]

There is a lot of homework at Bryn Mawr and Gilman. In high school, it’s three classes per day, and I would assume at least an hour of homework per class.

[Anonymous]

When we toured Gilman, it was clear this is a school that sets its students working hard. Very impressed but did have me concerned how suitable it would be for my child, who is bright but may find 3+ hours of homework daily suffocating. I would think if your child thrives better in a school with a more manageable workload, it'd be places like Friends, RPCS, the Saint Paul's schools.

[Anonymous]

Based on DD’s and close friends’ experiences, BMS and RPCS have about same amount of homework but RPCS is more “busy work” in 9th-10th grades.
For 11th and 12th grade, kids from all schools wanting slower paced classes tend to try to take them at RPCS rather than BMS.
BMS seniors are strongly discouraged from taking 6 classes so they have time to work on college apps. RPCS seniors strongly encouraged to take 6 substantive AP classes (eg not AP studio art) so it doesn’t look as though they are slacking off.
Very different approaches.

[Anonymous]

RPCS is not academically a good school at all. I'm shocked that they're encouraged to take so many AP tests. Are they encouraged to take so many in hopes that they'll get a three on one?

[Anonymous]

Any thoughts on homework load at Park?

[Anonymous]

Look into their math curriculum carefully. They and RPCS have essentially flipped classroom for math. One of DD’s middle school teachers told us s/he had to get child tutoring for SAT bc they didn’t learn what was necessary.

Certainly there’s an argument about not teaching to tests but there are some really gifted math kids not learning what they need to be successful.

On the other hand, amazing mock trial team if your kid is interested. Tons of work but well worth it.

[Anonymous]

I've heard this conversation on DCUM before and honestly, Doesn't the homework load really depend on the kid?

Same assignment takes one kid 30 mins and another an hour.

There will always be some mom talking about how their kid studied all weekend for the midterm, but I'm like, maybe your kid isn't that smart? It's a strange thing to try and flex on. My kid studied for two hours and got a 95.

[Anonymous]

What I'm taking away from all the posts on the Baltimore independent schools is that despite what people may say, there is a clear hierarchy of schools by academics:

Tier I: Gilman/Bryn Mawr
Tier II: Park, maybe McDonogh
Tier III: RPCS, Friends, St. Paul's
Tier IV: Boys Latin, Garrison Forest

The Catholic schools are somewhat different due to mission so can't be pigeonholed neatly, so Loyola would encompass Tiers II through IV. Once you understand this, then you have the answers to all your questions one way or another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I'm taking away from all the posts on the Baltimore independent schools is that despite what people may say, there is a clear hierarchy of schools by academics:

Tier I: Gilman/Bryn Mawr
Tier II: Park, maybe McDonogh
Tier III: RPCS, Friends, St. Paul's
Tier IV: Boys Latin, Garrison Forest

The Catholic schools are somewhat different due to mission so can't be pigeonholed neatly, so Loyola would encompass Tiers II through IV. Once you understand this, then you have the answers to all your questions one way or another.

-Gilman/ Bryn Mawr have the well earned reputation as being pressure cookers.

-I would lump the bulk of the rest together. They have their own philosophies/ education methods/ niches but all serve a wider range of kids when it comes to academic ability. There some kids coming out of these schools with an experience as rigorous as anything Gilman/BW can offer, but a lot more with something less (not that that's a bad thing).

-I will single out Boys Latin because they historically served a lot of boys who couldn't make it at the other independents (During my time in HS it was common to refer to their sports teams as the Idiots instead of the Lakers). The current administration has done wonderful job reinventing their offerings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I'm taking away from all the posts on the Baltimore independent schools is that despite what people may say, there is a clear hierarchy of schools by academics:

Tier I: Gilman/Bryn Mawr
Tier II: Park, maybe McDonogh
Tier III: RPCS, Friends, St. Paul's
Tier IV: Boys Latin, Garrison Forest

The Catholic schools are somewhat different due to mission so can't be pigeonholed neatly, so Loyola would encompass Tiers II through IV. Once you understand this, then you have the answers to all your questions one way or another.

-Gilman/ Bryn Mawr have the well earned reputation as being pressure cookers.

-I would lump the bulk of the rest together. They have their own philosophies/ education methods/ niches but all serve a wider range of kids when it comes to academic ability. There some kids coming out of these schools with an experience as rigorous as anything Gilman/BW can offer, but a lot more with something less (not that that's a bad thing).

-I will single out Boys Latin because they historically served a lot of boys who couldn't make it at the other independents (During my time in HS it was common to refer to their sports teams as the Idiots instead of the Lakers). The current administration has done wonderful job reinventing their offerings.

This is true. I would change the word some to A LOT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I'm taking away from all the posts on the Baltimore independent schools is that despite what people may say, there is a clear hierarchy of schools by academics:

Tier I: Gilman/Bryn Mawr
Tier II: Park, maybe McDonogh
Tier III: RPCS, Friends, St. Paul's
Tier IV: Boys Latin, Garrison Forest

The Catholic schools are somewhat different due to mission so can't be pigeonholed neatly, so Loyola would encompass Tiers II through IV. Once you understand this, then you have the answers to all your questions one way or another.

-Gilman/ Bryn Mawr have the well earned reputation as being pressure cookers.

-I would lump the bulk of the rest together. They have their own philosophies/ education methods/ niches but all serve a wider range of kids when it comes to academic ability. There some kids coming out of these schools with an experience as rigorous as anything Gilman/BW can offer, but a lot more with something less (not that that's a bad thing).

-I will single out Boys Latin because they historically served a lot of boys who couldn't make it at the other independents (During my time in HS it was common to refer to their sports teams as the Idiots instead of the Lakers). The current administration has done wonderful job reinventing their offerings.

This is true. I would change the word some to A LOT.

I see Mcdonogh mom is back.

My dd was accepted to both Bryn Mawr and Mcdonogh for middle school. When I compared the curriculum, Mcdonogh was a full year behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I'm taking away from all the posts on the Baltimore independent schools is that despite what people may say, there is a clear hierarchy of schools by academics:

Tier I: Gilman/Bryn Mawr
Tier II: Park, maybe McDonogh
Tier III: RPCS, Friends, St. Paul's
Tier IV: Boys Latin, Garrison Forest

The Catholic schools are somewhat different due to mission so can't be pigeonholed neatly, so Loyola would encompass Tiers II through IV. Once you understand this, then you have the answers to all your questions one way or another.

-Gilman/ Bryn Mawr have the well earned reputation as being pressure cookers.

-I would lump the bulk of the rest together. They have their own philosophies/ education methods/ niches but all serve a wider range of kids when it comes to academic ability. There some kids coming out of these schools with an experience as rigorous as anything Gilman/BW can offer, but a lot more with something less (not that that's a bad thing).

-I will single out Boys Latin because they historically served a lot of boys who couldn't make it at the other independents (During my time in HS it was common to refer to their sports teams as the Idiots instead of the Lakers). The current administration has done wonderful job reinventing their offerings.

This is true. I would change the word some to A LOT.

I see Mcdonogh mom is back.

My dd was accepted to both Bryn Mawr and Mcdonogh for middle school. When I compared the curriculum, Mcdonogh was a full year behind.

That is simply not true and my daughter is at Bryn Mawr. We looked into McDonogh pretty seriously and considered it academically equivalent. We chose Bryn Mawr for other reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I'm taking away from all the posts on the Baltimore independent schools is that despite what people may say, there is a clear hierarchy of schools by academics:

Tier I: Gilman/Bryn Mawr
Tier II: Park, maybe McDonogh
Tier III: RPCS, Friends, St. Paul's
Tier IV: Boys Latin, Garrison Forest

The Catholic schools are somewhat different due to mission so can't be pigeonholed neatly, so Loyola would encompass Tiers II through IV. Once you understand this, then you have the answers to all your questions one way or another.

-Gilman/ Bryn Mawr have the well earned reputation as being pressure cookers.

-I would lump the bulk of the rest together. They have their own philosophies/ education methods/ niches but all serve a wider range of kids when it comes to academic ability. There some kids coming out of these schools with an experience as rigorous as anything Gilman/BW can offer, but a lot more with something less (not that that's a bad thing).

-I will single out Boys Latin because they historically served a lot of boys who couldn't make it at the other independents (During my time in HS it was common to refer to their sports teams as the Idiots instead of the Lakers). The current administration has done wonderful job reinventing their offerings.

This is true. I would change the word some to A LOT.

I see Mcdonogh mom is back.

My dd was accepted to both Bryn Mawr and Mcdonogh for middle school. When I compared the curriculum, Mcdonogh was a full year behind.

???
Nope, Wrong school 😊 but my highly academic kids do go to one of the other schools you are insulting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I'm taking away from all the posts on the Baltimore independent schools is that despite what people may say, there is a clear hierarchy of schools by academics:

Tier I: Gilman/Bryn Mawr
Tier II: Park, maybe McDonogh
Tier III: RPCS, Friends, St. Paul's
Tier IV: Boys Latin, Garrison Forest

The Catholic schools are somewhat different due to mission so can't be pigeonholed neatly, so Loyola would encompass Tiers II through IV. Once you understand this, then you have the answers to all your questions one way or another.

-Gilman/ Bryn Mawr have the well earned reputation as being pressure cookers.

-I would lump the bulk of the rest together. They have their own philosophies/ education methods/ niches but all serve a wider range of kids when it comes to academic ability. There some kids coming out of these schools with an experience as rigorous as anything Gilman/BW can offer, but a lot more with something less (not that that's a bad thing).

-I will single out Boys Latin because they historically served a lot of boys who couldn't make it at the other independents (During my time in HS it was common to refer to their sports teams as the Idiots instead of the Lakers). The current administration has done wonderful job reinventing their offerings.

This is true. I would change the word some to A LOT.

I see Mcdonogh mom is back.

My dd was accepted to both Bryn Mawr and Mcdonogh for middle school. When I compared the curriculum, Mcdonogh was a full year behind.

That is simply not true and my daughter is at Bryn Mawr. We looked into McDonogh pretty seriously and considered it academically equivalent. We chose Bryn Mawr for other reasons.

Can you please share the reasons why you chose BMS over the other? Thanks.