Humanities prgm at Poolesville

[Anonymous]

DD is considering Poolesville’s Humanities program. She wants to know about the field trips and AP classes. She read that Humanities kids have to take an AP class (NSL gov) in 9th grade. How challenging is it for most 9th graders? Also, how much interaction do Humanities students have with other students in classes that aren’t part of the program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is considering Poolesville’s Humanities program. She wants to know about the field trips and AP classes. She read that Humanities kids have to take an AP class (NSL gov) in 9th grade. How challenging is it for most 9th graders? Also, how much interaction do Humanities students have with other students in classes that aren’t part of the program?

My child is in Global but I am responding because it’s hard to find people on DCUM in the program. My child took two APs in 9th and they were both challenging but doable. If your child was accepted into the program, they’ll be able to handle the workload. The best part of taking APs as freshman is that they learn how to study for AP tests. In general, the way PHS works is that your kid will be in a cohort with others in their program for any classes that are considered “house” classes. All classes not marked house could have any student group in them (ISP, Global, SMCs) and they try very hard to “mix classes”. For math, your humanities child would take math with ISP, Global and Humanities students that qualify for that class. Language classes would have a mix of kids from all four houses. Hope that helps!

[Anonymous]

This is PP 02/04 15:48 with a ninth grade PHS Humanities student. PHS is a wonderful school and highly ranked. So far I've been impressed with the quality, creativity, and rigor of the Humanities program. I hope interested students and families take the time to look at the PHS website to learn more about the Humanities program.

The link below has the Humanities program's most recent open house video recording and slide show presentation from this past fall (for the 2022-23 school year).

Scroll down the page to under "Magnet 2021-2022 Admissions Information" to the linked files "Humanities Ninth Grade Class Information" and "Humanities Certificate Overview" -- these files detail the required courses by year as well as the Humanities elective credit offerings for junior and senior years. [Note on the Certificate Overview, it appears the row entry for Science was left off(!) even though MCPS requires three credits to graduate.]

Very Informative ==> Further down the page under "Events" is a welcome video to this year's ninth grade Humanities students from current Humanities students and it gives helpful insight into the PHS Humanities student experience. Finally, this year's ninth grade welcome night video is linked in the Google doc under "Information" further below and gives an in-depth description of the Humanities program.

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/poolesvillehs/magnet/

For the PP who asked about field trips, here are some of the trips taken in past years. Also the ninth graders plan and host a Gallery Night at the school where they each showcase an art piece they've created -- I was so glad they were able to host in person earlier this year. Some of the students also performed music during that evening. It was lovely.

9th Grade - Glenstone Museum in Potomac, National Gallery of Art, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, American Visionary Art Museum
10th Grade - Montpelier, Monticello, The Blackfriar Theater
11th Grade - National Museum of African Art, National Museum of Asian Art, National Museum of Women in the Arts
12th Grade - New York City trip

And required Humanities AP classes:

9th Grade - AP Government
10th Grade - AP US History, AP Seminar
11th Grade - AP Language and Composition, AP Modern World History, AP Art History
12th Grade - AP Literature and Composition, AP Research

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s because it is only for upcounty and not equivalent to CAP. This board is dominated by people who live downcounty so have access nor interest in the program.

Frankly, I wish downcounty had something like this. CAP basically focuses on all the elements of the Eastern Humanities magnet that my kid really didn't enjoy, and they would have loved to have an option that focused on the Humanities part rather than the Media stuff.

After looking at the course lists, my kid didn't even apply to CAP. They're currently doing well in IB, but the curriculum and requirements are very rigid, and I know they would have appreciated more flexibility to follow their own path as they take different types of classes and their interests develop. I don't know how competitive the Poolesville Humanities program is, but the course list looks interesting and rigorous, at least. Not sure how it compares to the honors/AP offerings at other upcounty HS, though?

Agree. CAP is the most non-humanities humanities program ever. It feels like it was designed to churn out a bunch of PR flacks, which may be appreciated in DC but leaves me cold. I remember I asked one of the teachers if they taught literature and she gave me a lecture about how they only focused on non-white authors. That was a.) Not what I asked, and b.) An absurd way to teach literature.

Kid now also in IB. It does have some flexibility, I think, as the kids can choose areas of interest and focus for their high-level classes. I attended an orientation for CAP and I still have absolutely no idea what it's about. Journalism? I guess? Is the intent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s because it is only for upcounty and not equivalent to CAP. This board is dominated by people who live downcounty so have access nor interest in the program.

Frankly, I wish downcounty had something like this. CAP basically focuses on all the elements of the Eastern Humanities magnet that my kid really didn't enjoy, and they would have loved to have an option that focused on the Humanities part rather than the Media stuff.

After looking at the course lists, my kid didn't even apply to CAP. They're currently doing well in IB, but the curriculum and requirements are very rigid, and I know they would have appreciated more flexibility to follow their own path as they take different types of classes and their interests develop. I don't know how competitive the Poolesville Humanities program is, but the course list looks interesting and rigorous, at least. Not sure how it compares to the honors/AP offerings at other upcounty HS, though?

I'm curious about this. What types of classes does the Pooleseville humanities program have that are different from the CAP program? Model UN and the other things described seem similar to CAP right?

Is there a program that's more like the literature class at Eastern which my child loved?

The class on Criticism in the Humanities in the PHS program is along those lines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is considering Poolesville’s Humanities program. She wants to know about the field trips and AP classes. She read that Humanities kids have to take an AP class (NSL gov) in 9th grade. How challenging is it for most 9th graders? Also, how much interaction do Humanities students have with other students in classes that aren’t part of the program?

It is very challenging, lots of writing. The kids mix all the time in classes outside the program (i.e., Humanities and Global kids have math together, foreign language classes area complete cross section of programs) and in extracurriculars, especially sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s because it is only for upcounty and not equivalent to CAP. This board is dominated by people who live downcounty so have access nor interest in the program.

Frankly, I wish downcounty had something like this. CAP basically focuses on all the elements of the Eastern Humanities magnet that my kid really didn't enjoy, and they would have loved to have an option that focused on the Humanities part rather than the Media stuff.

After looking at the course lists, my kid didn't even apply to CAP. They're currently doing well in IB, but the curriculum and requirements are very rigid, and I know they would have appreciated more flexibility to follow their own path as they take different types of classes and their interests develop. I don't know how competitive the Poolesville Humanities program is, but the course list looks interesting and rigorous, at least. Not sure how it compares to the honors/AP offerings at other upcounty HS, though?

I'm curious about this. What types of classes does the Pooleseville humanities program have that are different from the CAP program? Model UN and the other things described seem similar to CAP right?

Is there a program that's more like the literature class at Eastern which my child loved?

The class on Criticism in the Humanities in the PHS program is along those lines.

Just one class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s because it is only for upcounty and not equivalent to CAP. This board is dominated by people who live downcounty so have access nor interest in the program.

Frankly, I wish downcounty had something like this. CAP basically focuses on all the elements of the Eastern Humanities magnet that my kid really didn't enjoy, and they would have loved to have an option that focused on the Humanities part rather than the Media stuff.

After looking at the course lists, my kid didn't even apply to CAP. They're currently doing well in IB, but the curriculum and requirements are very rigid, and I know they would have appreciated more flexibility to follow their own path as they take different types of classes and their interests develop. I don't know how competitive the Poolesville Humanities program is, but the course list looks interesting and rigorous, at least. Not sure how it compares to the honors/AP offerings at other upcounty HS, though?

Agree. CAP is the most non-humanities humanities program ever. It feels like it was designed to churn out a bunch of PR flacks, which may be appreciated in DC but leaves me cold. I remember I asked one of the teachers if they taught literature and she gave me a lecture about how they only focused on non-white authors. That was a.) Not what I asked, and b.) An absurd way to teach literature.

Kid now also in IB. It does have some flexibility, I think, as the kids can choose areas of interest and focus for their high-level classes. I attended an orientation for CAP and I still have absolutely no idea what it's about. Journalism? I guess? Is the intent?

There's a big social justice, politics, diplomacy, activism component. Many students end up studying things like political science and are in leadership positions in government, law, Congress, non-profits. There are also students who do go into many other fields of course including STEM, the arts.

[Anonymous]

Thank you to all the posters with knowledge of the program who responded. I appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am starting to think there is something seriously wrong with this program…..

Why?

Maybe because nobody comments about this particular, but there are so many people doling out info about the other pgms.

It’s because there aren’t many families with sticks up their ass participating. Mostly just well adjusted kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s because it is only for upcounty and not equivalent to CAP. This board is dominated by people who live downcounty so have access nor interest in the program.

Frankly, I wish downcounty had something like this. CAP basically focuses on all the elements of the Eastern Humanities magnet that my kid really didn't enjoy, and they would have loved to have an option that focused on the Humanities part rather than the Media stuff.

After looking at the course lists, my kid didn't even apply to CAP. They're currently doing well in IB, but the curriculum and requirements are very rigid, and I know they would have appreciated more flexibility to follow their own path as they take different types of classes and their interests develop. I don't know how competitive the Poolesville Humanities program is, but the course list looks interesting and rigorous, at least. Not sure how it compares to the honors/AP offerings at other upcounty HS, though?

Agree. CAP is the most non-humanities humanities program ever. It feels like it was designed to churn out a bunch of PR flacks, which may be appreciated in DC but leaves me cold. I remember I asked one of the teachers if they taught literature and she gave me a lecture about how they only focused on non-white authors. That was a.) Not what I asked, and b.) An absurd way to teach literature.

Kid now also in IB. It does have some flexibility, I think, as the kids can choose areas of interest and focus for their high-level classes. I attended an orientation for CAP and I still have absolutely no idea what it's about. Journalism? I guess? Is the intent?

There's a big social justice, politics, diplomacy, activism component. Many students end up studying things like political science and are in leadership positions in government, law, Congress, non-profits. There are also students who do go into many other fields of course including STEM, the arts.

Yes. I'm aware. Basically all of those jobs boil down to being a PR flunky of one kind or another. I realize that for people who have those jobs they are Very Important. But it sounds like a dreary way to spend high school, and a distorted lens to learn about the world.

[Anonymous]

What would you rather your child do? What do you think is a good career? Are you in STEM or an academic?

I think I'm in agreement with you that I'd prefer a more humanities focused program for my child, but not really clear why you think CAP is dreary and distorted.

[Anonymous]

My child turned down RM for our local school. I went through an IB program myself but it felt like that program was rigid and there was not a lot of out of the box thinking that was encouraged.

[Anonymous]

It’s 2024 and this is still very helpful, thank you.

quote=Anonymous]I don't know why there aren't more posts on DCUM about PHS Humanities. There are a fair number of positive DCUM posts about the general PHS environment (along with the ton specifically about Global Ecology and SMCS as noted by PPs).

I have a ninth grade PHS Humanities student who also was in the MLK MS Humanities program. So far DC loves the PHS Humanities program and PHS. DC has a witty, caring, somewhat laid-back peer group here. We have found PHS admin and staff to be welcoming and supportive. The school size -- around 1200 students -- works well for DC.

Looking only from a ninth grade viewpoint, the high school Humanities program so far is definitely less media focused than the middle school program was. The workload does not seem too much different from middle school (although it's a little hard to judge when more than a year of middle school was virtual). DC has been able to fit in an outside activity that has a fairly serious weekly time commitment.

[Anonymous]

Bumping this discussion because my kid is considering this and Global. Can anyone point out drawbacks to this program, or clear strengths ?