Poolesville versus Blair?

[Anonymous]

Practically it's a bit easier to get into Poolesville SMAC than Blair SMAC. For Poolesville, you'll also have global ecology to choose if you don't get in SMAC. It's also a magnet program.

From anecdotal point of view, I've interviewed and then mentored a dozen of SMAC students and TJ students for competitive research internship positions. Honestly I feel TJ kids show more integrity. Smart yet not bold. The majority of Blair kids I supervised are ambitious and self-driven, not a good team player. Poolsville kids are relatively more humble, with less skill and less personality. I personally prefer TJ kids the most.

[Anonymous]

Which school gives a better shot at getting into the magnet program at all?

[Anonymous]

PHS parent here. I don't think DCUM gets that much traffic from the more upcounty families who tend to be the ones in the PHS community. Earlier in the year when the magnet program offers came out, there was more DCUM discussion about PHS with pros and cons. Search Poolesville up, here's one of them that I had posted on:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/1024906.page


I have a ninth grade PHS Humanities student. Quieter, deep-thinker child, not super competitive, who has found a laid back, witty, friend group which spans all the houses. DC has had a wonderful year. Has particularly enjoyed the Humanities classes and teachers (and my child has received great encouragement and support from the Humanities teachers).

Poolesville has four "houses" -- Global Ecology, Humanities, Science/Math/Computer Science and the Independent Studies Program. Global, Humanities and SMACS are application programs; Global is county-wide, while Humanities and SMACS are regional. ISP is solely for local students in the PHS cluster. You can watch and read more about the houses to get their flavor on the school's website under "Magnets" header.

The school is smaller-sized (around 1200 students) which suits my child well, but still has lots of clubs, sports, and an active theatre group -- they just performed Shrek the Musical with live music from the orchestra/band. It was a really fun performance! Creative orchestra/band teacher (not enough students/instruments for a separate orchestra and separate band so they are combined).

School building is ancient, but the kids don't seem to mind. Renovation finally MCPS approved, funded, and started this year and so far is on track (fingers crossed) -- major demolition has already occurred on the whole west side of the building! Two phases - Phase 1 to be completed Summer 2023; Phase 2 to be completed December 2024. Here are architect renderings of the proposed construction:

https://mocoshow.com/blog/poolesville-renderings-of-proposed-upgrades-for-poolesville-high-school/


Finally, just have to shout out for PHS, from the principal's weekly newsletter May 1-7, 2022:

Robotics Team #4099
The FIRST Robotics Team #4099 has been active at PHS for the past 12 years, participating in the FIRST Robotics Competitions each year. This year the team achieved success unlike any team before. They won the Turing Division with the world’s best defense robot, and competed with the world’s best teams to advance to the Einstein finals where they placed second in the world. They came home with trophies, medals, and a blue FIRST Robotics banner (a huge honor).

For context, there were 2700+ teams from across the country and all over the world competing this season. The World Championship consisted of over 400 top-tier teams as well as 35,000 spectators. This event is extremely competitive, and reaching the Finals is an astronomical feat. They were the first team from the state of Maryland to have ever reached this level. Here’s a video of one of the finals matches: https://youtu.be/dZ3mmfZ- oP

Congratulations to the PHS students who participated in this competition. We are proud of you and your success!

*********************************

[Anonymous]

Another thing to consider is even if you're kid isn't selected for one of these programs, if they are zoned for either school, they can still take many of these classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which school gives a better shot at getting into the magnet program at all?

The odds seem pretty comparable, but I'd assume there are more high-fliers coming from the W's who are zoned to Blair. So maybe PHS is possibly a little easier to get into but still super competitive. Overall the difference between these schools in terms of what is taught is negligible. I'd go with whichever area appeals to you more.

[Anonymous]

Is Poolesville more white while Blair more diverse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Poolesville more white while Blair more diverse?

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Poolesville more white while Blair more diverse?

Yes

Stop feeding the troll.

[Anonymous]

This forum is biased toward down county folks so you unfortunately won’t find a balanced opinion here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Practically it's a bit easier to get into Poolesville SMAC than Blair SMAC. For Poolesville, you'll also have global ecology to choose if you don't get in SMAC. It's also a magnet program.

From anecdotal point of view, I've interviewed and then mentored a dozen of SMAC students and TJ students for competitive research internship positions. Honestly I feel TJ kids show more integrity. Smart yet not bold. The majority of Blair kids I supervised are ambitious and self-driven, not a good team player. Poolsville kids are relatively more humble, with less skill and less personality. I personally prefer TJ kids the most.

Interesting. Know a prof with a lab who year over year gets requests from magnet students for an internship. Prefers the PHS kids over Blair - thinks they know their stuff better. Go figure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Practically it's a bit easier to get into Poolesville SMAC than Blair SMAC. For Poolesville, you'll also have global ecology to choose if you don't get in SMAC. It's also a magnet program.

From anecdotal point of view, I've interviewed and then mentored a dozen of SMAC students and TJ students for competitive research internship positions. Honestly I feel TJ kids show more integrity. Smart yet not bold. The majority of Blair kids I supervised are ambitious and self-driven, not a good team player. Poolsville kids are relatively more humble, with less skill and less personality. I personally prefer TJ kids the most.

Yes, Poolesville kids usually do not hire paid college counselors or interview coaches. Poolesville kids basically go to great schools on their own merit alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Practically it's a bit easier to get into Poolesville SMAC than Blair SMAC. For Poolesville, you'll also have global ecology to choose if you don't get in SMAC. It's also a magnet program.

From anecdotal point of view, I've interviewed and then mentored a dozen of SMAC students and TJ students for competitive research internship positions. Honestly I feel TJ kids show more integrity. Smart yet not bold. The majority of Blair kids I supervised are ambitious and self-driven, not a good team player. Poolsville kids are relatively more humble, with less skill and less personality. I personally prefer TJ kids the most.

Interesting. Know a prof with a lab who year over year gets requests from magnet students for an internship. Prefers the PHS kids over Blair - thinks they know their stuff better. Go figure.

I agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Practically it's a bit easier to get into Poolesville SMAC than Blair SMAC. For Poolesville, you'll also have global ecology to choose if you don't get in SMAC. It's also a magnet program.

From anecdotal point of view, I've interviewed and then mentored a dozen of SMAC students and TJ students for competitive research internship positions. Honestly I feel TJ kids show more integrity. Smart yet not bold. The majority of Blair kids I supervised are ambitious and self-driven, not a good team player. Poolsville kids are relatively more humble, with less skill and less personality. I personally prefer TJ kids the most.

Interesting. Know a prof with a lab who year over year gets requests from magnet students for an internship. Prefers the PHS kids over Blair - thinks they know their stuff better. Go figure.

I agree.

Interesting, I also know several NIH researchers who have claimed the exact opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a "smaller school experience," Poolesville is your best bet. Blair is the largest high school in the county, by far.

Blair magnet SAT average is higher. They have more Regeneron scholars, better overall college admissions, and members of the US physics and math olympiads so don't think your statement is accurate.

Huh? PP was talking about size. And of course they have more kids going to top schools and in the olympiads - they have more kids.

I'm sure the same kid will do fine at either school and would base any decision more on where you want to live.

Agree. Blair stem magnet is possibly more competitive on the math/computer science side. Depends on where you want to live though.

It's likely your kid would do perfectly fine at either IF they got in and that's a big IF. Plenty of really talented and bright kids get overlooked for one reason or another. There just aren't that many spots.

I was thinking the same. -- Blair & Wheaton magnet mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Practically it's a bit easier to get into Poolesville SMAC than Blair SMAC. For Poolesville, you'll also have global ecology to choose if you don't get in SMAC. It's also a magnet program.

From anecdotal point of view, I've interviewed and then mentored a dozen of SMAC students and TJ students for competitive research internship positions. Honestly I feel TJ kids show more integrity. Smart yet not bold. The majority of Blair kids I supervised are ambitious and self-driven, not a good team player. Poolsville kids are relatively more humble, with less skill and less personality. I personally prefer TJ kids the most.

What kind of researcher makes these poorly sourced generalizations about large groups of non-homogeneous kids? This seems whack. Maybe your field/program attracts the Blair kids who aren't good team players. Refrain from judging a large group of kids based on a small sample pool. Or, fess up that you are a TJ parent trolling.