Which W / BCC school is least difficult to not be very wealthy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids graduated from WJ and we did none of those things. A lot of stereotyping in your post, OP. Our kids played sports, did a lot of SSL hours and had part-time jobs. They drove a used car (ours, not theirs).

Another WJ family here and agree with all of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids graduated from WJ and we did none of those things. A lot of stereotyping in your post, OP. Our kids played sports, did a lot of SSL hours and had part-time jobs. They drove a used car (ours, not theirs).

Walter Johnson is the least snobby school of the W schools.
You would be shocked to hear the names Whitman kids called WJ kids.

Hello, bored teenager. Stop lying your head off and go back to Tik Tok.

Lying about what? You must be new to the county.

You used that line before on another thread, and I know you're the same troll, with the same particular writing style. No, I've been here for ages. Go away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Transplant_1 wrote:OP here. I'd appreciate serious conversations on this thread.

Thank you 9:13 for your thoughts. Yes, am posting to try to break though the assumptions. So I appreciate your thoughts.

Do you -- or others -- have a sense of BCC and Whitman? They are the two wealthier areas (at least based on home prices. I know BCC has an area in its zone that is not, but kids life in sub-cultures/sub-groups so still trying to figure out what the experience would be like for us.)

DP. I am not really sure what you're getting at, but I live a block from BCC and pass it on my morning commute and I can assure you that most kids do not arrive in a flashy car. Lots take the bus, many take the county bus (a regular, non-school bus) from the Silver Spring area. Many also walk.

As a PP said, most kids who live in the most expensive area (Edgemoor) go to private schools, and some parts of that neighborhood many not even be zoned for BCC anyway. I'm not sure of that but as you get further and further in, you're far close to Whitman than BCC.

There are a lot of kids at BCC who live in the various apartments of Bethesda, many of which are pretty low-rent looking to be honest; and many who live in apartments or houses in Silver Spring.

You can find a wealthy, materialist culture at any school. You can also find counter-cultures at every school. BCC is absolutely enormous and there will be enough of every kind of culture for your kids to join. It is really up to your kids what they find attractive.

Agree with everything except BCC being enormous. Sure, large enough to make PP's point about kids finding their group. But all the other W high schools are larger and WJ is very overcrowded, which unfortunately detracts a bit from the great academic experience it's supposed to be. OP, I assume you know about the future Woodward high school, just north of WJ on Old G, that's supposed to be ready by the fall as a holding school for Northwood HS students, then ready by fall 2026 for the locals? 2024 is when the boundary study will be done. It will definitely change the WJ and Einstein boundaries, and might theoretically change BCC and Whitman boundaries. For more information, peruse the master thread on that in the MCPS forum. I'm sure Woodward will be a great school too, but it will mess with existing boundaries.

[Anonymous]

We’re in DCPS still, but when/if we move for schools, it will be to BCC. Accessible by public transportation and there are relatively affordable rental apartments. By all accounts it is a diverse school on many levels.

[Anonymous]

Transplant_1 wrote:One of my main concerns about BCC/Ws is the extent to which it'd be comfortable for my kids to not be super wealthy. Eg:
-- not have a (fancy) car once they hit driving age.
-- not be supplemented with tutors constantly
-- not have super enriching summer programs / camps that are purchased, or internships accessed through relationships
-- not have a private college counselor to guide them every step of the way.

I'm thinking about both social and mental ease and a sense of belonging and fitting in, but also -- college applications -- ... if most wealthy kids can pad their resume with purchased experiences, then what?

I welcome sincere perspectives. Thank you.

WJ parent of a rising senior and none of DC’s friends have cars. They might borrow their parents’ Toyota or Subaru on occasion. No college counselor here. Had an online tutor once for math coming out of pandemic. The type of parents who might have paid for expensive summer programs ten years ago now know a summer job looks better to colleges so I haven’t seen any of that. There are a lot of families much less affluent than we are and plenty more affluent. Lots of parents in government or do gooder jobs where money isn’t highest priority- but enough to save for college. For us, WJ was more appealing than Whitman and offered more diversity.

[Anonymous]

Transplant_1 wrote:OP here. I'd appreciate serious conversations on this thread.

Thank you 9:13 and 9:28 for your thoughts. Yes, am posting to try to break though the assumptions. So I appreciate your thoughts.

Do you -- or others -- have a sense of BCC and Whitman? They are the two wealthier areas (at least based on home prices. I know BCC has an area in its zone that is not, but kids life in sub-cultures/sub-groups so still trying to figure out what the experience would be like for us.)

Sorry, DCUM is not known for it's serious conversations.

It may be a toxic cesspool, but it's our toxic cesspool!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids graduated from WJ and we did none of those things. A lot of stereotyping in your post, OP. Our kids played sports, did a lot of SSL hours and had part-time jobs. They drove a used car (ours, not theirs).

Walter Johnson is the least snobby school of the W schools.
You would be shocked to hear the names Whitman kids called WJ kids.

Wow - they're still doing this? I guess some traditions never die.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids graduated from WJ and we did none of those things. A lot of stereotyping in your post, OP. Our kids played sports, did a lot of SSL hours and had part-time jobs. They drove a used car (ours, not theirs).

Walter Johnson is the least snobby school of the W schools.
You would be shocked to hear the names Whitman kids called WJ kids.

Wow - they're still doing this? I guess some traditions never die.

Yeah, but WJ doesn't care one whit about Whitman students. All their rivalry is directed at B-CC. Just ask the MoCo police dept!

[Anonymous]

Obviously Wheaton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids graduated from WJ and we did none of those things. A lot of stereotyping in your post, OP. Our kids played sports, did a lot of SSL hours and had part-time jobs. They drove a used car (ours, not theirs).

Walter Johnson is the least snobby school of the W schools.
You would be shocked to hear the names Whitman kids called WJ kids.

Wow - they're still doing this? I guess some traditions never die.

Yeah, but WJ doesn't care one whit about Whitman students. All their rivalry is directed at B-CC. Just ask the MoCo police dept!

WJ, BCC and Wheaton lack the extreme wealth and prestige of Whitman (or Churchill.). Apples to Oranges.

[Anonymous]

OP the silver spring schools are rubbish. please don't move there because you feel poor compared to some families in Bethesda.

We were not rich and our kids did fine at Whitman. Go for the academically strongest place you can find. Whitman, BCC, Churchill. The second 2 of these will be more diverse, if that matters to you.

[Transplant_1]

Thank you to all the thoughful posters, the feedback from the WJ parent about kids borrowing parent cars and working in summers, the poster about having maanged in Whitman without being "rich", the poster alerting about boundary change - yes, am aware. The thread about boundary changes is really long, and have yet to read. If I did WJ, I'd live in the southern area of the zone for commuting reasons, and then will just have to roll along with the changes on the boundary changes.

[Anonymous]

If you are looking at BCC catchment then Rock Creek Forest and Rosemary Hills (including CCES/NCCES for 3-5) are going to be your best bets.

[Transplant_1]

Thank you. I haven't looked at this area much. It's not as direct for my communting needs. But I will. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

hi OP, I am in a similar situation as you, and have been reading up on comments on this topic on DCUM. From what I understand: Whitman and Churchill are wealthy and pretty white. WJ and BCC are more diverse in every way. BCC also has the IB program. All four HS are supposed to be super good. My office is in downtown DC, and I do not want a long commute, so will probably go with BCC. I would feel super poor at Whitman, especially as a single Mom.