Buying in MoCo - which HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either buying in Bethesda or Potomac.
Thoughts on Whitman vs. Churchill?

buy based on something else
A bright kid will do well in either school

I agree with this, and would add in BCC too.

[Anonymous]

Wootton? Lots of support there for all kinds of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school system pushes APs these days. Went to Whitman back in the day and only the kids in AP classes/honors took the AP. Now, thanks in part to Jay Matthews and his high school rankings --which are partly based on the number of kids who simply take APs---more kids than ever take them because it is in the school's and county's interest. The rankings don't consider whether the child achieved a score high enough to qualify for college credit--simply taking the test is something that counts in favor of the school.

I know very "average" kids with B grades who aren't even sure they will go to Montgomery College who have taken the tests. I think more kids at Whitman, Churchill and the like take the tests because their parents will fork over the dough.

This doesn't reflect our experience. The kids taking the AP tests are the ones taking the AP classes. Kids in honors would not take the AP test. The "pass" rates at Whitman and Churchill are very high. Something like 90% of kids get a 3 or higher, most are 4s and 5s. Money may be a factor since MCPS does not pay for the tests the way FCPS does. But I know some of the schools do fundraising for AP tests and our school gives money to a sister school to fund tests.

The school expects kids taking the AP classes to take the AP test although i dont think it is actually required and obviously does not factor in to the grades for the class. The counselors have actually been encouraging kids to take fewer, not more, AP classes recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Einstein, Wheaton or Kennedy?

Why aren't THEY on your list?

Because she wants a good education for her kids.

OP here. Because I grew up in that part of Silver Spring....and I'm NOT going back. It was nice-ish when I was there but it is no longer the part of MoCo I'd want to be in.
All 3 of those schools do not at all fit what I want for my kids. sorry, just being honest.

As for Whitman and Churchill being for AP kids- well, I gotta believe there are some average to above average kids in Bethesda, that is just a silly comment. What you're essentially saying is only people with super bright kids should buy in those areas of MoCo....that is just plain ol' dumb I tell ya!

It's amazing no one ever talks about race. They just say it's not what they want for their kids. Be honest, people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Einstein, Wheaton or Kennedy?

Why aren't THEY on your list?

Because she wants a good education for her kids.

OP here. Because I grew up in that part of Silver Spring....and I'm NOT going back. It was nice-ish when I was there but it is no longer the part of MoCo I'd want to be in.
All 3 of those schools do not at all fit what I want for my kids. sorry, just being honest.

As for Whitman and Churchill being for AP kids- well, I gotta believe there are some average to above average kids in Bethesda, that is just a silly comment. What you're essentially saying is only people with super bright kids should buy in those areas of MoCo....that is just plain ol' dumb I tell ya!

You're afraid of blacks, Africans and Hispanics.

Admit it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Einstein, Wheaton or Kennedy?

Why aren't THEY on your list?

Because she wants a good education for her kids.

OP here. Because I grew up in that part of Silver Spring....and I'm NOT going back. It was nice-ish when I was there but it is no longer the part of MoCo I'd want to be in.
All 3 of those schools do not at all fit what I want for my kids. sorry, just being honest.

As for Whitman and Churchill being for AP kids- well, I gotta believe there are some average to above average kids in Bethesda, that is just a silly comment. What you're essentially saying is only people with super bright kids should buy in those areas of MoCo....that is just plain ol' dumb I tell ya!

Actually I didn't say that at all. Only that for a B student who won't take any APs the peer pressure may be a challenge and the resulting peer group may be less than ideal. Here are the US News stats:

Whitman - 82% of the kids take APs, an average of 4.6 tests per test taker
Churchill - 89% of the kids take APs, an average of 4.8 tests per test taker

Whitman's numbers are a little lower because there is a big special ed program that draws from multiple districts so those kids are not taking any APs.

Don't get me wrong, my kid attends one of these schools and it is a fabulous school. Not everyone is super bright, although some certainly are, but I am amazed how many are way above average. That extends to other activities too - so many of the kids excel at something outside of academics too.

Heaven forbid we should make special ed a priority!

[Anonymous]

Einstein, Wheaton and Kennedy just suck. If she has a choice why would she choose those?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Einstein, Wheaton and Kennedy just suck. If she has a choice why would she choose those?

My Einstein grad kids, who went to top colleges and now, medical school, would disagree with you. In fact, they would likely say they had great experiences there.

[Anonymous]

Ever notice they only tell you what % of kids take AP tests but never say the scores????? hmmmm interesting once you peel back the onion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Einstein, Wheaton or Kennedy?

Why aren't THEY on your list?

Because she wants a good education for her kids.

OP here. Because I grew up in that part of Silver Spring....and I'm NOT going back. It was nice-ish when I was there but it is no longer the part of MoCo I'd want to be in.
All 3 of those schools do not at all fit what I want for my kids. sorry, just being honest.

As for Whitman and Churchill being for AP kids- well, I gotta believe there are some average to above average kids in Bethesda, that is just a silly comment. What you're essentially saying is only people with super bright kids should buy in those areas of MoCo....that is just plain ol' dumb I tell ya!

Actually I didn't say that at all. Only that for a B student who won't take any APs the peer pressure may be a challenge and the resulting peer group may be less than ideal. Here are the US News stats:

Whitman - 82% of the kids take APs, an average of 4.6 tests per test taker
Churchill - 89% of the kids take APs, an average of 4.8 tests per test taker

Whitman's numbers are a little lower because there is a big special ed program that draws from multiple districts so those kids are not taking any APs.

Don't get me wrong, my kid attends one of these schools and it is a fabulous school. Not everyone is super bright, although some certainly are, but I am amazed how many are way above average. That extends to other activities too - so many of the kids excel at something outside of academics too.

Heaven forbid we should make special ed a priority!

I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. The school can have a great special ed program but also emphasize AP's for the kids who aren't in special ed. I have no idea about the special ed program at Whitman and frankly, this is the first I've heard of it. I know Churchill has a bridge program. But since OP's kids are not in special ed, there is no reason to discuss this here. I fully appreciate that MoCo has serious problems with its special ed programs but a comment like this is not necessary every time someone mentions special ed in passing. Signed, parent of special ed dc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Einstein, Wheaton or Kennedy?

Why aren't THEY on your list?

Because she wants a good education for her kids.

OP here. Because I grew up in that part of Silver Spring....and I'm NOT going back. It was nice-ish when I was there but it is no longer the part of MoCo I'd want to be in.
All 3 of those schools do not at all fit what I want for my kids. sorry, just being honest.

As for Whitman and Churchill being for AP kids- well, I gotta believe there are some average to above average kids in Bethesda, that is just a silly comment. What you're essentially saying is only people with super bright kids should buy in those areas of MoCo....that is just plain ol' dumb I tell ya!

You're afraid of blacks, Africans and Hispanics.

Admit it.

asshole! no, I'm afraid my kids will be exposed to fucking gang activity and teen pregnancy!!! stop trying to make it a race issue, it's not a race issue - it's a socio-economic issue. We work way too hard to be able to afford to live in a "nice" neighborhood so that we can shield our kids from SOME of that crap. I'm not so naive as to believe that you don't have issues in wealthier areas but I would like to decrease their exposure as much as possible. THAT'S WHY! So BOOOOO.....not afraid of blacks, africans or hispanics. jerk-off......

[Anonymous]

NP here. My high school kid tells us there's a huge difference between AP classes (DD has taken 5 so far, will take 3-4 more next year) and honors classes (DD has taken a few of these too). The AP classes are too intense, and the honors classes are jokes, it almost seems like honors is the new "regular." It's too bad that MoCo doesn't have a happy medium!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Einstein, Wheaton or Kennedy?

Why aren't THEY on your list?

Because she wants a good education for her kids.

OP here. Because I grew up in that part of Silver Spring....and I'm NOT going back. It was nice-ish when I was there but it is no longer the part of MoCo I'd want to be in.
All 3 of those schools do not at all fit what I want for my kids. sorry, just being honest.

As for Whitman and Churchill being for AP kids- well, I gotta believe there are some average to above average kids in Bethesda, that is just a silly comment. What you're essentially saying is only people with super bright kids should buy in those areas of MoCo....that is just plain ol' dumb I tell ya!

You're afraid of blacks, Africans and Hispanics.

Admit it.

asshole! no, I'm afraid my kids will be exposed to fucking gang activity and teen pregnancy!!! stop trying to make it a race issue, it's not a race issue - it's a socio-economic issue. We work way too hard to be able to afford to live in a "nice" neighborhood so that we can shield our kids from SOME of that crap. I'm not so naive as to believe that you don't have issues in wealthier areas but I would like to decrease their exposure as much as possible. THAT'S WHY! So BOOOOO.....not afraid of blacks, africans or hispanics. jerk-off......

So, you're afraid of poor people...got it. Not a racist, just an elitist. Much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Einstein, Wheaton or Kennedy?

Why aren't THEY on your list?

Because she wants a good education for her kids.

OP here. Because I grew up in that part of Silver Spring....and I'm NOT going back. It was nice-ish when I was there but it is no longer the part of MoCo I'd want to be in.
All 3 of those schools do not at all fit what I want for my kids. sorry, just being honest.

As for Whitman and Churchill being for AP kids- well, I gotta believe there are some average to above average kids in Bethesda, that is just a silly comment. What you're essentially saying is only people with super bright kids should buy in those areas of MoCo....that is just plain ol' dumb I tell ya!

You're afraid of blacks, Africans and Hispanics.

Admit it.

asshole! no, I'm afraid my kids will be exposed to fucking gang activity and teen pregnancy!!! stop trying to make it a race issue, it's not a race issue - it's a socio-economic issue. We work way too hard to be able to afford to live in a "nice" neighborhood so that we can shield our kids from SOME of that crap. I'm not so naive as to believe that you don't have issues in wealthier areas but I would like to decrease their exposure as much as possible. THAT'S WHY! So BOOOOO.....not afraid of blacks, africans or hispanics. jerk-off......

So, you're afraid of poor people...got it. Not a racist, just an elitist. Much better.

I'm not the OP, but you are a pot-stirring asshole.

[Anonymous]

I don't think the PP is a pot-stirring asshole. So far the implication is that if we send our kids to Einstein, Wheaton, or Kennedy we don't care about giving our kids a good education or our kids are pregnant gang members. I think these uninformed and bigoted comments would elicit an unfavorable reaction from anyone.