Compare Woodlin, Bradley Hills, Wyngate E.S.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who attended Whitman. My concerns about the school are not about the academics. I don't mind the competition as I think any of the local top schools are going have a competitive atmosphere. It is primarily the extreme lack of ethnic and economic diversity at Whitman, that I believe BCC and WJ do a better job offering, that caused us to look elsewhere when buying our home. I don't want my kids to feel less than because they don't drive a Lexus and don't go on vacation during every school vacation. (And they won't!) Plus, you've got a better chance getting in to the most competitive colleges when you are not competing with a dozen of your peers. These colleges will NOT (even if the applicants are worthy) admit over a certain number of kids from each high school senior class.

[Anonymous]

BCC and WJ are top county schools as well -- albeit with some diversity. But I believe the OP is contemplating schools in the Oakland Terrace area -- which may feed into Einstein -- which pales in comparison to BCC and WJ. So, OP, be sure to look at the HSs in the areas you are considering unless you plan to move sometime down the road.

[Anonymous]

To me, BCC seems like the best in terms of great school and also diverse. I hope we can send our kids there someday. From what I hear about the others, I have no such aspirations. It's just not worth it to me for the kids to be in such a wealthy, competitive school.

[Anonymous]

Part of silver spring is in the BCC cluster (Rosemary Hills and one other school, I think). Check the map.

OP, I would not buy in Woodlin because I don't want my kids to go to Einstein. But if you are going private after ES, then Woodlin would be fine. It's supposed to be a great school.

I don't want my kids to go to Whitman for the reasons the PPs stated. I don't care how great a school it is. Your view of the world really gets distorted when you spend all your time around competitive, wealthy, mostly white kids.

[Anonymous]

Rosemary Hills and Rock Creek Forest are in BCC. The new McKenney Hills is also proposed to be in BCC.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that private is not a certain alternative; ds was rejected from all three privates we applied to. Fortunately we had a good Bethesda elem to attend (albeit with large class size). Also, re housing cost differential v SS and using the savings to send two kids to private as noted by a pp--remember that mortgage interest is deductible but private school tuition is not!