potomac school vs langley/mclean/marshall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you know pp? Not being snarky but want to understand as we are in McLean zoning and trying to decide

We have been in FCPS schools from K-8 grade in the advanced academic program and are looking to make the switch to private for high school. My main reasons for wanting to do so are:

-Type of Child: My DC is question is very bright but does homework quickly and I don't think is being held accountable enough in class to stand up and give a reason behind their answer. Though this child could continue in public and do fine, I want them to do better than fine and be pushed to the next academic level, which I think would happen more easily in private school with smaller classes and more individual attention.

-Writing: I hear Langley/McLean HS does a better job teaching writing than the middle schools, but so far I don't think my DC's have learned the skills necessary to produce college level writing (could be just them but I don't think so). Also, the critical thought piece can be better honed in a smaller group, where you can sit in a semicircle in a group of 10-14 kids and discuss topics in depth. Those types of Socratic seminars just don't happen in our large public schools. Take a tour of a private and go inside the classrooms to see what I mean.

-Peer group: The kids in public are smart, no question, but in private I do think you get more parents and kids that share a similar value system and social "graces" if you will. What those values are obviously varies by school community, but there are so many in the DC area that you can easily find a match that is right for your kid and family. Having been on 7-8 school tours, I can say that they are all quite different and there are two that we really feel comfortable with (so the whole notion of "when you know, you know" has some merit).

-College placement: Kids from McLean and Langley have a tough time with acceptance to VA state schools (only the top 5% make it into UVA, etc) largely because of Thomas Jefferson sucking up a lot of in-state spots. Private seems to have better counseling and perhaps stronger ties with the better universities, and certain universities really get to know a private school when they have lots of kids attending from that school (Cathedral schools to Univ of Chicago for example).

Hope that helps.

If you want private for the reasons you stated, look at private in DC (GDS, NCS/STA, Sidwell, and even Maret). The "advantage" Potomac can offer from Langley/McLean is very minimum, if at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:-College placement: Kids from McLean and Langley have a tough time with acceptance to VA state schools (only the top 5% make it into UVA, etc) largely because of Thomas Jefferson sucking up a lot of in-state spots. Private seems to have better counseling and perhaps stronger ties with the better universities, and certain universities really get to know a private school when they have lots of kids attending from that school (Cathedral schools to Univ of Chicago for example).

1/3 of the kids that attend Thomas Jefferson come from Long Fellow and Rachel Carson MS. Probably 70% of those kids are either Asians or Indians. My kids are asians and at Long Fellow MS and didn't have the grade/scores to go there but that is ok. Lot of Asians and Indians kids are extremely smart but they lack social skills, IMHO.

I think TJ is about 80% Asians and Indians. At the current rate, it will be 99% Asians and Indians. White and other groups will be squeezing out because they can't compete with Asians , unless the school come up with a quota system.

At the end of the days, once the dust is settled, kids that graduated from Potomac will become bosses of kids that graduated from public school, not always, but most will because they just have better social, writing skills and networking.

I am a living product of public school. My writing skill is lousy

[Anonymous]

wow first time i hear that kids need to learn social skills from private schools?

isnt social skill something you learn along the way while growing up? people learn social skills just fine even without attending schools, ie street thugs

[Anonymous]

I’m considering Potomac because my DS’s teacher basically ignores him academically and socially. I went to the PT conference to hear about the progress he was doing but left unimpressed by her lack of effort and interest in showing work samples. I was the one asking questions all the time to get some information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:people learn social skills just fine even without attending schools, ie street thugs

If you live in Baltimore or Prince George County and want to be a "thug" like Jay Z. then yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you know pp? Not being snarky but want to understand as we are in McLean zoning and trying to decide

If you want private for the reasons you stated, look at private in DC (GDS, NCS/STA, Sidwell, and even Maret). The "advantage" Potomac can offer from Langley/McLean is very minimum, if at all.

PP here-I disagree with this comment. Based on a tour, open house, and interview, Sidwell and Potomac are very similar in academic setup (have own Intermediate School for 7/8) and appear very similar with respect to curricula and style. Student population will likely be different (suburbs vs. city) and that's about it. They are both tied for first on our list, but fingers crossed as the Open Houses were packed and I'm sure they are attracting the creme de la creme this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing environment for students who develop deep, meaningful relationships with their teachers and advisors. Has the feel of being in college seminars where students are pushed to use critical thinking and delve deeply into subject matters without the typical teaching to the test and studying AP test prep books. Students are extremely well prepared for college with deep analytic thinking and writing skills. All students strive for their personal best and the environment benefits students across the board. Administration and faculty are familiar with each student and gets the whole child's development. They are not just another number. Have one there now and one that graduated from there, and also have one at McLean that did not get in. Honestly, she just didn't have quite high enough grades/scores, but I would have loved for her to be there as well.

+1

What stated above is 100% correct. Before this year, I've asked myself the same question as well. Why should I pay $41K to send my child to Potomac when I live in Mclean and he/she could have gone to Langley or Mclean instead? The answer is very well stated above. I have one there now and another one at Mclean that has neither grades/scores to get in. I would love for her to be there as well.

Public school, including Mclean, Langley, Marshall, is a joke. Half of them don't want to be there. Wearing shorts and T-shirts to school, they look like fools. Public schools don't really encourage critical thinking and deep diving into subject matters. this is what Potomac, or Sidwell for matter, really good at. At Potomac, you have to wear collar shirts, khaki pants and no sneakers. I really like that. I've seen big improvement from my kid in just 2 1/2 months with his social skills.

He might end up being an average student @potomac and I am fine with that. The meaningful relationships he has with his teachers, advisors and his peers, I would not have it any other way.

You guys are rich

If I spent 41k a year for my kid to attend private, I’d want some tangible result like getting into good privates (ivy, top 20) or uva/Berkeley

Developing some meaningful connection with teachers and wearing school uniforms won’t justify the 40k+ cost

We send our children to Potomac for the education, not for college admissions.

[Anonymous]

We asked ourselves whether it was worth it too. We have three kids. Two at Langley 9th/12th and one at Potomac 11th. Wish we had the funds to send all three of our kids to Potomac, but are caring for elderly parents and just can't swing it. It breaks my heart. I'm not sure where people get the idea that the smaller class environment means students wouldn't have done well in a larger public school environment. That is simply not the case! The one child at Potomac was the most socially advanced of all our kids and that is why she got to attend and not the others. We wanted to give her the chance to not just have a voice but have it matter. The smaller environment allows students more time to actively participate in class. It also gives them opportunities to hear more of their peer's ideas and raises the level of the entire class. We don't send our daughter there for the dress code or the lure of an ivy placement. We send her there because we want her to get a top-notch education where people actually care what she thinks and empowers her to achieve her dreams. We put the emphasis on the education and being part of a life-long community whose values we share.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing environment for students who develop deep, meaningful relationships with their teachers and advisors. Has the feel of being in college seminars where students are pushed to use critical thinking and delve deeply into subject matters without the typical teaching to the test and studying AP test prep books. Students are extremely well prepared for college with deep analytic thinking and writing skills. All students strive for their personal best and the environment benefits students across the board. Administration and faculty are familiar with each student and gets the whole child's development. They are not just another number. Have one there now and one that graduated from there, and also have one at McLean that did not get in. Honestly, she just didn't have quite high enough grades/scores, but I would have loved for her to be there as well.

+1

What stated above is 100% correct. Before this year, I've asked myself the same question as well. Why should I pay $41K to send my child to Potomac when I live in Mclean and he/she could have gone to Langley or Mclean instead? The answer is very well stated above. I have one there now and another one at Mclean that has neither grades/scores to get in. I would love for her to be there as well.

Public school, including Mclean, Langley, Marshall, is a joke. Half of them don't want to be there. Wearing shorts and T-shirts to school, they look like fools. Public schools don't really encourage critical thinking and deep diving into subject matters. this is what Potomac, or Sidwell for matter, really good at. At Potomac, you have to wear collar shirts, khaki pants and no sneakers. I really like that. I've seen big improvement from my kid in just 2 1/2 months with his social skills.

He might end up being an average student @potomac and I am fine with that. The meaningful relationships he has with his teachers, advisors and his peers, I would not have it any other way.

Your writing skills are abysmal and your fixation on dress codes is bizarre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing environment for students who develop deep, meaningful relationships with their teachers and advisors. Has the feel of being in college seminars where students are pushed to use critical thinking and delve deeply into subject matters without the typical teaching to the test and studying AP test prep books. Students are extremely well prepared for college with deep analytic thinking and writing skills. All students strive for their personal best and the environment benefits students across the board. Administration and faculty are familiar with each student and gets the whole child's development. They are not just another number. Have one there now and one that graduated from there, and also have one at McLean that did not get in. Honestly, she just didn't have quite high enough grades/scores, but I would have loved for her to be there as well.

+1

What stated above is 100% correct. Before this year, I've asked myself the same question as well. Why should I pay $41K to send my child to Potomac when I live in Mclean and he/she could have gone to Langley or Mclean instead? The answer is very well stated above. I have one there now and another one at Mclean that has neither grades/scores to get in. I would love for her to be there as well.

Public school, including Mclean, Langley, Marshall, is a joke. Half of them don't want to be there. Wearing shorts and T-shirts to school, they look like fools. Public schools don't really encourage critical thinking and deep diving into subject matters. this is what Potomac, or Sidwell for matter, really good at. At Potomac, you have to wear collar shirts, khaki pants and no sneakers. I really like that. I've seen big improvement from my kid in just 2 1/2 months with his social skills.

He might end up being an average student @potomac and I am fine with that. The meaningful relationships he has with his teachers, advisors and his peers, I would not have it any other way.

You guys are rich

If I spent 41k a year for my kid to attend private, I’d want some tangible result like getting into good privates (ivy, top 20) or uva/Berkeley

Developing some meaningful connection with teachers and wearing school uniforms won’t justify the 40k+ cost

We send our children to Potomac for the education, not for college admissions.

Be honest with yourself.....every parent is focused on college admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We asked ourselves whether it was worth it too. We have three kids. Two at Langley 9th/12th and one at Potomac 11th. Wish we had the funds to send all three of our kids to Potomac, but are caring for elderly parents and just can't swing it. It breaks my heart. I'm not sure where people get the idea that the smaller class environment means students wouldn't have done well in a larger public school environment. That is simply not the case! The one child at Potomac was the most socially advanced of all our kids and that is why she got to attend and not the others. We wanted to give her the chance to not just have a voice but have it matter. The smaller environment allows students more time to actively participate in class. It also gives them opportunities to hear more of their peer's ideas and raises the level of the entire class. We don't send our daughter there for the dress code or the lure of an ivy placement. We send her there because we want her to get a top-notch education where people actually care what she thinks and empowers her to achieve her dreams. We put the emphasis on the education and being part of a life-long community whose values we share.

I am so sorry-am in the same boat regarding parents. It is hard. How do your other kids feel about not having an opportunity to go to Potomac or any other private school? I would worry about resentment and that sort of thing. Mclean has great schools so it is not like Langley is a bad option but again kids get funny about siblings getting what they perceive as a leg up. In any event, you are not alone with the sandwich generation thing. It is exhausting.

[Anonymous]

My son is in public middle but I am considering private for HS. Wondering if Potomac would be a good fit for him? He is very smart but doesn’t apply himself. Does well in public without much effort. Enjoys sports especially soccer. Also reads a lot in his spare time. I can’t see him at a school like Sidwell, GDS or St. Albans as I worry they will be too pressure cooker for him. He is not a Type A kid. Likes to have some time to relax. I’m thinking about Potomac, Maret, Landon and Gonzaga. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

^^^Potomac sounds perfect for him-applying for my DC too for MS and fits a similar profile. Soccer particularly strong at Potomac.

[Anonymous]

I though my twins would improve their social skills and build healthy friendships at the public school in McLean. So far, it seems everyone is fake and the classes relate more to a jungle.

[Anonymous]

I'm struggling with this decision, too. I went to an Ivy from public and most of the private kids were from Andover, Exeter, St. Paul, Deerfield etc. The DC area private schools are not at the top.