Planning a move to Wootton HS School District

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ OP is probably looking for a school that her daughter can thrive without having to commute to PHS. Just a guess.

But OP stated her daughter got into the APPS program at Clarksburg which is practically a school for the high achieving kids within that HS. If it were me, I would see if daughter got into Poolesville magnet; if yes, great since Clarksburg is not far from Poolesville. If no, then stay at Clarksburg in the APPS program. To me it's not worth moving to attend Wootton when your kid is already in Clarksburg APPS.

No, it's not.

Here we go.

Op, moving when you have two reasonably good options seem overkill to me. Clarksburgvis not too far from PHS, why not send her to PHS?

I'm the PP you're responding to. My child is in APPS at Clarksburg HS. The program is fine. Clarksburg HS is fine. I have no complaints. But it's not accurate to say that the APPS program is practically a school for the high-achieving kids at Clarksburg HS. It's not. APPS kids tend to hang out with other APPS kids, but those kids would probably hang out together even if there weren't APPS.

[Anonymous]

Wooton is a fine school. Like all MCPS high-schools, it has a high-performing cohort where your child would do similarly to where she is now. Unlike many schools, Wooton isn't very diverse and there are negligible FARMS so their test averages seem higher because there are fewer low performers... The main difference you'll find at Wooton is 4 sections of AP English instead of 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ OP is probably looking for a school that her daughter can thrive without having to commute to PHS. Just a guess.

But OP stated her daughter got into the APPS program at Clarksburg which is practically a school for the high achieving kids within that HS. If it were me, I would see if daughter got into Poolesville magnet; if yes, great since Clarksburg is not far from Poolesville. If no, then stay at Clarksburg in the APPS program. To me it's not worth moving to attend Wootton when your kid is already in Clarksburg APPS.

No, it's not.

Here we go.

Op, moving when you have two reasonably good options seem overkill to me. Clarksburgvis not too far from PHS, why not send her to PHS?

yes I am fortunate that all options are good ....but i want to make sure i have all the information before i make a final decision.

Poolesville...she is waitlisted on....so thats not a sure shot. Down side on that the hour commute both ways on the bus....adds to her day tremendously

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have any first hand knowledge of Wootton? Or is it only what you have read here?

You need to visit the school, look at the housing market. Can you find a house (and win a bid) in the Wootton cluster? Is your current house ready for the spring market?

This is a decision that I would research the heck out of, and not crowd source.

Maybe OP rents. Renting is a thing that people do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wooton is a fine school. Like all MCPS high-schools, it has a high-performing cohort where your child would do similarly to where she is now. Unlike many schools, Wooton isn't very diverse and there are negligible FARMS so their test averages seem higher because there are fewer low performers... The main difference you'll find at Wooton is 4 sections of AP English instead of 3.

What do you mean by "NEGLIGIBLE FARMS" ??

4 sections of AP English ?? How is that an asset....i am not clear ? Please elaborate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have any first hand knowledge of Wootton? Or is it only what you have read here?

You need to visit the school, look at the housing market. Can you find a house (and win a bid) in the Wootton cluster? Is your current house ready for the spring market?

This is a decision that I would research the heck out of, and not crowd source.

Maybe OP rents. Renting is a thing that people do.

I tried contacting the school for a tour - but they are not receptive. I have also contacted friends with kids in the wooton cluster.

Crowd sourcing is part of my research - so i can get more honest opinions on what their thgts are !! I am currently in touch with a real estate agent so i do have my ducks in a row with regards to my home as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wooton is a fine school. Like all MCPS high-schools, it has a high-performing cohort where your child would do similarly to where she is now. Unlike many schools, Wooton isn't very diverse and there are negligible FARMS so their test averages seem higher because there are fewer low performers... The main difference you'll find at Wooton is 4 sections of AP English instead of 3.

What do you mean by "NEGLIGIBLE FARMS" ??

4 sections of AP English ?? How is that an asset....i am not clear ? Please elaborate

<5.0% of the students qualify right now for free or reduced meals. 12.2% of the students either qualify for free or reduced meals now or have done so in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have any first hand knowledge of Wootton? Or is it only what you have read here?

You need to visit the school, look at the housing market. Can you find a house (and win a bid) in the Wootton cluster? Is your current house ready for the spring market?

This is a decision that I would research the heck out of, and not crowd source.

Maybe OP rents. Renting is a thing that people do.

I tried contacting the school for a tour - but they are not receptive. I have also contacted friends with kids in the wooton cluster.

Crowd sourcing is part of my research - so i can get more honest opinions on what their thgts are !! I am currently in touch with a real estate agent so i do have my ducks in a row with regards to my home as well.

OK, then here is my honest opinion: moving to Potomac just so that your daughter can go to Wootton HS is bananas.

[Anonymous]

Is she an only child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes there are other reasons for the move (commute etc) but my priority is doing right by the kids.

APPS is a great program however my problem is the environment that CHS has to offer...not very motivated kids and parents that just dont care and are not engaged.

WOOTTON - i believe would push her academically more than CHS perhaps - however, i dont want her to go to a pressure cooker type environment that drives her crazy. I want her to indulge in extra curreculars while not killing herself with HW etc. Thus all these questions.

Poolesville - also i am not sure about. Would involve an hour commute both ways. Plus i am not sure she knows as yet what she wants to do....so i dont want to push her into humanties or global without her being sold on the program.

Why do you say that?

My kid is at Clarksburg HS. Some of the kids are very highly motivated. Some of the kids are not at all motivated. Most of the kids are somewhere in between. But there are certainly plenty of academically-motivated kids at Clarksburg HS for your kid to take classes and hang out with.

Clarksburg HS APPS is a good program and for the most part the school has wonderful kids - no doubt. But i just feel that my daughter is not being pushed to her full potential because she isnt the squeeky wheel...if you know what i mean. If we decide to stay - i dont doubt that she will get a great education.....but i just want to make sure that i have pushed her as much as I can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is she an only child?

No i have a younger one as well...who will be going to MS next year. Good time to transition for both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes there are other reasons for the move (commute etc) but my priority is doing right by the kids.

APPS is a great program however my problem is the environment that CHS has to offer...not very motivated kids and parents that just dont care and are not engaged.

WOOTTON - i believe would push her academically more than CHS perhaps - however, i dont want her to go to a pressure cooker type environment that drives her crazy. I want her to indulge in extra curreculars while not killing herself with HW etc. Thus all these questions.

Poolesville - also i am not sure about. Would involve an hour commute both ways. Plus i am not sure she knows as yet what she wants to do....so i dont want to push her into humanties or global without her being sold on the program.

Why do you say that?

My kid is at Clarksburg HS. Some of the kids are very highly motivated. Some of the kids are not at all motivated. Most of the kids are somewhere in between. But there are certainly plenty of academically-motivated kids at Clarksburg HS for your kid to take classes and hang out with.

Clarksburg HS APPS is a good program and for the most part the school has wonderful kids - no doubt. But i just feel that my daughter is not being pushed to her full potential because she isnt the squeeky wheel...if you know what i mean. If we decide to stay - i dont doubt that she will get a great education.....but i just want to make sure that i have pushed her as much as I can.

Wootton HS definitely has much more of a reputation for pushy parents than Clarksburg HS does, that's true.

[Anonymous]

In this situation some people would move, and some would not. It is certainly a personal decision. But if school is REALLY your number one priority, then move to Wootton area. That's my two cents. We made a similar move BTW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ OP is probably looking for a school that her daughter can thrive without having to commute to PHS. Just a guess.

But OP stated her daughter got into the APPS program at Clarksburg which is practically a school for the high achieving kids within that HS. If it were me, I would see if daughter got into Poolesville magnet; if yes, great since Clarksburg is not far from Poolesville. If no, then stay at Clarksburg in the APPS program. To me it's not worth moving to attend Wootton when your kid is already in Clarksburg APPS.

No, it's not.

Here we go.

Op, moving when you have two reasonably good options seem overkill to me. Clarksburgvis not too far from PHS, why not send her to PHS?

yes I am fortunate that all options are good ....but i want to make sure i have all the information before i make a final decision.

Poolesville...she is waitlisted on....so thats not a sure shot. Down side on that the hour commute both ways on the bus....adds to her day tremendously

If she is WL, she will probably get in. Just stay on it and send any new info to the coordinator until the school starts. Are you sure the bus time is one hour each way? I’d check their bus route schedule if you haven’t. I’d have guessed 40 min max. From where we are (Olney area) it was about an hour each way. I agree it makes the day looooonger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is she an only child?

No i have a younger one as well...who will be going to MS next year. Good time to transition for both.

Perhaps, but your younger one may be perfectly happy where s/he is now. We moved in middle school and my kids had a hard time adjusting.