Tell me about Albert Einstein HS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2290? Sounds like you are a great candidate for Salisbury State or Towson, or maybe Delaware.

2290 is 99+ percentile nationwide in 2015. She wants to go to Oberlin. Top of the average range of admitted students at Oberlin is 2230. And yes, she has a couple of hooks. So we're feeling pretty confident.

Average SAT for Delaware is 1810 for regular university and 2080 for their Honors program.

Just for comparison sake, average SAT for students admitted to Princeton in 2014 was 2120 to 2400, so she's in that range as well. Yale's average range was 2120 to 2390.

I'm sure PP was just being a smartass. Not a clever one, but a smartass nonetheless.

Everyone knows 2290 is a kickass score.

Is your DC at Blair? Oberlin loves those Blair kids, there seems to be a pipeline.

[Anonymous]

I am a DCC parent - kids not yet in HS. In these "W" vs. DCC discussion, one issue I see as continually overlooked is that there tends to be a fundamental philosophical difference in DCC parents vs the ones at W schools - at least judging by the conversations on DCUM, no idea whether that holds IRL. W parents want the best, DCC parents are happy with good enough. I'm feeling pretty confident that my kids will be able to get a good education and a good social experience at a DCC high school, and that is my primary goal. Of course I want them to take advanced classes and get high SAT scores, but that is not what I'm going to base my idea of success on. If my kids are happy, productive young people that are learning about the world and have a sense of direction and purpose and a way forward coming out of high school, I'm going to be happy. Even if that way forward does not include "the college of their choice," I'm going to be OK with that. I did not go to the college of my choice (Columbia), because I would have graduated with 5-figures of debt and I decided that might not be the best decision. There are so many factors at play when it comes to our children's future direction and success, that I really don't understand the obsession with getting the best at every single turn of their lives. Seems like it may all be for naught in the end. I am probably grossly over-generalizing, but I think that many parents in the DCC feel similarly. We could afford to "move up" to Bethesda now, but I just don't feel compelled to do so based on the school issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think all the "W" promotors are just fools.

I live in a beautiful, family friendly-neighborhood with lots of wonderful, professional neighbors who have interesting careers. My house is large, updated with a nice addition and cost us $430K (worth more, but we bought a while ago). My kids go to DCC schools with a great group, have a lot of diverse friends, there's much less social pressure for possessions and money than in the W schools, and my high schooler will graduate with 10 AP credits, a high GPA in almost all honors/AP, and interesting extracurriculars. I am 100% confident both will get into the colleges of their choice -- and even better, that we have saved enough to pay for that!

We do it all on a reasonable HHI with both parents having plenty of time with kids. I can work from home.

Sure, we could have moved to a "W" school cluster but why?

Maybe they are fools, maybe they are not...

College process is highly unpredictable. Just having 10 APs/"high" GPA doesn't guarantee an admission to college of your choice. There are a lot of kids with 10 or more APs/IBs in MCPS with 99%tile test scores. What is your DC's SAT or ACT scores that made you so confident?

SAT 2290

That's a good score. Unless you have a hook, top-tier schools are probably out of reach. But the second tier should be fine.

NP here. You're a jerk.

Why was I a jerk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2290? Sounds like you are a great candidate for Salisbury State or Towson, or maybe Delaware.

2290 is 99+ percentile nationwide in 2015. She wants to go to Oberlin. Top of the average range of admitted students at Oberlin is 2230. And yes, she has a couple of hooks. So we're feeling pretty confident.

Average SAT for Delaware is 1810 for regular university and 2080 for their Honors program.

Just for comparison sake, average SAT for students admitted to Princeton in 2014 was 2120 to 2400, so she's in that range as well. Yale's average range was 2120 to 2390.

I'm sure PP was just being a smartass. Not a clever one, but a smartass nonetheless.

Everyone knows 2290 is a kickass score.

Is your DC at Blair? Oberlin loves those Blair kids, there seems to be a pipeline.

No, Einstein, but I do know some Blair-to-Oberlin kids. I think all the CAP and other humanities-focused opportunities appeal to that kind of SLAC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a DCC parent - kids not yet in HS. In these "W" vs. DCC discussion, one issue I see as continually overlooked is that there tends to be a fundamental philosophical difference in DCC parents vs the ones at W schools - at least judging by the conversations on DCUM, no idea whether that holds IRL. W parents want the best, DCC parents are happy with good enough. I'm feeling pretty confident that my kids will be able to get a good education and a good social experience at a DCC high school, and that is my primary goal. Of course I want them to take advanced classes and get high SAT scores, but that is not what I'm going to base my idea of success on. If my kids are happy, productive young people that are learning about the world and have a sense of direction and purpose and a way forward coming out of high school, I'm going to be happy. Even if that way forward does not include "the college of their choice," I'm going to be OK with that. I did not go to the college of my choice (Columbia), because I would have graduated with 5-figures of debt and I decided that might not be the best decision. There are so many factors at play when it comes to our children's future direction and success, that I really don't understand the obsession with getting the best at every single turn of their lives. Seems like it may all be for naught in the end. I am probably grossly over-generalizing, but I think that many parents in the DCC feel similarly. We could afford to "move up" to Bethesda now, but I just don't feel compelled to do so based on the school issue.

I went to BCC. I hated it and transferred to a W. school. None were anything special. That's why I'm ok with another high school. Those schools are more about reputation than substance. No one cares where you go to high school as an adult. I would far rather live in a less expensive house (we can afford way more) and fully pay for college and graduate school for my kids as where they go to college depending on their major is far more important. Most families i know in the consortium are very interested in their kids education and want the best. But, I don't think the best is necessarily those schools and everyone makes a big stink over high school, when college and graduate school are far more important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I went to BCC. I hated it and transferred to a W. school. None were anything special. That's why I'm ok with another high school. Those schools are more about reputation than substance. No one cares where you go to high school as an adult. I would far rather live in a less expensive house (we can afford way more) and fully pay for college and graduate school for my kids as where they go to college depending on their major is far more important. Most families i know in the consortium are very interested in their kids education and want the best. But, I don't think the best is necessarily those schools and everyone makes a big stink over high school, when college and graduate school are far more important.

No one cares where you went to high school except college admissions boards, and then everyone cares where you went to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
No one cares where you went to high school except college admissions boards, and then everyone cares where you went to college.

This way of thinking is about a decade outdated. Do you work outside the home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think all the "W" promotors are just fools.

I live in a beautiful, family friendly-neighborhood with lots of wonderful, professional neighbors who have interesting careers. My house is large, updated with a nice addition and cost us $430K (worth more, but we bought a while ago). My kids go to DCC schools with a great group, have a lot of diverse friends, there's much less social pressure for possessions and money than in the W schools, and my high schooler will graduate with 10 AP credits, a high GPA in almost all honors/AP, and interesting extracurriculars. I am 100% confident both will get into the colleges of their choice -- and even better, that we have saved enough to pay for that!

We do it all on a reasonable HHI with both parents having plenty of time with kids. I can work from home.

Sure, we could have moved to a "W" school cluster but why?

hey mom, if school rankings are so irrelevant whey does it matter where your child goes to college? Even if they make it out of there and move up the ladder at the next level that would make them a statistical anomaly. A luxury most of their friends will not enjoy. Congrats on your cheap house though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2290? Sounds like you are a great candidate for Salisbury State or Towson, or maybe Delaware.

2290 is 99+ percentile nationwide in 2015. She wants to go to Oberlin. Top of the average range of admitted students at Oberlin is 2230. And yes, she has a couple of hooks. So we're feeling pretty confident.

Average SAT for Delaware is 1810 for regular university and 2080 for their Honors program.

Just for comparison sake, average SAT for students admitted to Princeton in 2014 was 2120 to 2400, so she's in that range as well. Yale's average range was 2120 to 2390.

I think PP was joking about SS, Towson, and DE.

But seriously, college admission is regional (vs. national) so 99+ percentile nationalwide is less meaningful than knowing how she compares with kids from other schools in DC area. Kids from NE states (MD, NJ, Mass) and West coast (Bay area) will have tougher time due to high number of qualified applicants.

[Anonymous]

This conversation is so confusing for me. Most houses zoned for Einstein today are over $400,000. You definitely are not low SES if you can afford a house at that price. So if you have small kids now, the reasoning would be that, based on SES alone, Einstein will only get better going forward.

Also at this reasoning, it's better to go to a W school than, for example, any school in Ohio, because of the lower cost of living and associated salaries? This seems ridiculous IMO.

[Anonymous]

It is pretty ironic that the poster insinuated college ranking acceptance invalidated high school rankings. If her DC got into a highly rated school form a lower rated one it compounds the justification to shoot for sending childern to higher ranked high schools assuming the end goal is high ranking college acceptance.

Clearly not a former debate champ sitting idly by in her $430k house.

[Anonymous]

This also incorrectly assumes that every child's end game is/should be an Ivy school. For some children, even those whose parents are SES, simply going to college at all is an accomplishment. It's unclear to me how graduating from a W school vs. Einstein would be better for this type of child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No one cares where you went to high school except college admissions boards, and then everyone cares where you went to college.

This way of thinking is about a decade outdated. Do you work outside the home?

One does not work inside the home. Yes, I'm employed and no one has ever cared where I went to high school or impressed that I went to better high schools. They care where I got my master's degree from and I have the proper credentials for the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This conversation is so confusing for me. Most houses zoned for Einstein today are over $400,000. You definitely are not low SES if you can afford a house at that price. So if you have small kids now, the reasoning would be that, based on SES alone, Einstein will only get better going forward.

Also at this reasoning, it's better to go to a W school than, for example, any school in Ohio, because of the lower cost of living and associated salaries? This seems ridiculous IMO.

Earning $180-250,000 and living in one of those houses is considered "poor" in this area. A bit ironic as many of us live comfortable and can pay cash for our kids college education because of the choices we make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone post similar data for E?

I bet not too many will get it. Einstein's average SAT score for Math and Reading combined is 1035 which is more than 200 points lower than bottom 25%tile of accepted student (1260-1420, mid 50%tile). Only about 50% of kids took the test which shows not enough kids are college bound.

What do you consider "not too many?". My DC's high school has similar stats to Einstein's. For the past few years, about 51% of the students who applied to UMCP have been accepted, resulting that 20-something children were accepted. Many kids who know that they will have to attend MC for a few years (for financial reasons) don't even bother to apply, so those stats would likely be higher if those students were taken into account.

The bottom line is that a bright, well-performing student, no matter which MCPS school they attend, will have a fair chance of getting into UMCP. One doesn't have to attend a "W" school to get there; in fact, my kids probably have had/will have an easier time getting in than they would have at a school where the norm is to have a 4.0 and above 2000 on the SAT.