Potomac

[Anonymous]

I post this out of concern for others. I was warned by another Potomac parent and I wish I had listened. Potomac can be a great school if your child can handle immense stress, teachers without compassion, and classmates who are entitled. No sleep in the high school due to unreasonable home work load. Be sure to ask about the frequent changes in faculty and administration over the last few years. Its a wonderful school going through a very toxic phase.

[Anonymous]

we also heard that Geoff Jones (head of school, who also established TJ) was leaving as well. can other parents comment on this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we also heard that Geoff Jones (head of school, who also established TJ) was leaving as well. can other parents comment on this?

not a current family, but have heard from current family that he is leaving at the end of next year. the view is that his replacement will be someone who has similar values and priorities. i really admire him and hope they can find someone even half as amazing.

[Anonymous]

Yes, he's leaving. Potomac is also on third upper school head in the last 6 years, new intermediate school head, second year for new middle school head, new lower school head (previously interim), new college counseling, among many other new key positions. Many of the new people are wonderful, but this kind of turnover is something to consider.

[Anonymous]

Where is he going?

[Anonymous]

"not a current family, but have heard from current family that he is leaving at the end of next year. the view is that his replacement will be someone who has similar values and priorities. i really admire him and hope they can find someone even half as amazing."

Many hope the new head is quite different.

[Anonymous]

I'm not even sure where to begin in a reply -- but clearly folks have their facts wrong and/ or are relying on bad 3rd hand information. Geoff Jones will have been Head of School for 13 years. Turnover at Potomac is very low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not even sure where to begin in a reply -- but clearly folks have their facts wrong and/ or are relying on bad 3rd hand information. Geoff Jones will have been Head of School for 13 years. Turnover at Potomac is very low.

Jones is a good man and has done a lot of good things at Potomac. Turnover at the school, however, is very high among the staff, particularly the teachers. You find very few teachers who've been there more than, say, six years. It is not like other schools where you have faculty who've taught at the same place for over 20+ years.

[Anonymous]

No one said that Jones had not been there a long time. The comments were related to the heads of divisions and the culture, which many will attest to.

[Anonymous]

Have a feeling this thread was started by someone ( admissions officer?) at a competing private who often loses candidates to Potomac. Seems kind of desperate. Potomac is a wonderful school. Yes, Geoff Jones is leaving in 2013, but considering that Potomac's parent body and Board is made up of some of the most accomplished business executives and CEOs in the country, don't you think they're going to do a good job of recruiting a stellar replacement? I do. Potomac's foundation and community is very strong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have a feeling this thread was started by someone ( admissions officer?) at a competing private who often loses candidates to Potomac. Seems kind of desperate. Potomac is a wonderful school. Yes, Geoff Jones is leaving in 2013, but considering that Potomac's parent body and Board is made up of some of the most accomplished business executives and CEOs in the country, don't you think they're going to do a good job of recruiting a stellar replacement? I do. Potomac's foundation and community is very strong.

Honestly- what AD would post this? Maybe it's a disgruntled parent, who knows. They do have a reputation of high turnover. A parent asked about it during our playdate and the Potomac AD seemed to skirt around the issue. No school is perfect. Potomac has an awesome reputation and they are clearly expanding their applicant pool every year. It's a very selective school and has a lot going for it. What's the debate?

We chose the nearby K-8. While they are close in location, LL and Potomac are so different in their focus that they don't compete in my view. Yes, a lot of K kids apply at both so technically they are competing for applicants. But, parents who chose one over the other are looking for different primary and middle experiences for their kids.

[Anonymous]

Can the last poster, or others, please elaborate on the differences in school culture and curriculum between Langley (I think that was the K-8 referred to?) and Potomac? I'm truly new to this and have very little information at this point but am trying to decide between these schools for my elementary-aged daughter? I really need to find current parents to talk to get more insight... thanks!

[Anonymous]

I agree with poster who said some one is trying to stir the pot. This information was all out there during admissions season, but not posted here. Why is it being posted now, the exact week that people are trying to decide whether to accept an admission offer or turn it down??

[Anonymous]

Its possible someone Is stirring the pot. Why don't the potomac parents come for a rescue. Another post is raving about good Langley is...

[Anonymous]

I think the Potomac parents know how special a school they have- no need to defend it. Just go read the Washingtonian article on top private schools as judged by the local educational consultants- clearly others know it's special too.