Compare Northwest HS and Quince Orchard HS and Clarksburg HS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What issues and criteria are you most concerned about? If it's security and safety, none of MCPS's high schools are great. They're all struggling.

If it's academic rigor and quality of teaching and admin staff, yes that will vary school by school.

The latter. Quality of education if my kid doesn't get into a magnet. Quality of extracurriculars (is it at a high level, or is it so competitive you can't get in). Course options. Is there a lot of flexibility, etc.?

No Seneca Valley. We know some unhappy parents there. Some are trying to move out.

SV just got a new school so it’s much better.

Seneca has out of control violence.
Nw has had a student murdered by a fellow classmate (s).
Quince orchard is the gentler of the 3.

not necessarily the best academics.

When you look at the scores, Quince Orchard has students from inner Gaithersburg whis folks don't speak English and students who's parents are innovators of biotechnology in the kentlands. So yes, you get more of a mixed bag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What issues and criteria are you most concerned about? If it's security and safety, none of MCPS's high schools are great. They're all struggling.

If it's academic rigor and quality of teaching and admin staff, yes that will vary school by school.

The latter. Quality of education if my kid doesn't get into a magnet. Quality of extracurriculars (is it at a high level, or is it so competitive you can't get in). Course options. Is there a lot of flexibility, etc.?

No Seneca Valley. We know some unhappy parents there. Some are trying to move out.

SV just got a new school so it’s much better.

Seneca has out of control violence.
Nw has had a student murdered by a fellow classmate (s).
Quince orchard is the gentler of the 3.

not necessarily the best academics.

When you look at the scores, Quince Orchard has students from inner Gaithersburg whis folks don't speak English and students who's parents are innovators of biotechnology in the kentlands. So yes, you get more of a mixed bag.

"Inner Gaithersburg"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What issues and criteria are you most concerned about? If it's security and safety, none of MCPS's high schools are great. They're all struggling.

If it's academic rigor and quality of teaching and admin staff, yes that will vary school by school.

The latter. Quality of education if my kid doesn't get into a magnet. Quality of extracurriculars (is it at a high level, or is it so competitive you can't get in). Course options. Is there a lot of flexibility, etc.?

No Seneca Valley. We know some unhappy parents there. Some are trying to move out.

SV just got a new school so it’s much better.

Seneca has out of control violence.
Nw has had a student murdered by a fellow classmate (s).
Quince orchard is the gentler of the 3.

Should we list all of the violent events in the news related to QO?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What issues and criteria are you most concerned about? If it's security and safety, none of MCPS's high schools are great. They're all struggling.

If it's academic rigor and quality of teaching and admin staff, yes that will vary school by school.

The latter. Quality of education if my kid doesn't get into a magnet. Quality of extracurriculars (is it at a high level, or is it so competitive you can't get in). Course options. Is there a lot of flexibility, etc.?

No Seneca Valley. We know some unhappy parents there. Some are trying to move out.

SV just got a new school so it’s much better.

Seneca has out of control violence.
Nw has had a student murdered by a fellow classmate (s).
Quince orchard is the gentler of the 3.

Seneca parent here. Besides the issue last year in the fall at the football game (NW vs SV), what out-of-control violence are you talking about? Honestly, haven't heard of anything crazy this school year. No lockdowns, no nothing.

[Anonymous]

Out of those three, QO is the best. Clarksburg and NW have had a lot of issues with fights breaking out. QO focuses a bit too much on sports but at least it has some strong clusters with involved parents including Rachel Carson/Jones Lane etc.

Other posters are right though, with Crown HS being built everything will be rezoned. So it may be best to just buy in a neighborhood you like and hope for the best. We elected not to buy in the Jones Lane neighborhood for this reason, we did not want to be rezoned to an inferior school while relying on public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Out of those three, QO is the best. Clarksburg and NW have had a lot of issues with fights breaking out. QO focuses a bit too much on sports but at least it has some strong clusters with involved parents including Rachel Carson/Jones Lane etc.

Other posters are right though, with Crown HS being built everything will be rezoned. So it may be best to just buy in a neighborhood you like and hope for the best. We elected not to buy in the Jones Lane neighborhood for this reason, we did not want to be rezoned to an inferior school while relying on public.

"The best" for (or at) what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What issues and criteria are you most concerned about? If it's security and safety, none of MCPS's high schools are great. They're all struggling.

If it's academic rigor and quality of teaching and admin staff, yes that will vary school by school.

The latter. Quality of education if my kid doesn't get into a magnet. Quality of extracurriculars (is it at a high level, or is it so competitive you can't get in). Course options. Is there a lot of flexibility, etc.?

No Seneca Valley. We know some unhappy parents there. Some are trying to move out.

SV just got a new school so it’s much better.

Seneca has out of control violence.
Nw has had a student murdered by a fellow classmate (s).
Quince orchard is the gentler of the 3.

not necessarily the best academics.

When you look at the scores, Quince Orchard has students from inner Gaithersburg whis folks don't speak English and students who's parents are innovators of biotechnology in the kentlands. So yes, you get more of a mixed bag.

that's probably true, but I don't think those ESOL kids are taking AP and SAT exams. NWHS has higher SAT scores/participation, especially considering its larger than QO -- more kids = more chance of lowering the average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What issues and criteria are you most concerned about? If it's security and safety, none of MCPS's high schools are great. They're all struggling.

If it's academic rigor and quality of teaching and admin staff, yes that will vary school by school.

The latter. Quality of education if my kid doesn't get into a magnet. Quality of extracurriculars (is it at a high level, or is it so competitive you can't get in). Course options. Is there a lot of flexibility, etc.?

No Seneca Valley. We know some unhappy parents there. Some are trying to move out.

SV just got a new school so it’s much better.

Seneca has out of control violence.
Nw has had a student murdered by a fellow classmate (s).
Quince orchard is the gentler of the 3.

not necessarily the best academics.

When you look at the scores, Quince Orchard has students from inner Gaithersburg whis folks don't speak English and students who's parents are innovators of biotechnology in the kentlands. So yes, you get more of a mixed bag.

that's probably true, but I don't think those ESOL kids are taking AP and SAT exams. NWHS has higher SAT scores/participation, especially considering its larger than QO -- more kids = more chance of lowering the average.

DP. The parents may or may not speak English. The kids speak English, unless newly arrived.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What issues and criteria are you most concerned about? If it's security and safety, none of MCPS's high schools are great. They're all struggling.

If it's academic rigor and quality of teaching and admin staff, yes that will vary school by school.

The latter. Quality of education if my kid doesn't get into a magnet. Quality of extracurriculars (is it at a high level, or is it so competitive you can't get in). Course options. Is there a lot of flexibility, etc.?

No Seneca Valley. We know some unhappy parents there. Some are trying to move out.

SV just got a new school so it’s much better.

Seneca has out of control violence.
Nw has had a student murdered by a fellow classmate (s).
Quince orchard is the gentler of the 3.

not necessarily the best academics.

When you look at the scores, Quince Orchard has students from inner Gaithersburg whis folks don't speak English and students who's parents are innovators of biotechnology in the kentlands. So yes, you get more of a mixed bag.

that's probably true, but I don't think those ESOL kids are taking AP and SAT exams. NWHS has higher SAT scores/participation, especially considering its larger than QO -- more kids = more chance of lowering the average.

DP. The parents may or may not speak English. The kids speak English, unless newly arrived.

If they are in ESOL, their English won't be very good. Other than maybe math, they aren't taking AP English, for example.

-immigrant whose siblings were in ESOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What issues and criteria are you most concerned about? If it's security and safety, none of MCPS's high schools are great. They're all struggling.

If it's academic rigor and quality of teaching and admin staff, yes that will vary school by school.

The latter. Quality of education if my kid doesn't get into a magnet. Quality of extracurriculars (is it at a high level, or is it so competitive you can't get in). Course options. Is there a lot of flexibility, etc.?

No Seneca Valley. We know some unhappy parents there. Some are trying to move out.

SV just got a new school so it’s much better.

Seneca has out of control violence.
Nw has had a student murdered by a fellow classmate (s).
Quince orchard is the gentler of the 3.

Should we list all of the violent events in the news related to QO?

Sure. I can't think of any except visiting teams at sporting events. But if we're going there, Clarksburg had the stabbing after a game last year or the year before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What issues and criteria are you most concerned about? If it's security and safety, none of MCPS's high schools are great. They're all struggling.

If it's academic rigor and quality of teaching and admin staff, yes that will vary school by school.

The latter. Quality of education if my kid doesn't get into a magnet. Quality of extracurriculars (is it at a high level, or is it so competitive you can't get in). Course options. Is there a lot of flexibility, etc.?

No Seneca Valley. We know some unhappy parents there. Some are trying to move out.

SV just got a new school so it’s much better.

Seneca has out of control violence.
Nw has had a student murdered by a fellow classmate (s).
Quince orchard is the gentler of the 3.

not necessarily the best academics.

When you look at the scores, Quince Orchard has students from inner Gaithersburg whis folks don't speak English and students who's parents are innovators of biotechnology in the kentlands. So yes, you get more of a mixed bag.

that's probably true, but I don't think those ESOL kids are taking AP and SAT exams. NWHS has higher SAT scores/participation, especially considering its larger than QO -- more kids = more chance of lowering the average.

DP. The parents may or may not speak English. The kids speak English, unless newly arrived.

You don't do well on standardized tests if your level of English is "learner." You have to be exposed.to English in the home or, instead of thinking through the material, you're deciphering the vocabulary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are thinking about these areas. We like that it is relatively affordable, close to the highway, diverse both racially and economically. The schools are so-so (on great schools and niche).
Obviously not W schools but seems like they have fewer issues than Spring Brook, Kennedy, Einstein. Is one obviously better/worse in terms of admin,programs, teachers, cohort, facilities?

Both fine schools offer more or less the same curriculum and provide similar opportunities. Go with which area appeals to you more.

People have got to stop saying this on here. On paper, yes, each school follows the same curriculum. The difference is the peer grouping which is very important. The level of instruction and engagement absolutely varies by school so don't kid yourself with the "it's the same curriculum so go to any school in the county".

[Anonymous]

NWHS parent here - it’s a very large school. Teachers generally are mixed (some awesome, some not so great, but isn’t it like that everywhere?). My kid has needed some additional support, and the guidance counselors and teachers have been very responsive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are thinking about these areas. We like that it is relatively affordable, close to the highway, diverse both racially and economically. The schools are so-so (on great schools and niche).
Obviously not W schools but seems like they have fewer issues than Spring Brook, Kennedy, Einstein. Is one obviously better/worse in terms of admin,programs, teachers, cohort, facilities?

Both fine schools offer more or less the same curriculum and provide similar opportunities. Go with which area appeals to you more.

People have got to stop saying this on here. On paper, yes, each school follows the same curriculum. The difference is the peer grouping which is very important. The level of instruction and engagement absolutely varies by school so don't kid yourself with the "it's the same curriculum so go to any school in the county".

Fortunately, at schools of 2000-3000 students you can always find a high-achieving peer group so also not a real problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are thinking about these areas. We like that it is relatively affordable, close to the highway, diverse both racially and economically. The schools are so-so (on great schools and niche).
Obviously not W schools but seems like they have fewer issues than Spring Brook, Kennedy, Einstein. Is one obviously better/worse in terms of admin,programs, teachers, cohort, facilities?

Both fine schools offer more or less the same curriculum and provide similar opportunities. Go with which area appeals to you more.

People have got to stop saying this on here. On paper, yes, each school follows the same curriculum. The difference is the peer grouping which is very important. The level of instruction and engagement absolutely varies by school so don't kid yourself with the "it's the same curriculum so go to any school in the county".

Fortunately, at schools of 2000-3000 students you can always find a high-achieving peer group so also not a real problem.

THIS.