DCC Choice Results

[Anonymous]

We have a bunch of families with rising 9th graders on our street this year and went through this ourselves a couple years ago with our daughter (zoned for Northwood). All put either Blair or Einstein as their first and second choice. No one got Blair (in my many years of knowing kids going through this, I have never known a kid unless sibling linked or accepted to the CAP/STEM program to get Blair through the lottery - literally not once). One of the kids got Einstein (was his first choice). All the other kids got their third - Northwood.

Obviously this is anecdotal, but seems a total waste of a spot to put Blair. You’re not going to get it. Wheaton and Einstein are a crapshoot but at least there is a small chance.

[Anonymous]

Adding - daughter is 11th grade at Wheaton (was her third choice in the lottery) and loves it. Commute sucks though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Adding - daughter is 11th grade at Wheaton (was her third choice in the lottery) and loves it. Commute sucks though.

Isn't there a bus?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a bunch of families with rising 9th graders on our street this year and went through this ourselves a couple years ago with our daughter (zoned for Northwood). All put either Blair or Einstein as their first and second choice. No one got Blair (in my many years of knowing kids going through this, I have never known a kid unless sibling linked or accepted to the CAP/STEM program to get Blair through the lottery - literally not once). One of the kids got Einstein (was his first choice). All the other kids got their third - Northwood.

Obviously this is anecdotal, but seems a total waste of a spot to put Blair. You’re not going to get it. Wheaton and Einstein are a crapshoot but at least there is a small chance.

We're zoned for Northwood and both kids ranked Einstein first and got it in the first round. There was no sibling link since they weren't overlapping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding - daughter is 11th grade at Wheaton (was her third choice in the lottery) and loves it. Commute sucks though.

Isn't there a bus?

Commute BY BUS sucks. It leaves our neighborhood at 6:30am and we are one of the first stops so it’s a long ride. And if we need to get her early or something it’s a long car commute too, especially during rush hours. Great school, kid is happy, commute sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a bunch of families with rising 9th graders on our street this year and went through this ourselves a couple years ago with our daughter (zoned for Northwood). All put either Blair or Einstein as their first and second choice. No one got Blair (in my many years of knowing kids going through this, I have never known a kid unless sibling linked or accepted to the CAP/STEM program to get Blair through the lottery - literally not once). One of the kids got Einstein (was his first choice). All the other kids got their third - Northwood.

Obviously this is anecdotal, but seems a total waste of a spot to put Blair. You’re not going to get it. Wheaton and Einstein are a crapshoot but at least there is a small chance.

We're zoned for Northwood and both kids ranked Einstein first and got it in the first round. There was no sibling link since they weren't overlapping.

Not sure why you’re quoting me - like I said, Einstein definitely possible especially if you put it first. The kids who put Blair first and Einstein second seemed to get their third choice. Einstein first seemed to work out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding - daughter is 11th grade at Wheaton (was her third choice in the lottery) and loves it. Commute sucks though.

Isn't there a bus?

Commute BY BUS sucks. It leaves our neighborhood at 6:30am and we are one of the first stops so it’s a long ride. And if we need to get her early or something it’s a long car commute too, especially during rush hours. Great school, kid is happy, commute sucks.

We're bracing for a terrible commute to Northwood also (in holding school in Rockville), though as long as there's not an accident on the Beltway, I thinking it's probably not worse than getting up to Wheaton (we're near DTSS). I also heard they might adjust the bell times, and offer more busing than usual, but we'll see...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a bunch of families with rising 9th graders on our street this year and went through this ourselves a couple years ago with our daughter (zoned for Northwood). All put either Blair or Einstein as their first and second choice. No one got Blair (in my many years of knowing kids going through this, I have never known a kid unless sibling linked or accepted to the CAP/STEM program to get Blair through the lottery - literally not once). One of the kids got Einstein (was his first choice). All the other kids got their third - Northwood.

Obviously this is anecdotal, but seems a total waste of a spot to put Blair. You’re not going to get it. Wheaton and Einstein are a crapshoot but at least there is a small chance.

Everyone says this, but my (perpetually lucky) oldest daughter got Blair in the first round DCC lottery with no sibling or any hook/program. Home school is Einstein. Then this year, my youngest daughter’s best friend did too- no hooks or anything, no siblings, no program, zoned for Northwood. It happens. Just not often. But if you want Blair, put it first!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the 8:55am poster. Divorced parents, one home school is Northwood, the other home school is Einstein. Ranked Blair, Einstein, Kennedy and got Kennedy.

Anonymous wrote:Then your home school must be Northwood, as far as MCPS is concerned, because if it was on record as Einstein you would have gotten Einstein.

I think this rule changed; anyone know for sure? Years ago you were guaranteed home school if it were in your top 2 spots. This year they said you have to rank it #1. This is why we didn’t waste our #1 on Blair. Seems like home at #2 is no longer a safety spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the 8:55am poster. Divorced parents, one home school is Northwood, the other home school is Einstein. Ranked Blair, Einstein, Kennedy and got Kennedy.

Anonymous wrote:Then your home school must be Northwood, as far as MCPS is concerned, because if it was on record as Einstein you would have gotten Einstein.

I think this rule changed; anyone know for sure? Years ago you were guaranteed home school if it were in your top 2 spots. This year they said you have to rank it #1. This is why we didn’t waste our #1 on Blair. Seems like home at #2 is no longer a safety spot.

This is what the website says:

Students are guaranteed assignment to their base area high school if (1) the base area school is indicated as the first choice on the Choice form or (2) indicated as second choice and the first choice school is not available.

[Anonymous]

Got 2nd choice - Einstein.

Trying to get excited. DC will their IB program.
Wants rigorous academics- told program is what you make of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a bunch of families with rising 9th graders on our street this year and went through this ourselves a couple years ago with our daughter (zoned for Northwood). All put either Blair or Einstein as their first and second choice. No one got Blair (in my many years of knowing kids going through this, I have never known a kid unless sibling linked or accepted to the CAP/STEM program to get Blair through the lottery - literally not once). One of the kids got Einstein (was his first choice). All the other kids got their third - Northwood.

Obviously this is anecdotal, but seems a total waste of a spot to put Blair. You’re not going to get it. Wheaton and Einstein are a crapshoot but at least there is a small chance.

Everyone says this, but my (perpetually lucky) oldest daughter got Blair in the first round DCC lottery with no sibling or any hook/program. Home school is Einstein. Then this year, my youngest daughter’s best friend did too- no hooks or anything, no siblings, no program, zoned for Northwood. It happens. Just not often. But if you want Blair, put it first!

The school's overcrowded. There just aren't a lot of spots, especially since anyone who has Blair as their home school wants it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a bunch of families with rising 9th graders on our street this year and went through this ourselves a couple years ago with our daughter (zoned for Northwood). All put either Blair or Einstein as their first and second choice. No one got Blair (in my many years of knowing kids going through this, I have never known a kid unless sibling linked or accepted to the CAP/STEM program to get Blair through the lottery - literally not once). One of the kids got Einstein (was his first choice). All the other kids got their third - Northwood.

Obviously this is anecdotal, but seems a total waste of a spot to put Blair. You’re not going to get it. Wheaton and Einstein are a crapshoot but at least there is a small chance.

Everyone says this, but my (perpetually lucky) oldest daughter got Blair in the first round DCC lottery with no sibling or any hook/program. Home school is Einstein. Then this year, my youngest daughter’s best friend did too- no hooks or anything, no siblings, no program, zoned for Northwood. It happens. Just not often. But if you want Blair, put it first!

The school's overcrowded. There just aren't a lot of spots, especially since anyone who has Blair as their home school wants it.

Wheaton and Einstein are more overcrowded than Blair now. The only DCC school with available space is Kennedy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's good to hear! What was it about Kennedy that has made it a lovely experience for you? If my kid went to Kennedy, I would definitely have her do the IB program.

Small class size, individualized attention, kind cohort, responsive administration.

I really liked the old principal--dont have enough feedback on the new one, but in general, the school was very good with addressing concerns we had (mainly about covid safety), and class scheduling.

Look, they don't have a million after school clubs and a PTA that raises a ton of money. But your kid may not really need those things. It's very easy to get involved with clubs and sports, and the IB staff are very committed to making it work. The teachers have been fantastic. English department organizes overseas trips, and everyone seems engaged and committed to helping our kids---and all kids at the school--excel.

A school with a high FARMS and ESOL population is never going to match the stats a wealthier school might offer. But my kid's classes have, on average. 15-20 students. The teachers have been great. The other students have been smart and dedicated. I don't feel like my student was pressured to be perfect or fail, but just to do their best.

I went to an extremely competitive high school. I'm happy my kid got to experience academic rigor without the toxicity of a zero-sum game.

DP. That's nice to hear. I also have a friend with kid in IB at Kennedy and doing very well. And a friend with kid in Einstein IB/VAC loving that.

I had kids at Blair and Wheaton. Very happy with both.

So, lots of great choices. Also the Edison programs for all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a bunch of families with rising 9th graders on our street this year and went through this ourselves a couple years ago with our daughter (zoned for Northwood). All put either Blair or Einstein as their first and second choice. No one got Blair (in my many years of knowing kids going through this, I have never known a kid unless sibling linked or accepted to the CAP/STEM program to get Blair through the lottery - literally not once). One of the kids got Einstein (was his first choice). All the other kids got their third - Northwood.

Obviously this is anecdotal, but seems a total waste of a spot to put Blair. You’re not going to get it. Wheaton and Einstein are a crapshoot but at least there is a small chance.

Everyone says this, but my (perpetually lucky) oldest daughter got Blair in the first round DCC lottery with no sibling or any hook/program. Home school is Einstein. Then this year, my youngest daughter’s best friend did too- no hooks or anything, no siblings, no program, zoned for Northwood. It happens. Just not often. But if you want Blair, put it first!

The school's overcrowded. There just aren't a lot of spots, especially since anyone who has Blair as their home school wants it.

Wheaton and Einstein are more overcrowded than Blair now. The only DCC school with available space is Kennedy.

I have kids at Blair and Wheaton, and Wheaton does not seem overcrowded (except at the terribly designed pickup loop). Blair had several trailers (mine graduated 2 years ago). Not sure what the numbers are though.