Potomac vs Big 3 - academic workload

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From our tutor who works with kids from all the top whatever places, the Big 3, GDS, Potomac, and Maret pretty similar in HS (big differences in MS; fwiw our kids are 5th/7th). That tracks our anecdata.

Former tutor here, and I agree. I wouldn't attempt a switch if you're looking for less intensity - that's not Potomac's thing.

[Anonymous]

I went to Potomac and a big 3 and found the Big 3 harder, but that was 35 years ago. It sounds like folks on this thread have more recent and relevant feedback to the contrary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Potomac and a big 3 and found the Big 3 harder, but that was 35 years ago. It sounds like folks on this thread have more recent and relevant feedback to the contrary.

Potomac’s high school is only 37 years old so yeah, I don’t think your experience is relevant. Things have changed since then.

[Anonymous]

Potomac is a big 3. Bullis and St Andrews are not. Potomac as intense as St Albans/NCS, Sidwell, GDS. Bullis and St Andrews are second tier snd not as intense. .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call Potomac and ask about workload and homework. My child’s school puts homework expectations right in the handbook and so far, it has been accurate. For freshmen/sophomores, 10-15 hours of homework a week. For junior/senior, 20 hours with a caveat that AP classes may require more than that. I don’t have any experience with Potomac, but when we were looking to apply to private HS, I got the impression from an admissions counselor and our school counselor that Potomac was pretty similar to Big 3s.

20 hours a week?!?! Assume 5 classes, that’s four hours per class. Most schools have some sort of block schedule. Hypothetically, assume 4 days per week. That’s an hour per class each time it meets? For non-honors classes? What school is this? I’m applying my kid out and that’s too much for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you will find relief at Potomac - their hard track will be just as much work. Plus, they have a big EC requirement - which would be a big time commitment added vs Sidwell or GDS (maybe on par with STA).

+1.

From an academic workload perspective, there really is not much difference (at least on the hard academics track) among GDS, Potomac, StA/NCS, & Sidwell. Several have additional requirements for after-school (athletic or other) participation in upper school, btw. Several also have community service requirements on top of that.

[Anonymous]

The reality at the top 3/5/7/9 local privates is that many of the students accepted at Ivy/T15/T20 each year have some kind of hook (athletics, legacy, or whatever).

One cannot know the full set of hooks in play, so impossible to separate a hooked result from an unhooked result. So none of those school’s college results are really indicative for the unhooked student who is applying to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it all evens out. There’s more work assigned in Big 3 but the kids are also smarter so…

Only the ones who were admitted in the 9th grade. The lifers are less so.

[Anonymous]

My kid went to GDS and one of their best friends went to Potomac. Both were top students taking the hardest classes. The workload at GDS is more intense than the workload at Potomac - much more writing especially. But Potomac is more intense than the public high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Call Potomac and ask about workload and homework. My child’s school puts homework expectations right in the handbook and so far, it has been accurate. For freshmen/sophomores, 10-15 hours of homework a week. For junior/senior, 20 hours with a caveat that AP classes may require more than that. I don’t have any experience with Potomac, but when we were looking to apply to private HS, I got the impression from an admissions counselor and our school counselor that Potomac was pretty similar to Big 3s.

20 hours a week?!?! Assume 5 classes, that’s four hours per class. Most schools have some sort of block schedule. Hypothetically, assume 4 days per week. That’s an hour per class each time it meets? For non-honors classes? What school is this? I’m applying my kid out and that’s too much for him.

That's totally normal (and maybe even low) for a school like this when you take rigorous schedule. It's important to know this and I'm glad you recognize whether this is something that is good or not for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Potomac and a big 3 and found the Big 3 harder, but that was 35 years ago. It sounds like folks on this thread have more recent and relevant feedback to the contrary.

Potomac’s high school is only 37 years old so yeah, I don’t think your experience is relevant. Things have changed since then.

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I went to Potomac through 8th grade. My class would have been the first class to be able to go 9-12 at the then ‘new’ high school. What I found academically difficult was the move from 8th grade at Potomac to 9th grade at a Big 3. There was a lot of catching up. Again, others have much more recent and relevant experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reality at the top 3/5/7/9 local privates is that many of the students accepted at Ivy/T15/T20 each year have some kind of hook (athletics, legacy, or whatever).

One cannot know the full set of hooks in play, so impossible to separate a hooked result from an unhooked result. So none of those school’s college results are really indicative for the unhooked student who is applying to college.

Nice way to hijack a thread on a topic already covered ad naseum. What does this have to do with OP’s question?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Potomac and a big 3 and found the Big 3 harder, but that was 35 years ago. It sounds like folks on this thread have more recent and relevant feedback to the contrary.

Potomac’s high school is only 37 years old so yeah, I don’t think your experience is relevant. Things have changed since then.

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I went to Potomac through 8th grade. My class would have been the first class to be able to go 9-12 at the then ‘new’ high school. What I found academically difficult was the move from 8th grade at Potomac to 9th grade at a Big 3. There was a lot of catching up. Again, others have much more recent and relevant experience.

NP. Still not relevant. The US literally didn’t even exist. Move along.