considering move to Bethesda for 9th grade. HS recs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would take a tour of BCC before committing. During a school day. It is crowded and hectic and not an easy transition if they are currently at private and anxious and introverted.

I'm the PP who had a kid at WJ and now has a kid at BCC. BCC is so much less crowded than WJ, currently. It's also smaller. But to be honest, I wouldn't choose the school based on how crowded or large it is, even with an anxious kid (both my kids are anxious).

All the Bethesda area schools are great schools. BCC may be the least academic, but it's still very good. Colleges all look at MCPS as being one block of similar schools, so for college admissions, there's no advantage to picking one in particular... unless your kid wants a particular language or math class. Not all high schools offer all courses. Walt Whitman is supposed to offer languages that are of value to the Foreign Service (Russian, Arabic, etc) and Walter Johnson has Latin - at least, a few years ago, they did. I haven't checked recently. BCC, since it has fewer students who take STEM APs than WJ, announced that they cannot guarantee AP Chem, and other APs, every year, because it will depend on enrollment. This is unheard of at WJ, where there's always enough kids to take those APs.

If OP wishes to consider diversity, then BCC is the most socio-economically and ethnically diverse of Bethesda schools. Walt Whitman is the wealthiest and whitest.

But this won't be exclusively a schools decision. OP needs to find housing. It won't be easy. OP, the spring real estate market is going to rev up in February. You might want to drive around when the snow clears, look at neighborhoods you like, check Redfin regularly to get a handle on comps and prices, and get your financial ducks in a row so you're ready to sign as soon as you see something you like. Or, alternatively, find a rental first so you have more time to pick a neighborhood and home you want.

There's also commute to consider. Downtown Bethesda is not where you want to be driving through at 9am or 6pm, but maybe you have some flexibility. I live right off the downtown, and can generally avoid being on the road when it's most congested.

Rising BCC 9th. When did they announce they can’t guaranteed AP Chem, etc.? This doesn’t apply to my student for next year, but this is the kind of info that would be good to have as we are looking ahead and making a loose plan for future years.

If you look at school profile you can see on back page how many kids took each AP test. Most take the test if they took the class, if not all. Huge difference between AP Chem and AP Gov, for instance. Gives a tiny bit of info into what course are in the cusp of being offered each year. I know from firsthand experience that AP Chem is a very low enrollment course at BCC as my kid took it with only 11 or so others. There was only one section. That said the kids who take the most challenging courses stand out in college admissions and BCC kids who work hard do very well, as well or better than other moco non magnet programs. I don’t think BCC is less academic like PP said, simply depends on the specific kid and what IB and AP courses they choose to take. Perhaps that group percentage wise is small than at WJ, I don’t know.

There are 2 sections of AP Chem this year at WJ, each is maxed out at 33/34 students (can't remember specifics). Consistent demand for AP Science at WJ

Maybe there's no IB Chem offered so all interested in Chem after the intro Honors Chem go for AP. At other schools, students could be taking upper level Chem courses at Montgomery College or elsewhere if AP or IB not offered at their HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would take a tour of BCC before committing. During a school day. It is crowded and hectic and not an easy transition if they are currently at private and anxious and introverted.

I'm the PP who had a kid at WJ and now has a kid at BCC. BCC is so much less crowded than WJ, currently. It's also smaller. But to be honest, I wouldn't choose the school based on how crowded or large it is, even with an anxious kid (both my kids are anxious).

All the Bethesda area schools are great schools. BCC may be the least academic, but it's still very good. Colleges all look at MCPS as being one block of similar schools, so for college admissions, there's no advantage to picking one in particular... unless your kid wants a particular language or math class. Not all high schools offer all courses. Walt Whitman is supposed to offer languages that are of value to the Foreign Service (Russian, Arabic, etc) and Walter Johnson has Latin - at least, a few years ago, they did. I haven't checked recently. BCC, since it has fewer students who take STEM APs than WJ, announced that they cannot guarantee AP Chem, and other APs, every year, because it will depend on enrollment. This is unheard of at WJ, where there's always enough kids to take those APs.

If OP wishes to consider diversity, then BCC is the most socio-economically and ethnically diverse of Bethesda schools. Walt Whitman is the wealthiest and whitest.

But this won't be exclusively a schools decision. OP needs to find housing. It won't be easy. OP, the spring real estate market is going to rev up in February. You might want to drive around when the snow clears, look at neighborhoods you like, check Redfin regularly to get a handle on comps and prices, and get your financial ducks in a row so you're ready to sign as soon as you see something you like. Or, alternatively, find a rental first so you have more time to pick a neighborhood and home you want.

There's also commute to consider. Downtown Bethesda is not where you want to be driving through at 9am or 6pm, but maybe you have some flexibility. I live right off the downtown, and can generally avoid being on the road when it's most congested.

Rising BCC 9th. When did they announce they can’t guaranteed AP Chem, etc.? This doesn’t apply to my student for next year, but this is the kind of info that would be good to have as we are looking ahead and making a loose plan for future years.

PP you replied to. There was a no school-wide announcement, apparently. We received an email about it from my kid's counselor, and I thought everyone had received the same email. There are multiple counselors, who each get a group of kids based on letters of the alphabet. My kid's friend (same grade, same interest in STEM), who has a different counselor, did not receive such an email. I confirmed with my kid's counselor, who told me she'd had this info from the science coordinator at BCC. My kid's chemistry teacher also said that if enrollment is too low, courses get cancelled. However, she also said it had not happened in the recent past for chemistry.

So it's a bit frustrating. Perhaps this information wasn't supposed to be shared with families, because it's not something anyone has control over, and it was a prediction for the future. My kid signed up for AP Chem next year (enrollment deadline was on the 15th), and we hope it works out.

Consistency and transparency. Maybe Taylor should be focusing on those issues as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would take a tour of BCC before committing. During a school day. It is crowded and hectic and not an easy transition if they are currently at private and anxious and introverted.

I'm the PP who had a kid at WJ and now has a kid at BCC. BCC is so much less crowded than WJ, currently. It's also smaller. But to be honest, I wouldn't choose the school based on how crowded or large it is, even with an anxious kid (both my kids are anxious).

All the Bethesda area schools are great schools. BCC may be the least academic, but it's still very good. Colleges all look at MCPS as being one block of similar schools, so for college admissions, there's no advantage to picking one in particular... unless your kid wants a particular language or math class. Not all high schools offer all courses. Walt Whitman is supposed to offer languages that are of value to the Foreign Service (Russian, Arabic, etc) and Walter Johnson has Latin - at least, a few years ago, they did. I haven't checked recently. BCC, since it has fewer students who take STEM APs than WJ, announced that they cannot guarantee AP Chem, and other APs, every year, because it will depend on enrollment. This is unheard of at WJ, where there's always enough kids to take those APs.

If OP wishes to consider diversity, then BCC is the most socio-economically and ethnically diverse of Bethesda schools. Walt Whitman is the wealthiest and whitest.

But this won't be exclusively a schools decision. OP needs to find housing. It won't be easy. OP, the spring real estate market is going to rev up in February. You might want to drive around when the snow clears, look at neighborhoods you like, check Redfin regularly to get a handle on comps and prices, and get your financial ducks in a row so you're ready to sign as soon as you see something you like. Or, alternatively, find a rental first so you have more time to pick a neighborhood and home you want.

There's also commute to consider. Downtown Bethesda is not where you want to be driving through at 9am or 6pm, but maybe you have some flexibility. I live right off the downtown, and can generally avoid being on the road when it's most congested.

Rising BCC 9th. When did they announce they can’t guaranteed AP Chem, etc.? This doesn’t apply to my student for next year, but this is the kind of info that would be good to have as we are looking ahead and making a loose plan for future years.

PP you replied to. There was a no school-wide announcement, apparently. We received an email about it from my kid's counselor, and I thought everyone had received the same email. There are multiple counselors, who each get a group of kids based on letters of the alphabet. My kid's friend (same grade, same interest in STEM), who has a different counselor, did not receive such an email. I confirmed with my kid's counselor, who told me she'd had this info from the science coordinator at BCC. My kid's chemistry teacher also said that if enrollment is too low, courses get cancelled. However, she also said it had not happened in the recent past for chemistry.

So it's a bit frustrating. Perhaps this information wasn't supposed to be shared with families, because it's not something anyone has control over, and it was a prediction for the future. My kid signed up for AP Chem next year (enrollment deadline was on the 15th), and we hope it works out.

Thanks for following up. That explanation makes sense. It feels like there’s all kinds of info that would be helpful to have, that isn’t really communicated unless you seek it out or hear through the grapevine.

And even then you will get different responses, and be careful what you hear, including on this board.

[Anonymous]

Most people who prioritize schools choose Whitman, people who prioritize urban choose BCC, people who prioritize space choose Churchill and the people who are willing to compromise somewhat on all three for a discount chose WJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moving from Petworth, DC. Obviously new address not yet known, but would love to get public HS recs here. Just starting to research neighborhoods (most likely an apartment building area vs house).

Into skateboards and music
Plays in an orchestra club, so a great HS music program is highly desirable
No IEP, but needs smaller classes to concentrate
Quiet kid that keeps to herself and has a hard time making friends due to shyness/anxiety

Quiet?
Small classes?
Go private.

OP wants public HS recs. Very demure. Very mindful, PP

It's not realistic to want small classes and public school unless you move to the middle of nowhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most people who prioritize schools choose Whitman, people who prioritize urban choose BCC, people who prioritize space choose Churchill and the people who are willing to compromise somewhat on all three for a discount chose WJ.

This.

[Anonymous]

I affirmatively did not want my kids going to Whitman but ymmv

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would take a tour of BCC before committing. During a school day. It is crowded and hectic and not an easy transition if they are currently at private and anxious and introverted.

I'm the PP who had a kid at WJ and now has a kid at BCC. BCC is so much less crowded than WJ, currently. It's also smaller. But to be honest, I wouldn't choose the school based on how crowded or large it is, even with an anxious kid (both my kids are anxious).

All the Bethesda area schools are great schools. BCC may be the least academic, but it's still very good. Colleges all look at MCPS as being one block of similar schools, so for college admissions, there's no advantage to picking one in particular... unless your kid wants a particular language or math class. Not all high schools offer all courses. Walt Whitman is supposed to offer languages that are of value to the Foreign Service (Russian, Arabic, etc) and Walter Johnson has Latin - at least, a few years ago, they did. I haven't checked recently. BCC, since it has fewer students who take STEM APs than WJ, announced that they cannot guarantee AP Chem, and other APs, every year, because it will depend on enrollment. This is unheard of at WJ, where there's always enough kids to take those APs.

If OP wishes to consider diversity, then BCC is the most socio-economically and ethnically diverse of Bethesda schools. Walt Whitman is the wealthiest and whitest.

But this won't be exclusively a schools decision. OP needs to find housing. It won't be easy. OP, the spring real estate market is going to rev up in February. You might want to drive around when the snow clears, look at neighborhoods you like, check Redfin regularly to get a handle on comps and prices, and get your financial ducks in a row so you're ready to sign as soon as you see something you like. Or, alternatively, find a rental first so you have more time to pick a neighborhood and home you want.

There's also commute to consider. Downtown Bethesda is not where you want to be driving through at 9am or 6pm, but maybe you have some flexibility. I live right off the downtown, and can generally avoid being on the road when it's most congested.

Rising BCC 9th. When did they announce they can’t guaranteed AP Chem, etc.? This doesn’t apply to my student for next year, but this is the kind of info that would be good to have as we are looking ahead and making a loose plan for future years.

If you look at school profile you can see on back page how many kids took each AP test. Most take the test if they took the class, if not all. Huge difference between AP Chem and AP Gov, for instance. Gives a tiny bit of info into what course are in the cusp of being offered each year. I know from firsthand experience that AP Chem is a very low enrollment course at BCC as my kid took it with only 11 or so others. There was only one section. That said the kids who take the most challenging courses stand out in college admissions and BCC kids who work hard do very well, as well or better than other moco non magnet programs. I don’t think BCC is less academic like PP said, simply depends on the specific kid and what IB and AP courses they choose to take. Perhaps that group percentage wise is small than at WJ, I don’t know.

There are 2 sections of AP Chem this year at WJ, each is maxed out at 33/34 students (can't remember specifics). Consistent demand for AP Science at WJ

Yes but unlike BCC, WJ doesn’t also offer IB.