How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?

[Anonymous]

My three kids - product of MCPS magnet programs - did very well in college and beyond. Now I understand they are making significant changes to the magnets. It's shame. Such a wonderful program and probably one of the last things working in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell course catalog: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1761922736/sidwell/nvrdst4fzkbiktxervc1/2025_26USCurriculumGuide1031.pdf

Blair magnet courses: https://old.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php

I don’t at all see where Blair is stronger in STEM.

Click on the electives at Blair. I don't have time to type them for you. Amazing choice of STEM courses at Blair.

Sure. But Sidwell has amazing electives too.

.. that you pay $$$ for. Great for you that you are paying extra $$$ to have those electives in private school, I guess.

So I guess we’re no longer saying public schools are better in STEM?

Yes. This is why people pay for private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell course catalog: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1761922736/sidwell/nvrdst4fzkbiktxervc1/2025_26USCurriculumGuide1031.pdf

Blair magnet courses: https://old.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php

I don’t at all see where Blair is stronger in STEM.

Click on the electives at Blair. I don't have time to type them for you. Amazing choice of STEM courses at Blair.

Sure. But Sidwell has amazing electives too.

Ok a few samples from Blair: Cellular Physiology, Materials Science, Marine Biology, Discrete Math, Complex Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, ......
No private can come close to that in STEM.

So you really didn’t even look at the Sidwell course catalog.

Science electives:

Ecology and conservation
Forensic science
Astrophysics
Molecular techniques
Advanced environmental science
Calculus based physics
Organic and biorganic chemistry
Molecular biology

But sure. “No private can come close.”

Oh and that’s just under science.

In math they offer linear algebra and differential equations as courses beyond BC calculus.

AI is offered in the computer science and engineering department, along with other electives like user interfaces, dynamic web design, robotics, programming and probability, etc.

Serious question: it's in the catalog, but do they really have those classes? Do you know of kids who are in those classes?

Even MCPS has certain classes in their course catalog for a particular school, but if there are not enough students interested in taking the class, they won't offer it. So, a class being in the course catalog doesn't necessarily mean that they offer it every semester.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell course catalog: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1761922736/sidwell/nvrdst4fzkbiktxervc1/2025_26USCurriculumGuide1031.pdf

Blair magnet courses: https://old.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php

I don’t at all see where Blair is stronger in STEM.

Click on the electives at Blair. I don't have time to type them for you. Amazing choice of STEM courses at Blair.

Sure. But Sidwell has amazing electives too.

Ok a few samples from Blair: Cellular Physiology, Materials Science, Marine Biology, Discrete Math, Complex Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, ......
No private can come close to that in STEM.

So you really didn’t even look at the Sidwell course catalog.

Science electives:

Ecology and conservation
Forensic science
Astrophysics
Molecular techniques
Advanced environmental science
Calculus based physics
Organic and biorganic chemistry
Molecular biology

But sure. “No private can come close.”

why do private school parents lurk around a public school forum? Is this so that you feel you can justify the $$$ you pay for private school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell course catalog: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1761922736/sidwell/nvrdst4fzkbiktxervc1/2025_26USCurriculumGuide1031.pdf

Blair magnet courses: https://old.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php

I don’t at all see where Blair is stronger in STEM.

Click on the electives at Blair. I don't have time to type them for you. Amazing choice of STEM courses at Blair.

Sure. But Sidwell has amazing electives too.

Ok a few samples from Blair: Cellular Physiology, Materials Science, Marine Biology, Discrete Math, Complex Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, ......
No private can come close to that in STEM.

So you really didn’t even look at the Sidwell course catalog.

Science electives:

Ecology and conservation
Forensic science
Astrophysics
Molecular techniques
Advanced environmental science
Calculus based physics
Organic and biorganic chemistry
Molecular biology

But sure. “No private can come close.”

why do private school parents lurk around a public school forum? Is this so that you feel you can justify the $$$ you pay for private school?

This was a conversation specifically about public vs private.

There are plenty of public school parents over on the private school forum.

But maybe try engaging with the conversation rather than asking why I’m posting on the thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isn’t what they learning. It the BS policies that teach them they can have second chances, they can turn in work whenever and still not earn a zero. That’s my issue with public schools.

+1. This is what makes privates more "rigorous." Not content.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell course catalog: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1761922736/sidwell/nvrdst4fzkbiktxervc1/2025_26USCurriculumGuide1031.pdf

Blair magnet courses: https://old.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php

I don’t at all see where Blair is stronger in STEM.

Click on the electives at Blair. I don't have time to type them for you. Amazing choice of STEM courses at Blair.

Sure. But Sidwell has amazing electives too.

Ok a few samples from Blair: Cellular Physiology, Materials Science, Marine Biology, Discrete Math, Complex Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, ......
No private can come close to that in STEM.

So you really didn’t even look at the Sidwell course catalog.

Science electives:

Ecology and conservation
Forensic science
Astrophysics
Molecular techniques
Advanced environmental science
Calculus based physics
Organic and biorganic chemistry
Molecular biology

But sure. “No private can come close.”

Oh and that’s just under science.

In math they offer linear algebra and differential equations as courses beyond BC calculus.

AI is offered in the computer science and engineering department, along with other electives like user interfaces, dynamic web design, robotics, programming and probability, etc.

Serious question: it's in the catalog, but do they really have those classes? Do you know of kids who are in those classes?

Even MCPS has certain classes in their course catalog for a particular school, but if there are not enough students interested in taking the class, they won't offer it. So, a class being in the course catalog doesn't necessarily mean that they offer it every semester.

And there the goalposts go … see them shift!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell course catalog: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1761922736/sidwell/nvrdst4fzkbiktxervc1/2025_26USCurriculumGuide1031.pdf

Blair magnet courses: https://old.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php

I don’t at all see where Blair is stronger in STEM.

Click on the electives at Blair. I don't have time to type them for you. Amazing choice of STEM courses at Blair.

Sure. But Sidwell has amazing electives too.

Ok a few samples from Blair: Cellular Physiology, Materials Science, Marine Biology, Discrete Math, Complex Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, ......
No private can come close to that in STEM.

So you really didn’t even look at the Sidwell course catalog.

Science electives:

Ecology and conservation
Forensic science
Astrophysics
Molecular techniques
Advanced environmental science
Calculus based physics
Organic and biorganic chemistry
Molecular biology

But sure. “No private can come close.”

Ok, Blair Electives (on top of Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, AP Science etc.)
Algorithms and Data Structures
Analysis of Algorithms
Computer Graphics
Software Design
Artificial Intelligence
Robotics
Computer Modeling and Simulation
Earth and Space Sciences
Genetic Analysis
Physical Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Materials Science
Marine Biology
Cellular Physiology
Thermodynamics
Optics
Quantum Physics
Mathematical Physics (Calculus based)
Int. to Electrical Engineering
Linear Algebra
Discrete Math
Complex Analysis
Applied Statistics
Sports Statistics
Research and Experimentation
Senior Year Summer Research
I'm sure I left out some. So, indeed no private can come close in STEM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or other kids you know who graduated from MCPS in the last decade? Did they attend UMD, other colleges in MD, community college, public or private located anywhere in the world, small/large, liberal arts college or other type?

Do you think MCPS prepared them well for college? Do you think it was mostly things student did outside MCPS that helped them while they were in college?

What did they end up doing after graduating from college?

Does MCPS collect longitudinal data of their graduates, e.g. to what colleges did MCPS students enroll for past decade? e.g. what they studied? Where can families see that information if it exists?

We already spend more money than we should "collecting data" and commissioning studies in MCPS. Let's not give anyone in central office any additional ideas.

I sent 2 kids through MCPS and one kid through private. I think they were all well-prepared for college. I do know a handful of MCPS kids who boomeranged back home and had a rocky transition to college. All of them went far away and were in hard majors with weed-out classes. I think it was a combination of poor choice of major and homesickness. I don't know any private school kids who have boomeranged back, but, I'm sure they exist, just don't know their families well enough to know about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a college kid and a high schooler who spent the majority of their school career in MCPS.

MCPS is one of the best public school systems in the country, mostly because it has a wide array of academic offerings, provides services and accommodations and magnet instruction, and gets reasonably decent scores in state and national testing.

For STEM, it's better than top privates. For Humanities and writing, it's not as good.

But parents need to understand that APs are the goal to be prepared for college and beyond. Honors is the new grade level; grade level is the new remedial; and remedial is what some kids need when they have significant disabilities, or are recovering from various setbacks in their lives.

MCPS' Achilles heel is English instruction, which needs to be entirely overhauled. The level of instruction and expectations in 9th and 10th grade "Honors" English in particular are abysmal.

STEM is not better than the top privates, outside of maybe the magnet programs.

This is a tired stereotype.

It is. Truth hurts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell course catalog: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1761922736/sidwell/nvrdst4fzkbiktxervc1/2025_26USCurriculumGuide1031.pdf

Blair magnet courses: https://old.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php

I don’t at all see where Blair is stronger in STEM.

Click on the electives at Blair. I don't have time to type them for you. Amazing choice of STEM courses at Blair.

Sure. But Sidwell has amazing electives too.

Ok a few samples from Blair: Cellular Physiology, Materials Science, Marine Biology, Discrete Math, Complex Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, ......
No private can come close to that in STEM.

So you really didn’t even look at the Sidwell course catalog.

Science electives:

Ecology and conservation
Forensic science
Astrophysics
Molecular techniques
Advanced environmental science
Calculus based physics
Organic and biorganic chemistry
Molecular biology

But sure. “No private can come close.”

why do private school parents lurk around a public school forum? Is this so that you feel you can justify the $$$ you pay for private school?

This was a conversation specifically about public vs private.

There are plenty of public school parents over on the private school forum.

But maybe try engaging with the conversation rather than asking why I’m posting on the thread.

This is a public school forum that a private school parent is lurking in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell course catalog: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1761922736/sidwell/nvrdst4fzkbiktxervc1/2025_26USCurriculumGuide1031.pdf

Blair magnet courses: https://old.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php

I don’t at all see where Blair is stronger in STEM.

Click on the electives at Blair. I don't have time to type them for you. Amazing choice of STEM courses at Blair.

Sure. But Sidwell has amazing electives too.

Ok a few samples from Blair: Cellular Physiology, Materials Science, Marine Biology, Discrete Math, Complex Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, ......
No private can come close to that in STEM.

So you really didn’t even look at the Sidwell course catalog.

Science electives:

Ecology and conservation
Forensic science
Astrophysics
Molecular techniques
Advanced environmental science
Calculus based physics
Organic and biorganic chemistry
Molecular biology

But sure. “No private can come close.”

Oh and that’s just under science.

In math they offer linear algebra and differential equations as courses beyond BC calculus.

AI is offered in the computer science and engineering department, along with other electives like user interfaces, dynamic web design, robotics, programming and probability, etc.

Serious question: it's in the catalog, but do they really have those classes? Do you know of kids who are in those classes?

Even MCPS has certain classes in their course catalog for a particular school, but if there are not enough students interested in taking the class, they won't offer it. So, a class being in the course catalog doesn't necessarily mean that they offer it every semester.

And there the goalposts go … see them shift!

? no, that wasn't the intent. It was a serious question. I also mentioned that MCPS does the same. You're awfully defensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell course catalog: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1761922736/sidwell/nvrdst4fzkbiktxervc1/2025_26USCurriculumGuide1031.pdf

Blair magnet courses: https://old.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php

I don’t at all see where Blair is stronger in STEM.

Click on the electives at Blair. I don't have time to type them for you. Amazing choice of STEM courses at Blair.

Sure. But Sidwell has amazing electives too.

.. that you pay $$$ for. Great for you that you are paying extra $$$ to have those electives in private school, I guess.

So I guess we’re no longer saying public schools are better in STEM?

Yes. This is why people pay for private school.

if you want to read it that way, sure. Make yourself feel better.

Did you not read how Blair magnet has a ton of great extra curriculars that parent don't have to pay extra money for? You're also paying for it with your tax dollars.

win/win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a college kid and a high schooler who spent the majority of their school career in MCPS.

MCPS is one of the best public school systems in the country, mostly because it has a wide array of academic offerings, provides services and accommodations and magnet instruction, and gets reasonably decent scores in state and national testing.

For STEM, it's better than top privates. For Humanities and writing, it's not as good.

But parents need to understand that APs are the goal to be prepared for college and beyond. Honors is the new grade level; grade level is the new remedial; and remedial is what some kids need when they have significant disabilities, or are recovering from various setbacks in their lives.

MCPS' Achilles heel is English instruction, which needs to be entirely overhauled. The level of instruction and expectations in 9th and 10th grade "Honors" English in particular are abysmal.

STEM is not better than the top privates, outside of maybe the magnet programs.

This is a tired stereotype.

+1

[Anonymous]

My MCPS non-STEM kid went to Michigan. Did very well and graduated with honors based on GPA. Had a year of AP credits although did not graduate early by choice.