Flint Hill and The Potomac School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/639533.page#10841671

We are in Virginia and looking. I am hearing better things about Flint Hill in more current posts. How do these schools compare today. Is this old post stil relevant?

Potomac far more "woke" than Flint Hill.

Really? My DS applied to FHS last year (ended up somewhere else) and they required a bunch of essay questions. (Parents had to write a bunch, too. To the point it was a bit of a turn off for the school). Several of them had to do with DEI and its importance. I’m in favor of DEI initiatives so the topic did not bother me, but it doesn’t seem like FHS is an anti-PC bunch.

Well they didn’t stand in solidarity with the “black at” movement on Instagram. There was no page. Someone did how ever create “Dear Flint Hill”, where any minority or gay student who experienced micro aggressions could share (not the same), but stopped sharing student’s experiences after about 95 posts were shared.
Are they scared of black issues at Flint Hill? Hope they aren’t “Toming” over there or expecting Blacks to do so. That is somewhat a turn-off.

If that’s your criteria then best you go to a more woke school.

Does this statement represent the attitude of the most families at Flint Hill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/639533.page#10841671

We are in Virginia and looking. I am hearing better things about Flint Hill in more current posts. How do these schools compare today. Is this old post stil relevant?

OP, here are some more discussion around Flint Hill, its community and academics. Not sure how you were only able to find a 4 year old thread, but hopefully these will give you a better picture of what Flint Hill feels like these days.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/955049.page#19438413

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/940651.page#19330182

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/974505.page#20063252

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/986753.page#20413927

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where do you live, OP? We are looking at Flint Hill but because we are planning on moving to Oakton and working in Tyson's so Flint Hill is literally right there. Traffic can be terrible.

We did the same. Driving to PS for 4 years just wasn’t possible.

Isn't the bus required at Potomac?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where do you live, OP? We are looking at Flint Hill but because we are planning on moving to Oakton and working in Tyson's so Flint Hill is literally right there. Traffic can be terrible.

We did the same. Driving to PS for 4 years just wasn’t possible.

Isn't the bus required at Potomac?

Yeah, but if you live in a place Potomac doesn’t have a bus route you will need to get them to a shuttle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/639533.page#10841671

We are in Virginia and looking. I am hearing better things about Flint Hill in more current posts. How do these schools compare today. Is this old post stil relevant?

Potomac far more "woke" than Flint Hill.

Really? My DS applied to FHS last year (ended up somewhere else) and they required a bunch of essay questions. (Parents had to write a bunch, too. To the point it was a bit of a turn off for the school). Several of them had to do with DEI and its importance. I’m in favor of DEI initiatives so the topic did not bother me, but it doesn’t seem like FHS is an anti-PC bunch.

Well they didn’t stand in solidarity with the “black at” movement on Instagram. There was no page. Someone did how ever create “Dear Flint Hill”, where any minority or gay student who experienced micro aggressions could share (not the same), but stopped sharing student’s experiences after about 95 posts were shared.
Are they scared of black issues at Flint Hill? Hope they aren’t “Toming” over there or expecting Blacks to do so. That is somewhat a turn-off.

Potomac does have a page, started with all the rest, called "blackatpotomac." 1277 followers; 266 posts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/639533.page#10841671

We are in Virginia and looking. I am hearing better things about Flint Hill in more current posts. How do these schools compare today. Is this old post stil relevant?

Potomac far more "woke" than Flint Hill.

Really? My DS applied to FHS last year (ended up somewhere else) and they required a bunch of essay questions. (Parents had to write a bunch, too. To the point it was a bit of a turn off for the school). Several of them had to do with DEI and its importance. I’m in favor of DEI initiatives so the topic did not bother me, but it doesn’t seem like FHS is an anti-PC bunch.

Well they didn’t stand in solidarity with the “black at” movement on Instagram. There was no page. Someone did how ever create “Dear Flint Hill”, where any minority or gay student who experienced micro aggressions could share (not the same), but stopped sharing student’s experiences after about 95 posts were shared.
Are they scared of black issues at Flint Hill? Hope they aren’t “Toming” over there or expecting Blacks to do so. That is somewhat a turn-off.

Potomac does have a page, started with all the rest, called "blackatpotomac." 1277 followers; 266 posts.

Well Potomac has one and not only is there NOT a page for Flint Hill, a watered down version for POC’s stopped allowing posts after they got 95. It reminds me of the “All Lives Matter” movement.

I guess they are expected to “shut up and dribble” at Flint Hill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/639533.page#10841671

We are in Virginia and looking. I am hearing better things about Flint Hill in more current posts. How do these schools compare today. Is this old post stil relevant?

Potomac far more "woke" than Flint Hill.

Really? My DS applied to FHS last year (ended up somewhere else) and they required a bunch of essay questions. (Parents had to write a bunch, too. To the point it was a bit of a turn off for the school). Several of them had to do with DEI and its importance. I’m in favor of DEI initiatives so the topic did not bother me, but it doesn’t seem like FHS is an anti-PC bunch.

Well they didn’t stand in solidarity with the “black at” movement on Instagram. There was no page. Someone did how ever create “Dear Flint Hill”, where any minority or gay student who experienced micro aggressions could share (not the same), but stopped sharing student’s experiences after about 95 posts were shared.
Are they scared of black issues at Flint Hill? Hope they aren’t “Toming” over there or expecting Blacks to do so. That is somewhat a turn-off.

We got a very thinly veiled anti-gay attitude from the admissions department. We did not experience that at any of the other schools. My DD chose and is now attending Holton.

[Anonymous]

FH does more to discuss DEI than our previous public school did, but we're a run of the mill white family so I won't speak for the experiences of others.

As for the academics, I think most would agree that in MS and HS, on the whole, Potomac students lean into a more rigorous course load. It's a grinder school. I believe those same rigorous courses are available to FH students, I just don't believe there is the same momentum for the vast majority of the students to be in the same track. It's much harder to get into Potomac in 7th or 9th grade and some "lifers" get counseled out b/c their acceptance in an early grade doesn't translate to the student Potomac wants them to be by HS. The grind is why we didn't apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FH does more to discuss DEI than our previous public school did, but we're a run of the mill white family so I won't speak for the experiences of others.

As for the academics, I think most would agree that in MS and HS, on the whole, Potomac students lean into a more rigorous course load. It's a grinder school. I believe those same rigorous courses are available to FH students, I just don't believe there is the same momentum for the vast majority of the students to be in the same track. It's much harder to get into Potomac in 7th or 9th grade and some "lifers" get counseled out b/c their acceptance in an early grade doesn't translate to the student Potomac wants them to be by HS. The grind is why we didn't apply.

Yes, many students who start in early years at Potomac get counseled out. By hs it’s very very different. Much better imho.

[Anonymous]

We are a new POC family at the upper school at FH.

One thing that was different when applying there was both students AND parents had to submit an essay regarding diversity and inclusion. There are affinity groups, several DEI people on staff and my kid has at least 4 POC teachers.

I don’t know what it was like before, but from all that I’ve seen so far that are trying to create a diverse environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are a new POC family at the upper school at FH.

One thing that was different when applying there was both students AND parents had to submit an essay regarding diversity and inclusion. There are affinity groups, several DEI people on staff and my kid has at least 4 POC teachers.

I don’t know what it was like before, but from all that I’ve seen so far that are trying to create a diverse environment.

OP here. We certainly prefer a diverse and inclusive environment where the all the kids all feel comfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are a new POC family at the upper school at FH.

One thing that was different when applying there was both students AND parents had to submit an essay regarding diversity and inclusion. There are affinity groups, several DEI people on staff and my kid has at least 4 POC teachers.

I don’t know what it was like before, but from all that I’ve seen so far that are trying to create a diverse environment.

yes, we applied last year to FHS (DS ended up going elsewhere), but I will say the number of essays they asked for a student was a little over the top, IMO. But the amount required by the parents was a lot over the top. I understand wanting to know about the whole community, students and parents collectively, but that seemed excessive and was something of a turnoff for us. I didn’t mind the DEI essay, but IIRC they had 4 or 5 essays for the parents to write. It’s a fine school, but other schools that we preferred more had more reasonable expectations. Where DS ended up going required 2 essays from him (none from parents), and a student interview (not of the parents). We did have to answer a few short questions (e.g.lists of interests and activities going back a few years), but we liked that they were evaluating him, not us, which is what it felt like FHS was doing. Anyway, we were very interested in FHS in the early part of the process. We did a lot of Zoom calls and DS did virtual shadow 1/2 days (participate by Zoom in 2 classes or something). We never got any vibe that the community is racist or intolerant of LGBTQ or anything, but then again, non being POC, maybe we aren’t as attuned to the indicia of such thing as we should be.

[Anonymous]

lol why is Potomac and Flint Hill in same discussion.

can anyone compare Georgetown to George Mason pls?

[Anonymous]

They are very different schools. If you look at some of the famous NYC privates and their feelings about how “woke” those schools are that’s what you will get at PS.
If you want a more peaceful diverse environment then FHS would be a choice.
But if you are looking for a name school no matter what then PS.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think DCUM is the best source of information about FHS. There is so much hate from DC centric people who “only choose the very BEST schools” and even those aren’t good enough. I know 95% of those posters could never afford ANY of those schools including FHS. So only the best will do when all you have to do is use your imagination. Hey I went to Harvard that way myself.