Potomac school entry points?

[Anonymous]

I've searched the forums and the school website and can't seem to find any info (grades in which they expand and approx number of students). Does anyone have any helpful info? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Potomac Parent here. The major entry grades for admission are 4th, 7th, and 9th. Potomac has four divisions: Lower (K-3), Middle (4-6), Intermediate (7-8), and Upper School. We have sent four "lifers" through Potomac - thought Lower, Middle, and Intermediate were a dream. Upper School is so traditional in it's academic curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Oops, PP here. "Its" not "it's"

[Anonymous]

Potomac takes in 48 at k (some years a large number seem to be siblings) for three classes of 16, then typically adds six more for first for classes of 18. Until fourth, they replace for attrition. At fourth they add ten or so (plus or minus for attrition) to get four classes of 16. Don't know anything more specific about the other entry years.

HTH. what entry year are you looking for?

[Anonymous]

For 17:51, if you had to do it over again, would you move the lifers to another school for high school? Were there any specific things that were good/bad for your children?

[Anonymous]

17:51 here. I have thought about whether or not they should have attended a less rigorous school for US but I don't think I would trade the overall Potomac experience. That said, there are certainly so many wonderful wonderful independent schools in this area. I guess what is most telling for me is that, even though they found the US very academically challenging (and I honestly found much of it really uninspired), they are thrilled to have graduated from there. The traditions, from K-12, are really beautifully incorporated into the community. The emphasis on service, art, community building (the class trips at each grade level are really well-planned and executed), school spirit, and appropriate family involvement is all top-notch. There's a sense of humor and a kindness that stays K-12. While there is certainly risky adolescent behavior, the party scene seems pretty low key (ex., no real beach week to speak of). All of my kids are extremely adept at public speaking, being comfortable around adults, knowing how to advocate for themselves, and "owning" their responsibilities. While much of that is parenting, I give tremendous credit to Potomac. The sports scene was perfect for all of mine (two of the four are strong athletes). While I wish there was greater racial and ethnic diversity, my kids (white) certainly valued almost all of their classmates and friends, got to attend the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership conferences, and loved the incredible range of speakers who get invited to the school.

So, I am grateful for all they got and I am also grateful that we are parents who saw their education as the journey and not only as the means to an (Ivy League) end. If we had, they would have really struggled in the US. I hope this makes sense.

[Anonymous]

6th is not a big entry year per se, but the classes sizes go from 16 in 5th to 18 in 6th, so there are always at least 8 slots for new students.