Recent experience in RM IB and Poolesville Global Ecology

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just FYI, students in PHS Global take AP Seminar as Freshman but then can choose to take the Project Lead The Way path or do an internship instead of doing AP Research.

The program is really nicely balanced - plenty of ways to pursue rigor but the field trips and camaraderie are really great.

In my opinion, PLTW is an overhyped program at PHS where the students don’t really learn much. My older GE student was in it and it was a waste of time. My younger one is taking much more rigorous electives instead like AP Chem/Physics.

We’ve seen multiple families (agree with their feet)where the older one takes PLTW and the younger one doesn’t.

It’s a “social experiment” at PHS. A large number of the kids in the program are very average non-magnet students. They “sell” the program to both groups.

I completely disagree. My PLTW students did well in the classes and received college credit that actually transferred and had a few schools offer a extra PLTW subsidized scholarship. Most importantly, they were able to gain clarity on college major. I should add that both of my GE/PLTW students also took AP Chem, AP Physics 1&2, AP Calc BC, Multivariable and AP Physics C. Very easy to carve a path of max rigor and include PLTW.

I don’t see how that’s possible unless they didn’t take a foreign language and took tech over the summer

[Anonymous]

They finished Spanish 4 in 10th and did take health over the summer. They took tech in 8th grade, but even if they didn't, PLTW counts as a tech credit. Took AP Calc BC and Physics 1 & 2 in 11 and Multi, Physics C and AP Chem 12 (as well as AP Env. Sci. Bio). I'm not sure how things work in other schools/magnets, but there is a good amount of flexibility for Global kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They finished Spanish 4 in 10th and did take health over the summer. They took tech in 8th grade, but even if they didn't, PLTW counts as a tech credit. Took AP Calc BC and Physics 1 & 2 in 11 and Multi, Physics C and AP Chem 12 (as well as AP Env. Sci. Bio). I'm not sure how things work in other schools/magnets, but there is a good amount of flexibility for Global kids.

So their senior year classes were Physics DP Chem DP AP lit(?) AP Environmental, PLTW how did they fit math in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They finished Spanish 4 in 10th and did take health over the summer. They took tech in 8th grade, but even if they didn't, PLTW counts as a tech credit. Took AP Calc BC and Physics 1 & 2 in 11 and Multi, Physics C and AP Chem 12 (as well as AP Env. Sci. Bio). I'm not sure how things work in other schools/magnets, but there is a good amount of flexibility for Global kids.

So their senior year classes were Physics DP Chem DP AP lit(?) AP Environmental, PLTW how did they fit math in?

8th period? But it seems a little too much and there are field trips (you have to catch up missed classes)… This is an unusual case IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child has been accepted at both. Need to decide. He is pretty even in terms of academic strength. Good at math but strong in social sciences and languages too. Hoping to get into a top college (not necessarily HYP, but the next tier). Where would he have the best chance?

No question RM.

None zero none.

+1.
When I look at - self-reported - colleges that my sophomore's teammates got into, I marvel. Pretty impressive. Don't know about Poolesville first-hand, but RMIB college acceptances are one of the best in MCPS. I believe only Blair magnet can compete.

[Anonymous]

Poolesville college acceptances are terrific. I think they have more NMSF than RMIB but it's close. I don't think you could go wrong with either choice and it really should be determined by your child's interests/goals and your family's location/commute.

Having had kids in both programs I have a strong preference for PHS. DC did well at RMIB but it was not a happy place for many kids.