Which W school is better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your Texas school district academically intense?

If not, choose carefully. The "W" schools can be rough on kids' nerves.

He’s in a private in Texas it’s rigorous but not much compared to other privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best high schools in MCPS are the magnet programs at Blair, Poolesville and Richard Montgomery.

For someone new to the district how easy is it to get spots? And should I move to a specific place?

Don't move for a magnet lottery. And all the W schools have very large cohorts of smart and ambitious students. We moved from the west coast to the Whitman district. Good experience. I'd say the W schools are really good for smart and self-motivated students. But I think they'd be miserable for below average students. There is an understated pressure cooker environment at all of them. Among Whitman, Churchill, and WJ, I think WJ is the most "normal." Whitman and Churchill are more oriented toward the high flyers.

WJ (grad) parent. Agree with this. Live a block from Whitman boundary and very please with WJ for our student. Something for everyone academically and club-wise.

Also, WJ is super crowded right now due to the wait for the opening and availability of newly rebuilt Woodward HS (currently a temp "holding" school for another county school undergoing a rebuild). So no relief for next 2 school years. The boundary study is underway, so closer in elementary school feeder zoned neighborhoods might be key for WJ placement, though no guaranty.

If commute is not an issue, look at [non-W] Poolesville. Smaller and great programs and outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best high schools in MCPS are the magnet programs at Blair, Poolesville and Richard Montgomery.

For someone new to the district how easy is it to get spots? And should I move to a specific place?

Don't move for a magnet lottery. And all the W schools have very large cohorts of smart and ambitious students. We moved from the west coast to the Whitman district. Good experience. I'd say the W schools are really good for smart and self-motivated students. But I think they'd be miserable for below average students. There is an understated pressure cooker environment at all of them. Among Whitman, Churchill, and WJ, I think WJ is the most "normal." Whitman and Churchill are more oriented toward the high flyers.

+1

One thing to add here.

WJ is likely to become closer to Eienstein after boundary adjustment. It won't become Einstein but it will move in that direction after adding few elemenrary schools from DCC.

As result, WJ will be even less pressure cooker if it matters for you.

Unlikely. Endless amounts of high value housing are and will continue to be built in the greater Bethesda area.
Now of course, the BOE could be very creative with its border drawing and bus students....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best high schools in MCPS are the magnet programs at Blair, Poolesville and Richard Montgomery.

For someone new to the district how easy is it to get spots? And should I move to a specific place?

Don't move for a magnet lottery. And all the W schools have very large cohorts of smart and ambitious students. We moved from the west coast to the Whitman district. Good experience. I'd say the W schools are really good for smart and self-motivated students. But I think they'd be miserable for below average students. There is an understated pressure cooker environment at all of them. Among Whitman, Churchill, and WJ, I think WJ is the most "normal." Whitman and Churchill are more oriented toward the high flyers.

WJ (grad) parent. Agree with this. Live a block from Whitman boundary and very please with WJ for our student. Something for everyone academically and club-wise.

Also, WJ is super crowded right now due to the wait for the opening and availability of newly rebuilt Woodward HS (currently a temp "holding" school for another county school undergoing a rebuild). So no relief for next 2 school years. The boundary study is underway, so closer in elementary school feeder zoned neighborhoods might be key for WJ placement, though no guaranty.

If commute is not an issue, look at [non-W] Poolesville. Smaller and great programs and outcomes.

Commute is sadly an issue. What could be some other good close in schools? Wheaton and Kennedy are not options just based on my research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best high schools in MCPS are the magnet programs at Blair, Poolesville and Richard Montgomery.

For someone new to the district how easy is it to get spots? And should I move to a specific place?

Don't move for a magnet lottery. And all the W schools have very large cohorts of smart and ambitious students. We moved from the west coast to the Whitman district. Good experience. I'd say the W schools are really good for smart and self-motivated students. But I think they'd be miserable for below average students. There is an understated pressure cooker environment at all of them. Among Whitman, Churchill, and WJ, I think WJ is the most "normal." Whitman and Churchill are more oriented toward the high flyers.

+1

One thing to add here.

WJ is likely to become closer to Eienstein after boundary adjustment. It won't become Einstein but it will move in that direction after adding few elemenrary schools from DCC.

As result, WJ will be even less pressure cooker if it matters for you.

Unlikely. Endless amounts of high value housing are and will continue to be built in the greater Bethesda area.
Now of course, the BOE could be very creative with its border drawing and bus students....

If 2 elementary schools from DCC gets added in WJ( there will be space for that in opening year) then it will have a large impact. No need to bus anyone.

Over long time , you may be correct that enough kids will live nearby to fill the spots, but School board makes short sighted decision most of the times. New E school opened in RM cluster and within 5 years there is portable in new school while other ES are fine.

[Anonymous]

Avoid WJ cluster.

Look closer walking distance to Churchill or Whitman.

Or buy after 2 years.

[Anonymous]

You might want to consider beyond high school. Will your child want UMD? If so, it will be much easier in a non- W/non-magnet school.

If they don’t want UMD, any of the schools mentioned will work. Nobody here is going to have experience with multiple schools, but most will recommend the school their child goes to. That’s because there are more similarities than differences.

I have 1 at Churchill (and another who graduated from Churchill). Nothing but positive things to say about the school. My kids are both far from the tippy top and we are also not rich (live with my parents after a divorce), yet they have been accepted whole heartedly within the community.

Don’t let people scare you off from any of the schools!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avoid WJ cluster.

Look closer walking distance to Churchill or Whitman.

Or buy after 2 years.

Can’t afford to buy in either cluster my plan is to rent for the good schools then once he graduates live below my means in Germantown, Gaithersburg, or get a condo in dc and retire early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might want to consider beyond high school. Will your child want UMD? If so, it will be much easier in a non- W/non-magnet school.

If they don’t want UMD, any of the schools mentioned will work. Nobody here is going to have experience with multiple schools, but most will recommend the school their child goes to. That’s because there are more similarities than differences.

I have 1 at Churchill (and another who graduated from Churchill). Nothing but positive things to say about the school. My kids are both far from the tippy top and we are also not rich (live with my parents after a divorce), yet they have been accepted whole heartedly within the community.

Don’t let people scare you off from any of the schools!

He doesn’t want UMD honestly it’s more so academics and safety as he needs a non chaotic environment to succeed.

[Anonymous]

I would not recommend WJ if you’re looking for a calm environment.

I’d suggest: Churchill, Whitman, Wootton, Poolesville or most of the private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not recommend WJ if you’re looking for a calm environment.

I’d suggest: Churchill, Whitman, Wootton, Poolesville or most of the private schools.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Clarksburg would be good for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best high schools in MCPS are the magnet programs at Blair, Poolesville and Richard Montgomery.

For someone new to the district how easy is it to get spots? And should I move to a specific place?

Don't move for a magnet lottery. And all the W schools have very large cohorts of smart and ambitious students. We moved from the west coast to the Whitman district. Good experience. I'd say the W schools are really good for smart and self-motivated students. But I think they'd be miserable for below average students. There is an understated pressure cooker environment at all of them. Among Whitman, Churchill, and WJ, I think WJ is the most "normal." Whitman and Churchill are more oriented toward the high flyers.

+1

One thing to add here.

WJ is likely to become closer to Eienstein after boundary adjustment. It won't become Einstein but it will move in that direction after adding few elemenrary schools from DCC.

As result, WJ will be even less pressure cooker if it matters for you.

Unlikely. Endless amounts of high value housing are and will continue to be built in the greater Bethesda area.
Now of course, the BOE could be very creative with its border drawing and bus students....

Einstein homes have gone way up to. The areas it pulls from are higher income. Even on the other side of the tracks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You might want to consider beyond high school. Will your child want UMD? If so, it will be much easier in a non- W/non-magnet school.

If they don’t want UMD, any of the schools mentioned will work. Nobody here is going to have experience with multiple schools, but most will recommend the school their child goes to. That’s because there are more similarities than differences.

I have 1 at Churchill (and another who graduated from Churchill). Nothing but positive things to say about the school. My kids are both far from the tippy top and we are also not rich (live with my parents after a divorce), yet they have been accepted whole heartedly within the community.

Don’t let people scare you off from any of the schools!

He doesn’t want UMD honestly it’s more so academics and safety as he needs a non chaotic environment to succeed.

No school in mcps will give you that. Most are 2-3k students, some more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman is awful ... a rich white boys school.

Welcome, Texas! Google AI says median family income in Potomac is $239,205 and average family income is $325,765. These are large public schools, so you have nerds, jocks, artsy kids, and a few delinquents in every class. There are advanced placement classes and special education at all of them. The distinction is that Potomac and Bethesda are expensive, so the parents tend to be rich and educated. That does not guarantee that all kids are smart and successful. But they are generally polite and well-behaved.

Bethesda/Whitman is a bit closer to D.C. jobs, so the real estate is more expensive per square foot. But Potomac/Churchill has the multiacre lots with mansions. I want my kids to walk to school and to friend's houses, so I chose a smaller lot near schools.

This forum is obsessed with prestigious education. It is understandable, because a good degree will help your son find a lucrative career or spouse to afford staying in this area. It is nice to know that all the W schools have a critical mass of students aspiring to attend good colleges. But lets face it, not all the kids are even taking calculus in high school, and not all of the graduates even go to college. The most popular colleges are University of Maryland, College Park and Montgomery Community College. A total of 46 Churchill students applied to Harvard, but only 1 was accepted (and enrolled). There is no guarantee that your kid will be that one!
https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/09/17/where-do-moco-students-attend-college/

There are nice friends, role models, and resources at all these schools. It makes a bigger difference which classes you take in a high school than which high school you attend. There are stoners and slackers at all these high schools. There are also teens who feel stressed by family and academic pressures. There are always international families with jobs at government agencies. And teens can be affected by family trouble, divorce, and financial problems. Being a teen is tough! The housing market is slow now, so you might need to be flexible about the exact neighborhood.

There is no way people can have those incomes and buy now without huge savings.