This is just for fun... The most rigorous HS program in DC area.

[Anonymous]

Have you seen the latest US News & World Report national rankings?

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings

Here's how they scored the top schools around our area:

TJ comes in #4; Whitman #61 and Wooton #65, George Mason #76 Poolesville #83 James Madison #93 Langley #96

Also interesting is that two BASIS schools came in ranked #2 and #5.

How many Intel, Math, Science, Computer Science and National Scholastic Writing and Arts Awards have the two BASIS schools produced (combined)? I graduated from US News & World Report reading material in middle school. I'll take NMSF, NMF, and the hard dollar awards as metrics any day over US News & World Report.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you seen the latest US News & World Report national rankings?

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings

Here's how they scored the top schools around our area:

TJ comes in #4; Whitman #61 and Wooton #65, George Mason #76 Poolesville #83 James Madison #93 Langley #96

Also interesting is that two BASIS schools came in ranked #2 and #5.

You will never see RMIB and Blair magnet on these national rankings b/c they use "school within a school" model (only 100 kids per grade) vs "whole school magnet" model (e.g., TJ). So when you combine 100 magnet kids with 400-500 non-magnet kids, and rank it at the school level, it will NOT show the true picture of magnet kids. For example, this year RM had 34 NMSF, how many are from IB program? All of them (34 out of 100) - so if you say 34 out of over 500 kids (school level), it's not that impressive but if you say 34 out of 100 (program level), I think that's pretty impressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Have you seen the latest US News & World Report national rankings?

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings

Here's how they scored the top schools around our area:

TJ comes in #4; Whitman #61 and Wooton #65, George Mason #76 Poolesville #83 James Madison #93 Langley #96

Also interesting is that two BASIS schools came in ranked #2 and #5.

How many Intel, Math, Science, Computer Science and National Scholastic Writing and Arts Awards have the two BASIS schools produced (combined)? I graduated from US News & World Report reading material in middle school. I'll take NMSF, NMF, and the hard dollar awards as metrics any day over US News & World Report.

I believe BASIS doesn't enter the Intel competition because they would be viewed to have a conflict of interest, as the chairman of their board, Craig Barrett is former CEO of Intel and still has many ties to Intel. As for the other national competitions, they do quite well. BASIS had two of their schools represented as finalists in the National Science Bowl last year, for example. BASIS DC beat all other VA schools in the statewide Certamen Latin competition last year. They also won the Library of Congress "Letters About Literature" competition, with several finalists also coming from BASIS - which is also impressive given they are a much smaller school than most of their top-ranked competitors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you seen the latest US News & World Report national rankings?

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings

Here's how they scored the top schools around our area:

TJ comes in #4; Whitman #61 and Wooton #65, George Mason #76 Poolesville #83 James Madison #93 Langley #96

Also interesting is that two BASIS schools came in ranked #2 and #5.

How many Intel, Math, Science, Computer Science and National Scholastic Writing and Arts Awards have the two BASIS schools produced (combined)? I graduated from US News & World Report reading material in middle school. I'll take NMSF, NMF, and the hard dollar awards as metrics any day over US News & World Report.

I believe BASIS doesn't enter the Intel competition because they would be viewed to have a conflict of interest, as the chairman of their board, Craig Barrett is former CEO of Intel and still has many ties to Intel. As for the other national competitions, they do quite well. BASIS had two of their schools represented as finalists in the National Science Bowl last year, for example. BASIS DC beat all other VA schools in the statewide Certamen Latin competition last year. They also won the Library of Congress "Letters About Literature" competition, with several finalists also coming from BASIS - which is also impressive given they are a much smaller school than most of their top-ranked competitors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you seen the latest US News & World Report national rankings?

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings

Here's how they scored the top schools around our area:

TJ comes in #4; Whitman #61 and Wooton #65, George Mason #76 Poolesville #83 James Madison #93 Langley #96

Also interesting is that two BASIS schools came in ranked #2 and #5.

You will never see RMIB and Blair magnet on these national rankings b/c they use "school within a school" model (only 100 kids per grade) vs "whole school magnet" model (e.g., TJ). So when you combine 100 magnet kids with 400-500 non-magnet kids, and rank it at the school level, it will NOT show the true picture of magnet kids. For example, this year RM had 34 NMSF, how many are from IB program? All of them (34 out of 100) - so if you say 34 out of over 500 kids (school level), it's not that impressive but if you say 34 out of 100 (program level), I think that's pretty impressive.

That reflects the fact that it is a magnet program and the students have been cherry picked from the area HS. What about the program turned them into NMSF? What about the IB program at RM makes is different and more rigorous than an IB program elsewhere?

TJ cherry picks too, that is why they have so many NMSF, but it also offers more intense and advanced science and math classes. Those additional classes are what make the program more rigorous.

Having more NMSF in a magnet program proves nothing to me except that the admissions program picks well.

[Anonymous]

That reflects the fact that it is a magnet program and the students have been cherry picked from the area HS. What about the program turned them into NMSF? What about the IB program at RM makes is different and more rigorous than an IB program elsewhere?

TJ cherry picks too, that is why they have so many NMSF, but it also offers more intense and advanced science and math classes. Those additional classes are what make the program more rigorous.

Having more NMSF in a magnet program proves nothing to me except that the admissions program picks well.

Not sure what your point is. Are you saying the number of NMSF doesn't necessary represent the rigor of that particular high school? All magnets "cherry pick" their students. It is part of their selection process. And yes, the selection committee does fairly good job selecting the right kids. No doubt about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

That reflects the fact that it is a magnet program and the students have been cherry picked from the area HS. What about the program turned them into NMSF? What about the IB program at RM makes is different and more rigorous than an IB program elsewhere?

TJ cherry picks too, that is why they have so many NMSF, but it also offers more intense and advanced science and math classes. Those additional classes are what make the program more rigorous.

Having more NMSF in a magnet program proves nothing to me except that the admissions program picks well.

Not sure what your point is. Are you saying the number of NMSF doesn't necessary represent the rigor of that particular high school? All magnets "cherry pick" their students. It is part of their selection process. And yes, the selection committee does fairly good job selecting the right kids. No doubt about that.

My question is what makes the IB program at RM different from other IB programs in terms of rigor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you seen the latest US News & World Report national rankings?

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings

Here's how they scored the top schools around our area:

TJ comes in #4; Whitman #61 and Wooton #65, George Mason #76 Poolesville #83 James Madison #93 Langley #96

Also interesting is that two BASIS schools came in ranked #2 and #5.

You will never see RMIB and Blair magnet on these national rankings b/c they use "school within a school" model (only 100 kids per grade) vs "whole school magnet" model (e.g., TJ). So when you combine 100 magnet kids with 400-500 non-magnet kids, and rank it at the school level, it will NOT show the true picture of magnet kids. For example, this year RM had 34 NMSF, how many are from IB program? All of them (34 out of 100) - so if you say 34 out of over 500 kids (school level), it's not that impressive but if you say 34 out of 100 (program level), I think that's pretty impressive.

Um, yeah, well there are lots of schools where if you only trot out the top performers, they look awesome...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you seen the latest US News & World Report national rankings?

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings

Here's how they scored the top schools around our area:

TJ comes in #4; Whitman #61 and Wooton #65, George Mason #76 Poolesville #83 James Madison #93 Langley #96

Also interesting is that two BASIS schools came in ranked #2 and #5.

You will never see RMIB and Blair magnet on these national rankings b/c they use "school within a school" model (only 100 kids per grade) vs "whole school magnet" model (e.g., TJ). So when you combine 100 magnet kids with 400-500 non-magnet kids, and rank it at the school level, it will NOT show the true picture of magnet kids. For example, this year RM had 34 NMSF, how many are from IB program? All of them (34 out of 100) - so if you say 34 out of over 500 kids (school level), it's not that impressive but if you say 34 out of 100 (program level), I think that's pretty impressive.

Um, yeah, well there are lots of schools where if you only trot out the top performers, they look awesome...

name a few

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you seen the latest US News & World Report national rankings?

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings

Here's how they scored the top schools around our area:

TJ comes in #4; Whitman #61 and Wooton #65, George Mason #76 Poolesville #83 James Madison #93 Langley #96

Also interesting is that two BASIS schools came in ranked #2 and #5.

How many Intel, Math, Science, Computer Science and National Scholastic Writing and Arts Awards have the two BASIS schools produced (combined)? I graduated from US News & World Report reading material in middle school. I'll take NMSF, NMF, and the hard dollar awards as metrics any day over US News & World Report.

I believe BASIS doesn't enter the Intel competition because they would be viewed to have a conflict of interest, as the chairman of their board, Craig Barrett is former CEO of Intel and still has many ties to Intel. As for the other national competitions, they do quite well. BASIS had two of their schools represented as finalists in the National Science Bowl last year, for example. BASIS DC beat all other VA schools in the statewide Certamen Latin competition last year. They also won the Library of Congress "Letters About Literature" competition, with several finalists also coming from BASIS - which is also impressive given they are a much smaller school than most of their top-ranked competitors.

The current BASIS kids are younger than TJ students - the first fully-populated cohorts of students are only in 7th and 8th grade, they won't actually have a full buildout through HS for a few more years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ without a doubt.

Undergrad is a breeze for many TJ graduates because of how rigorous the curriculum was through high school.

I would say that's true for any high school in NoVA which offers AP or IB. My DC, a Langley grad, says undergrad is easy due to the preparation given in high school.

Typical Junior schedule for TJ student:

1. AP Macro Economics
2. AP US History
3. AP Physics C
4. AP Chemistry (must take HN Chemistry before AP Chemistry)
5. Artificial Intelligence (post-ap)
6. Multivariable calculus/Linear Algebra (post-ap)
7. DNA Science (post-ap)
8. HN English (AP English not allowed in junior year)

[Anonymous]

Typical Junior schedule for TJ student:

1. AP Macro Economics
2. AP US History
3. AP Physics C
4. AP Chemistry (must take HN Chemistry before AP Chemistry)
5. Artificial Intelligence (post-ap)
6. Multivariable calculus/Linear Algebra (post-ap)
7. DNA Science (post-ap)
8. HN English (AP English not allowed in junior year)

And does this typical kid get more than 3 hours sleep a night? Seriously, how is this in any way sane or healthy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ without a doubt.

Undergrad is a breeze for many TJ graduates because of how rigorous the curriculum was through high school.

I would say that's true for any high school in NoVA which offers AP or IB. My DC, a Langley grad, says undergrad is easy due to the preparation given in high school.

Typical Junior schedule for TJ student:

1. AP Macro Economics
2. AP US History
3. AP Physics C
4. AP Chemistry (must take HN Chemistry before AP Chemistry)
5. Artificial Intelligence (post-ap)
6. Multivariable calculus/Linear Algebra (post-ap)
7. DNA Science (post-ap)
8. HN English (AP English not allowed in junior year)

This is no worse than other magnets' curriculum. Try again...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St. Anselms

Very high academic standards across the board. For just a taste checkout their reading lists sometime.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ without a doubt.

Undergrad is a breeze for many TJ graduates because of how rigorous the curriculum was through high school.

I would say that's true for any high school in NoVA which offers AP or IB. My DC, a Langley grad, says undergrad is easy due to the preparation given in high school.

Typical Junior schedule for TJ student:

1. AP Macro Economics
2. AP US History
3. AP Physics C
4. AP Chemistry (must take HN Chemistry before AP Chemistry)
5. Artificial Intelligence (post-ap)
6. Multivariable calculus/Linear Algebra (post-ap)
7. DNA Science (post-ap)
8. HN English (AP English not allowed in junior year)

This is no worse than other magnets' curriculum. Try again...

Plus MUN conferences, Debate tournaments, Science bowl, Varsity math team, NHS volunteering, writing center volunteering, original research in parallel computing, Dupont challenge, scholastic writing contest, AMC 12, Chemistry Olympiad etc.