Tell me about Albert Einstein HS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We decided to stretch and bought a house in the WJ cluster, instead of Einstein, and I have questioned that decision ever since. We're still ES, and the school is fine, but I have heard so many success stories from the Einstein cluster. When we moved, or agent scared us away from it. As a result, we live in a neighborhood surrounded by all white, upper-class, entitled kids. They will all go to college, and get jobs through daddy's connections, etc. It's a bit depressing. So it depends on what you want for your kid, and your standard of living. If you're stretched to buy the house, that financial strain might become stressful. Especially if your neighbors are all blowing money like it grows on trees...

Would love to know what your agent said, because it's sounds like s/he most likely violated fair housing laws.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We decided to stretch and bought a house in the WJ cluster, instead of Einstein, and I have questioned that decision ever since. We're still ES, and the school is fine, but I have heard so many success stories from the Einstein cluster. When we moved, or agent scared us away from it. As a result, we live in a neighborhood surrounded by all white, upper-class, entitled kids. They will all go to college, and get jobs through daddy's connections, etc. It's a bit depressing. So it depends on what you want for your kid, and your standard of living. If you're stretched to buy the house, that financial strain might become stressful. Especially if your neighbors are all blowing money like it grows on trees...

I can't think of any neighborhoods feeding into WJ that would be described as "all white." The WJ kids I've come across are all quite rooted and down to earth. I don't sense the entitlement.

That's because the post was fiction. This is their vision of what upper-middle class is all about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We decided to stretch and bought a house in the WJ cluster, instead of Einstein, and I have questioned that decision ever since. We're still ES, and the school is fine, but I have heard so many success stories from the Einstein cluster. When we moved, or agent scared us away from it. As a result, we live in a neighborhood surrounded by all white, upper-class, entitled kids. They will all go to college, and get jobs through daddy's connections, etc. It's a bit depressing. So it depends on what you want for your kid, and your standard of living. If you're stretched to buy the house, that financial strain might become stressful. Especially if your neighbors are all blowing money like it grows on trees...

I can't think of any neighborhoods feeding into WJ that would be described as "all white." The WJ kids I've come across are all quite rooted and down to earth. I don't sense the entitlement.

So if you are white you can't be rooted and down to earth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We decided to stretch and bought a house in the WJ cluster, instead of Einstein, and I have questioned that decision ever since. We're still ES, and the school is fine, but I have heard so many success stories from the Einstein cluster. When we moved, or agent scared us away from it. As a result, we live in a neighborhood surrounded by all white, upper-class, entitled kids. They will all go to college, and get jobs through daddy's connections, etc. It's a bit depressing. So it depends on what you want for your kid, and your standard of living. If you're stretched to buy the house, that financial strain might become stressful. Especially if your neighbors are all blowing money like it grows on trees...

I can't think of any neighborhoods feeding into WJ that would be described as "all white." The WJ kids I've come across are all quite rooted and down to earth. I don't sense the entitlement.

That's because the post was fiction. This is their vision of what upper-middle class is all about.

I wish it was fiction. There are lots of all-white neighborhoods, all around us. Homes regularly sell for over a million. I'm glad to hear that some areas in the cluster are more diverse. That's encouraging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We decided to stretch and bought a house in the WJ cluster, instead of Einstein, and I have questioned that decision ever since. We're still ES, and the school is fine, but I have heard so many success stories from the Einstein cluster. When we moved, or agent scared us away from it. As a result, we live in a neighborhood surrounded by all white, upper-class, entitled kids. They will all go to college, and get jobs through daddy's connections, etc. It's a bit depressing. So it depends on what you want for your kid, and your standard of living. If you're stretched to buy the house, that financial strain might become stressful. Especially if your neighbors are all blowing money like it grows on trees...

I can't think of any neighborhoods feeding into WJ that would be described as "all white." The WJ kids I've come across are all quite rooted and down to earth. I don't sense the entitlement.

So if you are white you can't be rooted and down to earth?

Nope, haven't you heard? All "whites" (especially those living in expensive houses) and entitled, racist, and usually hooked on prescription drugs. The exception are those white kids who make up 20% of the population at Einstein HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We decided to stretch and bought a house in the WJ cluster, instead of Einstein, and I have questioned that decision ever since. We're still ES, and the school is fine, but I have heard so many success stories from the Einstein cluster. When we moved, or agent scared us away from it. As a result, we live in a neighborhood surrounded by all white, upper-class, entitled kids. They will all go to college, and get jobs through daddy's connections, etc. It's a bit depressing. So it depends on what you want for your kid, and your standard of living. If you're stretched to buy the house, that financial strain might become stressful. Especially if your neighbors are all blowing money like it grows on trees...

I can't think of any neighborhoods feeding into WJ that would be described as "all white." The WJ kids I've come across are all quite rooted and down to earth. I don't sense the entitlement.

Parkwood is all white. Or about as all white as you get in MoCo -- 70% white and single digits of a few other minorities.

[Anonymous]

We're in the Einstein cluster and my neighbors are mostly white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a note on the fact that we're not hearing from a lot of Einstein parents on this board - I don't know if there are statistics, but I strongly suspect that this forum (DCUM) skews heavily toward Bethesda/Chevy Chase/Potomac plus Takoma Park and the wealthier parts of Silver Spring.

To the OP - why not put your question to a listserv in your neighborhood. Ask for replies off-list if you want. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the results.

OP here. Most everyone I know has kids in ES or maybe a child in the MS. As for another PP, I have heard the Newport is night and day from a few years ago. That coming from the parents that started the movement to push for rigor and more accountability a few years ago.

The reason I am posting to an anonymous board instead of my listserv is we are a pretty tight community and I think folks are sensitive to questions about the HS because no one wants to lose a neighbor (okay - maybe a couple, but they are the exception . I think everyone understands there needs to be a critical mass to create change so they don't want to see folks drop out along the way. So I can post, but I know it will lead to emails from folks without high schoolers asking why I am asking and I was hoping to gain some insight that would help either put up a red flag or calm me down.

Definitely a few good points and things to think about so thanks to PPs. I agree - odd that there are no Einstein posters but then again, I don't know of many teenagers in the area (even those at babysitter age are slim pickings). This area is absolutely full of ES kids and now that we have been here a few years, more numerous MS kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We decided to stretch and bought a house in the WJ cluster, instead of Einstein, and I have questioned that decision ever since. We're still ES, and the school is fine, but I have heard so many success stories from the Einstein cluster. When we moved, or agent scared us away from it. As a result, we live in a neighborhood surrounded by all white, upper-class, entitled kids. They will all go to college, and get jobs through daddy's connections, etc. It's a bit depressing. So it depends on what you want for your kid, and your standard of living. If you're stretched to buy the house, that financial strain might become stressful. Especially if your neighbors are all blowing money like it grows on trees...

I can't think of any neighborhoods feeding into WJ that would be described as "all white." The WJ kids I've come across are all quite rooted and down to earth. I don't sense the entitlement.

Parkwood is all white. Or about as all white as you get in MoCo -- 70% white and single digits of a few other minorities.

So actually, not all white if 3 out of 10 are non-white. All white is the town I grew up in in NJ--about as homogeneous as you can get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a note on the fact that we're not hearing from a lot of Einstein parents on this board - I don't know if there are statistics, but I strongly suspect that this forum (DCUM) skews heavily toward Bethesda/Chevy Chase/Potomac plus Takoma Park and the wealthier parts of Silver Spring.

To the OP - why not put your question to a listserv in your neighborhood. Ask for replies off-list if you want. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the results.

OP here. Most everyone I know has kids in ES or maybe a child in the MS. As for another PP, I have heard the Newport is night and day from a few years ago. That coming from the parents that started the movement to push for rigor and more accountability a few years ago.

The reason I am posting to an anonymous board instead of my listserv is we are a pretty tight community and I think folks are sensitive to questions about the HS because no one wants to lose a neighbor (okay - maybe a couple, but they are the exception . I think everyone understands there needs to be a critical mass to create change so they don't want to see folks drop out along the way. So I can post, but I know it will lead to emails from folks without high schoolers asking why I am asking and I was hoping to gain some insight that would help either put up a red flag or calm me down.

Definitely a few good points and things to think about so thanks to PPs. I agree - odd that there are no Einstein posters but then again, I don't know of many teenagers in the area (even those at babysitter age are slim pickings). This area is absolutely full of ES kids and now that we have been here a few years, more numerous MS kids.

Einstein parents aren't chiming in because they are tired of being asked about their school, only to have the asker not believe them when they report being happy.

Newport Mill is as good as it was 3 years ago when some angry 6th grade parents, freshly pissed off that their off spring hadn't made it into a magnet, caused a brief stink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a note on the fact that we're not hearing from a lot of Einstein parents on this board - I don't know if there are statistics, but I strongly suspect that this forum (DCUM) skews heavily toward Bethesda/Chevy Chase/Potomac plus Takoma Park and the wealthier parts of Silver Spring.

To the OP - why not put your question to a listserv in your neighborhood. Ask for replies off-list if you want. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the results.

OP here. Most everyone I know has kids in ES or maybe a child in the MS. As for another PP, I have heard the Newport is night and day from a few years ago. That coming from the parents that started the movement to push for rigor and more accountability a few years ago.

The reason I am posting to an anonymous board instead of my listserv is we are a pretty tight community and I think folks are sensitive to questions about the HS because no one wants to lose a neighbor (okay - maybe a couple, but they are the exception . I think everyone understands there needs to be a critical mass to create change so they don't want to see folks drop out along the way. So I can post, but I know it will lead to emails from folks without high schoolers asking why I am asking and I was hoping to gain some insight that would help either put up a red flag or calm me down.

Definitely a few good points and things to think about so thanks to PPs. I agree - odd that there are no Einstein posters but then again, I don't know of many teenagers in the area (even those at babysitter age are slim pickings). This area is absolutely full of ES kids and now that we have been here a few years, more numerous MS kids.

Einstein parents aren't chiming in because they are tired of being asked about their school, only to have the asker not believe them when they report being happy.

Newport Mill is as good as it was 3 years ago when some angry 6th grade parents, freshly pissed off that their off spring hadn't made it into a magnet, caused a brief stink.

This. What parent wants to hang around reading boards where their kids school is described as gang-infested, violent, academically poor, full of "poors", which are all words I've seen used here to describe Einstein and other DCC schools. Frankly, its tiring having to constantly defend your school to an audience who for the most part will never believe you. Einstein is a good school with some fantastic students and interesting programs. Is every student Ivy bound? No, but why does that matter? None of the kids I know who go to Einstein or other DCC schools are any less motivated because a few of their classmates aren't. Einstein is a fine school, and anyone who says otherwise almost always has no first hand experience to base their opinion on.

[Anonymous]

Isn't this the same school that the kids call "Crimestein"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't this the same school that the kids call "Crimestein"?

Well shoot, if high school kids have a rhyming nickname for a school, that nickname must be a totally accurate description, right? No, wait...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a note on the fact that we're not hearing from a lot of Einstein parents on this board - I don't know if there are statistics, but I strongly suspect that this forum (DCUM) skews heavily toward Bethesda/Chevy Chase/Potomac plus Takoma Park and the wealthier parts of Silver Spring.

To the OP - why not put your question to a listserv in your neighborhood. Ask for replies off-list if you want. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the results.

OP here. Most everyone I know has kids in ES or maybe a child in the MS. As for another PP, I have heard the Newport is night and day from a few years ago. That coming from the parents that started the movement to push for rigor and more accountability a few years ago.

The reason I am posting to an anonymous board instead of my listserv is we are a pretty tight community and I think folks are sensitive to questions about the HS because no one wants to lose a neighbor (okay - maybe a couple, but they are the exception . I think everyone understands there needs to be a critical mass to create change so they don't want to see folks drop out along the way. So I can post, but I know it will lead to emails from folks without high schoolers asking why I am asking and I was hoping to gain some insight that would help either put up a red flag or calm me down.

Definitely a few good points and things to think about so thanks to PPs. I agree - odd that there are no Einstein posters but then again, I don't know of many teenagers in the area (even those at babysitter age are slim pickings). This area is absolutely full of ES kids and now that we have been here a few years, more numerous MS kids.

Einstein parents aren't chiming in because they are tired of being asked about their school, only to have the asker not believe them when they report being happy.

Newport Mill is as good as it was 3 years ago when some angry 6th grade parents, freshly pissed off that their off spring hadn't made it into a magnet, caused a brief stink.

That's interesting. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

OP we made a similar decision in the RM cluster a few years ago. We couldn't decide between a home we could comfortably afford and was big versus a much smaller home in Bethesda that we could afford but not comfortably. We also had younger children. We decided to bet with RM and the cluster. And decided that if things became an issue later on we would be able to afford private if we needed to due to the lower cost of the home. 5 years in and we are pleased with our decision and have a nice nest egg built up should we need it later.
Good luck.