What are the top feeder programs into Potomac’s K?

Anonymous wrote:Potomac will only take a certain number from Country Day and they prefer geographic diversity over anything else. They will take a kid from dc or md over a Mclean or GF student with very high stats. Potomac has a formula and I’ve seen it over and over again in the lower grades. They want cool, fun, above average but don’t have to be off the charts, non quirky, athletic kids and families OR kids with tons of money. Different ballgame for HS.

+1 agree that this is how Potomac builds a class. We applied. Didn’t get in but don’t fit this mold (and didn’t know this was essentially what they were going for at the time). Wouldn’t have been a good fit in hindsight. Private school kids are already dispersed enough, so Potomac’s goal of geographic diversity means there’s an even higher chance your kids friends may be far away (even more so than your typical private school). Emphasis on athleticism and desire to not have quirky (even if highly intelligent) kids is also a turn off for us. My DC is literally the opposite of everything pp described but we were going off of reputation and didn’t realize. That’s a long way of saying I don’t think there’s a feeder per se, what you really need to ask yourself is if your family fits this model.

report

04/16/2024 22:45

Subject: What are the top feeder programs into Potomac’s K?

quote

Anonymous

^^^You dodged a bullet-my quirky and highly intelligent child has had a miserable experience there sociably, and is quite frankly too kind of a person for their shark tank of an upper school. Class is extremely cliquey and both kids and parents make the Mean Girls cast look tame. So glad to be exiting soon!

report

04/17/2024 06:55

Subject: What are the top feeder programs into Potomac’s K?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Potomac will only take a certain number from Country Day and they prefer geographic diversity over anything else. They will take a kid from dc or md over a Mclean or GF student with very high stats. Potomac has a formula and I’ve seen it over and over again in the lower grades. They want cool, fun, above average but don’t have to be off the charts, non quirky, athletic kids and families OR kids with tons of money. Different ballgame for HS.

+1 agree that this is how Potomac builds a class. We applied. Didn’t get in but don’t fit this mold (and didn’t know this was essentially what they were going for at the time). Wouldn’t have been a good fit in hindsight. Private school kids are already dispersed enough, so Potomac’s goal of geographic diversity means there’s an even higher chance your kids friends may be far away (even more so than your typical private school). Emphasis on athleticism and desire to not have quirky (even if highly intelligent) kids is also a turn off for us. My DC is literally the opposite of everything pp described but we were going off of reputation and didn’t realize. That’s a long way of saying I don’t think there’s a feeder per se, what you really need to ask yourself is if your family fits this model.

This geographic diversity often evaporates after the kid is admitted and parents don’t want to commute from Cap Hill to VA on the daily. Many then move from DC.

report

04/17/2024 21:26

Subject: What are the top feeder programs into Potomac’s K?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Potomac will only take a certain number from Country Day and they prefer geographic diversity over anything else. They will take a kid from dc or md over a Mclean or GF student with very high stats. Potomac has a formula and I’ve seen it over and over again in the lower grades. They want cool, fun, above average but don’t have to be off the charts, non quirky, athletic kids and families OR kids with tons of money. Different ballgame for HS.

+1 agree that this is how Potomac builds a class. We applied. Didn’t get in but don’t fit this mold (and didn’t know this was essentially what they were going for at the time). Wouldn’t have been a good fit in hindsight. Private school kids are already dispersed enough, so Potomac’s goal of geographic diversity means there’s an even higher chance your kids friends may be far away (even more so than your typical private school). Emphasis on athleticism and desire to not have quirky (even if highly intelligent) kids is also a turn off for us. My DC is literally the opposite of everything pp described but we were going off of reputation and didn’t realize. That’s a long way of saying I don’t think there’s a feeder per se, what you really need to ask yourself is if your family fits this model.

This geographic diversity often evaporates after the kid is admitted and parents don’t want to commute from Cap Hill to VA on the daily. Many then move from DC.

Why would the parents commute from the Hill to Potomac?

report

04/17/2024 21:39

Subject: What are the top feeder programs into Potomac’s K?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know the feeder nannies for cds?

there are some.

report

04/18/2024 07:45

Subject: What are the top feeder programs into Potomac’s K?

quote

Anonymous

There was a time in the past, but not in recent years, where CDS in McLean was a bit of a feeder. This was when someone else (who is now gone from Potomac) was at Potomac’s Admissions Office.

The current mantra from Potomac Admissions for K/1 admissions is geographic diversity. Potomac thinks having more students from DC and MD will boost its overall reputation. So a VA applicant, especially if from McLean, Great Falls, or N. Arlington, sometimes can be at an admission disadvantage for Potomac School over someone from Bethesda or NW DC.

Just as at Sidwell, Cathedral, GDS, or other good privates, connections really can help one’s admissions chances if handled diplomatically.

For K, it is nearly impossible to evaluate the child, so the parents need to be on their very best behavior.