Einstein VAC or Blar?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child didn't choose Einstein (chose CAP) because of the seeming lack of focus on academics at Einstein.

Even though the academics are not shared in a talk format at the Open House, there are many strong academic classes at Einstein. I'm fairly certain that average AP scores are the 2nd highest in the DCC.

This report outlines AP exam performance by High School. http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/2017%20AP%20IB%20Course%20Enrollment%20and%20Exam%20Participation%20Performance.pdf

Percent of students taking AP exams who score 3 or higher in 2017 (this is the best stat I could find to judge "average AP scores" across schools)
Blair - 86.3%
Einstein - 61.9%
Wheaton - 61.1%
Northwood - 44%
Kennedy - 36.2%

Wooton is the highest in MCPS at 89.2%

Based on prior year performance, I would not be surprised if Wheaton slightly surpasses Einstein for 2018. They are basically at the same level, at least by this measure.


You can look at how kids do on individual AP exams in this report. I am in bounds for Einstein, and have been looking at the data since my current 7th grader. I do think that one major caveat to the data below is that Einstein has the IB program (which Wheaton and Blair do not), so, some of the top students are presumably not taking AP exams in all subjects, rather it is a mix of AP and IB.

Below are percent of students who scored 4 or higher on selected AP exams by school. I wanted to do 4 or higher because most colleges require you to have at least a 4 to get any sort of credit. I tried to choose classes that I presume IB students at Einstein also may be taking so we're comparing the top cohort of students at the three schools-- I may have chosen wrong.

These numbers are interesting. After glancing through the data on other tests, Blair is the strongest by far of the three, and it offers the most course choices (it is a huge school, they offer everything). Wheaton seems to do better in the history and gov't department (I didn't include English because the top Einstein students are doing that IB). Einstein students are scoring higher on the calc exams. Einstein doesn't offer any computer science, nor does it offer physics C, so I didn't compare any of those classes. Just looking at course offerings, I will likely have my son put down Wheaton as his first choice for the computer and higher level physics offerings since he is interested in computer science and physics, but depending on what area of science your kid is interested in, I think Einstein is a good choice. If you have a kid that also wants to do any sort of instrumental music, Blair and Einstein have much stronger programs. My oldest was able to do Takoma Park Middle>Blair SMAC. My 8th grader is a strong math/science student, but not gifted enough to break into the magnets.

Calculus AB
Blair - 40%
Einstein - 21.4%
Wheaton - 16%

Calculus BC
Blair - <95%
Einstein - 42.9%
Wheaton - 39.3%

US Govt & Politics
Blair - 70.1%
Einstein - 38.3%
Wheaton - 58%

US History
Blair - 50%
Einstein - 14.3% received a 4; Less than or equal to 5% received a 5
Wheaton - 31.3%

Spanish
Blair - 85.3%
Einstein - 44.2% (why is this so low?)
Wheaton - 87%

Thanks for sharing this data. Wheaton’s Physics 1 data is missing from the report (lots of kids take it at Wheaton, bummed not to see the score breakdown and where my kid fits in). Very interesting to see the IB dataset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child didn't choose Einstein (chose CAP) because of the seeming lack of focus on academics at Einstein.

Even though the academics are not shared in a talk format at the Open House, there are many strong academic classes at Einstein. I'm fairly certain that average AP scores are the 2nd highest in the DCC.

This report outlines AP exam performance by High School. http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/2017%20AP%20IB%20Course%20Enrollment%20and%20Exam%20Participation%20Performance.pdf

Percent of students taking AP exams who score 3 or higher in 2017 (this is the best stat I could find to judge "average AP scores" across schools)
Blair - 86.3%
Einstein - 61.9%
Wheaton - 61.1%
Northwood - 44%
Kennedy - 36.2%

Wooton is the highest in MCPS at 89.2%

Based on prior year performance, I would not be surprised if Wheaton slightly surpasses Einstein for 2018. They are basically at the same level, at least by this measure.


You can look at how kids do on individual AP exams in this report. I am in bounds for Einstein, and have been looking at the data since my current 7th grader. I do think that one major caveat to the data below is that Einstein has the IB program (which Wheaton and Blair do not), so, some of the top students are presumably not taking AP exams in all subjects, rather it is a mix of AP and IB.

Below are percent of students who scored 4 or higher on selected AP exams by school. I wanted to do 4 or higher because most colleges require you to have at least a 4 to get any sort of credit. I tried to choose classes that I presume IB students at Einstein also may be taking so we're comparing the top cohort of students at the three schools-- I may have chosen wrong.

These numbers are interesting. After glancing through the data on other tests, Blair is the strongest by far of the three, and it offers the most course choices (it is a huge school, they offer everything). Wheaton seems to do better in the history and gov't department (I didn't include English because the top Einstein students are doing that IB). Einstein students are scoring higher on the calc exams. Einstein doesn't offer any computer science, nor does it offer physics C, so I didn't compare any of those classes. Just looking at course offerings, I will likely have my son put down Wheaton as his first choice for the computer and higher level physics offerings since he is interested in computer science and physics, but depending on what area of science your kid is interested in, I think Einstein is a good choice. If you have a kid that also wants to do any sort of instrumental music, Blair and Einstein have much stronger programs. My oldest was able to do Takoma Park Middle>Blair SMAC. My 8th grader is a strong math/science student, but not gifted enough to break into the magnets.

Calculus AB
Blair - 40%
Einstein - 21.4%
Wheaton - 16%

Calculus BC
Blair - <95%
Einstein - 42.9%
Wheaton - 39.3%

US Govt & Politics
Blair - 70.1%
Einstein - 38.3%
Wheaton - 58%

US History
Blair - 50%
Einstein - 14.3% received a 4; Less than or equal to 5% received a 5
Wheaton - 31.3%

Spanish
Blair - 85.3%
Einstein - 44.2% (why is this so low?)
Wheaton - 87%

Thanks for sharing this data. Wheaton’s Physics 1 data is missing from the report (lots of kids take it at Wheaton, bummed not to see the score breakdown and where my kid fits in). Very interesting to see the IB dataset.

Einstein parent responding to the Spanish data: The number of students at Einstein receiving a 3 or higher is over 95%, in line with most MCPS schools. Of course, I would like to see more students scoring 4's or 5's. I think that the reason for the lower numbers of 4's and 5's is that many of the very high achieving students at Einstein choose the strong Japanese or French tracks. There are strong Spanish students as well, but they are diluted by the students who want to choose the easiest language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child didn't choose Einstein (chose CAP) because of the seeming lack of focus on academics at Einstein.

Even though the academics are not shared in a talk format at the Open House, there are many strong academic classes at Einstein. I'm fairly certain that average AP scores are the 2nd highest in the DCC.

This report outlines AP exam performance by High School. http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/2017%20AP%20IB%20Course%20Enrollment%20and%20Exam%20Participation%20Performance.pdf

Percent of students taking AP exams who score 3 or higher in 2017 (this is the best stat I could find to judge "average AP scores" across schools)
Blair - 86.3%
Einstein - 61.9%
Wheaton - 61.1%
Northwood - 44%
Kennedy - 36.2%

Wooton is the highest in MCPS at 89.2%

Based on prior year performance, I would not be surprised if Wheaton slightly surpasses Einstein for 2018. They are basically at the same level, at least by this measure.


You can look at how kids do on individual AP exams in this report. I am in bounds for Einstein, and have been looking at the data since my current 7th grader. I do think that one major caveat to the data below is that Einstein has the IB program (which Wheaton and Blair do not), so, some of the top students are presumably not taking AP exams in all subjects, rather it is a mix of AP and IB.

Below are percent of students who scored 4 or higher on selected AP exams by school. I wanted to do 4 or higher because most colleges require you to have at least a 4 to get any sort of credit. I tried to choose classes that I presume IB students at Einstein also may be taking so we're comparing the top cohort of students at the three schools-- I may have chosen wrong.

These numbers are interesting. After glancing through the data on other tests, Blair is the strongest by far of the three, and it offers the most course choices (it is a huge school, they offer everything). Wheaton seems to do better in the history and gov't department (I didn't include English because the top Einstein students are doing that IB). Einstein students are scoring higher on the calc exams. Einstein doesn't offer any computer science, nor does it offer physics C, so I didn't compare any of those classes. Just looking at course offerings, I will likely have my son put down Wheaton as his first choice for the computer and higher level physics offerings since he is interested in computer science and physics, but depending on what area of science your kid is interested in, I think Einstein is a good choice. If you have a kid that also wants to do any sort of instrumental music, Blair and Einstein have much stronger programs. My oldest was able to do Takoma Park Middle>Blair SMAC. My 8th grader is a strong math/science student, but not gifted enough to break into the magnets.

Calculus AB
Blair - 40%
Einstein - 21.4%
Wheaton - 16%

Calculus BC
Blair - <95%
Einstein - 42.9%
Wheaton - 39.3%

US Govt & Politics
Blair - 70.1%
Einstein - 38.3%
Wheaton - 58%

US History
Blair - 50%
Einstein - 14.3% received a 4; Less than or equal to 5% received a 5
Wheaton - 31.3%

Spanish
Blair - 85.3%
Einstein - 44.2% (why is this so low?)
Wheaton - 87%

Thanks for sharing this data. Wheaton’s Physics 1 data is missing from the report (lots of kids take it at Wheaton, bummed not to see the score breakdown and where my kid fits in). Very interesting to see the IB dataset.

Einstein parent responding to the Spanish data: The number of students at Einstein receiving a 3 or higher is over 95%, in line with most MCPS schools. Of course, I would like to see more students scoring 4's or 5's. I think that the reason for the lower numbers of 4's and 5's is that many of the very high achieving students at Einstein choose the strong Japanese or French tracks. There are strong Spanish students as well, but they are diluted by the students who want to choose the easiest language.

Some missing data:

World History
Blair 55%
Einstein 44%
Wheaton 37%

Psychology
Blair 63%
Einstein 47%
Wheaton 35%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child didn't choose Einstein (chose CAP) because of the seeming lack of focus on academics at Einstein.

Even though the academics are not shared in a talk format at the Open House, there are many strong academic classes at Einstein. I'm fairly certain that average AP scores are the 2nd highest in the DCC.

This report outlines AP exam performance by High School. http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/2017%20AP%20IB%20Course%20Enrollment%20and%20Exam%20Participation%20Performance.pdf

Percent of students taking AP exams who score 3 or higher in 2017 (this is the best stat I could find to judge "average AP scores" across schools)
Blair - 86.3%
Einstein - 61.9%
Wheaton - 61.1%
Northwood - 44%
Kennedy - 36.2%

Wooton is the highest in MCPS at 89.2%

Based on prior year performance, I would not be surprised if Wheaton slightly surpasses Einstein for 2018. They are basically at the same level, at least by this measure.


You can look at how kids do on individual AP exams in this report. I am in bounds for Einstein, and have been looking at the data since my current 7th grader. I do think that one major caveat to the data below is that Einstein has the IB program (which Wheaton and Blair do not), so, some of the top students are presumably not taking AP exams in all subjects, rather it is a mix of AP and IB.

Below are percent of students who scored 4 or higher on selected AP exams by school. I wanted to do 4 or higher because most colleges require you to have at least a 4 to get any sort of credit. I tried to choose classes that I presume IB students at Einstein also may be taking so we're comparing the top cohort of students at the three schools-- I may have chosen wrong.

These numbers are interesting. After glancing through the data on other tests, Blair is the strongest by far of the three, and it offers the most course choices (it is a huge school, they offer everything). Wheaton seems to do better in the history and gov't department (I didn't include English because the top Einstein students are doing that IB). Einstein students are scoring higher on the calc exams. Einstein doesn't offer any computer science, nor does it offer physics C, so I didn't compare any of those classes. Just looking at course offerings, I will likely have my son put down Wheaton as his first choice for the computer and higher level physics offerings since he is interested in computer science and physics, but depending on what area of science your kid is interested in, I think Einstein is a good choice. If you have a kid that also wants to do any sort of instrumental music, Blair and Einstein have much stronger programs. My oldest was able to do Takoma Park Middle>Blair SMAC. My 8th grader is a strong math/science student, but not gifted enough to break into the magnets.

Calculus AB
Blair - 40%
Einstein - 21.4%
Wheaton - 16%

Calculus BC
Blair - <95%
Einstein - 42.9%
Wheaton - 39.3%

US Govt & Politics
Blair - 70.1%
Einstein - 38.3%
Wheaton - 58%

US History
Blair - 50%
Einstein - 14.3% received a 4; Less than or equal to 5% received a 5
Wheaton - 31.3%

Spanish
Blair - 85.3%
Einstein - 44.2% (why is this so low?)
Wheaton - 87%

Thanks for sharing this data. Wheaton’s Physics 1 data is missing from the report (lots of kids take it at Wheaton, bummed not to see the score breakdown and where my kid fits in). Very interesting to see the IB dataset.

Einstein parent responding to the Spanish data: The number of students at Einstein receiving a 3 or higher is over 95%, in line with most MCPS schools. Of course, I would like to see more students scoring 4's or 5's. I think that the reason for the lower numbers of 4's and 5's is that many of the very high achieving students at Einstein choose the strong Japanese or French tracks. There are strong Spanish students as well, but they are diluted by the students who want to choose the easiest language.

Some missing data:

World History
Blair 55%
Einstein 44%
Wheaton 37%

Psychology
Blair 63%
Einstein 47%
Wheaton 35%

I am especially impressed by the World History data, as it would not include Einstein IB students at all. IB History at Einstein focuses on the history of Latin America; therefore, there is no overlap with the exams.

The Psych exam at Einstein likely DOES include IB students as IB Psych is offered as well.

[Anonymous]

How strange that there is no mention here of the IB diploma program at AEHS. I've had two kids in the program and it is rigorous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How strange that there is no mention here of the IB diploma program at AEHS. I've had two kids in the program and it is rigorous.

Well, OP started this thread (in 2018) to talk about VAC. Since it is notoriously difficult to do both VAC and the IBDP, it wasn't a natural segue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey, recent Einstein/VAC alumni here. Einstein was the BEST 4 years of life I honestly didn't wanna leave. Yes, your son teacher did misinform him. Einstein is the best option when it comes to the arts. Now MCPS doesn't have the resources to give our students a magnet performing arts high school, but Einstein is the best option in fact there in talks about expanding the VAPA program.



The Visual and Performing Arts Academy (VAPA) isn't audition base but the advanced classes for serious students are.



Our sports aren't the best but Einstein does have the best Pom-Pon program in the DCC (recent division champions), so your son will have great halftime performances during football games and pep rallies. Also, our football team is getting better went to their division playoffs this year.



Now if your son likes doing art, then I suggest VAPA if he's a serious artist then, yeah get his butt in the VAC. Being in the VAC was so amazing it was inspiring being around other serious artists, like me. The raw talent those teachers bring out in their students is amazing half the program can go head to head with art majors in universities.

Being in the VAC is a big commitment your son will have double to triple art periods. He will have to get good grades while making VAC quality artwork.

The program was very hard for me to get into in 8th grade I went there in February, I got rejected, had to come back, then I came back in May with my best piece and made it in the program. They look for potential and raw talent. Also, keep in mind that Einstein is an IB school, so he has that option.

At the VAC I won 7 Scholastic art awards, was a regional art winner, had my work displayed at a professional gallery where I also met Rebecca Sugar (Creator of the hit Cartoon Network show Steven Universe) who's a VAC alumnus with her brother Steven!

So where am I now? I'm a student at MICA, one of the top art schools in the nation, on almost a full ride, and I just illustrated my first book this year. My peers are in schools like RISD, SCAD, Cornell, CalArts, SVA, Pratt, NYU Tisch School of the arts, Havard, Pointe University, and the list goes on. I just talk to one of my VAC peers who's going to Parsons, and she's a fashion intern living in NYC. One of my friends took theatre at Einstein, and he now on a Netflix show, another friend of mind was a dancer at Einstein, and she's working on opening her own dance studio around the community. The things Einstein students go on and do are amazing.

I honestly miss it so much, the diversity, flashmobs, school spirit, playing music during the transitioning of classes, all of it. However, I was more than ready to continue my education in the visual arts. We aren't a STEM school, so the county doesn't really support the VAC like it does Blair's magnet programs. The first magnet programs created in MCPS and we only have 2 teachers, who care for over 100 students, no transportation for our commuting student, and cramped in the basement. However, you have nothing to worry about, if your son transfers to Einstein, he will love it! I know I did.

Einstein person, I hope your school is really proud of you! Your post is really helpful to me as the parent of an artsy 7th grader - DC really wants to go to Einstein, and hearing about your experiences makes me even more excited about that possibility. I hope you go on to do great things. Thank so much for writing in.