What is Poolesville MS and HS really like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

+1
The school did not get rebuilt because of politics. Being rural the population is sparse. Politicians do not want to allocate funds to win over a handful of voters.

I think there is a whole lot of envy because PHS has MC kids but is ranked as the top school in Maryland.

Which politicians? Are you saying that the Board of Education didn't vote for a total rebuild because there aren't enough voters in Poolesville?

Poolesville HS is ranked as the top school in Maryland because half of its students (the half in the magnet programs) are there because of their high test scores. If there were no magnet program, it would not be ranked as the top school in Maryland. That doesn't mean the teachers are better or worse, or the administrators are better or worse, or the facilities are better (they're not) or worse. or your individual child will do better or worse educationally. For people who are happy with Poolesville HS - yay! you're happy! Seems like that should be enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard many W parents say this. It's ironic, given that W schools are also among the least diverse in the county, assuming one counts Asians as not diverse, because Poolesville is one third Asian. I think there is a classism element to this criticism. There is a misperception of Poolesville as a community being a backward redneck place, but somehow it's OK to segregate yourself in Bethesda or Chevy Chase with other UMC white people. Poolesville has a lot of well educated families working in MoCo and the 270 tech corridor, people with Ph.D.s, etc.

Poolesville is technically more affluent than Bethesda. It has a median household income of $180,524, and Bethesda is $164,142. In my experience, W families just don’t want to admit that there is a school in upcounty that can be just as good as their school.

Nope. Not that. We spent many hours out that way. Horseback riding. The local community is white as they come and Trumpy. Conspiracies all over the place. Problems with racism at the school still.

While the Magnet part is good, not worth sitting on the bus or long drive. Yes, the stats have improved, would not send my kids there.

You know all this from....horseback riding? Were you riding up to the school and observing through the windows?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard many W parents say this. It's ironic, given that W schools are also among the least diverse in the county, assuming one counts Asians as not diverse, because Poolesville is one third Asian. I think there is a classism element to this criticism. There is a misperception of Poolesville as a community being a backward redneck place, but somehow it's OK to segregate yourself in Bethesda or Chevy Chase with other UMC white people. Poolesville has a lot of well educated families working in MoCo and the 270 tech corridor, people with Ph.D.s, etc.

Poolesville is technically more affluent than Bethesda. It has a median household income of $180,524, and Bethesda is $164,142. In my experience, W families just don’t want to admit that there is a school in upcounty that can be just as good as their school.

Nope. Not that. We spent many hours out that way. Horseback riding. The local community is white as they come and Trumpy. Conspiracies all over the place. Problems with racism at the school still.

While the Magnet part is good, not worth sitting on the bus or long drive. Yes, the stats have improved, would not send my kids there.

You know all this from....horseback riding? Were you riding up to the school and observing through the windows?

Nah.

[Anonymous]

What does PHS feel like for a non- magnet student? We are considering the move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s odd it’s ranked so high as it’s NMSF, Intell/Regeneron, etc... Are way less than even a Wooton, Whitman etc.... not to mention RM or Blair. I can only assume because it is small. It’s a good school don’t get mr wrong, but the best? Nah.

NP - You have no idea of what you're talking about. PHS has had more Intel/Regeneron scholars than any school in the county except Blair. Most years, PHS has the third NMSFs behind Blair and RM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s odd it’s ranked so high as it’s NMSF, Intell/Regeneron, etc... Are way less than even a Wooton, Whitman etc.... not to mention RM or Blair. I can only assume because it is small. It’s a good school don’t get mr wrong, but the best? Nah.

NP - You have no idea of what you're talking about. PHS has had more Intel/Regeneron scholars than any school in the county except Blair. Most years, PHS has the third NMSFs behind Blair and RM.

I can only speak about poolesville hs not the ms. My student is a magnet freshman there and we are shocked at the poor level of teaching and lack of accountability from many of the teachers (even magnet teachers) with most students learning on their own and teaching themselves these concepts to get good grades. Makes us realize that the merits and positive reputation of poolesville hs are only bc of the hardworking dedicated gifted students and not due to any great magnet program. So if you head to poolesville hs ask your kid if they want to solely teach themselves to get ahead!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard many W parents say this. It's ironic, given that W schools are also among the least diverse in the county, assuming one counts Asians as not diverse, because Poolesville is one third Asian. I think there is a classism element to this criticism. There is a misperception of Poolesville as a community being a backward redneck place, but somehow it's OK to segregate yourself in Bethesda or Chevy Chase with other UMC white people. Poolesville has a lot of well educated families working in MoCo and the 270 tech corridor, people with Ph.D.s, etc.

Poolesville is technically more affluent than Bethesda. It has a median household income of $180,524, and Bethesda is $164,142. In my experience, W families just don’t want to admit that there is a school in upcounty that can be just as good as their school.

Nope. Not that. We spent many hours out that way. Horseback riding. The local community is white as they come and Trumpy. Conspiracies all over the place. Problems with racism at the school still.

While the Magnet part is good, not worth sitting on the bus or long drive. Yes, the stats have improved, would not send my kids there.

You know all this from....horseback riding? Were you riding up to the school and observing through the windows?

Nah.

This is is actually true.

[Anonymous]

The local community is white as they come and Trumpy. Conspiracies all over the place. Problems with racism at the school still.

While the Magnet part is good, not worth sitting on the bus or long drive. Yes, the stats have improved, would not send my kids there.


The above is true. Pp here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The local community is white as they come and Trumpy. Conspiracies all over the place. Problems with racism at the school still.

While the Magnet part is good, not worth sitting on the bus or long drive. Yes, the stats have improved, would not send my kids there.


The above is true. Pp here.

This is ridiculous. I live here and my daughters are at the middle and high school. Yes, there are Trumpy people here but only a handful and everyone knows who they are. The middle school is lackluster but the high school is really wonderful.

[Anonymous]

My son is a local student and a magnet student as well.
He finds the school rigorous but I bet he’d be able to find a similar academic experience at many other local HS. He’s in Global though and loves the field trips. He’s also advanced in math and CS so maybe he will take higher level math/CS classes than other schools offer. He’s surrounded by a very strong peer cohort which we love.

It used to be that PHS reserved many seats for local students that’s not the case anymore. Perhaps 10-15 students per year from the middle school go magnet.

There are a lot of high performing kids not in magnet too (including some of my son’s friends). My older one graduated from PHS magnet and is attending college where she met her boyfriend who went to a “bad” MCPS high school with a super high FARMs rate and he’s doing great (straight As in a tough STEM major at UMD).

Poolesville is good for the peer group/program. If you choose it, choose it because it offers your child something special for your child now not for bragging rights or whatever.

Also, a lot of UMC families are moving into Poolesville. It’s changed a lot in the last 10-15 years. If you have a regular kid who is interested in sports, it’s a great school and most teams are walk-on.

I haven’t heard much in the way of bullying. Seems like people do their thing and generally leave others alone. It’s a great school environment and I highly recommend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard many W parents say this. It's ironic, given that W schools are also among the least diverse in the county, assuming one counts Asians as not diverse, because Poolesville is one third Asian. I think there is a classism element to this criticism. There is a misperception of Poolesville as a community being a backward redneck place, but somehow it's OK to segregate yourself in Bethesda or Chevy Chase with other UMC white people. Poolesville has a lot of well educated families working in MoCo and the 270 tech corridor, people with Ph.D.s, etc.

Poolesville is technically more affluent than Bethesda. It has a median household income of $180,524, and Bethesda is $164,142. In my experience, W families just don’t want to admit that there is a school in upcounty that can be just as good as their school.

Nope. Not that. We spent many hours out that way. Horseback riding. The local community is white as they come and Trumpy. Conspiracies all over the place. Problems with racism at the school still.

While the Magnet part is good, not worth sitting on the bus or long drive. Yes, the stats have improved, would not send my kids there.

So you have no experience at the school but profess to know all the problems with racism? Interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to PHS. It is a very chilled and very academic focused HS, without being a pressure cooker environment.

I love the vibe of the student body. Kids are super supportive of each other. I am so sad that one year of my kids HS life in this very amazing school was virtual. Really great group of parents too.

I like the new Principal also. BUT, really ancient school building. MCPS will not build a new school instead they will just do a bit of renovation. This is what it means to not be a W-school with Big Law parents. Very unfair.

This isn't good enough for you?

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/facilities/construction/project/21-0128%20PoolesvilleHS%20Powerpoint_REV8.pdf

As I said. Renovations mainly. Not new builds.

[Anonymous]

We are Asian-American family. Kid goes to SMCS. The busride to school is too early so we drive him to school.

We do not see any racism at all. We are seeing the dilution of standards in the 9th grade selection this year, but, we are on our way out of MCPS.

Love the school. Love the peer group in the magnet students.

Poolesville HS is an amazing HS. I fully expect MCPS to mess it up with their lottery selection. But there are bigger problems in the world then lowering of educational standards in student selection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the PP mean?

white?

It is among the least diverse high-schools in the county.

Maybe thats why it's good?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the PP mean?

white?

It is among the least diverse high-schools in the county.

Maybe thats why it's good?

The student's are high performing because the top few are cherry-picked from all of the other high schools upcounty. Completely unrelated to the fact that Poolesville town itself is not diverse.