If you live in McLean, would you send your child to Potomac school?

[Anonymous]

If you live in McLean, and your child was fine - no major learning disability or issue - would you send them to a McLean FCPS elementary school or Potomac School?

My concerns are class sizes, teaching to the test, outdoor play and activities, and no room for creativity on the teachers part. Money would be tight, but we could swing it. If money were free flowing, it wouldn't even be a question for us.

Would love to hear from people on both sides of the fence, and if you faced this hurdle at any stage of your chid's education.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

No. But I would send them to Little Langley.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Lots of McLean people go to Potomac. But first you must get in. Not easy! They take 1/3 md, 1/3 DC and 1/3 va.
Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Lots of McLean people go to Potomac. But first you must get in. Not easy! They take 1/3 md, 1/3 DC and 1/3 va.
Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.

Not even close to the geographic distribution

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. But I would send them to Little Langley.

Why? That's an objectively lower-quality school.

[Anonymous]

We had a great experience with McLean elementary schools, but went private for high school. The student body/families in McLean public schools are similar to those in private, and the teaching is generally high-caliber. Not worth it to go private for elementary imho.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. But I would send them to Little Langley.

Why? That's an objectively lower-quality school.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a great experience with McLean elementary schools, but went private for high school. The student body/families in McLean public schools are similar to those in private, and the teaching is generally high-caliber. Not worth it to go private for elementary imho.

Disagree. Potomac Lower School is a pretty special place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. But I would send them to Little Langley.

Why? That's an objectively lower-quality school.

Objectively doesn't mean what you think it does

[Anonymous]

Ltitle Langley is for those who can't get into Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Or for those who didn't apply because they found the Potomac parents insufferable

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or for those who didn't apply because they found the Potomac parents insufferable

Yeah, right. Everyone knows Little Langley is a safety school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Lots of McLean people go to Potomac. But first you must get in. Not easy! They take 1/3 md, 1/3 DC and 1/3 va.
Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.

Not even close to the geographic distribution

That's what admissions told me for K.
And 50/50 boys girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ltitle Langley is for those who can't get into Potomac.

And for those who don't care about academics.

[Anonymous]

We live in McLean and chose Potomac due to
1. Class size relative to FFX (FFX is at 27 at some schools)!
2. Quality of curriculum/day to day (specials/ # of recess/PE, focus on arts)
3. A decent proportion of the school is local (vs spread out) so it is quite convenient in terms of playdates/Local friends

Not an exact science and it differs by grade (so dont take this as exact)
10-15% MD
10-15% Alexandria
30% DC and
40-50% McLean-or close to McLean (ie-Arlington/Great Falls/Falls Church)