How does Bullis do with academically high performing kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of their students ended up being a Rhodes Scholar so....

One lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s nice to see the Bullis is recovering from all of the negative press and negative ongoing‘s that have been happening there over the last five years or so. However, but this is hardly a top private school in this area. It’s a safety school at best.

+1

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We were extremely happy with Bullis academics. It has a broad range of students, which is nice. It has a beautiful and serene campus and top notch facilities which add immeasurably to the experience. It has rigorous academics and is challenging. Both of our kids went on to Ivy League schools from Bullis and graduated with honors from both. While this was great, this was not our sole goal going in. They were well prepared. DO NOT take your advice from the haters on this site. Go see for yourself and make your own decisions. Our students had a great high school experience without being miserable and benefited from Bullis' balanced approach. I hope you can talk to current parents. It is a lovely community. Good luck to you and your students.[/quote]

This person's kids probably were not academically strong or considered gifted or highly advanced. Yes, it is a nice pretty school for low achieving to mid level achieving students. And no-one is "hating" - it's just [I]not[/I] an academic powerhouse. Everyone knows that - no point in being sensitive about it. When you say your kid goes to Bullis, unless your kid is an athlete, people usually stifle a snicker because parents say it so proudly, oblivious to how they are perceived.[/quote]

Oblivious to how they are perceived? We Bullis parents know what an outstanding environment our kids are being educated in, one that meets their needs and talents. So we don’t care what others think about a place they have no experience with. We care more about whether our kids have a positive learning environment that prepares them for [b]whatever college they go to[/b]. Go ahead and snicker while our kids thrive. [/quote]

Which parent who has kids at an academically challenging school says this? You know the academics are weak but your kids are happy and fit in. That's fine. Just admit it and stop trying to sugarcoat it. :roll: [/quote]

Same parent here - I’m not sugarcoating anything. I’ve had 2 graduate already that went on to top schools and still have one there. I see the academic challenge they received from 3rd through 12th grade. This thread was started with a question about academic rigor, and has received many comments from actual parents with students at Bullis, giving their opinion about the academic rigor. Some have added that it’s not just about academic rigor, but about having a holistic approach to teaching a range of student abilities. I hope the original poster found some helpful feedback and can tune out nasty comments from people who don’t know the school. I’m a parent that cares about the school being the right fit for my child. Maybe there are some other parents on this thread that can appreciate that concept. Again, just trying to answer the first post honestly.

[Anonymous]

Can’t speak to LS or MS but there are opportunities for challenge in the US based on class selection/placement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of their students ended up being a Rhodes Scholar so....

One lol

How many semi and national merit finalists do they have every year? When this has been published Bullis nearly always has zero. None.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of their students ended up being a Rhodes Scholar so....

One lol

How many from other privates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of their students ended up being a Rhodes Scholar so....

One lol

How many semi and national merit finalists do they have every year? When this has been published Bullis nearly always has zero. None.

Everyone is so tone deaf. Clearly no one is listening to what the actual parents are saying. No one said Bullis was the most rigorous but it offers programming that appeals to those who want it. And it challenges students across multiple disciplines. How terrible it is to teach our young to define success on some narrowly defined metrics. Imagine if we judged the world and adults like that. No art, no sports, no music. Everyone needs to chill. The OP asked a question, many answered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of their students ended up being a Rhodes Scholar so....

One lol

How many semi and national merit finalists do they have every year? When this has been published Bullis nearly always has zero. None.

FYI...Last year they had 2 national merit finalists and one presidential scholar semi-finalist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of their students ended up being a Rhodes Scholar so....

One lol

How many semi and national merit finalists do they have every year? When this has been published Bullis nearly always has zero. None.

FYI...Last year they had 2 national merit finalists and one presidential scholar semi-finalist.

given how pricey that place is I'd expect more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of their students ended up being a Rhodes Scholar so....

One lol

How many semi and national merit finalists do they have every year? When this has been published Bullis nearly always has zero. None.

FYI...Last year they had 2 national merit finalists and one presidential scholar semi-finalist.

given how pricey that place is I'd expect more.

I guess if you equate price to solely student academic awards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem at Bullis is that, for as long as it has existed, it has prioritized athletics. While there are certainly academically capable athletes, there has always been a wide range of ability in the classroom (particularly in the high school). When we were (briefly) there they were responding with a robust learning support program and on-site tutors who work with the athletes. Lots of money available went to athletes from around the area. While none of this is negative, it created a school with a huge range in the classroom. Some families we know also left because it did not cater to the high achievers. And while some of the Ivy admits were non-athletes, many were strong athletes who did well enough.

There is a new Head of School and they are touting a renewed focus on academics. But football still rules. Covid and the MCPS has given them the best admission seasons they could have hoped for. This happened everywhere in MoCo so it is wrong of Bullis to say it is a reflection of the School. It is the exodus from public schools of families who can pay for private. Any other story is just not accurate and the school knows that. Covid was and continues to be a windfall for Bullis. There just aren't that many non-parochial private schools in Montgomery County for high school.

So, is it a risk worth taking? Visit and see but know that Bullis has a long history to overcome. There are so many academically strong schools in the DMV. I personally wanted my under-challenged student to go to a school that had a track record and a culture of excellence. It was the right decision for us and one I would make again.

Football does not rule at the school and shows that you don’t know what you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of their students ended up being a Rhodes Scholar so....

Yup! Bullis has also had/has quite a few National Merit Scholars. Bullis has NEVER claimed to be an elite school in the D.C. area and we are proud of our diversity.

The people who send their kids to Bullis are sending them there for a well rounded school where their kids can thrive educationally, but also be supported where they are at. Those who send their kids to Bullis don’t want a pressure cooker and want their kids to have time to do the things kids do in their youth.
I am astonished at how often this school is criticized by those who do not have a rat in the race. It feels like they are putting Bullis down in order to feel better about their decision.

For us, Bullis was perfect. The “elite” schools were NOT a good fit for my neurodivergent kids and were never on our radar. Bullis supports them and they wake up happy to be at school everyday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of their students ended up being a Rhodes Scholar so....

One lol

How many semi and national merit finalists do they have every year? When this has been published Bullis nearly always has zero. None.

FYI...Last year they had 2 national merit finalists and one presidential scholar semi-finalist.

given how pricey that place is I'd expect more.

I guess if you equate price to solely student academic awards.

I expect bang for my buck and would expect higher quality education for that amount of money. Usually, higher quality education leads to a higher percentage of students getting into top schools and getting academic awards. So yes, I do equate price with student academic achievement (awards).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of their students ended up being a Rhodes Scholar so....

Yup! Bullis has also had/has quite a few National Merit Scholars. Bullis has NEVER claimed to be an elite school in the D.C. area and we are proud of our diversity.

The people who send their kids to Bullis are sending them there for a well rounded school where their kids can thrive educationally, but also be supported where they are at. Those who send their kids to Bullis don’t want a pressure cooker and want their kids to have time to do the things kids do in their youth.
I am astonished at how often this school is criticized by those who do not have a rat in the race. It feels like they are putting Bullis down in order to feel better about their decision.

For us, Bullis was perfect. The “elite” schools were NOT a good fit for my neurodivergent kids and were never on our radar. Bullis supports them and they wake up happy to be at school everyday.

For 50K/year, I'd expect that school to be "elite".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of their students ended up being a Rhodes Scholar so....

One lol

How many semi and national merit finalists do they have every year? When this has been published Bullis nearly always has zero. None.

FYI...Last year they had 2 national merit finalists and one presidential scholar semi-finalist.

given how pricey that place is I'd expect more.

I guess if you equate price to solely student academic awards.

I expect bang for my buck and would expect higher quality education for that amount of money. Usually, higher quality education leads to a higher percentage of students getting into top schools and getting academic awards. So yes, I do equate price with student academic achievement (awards).

Many don’t though … our kids are not all about return of investment. Many of us are about quality of life.