High expectation and no stress-- which high school in mcps is best ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Acadamic excellence needs to make students work hard to reach their potential, but at the same time many oarents are complaining their kids are under too much pressure to take APs or other highly challenge classes and too much homework in ES and MS. Is there a way to achieve excellence without too much homework/stress? Looking for a school cluster is balanced.

There is not a cluster or school that will be perfect. The only balance you can give your child is to NOT feel pressure by you, the school, or anyone else to overwhelm his or her potential. My daughter dropped out of two honors courses because she needed a little bit more of a life. 3 season of sports and some clubs were more important than the top tier class. Would you as a parent be okay with that? If not, it won't matter where you send your kid. You will pressure them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Einstein seems great, from observing my neighbors' kids. Smart kids have a peer group, but without the pressure of some of the schools further west.

Ugh, Einstein is a terrible school. Def bottom half of MCPS HSchools.

[Anonymous]

I've heard good things about quince orchard being balanced. But my kids are still young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Einstein seems great, from observing my neighbors' kids. Smart kids have a peer group, but without the pressure of some of the schools further west.

Ugh, Einstein is a terrible school. Def bottom half of MCPS HSchools.

Is that a real response or are you a troll?

I am a new PP and my neighbor has kids going there and they really like it (likely different neighbors from the first quote). If you have first hand experience, please share. If you are going off an old reputation or the at a glance scores, then it is not helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Einstein seems great, from observing my neighbors' kids. Smart kids have a peer group, but without the pressure of some of the schools further west.

Ugh, Einstein is a terrible school. Def bottom half of MCPS HSchools.

Is that a real response or are you a troll?

I am a new PP and my neighbor has kids going there and they really like it (likely different neighbors from the first quote). If you have first hand experience, please share. If you are going off an old reputation or the at a glance scores, then it is not helpful.

Some people only go by GS rating, including test scores which usually equates to SES, and on DCUM, how expensive your neighborhood is. So, basically, if the area is "poor" it must be a terrible school, or, too many dark skinned kids = bad school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Acadamic excellence needs to make students work hard to reach their potential, but at the same time many oarents are complaining their kids are under too much pressure to take APs or other highly challenge classes and too much homework in ES and MS. Is there a way to achieve excellence without too much homework/stress? Looking for a school cluster is balanced.

There is not a cluster or school that will be perfect. The only balance you can give your child is to NOT feel pressure by you, the school, or anyone else to overwhelm his or her potential. My daughter dropped out of two honors courses because she needed a little bit more of a life. 3 season of sports and some clubs were more important than the top tier class. Would you as a parent be okay with that? If not, it won't matter where you send your kid. You will pressure them.

While I disagree with the specifics above (sports over academics), I agree with the overall argument. Your child will be fine in a competitive environment as long as you can help them get off the "hamster wheel" if that is what they want, and as long as you don't get caught up in it (your self worth isn't tied to your kid's achievements).

I will also echo the other posters that said the Ws aren't that challenging for their kids. If your kid really should be in those top classes - they will be fine. The kids that struggle are those that are pushed to take higher (or more higher level classes) than they can really handle.

[Anonymous]

Blair just won the National Science Bowl.

Also has the highest admission rates to top universities of any Montgomery County HS from the data in the 2015 issue of Bethesda Magazine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blair just won the National Science Bowl.

Also has the highest admission rates to top universities of any Montgomery County HS from the data in the 2015 issue of Bethesda Magazine.

Link please?

[Anonymous]

http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Magazine/September-October-2015/College-Admissions-Chart/index.php?cparticle=3&siarticle=2#artanc

Here's the link to the Bethesda Magazine data that shows actual education outcomes. I find this more useful than relying on the SES rankings provided by the Great Schools websites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blair just won the National Science Bowl.

Also has the highest admission rates to top universities of any Montgomery County HS from the data in the 2015 issue of Bethesda Magazine.

how do you figure?? they all look pretty good to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Einstein seems great, from observing my neighbors' kids. Smart kids have a peer group, but without the pressure of some of the schools further west.

Ugh, Einstein is a terrible school. Def bottom half of MCPS HSchools.

What is your personal experience with Einstein?

My kids went there and were well-prepared for college when they left. One is now in medical school, the second at a highly-rated SLAC.

Did your kids not do well there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Magazine/September-October-2015/College-Admissions-Chart/index.php?cparticle=3&siarticle=2#artanc

Here's the link to the Bethesda Magazine data that shows actual education outcomes. I find this more useful than relying on the SES rankings provided by the Great Schools websites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Magazine/September-October-2015/College-Admissions-Chart/index.php?cparticle=3&siarticle=2#artanc

Here's the link to the Bethesda Magazine data that shows actual education outcomes. I find this more useful than relying on the SES rankings provided by the Great Schools websites.

Depends on how you define "outcome." Many kids who cannot afford e.g. Harvard or Yale go to UMD - not because that was the only place they could be admitted, but because that is what the family finances dictate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blair just won the National Science Bowl.

Also has the highest admission rates to top universities of any Montgomery County HS from the data in the 2015 issue of Bethesda Magazine.

Right, b/c parents who want to avoid stress should send their kids to the uber intense Blair Magnet Program, which is where all those superstars are from.

QO, Sherwood, Northwest, Blake, Richard Montgomery (non-magnet) seem like good balanced options to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blair just won the National Science Bowl.

Also has the highest admission rates to top universities of any Montgomery County HS from the data in the 2015 issue of Bethesda Magazine.

Yes, we know the Blair magnet kids do quite well, but are you trying to imply that these kids have low stress?????