Bullis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a lot of Bullis haters on this board. Does anyone who is objective have any clue how many applicants they get for 9th grade? DC loved the school and it is our first choice. How hard is it to get in? I do know of one child who was rejected who I thought was a strong candidate. Thank you.

The Director of Admissions told us that there are 400 applicants for 55 9th-grade spots. Of course, they will accept more that 55, though not a ton, to ensure an acceptance yield of 55. Those numbers indicate that most applicants will not be accepted. I think the reputation that they accept almost everyone is either old, or was never true. Our DC is applying for 9th and we were given this information in our parent interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a lot of Bullis haters on this board. Does anyone who is objective have any clue how many applicants they get for 9th grade? DC loved the school and it is our first choice. How hard is it to get in? I do know of one child who was rejected who I thought was a strong candidate. Thank you.

Bullis wouldn't recognize potential if it slapped them in the head. This is especially true in the lower school, about which I have nothing good to say. Upper school academic quality is lousy, as their current parents will tell you. They value the flashy and the bling - very little of substance.

Upper School academics are great at Bullis. My DS is in AP and honors classes. With anything, it depends on the child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here again- sorry OP to answer admittance rates for 9th- Not sure. Not everyone gets in, despite what the haters say. The old stereotype that Bullis is for badly behaved athletes is really and outdated 1980's trope.
However we are not talking big 3 or big 5 level difficulty to get in. There are some very smart kids from Potomac or farther up-county whose parents don't want to drive them into the city, who go to Bullis and they truly shine academically.
They are not the majority of the cohort, however.

It should also be said that Bulls has amazing academic support and does really well in teaching smart kids who may have a mild learning challenge. I have not observed or heard about kids who have any full-on major learning issues
in my kid's class- I think that was more in the past. But they are open to motivated intelligent kids who may need some specific supports. I will say a see a broader range of kids than in my other child's school which is
more competitive and highly regarded, but I am not sure that is a bad thing. I think Bullis does a good job of taking all the kids to their maximum potential.

All that said-I'm still worried about the social stuff in HS

That's why we left Bullis. The high school social scene there is pretty much about money and looks. Even if your kids have those attributes, do you want them growing up to think that's what's important in life? Ugh. So glad we left.

Social pressures are all among us especially in the DC bubble. As in any school, kids find their friends that have like minded attitudes. I am sure you do not like everyone in your church or synagogue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From what I see the Bullis HS kids are far more obsessed with looks and cars and clothes and vacations and anything else flashy as compared to kids at other privates in the area. Its the Bullis kids' Raison D'etre[b].

Yes, there is some of that, but you have to admit that you are generalizing. It's not like kids from Landon and Holton-Arms are any different. The boys I knew that went to Landon were quite fond of themselves and their money...but I am sure they were not all like that.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bullis doesn’t get hate so much as disdain. Most people in the DC area private school world consider it a school of last resort. You only send kids there who get asked to leave other private schools or can’t get in to other private schools. Therefore many of the kids are either not very nice or not very smart. Not all of course but many.

Then of course there is also the whole issue of athletic competition and recruiting and that does garner hate from some parents because it impacts the overall private school athletic culture. For the poster above who claimed that Landon and Potomac recruit solely on the basis of athletic ability like Bullis does is flat out wrong. Neither do that and I have experience with both and kids who are athletes. Bullis does though and it just seems to be operated with a lack of high standards and that turns many people off.

See?? IRRATIONAL COMMENTS. Only kids who go there are asked to leave other privates or can't get in other private schools?? Your bitterness is ridiculous.

Bullis is sending 2018 grads to Brown, Cornell, Navy, Washington & Lee and a host of other great schools. Those kids, along with dozens of others in the class of 2018, could get in anywhere in DC. Why? Because they're great kids like most of the other kids at Bullis, who have a mix of talents in academics, the arts and athletics.

Disdain? The only disdain anyone needs to have is for dingalings like you who have such malice in their hearts and minds. Why don't you go write something positive about something you like? Instead of this drivel.

DP here.....you sound hysterical. The PP wasn't bitter, they were dismissive. Bullis is a reasonably good private school but you'd have to be delusional to think it was on the same level as Landon, STA, Potomac, SFS, etc. Rather than being defensive, just embrace reality.

Landon-- really? Not impressed with their academics. We have toured Landon several times with each kid and they just sell their 'block schedule' around athletics as their main point.

[Anonymous]

Former Bullis parent here. Given the $40K plus price tag...it is simply the public school you pay for. Period. End of story. Couch it anyway you want, but it is not an academic school. Sure, the top several kids get into good schools. But it does not go anywhere near as deep into the class as Churchill or other public comparables. Those 5 or so kids would have done well anywhere. It wasnt the school. It was the kid.

It is VERY status oriented. What does your parent do. Does you parent work at Bullis. What vacations do you go on/ These things matter there more than anywhere. It is full of very unimpressive parents who went to unimpressive schools who want a status symbol. So much Lululemon, you could open a store. Then the athletics. If your child wants to prioritize this, Bullis is the place for you. Good place to learn about money, status and athletics. And how the gaudy nouveau rich behaves.

Nice campus though.

[Anonymous]

If what you are saying PP, is that it is like Churchill or comparable, but without the academic pressure, then I will hope to send my kid there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former Bullis parent here. Given the $40K plus price tag...it is simply the public school you pay for. Period. End of story. Couch it anyway you want, but it is not an academic school. Sure, the top several kids get into good schools. But it does not go anywhere near as deep into the class as Churchill or other public comparables. Those 5 or so kids would have done well anywhere. It wasnt the school. It was the kid.

It is VERY status oriented. What does your parent do. Does you parent work at Bullis. What vacations do you go on/ These things matter there more than anywhere. It is full of very unimpressive parents who went to unimpressive schools who want a status symbol. So much Lululemon, you could open a store. Then the athletics. If your child wants to prioritize this, Bullis is the place for you. Good place to learn about money, status and athletics. And how the gaudy nouveau rich behaves.

Nice campus though.

Evidently a good place to learn about green-eyed haters as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former Bullis parent here. Given the $40K plus price tag...it is simply the public school you pay for. Period. End of story. Couch it anyway you want, but it is not an academic school. Sure, the top several kids get into good schools. But it does not go anywhere near as deep into the class as Churchill or other public comparables. Those 5 or so kids would have done well anywhere. It wasnt the school. It was the kid.

It is VERY status oriented. What does your parent do. Does you parent work at Bullis. What vacations do you go on/ These things matter there more than anywhere. It is full of very unimpressive parents who went to unimpressive schools who want a status symbol. So much Lululemon, you could open a store. Then the athletics. If your child wants to prioritize this, Bullis is the place for you. Good place to learn about money, status and athletics. And how the gaudy nouveau rich behaves.

Nice campus though.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former Bullis parent here. Given the $40K plus price tag...it is simply the public school you pay for. Period. End of story. Couch it anyway you want, but it is not an academic school. Sure, the top several kids get into good schools. But it does not go anywhere near as deep into the class as Churchill or other public comparables. Those 5 or so kids would have done well anywhere. It wasnt the school. It was the kid.

It is VERY status oriented. What does your parent do. Does you parent work at Bullis. What vacations do you go on/ These things matter there more than anywhere. It is full of very unimpressive parents who went to unimpressive schools who want a status symbol. So much Lululemon, you could open a store. Then the athletics. If your child wants to prioritize this, Bullis is the place for you. Good place to learn about money, status and athletics. And how the gaudy nouveau rich behaves.

Nice campus though.

You must have been a Bullis parent a very long time ago, or you're the same person who keeps repeating this same thing about it not being academic. Sure, there are some unimpressive parents who are money obsessed. They're everywhere. There are also some who are pretty impressive in their credentials. However, I'm really not that interested in the parents--I already have friends, and I already graduated from high school, etc.

The Bullis hate here is so tiresome, I really don't get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If what you are saying PP, is that it is like Churchill or comparable, but without the academic pressure, then I will hope to send my kid there.

No Im saying Churchill is a much better school. It sends its graduates to more impressive universities. It has a more diverse class and class offering and values things other than did you go to France over the summer. It values things other than if you donated enough money. Have name brand clothes. It actually does things based on merit. Doesnt give favoritism to kids who are children of big donors or athletes recruited for a season or two.

Bullis is gaudy and engenders so much disdain because it puts itself under the veil of a caring community. Caring for athletes, legacy children of the wealthy and perpetuating privilege. Boarman could dress is down a little... thing the guy thinks enough of himself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former Bullis parent here. Given the $40K plus price tag...it is simply the public school you pay for. Period. End of story. Couch it anyway you want, but it is not an academic school. Sure, the top several kids get into good schools. But it does not go anywhere near as deep into the class as Churchill or other public comparables. Those 5 or so kids would have done well anywhere. It wasnt the school. It was the kid.

It is VERY status oriented. What does your parent do. Does you parent work at Bullis. What vacations do you go on/ These things matter there more than anywhere. It is full of very unimpressive parents who went to unimpressive schools who want a status symbol. So much Lululemon, you could open a store. Then the athletics. If your child wants to prioritize this, Bullis is the place for you. Good place to learn about money, status and athletics. And how the gaudy nouveau rich behaves.

Nice campus though.

You must have been a Bullis parent a very long time ago, or you're the same person who keeps repeating this same thing about it not being academic. Sure, there are some unimpressive parents who are money obsessed. They're everywhere. There are also some who are pretty impressive in their credentials. However, I'm really not that interested in the parents--I already have friends, and I already graduated from high school, etc.

The Bullis hate here is so tiresome, I really don't get it.

It not academic - look at the bottom 20th% to 50% of the class. And then compare that to the same peer group at Churchill or Whitman. Drugs - Check. Fancy Cars - Check. Recruitment of Athletes - Check. Sucker for poor academics - Check. The top of the class would have done well anywhere. Gettysburg College, American and Simmons arent worth 40K. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

I suspect at least some of the vitriol against Bullis here comes from parents were uncomfortable with the significant proportion of high achieving African-American students at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect at least some of the vitriol against Bullis here comes from parents were uncomfortable with the significant proportion of high achieving African-American students at the school.

Wow. Race card much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If what you are saying PP, is that it is like Churchill or comparable, but without the academic pressure, then I will hope to send my kid there.

No Im saying Churchill is a much better school. It sends its graduates to more impressive universities. It has a more diverse class and class offering and values things other than did you go to France over the summer. It values things other than if you donated enough money. Have name brand clothes. It actually does things based on merit. Doesnt give favoritism to kids who are children of big donors or athletes recruited for a season or two.

Bullis is gaudy and engenders so much disdain because it puts itself under the veil of a caring community. Caring for athletes, legacy children of the wealthy and perpetuating privilege. Boarman could dress is down a little... thing the guy thinks enough of himself?

You really have an ax to grind, don't you? Why do you care so much? Don't send your kids there. End of story. Comparing any private to a large public high school is apples and oranges. If you're happy with your local public, great. If someone wants to send their kid to a private school, it's their choice. Your vitriol is just bizarre.