Einstein VAC or Blar?

[ValrieP]

My son has gotten into Blair and was very excited about taking their art classes whom he was informed by his teacher had the best art program in the county. Recently his best friend, who is going to Einstein informed him that Einstein is a visual and performing arts school and that they were the best high school in the county for the arts. I never researched Einstein because all my son ever talked about was Blair, but now he wants to go Einstein. After researching Einstein, I get multiple videos of flash mobs, dance concert, jazz concerts, positive theatre reviews,"Poms division champions", and the Visual Art Center (VAC). Now all he talks about is how badly he wants to go to this school. However, I'm a little hesitant because I don't know what these artists are doing after they graduate. I only see things about their arts, but what about their academics and experiences?



So which will be better Einstein VAC or Blair?



Also if you know any Einstein alumni, what were their experiences?

[Anonymous]

I know Einstein grads who are professional dancers, although they also had dance training outside of the school. I know an Einstein grad in a good college drama program.
The VAC program is competitive admission, and if your child has already gotten into Blair for next year, I don't think he can just decide to do Einstein VAC now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know Einstein grads who are professional dancers, although they also had dance training outside of the school. I know an Einstein grad in a good college drama program.
The VAC program is competitive admission, and if your child has already gotten into Blair for next year, I don't think he can just decide to do Einstein VAC now.

I thought Blair Magnet was for STEM. And, Einstein magnet was for humanities. Are there other magnet programs within each of these schools?

[Anonymous]

Einstein does not have a magnet for Humanities. Blair has Communication Arts magnet and a STEM magnet, but not sure OP is talking about either of those programs -- perhaps just means her kid got in through the lottery at Blair.

My advice, even though people love Einstein, is don't give up Blair for Einstein unless you think your kid would get lost at Blair because it's so big. Einstein is more nurturing, and it is easier to get on things like sports teams at Einstein. But even if Einstein was your home school, not sure it is an option for you anymore.

[Anonymous]

OK, so the Einstein VAC program is like a magnet program - you submit a portfolio and are chosen or not chosen based on your body of work.

But that's ONLY for visual arts, not instrumental music or dance or theatre.

Other than that, Einstein has a whole school concentration on performing arts, but it is NOT audition-based. MCPS does not have an audition-based performing arts program, which is why some MCPS kids choose to pay tuition to attend DE in the city.

[Anonymous]

the Einstein VAC program is like a magnet program - you submit a portfolio and are chosen or not chosen based on your body of work.

But that's ONLY for visual arts, not instrumental music or dance or theatre.

Other than that, Einstein has a whole school concentration on performing arts, but it is NOT audition-based. MCPS does not have an audition-based performing arts program, which is why some MCPS kids choose to pay tuition to attend DE in the city.

This is correct. Einstein is known for its arts and academic programs but there are two different arts programs at Einstein.

1) VAC is the county-wide magnet application program for the visual arts...
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/vac/

2) VAPA is the broader arts academy that is open to Einstein kids.
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/einsteinhs/departments/vapa/
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/einsteinhs/academies/

I know families with kids who are currently very happy with VAC. I don't know as much about VAPA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

the Einstein VAC program is like a magnet program - you submit a portfolio and are chosen or not chosen based on your body of work.

But that's ONLY for visual arts, not instrumental music or dance or theatre.

Other than that, Einstein has a whole school concentration on performing arts, but it is NOT audition-based. MCPS does not have an audition-based performing arts program, which is why some MCPS kids choose to pay tuition to attend DE in the city.

This is correct. Einstein is known for its arts and academic programs but there are two different arts programs at Einstein.

1) VAC is the county-wide magnet application program for the visual arts...
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/vac/

2) VAPA is the broader arts academy that is open to Einstein kids.
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/einsteinhs/departments/vapa/
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/einsteinhs/academies/

I know families with kids who are currently very happy with VAC. I don't know as much about VAPA.

VAPA stands for Visual and Performing Arts Academy. Students who complete a required number of arts courses (3 or 4 years?) and a senior capstone project get a special designation at graduation. There are no special classes open only to VAPA students. Some of Einstein's top thespians and musicians are part of the IB program instead. All in all, Einstein is a fun school for artsy kids.

[ValrieP]

SO VAC is a magnet program? So we possibly missed the auditions.

[Anonymous]

Hey, recent Einstein/VAC alumni here. Einstein was the BEST 4 years of life I honestly didn't wanna leave. Yes, your son teacher did misinform him. Einstein is the best option when it comes to the arts. Now MCPS doesn't have the resources to give our students a magnet performing arts high school, but Einstein is the best option in fact there in talks about expanding the VAPA program.



The Visual and Performing Arts Academy (VAPA) isn't audition base but the advanced classes for serious students are.



Our sports aren't the best but Einstein does have the best Pom-Pon program in the DCC (recent division champions), so your son will have great halftime performances during football games and pep rallies. Also, our football team is getting better went to their division playoffs this year.



Now if your son likes doing art, then I suggest VAPA if he's a serious artist then, yeah get his butt in the VAC. Being in the VAC was so amazing it was inspiring being around other serious artists, like me. The raw talent those teachers bring out in their students is amazing half the program can go head to head with art majors in universities.

Being in the VAC is a big commitment your son will have double to triple art periods. He will have to get good grades while making VAC quality artwork.

The program was very hard for me to get into in 8th grade I went there in February, I got rejected, had to come back, then I came back in May with my best piece and made it in the program. They look for potential and raw talent. Also, keep in mind that Einstein is an IB school, so he has that option.

At the VAC I won 7 Scholastic art awards, was a regional art winner, had my work displayed at a professional gallery where I also met Rebecca Sugar (Creator of the hit Cartoon Network show Steven Universe) who's a VAC alumnus with her brother Steven!

So where am I now? I'm a student at MICA, one of the top art schools in the nation, on almost a full ride, and I just illustrated my first book this year. My peers are in schools like RISD, SCAD, Cornell, CalArts, SVA, Pratt, NYU Tisch School of the arts, Havard, Pointe University, and the list goes on. I just talk to one of my VAC peers who's going to Parsons, and she's a fashion intern living in NYC. One of my friends took theatre at Einstein, and he now on a Netflix show, another friend of mind was a dancer at Einstein, and she's working on opening her own dance studio around the community. The things Einstein students go on and do are amazing.

I honestly miss it so much, the diversity, flashmobs, school spirit, playing music during the transitioning of classes, all of it. However, I was more than ready to continue my education in the visual arts. We aren't a STEM school, so the county doesn't really support the VAC like it does Blair's magnet programs. The first magnet programs created in MCPS and we only have 2 teachers, who care for over 100 students, no transportation for our commuting student, and cramped in the basement. However, you have nothing to worry about, if your son transfers to Einstein, he will love it! I know I did.

[Anonymous]

Einstein is very good for artsy kids but unfortunately doesn’t offer as much to kids who are interested in other pursuits. For example, there is no stem based academy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Einstein is very good for artsy kids but unfortunately doesn’t offer as much to kids who are interested in other pursuits. For example, there is no stem based academy.

It doesn't have a STEM academy but a kid with those interests would do renaissance academy and take the various advanced and AP math and science options, or do IB and take those math and science courses. It certainly doesn't have all the STEM offerings as Blair though, which is much larger and has the magnet.

[Anonymous]

ValrieP wrote:SO VAC is a magnet program? So we possibly missed the auditions.

Yes, you missed the admissions process. Your child's 8th grade art teacher really should have told him about the deadlines and helped him to compile his admissions portfolio. I believe that students at other schools may still apply for admissions to VAC in subsequent years, however. I think that they can even get bused over for two periods a day from their home schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Einstein is very good for artsy kids but unfortunately doesn’t offer as much to kids who are interested in other pursuits. For example, there is no stem based academy.

It doesn't have a STEM academy but a kid with those interests would do renaissance academy and take the various advanced and AP math and science options, or do IB and take those math and science courses. It certainly doesn't have all the STEM offerings as Blair though, which is much larger and has the magnet.

I went to the open house at Einstein in the fall. It was very disappointing. There was no discussion at all about academics and then it was one presentation after another of performing arts. For a kid that is not interested or talented in the arts, the school isn't appealing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Einstein is very good for artsy kids but unfortunately doesn’t offer as much to kids who are interested in other pursuits. For example, there is no stem based academy.

It doesn't have a STEM academy but a kid with those interests would do renaissance academy and take the various advanced and AP math and science options, or do IB and take those math and science courses. It certainly doesn't have all the STEM offerings as Blair though, which is much larger and has the magnet.

I went to the open house at Einstein in the fall. It was very disappointing. There was no discussion at all about academics and then it was one presentation after another of performing arts. For a kid that is not interested or talented in the arts, the school isn't appealing.

So you didn't like their open house. This doesn't mean children cannot learn math and science at a high level there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Einstein is very good for artsy kids but unfortunately doesn’t offer as much to kids who are interested in other pursuits. For example, there is no stem based academy.

It doesn't have a STEM academy but a kid with those interests would do renaissance academy and take the various advanced and AP math and science options, or do IB and take those math and science courses. It certainly doesn't have all the STEM offerings as Blair though, which is much larger and has the magnet.

I went to the open house at Einstein in the fall. It was very disappointing. There was no discussion at all about academics and then it was one presentation after another of performing arts. For a kid that is not interested or talented in the arts, the school isn't appealing.

After the performances, parents and prospective students were invited to visit classes and Main Street to speak with teachers and students from the different academies...