Montgomery Blair/Albert Einstein vs. B-CC/Whitman -- help me understand the differences

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The "W" schools are highly sought after. If you can go there, I'd do it.

W school parents are afraid of POC and think that poverty is contagious.

Its not necessarily POC, but income. They don't want their kids going to school with their housekeepers kids.

Why not. A mix of kids is ultimately beneficial to everyone.

DP. My kids go to RM. They like it there, and we purposefully chose RM cluster even though we could've easily afforded in a W cluster. We looked at well over 20 houses all over the western side of MoCo, from Kensington to North Potomac, and every cluster in between. We ultimately settled on the RM cluster because 1. we wanted our kids to have the opportunity to be in the IB program if they so chose to 2. we moved from a wealthy area, and I didn't want my kids surrounded by only wealthy kids. We saw the issues with that, too.

Having stated that, it is also important to have more like-minded peer groups in the school, not just because your kid might succumb to peer pressure, but because having like minded peers helps keep you motivated without necessarily being uber competitive. There are kids at RM who don't care about school, but by and large, in HS, you can start to avoid those kids when you take challenging classes because those kids tend to not want challenging classes. My kids have found a good peer group who are above average (AP classes) to high achieving (IB program). They are very happy there.

But to ^PPs point, you don't know whether your kid will be a high achiever, above average, or just a middling student right now. So, yes, it is good to have a wide variety of peer groups in the school.

The people on this thread! Did you just say that kids who take a lot of AP classes are simply "above average" but not high achieving because they are not in the magnet. Oh my

In certain clusters, yes, this is true. Tons of kids take AP classes in MCPS. They are above average; not "high achieving". When you have some 30% to 40% of kids in 2nd grade tagged as "gifted" by the Ravens test, yes, the average starts higher.

It doesn't matter what kids in Nebraska or Kansas are doing. MCPS students are compared with MCPS students, not students from other districts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:One thing that distinguishes Blair from the other schools is that it hosts the STEM magnet. In 11th and 12th grade students who meet the prereqs are eligible for these classes that aren't available elsewhere. This include anything from genetic analysis, linear algebra, complex analysis, neuroscience, or machine learning courses on par with those offered at Universities.

But at Blair, if you are a non magnet student, aren’t you competing for college spots with magnet students?
Colleges will only take a few kids from each school. I always wonder whether at Blair, the highest performing non-magnet students are at a disadvantage for top colleges compared with the Blair magnet students. Is my analysis wrong?

No, it doesn't work that way.

How can it not work that way though? Colleges limit the number of students from each school. They are picking students from the entire DC metro area.
If an elite college takes 5 Blair students, wouldn’t they take something like 4 magnet kids and 1 regular kid?
At Whitman, kids are all at the same level, not in two different tiers

There isn't a per high-school cap. Each application is considered individually. Blair is the largest high school in the state of MD. Further, the magnet program is distinct. They may look at broader geographic diversity like numbers from MCPS or the mid-Atlantic region, but individual high-school caps are ridiculous.

There may not be a literal cap per high school, but admissions officers definitely look at all the applicants coming from the same HS and make comparisons between them.

Absolutely true, from personal and professional experience.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing that distinguishes Blair from the other schools is that it hosts the STEM magnet. In 11th and 12th grade students who meet the prereqs are eligible for these classes that aren't available elsewhere. This include anything from genetic analysis, linear algebra, complex analysis, neuroscience, or machine learning courses on par with those offered at Universities.

But at Blair, if you are a non magnet student, aren’t you competing for college spots with magnet students?
Colleges will only take a few kids from each school. I always wonder whether at Blair, the highest performing non-magnet students are at a disadvantage for top colleges compared with the Blair magnet students. Is my analysis wrong?

No, it doesn't work that way.

How can it not work that way though? Colleges limit the number of students from each school. They are picking students from the entire DC metro area.
If an elite college takes 5 Blair students, wouldn’t they take something like 4 magnet kids and 1 regular kid?
At Whitman, kids are all at the same level, not in two different tiers

There isn't a per high-school cap. Each application is considered individually. Blair is the largest high school in the state of MD. Further, the magnet program is distinct. They may look at broader geographic diversity like numbers from MCPS or the mid-Atlantic region, but individual high-school caps are ridiculous.

There may not be a literal cap per high school, but admissions officers definitely look at all the applicants coming from the same HS and make comparisons between them.

Yes, but they would look at magnets and non-magnets differently. The magnet involves an extra class each semester beyond MCPS. It also provides the equivalent of 16 classes comparable to APs in terms of rigor. For example, when my child went there they had 16 magnet classes and an additional 6 APs. At most schools taking 12 APs is considered extreme. I was told by their high-school counselor that most schools know about the magnet, and they treat it as an entirely separate school for all practical purposes since it draws from the county and is not comparable to anything else.

That makes sense! Thanks for clearing that up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

DP and yeah, this example is yet another of people not understanding that there are sizable cohorts of above grade level kids at every single high school in MCPS. Smart kids will have peer groups. They're smaller at some schools than others, and variations in income level, but let's stop mistaking parental income for children's intelligence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

DP and yeah, this example is yet another of people not understanding that there are sizable cohorts of above grade level kids at every single high school in MCPS. Smart kids will have peer groups. They're smaller at some schools than others, and variations in income level, but let's stop mistaking parental income for children's intelligence.

This is true. Every HS in MCPS has a decent number of grade level + high performing kids. AP classes are taught at the AP level at all schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

I have 4 kids and my oldest is 23. There is a distinct difference in expectations for even the highest academic achievers between my oldest and younger kids (there also are more and more kids making class sizes even bigger). I think you would be surprised about the loss in academic expectations in MCPS. We moved my youngest to private for high school. There were significant changes for the the cohort of kids just a couple of years younger than your 22 year old. I really don't think your advice regarding your own kids' experience in MCPS has much value for current parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

I have 4 kids and my oldest is 23. There is a distinct difference in expectations for even the highest academic achievers between my oldest and younger kids (there also are more and more kids making class sizes even bigger). I think you would be surprised about the loss in academic expectations in MCPS. We moved my youngest to private for high school. There were significant changes for the the cohort of kids just a couple of years younger than your 22 year old. I really don't think your advice regarding your own kids' experience in MCPS has much value for current parents.

+1

[Anonymous]

Troll!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I’ll bite. If you want your kid pushed from the school, skip public education and pay for private.

I don't know what you actually mean but private schools in this area are inferior to MCPS. Only a few can compare to MCPS.

Seriously? My kid went to silver creek and was given sentence starters as their only source of writing. He had an A in math because he could retake anything until he got an A and the teacher point blank told me he was a C in math kinda kid, but that was only when I pushed her for the info.

He’s now at private. There is Hw, quizzes, and tests. He’s actually learning how to study. I think he’ll be better served for high school than had we stayed in MCPS.

The question OP asked was whether mcps pushes kids. And quite frankly, they don’t.

Thst is not exactly what OP asked. She asked about which school would give the best support in MCPS, not whether mcps pushes kids.

OP, my kids are at Blair and Wheaton. Very happy with both schools. Lower level honors classes at Blair had some misses, but everything at Wheaton has been great. Magnet and AP classes at both are outstanding.

Our ES/MS feeders in TP were all great. Don't know about for Wheaton (I realize that was not on your list but thought I would add).

Have friends in the Einstein cluster. Both have loved the schools -- Sligo MS and Newport MS and corresponding ESs. Einstein is smaller. Friends are very happy with it.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

DP and yeah, this example is yet another of people not understanding that there are sizable cohorts of above grade level kids at every single high school in MCPS. Smart kids will have peer groups. They're smaller at some schools than others, and variations in income level, but let's stop mistaking parental income for children's intelligence.

Doesn't square with some MCPS high schools having dozens, or at least a half dozen, National Merit Semifinalists every year and others going years without any NMSFs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

DP and yeah, this example is yet another of people not understanding that there are sizable cohorts of above grade level kids at every single high school in MCPS. Smart kids will have peer groups. They're smaller at some schools than others, and variations in income level, but let's stop mistaking parental income for children's intelligence.

Doesn't square with some MCPS high schools having dozens, or at least a half dozen, National Merit Semifinalists every year and others going years without any NMSFs.

NMSF only measures how well someone takes PSAT on a given day. Lots of bright even brilliant lids who are not NMSF. You could say high concentration of NMSF correlates to level of test prep and enrichment.
Not a valid argument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

DP and yeah, this example is yet another of people not understanding that there are sizable cohorts of above grade level kids at every single high school in MCPS. Smart kids will have peer groups. They're smaller at some schools than others, and variations in income level, but let's stop mistaking parental income for children's intelligence.

Doesn't square with some MCPS high schools having dozens, or at least a half dozen, National Merit Semifinalists every year and others going years without any NMSFs.

If the PSAT is your only measure of intelligence, you really have no clue what you’re talking about.

[Anonymous]

My kid's high school isn't on that list, has advanced classes, a magnet program, and far more importantly, a distinct lack of the shark tank mentality we see here.

A lot of the classes having under 20 students is also a massive plus. The teachers are all fantastic.