Why does BCC get so much hatred?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it should be noted that I have seen from BCC many examples of kids from poor, immigrant families who have been elevated by going to school with motivated white kids. All of such kids in my DD’s elementary school class who graduated from BCC last year are now at UMD. All are first in their families to go to college. It’s really really nice to see.
I know people like these stories but don’t want it at the cost of their child’s education. That didn’t happen. My DD is at a great college and I think going to a school with such a big socio-economic mix was good for her.

So, if we are an international, educated family here, but not wealthy in DC-terms, my kid should do just fine, right? We were contemplating between Pyle/Whitman and Westland/BCC, but wanted a more economically diverse school population and hoping the IB program will be a good option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Whitman, but on this board and in real life, I have seen/heard of a lot of B-CC bashing. People saying it’s not as good as Whitman/Churchill/Wootton/Walter Johnson, Whitman parents scoffing at the idea of their kids being redistricted to B-CC, people on DCUM saying that B-CC is mediocre for its demographics, etc.

I just don’t get it. To me, B-CC seems like a great schools. It’s high-performing, it’s diverse (I know a lot of you will argue otherwise, but the demographics of the school are reflective of the country as a whole, and it is by far more diverse than the surrounding schools).

BCC was on par with Whitman and Churchill back in the 1960s even early 70s within something changed. The school, for some reason went downhill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it should be noted that I have seen from BCC many examples of kids from poor, immigrant families who have been elevated by going to school with motivated white kids. All of such kids in my DD’s elementary school class who graduated from BCC last year are now at UMD. All are first in their families to go to college. It’s really really nice to see.
I know people like these stories but don’t want it at the cost of their child’s education. That didn’t happen. My DD is at a great college and I think going to a school with such a big socio-economic mix was good for her.

So, if we are an international, educated family here, but not wealthy in DC-terms, my kid should do just fine, right? We were contemplating between Pyle/Whitman and Westland/BCC, but wanted a more economically diverse school population and hoping the IB program will be a good option.

Pick Pyle/Whitman. If you are international and educated, your child has the cultural capital and behaviors that will make that cluster work for them. BCC is not a bad school, but there is so much to deal with that you can save yourself the trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it should be noted that I have seen from BCC many examples of kids from poor, immigrant families who have been elevated by going to school with motivated white kids. All of such kids in my DD’s elementary school class who graduated from BCC last year are now at UMD. All are first in their families to go to college. It’s really really nice to see.
I know people like these stories but don’t want it at the cost of their child’s education. That didn’t happen. My DD is at a great college and I think going to a school with such a big socio-economic mix was good for her.

So, if we are an international, educated family here, but not wealthy in DC-terms, my kid should do just fine, right? We were contemplating between Pyle/Whitman and Westland/BCC, but wanted a more economically diverse school population and hoping the IB program will be a good option.

Pick Pyle/Whitman. If you are international and educated, your child has the cultural capital and behaviors that will make that cluster work for them. BCC is not a bad school, but there is so much to deal with that you can save yourself the trouble.

We already picked Westland; and will reassess if we will go with BCC when the time comes switch over to Whitman. As far as I know there are lots of internationals at BCC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it should be noted that I have seen from BCC many examples of kids from poor, immigrant families who have been elevated by going to school with motivated white kids. All of such kids in my DD’s elementary school class who graduated from BCC last year are now at UMD. All are first in their families to go to college. It’s really really nice to see.
I know people like these stories but don’t want it at the cost of their child’s education. That didn’t happen. My DD is at a great college and I think going to a school with such a big socio-economic mix was good for her.

So, if we are an international, educated family here, but not wealthy in DC-terms, my kid should do just fine, right? We were contemplating between Pyle/Whitman and Westland/BCC, but wanted a more economically diverse school population and hoping the IB program will be a good option.

Pick Pyle/Whitman. If you are international and educated, your child has the cultural capital and behaviors that will make that cluster work for them. BCC is not a bad school, but there is so much to deal with that you can save yourself the trouble.

Whitman has even more “trouble” to “deal with” when it comes to lack of inclusivity, drugs and alcohol, affluenza, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Whitman, but on this board and in real life, I have seen/heard of a lot of B-CC bashing. People saying it’s not as good as Whitman/Churchill/Wootton/Walter Johnson, Whitman parents scoffing at the idea of their kids being redistricted to B-CC, people on DCUM saying that B-CC is mediocre for its demographics, etc.

I just don’t get it. To me, B-CC seems like a great schools. It’s high-performing, it’s diverse (I know a lot of you will argue otherwise, but the demographics of the school are reflective of the country as a whole, and it is by far more diverse than the surrounding schools).

BCC was on par with Whitman and Churchill back in the 1960s even early 70s within something changed. The school, for some reason went downhill.

Can you take me to the farm that you derived that statement from? Because it’s a load of bs.

[Anonymous]

PP here - I hope to hear from actual Westland and BCC parents who can share their honest feedback of these schools. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

My DD is an incoming freshmen. I recently saw the BCC Instagram account that shows where the class of ‘23 graduates are going to college and was very impressed with the overall list. A good amount of ivies and other elite colleges, R1 state schools, and a good amount of European universities (probably because of the IB program). The overall list is more dynamic and interesting than where WJ, Churchill and Wootton kids land. Not sure about Whitman but I bet it challenges where their alums go to as well.

[I went to Churchill in the 90s and would not send my kids there.]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Whitman, but on this board and in real life, I have seen/heard of a lot of B-CC bashing. People saying it’s not as good as Whitman/Churchill/Wootton/Walter Johnson, Whitman parents scoffing at the idea of their kids being redistricted to B-CC, people on DCUM saying that B-CC is mediocre for its demographics, etc.

I just don’t get it. To me, B-CC seems like a great schools. It’s high-performing, it’s diverse (I know a lot of you will argue otherwise, but the demographics of the school are reflective of the country as a whole, and it is by far more diverse than the surrounding schools).

BCC was on par with Whitman and Churchill back in the 1960s even early 70s within something changed. The school, for some reason went downhill.

Can you take me to the farm that you derived that statement from? Because it’s a load of bs.

BCC doesn't keep the poors out like Whitman and Churchill.

[Anonymous]

BCC is the only high school in the Bethesda/Chevy Chase/Potomac area with a FARMS rate that's >20%. Per the recent at a glance report posted by the school, 22% of students at BCC received FARMS for SY22-23. I wonder if they will try balancing out FARMS students between Whitman and BCC during the Woodward study since there is a huge discrepancy between those two schools in FARMS rates and they neighbor was other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to Whitman, but on this board and in real life, I have seen/heard of a lot of B-CC bashing. People saying it’s not as good as Whitman/Churchill/Wootton/Walter Johnson, Whitman parents scoffing at the idea of their kids being redistricted to B-CC, people on DCUM saying that B-CC is mediocre for its demographics, etc.

I just don’t get it. To me, B-CC seems like a great schools. It’s high-performing, it’s diverse (I know a lot of you will argue otherwise, but the demographics of the school are reflective of the country as a whole, and it is by far more diverse than the surrounding schools).

BCC was on par with Whitman and Churchill back in the 1960s even early 70s within something changed. The school, for some reason went downhill.

Can you take me to the farm that you derived that statement from? Because it’s a load of bs.

BCC doesn't keep the poors out like Whitman and Churchill.

BCC has 22% FARMS now. It's official, it's out of the "W schools" category and belongs to the "W adjacent schools" category with RM.

/s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here - I hope to hear from actual Westland and BCC parents who can share their honest feedback of these schools. Thank you.

My kid graduated from BCC in the last couple of years and we were very happy with the school-- not going to say it was perfect and the pandemic year(s) weren't great but overall think our kid got a good education, had good opportunities for extracurriculars, had some good friends and ended up at a good college.

[Anonymous]

No hate here! My DD is a rising junior and loves BCC. As do most of my friends kids.

Diverse school, a tone of clubs and activities, near Bethesda makes it easy to go out to lunch, or to the library after school, or take public transport to internships/jobs.

Loads of different kinds of people, so there is a group for everyone --LBGTQ, theater kids, nerds, STEM kids etc. Big enough so you can "reinvent" yourself. Lots of lunchtime clubs to try. School spirit.

Having said that, like any big public high school -- a kid who is not motivated and/or has poor executive function can get lost.

[Anonymous]

My kid graduated from BCC too and I have another rising sophomore. We LOVE this school warts and all. My kids have friends from all the schools from Sidwell, St Andrews, WALLS, Wilson to the large sporty Catholics, etc because they went to a k-8 their first years so we have a somewhat inside look because these kids are at our house all the time. BCC is big but they all go to the same colleges, parties (it's true privates party more) and have similar opportunities!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Whitman, but on this board and in real life, I have seen/heard of a lot of B-CC bashing. People saying it’s not as good as Whitman/Churchill/Wootton/Walter Johnson, Whitman parents scoffing at the idea of their kids being redistricted to B-CC, people on DCUM saying that B-CC is mediocre for its demographics, etc.

I just don’t get it. To me, B-CC seems like a great schools. It’s high-performing, it’s diverse (I know a lot of you will argue otherwise, but the demographics of the school are reflective of the country as a whole, and it is by far more diverse than the surrounding schools).

It's a fine school. I suspect it isn't treated differently than any other place.