New question on BCC or WW

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By lily white, does that also include Italians (who were never considered white before)? Whitman offers Italian language class as a language option for students.

LOL … you have got to be kidding me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman is very good if you have a bright, ambitious student who also has good executive functioning. They have all the resources - all the AP classes, generally good teachers, all the extracurriculars, and a generally supportive environment. The overall culture is very performance oriented.

But Whitman would absolutely suck for the below average student including bright students who also have learning disabilities, ADHD, or etc. Would 100 percent go private in that circumstance.

+1 and from what I hear, BCC might be a better environment than WWHS.

What do you hear that might be that BCC a better environment than WWHS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How’a World Languages in BCC?

My kid started Spanish at Westland. Ms Fuentes in 8th grade is a brilliant teacher, and then she had another demanding teacher in 9th grade for Spanish 4. Sadly now in Spanish 5, mixed with IB students, the level is *easier* and she's wondering what that means for AP Spanish preparedness next year. Was the Spanish 4 teacher teaching above the curriculum? Is it the Spanish 5 teacher that's dumbing things down? Weird!

The problem is 5, it goes back to demanding next year.

Do they go easy in 5 because they think kids will leave at Level 5 (meeting the two years of same world language in high school)? Or is it a way to get students to continue on to Level 6 (or whatever it is called) so they make it *easier* at Level 5? Is this easier to harder pattern true of the other languages MCPS offers at Level 4, 5 and 6 (or Level 7, AP or IB)?

Honestly, not sure. I think it’s because Spanish 5 introduces or uses the IB curve, and it makes it so kids that have or would have 75% C actually equals an A. But also you need to consider your kid spent a whole year in Spanish 4, which is the biggest jump in MCPS, they are used to all the language skills as they have been working on them for a whole year, so maybe 5 just seems easier because it tends to be an extension of 4. But also, my DD has expressed SPA5 is just not taught the greatest way and they feel like they have lost most of the Spanish they learned in 4, which was more intensive than all her years and the year she learned the most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How’a World Languages in BCC?

My kid started Spanish at Westland. Ms Fuentes in 8th grade is a brilliant teacher, and then she had another demanding teacher in 9th grade for Spanish 4. Sadly now in Spanish 5, mixed with IB students, the level is *easier* and she's wondering what that means for AP Spanish preparedness next year. Was the Spanish 4 teacher teaching above the curriculum? Is it the Spanish 5 teacher that's dumbing things down? Weird!

The problem is 5, it goes back to demanding next year.

Do they go easy in 5 because they think kids will leave at Level 5 (meeting the two years of same world language in high school)? Or is it a way to get students to continue on to Level 6 (or whatever it is called) so they make it *easier* at Level 5? Is this easier to harder pattern true of the other languages MCPS offers at Level 4, 5 and 6 (or Level 7, AP or IB)?

Honestly, not sure. I think it’s because Spanish 5 introduces or uses the IB curve, and it makes it so kids that have or would have 75% C actually equals an A. But also you need to consider your kid spent a whole year in Spanish 4, which is the biggest jump in MCPS, they are used to all the language skills as they have been working on them for a whole year, so maybe 5 just seems easier because it tends to be an extension of 4. But also, my DD has expressed SPA5 is just not taught the greatest way and they feel like they have lost most of the Spanish they learned in 4, which was more intensive than all her years and the year she learned the most.

What is the IB curve? Are you saying that IB classes are easy to get an A in?

[Anonymous]

OP here- thanks for all the useful comments.

[Anonymous]

Does the presence of Spanish Immersion students and kids who speak Spanish at home skew Spanish instruction at BCC? My understanding is that those kids take Spanish classes that are relatively easy for them for an easy A.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the presence of Spanish Immersion students and kids who speak Spanish at home skew Spanish instruction at BCC? My understanding is that those kids take Spanish classes that are relatively easy for them for an easy A.

Not all immersion kids are good. A lot of them speak very good, but can’t really write or read as well. Sometimes non-immersion/non-hispanics do better academically.

[Anonymous]

OP here - my kid is taking French. I heard French is very well taught at WW. How about BCC? thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:hi everyone,
Please do not comment on looking up older threads. I am looking for current/updated information on the two HSs in question.

Dear BCC and WW families - could you please share your current experiences at BCC and WW HSs. The good, the bad, the ugly.
Do you wish your kid would be going to another HS than the one they are attending? If so, what are the reasons?
What do you like and dislike at your kids' school?
We are zoned for BCC, but my 8th grader kid did not love his current MS, and I have been reading up on some of the recent incidents at BCC, which makes me wonder if we should switch to WW. I know several families at WW, and they all seem to be happy there.
My kid is smart, but not a super ambitious achiever and has not been interested to participate in clubs/sports at his current MS.
The reason I originally picked BCC vs Whitman was the IB program and more economic diversity at BCC.

Please give me your honest and constructive feedback on your experiences last and this year.
Thanks!

BCC alum here (yes, someone with actual experience at these schools):

For your son, BCC sounds like a better fit. WW is a good school, but BCC still offers great opportunities while having a less stressful environment. My friends who went to WW seemed incredibly stressed due to the competitive environment, which is especially overwhelming for someone who isn’t as ambitious. This culture is still present at BCC, but less pervasive. Parents tend to underestimate the impacts that mental health has on their children, especially in middle/high school.

I would advise you to keep your son at BCC. Encourage him to take challenging classes and explore clubs that interest him.

I enjoyed my experience at BCC. I was an above-average student, taking almost all AP/honors classes, and there’s definitely a group of high-achieving students (in AP and IB programs). I feel that BCC’s academic rigor prepared me well for an elite college. Most people I know went to great colleges. As you mentioned, BCC has students from more diverse backgrounds, which has been helpful in interacting with people in the real world.

Other thoughts:
I enjoyed some of my classes more than others: teachers definitely differ in personality and effectiveness. But I did learn a lot, and there are still teachers that I think about as positive influences on my life. IMO, the history department was great and passionate, math department was not, science department was generally good, and English differs but had some of the best teachers. The open lunch (where you can have lunch anywhere in the building or go out) was really nice, and some of my best memories were walking around Bethesda with friends. There are clubs for everything, ranging in intensity levels.

The one issue I have is that the counseling system (at least when I was there) wasn’t effective. Counselors are overwhelmed with students and often not experienced with colleges. I would suggest getting private college counseling, or at least a couple sessions, when the time comes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the presence of Spanish Immersion students and kids who speak Spanish at home skew Spanish instruction at BCC? My understanding is that those kids take Spanish classes that are relatively easy for them for an easy A.

Not as far as I can tell. My kid doing Spanish at BCC is a native French speaker, attends a weekend French school outside of MCPS, and there is an American kid in her French native language class who is better than everyone else. The same applies everywhere - you don't need to be a native speaker to be really good at grammar and sentence structure, and if you memorize enough vocab, you can have better grades in class than the native speakers. But outside of the classroom... the native speakers often still have an edge in the real world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:hi everyone,
Please do not comment on looking up older threads. I am looking for current/updated information on the two HSs in question.

Dear BCC and WW families - could you please share your current experiences at BCC and WW HSs. The good, the bad, the ugly.
Do you wish your kid would be going to another HS than the one they are attending? If so, what are the reasons?
What do you like and dislike at your kids' school?
We are zoned for BCC, but my 8th grader kid did not love his current MS, and I have been reading up on some of the recent incidents at BCC, which makes me wonder if we should switch to WW. I know several families at WW, and they all seem to be happy there.
My kid is smart, but not a super ambitious achiever and has not been interested to participate in clubs/sports at his current MS.
The reason I originally picked BCC vs Whitman was the IB program and more economic diversity at BCC.

Please give me your honest and constructive feedback on your experiences last and this year.
Thanks!

BCC alum here (yes, someone with actual experience at these schools):

For your son, BCC sounds like a better fit. WW is a good school, but BCC still offers great opportunities while having a less stressful environment. My friends who went to WW seemed incredibly stressed due to the competitive environment, which is especially overwhelming for someone who isn’t as ambitious. This culture is still present at BCC, but less pervasive. Parents tend to underestimate the impacts that mental health has on their children, especially in middle/high school.

I would advise you to keep your son at BCC. Encourage him to take challenging classes and explore clubs that interest him.

I enjoyed my experience at BCC. I was an above-average student, taking almost all AP/honors classes, and there’s definitely a group of high-achieving students (in AP and IB programs). I feel that BCC’s academic rigor prepared me well for an elite college. Most people I know went to great colleges. As you mentioned, BCC has students from more diverse backgrounds, which has been helpful in interacting with people in the real world.

Other thoughts:
I enjoyed some of my classes more than others: teachers definitely differ in personality and effectiveness. But I did learn a lot, and there are still teachers that I think about as positive influences on my life. IMO, the history department was great and passionate, math department was not, science department was generally good, and English differs but had some of the best teachers. The open lunch (where you can have lunch anywhere in the building or go out) was really nice, and some of my best memories were walking around Bethesda with friends. There are clubs for everything, ranging in intensity levels.

The one issue I have is that the counseling system (at least when I was there) wasn’t effective. Counselors are overwhelmed with students and often not experienced with colleges. I would suggest getting private college counseling, or at least a couple sessions, when the time comes.

Thanks for posting! For context, could you let us know when you graduated? Was it in the last year or two?

[Anonymous]

I graduated 3 years ago!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting! For context, could you let us know when you graduated? Was it in the last year or two?

*sorry for the double response, I’m trying to figure this website out*
I graduated 3 years ago!