How is Richard Montgomery if you're not in IB?

[Anonymous]

^^^whoops -- So to say that if you don't go to Whitman (or the other W schools), you're going to a high school where it's common to not go on to college -- no. Most MCPS graduates go on to college.

[Anonymous]

PP, Read the post before you start off on your ridiculous rant. No one on this board ever said that kids at RM don't go to college. Please try to stay within the scope of the discussion. OP asked if RM without IB is a good school. I argue that RM (sans) IB is a good school but not a W quality school. Many have tried to make the arguments that W schools are full of privileged, spoiled rich kids who only do well because the have more resources. IMHO, that is not the issue. The issue is where would you want your kids to study - Whitman or RM (sans IB). The issue is not that kids from RM are not attending college.

My argument continues to be that at the W schools, Blair Magnet and RMIB, you have a greater % of kids who are dedicated and focused students who will be aiming for top schools. RM (sans IB) does have good students but will also has many kids who are not going to college. I know several from last years class that are really good kids but college was not in their plans. The career choices these kids are pursuing are admirable but RM has a greater % of kids that fit this profile than Whitman. Again, these kids were not taking AP classes and were not studying SAT prep books because they wanted to not only get a good score but wanted a score that was the highest in their group of friends. That is the culture at most W schools. You can take it or leave it but that has been the culture at these schools since they opened. The IB at RM is fairly new so that culture is not as strong.

[Anonymous]

PP at 15:02, please see the PP at 12:09.

I don't see how it matters what all 2,000 students at Whitman are doing, vs. all 2,100 students at RM. What matters is what your friends are doing.

[Anonymous]

PP, You are missing the point. Whitman has more academically motivated students to be friends with than RM. Sure, there are more than a few at RM but there are more at Whitman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, Read the post before you start off on your ridiculous rant. No one on this board ever said that kids at RM don't go to college. Please try to stay within the scope of the discussion. OP asked if RM without IB is a good school. I argue that RM (sans) IB is a good school but not a W quality school. Many have tried to make the arguments that W schools are full of privileged, spoiled rich kids who only do well because the have more resources. IMHO, that is not the issue. The issue is where would you want your kids to study - Whitman or RM (sans IB). The issue is not that kids from RM are not attending college.

My argument continues to be that at the W schools, Blair Magnet and RMIB, you have a greater % of kids who are dedicated and focused students who will be aiming for top schools. RM (sans IB) does have good students but will also has many kids who are not going to college. I know several from last years class that are really good kids but college was not in their plans. The career choices these kids are pursuing are admirable but RM has a greater % of kids that fit this profile than Whitman. Again, these kids were not taking AP classes and were not studying SAT prep books because they wanted to not only get a good score but wanted a score that was the highest in their group of friends. That is the culture at most W schools. You can take it or leave it but that has been the culture at these schools since they opened. The IB at RM is fairly new so that culture is not as strong.

Being admirable is negative... Yet another reason going to Whitman is a bad idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a "W" school, and I was a standard B student, who took a few honors classes, but mostly regular. I was pretty middle of the pack academically, or maybe a LITTLE above average. I think I GREATLY benefited from going to my high school, because I was immersed in an environment where it was "cool" to do well in school. It was expected that everyone went on to college. If someone didn't go to college, they were basically seen a weird or a loser. Seriously! Since I was never that motivated academically on my own, having this social pressure to succeed really kept me on track. To be fair, my parents were very involved in my life, and they pushed me to succeed as well. If I were at a school where the vast majority of my peers were not held to high academic standards by their parents, I don't know if I would have turned out as well.

If I went to a school where it was common to not go on to college, would I have "followed the pack" and not gone myself? I don't know, but I definitely think its possible.

This is the main reason I think its so important to send your kids to a high achieving, academically focused school, where they will be surrounded by peers who are held to high academic standards. Let's be honest -- most kids are not superstars, they are average, and they are very influenced by what their peers are doing.

At my high school the average performing student went to college at the University of Maryland, and that is exactly what I did. I went on to go to law school and am now a practicing attorney in DC. If the average student didn't go to college, it is very likely that I would have done the same thing. It's sad to say that I am that influenced by peer pressure, but it is the reality for most kids.

So you were rich, unmotivated and lazy. Now you are a lawyer. This is your pitch to go to Whitman? How old are you? Do you even have kids yet?

[Anonymous]

"The IB at RM is fairly new so that culture is not as strong."

I think it has been there for close to 25 years..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, You are missing the point. Whitman has more academically motivated students to be friends with than RM. Sure, there are more than a few at RM but there are more at Whitman.

Actually, I think that your point is that Whitman has fewer academically-unmotivated students to be friends with than RM. If you send your child to Whitman, you won't have to worry about your child making friends with people who might not go to college after high school graduation.

[Anonymous]

PP, Not sure that is the point but is likely to be true. Like the previous post from the Whitman graduate, if he was not at Whitman maybe he would be doing something else now. His experience fits my observation at W and non-W schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to a "W" school, and I was a standard B student, who took a few honors classes, but mostly regular. I was pretty middle of the pack academically, or maybe a LITTLE above average. I think I GREATLY benefited from going to my high school, because I was immersed in an environment where it was "cool" to do well in school. It was expected that everyone went on to college. If someone didn't go to college, they were basically seen a weird or a loser. Seriously! Since I was never that motivated academically on my own, having this social pressure to succeed really kept me on track. To be fair, my parents were very involved in my life, and they pushed me to succeed as well. If I were at a school where the vast majority of my peers were not held to high academic standards by their parents, I don't know if I would have turned out as well.

If I went to a school where it was common to not go on to college, would I have "followed the pack" and not gone myself? I don't know, but I definitely think its possible.

This is the main reason I think its so important to send your kids to a high achieving, academically focused school, where they will be surrounded by peers who are held to high academic standards. Let's be honest -- most kids are not superstars, they are average, and they are very influenced by what their peers are doing.

At my high school the average performing student went to college at the University of Maryland, and that is exactly what I did. I went on to go to law school and am now a practicing attorney in DC. If the average student didn't go to college, it is very likely that I would have done the same thing. It's sad to say that I am that influenced by peer pressure, but it is the reality for most kids.

So you were rich, unmotivated and lazy. Now you are a lawyer. This is your pitch to go to Whitman? How old are you? Do you even have kids yet?

Wow. It is UNREAL how rude people are in this forum. UNREAL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to a "W" school, and I was a standard B student, who took a few honors classes, but mostly regular. I was pretty middle of the pack academically, or maybe a LITTLE above average. I think I GREATLY benefited from going to my high school, because I was immersed in an environment where it was "cool" to do well in school. It was expected that everyone went on to college. If someone didn't go to college, they were basically seen a weird or a loser. Seriously! Since I was never that motivated academically on my own, having this social pressure to succeed really kept me on track. To be fair, my parents were very involved in my life, and they pushed me to succeed as well. If I were at a school where the vast majority of my peers were not held to high academic standards by their parents, I don't know if I would have turned out as well.

If I went to a school where it was common to not go on to college, would I have "followed the pack" and not gone myself? I don't know, but I definitely think its possible.

This is the main reason I think its so important to send your kids to a high achieving, academically focused school, where they will be surrounded by peers who are held to high academic standards. Let's be honest -- most kids are not superstars, they are average, and they are very influenced by what their peers are doing.

At my high school the average performing student went to college at the University of Maryland, and that is exactly what I did. I went on to go to law school and am now a practicing attorney in DC. If the average student didn't go to college, it is very likely that I would have done the same thing. It's sad to say that I am that influenced by peer pressure, but it is the reality for most kids.

So you were rich, unmotivated and lazy. Now you are a lawyer. This is your pitch to go to Whitman? How old are you? Do you even have kids yet?

Wow. It is UNREAL how rude people are in this forum. UNREAL.

People who live IN the bubble don't see how ignorant it is to boast "I am a lawyer, yea me", gag! I want my kids to be lawyers as much as I want them to go to Wall Strret and crash the economy for their own gain. Sorry if that hurts your feelings but the PP is exactly why I would NEVER send my kids to certain schools, Whitman specifically.

She actually thinks she is a role model, hey look at me... Don't you want your kids to be entitled like me, ummmm no I'll pass.

[Anonymous]

The main point, in my opinion, is that while the PP may not have gone to college if the PP had gone to a high school where the average student didn't go to college -- RM IS NOT THAT HIGH SCHOOL. In fact, I wonder whether there is any high school in MCPS where the average student doesn't go to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The main point, in my opinion, is that while the PP may not have gone to college if the PP had gone to a high school where the average student didn't go to college -- RM IS NOT THAT HIGH SCHOOL. In fact, I wonder whether there is any high school in MCPS where the average student doesn't go to college.

Right on! It's this irrational fear that if you don't go to W, then you will be amongst the unmotivated delinquents. This is the mentality if those who grew up in and never left the bubble. You're missing out, people! There is a whole world out there with people worthwhile knowing from all walks if life. If my kid goes to a highschool in which he has the opportunities to challenge himself academically, maybe has an after school job, helps out at home, etc., then I'm happy. Life is not about aderol fueled all-nighters in high school and being suicidal over an A-.

[Anonymous]

I think you RM parents are reading too much into these posting. Your insecurities are showing. I think the point has been made that RM, although a really good school, is probably just above average if you removed the IB program. In the same token, if you removed the magnet program from Blair then Blair would probably drop off a cliff. Now way Blair has 30+ NMSF without the magnet program and no way RM has 40 NMSF without the IB program. The average SAT, AP scores, college placements at both school would just drop. RM would become a peer of Sherwood, Magruder and Quince Orchard. Blair would not have a peer in MoCo. Yet, Whitman and Churchill would still produce they type of kids they have always produced. Wootton and WJ would also continue to do well. Again, OP asked about RM sans IB. My answer is that the program is okay it is not one of the top schools in MoCo.

Sorry if that hurts but that is the reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you RM parents are reading too much into these posting. Your insecurities are showing. I think the point has been made that RM, although a really good school, is probably just above average if you removed the IB program. In the same token, if you removed the magnet program from Blair then Blair would probably drop off a cliff. Now way Blair has 30+ NMSF without the magnet program and no way RM has 40 NMSF without the IB program. The average SAT, AP scores, college placements at both school would just drop. RM would become a peer of Sherwood, Magruder and Quince Orchard. Blair would not have a peer in MoCo. Yet, Whitman and Churchill would still produce they type of kids they have always produced. Wootton and WJ would also continue to do well. Again, OP asked about RM sans IB. My answer is that the program is okay it is not one of the top schools in MoCo.

Sorry if that hurts but that is the reality.

+1 Very true