Top 10 Schools in MoCo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are my top 10 excluding schools with test in magnets:
1. WJ
2. Whitman
3. BCC
4. Wootton
5. Churchill
6. Quince Orchard
7. Sherwood
8. Northwest
9. Clarksburg
10. Damascus

This is not bad - at least I'd agree with top 5 (but not in that order). QO is a good school but not in the same class as first 5 on your list.

In my opinion, any kid with a strong family support system will do well in any school; however the 10 here on this list have the stronger test scores and graduation rates compared to the other schools in the county but some of that is more of a reflection of the demographics. I also think the order of this list is sort of subjective.

These schools have higher than average stats because they are economically segregated. This isn't the same as being the best school for high-performing students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are my top 10 excluding schools with test in magnets:
1. WJ
2. Whitman
3. BCC
4. Wootton
5. Churchill
6. Quince Orchard
7. Sherwood
8. Northwest
9. Clarksburg
10. Damascus

This is not bad - at least I'd agree with top 5 (but not in that order). QO is a good school but not in the same class as first 5 on your list.

In my opinion, any kid with a strong family support system will do well in any school; however the 10 here on this list have the stronger test scores and graduation rates compared to the other schools in the county but some of that is more of a reflection of the demographics. I also think the order of this list is sort of subjective.

These schools have higher than average stats because they are economically segregated. This isn't the same as being the best school for high-performing students.

What do you think are the best schools for high-performing students though if we're not using test stats and graduation metrics as the basis?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What do you think are the best schools for high-performing students though if we're not using test stats and graduation metrics as the basis?

Why would you think that the best schools for smart, hard-working students are the schools with the most rich kids? I'm asking sincerely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What do you think are the best schools for high-performing students though if we're not using test stats and graduation metrics as the basis?

Why would you think that the best schools for smart, hard-working students are the schools with the most rich kids? I'm asking sincerely.

You're answering my question with a question. I stated earlier when putting this list together that this list was based on test scores and graduation rates. And I've also stated that test scores are highly driven by the demographics of the school. I also asserted that any child can do well in any MCPS HS providing that they have a solid foundation at home. It's very difficult to measure a school's success or effectiveness without using the data that's available unless you actually have direct experience with the school. Example my kids went to a Focus school in Gaithersburg and on paper, it doesn't look really good based on test scores. But you know what? The teachers were amazing, the principal is top-notch and the community was fantastic. Loved, loved that school and my kids thrived there. But I wouldn't have known all of this without experiencing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is dumb but... What do y'all think? I'd say-

Whitman
Churchill
WJ
BCC
Wootton
Poolesville
QO
RM
Sherwood
Clarksburg

Magnet MCPS anything
Private school HS
Catholic school HS
.
.
.
.
.
W schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is dumb but... What do y'all think? I'd say-

Whitman
Churchill
WJ
BCC
Wootton
Poolesville
QO
RM
Sherwood
Clarksburg

Magnet MCPS anything
Private school HS
Catholic school HS
.
.
.
.
.
W schools

I actually don't think so.
The W's are equal to the top privates but they both (W's & privates ) are way behind the Magnets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is dumb but... What do y'all think? I'd say-

Whitman
Churchill
WJ
BCC
Wootton
Poolesville
QO
RM
Sherwood
Clarksburg

Magnet MCPS anything
Private school HS
Catholic school HS
.
.
.
.
.
W schools

How exactly have you determined that all W schools are inferior? I am sure this is a wildly well thought, reasoned opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are my top 10 excluding schools with test in magnets:
1. WJ
2. Whitman
3. BCC
4. Wootton
5. Churchill
6. Quince Orchard
7. Sherwood
8. Northwest
9. Clarksburg
10. Damascus

This is not bad - at least I'd agree with top 5 (but not in that order). QO is a good school but not in the same class as first 5 on your list.

In my opinion, any kid with a strong family support system will do well in any school; however the 10 here on this list have the stronger test scores and graduation rates compared to the other schools in the county but some of that is more of a reflection of the demographics. I also think the order of this list is sort of subjective.

These schools have higher than average stats because they are economically segregated. This isn't the same as being the best school for high-performing students.

What do you think are the best schools for high-performing students though if we're not using test stats and graduation metrics as the basis?

SAT average or college admission weighted by admission difficulty

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are my top 10 excluding schools with test in magnets:
1. WJ
2. Whitman
3. BCC
4. Wootton
5. Churchill
6. Quince Orchard
7. Sherwood
8. Northwest
9. Clarksburg
10. Damascus

This is not bad - at least I'd agree with top 5 (but not in that order). QO is a good school but not in the same class as first 5 on your list.

In my opinion, any kid with a strong family support system will do well in any school; however the 10 here on this list have the stronger test scores and graduation rates compared to the other schools in the county but some of that is more of a reflection of the demographics. I also think the order of this list is sort of subjective.

These schools have higher than average stats because they are economically segregated. This isn't the same as being the best school for high-performing students.

What do you think are the best schools for high-performing students though if we're not using test stats and graduation metrics as the basis?

SAT average or college admission weighted by admission difficulty

SAT average factoring demographic/economic differences

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is dumb but... What do y'all think? I'd say-

Whitman
Churchill
WJ
BCC
Wootton
Poolesville
QO
RM
Sherwood
Clarksburg

Magnet MCPS anything
Private school HS
Catholic school HS
.
.
.
.
.
W schools

I actually don't think so.
The W's are equal to the top privates but they both (W's & privates ) are way behind the Magnets.

+1

I have a kid at Whitman and a kid at the Blair magnet, and the Blair experience (magnet and non-magnet classes alike) kicks the Whitman experience’s ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is dumb but... What do y'all think? I'd say-

Whitman
Churchill
WJ
BCC
Wootton
Poolesville
QO
RM
Sherwood
Clarksburg

Magnet MCPS anything
Private school HS
Catholic school HS
.
.
.
.
.
W schools

I actually don't think so.
The W's are equal to the top privates but they both (W's & privates ) are way behind the Magnets.

New PP chiming in. I have had several children go through Churchill cluster schools. High school standards were not what I had as an MCPS student and school standards in the elementary and middle school were lowered from 2.0. I toured the privates close to our house - Georgetown Prep (Catholic) and Bullis (non religious) - and I was amazed at their class offereings and resources. If you can swallow the price tag, these two schools are far beyond anything in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is dumb but... What do y'all think? I'd say-

Whitman
Churchill
WJ
BCC
Wootton
Poolesville
QO
RM
Sherwood
Clarksburg

Magnet MCPS anything
Private school HS
Catholic school HS
.
.
.
.
.
W schools

I actually don't think so.
The W's are equal to the top privates but they both (W's & privates ) are way behind the Magnets.

New PP chiming in. I have had several children go through Churchill cluster schools. High school standards were not what I had as an MCPS student and school standards in the elementary and middle school were lowered from 2.0. I toured the privates close to our house - Georgetown Prep (Catholic) and Bullis (non religious) - and I was amazed at their class offereings and resources. If you can swallow the price tag, these two schools are far beyond anything in MCPS.

They are not beyond the magnet programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is dumb but... What do y'all think? I'd say-

Whitman
Churchill
WJ
BCC
Wootton
Poolesville
QO
RM
Sherwood
Clarksburg

Magnet MCPS anything
Private school HS
Catholic school HS
.
.
.
.
.
W schools

I actually don't think so.
The W's are equal to the top privates but they both (W's & privates ) are way behind the Magnets.

+1

I have a kid at Whitman and a kid at the Blair magnet, and the Blair experience (magnet and non-magnet classes alike) kicks the Whitman experience’s ass.

What makes the Blair non-magnet classes better than classes at Whitman?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is dumb but... What do y'all think? I'd say-

Whitman
Churchill
WJ
BCC
Wootton
Poolesville
QO
RM
Sherwood
Clarksburg

Magnet MCPS anything
Private school HS
Catholic school HS
.
.
.
.
.
W schools

I actually don't think so.
The W's are equal to the top privates but they both (W's & privates ) are way behind the Magnets.

New PP chiming in. I have had several children go through Churchill cluster schools. High school standards were not what I had as an MCPS student and school standards in the elementary and middle school were lowered from 2.0. I toured the privates close to our house - Georgetown Prep (Catholic) and Bullis (non religious) - and I was amazed at their class offereings and resources. If you can swallow the price tag, these two schools are far beyond anything in MCPS.

They are not beyond the magnet programs.

Have you toured the new science building at Bullis or looked at their STEM signature program? For us, we thought the program exceeded Blair and my child would not have the downside of a long commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is dumb but... What do y'all think? I'd say-

Whitman
Churchill
WJ
BCC
Wootton
Poolesville
QO
RM
Sherwood
Clarksburg

Magnet MCPS anything
Private school HS
Catholic school HS
.
.
.
.
.
W schools

I actually don't think so.
The W's are equal to the top privates but they both (W's & privates ) are way behind the Magnets.

New PP chiming in. I have had several children go through Churchill cluster schools. High school standards were not what I had as an MCPS student and school standards in the elementary and middle school were lowered from 2.0. I toured the privates close to our house - Georgetown Prep (Catholic) and Bullis (non religious) - and I was amazed at their class offereings and resources. If you can swallow the price tag, these two schools are far beyond anything in MCPS.

They are not beyond the magnet programs.

Have you toured the new science building at Bullis or looked at their STEM signature program? For us, we thought the program exceeded Blair and my child would not have the downside of a long commute.

We have a neighbor who chose Georgetown Prep over the magnets.

To weigh the options and compare, you actually need to tour to see what is available. MCPS has dropped the ball while trying to write their own curriculum.