Is Potomac alot harder to get into than SSSAS or Langley?

[Anonymous]

Our middle schooler applied to these three schools. We genuinely have no idea what to expect. Strong grades, OK prep test scores, travel baseball but nothing else too distinguishing. Coming from ACPS. From reading on here, it sounds like Potomac will be the biggest reach but maybe the others are too.

[Anonymous]

yes

[Anonymous]

SSAS and Langley are super easy to get in. Both great schools. I am not sure if I would want to go to Langley just for middle school as you will have to do the whole applying thing again in only a few years.

[Anonymous]

Yes, much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SSAS and Langley are super easy to get in. Both great schools. I am not sure if I would want to go to Langley just for middle school as you will have to do the whole applying thing again in only a few years.

But if your child goes to Langley, he will get outplacement services for high school. So, you won't be doing this alone again. Regardless, Potomac is a great school and I hope you get good news.

[Anonymous]

This is true about Langley and I have friends who have been satisfied with outplacement but many got shut out of Potomac since Potomac will only take a few
From Langley. They are great for getting in DC schools including STA and Sidwell so not too shabby but again the drama of testing and visiting schools and all the stress even with help is a tall order.

[Anonymous]

This is the OP. To a PP, how are Langley and SSSAS easy to get into? I think all of these schools are not a guarantee.

What makes Potomac so much harder to get into? Better school admissions? Fewer spots available?

[Anonymous]

Which grade OP? Langley isn’t all that challenging to get into but the current 6th grade is larger than ever and I don’t think they are planning to take any more except with attrition (and I know of only one student moving). 7th at Potomac is an entry year so you may have better luck.

[Anonymous]

Potomac got over 800 applications schoolwide this year and have a large yield from the spots they do offer. Langley will be less competitive just being a K-8 but certainly not “easy”. More are attracted to the K-12 so they only have to apply once but the reality is that kids change over the years and the good fit in K may not turn out to be the great fit in MS or HS, so these families may indeed need to look elsewhere anyhow. Nothing is a guarantee and IMO educational needs are fluid and need to be assessed every year to make sure your child is continuing to benefit from where they are in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Potomac got over 800 applications schoolwide this year and have a large yield from the spots they do offer. Langley will be less competitive just being a K-8 but certainly not “easy”. More are attracted to the K-12 so they only have to apply once but the reality is that kids change over the years and the good fit in K may not turn out to be the great fit in MS or HS, so these families may indeed need to look elsewhere anyhow. Nothing is a guarantee and IMO educational needs are fluid and need to be assessed every year to make sure your child is continuing to benefit from where they are in school.

I agree with the pp. Last year was odd with Potomac admissions if I recall correctly. Yields were completely off and they had to go deep into their waiting list. Probably won’t happen again but keep in mind OP that their wait list does move.

As more NOVA kids look to the DC Big3 for high school, Potomac becomes a 2nd or even 3rd choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the OP. To a PP, how are Langley and SSSAS easy to get into? I think all of these schools are not a guarantee.

What makes Potomac so much harder to get into? Better school admissions? Fewer spots available?

They do not have the same amount competing for spots and are not considered as prestigious. It does not mean they are not good. I have friends at both and everyone seems happy with their school choice. All in all it is true that k8 are not harder to get into because people want a one stop shop. They figure even if their kid wants a different hs they have a back up in case they have trouble getting in elsewhere. Also in recent years some of the k8 have not delivered on their promise of a first choice hs so parents have gotten more nervous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Potomac got over 800 applications schoolwide this year and have a large yield from the spots they do offer. Langley will be less competitive just being a K-8 but certainly not “easy”. More are attracted to the K-12 so they only have to apply once but the reality is that kids change over the years and the good fit in K may not turn out to be the great fit in MS or HS, so these families may indeed need to look elsewhere anyhow. Nothing is a guarantee and IMO educational needs are fluid and need to be assessed every year to make sure your child is continuing to benefit from where they are in school.

I agree with the pp. Last year was odd with Potomac admissions if I recall correctly. Yields were completely off and they had to go deep into their waiting list. Probably won’t happen again but keep in mind OP that their wait list does move.

As more NOVA kids look to the DC Big3 for high school, Potomac becomes a 2nd or even 3rd choice.

I am not sure what grade(s) you are referring to, but the yield for K was almost 100%, hence the 5 extra Kindergarteners vs normal (classes should be 16 kids but are 18, 18 & 17). I would think they’ll be extra careful this year not to risk this. In a normal year they’d add 6 first grade spots but, unless there’s attrition, I’d assume there will only be one spot to get the numbers for that class to where they should be.

SSSAS is significantly easier to get into than Potomac or Langley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Potomac got over 800 applications schoolwide this year and have a large yield from the spots they do offer. Langley will be less competitive just being a K-8 but certainly not “easy”. More are attracted to the K-12 so they only have to apply once but the reality is that kids change over the years and the good fit in K may not turn out to be the great fit in MS or HS, so these families may indeed need to look elsewhere anyhow. Nothing is a guarantee and IMO educational needs are fluid and need to be assessed every year to make sure your child is continuing to benefit from where they are in school.

I agree with the pp. Last year was odd with Potomac admissions if I recall correctly. Yields were completely off and they had to go deep into their waiting list. Probably won’t happen again but keep in mind OP that their wait list does move.

As more NOVA kids look to the DC Big3 for high school, Potomac becomes a 2nd or even 3rd choice.

I am not sure what grade(s) you are referring to, but the yield for K was almost 100%, hence the 5 extra Kindergarteners vs normal (classes should be 16 kids but are 18, 18 & 17). I would think they’ll be extra careful this year not to risk this. In a normal year they’d add 6 first grade spots but, unless there’s attrition, I’d assume there will only be one spot to get the numbers for that class to where they should be.

SSSAS is significantly easier to get into than Potomac or Langley.

Sorry to clarify, the lower yields last year were for 7th and 9th. Potomac K admissions is by far the most challenging in NOVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Potomac got over 800 applications schoolwide this year

Do you know how many of the 800 applicants were for 9th grade? How many spots are there in 9th? 40?

[Anonymous]

They had less than usual yield in 9th grade last year and took
41-usually more like 25-30 for 9th, but depends on how many 8th graders leave. It’s by no means the usual state of affairs. I think they usually take around 50 to get 30 for 9th. Probably 300+ applications.

As for 7th, typically an extremely competitive entry year too with over 125 apps for around 20 spots.