What are your thoughts on Blair NON-Magnet?

[Anonymous]

I am considering it for DC and wonder what current parents think...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am considering it for DC and wonder what current parents think...

Great school overall. Big but well-managed
Blair has something for every type of students.

[Anonymous]

It’s rated at what a 6 even while filching the 400 best students from the richest parts of the county to raise its tests scores. Take those 400 out at what is it? Maybe a 3 or 4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am considering it for DC and wonder what current parents think...

Great school overall. Big but well-managed
Blair has something for every type of students.

+1

Huge number of course offerings. Excellent variety of extracurriculars and lots of different kinds of people, which enables pretty much everyone to find their place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am considering it for DC and wonder what current parents think...

Great school overall. Big but well-managed
Blair has something for every type of students.

+1

Huge number of course offerings. Excellent variety of extracurriculars and lots of different kinds of people, which enables pretty much everyone to find their place.

Very happy. My oldest has graduated and youngest is there now. Every year we've been impressed with the teachers, the overall staff moral, and the student spirit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am considering it for DC and wonder what current parents think...

Great school overall. Big but well-managed
Blair has something for every type of students.

+1

Huge number of course offerings. Excellent variety of extracurriculars and lots of different kinds of people, which enables pretty much everyone to find their place.

Very happy. My oldest has graduated and youngest is there now. Every year we've been impressed with the teachers, the overall staff moral, and the student spirit.

Would agree with this.

[Anonymous]

It's not good. I may offend some folks but it's a ghetto school.

[Anonymous]

My child is very happy there! The choices of classes is really nice (a perk of a large school). She seems to know her teachers well. Tons of clubs and sports. Involved parents.

[Anonymous]

I know many kids who attend Blair, both in and out of the special programs, and the kids and their families are all very happy with the school for the reasons mentioned above. It's a great community.

[Anonymous]

My kids are still too young for Blair, but almost all of the teens in our neighborhood are there (both in and outside the magnets) and they are very happy.

When I talk to neighbors, and the kids themselves, they talk about how Blair does a good job making a giant school feel smaller. Our babysitters are involved in all sorts of fun extracurriculars in the school (robot team, theater, etc) and seem to consistently head to well-regarded colleges.

Basically, Blair seems to be doing a good job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not good. I may offend some folks but it's a ghetto school.

And you base this on what, exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know many kids who attend Blair, both in and out of the special programs, and the kids and their families are all very happy with the school for the reasons mentioned above. It's a great community.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not good. I may offend some folks but it's a ghetto school.

I'm probably on your side on many things because I too don't mind offending folks. But, I don't think you have any first hand knowledge of Blair. "Ghetto" creates an image of run down uncared-for facilities with no chance of success. Not true at all. I have two there - one Magnet one Not. Blair is so big that it has different communities within the same school. Many, many kids self segregate and as a freshman they learn to stay away from certain areas of the school. My non-magnet child is taking all honors classes so, in general, there aren't many disruptions. Depending on the choice, electives offer more socioeconomic diversity which I'm all for. Neither of my kids have any interest in going to the lunchroom or even to the 1st floor during lunch. During lunch, they hang out with their wonderful friends (of all colors mind you) on the 3rd floor or use the lunch our to meet with their teachers.

The bottom line is that if you live in the DCC, Blair should absolutely be your child's first choice. Unfortunately, because most people in the DCC already know this, it's difficult to get into Blair if it's not your home school.

[Anonymous]

We're zoned for Blair. My kids are younger (ES and MS), but I've only heard good things from friends and neighbors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not good. I may offend some folks but it's a ghetto school.

I'm probably on your side on many things because I too don't mind offending folks. But, I don't think you have any first hand knowledge of Blair. "Ghetto" creates an image of run down uncared-for facilities with no chance of success. Not true at all. I have two there - one Magnet one Not. Blair is so big that it has different communities within the same school. Many, many kids self segregate and as a freshman they learn to stay away from certain areas of the school. My non-magnet child is taking all honors classes so, in general, there aren't many disruptions. Depending on the choice, electives offer more socioeconomic diversity which I'm all for. Neither of my kids have any interest in going to the lunchroom or even to the 1st floor during lunch. During lunch, they hang out with their wonderful friends (of all colors mind you) on the 3rd floor or use the lunch our to meet with their teachers.

The bottom line is that if you live in the DCC, Blair should absolutely be your child's first choice. Unfortunately, because most people in the DCC already know this, it's difficult to get into Blair if it's not your home school.

DP. Similar experience here. My oldest always ate with friends in quieter corners. My youngest was concerned that the switch to single period lunch would mean he wouldn't be able to find room in the lunch room. So far, that hasn't been an issue, and that's still where he and his friends like to eat. There's nothing wrong with the lunch room, it's just not what everyone prefers. Youngest is also non-magnet and doing great in mostly honors classes/APs in 10th. We live within walking distance and have had zero concerns over the past five years as parents there.