Considering pulling kid from Wilson

[Anonymous]

I think the original comment was referring to behavior outside of school. I’ve heard about it too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is a junior at Wilson. She hardly ever mentions drugs, sex, or fights. I don't hear her friends ever talking about these either.

Yes, for sure, the school is too big and too chaotic. And the academics suffer for it. What we have experienced is hit or miss. What helps a lot is that she has always had one or two classes per year/semester, that are really excellent. And so that tends to smooth out the rougher edges for her in terms of the other classes or the meh advising.

I wonder if the Wilson environment is harder on boys and that might be why some posters don't see what OP is saying?

I’ve heard from a couple of teachers that grades 9 and 10 are particularly rambunctious.

My student is in a couple of classes with upperclassmen (Bc DC is a total genius, jk it just worked out that way), and those classes seem to be going more smoothly.

[Anonymous]

I would also agree that there are some excellent teachers at Wilson.

There’s another group of teachers teaching non-academic subjects who are great role models, really memorable personalities.

I know this from my student’s distance learning experience last year.

[Anonymous]

The current 10th grade was known for having behavior issues (I.e being a challenging class) way back when they were 6th graders at Deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS said the drug problem is bad, like heroin bad.

I think your son is exaggerating. If you are a teen it's exciting to think that this may be going on - like you're living in a movie! But as a parent who has two kids at Wilson, that's now how it is. It's not always great, but its not heroin bad.

Same. Dd has really nice friends and loves going there. It’s not perfect, but no high school is. I promise that there is drug use at high schools in McLean and Bethesda as well.

People were smoking pot in the bathrooms at Leland Jr High when I was there in '76-'78 as well as doing LSD, and BCC was notorious for it's circles of smokers on the front lawn. Of course, pot was comparatively weak back then,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the student body at Wilson (esp. 9th) is rougher than normal. None of my kid's friend group of 15+ kids at Deal went on the Wilson. They're at Walls, Duke Ellington, Banneker, about 5 different privates and 4 Catholics. They were all quiet, studious kids at Deal.
Almost all had older siblings who attended Wilson. The parents got scared off by Covid and many are scraping their dimes together to afford private or Catholic tuition.

Whew, I’m impressed that you were able to fit so many dog whistles into one post.

If the Nike fits...

[Anonymous]

Observation of one here but the “advanced” behaviors I am aware of come from close-in white WOTP neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The current 10th grade was known for having behavior issues (I.e being a challenging class) way back when they were 6th graders at Deal.

Truth. Seventh grade was particularly....memorable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took a kid from 9th grade at Whitman (MCPS) and sent him to St Andrew's, a coed boarding high school in Delaware. Mine repeated 9th grade, but they also have admissions into the 10th grade and very good financial aid. A world of difference, in all positive ways. Do some research into what else is out there (no, I would not have home-schooled)

We are considering this path - give walls/Wilson a chance but be ready to pull.

How did you navigate the timing? Did you know 9th grade wasn't going to work right away?

Don’t do this to your child. “Ready to pull” from high school is harder than you think.

As a relative with two kids in college advised me: in ninth tenth grade, students need to be focused on extracurricular activities, building relationships with teachers, test prep (if need be), honing academic and organizational skills, developing academic interests, maybe applying to summer programs. Not applying to a new high school.

OP believes Wilson is not a good fit, with potentially disastrous consequences; that’s one thing. But I wouldn’t enroll my child in any high school, planning to maybe bail. It’s tougher than it looks from the perspective of middle school.

I am the St. Andrews (DE) parent. Yes, we pretty much knew that Whitman was going to be a one year thing. But child also bought into the entire plan, which of course is crucial. My child had been to a private Middle school (after mcps for elementary) and our family was familiar with both systems. He is an October bday, had gone to k-8 (and 9th at Whitman) as the youngest in the class, and needed an extra year to mature. The large classes at Whitman were not optimal, and there was virtually no writing ever required. (which had also been a problem for me, graduating from a "top" tho way smaller public high school many years ago)
My advice is talk to people at St Andrews, and other schools that look interesting. I believe that my kid has many more paths open to him now than he would have had remaining at Whitman. Applying out wasn't really a big deal. And kid still has local neighborhood friends as well as friends from all over the country



I am St

[Anonymous]

Current ninth grade was no picnic either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Observation of one here but the “advanced” behaviors I am aware of come from close-in white WOTP neighborhoods.

And that makes it better, to you? Or worse?

OP wrote about serious issues that her DC is experiencing. She didn't specify the race or the house addresses of the problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The current 10th grade was known for having behavior issues (I.e being a challenging class) way back when they were 6th graders at Deal.

Truth. Seventh grade was particularly....memorable.

I have a kid in this grade and have no awareness of unusual problems. Not saying it’s not true! Just more evidence that everyone’s experience and knowledge is different, especially at huge schools like Deal and Wilson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Current ninth grade was no picnic either.

yes, there were at least 3 episodes that I know of at Deal during 6th grade (with the current 9th grade) where kids were injured at school to the point of being taken by ambulance to the hospital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current ninth grade was no picnic either.

yes, there were at least 3 episodes that I know of at Deal during 6th grade (with the current 9th grade) where kids were injured at school to the point of being taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Actually 2 involved injured kids, one event was an injured teacher.

[Anonymous]

I also know at least one child who was bullied so badly that year they left the school.