Montgomery Blair/Albert Einstein vs. B-CC/Whitman -- help me understand the differences

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

DP and yeah, this example is yet another of people not understanding that there are sizable cohorts of above grade level kids at every single high school in MCPS. Smart kids will have peer groups. They're smaller at some schools than others, and variations in income level, but let's stop mistaking parental income for children's intelligence.

and at a HS of 3K students there's a fairly large high achieving cohort

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

DP and yeah, this example is yet another of people not understanding that there are sizable cohorts of above grade level kids at every single high school in MCPS. Smart kids will have peer groups. They're smaller at some schools than others, and variations in income level, but let's stop mistaking parental income for children's intelligence.

Doesn't square with some MCPS high schools having dozens, or at least a half dozen, National Merit Semifinalists every year and others going years without any NMSFs.

NMSF only measures how well someone takes PSAT on a given day. Lots of bright even brilliant lids who are not NMSF. You could say high concentration of NMSF correlates to level of test prep and enrichment.
Not a valid argument.

These tests have fallen out of favor since they don't correlate with much of anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bite. If you want your kid pushed from the school, skip public education and pay for private.

I don't know what you actually mean but private schools in this area are inferior to MCPS. Only a few can compare to MCPS.

Seriously? My kid went to silver creek and was given sentence starters as their only source of writing. He had an A in math because he could retake anything until he got an A and the teacher point blank told me he was a C in math kinda kid, but that was only when I pushed her for the info.

He’s now at private. There is Hw, quizzes, and tests. He’s actually learning how to study. I think he’ll be better served for high school than had we stayed in MCPS.

The question OP asked was whether mcps pushes kids. And quite frankly, they don’t.

Amen, brother (or sister). None of the above. I don’t get this reverence for, frankly a pretty sh**ty school system. If you can go private I would and skip the ‘all hat and no cattle’ that is MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Dear future Moco Resident. Here’s the secret - whatever high school you pick just make sure to pick your concomitant cram school. So for BCC - Russian School of Math. Walter Johnson - Mathnaseum. Whitman - C2 Education of Potomac…et al. Doubt Einstein has one - and likely less intense atmosphere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid's high school isn't on that list, has advanced classes, a magnet program, and far more importantly, a distinct lack of the shark tank mentality we see here.

A lot of the classes having under 20 students is also a massive plus. The teachers are all fantastic.

Please name the school! Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

DP and yeah, this example is yet another of people not understanding that there are sizable cohorts of above grade level kids at every single high school in MCPS. Smart kids will have peer groups. They're smaller at some schools than others, and variations in income level, but let's stop mistaking parental income for children's intelligence.

and at a HS of 3K students there's a fairly large high achieving cohort

And also a very large cohort of low achieving kids, up to no good kids, mad at the world kids. What we are talking about is the ratios of said cohorts between the different schools. I would wager there are more kids who are functionally illiterate at Blair than Magnet kids. And while there is some good and bad reasons for that related to economic realities and ESOL. Why not go somewhere where the good kid cohort is the vast majority opposed to a subgroup if you have the means . I am sure there are a few Blair families that could have gotten into a starter home IB for Whitman but every single family at Whitman could have sent their kids to Blair if they wanted to and gotten one of the nicest homes in the area in the process, 2mil goes a looooooong way in the east county. You will never convince me that concentration of high achievers in the West don't know a little bit more about what it takes to achieve than the concentration of average to low achieving families that are naturally IB in the east.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

DP and yeah, this example is yet another of people not understanding that there are sizable cohorts of above grade level kids at every single high school in MCPS. Smart kids will have peer groups. They're smaller at some schools than others, and variations in income level, but let's stop mistaking parental income for children's intelligence.

and at a HS of 3K students there's a fairly large high achieving cohort

And also a very large cohort of low achieving kids, up to no good kids, mad at the world kids. What we are talking about is the ratios of said cohorts between the different schools. I would wager there are more kids who are functionally illiterate at Blair than Magnet kids. And while there is some good and bad reasons for that related to economic realities and ESOL. Why not go somewhere where the good kid cohort is the vast majority opposed to a subgroup if you have the means . I am sure there are a few Blair families that could have gotten into a starter home IB for Whitman but every single family at Whitman could have sent their kids to Blair if they wanted to and gotten one of the nicest homes in the area in the process, 2mil goes a looooooong way in the east county. You will never convince me that concentration of high achievers in the West don't know a little bit more about what it takes to achieve than the concentration of average to low achieving families that are naturally IB in the east.

I'm just amazed that you're attempting to use the above paragraph to convince the OP to enroll their kids at Whitman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

DP and yeah, this example is yet another of people not understanding that there are sizable cohorts of above grade level kids at every single high school in MCPS. Smart kids will have peer groups. They're smaller at some schools than others, and variations in income level, but let's stop mistaking parental income for children's intelligence.

and at a HS of 3K students there's a fairly large high achieving cohort

And also a very large cohort of low achieving kids, up to no good kids, mad at the world kids. What we are talking about is the ratios of said cohorts between the different schools. I would wager there are more kids who are functionally illiterate at Blair than Magnet kids. And while there is some good and bad reasons for that related to economic realities and ESOL. Why not go somewhere where the good kid cohort is the vast majority opposed to a subgroup if you have the means . I am sure there are a few Blair families that could have gotten into a starter home IB for Whitman but every single family at Whitman could have sent their kids to Blair if they wanted to and gotten one of the nicest homes in the area in the process, 2mil goes a looooooong way in the east county. You will never convince me that concentration of high achievers in the West don't know a little bit more about what it takes to achieve than the concentration of average to low achieving families that are naturally IB in the east.

I'm just amazed that you're attempting to use the above paragraph to convince the OP to enroll their kids at Whitman.

They're not. Just saying one could have bought a couple houses zoned for Blair instead of their one W zone home, if they'd wanted to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's high school isn't on that list, has advanced classes, a magnet program, and far more importantly, a distinct lack of the shark tank mentality we see here.

A lot of the classes having under 20 students is also a massive plus. The teachers are all fantastic.

Please name the school! Thanks.

I'm surprised your kid has "a lot" of classes under 20 students. Please name this school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

DP and yeah, this example is yet another of people not understanding that there are sizable cohorts of above grade level kids at every single high school in MCPS. Smart kids will have peer groups. They're smaller at some schools than others, and variations in income level, but let's stop mistaking parental income for children's intelligence.

and at a HS of 3K students there's a fairly large high achieving cohort

And also a very large cohort of low achieving kids, up to no good kids, mad at the world kids. What we are talking about is the ratios of said cohorts between the different schools. I would wager there are more kids who are functionally illiterate at Blair than Magnet kids. And while there is some good and bad reasons for that related to economic realities and ESOL. Why not go somewhere where the good kid cohort is the vast majority opposed to a subgroup if you have the means . I am sure there are a few Blair families that could have gotten into a starter home IB for Whitman but every single family at Whitman could have sent their kids to Blair if they wanted to and gotten one of the nicest homes in the area in the process, 2mil goes a looooooong way in the east county. You will never convince me that concentration of high achievers in the West don't know a little bit more about what it takes to achieve than the concentration of average to low achieving families that are naturally IB in the east.

I'm just amazed that you're attempting to use the above paragraph to convince the OP to enroll their kids at Whitman.

They're not. Just saying one could have bought a couple houses zoned for Blair instead of their one W zone home, if they'd wanted to do so.

"Why not go somewhere where the good kid cohort is the vast majority opposed to a subgroup if you have the means"

The good kid cohort!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's high school isn't on that list, has advanced classes, a magnet program, and far more importantly, a distinct lack of the shark tank mentality we see here.

A lot of the classes having under 20 students is also a massive plus. The teachers are all fantastic.

Please name the school! Thanks.

I'm surprised your kid has "a lot" of classes under 20 students. Please name this school.

Not the PP, but I'll guess Wheaton. I have a kid there, and we are very impressed. Great teachers and at least 3 classes under 20 students. I thought the magnet classes would be good, but there have been excellent English and History teachers too. The teachers really seem to love the school.

Also, had a kid at Blair, and we were very pleased with that school too. I don't know what that Whitman poster above is smoking, but they don't know Blair. My kid got a great education there and is now at an Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

+1
Yes, the PPs who are saying that may know their schools, but they don't know the schools like Blair, Einstein, Wheaton that they are judging. These are all great schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's just about wanting to avoid schools where the primary focus is on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level. The peer groups at the W schools are academically stronger and encourage each other to excel.

+1 this has been our experience. Add WJ to your list OP. Large ranges of homes, townhomes, condos, and apartment in zone.

My kids are both Blair graduates and had zero classes where the "primary focus (was) on getting kids up to grade level or in a position to graduate even if never at grade level." Both of my kids attended T30 colleges and are highly successful, independent adults now at 25 and 22.

DP and yeah, this example is yet another of people not understanding that there are sizable cohorts of above grade level kids at every single high school in MCPS. Smart kids will have peer groups. They're smaller at some schools than others, and variations in income level, but let's stop mistaking parental income for children's intelligence.

and at a HS of 3K students there's a fairly large high achieving cohort

And also a very large cohort of low achieving kids, up to no good kids, mad at the world kids. What we are talking about is the ratios of said cohorts between the different schools. I would wager there are more kids who are functionally illiterate at Blair than Magnet kids. And while there is some good and bad reasons for that related to economic realities and ESOL. Why not go somewhere where the good kid cohort is the vast majority opposed to a subgroup if you have the means . I am sure there are a few Blair families that could have gotten into a starter home IB for Whitman but every single family at Whitman could have sent their kids to Blair if they wanted to and gotten one of the nicest homes in the area in the process, 2mil goes a looooooong way in the east county. You will never convince me that concentration of high achievers in the West don't know a little bit more about what it takes to achieve than the concentration of average to low achieving families that are naturally IB in the east.

I'm just amazed that you're attempting to use the above paragraph to convince the OP to enroll their kids at Whitman.

LOL! Literally, I laughed out loud. Thank you, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "W" schools are highly sought after. If you can go there, I'd do it.

W school parents are afraid of POC and think that poverty is contagious.

Its not necessarily POC, but income. They don't want their kids going to school with their housekeepers kids.

Actually, that's an underrated advantage of attending a socio-economically diverse school. My child attends Wheaton HS and I am constantly amazed how they can command a strong presence in any room and their gregarious approach towards people of different social classes. It has resulted in a richly diverse friend group for my child that I don't believe would be possible in a more SES-segregated educational environment. If my child chooses to hire a housekeeper when they have a family, I'm confident they'll attract the very best and treat them like family.

WTF. Can't believe you actually typed out that last sentence.

I was thinking the same. I am another Wheaton parent (just posted above), but not this one!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing that distinguishes Blair from the other schools is that it hosts the STEM magnet. In 11th and 12th grade students who meet the prereqs are eligible for these classes that aren't available elsewhere. This include anything from genetic analysis, linear algebra, complex analysis, neuroscience, or machine learning courses on par with those offered at Universities.

We heard only a very small number of non-magnet kids are in magnet classes. Is this your experience too?

I have the same question. Do only a small number of non-magnet kids take the advanced magnet classes and are they at a disadvantage compared with kids who are in the magnet program?

Yes, because they are limited to space available and (if applicable) pre requisites. But, Blair offers many AP classes as well, and some nonmagnet kids do take some magnet classes. Nonmagnet kids have some excellent college admissions too.