Wilde Lake

[Anonymous]

Can anyone who has actual experience with Wilde Lake tell me about the school? I know it doesn't have the greatest rep in Hoco but we have seen houses in that area that we like and can afford and we are not scared of the demographics at the school. Just want some real info from people who go there since we don't know many people in Howard county. Do kids mostly get along? Lots of kids involved in sports or other school-related activities? Thanks

[Anonymous]

There is a VERY strong sense of community at Wilde Lake. The principal is phenomenal and is thoroughly invested in the school and community.

Our kids are still in ES but our friends and neighbors really love the school. There are some beautiful homes around and it is convenient to so much.

[Anonymous]

Wilde Lake has the most amazing theater and very dedicated staff.

I live in the area, but my children attend a different school. Every time they walk into Wild Lake they wish they attended. One child was also tutored in advanced math by a Wild Lake student and teacher and they were both excellent.

If you are okay with diversity (and if you are looking in Columbia you should be) Wilde Lake is a great school for what ever level your child is learning at.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the post above. It is a good school and community.

Academically all of the schools in HoCo are teaching the same materials. If you search their websites you will see that it is pretty standardized. You may see a class here or there that they struggle to offer because not enough kids sign up but you can have this problem anywhere. If you really look at the test scores, you will see that the kids do just as well especially if you adjust for income. The new principal is great and they are really emphasizing belonging and a sense of community in the Ohana, as they like to call it.

Some people are concerned that the county pregnancy center is located there. It is my understanding that only a few people participate in the program and that it is very beneficial for the few who needed. I wanted to point this out, just in case this really matters to you.

Socially, anyone can fit in and the community is accepting, sports or not. Echo the comment about the drama program, it is very reputable and truly the best theater setup in the county. I know a few AA who went to some of the higher ranked schools and really struggle to fit in and petitioned to be transfered out of some of the top HoCo schools. Just like any school, you can & will have trouble and bad apples but, all in all, it is a very positive environment. If your kid has strong morale values and you aren't concerned with them falling into the wrong crowd, then I wouldn't hestitate for one second. If they are susceptible then just stress your values and watch over their friendships. Again, too me, this is advice for every school! The top schools and private schools have the same problems.

If you are in the most expensive neighborhoods to feed to the WL, you will see parents electing out. If this is important to you (to have neighboorhood friends attending the same school) then you may want to investigate this when deciding which neighborhood to pick. Having said that there are plenty of Dr., lawyer and well off families at the school who happily choose to send their kids there. If you are joining in 9th grade, HoCo has a strange feeder system where not all middle schools feed together although WL has a stronger feed than most. The upside for a new person, is that it makes it easier to meet new people because the same crew hasn't been together from K. Kids may go to the same ES but then feed to different middle schools and perhaps back or not to the same HS. If you lived elsewhere, most schools operate on a direct feeder system (x ES feed to 1 middle school then XX MS feed to 1 HS).

A relative graduated from there not too long ago and we know a few excellent teachers. We are in a feeder to go there as well but we elected not to go although we knew the teachers that we knew would have kept an eye out for our child. The teachers I know highly recommended the school which isn't always the case especially if they are in the know - meaning they work there. We know families who have left private for WL and are happy. Most say their child is better served at WL than private. Typically, the public HS can offer so much more than private.

Our decision to not attend was not based on the demographics or perception of their academics. I had a lot of faith in the academics there vs. other schools in the area and certainly would have preferred to go to WL vs. the so called top schools in the area. It is truly disheartening to hear and see some of the biases and fear from the parents at some of the other schools. Many of whom, probably don't know anything about the school. If you are okay with the perception, of not being at the best school then you will be fine.

Good Luck OP, I think your kid will be well served at WL.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for all the responses! Very informative and exactly what I wanted to hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with the post above. It is a good school and community.

Academically all of the schools in HoCo are teaching the same materials. If you search their websites you will see that it is pretty standardized. You may see a class here or there that they struggle to offer because not enough kids sign up but you can have this problem anywhere. If you really look at the test scores, you will see that the kids do just as well especially if you adjust for income. The new principal is great and they are really emphasizing belonging and a sense of community in the Ohana, as they like to call it.

Some people are concerned that the county pregnancy center is located there. It is my understanding that only a few people participate in the program and that it is very beneficial for the few who needed. I wanted to point this out, just in case this really matters to you.

Socially, anyone can fit in and the community is accepting, sports or not. Echo the comment about the drama program, it is very reputable and truly the best theater setup in the county. I know a few AA who went to some of the higher ranked schools and really struggle to fit in and petitioned to be transfered out of some of the top HoCo schools. Just like any school, you can & will have trouble and bad apples but, all in all, it is a very positive environment. If your kid has strong morale values and you aren't concerned with them falling into the wrong crowd, then I wouldn't hestitate for one second. If they are susceptible then just stress your values and watch over their friendships. Again, too me, this is advice for every school! The top schools and private schools have the same problems.

If you are in the most expensive neighborhoods to feed to the WL, you will see parents electing out. If this is important to you (to have neighboorhood friends attending the same school) then you may want to investigate this when deciding which neighborhood to pick. Having said that there are plenty of Dr., lawyer and well off families at the school who happily choose to send their kids there. If you are joining in 9th grade, HoCo has a strange feeder system where not all middle schools feed together although WL has a stronger feed than most. The upside for a new person, is that it makes it easier to meet new people because the same crew hasn't been together from K. Kids may go to the same ES but then feed to different middle schools and perhaps back or not to the same HS. If you lived elsewhere, most schools operate on a direct feeder system (x ES feed to 1 middle school then XX MS feed to 1 HS).

A relative graduated from there not too long ago and we know a few excellent teachers. We are in a feeder to go there as well but we elected not to go although we knew the teachers that we knew would have kept an eye out for our child. The teachers I know highly recommended the school which isn't always the case especially if they are in the know - meaning they work there. We know families who have left private for WL and are happy. Most say their child is better served at WL than private. Typically, the public HS can offer so much more than private.

Our decision to not attend was not based on the demographics or perception of their academics. I had a lot of faith in the academics there vs. other schools in the area and certainly would have preferred to go to WL vs. the so called top schools in the area. It is truly disheartening to hear and see some of the biases and fear from the parents at some of the other schools. Many of whom, probably don't know anything about the school. If you are okay with the perception, of not being at the best school then you will be fine.

Good Luck OP, I think your kid will be well served at WL.

Did you end up at River Hill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with the post above. It is a good school and community.

Academically all of the schools in HoCo are teaching the same materials. If you search their websites you will see that it is pretty standardized. You may see a class here or there that they struggle to offer because not enough kids sign up but you can have this problem anywhere. If you really look at the test scores, you will see that the kids do just as well especially if you adjust for income. The new principal is great and they are really emphasizing belonging and a sense of community in the Ohana, as they like to call it.

Some people are concerned that the county pregnancy center is located there. It is my understanding that only a few people participate in the program and that it is very beneficial for the few who needed. I wanted to point this out, just in case this really matters to you.

Socially, anyone can fit in and the community is accepting, sports or not. Echo the comment about the drama program, it is very reputable and truly the best theater setup in the county. I know a few AA who went to some of the higher ranked schools and really struggle to fit in and petitioned to be transfered out of some of the top HoCo schools. Just like any school, you can & will have trouble and bad apples but, all in all, it is a very positive environment. If your kid has strong morale values and you aren't concerned with them falling into the wrong crowd, then I wouldn't hestitate for one second. If they are susceptible then just stress your values and watch over their friendships. Again, too me, this is advice for every school! The top schools and private schools have the same problems.

If you are in the most expensive neighborhoods to feed to the WL, you will see parents electing out. If this is important to you (to have neighboorhood friends attending the same school) then you may want to investigate this when deciding which neighborhood to pick. Having said that there are plenty of Dr., lawyer and well off families at the school who happily choose to send their kids there. If you are joining in 9th grade, HoCo has a strange feeder system where not all middle schools feed together although WL has a stronger feed than most. The upside for a new person, is that it makes it easier to meet new people because the same crew hasn't been together from K. Kids may go to the same ES but then feed to different middle schools and perhaps back or not to the same HS. If you lived elsewhere, most schools operate on a direct feeder system (x ES feed to 1 middle school then XX MS feed to 1 HS).

A relative graduated from there not too long ago and we know a few excellent teachers. We are in a feeder to go there as well but we elected not to go although we knew the teachers that we knew would have kept an eye out for our child. The teachers I know highly recommended the school which isn't always the case especially if they are in the know - meaning they work there. We know families who have left private for WL and are happy. Most say their child is better served at WL than private. Typically, the public HS can offer so much more than private.

Our decision to not attend was not based on the demographics or perception of their academics. I had a lot of faith in the academics there vs. other schools in the area and certainly would have preferred to go to WL vs. the so called top schools in the area. It is truly disheartening to hear and see some of the biases and fear from the parents at some of the other schools. Many of whom, probably don't know anything about the school. If you are okay with the perception, of not being at the best school then you will be fine.

Good Luck OP, I think your kid will be well served at WL.

Did you end up at River Hill?

LOL, Absolutely Not, not interested! I'm sure the school is great for some but we wouldn't want our child to attend there.