Reply to Howard County family considering a few Baltimore privates

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[quote=Anonymous]Both of my children attend the same Baltimore independent school, and we’ve been full-pay families throughout. We did not apply for financial aid for college for my son, but I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of merit aid he received. He’s a STEM-focused student headed to a top computer science program, and despite being more of an A-/B+ student than a straight-A student, his strong SAT scores, leadership, and STEM accomplishments resulted in substantial merit offers from several universities.
I personally would not choose a Catholic high school for my children. The college outcomes and academic environment simply did not align with what I was seeking.
I would also be hesitant about Boys’ Latin. In my experience, the culture seemed rougher than what I was looking for, and I was not particularly impressed with the overall college placement results.
As for McDonogh, I understand why many families love it, but it wasn’t the right fit for us. The community felt more suburban and traditionally conservative than some of the other independent schools we considered. Many families appeared to come from successful blue-collar and business backgrounds, which is perfectly respectable, but it created a culture that felt different from what we were seeking academically and socially. I also felt that many of the most notable college outcomes were tied to recruited athletes rather than the broader student body. I had similar feelings about Saint Paul's. I remember going to a birthday party at a nature center and asking if my friends son friends were in special ed. The kids were unremarkable and the parents seemed more like somebody I would have waited on me in a restaurant or help me with my mortgage. So I guess what I'm trying to say is the parents at these two county schools seem to be more aspirational and less cultured than a lot of the other independent schools. I hope that doesn't sound awful. You know the type of parents; they live in  mcmansions in the county, but they don't know who niche is or the pi is a mathematical thing and not something you eat.
If I were advising a family prioritizing academics and college placement, I would encourage them to look closely at Park and Gilman. Both schools offer strong academic programs, and I was more impressed by the overall educational environment and college outcomes. Park also has its own school bus that goes back-and-forth to Howard County.

Of course, every child is different. The best school is the one that matches your child’s personality, interests, and goals. These are simply my personal impressions after visiting schools, reviewing college matriculation lists, and interacting with families over the years.[/quote]

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