Reply to Are Other Upper School Students at Potomac Not Getting Tests and Papers Back for Weeks at a Time?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This sounds like a systemic problem at Potomac.  The parents need to step-up and talk to the admin asap.  Why is this happening?  Sounds like the admin is not doing a good job monitoring the teachers and/or not making the expectations clear.  This is for adults to discuss and resolve, not the kids.  [/quote]

I have not known this to be a problem in the US at Potomac. So I would argue that it is not a "systemic problem."[/quote]

[b]T[b]rust me. It is[/b][/b]![/quote]

No, it is not. It’s a very small number of teachers. Like 2-3. [/quote]

Different poster here to say it has not been a problem for my two kids in the US, one of whom is a senior.  So no, it is not a systemic problem in the US.[/quote]

I'm on my third kid in US and I would say the issue has gotten worse over time. Grades are typically, while not quite a surprise, at least a slight mystery, when they come out mid-semester and at the end of the semester. Sometimes it's a good surprise, sometimes devastating. My kid has not had one single final paper returned in an English class in the last 4 semesters. My kid is an amazing self-advocate, but figures this is just the culture and goes with it. I don't think it's great and have always felt the school lacks any transparency at all. After all, if they published all the grades, then those who are put into the middle and low bucket might have a fighting chance of rising up to the top students. This is their way of keeping the "caste" system in place. They determine very early on who the top students are and make sure there's enough distinction to keep them high enough in front of the others to get them into the very top schools. Transparency would make this more difficult.[/quote]

As painful as it is to admit, I think there is some truth to what seems like a wild conspiracy theory.  The school seems to give the spotlight to the very, very few kids (and or their parents) who demand it in some way (that includes the couple in each class who might be superstars, the ones whose parents are restless think they are superstars, and the very, very wealthy).  The rest seem to get vague “everything’s fine, don’t worry” messages all along the way.  No matter how well some kids do, they are often told they are in the middle of the pack.  Nothing is transparent.

Many of the teachers are truly terrific — caring and engaging and dedicated to kids.  The teachers are the reason our kids have stayed.  Some of the administration is a different story.

And to the PP who asked why a school would do this, I think it is because so many people evaluate a school by where it sends kids to college.  Potomac seems  focused on getting the few who might have a shot into the top schools so they can look like Potomac competes with the DC schools.  Same reason they look for parents who went to top colleges, in case the legacy thing helps.  Those may not be the only reasons, of course.  [/quote][/quote]

+1 There is a lot of gatekeeping happening, from who is approved for more advanced classes, who is accepted into the academies like GPAC and SERC with special classes and opportunities that strengthen college apps, who is tapped for leadership, etc.  it is demoralizing for the rest of the kids.[/quote]

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