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]As someone who was thinking about applying to Potomac for 7th grade entry year, this thread is beyond depressing. 
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As a current Potomac family with children in multiple divisions, I would not believe a lot of it. Tour the school, talk to current families, attend events (not just admissions ones but sports, theater, festivals, etc) and see what you think. A lot of things said on here are not true. We have been thrilled with the school[/quote]

Is there really a fixed limit on how many kids can do the science program in high school? My kid likes math and science and seems to be reasonably good at math (hard to tell about science) I had been hoping that any student who is strong enough to keep up and is interested in math and science could do the program. As one of the PPs said, I can stay in public school if I want arbitrary limits on who can participate in cool programs (I'm looking at you HB Woodlawn).[/quote]

The program in question is very difficult and all-encompassing. It limits enrollment in other courses and electives, and it is a three year long commitment with summers included. It isn't a "reasonably good at math" situation. Read the descriptions of the projects on their website and you'll see it is for exceptional math/science students with a very strong interest in devoting years of academic study to one research problem. There is lots of advanced math and science taking place that isn't encompassed within SERC. The honors/AP track of math/science is separate.

- no my child isn't in SERC[/quote]

Thanks -- I'm the PP you are quoting. I honestly have no idea if my kid is strong enough to be in this program, but I know he is one of those kids who works harder the more challenging and engaging the work is and he begged to take pre-alg from Art of Problem Solving while in 5th grade and is doing well with it. But still, he is in 5th grade so I'm not going to say with any confidence that he is a math prodigy. it is just too soon to tell!!! But I don't love the idea of an arbitrary number of kids who can participate in the program. [/quote]

My kid was accepted to Potomac last year for 9th and was interested in the SERC program .  He is a math/science kid (Algebra 2 in 8th, etc).  We asked a lot of questions about the SERC program at the accepted students day.  The school was very upfront about things--it's a pretty intensive program and admissions are competitive. 
They were very transparent.  I think 5th grade is way too early to be worrying about this.  Most, if not all smart kids are good at math in 5th grade.  By 9th grade you can see the ones who truly have outlier math/science brains.  I have one of these and two other "smart kids" who are not this way at all.  The SERC program is looking 
for these kids.  I think if you end up having one, you won't have to worry about him getting accepted to this program.  If you don't have one, the program is not a good fit.  
The SERC program kids seem to be as competitive at Regeneron and with high-level STEM college admissions as TJ kids.  
As it worked out, my kid ended up choosing a different high school (mainly based on commute as we are in DC).

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