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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]hi everyone,
Please do not comment on looking up older threads. I am looking for current/updated information on the two HSs in question.

Dear BCC and WW families - could you please share your current experiences at BCC and WW HSs. The good, the bad, the ugly. 
Do you wish your kid would be going to another HS than the one they are attending? If so, what are the reasons? 
What do you like and dislike at your kids' school?
We are zoned for BCC, but my 8th grader kid did not love his current MS, and I have been reading up on some of the recent incidents at BCC, which makes me wonder if we should switch to WW. I know several families at WW, and they all seem to be happy there. 
My kid is smart, but not a super ambitious achiever and has not been interested to participate in clubs/sports at his current MS.
The reason I originally picked BCC vs Whitman was the IB program and more economic diversity at BCC.

Please give me your honest and constructive feedback on your experiences last and this year.
Thanks![/quote]

BCC alum here (yes, someone with actual experience at these schools):

For your son, BCC sounds like a better fit. WW is a good school, but BCC still offers great opportunities while having a less stressful environment. My friends who went to WW seemed incredibly stressed due to the competitive environment, which is especially overwhelming for someone who isn’t as ambitious. This culture is still present at BCC, but less pervasive. Parents tend to underestimate the impacts that mental health has on their children, especially in middle/high school.

I would advise you to keep your son at BCC. Encourage him to take challenging classes and explore clubs that interest him.
 
I enjoyed my experience at BCC. I was an above-average student, taking almost all AP/honors classes, and there’s definitely a group of high-achieving students (in AP and IB programs). I feel that BCC’s academic rigor prepared me well for an elite college. Most people I know went to great colleges. As you mentioned, BCC has students from more diverse backgrounds, which has been helpful in interacting with people in the real world.

Other thoughts:
I enjoyed some of my classes more than others: teachers definitely differ in personality and effectiveness. But I did learn a lot, and there are still teachers that I think about as positive influences on my life. IMO, the history department was great and passionate, math department was not, science department was generally good, and English differs but had some of the best teachers. The open lunch (where you can have lunch anywhere in the building or go out) was really nice, and some of my best memories were walking around Bethesda with friends. There are clubs for everything, ranging in intensity levels.

The one issue I have is that the counseling system (at least when I was there) wasn’t effective. Counselors are overwhelmed with students and often not experienced with colleges. I would suggest getting private college counseling, or at least a couple sessions, when the time comes. [/quote]

Thanks for posting! For context, could you let us know when you graduated? Was it in the last year or two? [/quote]

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