OP here, this is great perspective.
Follow-up question: What is the biggest selling point about Potomac for your family?

It would be a joint decision between my husband and I to apply for our kids, but he’s not quite convinced that it would be worth the $$$ price tag.
I’m not looking to get my kids into the Ivy League necessarily but I do want them to be prepared for college. I want them in a safe environment where they can excel, move through and master material quickly, and gain confidence.

Help me make an argument as to why Potomac is better.

Funny, I have no connection to Potomac school at all but the only person I know (an acquaintance) who has a kid there just happens to work in commercial real estate!

What years did your kids get in? For the last two years those numbers are slightly skewed because they hold a backlog of siblings that they didn’t accept in k. They should advertise the available opening for “unaffiliated applicants” for 4th grade. If you eliminate siblings and faculty kids, it’s probably closer to 4- not 10.

Anonymous wrote:I hear that your kid won’t get in unless you are in commercial real estate.

This is so strange to me - I have multiple kids there (in different divisions) and cannot think of a single parent in commercial real estate? There are some alums but I don’t know of any current parents.

As far as being very sporty, do not be intimidated if your kids are not sporty. One thing we love about the school is that there is an equal focus on all of the extracurricular activities. Robotics, speech & debate, the musicals, etc are all equally respected. Kids in IS have to do a sport (although the musical counts in winter) each season, but all levels of ability are appreciated and encouraged. In US there are more non-athletic options.

There are many students that do not have connections or a crazy hook. It’s truly a numbers game and the older the students, the more competitive to get in. There are also only a few entry years, so if you are not applying for one of those, the only spaces are through attrition, which many years is zero. I appreciate that legacies and siblings are not automatically accepted. They really do look at the individual applicant to decide. The best years to apply are K, 1st (minimal - 3-6 spots), 4th (~12), 6th (varies but ~8-12), 7th & 9th.

It is a great school. Always popular but newly popular with the Mclean (and close in burbs) Public school crowd as well

Anecdotally… this holds water. Ironically, so does most Alexandria real estate!

I hear that your kid won’t get in unless you are in commercial real estate.

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks for the insights. What is the profile they are looking for? What about well-behaved kids who are bright and want to do well? It sounds like that is not enough.

It is enough, there are just a lot of kids applying. Please don’t be discouraged from applying! You don’t need connections or an off the charts academic, athletic, or artistic kid. Give it a shot, and know that if your child didn’t get in, they didn’t do anything wrong.

By “profile”… I mean Filling a certain demographic. I think They do a great job of valuing diversity in candidates.

Anonymous wrote:NP - Also interested for HS (starting in 9th) boy who is not interested in sports (even though he is strong and coordinated) and likes music. Potomac seemed very sports focused when we visited pre-pandemic with older son.

We just finished the application process for 9th. Potomac is very sporty. I recommend you look for a better fit.

OP here, thanks for the insights. What is the profile they are looking for? What about well-behaved kids who are bright and want to do well? It sounds like that is not enough.

After Amazon, the pandemic, and frustration with the Alexandria one high school project Potomac has attracted a huge rush of Alexandria families. I think The only thing that could help is a crash in commercial real estate. It seems like every parent at every private school in the area is “in commercial real estate”. Those connections are solid key to entry at VA private schools.

This place is impossible to get into. We’ve tried for years in a row. Our kids are in TAG at ACPS and have been accepted to other independent schools. You need to have very deep connections, legacy kids don’t even get in, siblings don’t even get in. It helps to fit the right profile but that’s obviously not a guarantee. I’d say get a job there, get a rec from a board member, make yearly donations, and pray.

NP - Also interested for HS (starting in 9th) boy who is not interested in sports (even though he is strong and coordinated) and likes music. Potomac seemed very sports focused when we visited pre-pandemic with older son.

I am hearing from some acquaintances that the Potomac school is phenomenal, like head and shoulders
above what they expected. I hear the teachers are great, the curriculum is excellent and the facilities are awesome.

I know the price tag is $$$, but are there any downsides from an education perspective? I would consider the school for my two elementary school kids if it’s that great and if they could get in. They go to public school currently and are doing fine.