Anonymous wrote:Holton. Not sure why this is a question.

OMG no.

Op look at the curriculums they are not even close.

Holton does not compare to MCPS college acceptances, math, science etc...

Holton is a fine school but it is not at the same caliber of RMIB

At my child's Ivy -- there were kids from both schools so maybe it does not matter for college outcomes OP. But, the schools are really different. If you can afford it-- go to Holton. If not, RM is fine (they always do well on It's Academic.

I've seen so many threads on DCUM over the years describing Holton as an academic pressure cooker on par with NCS, and now all of a sudden their students (who average 1400 SAT and 31.6 ACT) can't handle the IB program?

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean those comments are wrong? We have an older child who attended and I don't see anything inaccurate. I admit I don't know as much about the details of the curriculum and how many paper have to be written

We cross posted. Wrong meant posters 10:31and 2 posts at 10:43.

What do you mean those comments are wrong? We have an older child who attended and I don't see anything inaccurate. I admit I don't know as much about the details of the curriculum and how many paper have to be written

I seriously doubt Holton kids can survive RMIB program. It is incredibly hard.

All of the comments about RMIB above are wrong. I can’t comment on Holton because my kid didn’t attend both.

I can only speak about RMIB.

It's a rigorous program. Tons of writing. 9th grade RMS English is the magnet English class, and 99% of kids get Cs in their first writing assignment because it's just really rigorous, including kids from Eastern MS magnet who are also used to rigorous writing. At the end of the year, I think a lot of the kids start getting more As, though.

Every class, including STEM classes, require a research paper, and STEM projects. Then there is the Extended Essay that is required. It's something like 10 pages or something with a ridiculous amount of word count. It's just a ton of writing. My DC did not like writing, but I encouraged them to go to RMIB because I felt it would strengthen their weakest area. DC is great at STEM (800 on math SAT) but not as strong in ELA. They are now a great writer; doesn't mind the writing now because it comes so easy to DC. That's what RMIB did for DC.

The peer group is top notch. Obviously, it draws the highest performers in a very large public school district. RMHS also has a great theater program called the "Black Maskers" -- one of the oldest HS theater group in the district. County debate team is also very good, with many RMIB kids in it; lots of sports teams - some really good, some just ok; tons of clubs. You won't get all the different types of clubs in a smaller school (we moved from a smaller but wealthy school district, and they just didn't have enough people for all the different clubs.)

My DC is now a senior at RMIB, and I think it was one of the best academic thing that has happened to them. They are more than well prepared for college.

That said, RMHS is super large. They have open lunch because of the space issue. They now have portables in the parking lots because they are bursting at the seams. Crown HS will be built and open in 2027, possibly, so the overcrowding will be gone when that happens. If your DC goes into RMIB as a freshman next fall, they will still be there in 2027 when Crown HS opens. After 2027, who knows what will happen to RMIB. It may become a regional program rather than a county wide program, and IMO, when/if that happens, RMIB won't be the same.

I think some kids need a smaller school and class size, so if this is your kid, RM might be too overwhelming.

Unless your child wants a co-ed environment or if money is the issue, Holton. It has the academic advantages of the magnet but none of the drawbacks.

At Holton your child will make strong connections with teachers and feel very supported. RMIB is a large public school where kids do not make these personal connections.

Both will be rigorous. Holton has much smaller classes and more interaction with teachers. RMIB is a good program, but it’s large and impersonal. And it’s part of MCPS so you always have to worry about budget issues and larger district issues.

Anonymous wrote:Holton. Not sure why this is a question.

Can you support your view?

Holton. Not sure why this is a question.

IB if you kid is able to handle pressure/rigor. RMIB is extremely difficult.

My DD got into both. Schools are so different - not sure how to compare. Curious about other people's experiences with either program. Academics? Peers? Pressure - social and academic?? Distance isn't a factor as we live right between the two.