I've had kids in PV-GE, RMIB, and PV-SMCS. Hands down RMIB is the better program and better overall school with a ridiculous amount of clubs, better sports, amazing theater, etc. That said, each kid ended up in the program that best fit them, even though they had a choice of multiple programs.

The new PV principal is a vast improvement over the previous one, but honestly, many of the supposedly amazing teachers really aren't that amazing. They are good, but Poolesville's reputation is really just heavily reliant on the fact that half the population is magnet students, who will do well no matter what.

RMIB has a pretty competitive internal culture among the magnet kids. My DC thrived, but I can see how others would not.

I'm near Laytonsville - so it's a haul to both. I think my oldest would have had an all-around better high school experience at our home school in their advanced program. They would have stayed connected better with the neighborhood kids, done more sports events and activities, and in general been better connected to the school. DC #2 is loving it at RM, and thank goodness for them being able to drive themselves everywhere the past 2 years because I couldn't keep up with the activities. DC #3 is at PV now - a little more reserved than DC #1 & DC #2. Finding their spot at PV, but opportunities are just more limited. I was trying to put my thumb on the scale for DC #3 to pick RMIB, but it was so clear after the invited student events that SMCS was the best fit.

Most important thing is to let your child pick, and have confidence that they will do well in any program.

We had kids in both schools and liked IB education much better than PHS's GE program. GE, however, is much more enjoyable program than IB. Much less intense, much less pressure, much more sleep...

Anonymous wrote:If your child strength is verbal reasoning go with IB .
If your child strength is Quantitative or Non-Verbal reasoning go with Poolesville SMACS.
Make sure to let your child decide.

Address the weaknesses in HS.

My DC was in the same boat last year and chose poolesville SMACS. After attending both info meetings is just seemed like a better fit. This year both programs offer a time to visit each program during the day - that should also be helpful.

Anonymous wrote:If your child strength is verbal reasoning go with IB .
If your child strength is Quantitative or Non-Verbal reasoning go with Poolesville SMACS.
Make sure to let your child decide.

Love your response... makes lot of sense

Heard RMIB is more research oriented and language arts ... as someone else also pointed Verbal skills are important to succeed...How many of you agree with that ?

The open houses back in the fall sum up a huge difference in atmosphere between the programs. The RMIB presentation is by administrators and focuses on college admissions rates. The PHS presentations are by seniors from each program and focus on their experiences over the first three years. I have come to think of it like a rural SLAC versus a high pressure large urban Ivy.

+1 on letting your kid decide. That also seems to be a significant difference in which kids are in which program (i.e., the "you got into RM, you go there contingent" doesn't seem to have a parallel at PHS - those kids chose PHS).

If your child strength is verbal reasoning go with IB .
If your child strength is Quantitative or Non-Verbal reasoning go with Poolesville SMACS.
Make sure to let your child decide.

RM is way better.

Poolesville has some teachers that left other MCPS schools heading towards retirement.

Poolesville is not worth the distance if you don't live in Poolesville.

College acceptances RM better.

Would appreciate any inputs to make a choice between RMIB or Poolesville SMACS..... we are in Germantown .. so yes distance is one factor.