Ruxton is honestly a mixed bag of aspirational folks and actual interesting people. Dropping where you live shows aspiration. That being said I live in Ruxton as well and I send my child to a private school in the county. I still think the kids at St Pauls and McD are lesser students. Sports seem to take priority over academics. Parents tend to be from Maryland. Parents seem to be from less educated backgrounds and are seem more provincial. It's almost like working class person made good in owning their own box company or restaurant who have lacrosse loving future fraternity boy sons looking to get a sports scholarship before Junior Year.

Oh ducks. Ivy League? We could care less about that foolishness. Give us a good lacrosse program and we’re good to go.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not! I clearly recall going to a birthday party at Irvine Nature center for my son's friend who went to St Pauls. He did not get into Gilman despite his dad having gone there and multiple family donations. I was so struck by how slow the kids were. I asked his mom if they "tracked" at at Paul's and she said yes there were three groups. This was confirmed by others. This was clearly the slow class. The parents at this party were all from the county. They all were down to year but not sophisticated at all. I got this same feeling at other parties. When I looked at schools for my daughter I ruled out schools based on this as well.

Oh, I think I was at that party too! Were you the one telling everyone your SAT scores and talking about how many AP classes you took when you were in high school? That must have been you, so fun! I thought it was so fun when you started quizzing the kids on vocab words while they were serving cake! Great idea to demand math facts in exchange for goodie bags, you gotta make those kids EARN it!

These kid bday parties in the county are such a bore. I know I always appreciate it when another parent whips out a copy of the Stanford-Binet and gives all the children IQ tests. Then things start to get interesting.

Anonymous wrote:It's not! I clearly recall going to a birthday party at Irvine Nature center for my son's friend who went to St Pauls. He did not get into Gilman despite his dad having gone there and multiple family donations. I was so struck by how slow the kids were. I asked his mom if they "tracked" at at Paul's and she said yes there were three groups. This was confirmed by others. This was clearly the slow class. The parents at this party were all from the county. They all were down to year but not sophisticated at all. I got this same feeling at other parties. When I looked at schools for my daughter I ruled out schools based on this as well.

I live in the county. In a very unsophisticated place called Ruxton. Har har. You do know many if not most of the kids at Gilman and BMS live in the county and Park is in the county? And St. Pauls and McDonogh and Boys Latin have students from the city?

I'm sure we can all agree that certain schools are more popular with progressive urban-dwelling parents, although whether Roland Park, Homeland and Mount Washington are are urban is for a different thread, while other schools are more popular with people who prefer the leafier environs of the county, but you really lost me at sophisticated Because if anything, you showed yourself to be very unsophisticated.

Gilman, Park and Friends have taken students who had no business going to these schools and ended up being counseled out. Even Gilman has less than stellar kids who were offered places because dad went to Gilman. WWYD. Sneer about sophistication?

Anonymous wrote:It's not! I clearly recall going to a birthday party at Irvine Nature center for my son's friend who went to St Pauls. He did not get into Gilman despite his dad having gone there and multiple family donations. I was so struck by how slow the kids were. I asked his mom if they "tracked" at at Paul's and she said yes there were three groups. This was confirmed by others. This was clearly the slow class. The parents at this party were all from the county. They all were down to year but not sophisticated at all. I got this same feeling at other parties. When I looked at schools for my daughter I ruled out schools based on this as well.

Oh, I think I was at that party too! Were you the one telling everyone your SAT scores and talking about how many AP classes you took when you were in high school? That must have been you, so fun! I thought it was so fun when you started quizzing the kids on vocab words while they were serving cake! Great idea to demand math facts in exchange for goodie bags, you gotta make those kids EARN it!

It's not! I clearly recall going to a birthday party at Irvine Nature center for my son's friend who went to St Pauls. He did not get into Gilman despite his dad having gone there and multiple family donations. I was so struck by how slow the kids were. I asked his mom if they "tracked" at at Paul's and she said yes there were three groups. This was confirmed by others. This was clearly the slow class. The parents at this party were all from the county. They all were down to year but not sophisticated at all. I got this same feeling at other parties. When I looked at schools for my daughter I ruled out schools based on this as well.

Anonymous wrote:BMS, Gilman and Park. I feel like even just going to birthday parties of St Paul's or McDonough kids there solidified this for me. Kids for McD and St Pauls seemed less mature and not as "with it". Also the parents tend to be far less sophisticated than B, G and P and population tends to skew to the county.

Delusional nonsense.

Did G resolve that fired pediphile teacher issue, or is it still waiting for a court date?

BMS, Gilman and Park. I feel like even just going to birthday parties of St Paul's or McDonough kids there solidified this for me. Kids for McD and St Pauls seemed less mature and not as "with it". Also the parents tend to be far less sophisticated than B, G and P and population tends to skew to the county.

I live in baltimore. Kids are in the schools mentioned here. No one cares what the big three are. Please stop trying to make this a thing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McDonogh, Gilman, and Bryn Mawr?

Still the Big 3 in Baltimore?

I’d put Park over Mcdonogh.

Park parents love Park. You really have to like Park and the progressive spirit they preach. McDonogh has more cachet and greater range of student types. McDonogh has kids who'd fit at Park and kids who'd fit at Boys Latin, whereas those two schools are so mutually exclusive to each other in personalities. I'd place McDonogh solidly in the top three along with Gilman and Bryn Mawr as schools that have the biggest cachet combined with reputation for athletics and sports.

Pp and not a Park parent, my kids go to the trischool. Park may not be for everyone but the level of academic rigor is consistently high

Mcdonogh definitely number one for sports, they recruit extensively and it helps greatly with their matriculation as they have a very high number of kids going to college as athletic recruits. But the overall level of academic rigor is a step down from the other three schools and more on par with Saint Paul’s and Friends, serving a range of ability levels.

For the kids at McDonogh taking advanced coursework, the academic rigor and opportunities are the same as at other "Big 3" schools.

The confusion here arises from the progressive approach at Park, which is an approach that only works well for a portion of students who are already academically advanced, and not for the majority of kids who would be better served in a traditional academic environment.

It is just not true that the academic rigor at Mcdonogh is a step down. That is total nonsense. It just serves a wider range of academic abilities.

Your post is internally inconsistent, serving a greater range of ability levels means a lower level of rigor overall. Btw, there are kids at Saint Paul’s and Friends taking advanced coursework as well, just not the same percentages as Gilman, Bryn Mawr, and Park.

The big 3 in DC are the most academically demanding.

This is a discussion of the 'big 3' in Baltimore, and it would be more productive to compare rigor of identical academic tracks than some vague idea of overall rigor.

The big 3 in dc are the three schools with the most academic rigor. The three schools with the most academic rigor in Baltimore are Gilman, Bryn Mawr and Park notwithstanding the fact that every other school offers an advanced track.

I'm also in Baltimore and while people I speak to will agree Park is a good school, there's no real reason to think it is more rigorous than McDonogh or even Friends.

Rigor is misleading in this circumstance. Because what exactly do you mean by rigor and how is it measured? How common is it for a kid to get counseled out because they can't keep up with the academics?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McDonogh, Gilman, and Bryn Mawr?

Still the Big 3 in Baltimore?

I’d put Park over Mcdonogh.

Park parents love Park. You really have to like Park and the progressive spirit they preach. McDonogh has more cachet and greater range of student types. McDonogh has kids who'd fit at Park and kids who'd fit at Boys Latin, whereas those two schools are so mutually exclusive to each other in personalities. I'd place McDonogh solidly in the top three along with Gilman and Bryn Mawr as schools that have the biggest cachet combined with reputation for athletics and sports.

Pp and not a Park parent, my kids go to the trischool. Park may not be for everyone but the level of academic rigor is consistently high

Mcdonogh definitely number one for sports, they recruit extensively and it helps greatly with their matriculation as they have a very high number of kids going to college as athletic recruits. But the overall level of academic rigor is a step down from the other three schools and more on par with Saint Paul’s and Friends, serving a range of ability levels.

For the kids at McDonogh taking advanced coursework, the academic rigor and opportunities are the same as at other "Big 3" schools.

The confusion here arises from the progressive approach at Park, which is an approach that only works well for a portion of students who are already academically advanced, and not for the majority of kids who would be better served in a traditional academic environment.

It is just not true that the academic rigor at Mcdonogh is a step down. That is total nonsense. It just serves a wider range of academic abilities.

Your post is internally inconsistent, serving a greater range of ability levels means a lower level of rigor overall. Btw, there are kids at Saint Paul’s and Friends taking advanced coursework as well, just not the same percentages as Gilman, Bryn Mawr, and Park.

The big 3 in DC are the most academically demanding.

This is a discussion of the 'big 3' in Baltimore, and it would be more productive to compare rigor of identical academic tracks than some vague idea of overall rigor.

The big 3 in dc are the three schools with the most academic rigor. The three schools with the most academic rigor in Baltimore are Gilman, Bryn Mawr and Park notwithstanding the fact that every other school offers an advanced track.

You can disagree with an entire thread if you wish, but I don’t see anything here to convince someone of your opinion.

Nor of yours. Nonsensical to argue that Park is too academically rigorous to be top school.

I actually don’t think Park is academically rigorous at all. You take kids who actively seek out a progressive education, throw them in an unstructured learning environment, and then try to give the school credit for what the kids achieved largely on their own.

The progressive education kids are self selecting and with limited supports will do just fine.

This is a school where most kids would not do well, and due to self selection, most kids would not enroll in a progressive program like Park.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McDonogh, Gilman, and Bryn Mawr?

Still the Big 3 in Baltimore?

I’d put Park over Mcdonogh.

Park parents love Park. You really have to like Park and the progressive spirit they preach. McDonogh has more cachet and greater range of student types. McDonogh has kids who'd fit at Park and kids who'd fit at Boys Latin, whereas those two schools are so mutually exclusive to each other in personalities. I'd place McDonogh solidly in the top three along with Gilman and Bryn Mawr as schools that have the biggest cachet combined with reputation for athletics and sports.

Pp and not a Park parent, my kids go to the trischool. Park may not be for everyone but the level of academic rigor is consistently high

Mcdonogh definitely number one for sports, they recruit extensively and it helps greatly with their matriculation as they have a very high number of kids going to college as athletic recruits. But the overall level of academic rigor is a step down from the other three schools and more on par with Saint Paul’s and Friends, serving a range of ability levels.

For the kids at McDonogh taking advanced coursework, the academic rigor and opportunities are the same as at other "Big 3" schools.

The confusion here arises from the progressive approach at Park, which is an approach that only works well for a portion of students who are already academically advanced, and not for the majority of kids who would be better served in a traditional academic environment.

It is just not true that the academic rigor at Mcdonogh is a step down. That is total nonsense. It just serves a wider range of academic abilities.

Your post is internally inconsistent, serving a greater range of ability levels means a lower level of rigor overall. Btw, there are kids at Saint Paul’s and Friends taking advanced coursework as well, just not the same percentages as Gilman, Bryn Mawr, and Park.

The big 3 in DC are the most academically demanding.

This is a discussion of the 'big 3' in Baltimore, and it would be more productive to compare rigor of identical academic tracks than some vague idea of overall rigor.

The big 3 in dc are the three schools with the most academic rigor. The three schools with the most academic rigor in Baltimore are Gilman, Bryn Mawr and Park notwithstanding the fact that every other school offers an advanced track.

You can disagree with an entire thread if you wish, but I don’t see anything here to convince someone of your opinion.

Nor of yours. Nonsensical to argue that Park is too academically rigorous to be top school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McDonogh, Gilman, and Bryn Mawr?

Still the Big 3 in Baltimore?

I’d put Park over Mcdonogh.

Park parents love Park. You really have to like Park and the progressive spirit they preach. McDonogh has more cachet and greater range of student types. McDonogh has kids who'd fit at Park and kids who'd fit at Boys Latin, whereas those two schools are so mutually exclusive to each other in personalities. I'd place McDonogh solidly in the top three along with Gilman and Bryn Mawr as schools that have the biggest cachet combined with reputation for athletics and sports.

Pp and not a Park parent, my kids go to the trischool. Park may not be for everyone but the level of academic rigor is consistently high

Mcdonogh definitely number one for sports, they recruit extensively and it helps greatly with their matriculation as they have a very high number of kids going to college as athletic recruits. But the overall level of academic rigor is a step down from the other three schools and more on par with Saint Paul’s and Friends, serving a range of ability levels.

For the kids at McDonogh taking advanced coursework, the academic rigor and opportunities are the same as at other "Big 3" schools.

The confusion here arises from the progressive approach at Park, which is an approach that only works well for a portion of students who are already academically advanced, and not for the majority of kids who would be better served in a traditional academic environment.

It is just not true that the academic rigor at Mcdonogh is a step down. That is total nonsense. It just serves a wider range of academic abilities.

Your post is internally inconsistent, serving a greater range of ability levels means a lower level of rigor overall. Btw, there are kids at Saint Paul’s and Friends taking advanced coursework as well, just not the same percentages as Gilman, Bryn Mawr, and Park.

The big 3 in DC are the most academically demanding.

This is a discussion of the 'big 3' in Baltimore, and it would be more productive to compare rigor of identical academic tracks than some vague idea of overall rigor.

The big 3 in dc are the three schools with the most academic rigor. The three schools with the most academic rigor in Baltimore are Gilman, Bryn Mawr and Park notwithstanding the fact that every other school offers an advanced track.

You can disagree with an entire thread if you wish, but I don’t see anything here to convince someone of your opinion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McDonogh, Gilman, and Bryn Mawr?

Still the Big 3 in Baltimore?

I’d put Park over Mcdonogh.

Park parents love Park. You really have to like Park and the progressive spirit they preach. McDonogh has more cachet and greater range of student types. McDonogh has kids who'd fit at Park and kids who'd fit at Boys Latin, whereas those two schools are so mutually exclusive to each other in personalities. I'd place McDonogh solidly in the top three along with Gilman and Bryn Mawr as schools that have the biggest cachet combined with reputation for athletics and sports.

Pp and not a Park parent, my kids go to the trischool. Park may not be for everyone but the level of academic rigor is consistently high

Mcdonogh definitely number one for sports, they recruit extensively and it helps greatly with their matriculation as they have a very high number of kids going to college as athletic recruits. But the overall level of academic rigor is a step down from the other three schools and more on par with Saint Paul’s and Friends, serving a range of ability levels.

For the kids at McDonogh taking advanced coursework, the academic rigor and opportunities are the same as at other "Big 3" schools.

The confusion here arises from the progressive approach at Park, which is an approach that only works well for a portion of students who are already academically advanced, and not for the majority of kids who would be better served in a traditional academic environment.

It is just not true that the academic rigor at Mcdonogh is a step down. That is total nonsense. It just serves a wider range of academic abilities.

Your post is internally inconsistent, serving a greater range of ability levels means a lower level of rigor overall. Btw, there are kids at Saint Paul’s and Friends taking advanced coursework as well, just not the same percentages as Gilman, Bryn Mawr, and Park.

The big 3 in DC are the most academically demanding.

This is a discussion of the 'big 3' in Baltimore, and it would be more productive to compare rigor of identical academic tracks than some vague idea of overall rigor.

The big 3 in dc are the three schools with the most academic rigor. The three schools with the most academic rigor in Baltimore are Gilman, Bryn Mawr and Park notwithstanding the fact that every other school offers an advanced track.