Anonymous
03/18/2025 11:11
Subject: Re:W High School vs St. John’s College High School for academics?
I have had AP / honors kids at SJC and W schools.
MCPS is stronger in math and science. MCPS has Many more options with APs , can take earlier and given SJC has religion every year - more slots to take APs
While a bit dependent on teacher - found English & history AP / honors stronger at SJC past freshman year. More books read, more writing. AP history very rigorous with high AP scores
SJC has midterm & final exams worth large % of grade. IMHO - better prep for my kid for college. (Know not every kid needs that). No leniency on late or missed homework. Stricter environment overall. Late for class - detention.
If your kid is science / math - it’s a more clear choice - otherwise more a preference.
MCPS is stronger in math and science. MCPS has Many more options with APs , can take earlier and given SJC has religion every year - more slots to take APs
While a bit dependent on teacher - found English & history AP / honors stronger at SJC past freshman year. More books read, more writing. AP history very rigorous with high AP scores
SJC has midterm & final exams worth large % of grade. IMHO - better prep for my kid for college. (Know not every kid needs that). No leniency on late or missed homework. Stricter environment overall. Late for class - detention.
If your kid is science / math - it’s a more clear choice - otherwise more a preference.
Anonymous
03/17/2025 22:34
Subject: W High School vs St. John’s College High School for academics?
Anonymous wrote:SJC had 1,700 applications for 300 seats this year (150 for girls, 150 for boys).
Good luck getting in.
They take more than 300 and don’t worry about gender parity.
Anonymous
03/17/2025 10:49
Subject: W High School vs St. John’s College High School for academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How do the academics compare between a W high school and St John’s College High School? The male student will be taking honors and AP courses in high school.
My kid went to SJCHS his freshman year, and back to MCPS after that. Without a doubt, the W schools are far more rigorous. My freshman son, good at math, but no magnet student, placed into a senior math class at St Johns.
Senior math? Which class exactly is that?
It was an advanced algebra class. My son took geometry at TPMS in 8th grade. He evidently was only incoming ninth grader at SJCHS who had taken geometry. The head of the math department called me at work, excited about his test results. She thought they might need to send him to Catholic University for his upper class math since he was so far ahead. My son was helping upperclass students in his math class at St. Johns. St. Johns was at least one year behind MCPS with math. He went to Blair for sophomore to senior years, where he did well in math, but he was not at magnet level.
One thing to ask at St. Johns is how many teachers there are certified teachers. It's not always the case that they are. The Catholic schools pay less.
There is zero chance this PP had the only child coming into SJC haven taken Geometry. Many to most of the DCPS kids coming in have taken Geometry and plenty (no idea the actual number) are placed into higher level math at SJC. My kid in 9th had other freshman in her Honors precalc class.
+1
Zero chance. I’ve sent 2 kids through SJC. Every year there are freshman who enroll who took Geometry in middle school. And “advanced algebra” would probably be Honors Algebra II, which is usually taken by sophomores (and the freshman who place into it), not seniors.
Most parents who opt for SJC over MCPS do so because they want a different environment for their child (discipline, real deadlines for work, midterms and finals, access to bathrooms, no bomb threats or lockdowns, etc).As for academics, SJC prepared my kids for college, which to me is the only objective standard for academics. Both got all 5s on their APs, did well on their SATs, got into many selective colleges (acceptance rates below 20%) and ended up at T20 colleges.
+1 Agreed. My DD’s best friend is a freshman at SJC and is taking Honors Algebra 2 because she had taken Geometry in MS.
Anonymous
03/17/2025 00:54
Subject: W High School vs St. John’s College High School for academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How do the academics compare between a W high school and St John’s College High School? The male student will be taking honors and AP courses in high school.
My kid went to SJCHS his freshman year, and back to MCPS after that. Without a doubt, the W schools are far more rigorous. My freshman son, good at math, but no magnet student, placed into a senior math class at St Johns.
Senior math? Which class exactly is that?
It was an advanced algebra class. My son took geometry at TPMS in 8th grade. He evidently was only incoming ninth grader at SJCHS who had taken geometry. The head of the math department called me at work, excited about his test results. She thought they might need to send him to Catholic University for his upper class math since he was so far ahead. My son was helping upperclass students in his math class at St. Johns. St. Johns was at least one year behind MCPS with math. He went to Blair for sophomore to senior years, where he did well in math, but he was not at magnet level.
One thing to ask at St. Johns is how many teachers there are certified teachers. It's not always the case that they are. The Catholic schools pay less.
There is zero chance this PP had the only child coming into SJC haven taken Geometry. Many to most of the DCPS kids coming in have taken Geometry and plenty (no idea the actual number) are placed into higher level math at SJC. My kid in 9th had other freshman in her Honors precalc class.
+1
Zero chance. I’ve sent 2 kids through SJC. Every year there are freshman who enroll who took Geometry in middle school. And “advanced algebra” would probably be Honors Algebra II, which is usually taken by sophomores (and the freshman who place into it), not seniors.
Most parents who opt for SJC over MCPS do so because they want a different environment for their child (discipline, real deadlines for work, midterms and finals, access to bathrooms, no bomb threats or lockdowns, etc).As for academics, SJC prepared my kids for college, which to me is the only objective standard for academics. Both got all 5s on their APs, did well on their SATs, got into many selective colleges (acceptance rates below 20%) and ended up at T20 colleges.
Anonymous
03/16/2025 19:11
Subject: W High School vs St. John’s College High School for academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How do the academics compare between a W high school and St John’s College High School? The male student will be taking honors and AP courses in high school.
My kid went to SJCHS his freshman year, and back to MCPS after that. Without a doubt, the W schools are far more rigorous. My freshman son, good at math, but no magnet student, placed into a senior math class at St Johns.
MCPS math is stronger than, or ahead of, some private schools. So just be careful not to use math as a proxy for overall rigor. SJCHS might have more focused instruction in writing or other skills.
What makes you say this? Does SJCHS have a special writing program?
Anonymous
03/16/2025 18:52
Subject: W High School vs St. John’s College High School for academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How do the academics compare between a W high school and St John’s College High School? The male student will be taking honors and AP courses in high school.
My kid went to SJCHS his freshman year, and back to MCPS after that. Without a doubt, the W schools are far more rigorous. My freshman son, good at math, but no magnet student, placed into a senior math class at St Johns.
MCPS math is stronger than, or ahead of, some private schools. So just be careful not to use math as a proxy for overall rigor. SJCHS might have more focused instruction in writing or other skills.
Anonymous
03/15/2025 19:21
Subject: W High School vs St. John’s College High School for academics?
Anonymous wrote:For high performing students, the W school will be stronger academically, particularly in math and science. For students that are self-motivated, smart, and ambitious, there's a good cohort of similar-minded students at each of the W schools. Plus all the AP classes they could ever want. But these are large public schools. They work better for confident students who can self-advocate. If the student isn't especially ambitious or needs a little more hand-holding, St. Johns would be better. And I think the good privates are generally better in English. So a humanities kid may prefer St. Johns over a W.
A good question then to ask Catholic HSs is: how many of your teachers are certified? It may make a difference. You have to weigh it all. A highly experienced older English teacher at SJCHS may be a wonderful master educator. Another SJCHS English teacher, age 23 and with no certification, and inexperienced, may not be what families are looking for.
Anonymous
03/15/2025 18:32
Subject: W High School vs St. John’s College High School for academics?
We looked at it for DS and he was admitted to the honors program at SJC. The math didn’t compare to our W school. They didn’t have any solutions like sending him to Catholic for math at that time. So he went to the W and loved it 
Anonymous
03/15/2025 18:32
Subject: W High School vs St. John’s College High School for academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How do the academics compare between a W high school and St John’s College High School? The male student will be taking honors and AP courses in high school.
My kid went to SJCHS his freshman year, and back to MCPS after that. Without a doubt, the W schools are far more rigorous. My freshman son, good at math, but no magnet student, placed into a senior math class at St Johns.
Senior math? Which class exactly is that?
It was an advanced algebra class. My son took geometry at TPMS in 8th grade. He evidently was only incoming ninth grader at SJCHS who had taken geometry. The head of the math department called me at work, excited about his test results. She thought they might need to send him to Catholic University for his upper class math since he was so far ahead. My son was helping upperclass students in his math class at St. Johns. St. Johns was at least one year behind MCPS with math. He went to Blair for sophomore to senior years, where he did well in math, but he was not at magnet level.
One thing to ask at St. Johns is how many teachers there are certified teachers. It's not always the case that they are. The Catholic schools pay less.
There is zero chance this PP had the only child coming into SJC haven taken Geometry. Many to most of the DCPS kids coming in have taken Geometry and plenty (no idea the actual number) are placed into higher level math at SJC. My kid in 9th had other freshman in her Honors precalc class.
The Catholic schools have their own cohort advancing to Catholic high schools, so yeah, there is more than a zero chance, whether you want to believe me or not. How many DCPS students switch to Catholic schools for high school? Where do you find that data? At any rate, this was our experience, for consideration by the OP.
I have a hard time believing this statement. DC and another from their Catholic K8 took Geometry in 8th. this seems ridiculous given the~ 50 students in their scholars program each year.
Anonymous
03/15/2025 17:54
Subject: W High School vs St. John’s College High School for academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How do the academics compare between a W high school and St John’s College High School? The male student will be taking honors and AP courses in high school.
My kid went to SJCHS his freshman year, and back to MCPS after that. Without a doubt, the W schools are far more rigorous. My freshman son, good at math, but no magnet student, placed into a senior math class at St Johns.
Senior math? Which class exactly is that?
It was an advanced algebra class. My son took geometry at TPMS in 8th grade. He evidently was only incoming ninth grader at SJCHS who had taken geometry. The head of the math department called me at work, excited about his test results. She thought they might need to send him to Catholic University for his upper class math since he was so far ahead. My son was helping upperclass students in his math class at St. Johns. St. Johns was at least one year behind MCPS with math. He went to Blair for sophomore to senior years, where he did well in math, but he was not at magnet level.
One thing to ask at St. Johns is how many teachers there are certified teachers. It's not always the case that they are. The Catholic schools pay less.
There is zero chance this PP had the only child coming into SJC haven taken Geometry. Many to most of the DCPS kids coming in have taken Geometry and plenty (no idea the actual number) are placed into higher level math at SJC. My kid in 9th had other freshman in her Honors precalc class.
That’s not true at all. Very few DCPS take Geometry in 8th grade.
And among those few, SJC would not be their first choice.
Anonymous
03/15/2025 12:05
Subject: W High School vs St. John’s College High School for academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How do the academics compare between a W high school and St John’s College High School? The male student will be taking honors and AP courses in high school.
My kid went to SJCHS his freshman year, and back to MCPS after that. Without a doubt, the W schools are far more rigorous. My freshman son, good at math, but no magnet student, placed into a senior math class at St Johns.
Senior math? Which class exactly is that?
It was an advanced algebra class. My son took geometry at TPMS in 8th grade. He evidently was only incoming ninth grader at SJCHS who had taken geometry. The head of the math department called me at work, excited about his test results. She thought they might need to send him to Catholic University for his upper class math since he was so far ahead. My son was helping upperclass students in his math class at St. Johns. St. Johns was at least one year behind MCPS with math. He went to Blair for sophomore to senior years, where he did well in math, but he was not at magnet level.
One thing to ask at St. Johns is how many teachers there are certified teachers. It's not always the case that they are. The Catholic schools pay less.
There is zero chance this PP had the only child coming into SJC haven taken Geometry. Many to most of the DCPS kids coming in have taken Geometry and plenty (no idea the actual number) are placed into higher level math at SJC. My kid in 9th had other freshman in her Honors precalc class.
The Catholic schools have their own cohort advancing to Catholic high schools, so yeah, there is more than a zero chance, whether you want to believe me or not. How many DCPS students switch to Catholic schools for high school? Where do you find that data? At any rate, this was our experience, for consideration by the OP.
Anonymous
03/15/2025 10:33
Subject: W High School vs St. John’s College High School for academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How do the academics compare between a W high school and St John’s College High School? The male student will be taking honors and AP courses in high school.
My kid went to SJCHS his freshman year, and back to MCPS after that. Without a doubt, the W schools are far more rigorous. My freshman son, good at math, but no magnet student, placed into a senior math class at St Johns.
Senior math? Which class exactly is that?
It was an advanced algebra class. My son took geometry at TPMS in 8th grade. He evidently was only incoming ninth grader at SJCHS who had taken geometry. The head of the math department called me at work, excited about his test results. She thought they might need to send him to Catholic University for his upper class math since he was so far ahead. My son was helping upperclass students in his math class at St. Johns. St. Johns was at least one year behind MCPS with math. He went to Blair for sophomore to senior years, where he did well in math, but he was not at magnet level.
One thing to ask at St. Johns is how many teachers there are certified teachers. It's not always the case that they are. The Catholic schools pay less.
There is zero chance this PP had the only child coming into SJC haven taken Geometry. Many to most of the DCPS kids coming in have taken Geometry and plenty (no idea the actual number) are placed into higher level math at SJC. My kid in 9th had other freshman in her Honors precalc class.
Anonymous
03/15/2025 09:34
Subject: W High School vs St. John’s College High School for academics?
For high performing students, the W school will be stronger academically, particularly in math and science. For students that are self-motivated, smart, and ambitious, there's a good cohort of similar-minded students at each of the W schools. Plus all the AP classes they could ever want. But these are large public schools. They work better for confident students who can self-advocate. If the student isn't especially ambitious or needs a little more hand-holding, St. Johns would be better. And I think the good privates are generally better in English. So a humanities kid may prefer St. Johns over a W.
Anonymous
03/15/2025 09:07
Subject: W High School vs St. John’s College High School for academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:SJC had 1,700 applications for 300 seats this year (150 for girls, 150 for boys).
Good luck getting in.
Good lord! That's incredible.
I predict even more families will struggle to switch to private from mcps. Good luck.
If you know what goes on even at “good” or “decent” public high schools, you would be appalled.
I’m sick of hearing about fights at school or kids leaving school property to drive home to use the bathroom because the school restrooms are too dangerous/scary.
Mcps has fallen so far.
I’m Gen X. I remember what mcps was like back in the day. Guess what? Even the “bad” schools weren’t so bad.
We have far more poverty now. Too many kids who couldn’t care less about school. Overcrowded classrooms. And the 2.0 curriculum followed by an even worse “solution” resulted in poorly educated students.
Anonymous
03/15/2025 06:55
Subject: W High School vs St. John’s College High School for academics?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How do the academics compare between a W high school and St John’s College High School? The male student will be taking honors and AP courses in high school.
My kid went to SJCHS his freshman year, and back to MCPS after that. Without a doubt, the W schools are far more rigorous. My freshman son, good at math, but no magnet student, placed into a senior math class at St Johns.
This. One of ours went private and one stayed public. The one in private had teachers very exited to have them in their classes. I've come to realize it's probably just a numbers game, but the best and brightest are not in private, they are in MCPS magnets and IB programs