OP -- you like a lot of others seem to assume your kid could get into both or either. I would see where you get in first before putting the proverbial "cart before the horse".

Anonymous wrote:But quality of Holton science has been markedly different for our 2 girls- 10th grade separted by 6 years

OP, what grade is your daughter in?
PP, do you mean it used to be better six years ago or is better now?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Holton is great for STEM, NCS has put more emphasis on it and has an excellent program now also. I don't think it has to be and either/or proposition -- both schools would be an excellent choice for girls with an interest in STEM.

Agree, both schools are an excellent choice. We are NCS family but daughter applied to Holton last year as well.

I agree too. We are a Holton family and picked it for STEM and it does not disappoint. Their arts are amazing too. Ironically, once DD was in late middle school and early high school she began a love of English because the teachers are fantastic. The problem is their course offerings are terrible for English. No honors courses and you are basically stuck doing the same course as everyone else. Looking back NCS had so many more English course offerings. I am sure they can do more in upper school and mix with STA but the lacking of English classes in Holton is something to look at. Girls are fickle and change their minds. Be open to all courses.

This is my original post, "Agree, both schools are an excellent choice. We are NCS family but daughter applied to Holton last year as well. "

My daughter is very STEM focused and Holton was her top choice because at first glance it appeared that Holton was more advanced in their STEM curriculum. However, she was wait listed at Holton and accepted at NCS so we are at NCS. NCS may not advertise their stem exclusively but they do have a very good ciriculum for STEM that we overlooked initially. Look at their math and science course offerings, quite impressive and as mentioned above they have an abundance of English course offerings. My STEM daughter is now interested in her English class and World History which involves similar writing requirements demonstrated in English. At the end of her 4 years she will be a well rounded student with both a strong STEM, writing and Literature background.

Again, I don't think you can go wrong with either Holton or NCS but if you are accepted at both schools in March, make sure you allow your daughter to pick the school she is most comfortable with. Each school provides opportunity and 8th grade is too early to pigeon hole your daughter into a specialization. Each school has enough courses to prepare your daughers well above her peers in college for math, science, the arts, or English.

Anonymous wrote:But quality of Holton science has been markedly different for our 2 girls- 10th grade separted by 6 years

In what way? For the better or worse. I am curious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Holton is great for STEM, NCS has put more emphasis on it and has an excellent program now also. I don't think it has to be and either/or proposition -- both schools would be an excellent choice for girls with an interest in STEM.

Agree, both schools are an excellent choice. We are NCS family but daughter applied to Holton last year as well.

I agree too. We are a Holton family and picked it for STEM and it does not disappoint. Their arts are amazing too. Ironically, once DD was in late middle school and early high school she began a love of English because the teachers are fantastic. The problem is their course offerings are terrible for English. No honors courses and you are basically stuck doing the same course as everyone else. Looking back NCS had so many more English course offerings. I am sure they can do more in upper school and mix with STA but the lacking of English classes in Holton is something to look at. Girls are fickle and change their minds. Be open to all courses.

Holton's English class is an honors level class, so everyone is taking honors. DD just received the highest level score on PSAT and she's never been that great of a writer; I attribute it all to Holton.

They can say but the colleges and your GPA does not show it as honors. Every girl taking the same course all 4 years is boring. NCS/STA has over 30 English offerings in upper school available including many fiction, non-fiction, creative writing and poetry courses. Tons in literature as well. It seems completely off-balanced compared to Holton.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Holton is great for STEM, NCS has put more emphasis on it and has an excellent program now also. I don't think it has to be and either/or proposition -- both schools would be an excellent choice for girls with an interest in STEM.

Agree, both schools are an excellent choice. We are NCS family but daughter applied to Holton last year as well.

I agree too. We are a Holton family and picked it for STEM and it does not disappoint. Their arts are amazing too. Ironically, once DD was in late middle school and early high school she began a love of English because the teachers are fantastic. The problem is their course offerings are terrible for English. No honors courses and you are basically stuck doing the same course as everyone else. Looking back NCS had so many more English course offerings. I am sure they can do more in upper school and mix with STA but the lacking of English classes in Holton is something to look at. Girls are fickle and change their minds. Be open to all courses.

Holton's English class is an honors level class, so everyone is taking honors. DD just received the highest level score on PSAT and she's never been that great of a writer; I attribute it all to Holton.

But quality of Holton science has been markedly different for our 2 girls- 10th grade separted by 6 years

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Holton is great for STEM, NCS has put more emphasis on it and has an excellent program now also. I don't think it has to be and either/or proposition -- both schools would be an excellent choice for girls with an interest in STEM.

Agree, both schools are an excellent choice. We are NCS family but daughter applied to Holton last year as well.

I agree too. We are a Holton family and picked it for STEM and it does not disappoint. Their arts are amazing too. Ironically, once DD was in late middle school and early high school she began a love of English because the teachers are fantastic. The problem is their course offerings are terrible for English. No honors courses and you are basically stuck doing the same course as everyone else. Looking back NCS had so many more English course offerings. I am sure they can do more in upper school and mix with STA but the lacking of English classes in Holton is something to look at. Girls are fickle and change their minds. Be open to all courses.

Anonymous wrote: Holton is great for STEM, NCS has put more emphasis on it and has an excellent program now also. I don't think it has to be and either/or proposition -- both schools would be an excellent choice for girls with an interest in STEM.

Agree, both schools are an excellent choice. We are NCS family but daughter applied to Holton last year as well.

My DD is a few years into college from NCS but, she is majoring in two of the hardest aspects of stem. I think what helped her more than anything was NCS allowing her to go through the highest levels of math prior to college. Robotics are fun but, not everyone wants to just be an engineer. NCS let my DD explore her own interests to the limit of what they (and STA) offered. Being allowed to challenge yourself and actually struggling through mind blowing material with a supportive environment is key to success for women in male dominated fields.

Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP who said it doesn't have to be an either/or situation. My girls are at Holton and there is a lot of focus on STEM. There is a lower school robotics club, a middle school math club and engineering club, STEM summer camp for Holton girls only, lots of upper school clubs focused on STEM including a STEM Scholar designation and science research program that is well known.

Lots of great STEM options from amazing local girls' schools!

I agree and as a Holton parent, it is nice to have so many STEAM components. The MakerSpace with 3D printing, sewing machines, lego mindstorms, clay etc... is a room my upper school daughter loves. It is nice for creativity and de-stressing.

I will say we have friends at Bullis and they are currently building a state of the art STEM building and it looks amazing. Not sure what their programs will be but it looks like it will be open for next year.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks NCS booster/communications department!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS sucks as far as STEM. Almost anybpublic school has better course offerings.

Rude! And wrong: When you factor out the difference in school size, NCS offers more STEM courses per student than publics—and many privates. Any public-school class will be at least twice as large as one at NCS, which means less time to work hands-on in labs and less time with teachers. That's not better.

As OP noted, NCS is competing against publics and privates, and winning. How do you explain that?

http://ncs.cathedral.org/page/news-detail?pk=1037077

This!

Anonymous wrote:NCS sucks as far as STEM. Almost anybpublic school has better course offerings.

Rude! And wrong: When you factor out the difference in school size, NCS offers more STEM courses per student than publics—and many privates. Any public-school class will be at least twice as large as one at NCS, which means less time to work hands-on in labs and less time with teachers. That's not better.

As OP noted, NCS is competing against publics and privates, and winning. How do you explain that?

http://ncs.cathedral.org/page/news-detail?pk=1037077

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hmmm, I am big Alexandra Petrie fan but hardly think she is a great argument for the STEM curriculum at NCS.

Again, love her. But NCS sucks as far as STEM. Almost anybpublic school has better course offerings.

This.

Sorry. Not true. Take the time to browse the NCS Facebook page and you will see post upon post about what the girls are doing in the science/STEM program. My DD is involved and has more opportunities than time in the day to participate. The girls consistently do very well in STEM competitions and they make it fun. Don't rely on anonymous posts saying "NCS sucks as far as STEM" when I can point out countless examples of an excellent program.