Anonymous wrote:We asked ourselves whether it was worth it too. We have three kids. Two at Langley 9th/12th and one at Potomac 11th. Wish we had the funds to send all three of our kids to Potomac, but are caring for elderly parents and just can't swing it. It breaks my heart. I'm not sure where people get the idea that the smaller class environment means students wouldn't have done well in a larger public school environment. That is simply not the case! The one child at Potomac was the most socially advanced of all our kids and that is why she got to attend and not the others. We wanted to give her the chance to not just have a voice but have it matter. The smaller environment allows students more time to actively participate in class. It also gives them opportunities to hear more of their peer's ideas and raises the level of the entire class. We don't send our daughter there for the dress code or the lure of an ivy placement. We send her there because we want her to get a top-notch education where people actually care what she thinks and empowers her to achieve her dreams. We put the emphasis on the education and being part of a life-long community whose values we share.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing environment for students who develop deep, meaningful relationships with their teachers and advisors. Has the feel of being in college seminars where students are pushed to use critical thinking and delve deeply into subject matters without the typical teaching to the test and studying AP test prep books. Students are extremely well prepared for college with deep analytic thinking and writing skills. All students strive for their personal best and the environment benefits students across the board. Administration and faculty are familiar with each student and gets the whole child's development. They are not just another number. Have one there now and one that graduated from there, and also have one at McLean that did not get in. Honestly, she just didn't have quite high enough grades/scores, but I would have loved for her to be there as well.

+1

What stated above is 100% correct. Before this year, I've asked myself the same question as well. Why should I pay $41K to send my child to Potomac when I live in Mclean and he/she could have gone to Langley or Mclean instead? The answer is very well stated above. I have one there now and another one at Mclean that has neither grades/scores to get in. I would love for her to be there as well.

Public school, including Mclean, Langley, Marshall, is a joke. Half of them don't want to be there. Wearing shorts and T-shirts to school, they look like fools. Public schools don't really encourage critical thinking and deep diving into subject matters. this is what Potomac, or Sidwell for matter, really good at. At Potomac, you have to wear collar shirts, khaki pants and no sneakers. I really like that. I've seen big improvement from my kid in just 2 1/2 months with his social skills.

He might end up being an average student @potomac and I am fine with that. The meaningful relationships he has with his teachers, advisors and his peers, I would not have it any other way.

You guys are rich

If I spent 41k a year for my kid to attend private, I’d want some tangible result like getting into good privates (ivy, top 20) or uva/Berkeley

Developing some meaningful connection with teachers and wearing school uniforms won’t justify the 40k+ cost

We send our children to Potomac for the education, not for college admissions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing environment for students who develop deep, meaningful relationships with their teachers and advisors. Has the feel of being in college seminars where students are pushed to use critical thinking and delve deeply into subject matters without the typical teaching to the test and studying AP test prep books. Students are extremely well prepared for college with deep analytic thinking and writing skills. All students strive for their personal best and the environment benefits students across the board. Administration and faculty are familiar with each student and gets the whole child's development. They are not just another number. Have one there now and one that graduated from there, and also have one at McLean that did not get in. Honestly, she just didn't have quite high enough grades/scores, but I would have loved for her to be there as well.

+1

What stated above is 100% correct. Before this year, I've asked myself the same question as well. Why should I pay $41K to send my child to Potomac when I live in Mclean and he/she could have gone to Langley or Mclean instead? The answer is very well stated above. I have one there now and another one at Mclean that has neither grades/scores to get in. I would love for her to be there as well.

Public school, including Mclean, Langley, Marshall, is a joke. Half of them don't want to be there. Wearing shorts and T-shirts to school, they look like fools. Public schools don't really encourage critical thinking and deep diving into subject matters. this is what Potomac, or Sidwell for matter, really good at. At Potomac, you have to wear collar shirts, khaki pants and no sneakers. I really like that. I've seen big improvement from my kid in just 2 1/2 months with his social skills.

He might end up being an average student @potomac and I am fine with that. The meaningful relationships he has with his teachers, advisors and his peers, I would not have it any other way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing environment for students who develop deep, meaningful relationships with their teachers and advisors. Has the feel of being in college seminars where students are pushed to use critical thinking and delve deeply into subject matters without the typical teaching to the test and studying AP test prep books. Students are extremely well prepared for college with deep analytic thinking and writing skills. All students strive for their personal best and the environment benefits students across the board. Administration and faculty are familiar with each student and gets the whole child's development. They are not just another number. Have one there now and one that graduated from there, and also have one at McLean that did not get in. Honestly, she just didn't have quite high enough grades/scores, but I would have loved for her to be there as well.

+1

What stated above is 100% correct. Before this year, I've asked myself the same question as well. Why should I pay $41K to send my child to Potomac when I live in Mclean and he/she could have gone to Langley or Mclean instead? The answer is very well stated above. I have one there now and another one at Mclean that has neither grades/scores to get in. I would love for her to be there as well.

Public school, including Mclean, Langley, Marshall, is a joke. Half of them don't want to be there. Wearing shorts and T-shirts to school, they look like fools. Public schools don't really encourage critical thinking and deep diving into subject matters. this is what Potomac, or Sidwell for matter, really good at. At Potomac, you have to wear collar shirts, khaki pants and no sneakers. I really like that. I've seen big improvement from my kid in just 2 1/2 months with his social skills.

He might end up being an average student @potomac and I am fine with that. The meaningful relationships he has with his teachers, advisors and his peers, I would not have it any other way.

You guys are rich

If I spent 41k a year for my kid to attend private, I’d want some tangible result like getting into good privates (ivy, top 20) or uva/Berkeley

Developing some meaningful connection with teachers and wearing school uniforms won’t justify the 40k+ cost

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you know pp? Not being snarky but want to understand as we are in McLean zoning and trying to decide

If you want private for the reasons you stated, look at private in DC (GDS, NCS/STA, Sidwell, and even Maret). The "advantage" Potomac can offer from Langley/McLean is very minimum, if at all.

PP here-I disagree with this comment. Based on a tour, open house, and interview, Sidwell and Potomac are very similar in academic setup (have own Intermediate School for 7/8) and appear very similar with respect to curricula and style. Student population will likely be different (suburbs vs. city) and that's about it. They are both tied for first on our list, but fingers crossed as the Open Houses were packed and I'm sure they are attracting the creme de la creme this year.