Anonymous wrote:OP here- let me put it this way- does anyone here deeply regret the MCPS high school they have sent their child to? Technically, except for the magnets, isn't the curriculum the same? If you could redo it, would you send to a different high school within MCPS? Or maybe move out of the area altogether?

I don't. Two different kids, two different high schools (not magnet). DCUM thinks one is ok and the other is terrible. No regrets. What is prompting this thread, OP?

Anonymous wrote:OP here- let me put it this way- does anyone here deeply regret the MCPS high school they have sent their child to? Technically, except for the magnets, isn't the curriculum the same? If you could redo it, would you send to a different high school within MCPS? Or maybe move out of the area altogether?

No. Both kids well-educated and reasonably happy (for teenagers) - one in magnet and one in a "W" - but not one of the ones you mentioned.

My kid goes to Poolesville and is extremely happy there. We actually love the commute (we drop off and pick up) and don't mind the commute because there is no traffic on those quite, bucolic country roads.

We live in Upper MoCo and could not afford Bethesda without feeling some pinch on our finances. So if finances are not the issue and we had to leave PHS, I would pick -

BCC. Walter Johnson. Whitman.

I actually like Clarksburg, Northwestern and QO too. These are filled with many students who are magnet caliber. Parents are not organized in the same way as the W school parents. They really need to pay attention to what programming is available to W schools and lobby for that.

Ok. Magnet programs are great but I love everything about SMCS and PHS except the building. Fortunate to get really great teachers and the program itself is low stress and very collaborative. It is not cut-throat and kids are really awesome.

Sorry that I do not know much about other parts of MoCo. Great kids are everywhere and if MCPS could have equity in regular programming (without the morons destroying the magnet programs) the whole of MCPS would do well.

OP here- let me put it this way- does anyone here deeply regret the MCPS high school they have sent their child to? Technically, except for the magnets, isn't the curriculum the same? If you could redo it, would you send to a different high school within MCPS? Or maybe move out of the area altogether?

Anonymous wrote:I am not clear on the posters who are citing driving as an issue. Everyone drives in Montgomery County, there are virtually no schools where a majority of students walk to campus. If that is a deal-breaker and you have the money, then you might look at BCC and surrounding (expensive) homes and apartments.

Each school such as Whitman or Poolesville or Churchill may have a small neighborhood or two close-by, but for routine walking to school, it is not as easy or idyllic as you may expect.

Wish you good luck OP.

This is a factually incorrect statement.

I am not clear on the posters who are citing driving as an issue. Everyone drives in Montgomery County, there are virtually no schools where a majority of students walk to campus. If that is a deal-breaker and you have the money, then you might look at BCC and surrounding (expensive) homes and apartments.

Each school such as Whitman or Poolesville or Churchill may have a small neighborhood or two close-by, but for routine walking to school, it is not as easy or idyllic as you may expect.

Wish you good luck OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would choose Bethesda, because I don't want to live in Potomac (too far, too car-dependent) or Poolesville (way too far). And I guess Whitman would come with that. But I wouldn't base my decision on the high school.

Let's say location not an issue but simply focusing on academics and test scores and college placement (private not an option ) , what choice then?

DP. Poolesville all the way. The only downside about Poolesville is its rural location. If that's not an issue, then it's an excellent option.

What are the reasons for Poolesville all the way? Do you mean just the magnet program? I also have read here and there that there are physical building issues with Poolesville and Wootton, or is that outdated information? There are so many opinions at odds with each other. Do the schools even let prospective parents in the building to look around, like in private schools, before you have bought a house in the disctrict?

Poolesville is an old school and needs to be rebuilt. It was on the plan for 2024 but was removed. I don't really have more information on that.

You can go to the school and walk around. I'd call the front desk and ask when is the best time.

the W school parents will vehemently defend their schools as the best, it's mostly ego or housing prices they are trying to protect. Just read some of their posts, it's who your kids will be friends with, that is somethign to think about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would choose Bethesda, because I don't want to live in Potomac (too far, too car-dependent) or Poolesville (way too far). And I guess Whitman would come with that. But I wouldn't base my decision on the high school.

Let's say location not an issue but simply focusing on academics and test scores and college placement (private not an option ) , what choice then?

DP. Poolesville all the way. The only downside about Poolesville is its rural location. If that's not an issue, then it's an excellent option.

This ... also visit the school see if you like it

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your family was at a crossroads and housing costs were not an issue, would you choose Churchill, Poolesville, or Whitman?

If you can't get into one of the magnet programs - Blair STEM, RM IB, or PHS... I'd seriously look into one of the W schools and BCC. OR move to Howard county.

The W's have well-documented racial issues. A simple search of this board will provide more than you probably want to know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Quince Orchard is the most balanced school in moco right now.

Oh, there's a Quince Orchard booster on the thread.

Dude relax your school is "good" too.

pricing houses are up, relax, you are not going to lose value in your home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would choose Bethesda, because I don't want to live in Potomac (too far, too car-dependent) or Poolesville (way too far). And I guess Whitman would come with that. But I wouldn't base my decision on the high school.

Let's say location not an issue but simply focusing on academics and test scores and college placement (private not an option ) , what choice then?

DP. Poolesville all the way. The only downside about Poolesville is its rural location. If that's not an issue, then it's an excellent option.

What are the reasons for Poolesville all the way? Do you mean just the magnet program? I also have read here and there that there are physical building issues with Poolesville and Wootton, or is that outdated information? There are so many opinions at odds with each other. Do the schools even let prospective parents in the building to look around, like in private schools, before you have bought a house in the disctrict?

The district is Montgomery County Public Schools. When you buy property in Montgomery County, you're buying property in the school district.

For everything else - you're buying property that MCPS has currently assigned to particular schools in the school district and that MCPS can (and sometimes does) reassign to different schools in the school district.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would choose Bethesda, because I don't want to live in Potomac (too far, too car-dependent) or Poolesville (way too far). And I guess Whitman would come with that. But I wouldn't base my decision on the high school.

Let's say location not an issue but simply focusing on academics and test scores and college placement (private not an option ) , what choice then?

DP. Poolesville all the way. The only downside about Poolesville is its rural location. If that's not an issue, then it's an excellent option.

What are the reasons for Poolesville all the way? Do you mean just the magnet program? I also have read here and there that there are physical building issues with Poolesville and Wootton, or is that outdated information? There are so many opinions at odds with each other. Do the schools even let prospective parents in the building to look around, like in private schools, before you have bought a house in the disctrict?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would choose Bethesda, because I don't want to live in Potomac (too far, too car-dependent) or Poolesville (way too far). And I guess Whitman would come with that. But I wouldn't base my decision on the high school.

Let's say location not an issue but simply focusing on academics and test scores and college placement (private not an option ) , what choice then?

DP. Poolesville all the way. The only downside about Poolesville is its rural location. If that's not an issue, then it's an excellent option.

Anonymous wrote:

Quince Orchard is the most balanced school in moco right now.

Oh, there's a Quince Orchard booster on the thread.

wootton