Anonymous wrote:I think that many admissions offices would like to favor low-income smart kids from high poverty schools.

However on the high school end, I think the experience is not there to drive a steady stream of students to competitive universities.

Imagine the first one as DCPS vs MCPS. A low income DCPS might present more sympathetically than an MCPS school, generically. On the second one however the counselors in a DCPS know how to get kids into the pipeline regularly.

So I think that it’s a wash.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if it is a top high school then it is the size of the school. Bard or HSMSE in nyc more like a private. BUT better of at a private than Stuy, Bronx Science or Tech b/c so many qualified kids especially if not first gen.

Most of these schools are First-gen so not really sure if being first-gen helps.

That is a fair comment. I don’ know if it makes a diff. I would hope it helps some but my kid and most of their friends at one of these schools were not first gen. I do think it is a very competitive process at these schools and given the size of the classes more difficult than at privates. I do think however that the kids come out well prepared and ready for college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if it is a top high school then it is the size of the school. Bard or HSMSE in nyc more like a private. BUT better of at a private than Stuy, Bronx Science or Tech b/c so many qualified kids especially if not first gen.

Most of these schools are First-gen so not really sure if being first-gen helps.

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Anonymous wrote:One thing to keep in mind, that won't be reflected in matriculation data, a lot of kids in public schools can or did/do get into top schools, but can't afford to go to them.

This is a good point--my high school had a lot of middle to UMC kids that turned down T20 schools for the instate option, especially since our instate was well-regarded and gave some very generous merit scholarships.

Anonymous wrote:One thing to keep in mind, that won't be reflected in matriculation data, a lot of kids in public schools can or did/do get into top schools, but can't afford to go to them.

Anonymous wrote:I think if it is a top high school then it is the size of the school. Bard or HSMSE in nyc more like a private. BUT better of at a private than Stuy, Bronx Science or Tech b/c so many qualified kids especially if not first gen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:OP, if your kids are on top of their class, then it may be worthwhile to enroll them in privates that have excellent track records in T20 placements. Certain tippy top private schools are feeder schools and have the counselor - AO connections that practically guaranteed placement for the top 5-10% of the class. For lower ranked student in private schools, the result could be less certain. Private schools also tend to provide all the ECs needed for a T20 placement, unless a niche EC not offered. In contrast, some top public schools provide relatively quality education (and likely more AP courses) at no cost. The counselors in public schools typically are dedicated and excellent, but could be inundated with the sheer number of students they served. The EC offerings in public are extensive and diverse, but could be ultra competitive for the officers positions due to large membership. Often the customized ECs are DIY projects outside of school.
If your kids are into science and want to pursue science-focused T20 such as MIT and Carnegie Mellon, then public magnet is the way, i.e. TJ or Blair Magnet. TJ has been a perennial feeder to these schools. Blair Magnet class of 2025 sent 11 (out of 105) to MIT, 4 to CM. No top private in the DC area could not provide the breadth and depth of STEM offerings at TJ and Blair Magnet.
Suggest starting with the end goal in mind. Then work backwards. Where do you want to send your kids to given their aptitudes and fit. The IG postings of college destination class of 2025 is a good starting point.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/435/1244745.page

DP: Hard to support this approach. This means parents need to decide by 8th grade where their kids should attend college or the kid needs to have a short list by age 13. Fit is so important, it's not wise to narrow your search so early at that age

On the contrary, it works very well for DC and their classmates - Blair Magnet class of '25. And 8th grade is way too late, most started in 3rd grade, when their aptitudes for STEM became obvious and they qualify for CES. The result speaks for itself. The Bethesda Magazine's listing for the T-20 bound Montgomery Blair grads is accurate as I have met the majority of them.
https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/09/10/mcps-students-college/

We're not talking about MCPS on this thread.