Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm telling you what. It's pretty clear from looking at what these kids have been posting on the IG pages that an earlier poster attached to this thread that many of the public schools around here are doing just as well as the privates, even the top ones, in getting their students into excellent colleges.

No way in hell would I pay for private around here!

I actually think it's easier to get into a top college from public ....

Depends on the private school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interestingly, I’m finding from my senior that about half the students at our private high school aren’t even posting to the social media senior page. I think more kids are opting out so keep that in mind when trying to “glean” acceptances from these pages. Some really impressive ones aren’t even showing up on our school’s page. Anyone else noticing that trend?

DD attends an all girls school in the area. She and her friend were discussing how some girls were afraid of sabotage if they posted their ED acceptance. I acknowledge all high schools are full of drama and the girls are really competitive with one another, but the fact they were discussing it (even if it was based in rumor) is crazy.

What school? That’s incredibly toxic.

Why would you send your kid to a school where this happens?

Anonymous wrote:Does St. Andrews not send kids to top 20? Compared to Whitman, Wootton, Churchill etc, St. Andrews matriculation is pretty mid.. am I missing something? I know not all decisions are out yet and we still have to wait till march but shouldn’t we expect more kids doing ED from privates like St. Andrews?

The short answer is yes: St. Andrews does send kids to top-20 schools.

The long answer is 1. It is a very small school with class sizes being in the 95 max range, so comparing it to massive MCPS HS doesn’t make a lot of sense. 2. It is a college-preparatory school, and kids graduate very well prepared, but it intentionally has a range of students, with some taking all AP and honors classes, others taking all on-level classes. 3. Although there are certainly families with substantial means, many/most families are not wildly wealthy (by DMV standards) and actually do need to take merit/tuition into consideration when applying to college. 4. Families who select SAES tend to do so because they are seeking a particular educational environment for their student, rather than what others consider the most prestigious. This mindset generally does not line up with the “Ivy or bust” mentality we see a lot of on DCUM. 5. Every year, there are a handful of athletes who commit to play in college, but this is not the school where you are likely to see a large percentage of the student population pulling the athletics hook. 6. Kids are posting less and less. Talk to the school for the full list.

I think if your goal is college admissions, private school is a poor investment. If your goal is the best possible education, then you have to factor in which public, which private, and your kid. I also think, public or private, the top kids are the top kids anywhere, plus in both settings, the top kids with hooks are by and large the ones getting in to these schools ED. The regular round is more competitive numbers-wise, but unhooked kids have a better shot in the spring. I did hear that if your student is deferred from an Ivy or equivalent, they're unlikely to get admitted to that particular Ivy, but they very well may get into a different top school.

Anonymous wrote:Does St. Andrews not send kids to top 20? Compared to Whitman, Wootton, Churchill etc, St. Andrews matriculation is pretty mid.. am I missing something? I know not all decisions are out yet and we still have to wait till march but shouldn’t we expect more kids doing ED from privates like St. Andrews?

You answered it yourself. Because of people like this, students don't post. Omf the folks obsessed with what school sent kids to where.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interestingly, I’m finding from my senior that about half the students at our private high school aren’t even posting to the social media senior page. I think more kids are opting out so keep that in mind when trying to “glean” acceptances from these pages. Some really impressive ones aren’t even showing up on our school’s page. Anyone else noticing that trend?

Following the public schools the last couple of years and I have seen less kids from Blair and RM post. Not sure why.

You're f kidding, right??

Anonymous wrote:I'm telling you what. It's pretty clear from looking at what these kids have been posting on the IG pages that an earlier poster attached to this thread that many of the public schools around here are doing just as well as the privates, even the top ones, in getting their students into excellent colleges.

No way in hell would I pay for private around here!

I actually think it's easier to get into a top college from public ....

Anonymous wrote:I'm telling you what. It's pretty clear from looking at what these kids have been posting on the IG pages that an earlier poster attached to this thread that many of the public schools around here are doing just as well as the privates, even the top ones, in getting their students into excellent colleges.

No way in hell would I pay for private around here!

And this is why I went public.

I'm telling you what. It's pretty clear from looking at what these kids have been posting on the IG pages that an earlier poster attached to this thread that many of the public schools around here are doing just as well as the privates, even the top ones, in getting their students into excellent colleges.

No way in hell would I pay for private around here!

Does St. Andrews not send kids to top 20? Compared to Whitman, Wootton, Churchill etc, St. Andrews matriculation is pretty mid.. am I missing something? I know not all decisions are out yet and we still have to wait till march but shouldn’t we expect more kids doing ED from privates like St. Andrews?

DC
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Gonzaga:
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VIRGINIA
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Annandale:
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MARYLAND
Academy of the Holy Cross: https://www.instagram.com/ahcseniors26/
BCC: https://www.instagram.com/bccdecisions2026/
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Good Counsel: https://www.instagram.com/gc2026commitments
Holton: https://www.instagram.com/holtonarms2026/
Holy Child: https://www.instagram.com/hcseniors26_/
Kennedy HS: https://www.instagram.com/jfkcommits26/
Key: https://www.instagram.com/key_class_of_2026/
Landon: https://www.instagram.com/landonseniors2026/
Magruder: https://www.instagram.com/whatscomingcolonels26/
Montgomery Blair: https://www.instagram.com/blaircommits_26/
Northwest: https://www.instagram.com/nwhscommits26/
Northwood HS: https://www.instagram.com/goodbye.gladiators2026/
Poolesville HS: https://www.instagram.com/falconfutures2026/
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Walt Whitman: https://www.instagram.com/vikingdestinations.2026
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Walter Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/wherethewildcatsgo2026

BALTIMORE:
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Friends School of Baltimore:
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McDonogh: https://www.instagram.com/mcdclassof2026/
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Park: https://www.instagram.com/Parkseniorss2026

Please LMK if you have any corrections/additions. Please go start a new thread if you want to discuss anything else; I'm going to report off-topic comments.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interestingly, I’m finding from my senior that about half the students at our private high school aren’t even posting to the social media senior page. I think more kids are opting out so keep that in mind when trying to “glean” acceptances from these pages. Some really impressive ones aren’t even showing up on our school’s page. Anyone else noticing that trend?

DD attends an all girls school in the area. She and her friend were discussing how some girls were afraid of sabotage if they posted their ED acceptance. I acknowledge all high schools are full of drama and the girls are really competitive with one another, but the fact they were discussing it (even if it was based in rumor) is crazy.

What school? That’s incredibly toxic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interestingly, I’m finding from my senior that about half the students at our private high school aren’t even posting to the social media senior page. I think more kids are opting out so keep that in mind when trying to “glean” acceptances from these pages. Some really impressive ones aren’t even showing up on our school’s page. Anyone else noticing that trend?

Following the public schools the last couple of years and I have seen less kids from Blair and RM post. Not sure why.

There are a number of quiet kids at that magnets, who don’t use social media. Also some who don’t want to come across as braggy, knowing their friends didn’t get into Duke or Princeton. Lastly, some who got into top schools EA but plan to ride out the whole process.

Anonymous wrote:Interestingly, I’m finding from my senior that about half the students at our private high school aren’t even posting to the social media senior page. I think more kids are opting out so keep that in mind when trying to “glean” acceptances from these pages. Some really impressive ones aren’t even showing up on our school’s page. Anyone else noticing that trend?

Following the public schools the last couple of years and I have seen less kids from Blair and RM post. Not sure why.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interestingly, I’m finding from my senior that about half the students at our private high school aren’t even posting to the social media senior page. I think more kids are opting out so keep that in mind when trying to “glean” acceptances from these pages. Some really impressive ones aren’t even showing up on our school’s page. Anyone else noticing that trend?

DD attends an all girls school in the area. She and her friend were discussing how some girls were afraid of sabotage if they posted their ED acceptance. I acknowledge all high schools are full of drama and the girls are really competitive with one another, but the fact they were discussing it (even if it was based in rumor) is crazy.

Wut?

I think that they are worried that someone will contact admissions at the college with made up (or real) accusations about the person and try to have their acceptance rescinded.