Anonymous
Post 04/11/2023 15:13     Subject: Whitman vs Walter Johnson HSs
OP, this piece from Bethesda magazine from last fall does a great job of laying out where students from various Bethesda high schools applied to college, where they got in, and where they decided to attend.

https://moco360.media/2022/09/13/here-are-the-colleges-where-bethesda-area-high-school-grads-applied-got-accepted-and-enrolled/

All do well -- I think you can feel confident with either Whitman or WJ.

We're in the Whitman district but I think WJ also is a great school, and the greater diversity at WJ is a plus.

Anonymous
Post 04/11/2023 14:37     Subject: Whitman vs Walter Johnson HSs
Anonymous wrote:What is DCC??


Downcounty Consortium: Blair, Einstein, Northwood, Kennedy, and Wheaton
Anonymous
Post 04/11/2023 13:59     Subject: Whitman vs Walter Johnson HSs
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Both schools totally suck at sports as do all the Bethesda schools.

WJ is more ethnically diverse than Whitman and you can walk to a coffee shop from it, which you can't really do from Whitman.

That’s a huge over-generalization re sports. The W schools always have strong soccer teams, and often the state champs come from one. WJ has a very strong girls’ XC program. Churchill girls just went to the State basketball championship, and there are plenty of other recent examples. If by “sports” you mean “football” then you have a point.

I think both schools are great, and most kids we know who have attended them have enjoyed their HS years. Whitman is definitely more of a pressure cooker for ambitious students, though.


Swim and Dive are also strong at both.
Anonymous
Post 04/11/2023 13:55     Subject: Whitman vs Walter Johnson HSs
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Whitman has stronger academics. I wouldn't worry about much outside of that.


BCC has the IB diploma program, which is not available at WJ or Whitman.


NP- I am considering BCC due to the IB program plus since it is more diverse. Just worried about all the drug issues I have been reading about. Also, as far as I know Pyle is academically stronger than Westland, which feeds into BCC. My kid is starting MS this Fall.


All the wealthy schools have a similar drug culture. Back in my day, it was worse at Whitman and Churchill than at BCC. I'm honestly skeptical of the recent hype but I don't have kids there.
Anonymous
Post 04/11/2023 12:57     Subject: Whitman vs Walter Johnson HSs
What is DCC??
Anonymous
Post 04/11/2023 12:57     Subject: Whitman vs Walter Johnson HSs
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Honestly: Just how much better is Whitman than Walter Johnson ("WJ"):

1) academically,
2) sports-wise,
3) aesthetically (campus, buildings, neighborhood)
4) "the arts"
5) college placement
6) student happiness
7) teachers who care


They're pretty similar on all those counts. In fact, you're just splitting hairs. So pick the school for whichever community appeals to you r family more.


Good to know. Homes in the Whitman district (literally a few blocks away from similar/identical homes in the WJ district are notably more expensive so it made me think...



What is DCC??

One of the reason is WJ rezoning. Whitman is also part of boundary change, but only small change is possible there. WJ may become part of DCC or simply take 2 elementary schools from DCC. A much larger change is possible in WJ.


WJ will not become part of the DCC, I'd imagine some families who live closer to DCC school may land there, though. However, I think BCC may end up in the DCC since it was originally part of it until the parents complained but it is the most downcounty of all moco high-schools.
Anonymous
Post 03/31/2023 11:44     Subject: Whitman vs Walter Johnson HSs
WJ has a very strong music department, if that is of interest under "arts."
Anonymous
Post 03/31/2023 10:25     Subject: Whitman vs Walter Johnson HSs
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Whitman has stronger academics. I wouldn't worry about much outside of that.


BCC has the IB diploma program, which is not available at WJ or Whitman.


NP- I am considering BCC due to the IB program plus since it is more diverse. Just worried about all the drug issues I have been reading about. Also, as far as I know Pyle is academically stronger than Westland, which feeds into BCC. My kid is starting MS this Fall.


every school has drug issues.
Anonymous
Post 03/31/2023 03:15     Subject: Whitman vs Walter Johnson HSs
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Whitman has stronger academics. I wouldn't worry about much outside of that.


BCC has the IB diploma program, which is not available at WJ or Whitman.


NP- I am considering BCC due to the IB program plus since it is more diverse. Just worried about all the drug issues I have been reading about. Also, as far as I know Pyle is academically stronger than Westland, which feeds into BCC. My kid is starting MS this Fall.