Anonymous wrote:Whitman is awful. Perhaps, another "W" school like Wheaton or Watkins Mill truly would be better than a rich white boys school.

Both suck if the kid needs a certain environment to succeed if they are more laid back they might be fine.

Anonymous wrote:Whitman is awful ... a rich white boys school.

Welcome, Texas! Google AI says median family income in Potomac is $239,205 and average family income is $325,765. These are large public schools, so you have nerds, jocks, artsy kids, and a few delinquents in every class. There are advanced placement classes and special education at all of them. The distinction is that Potomac and Bethesda are expensive, so the parents tend to be rich and educated. That does not guarantee that all kids are smart and successful. But they are generally polite and well-behaved.

Bethesda/Whitman is a bit closer to D.C. jobs, so the real estate is more expensive per square foot. But Potomac/Churchill has the multiacre lots with mansions. I want my kids to walk to school and to friend's houses, so I chose a smaller lot near schools.

This forum is obsessed with prestigious education. It is understandable, because a good degree will help your son find a lucrative career or spouse to afford staying in this area. It is nice to know that all the W schools have a critical mass of students aspiring to attend good colleges. But lets face it, not all the kids are even taking calculus in high school, and not all of the graduates even go to college. The most popular colleges are University of Maryland, College Park and Montgomery Community College. A total of 46 Churchill students applied to Harvard, but only 1 was accepted (and enrolled). There is no guarantee that your kid will be that one!
https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/09/17/where-do-moco-students-attend-college/

There are nice friends, role models, and resources at all these schools. It makes a bigger difference which classes you take in a high school than which high school you attend. There are stoners and slackers at all these high schools. There are also teens who feel stressed by family and academic pressures. There are always international families with jobs at government agencies. And teens can be affected by family trouble, divorce, and financial problems. Being a teen is tough! The housing market is slow now, so you might need to be flexible about the exact neighborhood.

Whitman is awful. Perhaps, another "W" school like Wheaton or Watkins Mill truly would be better than a rich white boys school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best high schools in MCPS are the magnet programs at Blair, Poolesville and Richard Montgomery.

For someone new to the district how easy is it to get spots? And should I move to a specific place?

Don't move for a magnet lottery. And all the W schools have very large cohorts of smart and ambitious students. We moved from the west coast to the Whitman district. Good experience. I'd say the W schools are really good for smart and self-motivated students. But I think they'd be miserable for below average students. There is an understated pressure cooker environment at all of them. Among Whitman, Churchill, and WJ, I think WJ is the most "normal." Whitman and Churchill are more oriented toward the high flyers.

+1

One thing to add here.

WJ is likely to become closer to Eienstein after boundary adjustment. It won't become Einstein but it will move in that direction after adding few elemenrary schools from DCC.

As result, WJ will be even less pressure cooker if it matters for you.

Anonymous wrote:Is your Texas school district academically intense?

If not, choose carefully. The "W" schools can be rough on kids' nerves.

This is true, OP.

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is lying to you because they don't want you at their school

omg

Is your Texas school district academically intense?

If not, choose carefully. The "W" schools can be rough on kids' nerves.

Google the school, all have issues.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best high schools in MCPS are the magnet programs at Blair, Poolesville and Richard Montgomery.

For someone new to the district how easy is it to get spots? And should I move to a specific place?

Don't move for a magnet lottery. And all the W schools have very large cohorts of smart and ambitious students. We moved from the west coast to the Whitman district. Good experience. I'd say the W schools are really good for smart and self-motivated students. But I think they'd be miserable for below average students. There is an understated pressure cooker environment at all of them. Among Whitman, Churchill, and WJ, I think WJ is the most "normal." Whitman and Churchill are more oriented toward the high flyers.

This list shows which special programs are available for 8th grade students from each cluster to apply to for their 9th grade year:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wUKCUvW2C17RpAiDTyLktzl6-mvvfVceCduYy6Mc8kA/preview

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best high schools in MCPS are the magnet programs at Blair, Poolesville and Richard Montgomery.

For someone new to the district how easy is it to get spots? And should I move to a specific place?

It is very difficult to get spots, and the catchment areas for Blair and Poolesville are different halves of the county, while RM's IB program is countywide.

Also not every high school year is an entry year….

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best high schools in MCPS are the magnet programs at Blair, Poolesville and Richard Montgomery.

For someone new to the district how easy is it to get spots? And should I move to a specific place?

It is very difficult to get spots, and the catchment areas for Blair and Poolesville are different halves of the county, while RM's IB program is countywide.

Anonymous wrote:The best high schools in MCPS are the magnet programs at Blair, Poolesville and Richard Montgomery.

For someone new to the district how easy is it to get spots? And should I move to a specific place?

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is lying to you because they don't want you at their school

Why?

Anonymous wrote:Be aware that there is a huge boundary study going on that will affect all the “W’s.”

+1

Walter Johnson boundary will see a big change. Others may see some changes as well.