Anonymous
07/10/2012 14:46
Subject: Buying in MoCo - which HS?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How about Einstein, Wheaton or Kennedy?
Why aren't THEY on your list?
Because she wants a good education for her kids.
This is what I am referring to. There is also another post simply stating that these schools suck. Explain to me how this is not offensive to someone who chooses to send their kids to one of these three schools. And yes I have first hand experience with Einstein and I think my kids are getting a great education there. I am sorry that the OP had a bad experience with the area and she is of course free to choose to live wherever she wants. The whole point of my post was that the debate was getting a little heated and I wanted people to understand why some posters might feel defensive.
Anonymous
07/10/2012 14:39
Subject: Re:Buying in MoCo - which HS?
NP here. Went to BCC AND we had a pregnant girl I graduated with AND there was alcohol and drugs at most parties. You cannot shield your child from everything.
THAT being said however, we are buying in Bethesda and avoiding SS because I also do not want my kids going to Einstein, Wheaton or Kennedy. Its not a race or elitist thing. I want my kids to go to a good public school with the stats to prove the success and strength of the students and faculty. Unfortunately those schools are the weaker ones in Moco and I am not willing to put my child in a weaker school district. Plain and simple. Now why those districts do not perform as well...you would have to do the research for yourself.
THAT being said however, we are buying in Bethesda and avoiding SS because I also do not want my kids going to Einstein, Wheaton or Kennedy. Its not a race or elitist thing. I want my kids to go to a good public school with the stats to prove the success and strength of the students and faculty. Unfortunately those schools are the weaker ones in Moco and I am not willing to put my child in a weaker school district. Plain and simple. Now why those districts do not perform as well...you would have to do the research for yourself.
Anonymous
07/10/2012 14:37
Subject: Re:Buying in MoCo - which HS?
Anonymous wrote:I don't think the PP is a pot-stirring asshole. So far the implication is that if we send our kids to Einstein, Wheaton, or Kennedy we don't care about giving our kids a good education or our kids are pregnant gang members. I think these uninformed and bigoted comments would elicit an unfavorable reaction from anyone.
NP here, and I think the Einstein booster is the problem here. Are you suggesting that unless we all agree to send our kids to the school of your choosing, we are by definition racists/elitists/anti-poor? I'll raise you an epithet: facist.
The OP states that she grew up in SS and has direct experience with the local schools. It's her prerogative, and if she really did grow up here then she has a better basis in making that judgment than most parents who are thinking about schools when they buy a house. BTW I don't have kids in either the Whitman or Churchill districts, I just think it's absurd to tell a parent who can afford those districts that buying there de facto makes them racist.
First of all, I didn't call anyone a racist. My only point was that it's unfair to call one person a pot-stirer for bringing up race and to applaud another poster for saying that Einstein, Wheaton, and Kennedy schools suck and people who send their kids to these three schools obviously don't care about their kids education. I think its perfectly rationale for someone to get defensive when the response to "why don't you consider these three DCC schools" is "because she cares about her kids".
Anonymous
07/10/2012 14:32
Subject: Re:Buying in MoCo - which HS?
Anonymous wrote:I don't think the PP is a pot-stirring asshole. So far the implication is that if we send our kids to Einstein, Wheaton, or Kennedy we don't care about giving our kids a good education or our kids are pregnant gang members. I think these uninformed and bigoted comments would elicit an unfavorable reaction from anyone.
NP here, and I think the Einstein booster is the problem here. Are you suggesting that unless we all agree to send our kids to the school of your choosing, we are by definition racists/elitists/anti-poor? I'll raise you an epithet: facist.
The OP states that she grew up in SS and has direct experience with the local schools. It's her prerogative, and if she really did grow up here then she has a better basis in making that judgment than most parents who are thinking about schools when they buy a house. BTW I don't have kids in either the Whitman or Churchill districts, I just think it's absurd to tell a parent who can afford those districts that buying there de facto makes them racist.
I'm with the 2nd poster, not the 1st. Show me where anyone posted that if you send your kid to EWK, then you don't care about education? And OP has personal experience with these schools, which is something I don't have and, I'm guessing the 1st PP doesn't have either, so why does 1st PP think she can abrogate OP's own experiences?
Anonymous
07/10/2012 14:13
Subject: Buying in MoCo - which HS?
Socially, this was my experience, as HS is more than coursework.
Churchill is the least diverse economically and culturally. It churns out lots of sheltered daddy's little prince/princess types. Lots of kids with unlimited spending budgets and wardrobes. There are more kids driving new luxury cars here than anywhere else in montgomery county. The guy who developed 90210 created it based on his life at Churchill.
Whitman is an intense pressure cooker for many. Not much economic diversity here either. There are lots of diplomatic and IMF/World bank kids here some exposure to people from other parts of the world is possible. Kids here tend to be slightly less sheltered and more down to earth than at Churchill. You will see more kids driving new VWs and Toyotas here.
BCC is more of an urban setting and has some actual diversity. It is an excellent school and I think kids going here are less sheltered and are at somewhat of a social advantage for this. This is the best part of Bethesda in terms of access to the city. Kids here are more likely to be seen driving bicycles, Vespas, or a parent's hand me down car. Definitely hipper than the other two schools....
-A Whitman Graduate
Anonymous
07/10/2012 14:13
Subject: Re:Buying in MoCo - which HS?
I don't think the PP is a pot-stirring asshole. So far the implication is that if we send our kids to Einstein, Wheaton, or Kennedy we don't care about giving our kids a good education or our kids are pregnant gang members. I think these uninformed and bigoted comments would elicit an unfavorable reaction from anyone.
NP here, and I think the Einstein booster is the problem here. Are you suggesting that unless we all agree to send our kids to the school of your choosing, we are by definition racists/elitists/anti-poor? I'll raise you an epithet: facist.
The OP states that she grew up in SS and has direct experience with the local schools. It's her prerogative, and if she really did grow up here then she has a better basis in making that judgment than most parents who are thinking about schools when they buy a house. BTW I don't have kids in either the Whitman or Churchill districts, I just think it's absurd to tell a parent who can afford those districts that buying there de facto makes them racist.
Anonymous
07/10/2012 13:24
Subject: Buying in MoCo - which HS?
Anonymous wrote:I think several of the neighborhoods that feed in to Einstein are quite lovely. Hell Einstein has a Kensington address and parts of Kensington feed to Einstein. I will admit that I don't know much about Wheaton or Kennedy but I would absolutely consider Kensington and Einstein as a place to purchase a home. I think Einstein has a great arts program and is a relatively small school for MoCo. It seems like there are lots of opportunities for the B student to find their niche at Einstein rather than going someplace where 90% of the kids take APs and a student not taking APs would feel out of place.
Maybe but if the B student is one of the best students in the class you can be sure they won't get any extra help but if they are one of two or three struggling they will get extra help.
It's very complicated finding a good fit for a B student - depending why they get B's.
Anonymous
07/10/2012 13:21
Subject: Re:Buying in MoCo - which HS?
Nice to hear Whitman has the unified sports (I knew Urbana had it but did not know about Whitman) and the Best Buddies program (I knew Paul IV had this but did not know about Whitman).
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
Anonymous
07/10/2012 13:01
Subject: Buying in MoCo - which HS?
Anonymous wrote:NP here. My high school kid tells us there's a huge difference between AP classes (DD has taken 5 so far, will take 3-4 more next year) and honors classes (DD has taken a few of these too). The AP classes are too intense, and the honors classes are jokes, it almost seems like honors is the new "regular." It's too bad that MoCo doesn't have a happy medium!
Don't want to suffer retaliation by identifying myself. Honors is the new regular. T
Anonymous
07/10/2012 12:18
Subject: Buying in MoCo - which HS?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
Actually I didn't say that at all. Only that for a B student who won't take any APs the peer pressure may be a challenge and the resulting peer group may be less than ideal. Here are the US News stats:
Whitman - 82% of the kids take APs, an average of 4.6 tests per test taker
Churchill - 89% of the kids take APs, an average of 4.8 tests per test taker
Whitman's numbers are a little lower because there is a big special ed program that draws from multiple districts so those kids are not taking any APs.
Don't get me wrong, my kid attends one of these schools and it is a fabulous school. Not everyone is super bright, although some certainly are, but I am amazed how many are way above average. That extends to other activities too - so many of the kids excel at something outside of academics too.
Heaven forbid we should make special ed a priority!
I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. The school can have a great special ed program but also emphasize AP's for the kids who aren't in special ed. I have no idea about the special ed program at Whitman and frankly, this is the first I've heard of it. I know Churchill has a bridge program. But since OP's kids are not in special ed, there is no reason to discuss this here. I fully appreciate that MoCo has serious problems with its special ed programs but a comment like this is not necessary every time someone mentions special ed in passing. Signed, parent of special ed dc
I am the PP who added the comment on the Whitman program. I did not say it was a bad thing, to the contrary it is a great program and the school encourages a Best Buddies program outside of school and provides school age buddies to accompany some of the kids to classes. There is also a new "unified" sports program for the kids that the county piloted last year. These are not ADHD/LD kids (I have one of those), they are kids with physical and mental challenges many of whom stay in the program until age 21. I only mention it to explain why Whitman may have a slight lower number of kids taking APs compared to Churchill as I thought that would be useful to the OP.
Anonymous
07/10/2012 11:25
Subject: Buying in MoCo - which HS?
Anonymous wrote:I don't think the PP is a pot-stirring asshole. So far the implication is that if we send our kids to Einstein, Wheaton, or Kennedy we don't care about giving our kids a good education or our kids are pregnant gang members. I think these uninformed and bigoted comments would elicit an unfavorable reaction from anyone.
Right on!
Anonymous
07/10/2012 11:15
Subject: Buying in MoCo - which HS?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How about Einstein, Wheaton or Kennedy?
Why aren't THEY on your list?
Because she wants a good education for her kids.
OP here. Because I grew up in that part of Silver Spring....and I'm NOT going back. It was nice-ish when I was there but it is no longer the part of MoCo I'd want to be in.
All 3 of those schools do not at all fit what I want for my kids. sorry, just being honest.
As for Whitman and Churchill being for AP kids- well, I gotta believe there are some average to above average kids in Bethesda, that is just a silly comment. What you're essentially saying is only people with super bright kids should buy in those areas of MoCo....that is just plain ol' dumb I tell ya!
You're afraid of blacks, Africans and Hispanics.
Admit it.
asshole! no, I'm afraid my kids will be exposed to fucking gang activity and teen pregnancy!!! stop trying to make it a race issue, it's not a race issue - it's a socio-economic issue. We work way too hard to be able to afford to live in a "nice" neighborhood so that we can shield our kids from SOME of that crap. I'm not so naive as to believe that you don't have issues in wealthier areas but I would like to decrease their exposure as much as possible. THAT'S WHY! So BOOOOO.....not afraid of blacks, africans or hispanics. jerk-off......
So, you're afraid of poor people...got it. Not a racist, just an elitist. Much better.
Ok. You got me! I'm elitist, not racist, but maybe homophobic ( I added that for good measure)....is there anything else I should add to the list? Pardon me if I want better for my children. Go away if you can't answer my simple, innocent question.
If it makes you feel better to call me names for wanting a better life for my kids and more opportunities for them, then go right ahead. I'm VERY comfortable in my own skin amd in the decisions that I make.
Regarding the comment someone made about Whitman's scores being lower because of the special needs students - now THAT is a gross comment. Hope my SN kid doesn't poison yours. ADHD is contagious ya know!
Anonymous
07/10/2012 10:55
Subject: Buying in MoCo - which HS?
I think several of the neighborhoods that feed in to Einstein are quite lovely. Hell Einstein has a Kensington address and parts of Kensington feed to Einstein. I will admit that I don't know much about Wheaton or Kennedy but I would absolutely consider Kensington and Einstein as a place to purchase a home. I think Einstein has a great arts program and is a relatively small school for MoCo. It seems like there are lots of opportunities for the B student to find their niche at Einstein rather than going someplace where 90% of the kids take APs and a student not taking APs would feel out of place.
Anonymous
07/10/2012 10:44
Subject: Buying in MoCo - which HS?
Anonymous wrote:I don't think the PP is a pot-stirring asshole. So far the implication is that if we send our kids to Einstein, Wheaton, or Kennedy we don't care about giving our kids a good education or our kids are pregnant gang members. I think these uninformed and bigoted comments would elicit an unfavorable reaction from anyone.
I did not get this at all from the OP comment. I too grew up in MoCo in one of the poorest neighborhoods. So yes I was exposed to gangs and teen pregancy and severe amounts of drug abuse.
I have friends with severe disablities due to long term drug use.
It is sad.
I have friends that had opportunities to have full rides to college but chose not to go because those rich kids suck and I can make more money if I go straight to work.
I think some kids can get a great education in every single school in MoCo if the kid is smart and motivated and lucky. Yes - life has a bit of luck involved. So no I am not a bigot but I do want to do the best I can to limit the negative influences to my children.
If you grew up in my neighborhood you would see this as a well informed opinion.
Anonymous
07/10/2012 10:37
Subject: Buying in MoCo - which HS?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How about Einstein, Wheaton or Kennedy?
Why aren't THEY on your list?
Because she wants a good education for her kids.
OP here. Because I grew up in that part of Silver Spring....and I'm NOT going back. It was nice-ish when I was there but it is no longer the part of MoCo I'd want to be in.
All 3 of those schools do not at all fit what I want for my kids. sorry, just being honest.
As for Whitman and Churchill being for AP kids- well, I gotta believe there are some average to above average kids in Bethesda, that is just a silly comment. What you're essentially saying is only people with super bright kids should buy in those areas of MoCo....that is just plain ol' dumb I tell ya!
You're afraid of blacks, Africans and Hispanics.
Admit it.
Not OP. But thanks for pointing out - this is not diversity.
In addition - since there is a socioeconomic situation with these neighborhoods blacks/africans/hispanics are disproportionately represented as poor which send the wrong message.
If you want diversity you would not be in these schools.