We have one student at Potomac and other students at public schools. It really is child-specific.

If you have the means, Potomac is better in some ways. The teachers are usually (not always) better-trained, better-credentialed and incredibly engaged with their students. The level of interaction, both in class and especially out of class, is outstanding. They know my student, not in general, but day-to-day. This includes significant one-on-one time. My student was having some issues in a couple subjects, the time the teachers spent with my student was amazing. I have had trouble getting the same when needed in public schools.

Yes, the facilities are equivalent to a small, liberal arts college, especially when the new athletic center is done. I would not sent my student just for this, but it is nice.

We'll see on the college front, have not gotten there but do expect at least some help for the price we pay. Still, the student needs to perform well.

I guess in all, I would say it really comes down to means. If you have the means and want your student in that environment, then you pay. That being said, I have no major issues with public schools in the same area. It is almost self-fulfilling - there are so many well-educated parents in the area, they understand the importance of it, and therefore instill it (usually) in their kids. So the kids in public high school are smart and do well too.

OP, it is a choice between two great options. Most would kill to have the choice.

Anonymous wrote:Potomac facilities are nicer and smaller class size. Education and special needs services are better at McLean or Langley.

Did you mean special education and special needs? I would agree with you on that although Potomac is making efforts to improve its ability to accommodate students with mild learning issues who are otherwise able to handle the curriculum.

Anonymous wrote:Potomac facilities are nicer and smaller class size. Education and special needs services are better at McLean or Langley.

To add, McLean looks like a dump because fcps throws away money towards illegals and builds them new facilities. Sad

Potomac facilities are nicer and smaller class size. Education and special needs services are better at McLean or Langley.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm struggling with this decision, too. I went to an Ivy from public and most of the private kids were from Andover, Exeter, St. Paul, Deerfield etc. The DC area private schools are not at the top.

what was your major at school?
Some of the more liberal "top" DC-based schools really push kids to be journalists, community activists, foreign policy, professors or social justice lawyers if they are not sinking their teeth into hard sciences like biomed, engineering, or CS. No where do I see much capitalism, entrepreneurialism, or consulting angles discussed. Unfortunately, I fear some of the "top" privates in this area are too politicized to generate diversity in thought or range of definition of "success". And we all know that success looks different in different industries.

Interestingly enough, Potomac has a pretty good emphasis on entreprenuerialism. The school recently hosted a shark tank type competition for the students with some serious heavyweights (CEO of F500 orgs) reviewing business plans and offering guidance and mentorship. Not sure you'd find that at many other private schools in the area. Potomac is more likely than the other DC privates to have a tech and business oriented focus given the families they attract (based on location near Tysons and the Dulles corridor where many of these organizations have offices)....

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone speak to diversity at Potomac School? My DS (AA) is considering Potomac for high school. We have looked at several schools, but have been disappointed with their approaches to diversity/inclusion - not the numbers per-se, but the overall atmosphere. Example: I asked one admissions counselor (not at Potomac) about SSAT timing, and her response focused on financial aid, even though I had not mentioned financial aid at all. I don't have the energy to put him, or us, through that for four years, and I certainly don't want to pay $41K for it.

BTW - I've been disappointed to see racist/snarky responses in prior posts to this thread. Please curb any urge to continue that here. I've heard them all by now, they are not original, and I'm over it. I'm just trying to find someplace where my DS can thrive.

Thanks in advance for any helpful posts.

It's not diverse as far as AA children are concerned.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing environment for students who develop deep, meaningful relationships with their teachers and advisors. Has the feel of being in college seminars where students are pushed to use critical thinking and delve deeply into subject matters without the typical teaching to the test and studying AP test prep books. Students are extremely well prepared for college with deep analytic thinking and writing skills. All students strive for their personal best and the environment benefits students across the board. Administration and faculty are familiar with each student and gets the whole child's development. They are not just another number. Have one there now and one that graduated from there, and also have one at McLean that did not get in. Honestly, she just didn't have quite high enough grades/scores, but I would have loved for her to be there as well.

+1

What stated above is 100% correct. Before this year, I've asked myself the same question as well. Why should I pay $41K to send my child to Potomac when I live in Mclean and he/she could have gone to Langley or Mclean instead? The answer is very well stated above. I have one there now and another one at Mclean that has neither grades/scores to get in. I would love for her to be there as well.

Public school, including Mclean, Langley, Marshall, is a joke. Half of them don't want to be there. Wearing shorts and T-shirts to school, they look like fools. Public schools don't really encourage critical thinking and deep diving into subject matters. this is what Potomac, or Sidwell for matter, really good at. At Potomac, you have to wear collar shirts, khaki pants and no sneakers. I really like that. I've seen big improvement from my kid in just 2 1/2 months with his social skills.

He might end up being an average student @potomac and I am fine with that. The meaningful relationships he has with his teachers, advisors and his peers, I would not have it any other way.

You guys are rich

If I spent 41k a year for my kid to attend private, I’d want some tangible result like getting into good privates (ivy, top 20) or uva/Berkeley

Developing some meaningful connection with teachers and wearing school uniforms won’t justify the 40k+ cost

We send our children to Potomac for the education, not for college admissions.

Be honest with yourself.....every parent is focused on college admissions.

I did not say it isn't a focus. I said it isn't the reason we chose Potomac for our children. I don't believe Potomac vs McLean vs wherever else will impact college admissions in a significant way.

Can anyone speak to diversity at Potomac School? My DS (AA) is considering Potomac for high school. We have looked at several schools, but have been disappointed with their approaches to diversity/inclusion - not the numbers per-se, but the overall atmosphere. Example: I asked one admissions counselor (not at Potomac) about SSAT timing, and her response focused on financial aid, even though I had not mentioned financial aid at all. I don't have the energy to put him, or us, through that for four years, and I certainly don't want to pay $41K for it.

BTW - I've been disappointed to see racist/snarky responses in prior posts to this thread. Please curb any urge to continue that here. I've heard them all by now, they are not original, and I'm over it. I'm just trying to find someplace where my DS can thrive.

Thanks in advance for any helpful posts.

Anonymous wrote:If you haven’t experienced Potomac then you can’t possibly know why it’s worth the $$$. We switched from FCPS to Potomac this year. FCPS is good but Potomac is exceptional.

This. +1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the consensus seems to be that for really smart outgoing kids, go Langley/McLean, for above average socially awkward kids, go Potomac.

This is just an idiotic thread. Socially awkward kids do not do well at schools like Potomac.

+ one million. Same for NCS.

If you haven’t experienced Potomac then you can’t possibly know why it’s worth the $$$. We switched from FCPS to Potomac this year. FCPS is good but Potomac is exceptional.

Potomac and its families/students have convinced themselves, and are trying so hard convincing others, that Potomac is just as good, if not better, than the other schools in the area. They have to justified the $43k/year tuition!

It is a fine school, but not above and beyond (except the facility).

Anonymous wrote:So the consensus seems to be that for really smart outgoing kids, go Langley/McLean, for above average socially awkward kids, go Potomac.

This is just an idiotic thread. Socially awkward kids do not do well at schools like Potomac.

So the consensus seems to be that for really smart outgoing kids, go Langley/McLean, for above average socially awkward kids, go Potomac.

Anonymous wrote:I'm struggling with this decision, too. I went to an Ivy from public and most of the private kids were from Andover, Exeter, St. Paul, Deerfield etc. The DC area private schools are not at the top.

what was your major at school?
Some of the more liberal "top" DC-based schools really push kids to be journalists, community activists, foreign policy, professors or social justice lawyers if they are not sinking their teeth into hard sciences like biomed, engineering, or CS. No where do I see much capitalism, entrepreneurialism, or consulting angles discussed. Unfortunately, I fear some of the "top" privates in this area are too politicized to generate diversity in thought or range of definition of "success". And we all know that success looks different in different industries.