Anonymous wrote:What people don’t talk about here is that kids at Einstein are likely just as smart as those in W schools but it doesn’t show. They are often moving more often, do not have resources other kids have and are not surrounded by peers who are “going places” and who could challenge and inspire them. It’s not to say some Einstein students aren’t succeeding but many students are not feeling a sense that there is a ton of hope.

Who your kid surrounds themselves with is very important. If they don’t see tons of kids going off to highly competitive colleges, they won’t have that expectation for themselves.

I’ve noticed even the smarter kids at Einstein go to no name colleges. It’s just a different environment.

You don’t know what you’re talking about. Plenty of kids at Einstein are focused on college and beyond. Moreover, college bound is college bound. The facts which you don’t seem to be that familiar with is that even UMC families are increasingly choosing state schools or lesser known colleges because they can pay full freight for their kids without loans. Why do you think UMCP is such a destination these days, even for kids at W schools. Not everyone - even those of us who are well off - can pay $300k per child for a name brand institution and realize you can get an excellent education elsewhere.

And while we’re on the topic, the people who I know who’ve truly been successful - partners, EVPs and CEOs, business owners - most of them went to ordinary schools, particularly at the undergrad level. And many of them - clutch your pearls - didn’t even go to grad school.

Anonymous wrote:What people don’t talk about here is that kids at Einstein are likely just as smart as those in W schools but it doesn’t show. They are often moving more often, do not have resources other kids have and are not surrounded by peers who are “going places” and who could challenge and inspire them. It’s not to say some Einstein students aren’t succeeding but many students are not feeling a sense that there is a ton of hope.

Who your kid surrounds themselves with is very important. If they don’t see tons of kids going off to highly competitive colleges, they won’t have that expectation for themselves.

I’ve noticed even the smarter kids at Einstein go to no name colleges. It’s just a different environment.

I think you are overlooking the huge swathe of Einstein kids who are demographically identical to kids from, say, WJ. Yes, there are lots of kids at Einstein who don't fall into that bucket, but let's just focus on those who do for a second.

This is a good opportunity to talk about the difference between household income and socioeconomic status. In general, the middle class kids at Einstein are of a similar SES to kids at W schools. That is, they have well-educated parents with white-collar jobs who value education and have been planning for college since birth. Maybe they've done ONE trip to Europe rather than yearly trips to Europe, and lifeguarded at the pool over the summer instead of heading off to the Vineyard, but in terms of expectations, they are the same.

Who revived this old chestnut?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What people don’t talk about here is that kids at Einstein are likely just as smart as those in W schools but it doesn’t show. They are often moving more often, do not have resources other kids have and are not surrounded by peers who are “going places” and who could challenge and inspire them. It’s not to say some Einstein students aren’t succeeding but many students are not feeling a sense that there is a ton of hope.

Who your kid surrounds themselves with is very important. If they don’t see tons of kids going off to highly competitive colleges, they won’t have that expectation for themselves.

I’ve noticed even the smarter kids at Einstein go to no name colleges. It’s just a different environment.

What are you talking about? My kids are in the same exact sports, camps, summer programs and music programs as the W kids. Only difference is the size of the college fund. Many of us have equal or higher incomes than you but we choose this area as we don't want our kids surrounded by people like you.

My no name college spouse is doing far better than my ivy league sibling (for college and graduate school).

DP and also, if PP thinks that going to name brand colleges is largely about being smart, I’ve got a bridge to sell them. If who your kids surround themselves with matters, it’s mostly because of connections, not because of intellect.

As for the DCC being a different environment than at W schools: yes, it is, and many of us here prefer it that way. I have zero interest in my children being surrounded by self-absorbed privilege and thinking that’s normal. I went to a W school myself and then learned better once I got out in the real world. So, yes, I want better for my kids, and I won’t find it at Whitman.

Anonymous wrote:What people don’t talk about here is that kids at Einstein are likely just as smart as those in W schools but it doesn’t show. They are often moving more often, do not have resources other kids have and are not surrounded by peers who are “going places” and who could challenge and inspire them. It’s not to say some Einstein students aren’t succeeding but many students are not feeling a sense that there is a ton of hope.

Who your kid surrounds themselves with is very important. If they don’t see tons of kids going off to highly competitive colleges, they won’t have that expectation for themselves.

I’ve noticed even the smarter kids at Einstein go to no name colleges. It’s just a different environment.

What are you talking about? My kids are in the same exact sports, camps, summer programs and music programs as the W kids. Only difference is the size of the college fund. Many of us have equal or higher incomes than you but we choose this area as we don't want our kids surrounded by people like you.

My no name college spouse is doing far better than my ivy league sibling (for college and graduate school).

What people don’t talk about here is that kids at Einstein are likely just as smart as those in W schools but it doesn’t show. They are often moving more often, do not have resources other kids have and are not surrounded by peers who are “going places” and who could challenge and inspire them. It’s not to say some Einstein students aren’t succeeding but many students are not feeling a sense that there is a ton of hope.

Who your kid surrounds themselves with is very important. If they don’t see tons of kids going off to highly competitive colleges, they won’t have that expectation for themselves.

I’ve noticed even the smarter kids at Einstein go to no name colleges. It’s just a different environment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was virtual last year everyone was miserable 🙄

Why the eye roll?

probably safer too as the crime was not at school

Well, Einstein has been a lot safer than many other MCPS HS this year. One shelter-in-place that was due to an incident in the neighborhood, but that’s it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was virtual last year everyone was miserable 🙄

Why the eye roll?

probably safer too as the crime was not at school

3 generations of Einstein-ers here. 2 of mine are done and 3rd one is in 11th grade now. All went because we live in the neighborhood and wanted the IB program.

Oldest is at Georgetown and middle kid is at College Park. Hope #3 chooses College Park-- so much cheaper!

Anonymous wrote:It was virtual last year everyone was miserable 🙄

Why the eye roll?

We are two lawyers, we live right on the WJ/DCC line. We moved a few years ago from a tiny house in the DCC and decided to buy a bigger house and stay in the DCC because our daughter didn't want to leave her friends. Our DD goes to Einstein, and I'm so glad we didn't move out of the DCC when we moved a few years ago. I don't have anything to compare it to, but we've been very happy with Einstein. Our DD is part of a leadership program that is kids from the W schools and private schools and I don't think those kids experience is any better than ours. In fact, I think our DD is more compassionate and wiser than her peers at those schools because she is not surrounded exclusively by privileged white kids. She understood that some of her friends during COVID went hungry because their parents didn't work, and the community helps other families out.

Our DD is high achieving academically, and is very happy. There's a nice community and she's made lots of new friends playing sports and is involved in student government. There is a lot of school spirit. The music program is amazing. The teachers have all been very good, with the exception of one, and there are not-so-good teachers everywhere. I really think that Einstein's bad reputation is racism. Majority/minority schools are always called "rough." Test scores mean nothing. Yes, when we go to events there, there are a lot of black and brown faces and our child is in the minority. We actually think this is a good thing. We also like the fact that the school is not huge compared to the other schools in the DCC.

I really can't think of anything bad to say about it.

It was virtual last year everyone was miserable 🙄

Anonymous wrote:I'm really sorry to hear about the PP whose 9th grader is not happy with the online classes and teachers. I am the parent of a recent grad. I highly recommend that your child sign up for as many AP classes as possible in the future. The previous principal eliminated on-level chemistry; so Honors Chemistry is now for all. I don't know if other on-level classes were also eliminated. None of this was announced; you have to ask a lot of questions to figure it out. Anyway, my DC loved all of their AP teachers and many of the others. It really helps to chat up the other parents to find out who the really great teachers are. When your child gets his schedule, if he has some of the teachers without a great reputation, try to come up with a reason to switch. You have to come up with a better reason than "I don't like this teacher."

I am the PP whose child was unhappy last year in 9th grade. Everything is much better this year in person. Not every teacher is fantastic but DD is happy with the school and she has been able to change to better teachers for some of her courses next semester.

Anonymous wrote:I noted that there are many correlating factors, including socioeconomic. It’s just my perception as an unbiased party with limited data points.

I'm the parent of an Einstein senior. We've felt well-supported by the counseling department in terms of college applications, recommendations, transcripts, etc. They provide information about scholarships and testing, arrange information nights, and schedule online college visits. I don't think any of that is especially related to my kid being articulate, confident, or polished, though.

I noted that there are many correlating factors, including socioeconomic. It’s just my perception as an unbiased party with limited data points.