Anonymous wrote:
MCPS is not that high pressure and FREE. Why does anyone pay for these schools?
You must not live in Bethesda. The pressure to succeed at the W schools is intense because everyone's parents have at least one if not two degrees from selective schools. Frankly, it would be much healthier to attend a high school where the goal is to attend Montgomery College and then transfer to UMD CP which has become such a competitive school as well.
Whitman is a very large school. Teachers are great, kids are bright but it's too big for individualized attention. A kid can easily fall through the crack and it's hard for parents to naviaged the system. The senior class did well this year because they are exceptionally smart AND they come from families that attended those schools so they are not blind when applying to these programs. The school has also developed a reputation for the past half century which puts it in the same league as the top privates. The rigor of the classes is unmatched. It does not make sense to send your kid to Landon or Holton if you live in the surrounding neighborhood.
https://patch.com/maryland/bethesda-chevychase/43-bethesda-area-seniors-named-2024-national-merit-semifinalists