Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - thanks everyone for your feedback. I wonder which one is more desirable, an AP program (Whitman) or an IB (BCC). Any views?

09:06 again.

Views differ on this. If your kids wish to go to certain European universities, then perhaps a full IB diploma might be advantageous. Then again, the UK and Canada's most American-friendly universities know US applicants usually take AP exams, and have admission requirements tailored to them.
If your children wish to enroll in American universities, I believe (but others may disagree) that AP is best. The reason for this is that the IB grading system is NOT an American one originally: it's a European-based grading system and therefore, it takes a lot to have a high score. Americans tend to grade higher - the goal is the A, or a 5/5 on an AP exam. IB does not work like that, and yet, a lot of American colleges don't know this, and expect very high scores, which puts IB candidates at a very slight disadvantage during the application process. Currently American admissions are based on GPA, various test scores (even with the test optional system), course selectivity (whether a student was able to take their school's most challenging course offerings), extra-curriculars, and essays. Given this multi-pronged admission system, IB or AP will not make an enormous difference to a student's admission chances, provided students take a few APs, or a few IB classes, or both.

You can always take a look at course offerings at BCC and Whitman to get an idea of the differences. Core courses are required and bound to stay the same over the years, but there might be changes in languages and elective offerings, depending on the availability of teachers and waning/waxing interest in certain subjects.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - thanks everyone for your feedback. I wonder which one is more desirable, an AP program (Whitman) or an IB (BCC). Any views?

09:06 again.

Views differ on this. If your kids wish to go to certain European universities, then perhaps a full IB diploma might be advantageous. Then again, the UK and Canada's most American-friendly universities know US applicants usually take AP exams, and have admission requirements tailored to them.
If your children wish to enroll in American universities, I believe (but others may disagree) that AP is best. The reason for this is that the IB grading system is NOT an American one originally: it's a European-based grading system and therefore, it takes a lot to have a high score. Americans tend to grade higher - the goal is the A, or a 5/5 on an AP exam. IB does not work like that, and yet, a lot of American colleges don't know this, and expect very high scores, which puts IB candidates at a very slight disadvantage during the application process. Currently American admissions are based on GPA, various test scores (even with the test optional system), course selectivity (whether a student was able to take their school's most challenging course offerings), extra-curriculars, and essays. Given this multi-pronged admission system, IB or AP will not make an enormous difference to a student's admission chances, provided students take a few APs, or a few IB classes, or both.

You can always take a look at course offerings at BCC and Whitman to get an idea of the differences. Core courses are required and bound to stay the same over the years, but there might be changes in languages and elective offerings, depending on the availability of teachers and waning/waxing interest in certain subjects.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman is the richest school in the county. It will not be down to earth. Bcc is a mix of very wealthy to a mix of everything else. Google the w schools. Many have had serious issues this year and student deaths. Very tragic.

Mcps employee says BCCis the wealthiest school in the county, not Whitman.

Actually the real richest school in the county is Churchill.

No it is not. It is BCC.

This is a stupid argument.
BCC does pull from some more working class areas. Churchill has no working class areas that are inbounds I think.
Average home price in 20854 is something like 1.3 mil. In the BCC zip code it's under a mil. Are the very wealthy families in BCC as wealthy or wealthier than some at Churchill? Sure but again this is a stupid debate.

I work in the school district and bcc is the wealthiest. You don’t have to like it but it is what it is.
You make up a large part of the “stupid debate.”

I have no stake in this argument but BCC has a higher FARMS percentage than the other schools.
What do you mean BCC is the wealthiest? How are you measuring that because if you measure by FARMS it is not 10-11% versus less than 5% for Churchill.
Why does it matter that you work in the school district?

NP-working in the school district is relevant as they likely have access to that information.
The farms rating does not correlate with the amount of wealth of individuals or money the school receives.

The only wealth-related information MCPS has access to are the FARMS and Ever-FARMS rates.

DP-Farms is not the only factor in determining a school’s wealth. School receive monies from through various entities.

If you're talking about PTSA and foundations, that is a separate issue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman is the richest school in the county. It will not be down to earth. Bcc is a mix of very wealthy to a mix of everything else. Google the w schools. Many have had serious issues this year and student deaths. Very tragic.

Mcps employee says BCCis the wealthiest school in the county, not Whitman.

Actually the real richest school in the county is Churchill.

No it is not. It is BCC.

This is a stupid argument.
BCC does pull from some more working class areas. Churchill has no working class areas that are inbounds I think.
Average home price in 20854 is something like 1.3 mil. In the BCC zip code it's under a mil. Are the very wealthy families in BCC as wealthy or wealthier than some at Churchill? Sure but again this is a stupid debate.

I work in the school district and bcc is the wealthiest. You don’t have to like it but it is what it is.
You make up a large part of the “stupid debate.”

I have no stake in this argument but BCC has a higher FARMS percentage than the other schools.
What do you mean BCC is the wealthiest? How are you measuring that because if you measure by FARMS it is not 10-11% versus less than 5% for Churchill.
Why does it matter that you work in the school district?

NP-working in the school district is relevant as they likely have access to that information.
The farms rating does not correlate with the amount of wealth of individuals or money the school receives.

The only wealth-related information MCPS has access to are the FARMS and Ever-FARMS rates.

DP-Farms is not the only factor in determining a school’s wealth. School receive monies from through various entities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman is the richest school in the county. It will not be down to earth. Bcc is a mix of very wealthy to a mix of everything else. Google the w schools. Many have had serious issues this year and student deaths. Very tragic.

Mcps employee says BCCis the wealthiest school in the county, not Whitman.

Actually the real richest school in the county is Churchill.

No it is not. It is BCC.

This is a stupid argument.
BCC does pull from some more working class areas. Churchill has no working class areas that are inbounds I think.
Average home price in 20854 is something like 1.3 mil. In the BCC zip code it's under a mil. Are the very wealthy families in BCC as wealthy or wealthier than some at Churchill? Sure but again this is a stupid debate.

I work in the school district and bcc is the wealthiest. You don’t have to like it but it is what it is.
You make up a large part of the “stupid debate.”

I have no stake in this argument but BCC has a higher FARMS percentage than the other schools.
What do you mean BCC is the wealthiest? How are you measuring that because if you measure by FARMS it is not 10-11% versus less than 5% for Churchill.
Why does it matter that you work in the school district?

NP-working in the school district is relevant as they likely have access to that information.
The farms rating does not correlate with the amount of wealth of individuals or money the school receives.

The only wealth-related information MCPS has access to are the FARMS and Ever-FARMS rates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman is the richest school in the county. It will not be down to earth. Bcc is a mix of very wealthy to a mix of everything else. Google the w schools. Many have had serious issues this year and student deaths. Very tragic.

Mcps employee says BCCis the wealthiest school in the county, not Whitman.

Actually the real richest school in the county is Churchill.

No it is not. It is BCC.

This is a stupid argument.
BCC does pull from some more working class areas. Churchill has no working class areas that are inbounds I think.
Average home price in 20854 is something like 1.3 mil. In the BCC zip code it's under a mil. Are the very wealthy families in BCC as wealthy or wealthier than some at Churchill? Sure but again this is a stupid debate.

I work in the school district and bcc is the wealthiest. You don’t have to like it but it is what it is.
You make up a large part of the “stupid debate.”

I have no stake in this argument but BCC has a higher FARMS percentage than the other schools.
What do you mean BCC is the wealthiest? How are you measuring that because if you measure by FARMS it is not 10-11% versus less than 5% for Churchill.
Why does it matter that you work in the school district?

NP-working in the school district is relevant as they likely have access to that information.
The farms rating does not correlate with the amount of wealth of individuals or money the school receives.

The only wealth-related information MCPS has access to are the FARMS and Ever-FARMS rates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman is the richest school in the county. It will not be down to earth. Bcc is a mix of very wealthy to a mix of everything else. Google the w schools. Many have had serious issues this year and student deaths. Very tragic.

Mcps employee says BCCis the wealthiest school in the county, not Whitman.

Actually the real richest school in the county is Churchill.

No it is not. It is BCC.

This is a stupid argument.
BCC does pull from some more working class areas. Churchill has no working class areas that are inbounds I think.
Average home price in 20854 is something like 1.3 mil. In the BCC zip code it's under a mil. Are the very wealthy families in BCC as wealthy or wealthier than some at Churchill? Sure but again this is a stupid debate.

I work in the school district and bcc is the wealthiest. You don’t have to like it but it is what it is.
You make up a large part of the “stupid debate.”

I have no stake in this argument but BCC has a higher FARMS percentage than the other schools.
What do you mean BCC is the wealthiest? How are you measuring that because if you measure by FARMS it is not 10-11% versus less than 5% for Churchill.
Why does it matter that you work in the school district?

NP-working in the school district is relevant as they likely have access to that information.
The farms rating does not correlate with the amount of wealth of individuals or money the school receives.

Anonymous wrote:OP - thanks everyone for your feedback. I wonder which one is more desirable, an AP program (Whitman) or an IB (BCC). Any views?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman is the richest school in the county. It will not be down to earth. Bcc is a mix of very wealthy to a mix of everything else. Google the w schools. Many have had serious issues this year and student deaths. Very tragic.

Mcps employee says BCCis the wealthiest school in the county, not Whitman.

Actually the real richest school in the county is Churchill.

No it is not. It is BCC.

This is a stupid argument.
BCC does pull from some more working class areas. Churchill has no working class areas that are inbounds I think.
Average home price in 20854 is something like 1.3 mil. In the BCC zip code it's under a mil. Are the very wealthy families in BCC as wealthy or wealthier than some at Churchill? Sure but again this is a stupid debate.

I work in the school district and bcc is the wealthiest. You don’t have to like it but it is what it is.
You make up a large part of the “stupid debate.”

I have no stake in this argument but BCC has a higher FARMS percentage than the other schools.
What do you mean BCC is the wealthiest? How are you measuring that because if you measure by FARMS it is not 10-11% versus less than 5% for Churchill.
Why does it matter that you work in the school district?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman is the richest school in the county. It will not be down to earth. Bcc is a mix of very wealthy to a mix of everything else. Google the w schools. Many have had serious issues this year and student deaths. Very tragic.

Mcps employee says BCCis the wealthiest school in the county, not Whitman.

Actually the real richest school in the county is Churchill.

No it is not. It is BCC.

This is a stupid argument.
BCC does pull from some more working class areas. Churchill has no working class areas that are inbounds I think.
Average home price in 20854 is something like 1.3 mil. In the BCC zip code it's under a mil. Are the very wealthy families in BCC as wealthy or wealthier than some at Churchill? Sure but again this is a stupid debate.

I work in the school district and bcc is the wealthiest. You don’t have to like it but it is what it is.
You make up a large part of the “stupid debate.”

I have no stake in this argument but BCC has a higher FARMS percentage than the other schools.
What do you mean BCC is the wealthiest? How are you measuring that because if you measure by FARMS it is not 10-11% versus less than 5% for Churchill.
Why does it matter that you work in the school district?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think your family could be happy at a lot of schools, but I’ll recommend ours, which is the Bannockburn/Pyle/Whitman cluster. Bannockburn has a very welcoming, down to earth parent community and the school has caring teachers and administrators. All three schools have tons of international families. It’s very easy to get involved in sports at all levels in Bethesda, but if you name the sports of interest we can give you tailored advice. Pyle and Whitman both have excellent orchestra and band programs.

She mentioned “not snotty”

The Bannockburn, Cabin John, Glen Echo and Carderock communities aren’t snotty in the slightest. The areas along the river attract nature lovers. I know people claim that there are a lot of snotty people at Whitman, but that certainly hasn’t been our experience with two kids who have gone all the way through and another at Pyle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman is the richest school in the county. It will not be down to earth. Bcc is a mix of very wealthy to a mix of everything else. Google the w schools. Many have had serious issues this year and student deaths. Very tragic.

Mcps employee says BCCis the wealthiest school in the county, not Whitman.

Actually the real richest school in the county is Churchill.

No it is not. It is BCC.

This is a stupid argument.
BCC does pull from some more working class areas. Churchill has no working class areas that are inbounds I think.
Average home price in 20854 is something like 1.3 mil. In the BCC zip code it's under a mil. Are the very wealthy families in BCC as wealthy or wealthier than some at Churchill? Sure but again this is a stupid debate.

I work in the school district and bcc is the wealthiest. You don’t have to like it but it is what it is.
You make up a large part of the “stupid debate.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman is the richest school in the county. It will not be down to earth. Bcc is a mix of very wealthy to a mix of everything else. Google the w schools. Many have had serious issues this year and student deaths. Very tragic.

Mcps employee says BCCis the wealthiest school in the county, not Whitman.

Actually the real richest school in the county is Churchill.

No it is not. It is BCC.

This is a stupid argument.
BCC does pull from some more working class areas. Churchill has no working class areas that are inbounds I think.
Average home price in 20854 is something like 1.3 mil. In the BCC zip code it's under a mil. Are the very wealthy families in BCC as wealthy or wealthier than some at Churchill? Sure but again this is a stupid debate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman is the richest school in the county. It will not be down to earth. Bcc is a mix of very wealthy to a mix of everything else. Google the w schools. Many have had serious issues this year and student deaths. Very tragic.

Mcps employee says BCCis the wealthiest school in the county, not Whitman.

Actually the real richest school in the county is Churchill.

No it is not. It is BCC.

This is a stupid argument.
BCC does pull from some more working class areas. Churchill has no working class areas that are inbounds I think.
Average home price in 20854 is something like 1.3 mil. In the BCC zip code it's under a mil. Are the very wealthy families in BCC as wealthy or wealthier than some at Churchill? Sure but again this is a stupid debate.