Anonymous
02/02/2026 23:29
Subject: How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Sidwell course catalog: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1761922736/sidwell/nvrdst4fzkbiktxervc1/2025_26USCurriculumGuide1031.pdf
Blair magnet courses: https://old.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php
I don’t at all see where Blair is stronger in STEM.
Click on the electives at Blair. I don't have time to type them for you. Amazing choice of STEM courses at Blair.
Sure. But Sidwell has amazing electives too.
Ok a few samples from Blair: Cellular Physiology, Materials Science, Marine Biology, Discrete Math, Complex Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, ......
No private can come close to that in STEM.
So you really didn’t even look at the Sidwell course catalog.
Science electives:
Ecology and conservation
Forensic science
Astrophysics
Molecular techniques
Advanced environmental science
Calculus based physics
Organic and biorganic chemistry
Molecular biology
But sure. “No private can come close.”
Ok, Blair Electives (on top of Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, AP Science etc.)
Algorithms and Data Structures
Analysis of Algorithms
Computer Graphics
Software Design
Artificial Intelligence
Robotics
Computer Modeling and Simulation
Earth and Space Sciences
Genetic Analysis
Physical Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Materials Science
Marine Biology
Cellular Physiology
Thermodynamics
Optics
Quantum Physics
Mathematical Physics (Calculus based)
Int. to Electrical Engineering
Linear Algebra
Discrete Math
Complex Analysis
Applied Statistics
Sports Statistics
Research and Experimentation
Senior Year Summer Research
I'm sure I left out some. So, indeed no private can come close in STEM.
If you look through the Sidwell catalog, you’ll see they have most if not all of those as well.
But keep trying.
No, they don’t.
Even if they list them, they have never taught them, ever.
It's all marketing ploy
Anonymous
02/02/2026 20:25
Subject: How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?
Anonymous wrote:Or other kids you know who graduated from MCPS in the last decade? Did they attend UMD, other colleges in MD, community college, public or private located anywhere in the world, small/large, liberal arts college or other type?
Do you think MCPS prepared them well for college? Do you think it was mostly things student did outside MCPS that helped them while they were in college?
What did they end up doing after graduating from college?
Does MCPS collect longitudinal data of their graduates, e.g. to what colleges did MCPS students enroll for past decade? e.g. what they studied? Where can families see that information if it exists?
Our 21 and 23 grads from an MCPS HS are doing great. The one who graduated in 21, suma cum laude, is now doing similarly well in grad school, and the 23 grad is on their way to graduating with similar stellar grades.
One went to a public school and one private, neither to UMD, although one was accepted to the honors college, the other withdrew their application after being accepted ED to their private College
Anonymous
02/02/2026 19:32
Subject: How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Sidwell course catalog: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1761922736/sidwell/nvrdst4fzkbiktxervc1/2025_26USCurriculumGuide1031.pdf
Blair magnet courses: https://old.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php
I don’t at all see where Blair is stronger in STEM.
Click on the electives at Blair. I don't have time to type them for you. Amazing choice of STEM courses at Blair.
Sure. But Sidwell has amazing electives too.
Ok a few samples from Blair: Cellular Physiology, Materials Science, Marine Biology, Discrete Math, Complex Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, ......
No private can come close to that in STEM.
So you really didn’t even look at the Sidwell course catalog.
Science electives:
Ecology and conservation
Forensic science
Astrophysics
Molecular techniques
Advanced environmental science
Calculus based physics
Organic and biorganic chemistry
Molecular biology
But sure. “No private can come close.”
Ok, Blair Electives (on top of Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, AP Science etc.)
Algorithms and Data Structures
Analysis of Algorithms
Computer Graphics
Software Design
Artificial Intelligence
Robotics
Computer Modeling and Simulation
Earth and Space Sciences
Genetic Analysis
Physical Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Materials Science
Marine Biology
Cellular Physiology
Thermodynamics
Optics
Quantum Physics
Mathematical Physics (Calculus based)
Int. to Electrical Engineering
Linear Algebra
Discrete Math
Complex Analysis
Applied Statistics
Sports Statistics
Research and Experimentation
Senior Year Summer Research
I'm sure I left out some. So, indeed no private can come close in STEM.
If you look through the Sidwell catalog, you’ll see they have most if not all of those as well.
But keep trying.
Wrong. I just went through Sidwell catalog. The only subject they come close is CS. In math and science Sidwell's offerings is at best 1/4 of Blair's. Which is to be expected by the way. Not sure why you beat a dead horse
I mean, this is factually false. I also looked at both and saw far more than 1/4 of the offerings. But keep on going.
Congrats! You pay 55k a year for “more than 1/4” of the offerings smart public school kids get for free.
And just because a class is listed in Sidwell’s catalogue doesn’t mean it gets offered each year.
Anonymous
02/02/2026 18:53
Subject: How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Sidwell course catalog: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1761922736/sidwell/nvrdst4fzkbiktxervc1/2025_26USCurriculumGuide1031.pdf
Blair magnet courses: https://old.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php
I don’t at all see where Blair is stronger in STEM.
Click on the electives at Blair. I don't have time to type them for you. Amazing choice of STEM courses at Blair.
Sure. But Sidwell has amazing electives too.
Ok a few samples from Blair: Cellular Physiology, Materials Science, Marine Biology, Discrete Math, Complex Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, ......
No private can come close to that in STEM.
So you really didn’t even look at the Sidwell course catalog.
Science electives:
Ecology and conservation
Forensic science
Astrophysics
Molecular techniques
Advanced environmental science
Calculus based physics
Organic and biorganic chemistry
Molecular biology
But sure. “No private can come close.”
Ok, Blair Electives (on top of Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, AP Science etc.)
Algorithms and Data Structures
Analysis of Algorithms
Computer Graphics
Software Design
Artificial Intelligence
Robotics
Computer Modeling and Simulation
Earth and Space Sciences
Genetic Analysis
Physical Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Materials Science
Marine Biology
Cellular Physiology
Thermodynamics
Optics
Quantum Physics
Mathematical Physics (Calculus based)
Int. to Electrical Engineering
Linear Algebra
Discrete Math
Complex Analysis
Applied Statistics
Sports Statistics
Research and Experimentation
Senior Year Summer Research
I'm sure I left out some. So, indeed no private can come close in STEM.
Most of our kids don't have access to any of those classes and it only takes a select few.
Anonymous
02/02/2026 18:49
Subject: Re:How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?
My kids went to MCPS magnet programs. They had a wonderful and productive time in college. Both went to in-state public colleges. Both did double majors because of AP/IB credits. We discouraged them from finishing early. Since they had merit scholarship (tuition covered) for 4 years, we thought that they both should make full use of it and do full 4 years of college - with some easy classes and an easy pace. Both gainfully employed right out of college (tech).
Both got admitted to multiple colleges. In-state public colleges made it very attractive by giving free tuition, college credits, honors college etc. Both rejected the higher ranked OOS colleges (those were also public colleges but in another state) because the in-state option were quite good in chosen majors, and they wanted to save money.
Both got admitted to multiple colleges. In-state public colleges made it very attractive by giving free tuition, college credits, honors college etc. Both rejected the higher ranked OOS colleges (those were also public colleges but in another state) because the in-state option were quite good in chosen majors, and they wanted to save money.
Anonymous
02/02/2026 18:34
Subject: How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?
Anonymous wrote:I have a college kid and a high schooler who spent the majority of their school career in MCPS.
MCPS is one of the best public school systems in the country, mostly because it has a wide array of academic offerings, provides services and accommodations and magnet instruction, and gets reasonably decent scores in state and national testing.
For STEM, it's better than top privates. For Humanities and writing, it's not as good.
But parents need to understand that APs are the goal to be prepared for college and beyond. Honors is the new grade level; grade level is the new remedial; and remedial is what some kids need when they have significant disabilities, or are recovering from various setbacks in their lives.
MCPS' Achilles heel is English instruction, which needs to be entirely overhauled. The level of instruction and expectations in 9th and 10th grade "Honors" English in particular are abysmal.
They only provide it for a select few. Our school doesn't have much stem or humanities...
Anonymous
02/02/2026 18:01
Subject: How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?
Anonymous wrote:MCPS is making it really hard for public to obtain information how kids within the system are progressing from ES to MS to HS. Been calling and asking for that data and get crickets. The route for public information request is really obfuscated and long. Time to stop blinding saying MCPS is great. One parent said it earlier - it is mostly the parents, not the school system that makes the results.
There are a bunch of lawyers who can get that data. But they shouldn't have to. It's a frickin PUBLIC school
Anonymous
02/02/2026 17:03
Subject: How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?
MCPS is making it really hard for public to obtain information how kids within the system are progressing from ES to MS to HS. Been calling and asking for that data and get crickets. The route for public information request is really obfuscated and long. Time to stop blinding saying MCPS is great. One parent said it earlier - it is mostly the parents, not the school system that makes the results.
Anonymous
02/02/2026 15:48
Subject: How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Sidwell course catalog: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1761922736/sidwell/nvrdst4fzkbiktxervc1/2025_26USCurriculumGuide1031.pdf
Blair magnet courses: https://old.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php
I don’t at all see where Blair is stronger in STEM.
Click on the electives at Blair. I don't have time to type them for you. Amazing choice of STEM courses at Blair.
Sure. But Sidwell has amazing electives too.
Ok a few samples from Blair: Cellular Physiology, Materials Science, Marine Biology, Discrete Math, Complex Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, ......
No private can come close to that in STEM.
So you really didn’t even look at the Sidwell course catalog.
Science electives:
Ecology and conservation
Forensic science
Astrophysics
Molecular techniques
Advanced environmental science
Calculus based physics
Organic and biorganic chemistry
Molecular biology
But sure. “No private can come close.”
Ok, Blair Electives (on top of Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, AP Science etc.)
Algorithms and Data Structures
Analysis of Algorithms
Computer Graphics
Software Design
Artificial Intelligence
Robotics
Computer Modeling and Simulation
Earth and Space Sciences
Genetic Analysis
Physical Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Materials Science
Marine Biology
Cellular Physiology
Thermodynamics
Optics
Quantum Physics
Mathematical Physics (Calculus based)
Int. to Electrical Engineering
Linear Algebra
Discrete Math
Complex Analysis
Applied Statistics
Sports Statistics
Research and Experimentation
Senior Year Summer Research
I'm sure I left out some. So, indeed no private can come close in STEM.
If you look through the Sidwell catalog, you’ll see they have most if not all of those as well.
But keep trying.
Wrong. I just went through Sidwell catalog. The only subject they come close is CS. In math and science Sidwell's offerings is at best 1/4 of Blair's. Which is to be expected by the way. Not sure why you beat a dead horse
I mean, this is factually false. I also looked at both and saw far more than 1/4 of the offerings. But keep on going.
Anonymous
02/02/2026 15:43
Subject: How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Sidwell course catalog: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1761922736/sidwell/nvrdst4fzkbiktxervc1/2025_26USCurriculumGuide1031.pdf
Blair magnet courses: https://old.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php
I don’t at all see where Blair is stronger in STEM.
Click on the electives at Blair. I don't have time to type them for you. Amazing choice of STEM courses at Blair.
Sure. But Sidwell has amazing electives too.
Ok a few samples from Blair: Cellular Physiology, Materials Science, Marine Biology, Discrete Math, Complex Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, ......
No private can come close to that in STEM.
So you really didn’t even look at the Sidwell course catalog.
Science electives:
Ecology and conservation
Forensic science
Astrophysics
Molecular techniques
Advanced environmental science
Calculus based physics
Organic and biorganic chemistry
Molecular biology
But sure. “No private can come close.”
Ok, Blair Electives (on top of Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, AP Science etc.)
Algorithms and Data Structures
Analysis of Algorithms
Computer Graphics
Software Design
Artificial Intelligence
Robotics
Computer Modeling and Simulation
Earth and Space Sciences
Genetic Analysis
Physical Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Materials Science
Marine Biology
Cellular Physiology
Thermodynamics
Optics
Quantum Physics
Mathematical Physics (Calculus based)
Int. to Electrical Engineering
Linear Algebra
Discrete Math
Complex Analysis
Applied Statistics
Sports Statistics
Research and Experimentation
Senior Year Summer Research
I'm sure I left out some. So, indeed no private can come close in STEM.
If you look through the Sidwell catalog, you’ll see they have most if not all of those as well.
But keep trying.
Wrong. I just went through Sidwell catalog. The only subject they come close is CS. In math and science Sidwell's offerings is at best 1/4 of Blair's. Which is to be expected by the way. Not sure why you beat a dead horse
Anonymous
02/02/2026 15:42
Subject: How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?
And now back to the OP. If you want to start the whole public vs private discussion once again as if we haven't seen enough on this forum, start your own damn f thread.
Anonymous
02/02/2026 15:29
Subject: How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?
Anonymous wrote:Oh and Sidwell is in school while MCPS continues to "dig out"
ok, I guess you pay for the ice shoveling there, too. Good on ya.
Anonymous
02/02/2026 15:28
Subject: How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?
Oh and Sidwell is in school while MCPS continues to "dig out"
Anonymous
02/02/2026 15:22
Subject: How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?
Anonymous wrote:My MCPS non-STEM kid went to Michigan. Did very well and graduated with honors based on GPA. Had a year of AP credits although did not graduate early by choice.
“Honors based on GPA”
So they weren’t in the honors program.
Anonymous
02/02/2026 15:21
Subject: How did your MCPS-educated kid do in college?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Sidwell course catalog: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1761922736/sidwell/nvrdst4fzkbiktxervc1/2025_26USCurriculumGuide1031.pdf
Blair magnet courses: https://old.mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php
I don’t at all see where Blair is stronger in STEM.
Click on the electives at Blair. I don't have time to type them for you. Amazing choice of STEM courses at Blair.
Sure. But Sidwell has amazing electives too.
Ok a few samples from Blair: Cellular Physiology, Materials Science, Marine Biology, Discrete Math, Complex Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, ......
No private can come close to that in STEM.
So you really didn’t even look at the Sidwell course catalog.
Science electives:
Ecology and conservation
Forensic science
Astrophysics
Molecular techniques
Advanced environmental science
Calculus based physics
Organic and biorganic chemistry
Molecular biology
But sure. “No private can come close.”
Ok, Blair Electives (on top of Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, AP Science etc.)
Algorithms and Data Structures
Analysis of Algorithms
Computer Graphics
Software Design
Artificial Intelligence
Robotics
Computer Modeling and Simulation
Earth and Space Sciences
Genetic Analysis
Physical Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Materials Science
Marine Biology
Cellular Physiology
Thermodynamics
Optics
Quantum Physics
Mathematical Physics (Calculus based)
Int. to Electrical Engineering
Linear Algebra
Discrete Math
Complex Analysis
Applied Statistics
Sports Statistics
Research and Experimentation
Senior Year Summer Research
I'm sure I left out some. So, indeed no private can come close in STEM.
If you look through the Sidwell catalog, you’ll see they have most if not all of those as well.
But keep trying.