Holton (33) has a much higher average ACT score than either Richard Montgomery (28) or Montgomery Blair (29), but that statistic is fallacious because the magnet programs are less than 20% of the overall school at Blair and RM. The magnet schools represent the top 200 or so students in the entire county, so even the most rigorous school as a whole isn't going to stack up against the best of the rest of the county. Even so, the matriculation of the 10% at Holton is probably better than the matriculation of the magnet schools, but money is definitely a factor. Magnet school parents need not be defensive, the programs are well respected by all of us in MoCo and we are glad to support your students.

Anonymous wrote:The fact that the magnet schools have few well know alum of achievement has more to do with the lower SES of their families than the quality of education. Many Holton students are born on third base and think they hit a triple.

Magnet kids have lots of achievements. Just last month, a Blair magnet grad won a MacArthur award. People who aren't in STEM just don't happen to hear about or understand these achievements.

The fact that the magnet schools have few well know alum of achievement has more to do with the lower SES of their families than the quality of education. Many Holton students are born on third base and think they hit a triple.

Anonymous wrote:21:45, just stop it. You are making fool of yourself.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure that any kid who takes a slate of 4-5 APs or is in an IB program is going to face more rigor than at HA. My kid is in a magnet and we know several kids at HA. One of the HA kids had to do a summer "bridge" program at DC's Ivy. The PP at 15:38 who allowed that "maybe" the magnets are "on par" with Holton cracks me up.

In my experience the kids from top privates are more well prepared for and have better college and career outcomes than the magnet school kids. There may an explanation, but I don't know why. The APs in many public schools are a joke (as reflected by the test scores), but magnets do take the academics seriously - they just haven't figured out the balance part yet.

Tell us more about your exp. I want to know how you can support your claims.

+1. In my experience, with DC at an Ivy, the point about preparedness actually works in favor of the public magnet kids.

PP seems to be mixing issues here, by talking about overall college and career outcomes. I, too, would love to know how many "career outcomes" she's familiar with among private vs. magnet kids. Anyway, re college outcomes, I don't think there's any dispute that kids from families that can pay $35k/year for private school are more likely to be full pay at private colleges, while many magnet kids are happy to take the generous merit packages at UMD or UVA or a 2nd-tier private school (Ivies don't offer merit aid). Is being full pay at an Ivy (which my own DC is doing, FWIW) really a "better" outcome than getting generous merit aid at a state or 2nd-tier private college? That's definitely up for debate.

Not a Holton mom. Mom of boy who knows a lot of Holton girls. They are the smart and "nice girl" alternative to other schools out there.

Anonymous wrote:I've followed the never ending debate concerning which of the DC schools is most rigorous, but I’m wondering whether there is any school in the State of Maryland that even approaches the rigor of Holton-Arms? I’m curious because I know that some larger colleges evaluate applications on a state by state or region by region basis and Maryland school applicants are sometimes considered separately from DC and Virginia applicants.

While Holton Arms is the most rigorous private school (at least) in the state of Maryland, Holton students are at a decided disadvantage compared to students from the District of Columbia when applying to out-of-state schools that have different admissions officers reading apps from Maryland and DC. The private school students coming from the District of Columbia as a whole are at least equal to and probably better then the private school students coming from the state of Maryland. However, Holton students also have to be considered against hundreds of super qualified public school students coming from the magnet schools and top public schools. District of Columbia private school students face little if any competition from public school students. DC has no public option comparable to TJ, Blair or RM producing hundreds of grads each year. Maryland students are more likely to apply OOS - Maryland is one of the biggest net exporters of college students, whereas the District of Columbia is a net importer of college students. Despite these obstacles, Holton has always done well in matriculation, but it would be foolish to think that there's any advantage to attending a private school located in Maryland.

Impressive.

Here is one more data point.





http://connectedcommunities.us/showthread.php?p=66302

Is Holton-Arms the most rigorous school in the state of Maryland?

Yes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure that any kid who takes a slate of 4-5 APs or is in an IB program is going to face more rigor than at HA. My kid is in a magnet and we know several kids at HA. One of the HA kids had to do a summer "bridge" program at DC's Ivy. The PP at 15:38 who allowed that "maybe" the magnets are "on par" with Holton cracks me up.

In my experience the kids from top privates are more well prepared for and have better college and career outcomes than the magnet school kids. There may an explanation, but I don't know why. The APs in many public schools are a joke (as reflected by the test scores), but magnets do take the academics seriously - they just haven't figured out the balance part yet.

Tell us more about your exp. I want to know how you can support your claims.

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure that any kid who takes a slate of 4-5 APs or is in an IB program is going to face more rigor than at HA. My kid is in a magnet and we know several kids at HA. One of the HA kids had to do a summer "bridge" program at DC's Ivy. The PP at 15:38 who allowed that "maybe" the magnets are "on par" with Holton cracks me up.

In my experience the kids from top privates are more well prepared for and have better college and career outcomes than the magnet school kids. There may an explanation, but I don't know why. The APs in many public schools are a joke (as reflected by the test scores), but magnets do take the academics seriously - they just haven't figured out the balance part yet.

21:45, just stop it. You are making fool of yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think private kids will get into better colleges due to deep pocket, legacy connections..etc. But from academic standpoint, I don't think private kids can compete with magnet public kids.

I have no doubt that you sincerely think that and that you are not alone, but you are wrong and woefully misinformed. I doubt there is anything that can change your mind because you are evidently blinded by envy.

Wow... Is this what private parents think of public parents? Blinded by envy? I don't know what to say... Wow.

Not all public parents, just those who post nonsense that has no explanation but envy.

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure that any kid who takes a slate of 4-5 APs or is in an IB program is going to face more rigor than at HA. My kid is in a magnet and we know several kids at HA. One of the HA kids had to do a summer "bridge" program at DC's Ivy. The PP at 15:38 who allowed that "maybe" the magnets are "on par" with Holton cracks me up.

I thought that was pretty funny too.