There is almost zero diversity in Mclean. Everyone is rich even the people in Mclean who think they are poor are actually rich. Private schools have FA to make sure kids actually have a broad range of friends who also have a variety of ethnicity backgrounds also.

Anonymous wrote:We couldn’t imagine spending extra for Potomac. The Langley and McLean pyramids are fantastic and, as for the intangibles, exposure to a broader range of students and activities (especially in the McLean pyramid) more than compensated for the additional attention that an individual student might receive at Potomac. I don’t expect a Potomac parent to say the additional tens of thousands in tuition spent was a waste, but please know there are many of us who could have easily afforded Potomac or another private and decided to invest more in public education.

I have to respectful disagree. I have kids @both Langley HS and Potomac, only because DD did not get accepted by Potomac. You can attend Langley HS if you live in Langley zone. Potomac is by invitation only. I can envison that my straight A DD from Langley will struggle in college while my other DD @Potomac will do just fine even though she is just an B student at Potomac. Potomac prepares you for college much better than FCPS, IMHO.

I like to compare Potomac to an Audi A8 and FCPS Langley HS to a Honda Accord.

We couldn’t imagine spending extra for Potomac. The Langley and McLean pyramids are fantastic and, as for the intangibles, exposure to a broader range of students and activities (especially in the McLean pyramid) more than compensated for the additional attention that an individual student might receive at Potomac. I don’t expect a Potomac parent to say the additional tens of thousands in tuition spent was a waste, but please know there are many of us who could have easily afforded Potomac or another private and decided to invest more in public education.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The facilities are amazing. Much smaller classroom. No focus on standardized testing. More personal experience.

how you get into good colleges if no focus on SAT/AP?

The parents all pay for prep courses.

The advanced class opportunity is endless at Potomac. THis is not to be confused with AP. Top privates have gotten rid of AP because they do not want their classes geared toward teaching to a test without any creativity. They are able then to create studies that are more in-depth. They do provide kids the opportunity to still take AP tests which you can just use a study guide for. This was something a lot of schools (not just Potomac) decided.

Comparing Potomac school to FCPS is like comparing a Tesla to a 2001 Toyota Camry. They both have four wheels.

McLean and Langley are much better in education, advance courses, and special needs but the facilities are terrible because fcps invests in illegals and dreamer schools that are low performing. Potomac, St Stephens etc... Are much more beautiful but lack in the above.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m considering Potomac because my DS’s teacher basically ignores him academically and socially. I went to the PT conference to hear about the progress he was doing but left unimpressed by her lack of effort and interest in showing work samples. I was the one asking questions all the time to get some information.

Our kids must be in the same class learning from that effortless teacher.

Effortless does not mean someone exerts no effort. It means they find what they do very easy to accomplish.

Anonymous wrote:I’m considering Potomac because my DS’s teacher basically ignores him academically and socially. I went to the PT conference to hear about the progress he was doing but left unimpressed by her lack of effort and interest in showing work samples. I was the one asking questions all the time to get some information.

Our kids must be in the same class learning from that effortless teacher.

PP is correct in the sense that Potomac is not well suited for special needs. But I don't really think it is a diversion, more a recognition that special needs is outside its scope. Mild LD's of course receive appropriate accommodations, but beyond that, you will be better served elsewhere. I think Potomac's admin would agree.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Potomac facilities are nicer and smaller class size. Education and special needs services are better at McLean or Langley.

Did you mean special education and special needs? I would agree with you on that although Potomac is making efforts to improve its ability to accommodate students with mild learning issues who are otherwise able to handle the curriculum.

Potomac is not really well suited to supporting special needs from what we have seen. You are better off in pulic where they are required by law to implement IEP and direct funds there. Like ot or not Potomac diverts funds to other areas.

What school? Not our experience and do not get me started in Longfellow. Haven’t numbers that low even in k.

I’m really unsure as to what you all feel are large classes. My DC has only had 21-22 kids each year in elementary. And this is in McLean. He received a lot of personal attention, but we are also involved parents.

Potomac is an incredible school. The students who come there esp those who come after seventh are very impressive. I think some of the K arrival students are also in that category but the school is so hard to get into that you really have to be bright and have some other talent to get in the later years. It is not just about having a good wpssi and being well behaved. You cannot compare it to a public school. No way. The public schools are so crowded that teachers just cannot give the same amount as in a private school format esp in areas where there is a lot of writing. Can you imagine how hard to get deep in long form papers when you have so many students. I used to think maybe it would be better to be in public for hs because of the athletics but most talented athletes play their sports on a club level so hs sports are a second consideration. Any way it is a great school and spouse and I wanted public to be the right choice and it was for younger years but as they get older. No. Private is better and a private like Potomac definitely worth the money.

We send our children to Potomac for the education, not for college admissions.

+1000.

Comparing any private to a big public is apples to oranges. The experience is a world of difference that is unrelated to college admissions. My children have been at Potomac since K and it is the best decision we could have made for them and their development. Plan to stay through graduation. Worth the investment. I don't care where they go to college. I care that they love learning, have developed strong social skills, their teachers know them, they have lovely friends, and they are getting all the intangibles that come from a joyful and thoughtful curriculum and extra-curriculars. It's a special place.

And it's okay if you make a different decision for your child. But recognize that college admissions is not even close to the reason someone may decide to give their children an independent education.