Anonymous wrote:So anything that DC doesn't get picked for is reserved? Even the council that rarely if ever meets?

Didn't say that. I know of an experience happening right now, not involving my DC actually, in which athletes are being overlooked for the an athletic-based activity in favor of non-athletes who are favored by the school and need that extra bump for their top college applications. It's what they do--give most opportunities to top students to really bolster their apps, knowing those in the bottom half don't have a shot anyway. The larger they can make that gap, the better the top students look. It is well-known this is the case.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the school is a pressure cooker. If your kid thrives on pressure and completion in the US go for it but if you are looking for a place your child will blossom the US is not the place.

Have three there (one of whom graduated) - all lifers. While it can be academically rigorous, I strongly believe that it is only as much of a "pressure cooker" as your family allows it to be. Take pressure off of your children and allow them to enjoy it for what it offers - an amazingly kind and supportive school with top-notch teachers, traditions, initiatives, and sports and extra-curriculars offered for a vast spectrum of interests and abilities.

Potomac has always been a financial stretch for us (and we do get financial aid) but it has been worth every penny. Our children are thriving and happy. Good luck, OP!

When the results of the parent survey came out after the 2020-2021 nightmare schoolyear, I was shocked and horrified when they turned it around on the parents. To say the school doesn't play a role in the devastating pressure there is to turn a blind eye. The other schools have an equal amount of academic pressure for sure, but it's the competitive environment between the students that is exacerbates the issue.

Is there a post talking about what happened in that school year?

+1 interested to hear why 2020-2021 was a nightmare school year at Potomac

It was the 2019/20 year, but a tough one particularly for the class of 2021. And the school continues to favor a small,gselect group of students and show little for students who strugle and work for opportunities only constantly to be overlooked.

That has not been my child's experience in US. They do struggle and many of their teachers have gone the extra mile to support and help them. I will say that my child has been a lifer and most likely would not have been admitted for US; I also know they are not the only one in that situation. So just sharing that our experience is not what you portray.

I am a current parent and have grown to really appreciate this school. It is not perfect but after hearing things that have gone at other schools, I am satisfied. I agree that siblings tend to get favored roles for sports/academics but part of it is parents figure out the system. They know classes, the coaches. It makes it difficult if you are new. There is a new AD who is trying to address this and I am told the school is working on leveling academic playing field. There is a new open program for certain honors classes. The honor council (mentioned above) is a different thing -I have zero issue with that. Those kids are not just good students. They are also the kindest and their role is to have empathy and also complete secrecy. No gossiping for anyone brought before. I think Potomac does this well because honor council roles at other schools are set up to just punish no learning experience. My kid thought about trying out for honor council because they are a good student and very nice but they said the pressure to not slip up and say anything was too much for them. They have nothing but respect for anyone selected. Hope this gives additional flavor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the school is a pressure cooker. If your kid thrives on pressure and completion in the US go for it but if you are looking for a place your child will blossom the US is not the place.

Have three there (one of whom graduated) - all lifers. While it can be academically rigorous, I strongly believe that it is only as much of a "pressure cooker" as your family allows it to be. Take pressure off of your children and allow them to enjoy it for what it offers - an amazingly kind and supportive school with top-notch teachers, traditions, initiatives, and sports and extra-curriculars offered for a vast spectrum of interests and abilities.

Potomac has always been a financial stretch for us (and we do get financial aid) but it has been worth every penny. Our children are thriving and happy. Good luck, OP!

When the results of the parent survey came out after the 2020-2021 nightmare schoolyear, I was shocked and horrified when they turned it around on the parents. To say the school doesn't play a role in the devastating pressure there is to turn a blind eye. The other schools have an equal amount of academic pressure for sure, but it's the competitive environment between the students that is exacerbates the issue.

Is there a post talking about what happened in that school year?

+1 interested to hear why 2020-2021 was a nightmare school year at Potomac

It was the 2019/20 year, but a tough one particularly for the class of 2021. And the school continues to favor a small,gselect group of students and show little for students who strugle and work for opportunities only constantly to be overlooked.

That has not been my child's experience in US. They do struggle and many of their teachers have gone the extra mile to support and help them. I will say that my child has been a lifer and most likely would not have been admitted for US; I also know they are not the only one in that situation. So just sharing that our experience is not what you portray.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the school is a pressure cooker. If your kid thrives on pressure and completion in the US go for it but if you are looking for a place your child will blossom the US is not the place.

Have three there (one of whom graduated) - all lifers. While it can be academically rigorous, I strongly believe that it is only as much of a "pressure cooker" as your family allows it to be. Take pressure off of your children and allow them to enjoy it for what it offers - an amazingly kind and supportive school with top-notch teachers, traditions, initiatives, and sports and extra-curriculars offered for a vast spectrum of interests and abilities.

Potomac has always been a financial stretch for us (and we do get financial aid) but it has been worth every penny. Our children are thriving and happy. Good luck, OP!

When the results of the parent survey came out after the 2020-2021 nightmare schoolyear, I was shocked and horrified when they turned it around on the parents. To say the school doesn't play a role in the devastating pressure there is to turn a blind eye. The other schools have an equal amount of academic pressure for sure, but it's the competitive environment between the students that is exacerbates the issue.

Is there a post talking about what happened in that school year?

+1 interested to hear why 2020-2021 was a nightmare school year at Potomac

It was the 2019/20 year, but a tough one particularly for the class of 2021. And the school continues to favor a small, select group of students and show little for students who struggle and work for opportunities only constantly to be overlooked.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No suicides of students enrolled at Potomac.

OP and others, please talk to current parents and ignore the anonymous posting on this thread!

We love Potomac and have not found it to be anything like what some people posting here want you to believe. Our kids have felt very supported by their peers. It is a lovely school that stresses kindness and community.

Well, obviously not students enrolled at Potomac. And I'm not trying to make a joke. Your response is not only stupid, but wrong. I hate that it comes up here, and don't mean to repeat it, but for some reason, it bothers me that a Potomac parent would come on here saying that. It's sad to know that someone is so disconnected to come here and claim it's untrue. Some of us were very very close to the situation that year.

This.
It shouldn’t be a topic for strangers on a website to speculate or gossip about, but don’t lie.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the school is a pressure cooker. If your kid thrives on pressure and completion in the US go for it but if you are looking for a place your child will blossom the US is not the place.

Have three there (one of whom graduated) - all lifers. While it can be academically rigorous, I strongly believe that it is only as much of a "pressure cooker" as your family allows it to be. Take pressure off of your children and allow them to enjoy it for what it offers - an amazingly kind and supportive school with top-notch teachers, traditions, initiatives, and sports and extra-curriculars offered for a vast spectrum of interests and abilities.

Potomac has always been a financial stretch for us (and we do get financial aid) but it has been worth every penny. Our children are thriving and happy. Good luck, OP!

When the results of the parent survey came out after the 2020-2021 nightmare schoolyear, I was shocked and horrified when they turned it around on the parents. To say the school doesn't play a role in the devastating pressure there is to turn a blind eye. The other schools have an equal amount of academic pressure for sure, but it's the competitive environment between the students that is exacerbates the issue.

Is there a post talking about what happened in that school year?

No, because people have had a basic level of human decency.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the school is a pressure cooker. If your kid thrives on pressure and completion in the US go for it but if you are looking for a place your child will blossom the US is not the place.

Have three there (one of whom graduated) - all lifers. While it can be academically rigorous, I strongly believe that it is only as much of a "pressure cooker" as your family allows it to be. Take pressure off of your children and allow them to enjoy it for what it offers - an amazingly kind and supportive school with top-notch teachers, traditions, initiatives, and sports and extra-curriculars offered for a vast spectrum of interests and abilities.

Potomac has always been a financial stretch for us (and we do get financial aid) but it has been worth every penny. Our children are thriving and happy. Good luck, OP!

When the results of the parent survey came out after the 2020-2021 nightmare schoolyear, I was shocked and horrified when they turned it around on the parents. To say the school doesn't play a role in the devastating pressure there is to turn a blind eye. The other schools have an equal amount of academic pressure for sure, but it's the competitive environment between the students that is exacerbates the issue.

Is there a post talking about what happened in that school year?

+1 interested to hear why 2020-2021 was a nightmare school year at Potomac

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the school is a pressure cooker. If your kid thrives on pressure and completion in the US go for it but if you are looking for a place your child will blossom the US is not the place.

Have three there (one of whom graduated) - all lifers. While it can be academically rigorous, I strongly believe that it is only as much of a "pressure cooker" as your family allows it to be. Take pressure off of your children and allow them to enjoy it for what it offers - an amazingly kind and supportive school with top-notch teachers, traditions, initiatives, and sports and extra-curriculars offered for a vast spectrum of interests and abilities.

Potomac has always been a financial stretch for us (and we do get financial aid) but it has been worth every penny. Our children are thriving and happy. Good luck, OP!

+1
It is only a pressure cooker if you and your child can’t tolerate non A grades

Anonymous wrote:No suicides of students enrolled at Potomac.

OP and others, please talk to current parents and ignore the anonymous posting on this thread!

We love Potomac and have not found it to be anything like what some people posting here want you to believe. Our kids have felt very supported by their peers. It is a lovely school that stresses kindness and community.

I am a current parent and have no idea why you would say it is untrue. Were you at the school last year? If so, shame on YOU for either being cold hearted or simply lying.

No current parent I know would try to sweep this under the rug.

So anything that DC doesn't get picked for is reserved? Even the council that rarely if ever meets?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only certain kids are allowed to shine in US-it is not an equal opportunity employer. They are the ones given leadership roles and are put front and center in order to make them the best college candidates. Meanwhile, the really smart but not popular kid gets shoved to the wayside. It’s not this shining star on the hill that people think it to be.

What roles are “given”? Don’t the students vote?

Only for student government. The rest of the roles that students compete for are decided by facutly and there is zero transparency about qualifications and the reasons behind the selections. But they almost always go to the favored ones. Side note: my daugther was called stupid more than once by a teacher at that school.

What are the “rest.”? This sounds made up.

It's not made up. There are a handful of roles that are coveted. Honor Council comes to mind and it is reserved for top students only. Like that makes any sense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No suicides of students enrolled at Potomac.

OP and others, please talk to current parents and ignore the anonymous posting on this thread!

We love Potomac and have not found it to be anything like what some people posting here want you to believe. Our kids have felt very supported by their peers. It is a lovely school that stresses kindness and community.

What about the academic pressure? Is there toxic competition between the students?

There can be, yes.

Anonymous wrote:No suicides of students enrolled at Potomac.

OP and others, please talk to current parents and ignore the anonymous posting on this thread!

We love Potomac and have not found it to be anything like what some people posting here want you to believe. Our kids have felt very supported by their peers. It is a lovely school that stresses kindness and community.

Well, obviously not students enrolled at Potomac. And I'm not trying to make a joke. Your response is not only stupid, but wrong. I hate that it comes up here, and don't mean to repeat it, but for some reason, it bothers me that a Potomac parent would come on here saying that. It's sad to know that someone is so disconnected to come here and claim it's untrue. Some of us were very very close to the situation that year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only certain kids are allowed to shine in US-it is not an equal opportunity employer. They are the ones given leadership roles and are put front and center in order to make them the best college candidates. Meanwhile, the really smart but not popular kid gets shoved to the wayside. It’s not this shining star on the hill that people think it to be.

What roles are “given”? Don’t the students vote?

Only for student government. The rest of the roles that students compete for are decided by facutly and there is zero transparency about qualifications and the reasons behind the selections. But they almost always go to the favored ones. Side note: my daugther was called stupid more than once by a teacher at that school.

What are the “rest.”? This sounds made up.

Anonymous wrote:No suicides of students enrolled at Potomac.

OP and others, please talk to current parents and ignore the anonymous posting on this thread!

We love Potomac and have not found it to be anything like what some people posting here want you to believe. Our kids have felt very supported by their peers. It is a lovely school that stresses kindness and community.

What about the academic pressure? Is there toxic competition between the students?