Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 10:12     Subject: Which W school is better?
Anonymous wrote:Look at the college commitment websites, will be clear which Ws are "better."

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/405/1244745.page#29341241

Then weigh outcomes with the question of more of a pressure cooker environment.


Please keep in mind that many of the more elite colleges give preference to legacy applicants. So while you might see some great colleges, your child if not, a legacy may not get in. Ask me how I know.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 10:12     Subject: Which W school is better?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm a big fan of Churchill. Good environment, plenty of opportunities for challenge, great principal and teachers, safe school. I can't compare it to others, but it has worked well for my children.


Same for Churchill. Some very affluent students, but lots of down to earth kids too.

Whitman is also very affluent. I find the kids are the most badly behaved of the Ws at sporting events (can be mean-spirited in a crowd and I don't like it).

WJ is good, large, has the APEX program which is for smarter kids. Kids can leave for lunch in all grades, I think.

Wootton is similar to Churchill with higher SES families but less outrageous affluence.

My preference would be Churchill or Wootton, Whitman, WJ.


Definitely, especially because she's coming from Texas. She will appreciate the country atmosphere at Churchill compared to the other W and it will remind her more of Texas. Churchill is still a highly affluent school, but more down to earth.


Churchill HS will remind her of Texas? GTFO!
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 10:09     Subject: Which W school is better?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Avoid WJ cluster.

Look closer walking distance to Churchill or Whitman.

Or buy after 2 years.

Can’t afford to buy in either cluster my plan is to rent for the good schools then once he graduates live below my means in Germantown, Gaithersburg, or get a condo in dc and retire early.

Wootton is great too and the neighborhoods are more affordable than the other Ws.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 10:06     Subject: Which W school is better?
Anonymous wrote:Wheaton (joke).

Watkins Mill.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 08:59     Subject: Which W school is better?
I will have to check out Churchill thanks!
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 07:42     Subject: Which W school is better?
Churchill is pretty chill for such an affluent school. We have found the kids to be welcoming and kind (my kid was new). There is a large autism progam, which I think helps to facilitate an air of kindness throughout the school. Never hear of fights or threats. There are lots of different groups and though there are high flying hard chargers, my kid says the kids are actually a lot more normal than you might think. Most of his friends are busy with activities. There are groups that go to homecoming and prom and parties, but they actually have trouble selling dance tickets (it's not a rah-rah kind of school like QO or High School High). Affluence is a thing but like others said there are lots of regular families, too.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 07:16     Subject: Which W school is better?
Anonymous wrote:I would not recommend WJ if you’re looking for a calm environment.

I’d suggest: Churchill, Whitman, Wootton, Poolesville or most of the private schools.


WJ is an amazing school, but it is extra crowded right now. The fix is starting in 2027-2028. It is easier to find rentals in WJ cluster, which is part of what adds to its awesome diversity. If you're looking for less expensive rentals, look at private rentals in the Promenade or Grosvenor Park towers (vs. Ravel and Royale, Astrid). Someone mentioned Parkwood earlier in the thread, they're garden style.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 00:14     Subject: Which W school is better?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm a big fan of Churchill. Good environment, plenty of opportunities for challenge, great principal and teachers, safe school. I can't compare it to others, but it has worked well for my children.


Same for Churchill. Some very affluent students, but lots of down to earth kids too.

Whitman is also very affluent. I find the kids are the most badly behaved of the Ws at sporting events (can be mean-spirited in a crowd and I don't like it).

WJ is good, large, has the APEX program which is for smarter kids. Kids can leave for lunch in all grades, I think.

Wootton is similar to Churchill with higher SES families but less outrageous affluence.

My preference would be Churchill or Wootton, Whitman, WJ.


Definitely, especially because she's coming from Texas. She will appreciate the country atmosphere at Churchill compared to the other W and it will remind her more of Texas. Churchill is still a highly affluent school, but more down to earth.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2025 00:12     Subject: Which W school is better?
Churchill seemed to have a nice mix of very wealthy and rural/country families, which gives it more a down to earth vibe than the other schools.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2025 22:34     Subject: Which W school is better?
I don’t think you need to limit yourself to the W schools.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2025 22:27     Subject: Which W school is better?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You might want to consider beyond high school. Will your child want UMD? If so, it will be much easier in a non- W/non-magnet school.

If they don’t want UMD, any of the schools mentioned will work. Nobody here is going to have experience with multiple schools, but most will recommend the school their child goes to. That’s because there are more similarities than differences.

I have 1 at Churchill (and another who graduated from Churchill). Nothing but positive things to say about the school. My kids are both far from the tippy top and we are also not rich (live with my parents after a divorce), yet they have been accepted whole heartedly within the community.

Don’t let people scare you off from any of the schools!

He doesn’t want UMD honestly it’s more so academics and safety as he needs a non chaotic environment to succeed.


Whats the issue? Are you working downtown 5 days a week? There's also BCC.

These are all very good schools - Whitman, WJ, Churchill. BCC has a few more issues, but it's totally fine.

That's a large area. I'd focus on the home and the commute. The differences between these schools isn't that significant.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2025 19:20     Subject: Which W school is better?
There is at least one book about going to school at Walt Whitman.

One is the Overachievers by Alexandra Robbins.

https://theblackandwhite.net/62291/opinion/blogs/were-not-overachievers/


Anonymous
Post 04/29/2025 18:52     Subject: Which W school is better?
northWest high school
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2025 18:50     Subject: Which W school is better?
Anonymous wrote:I would not recommend WJ if you’re looking for a calm environment.

I’d suggest: Churchill, Whitman, Wootton, Poolesville or most of the private schools.


Agreed.

I think the high flyers at WJ are still fine, but I don't know how much feedback they can get in large classes.

I have one who graduated from private and one at WJ. Overcrowded and chaotic are understatements. There is big pressure at Whitman, but the day to day environment may be the most "calm" of the group. Personally, my kid would probably be in better shape at Churchill or Wooton (but I honestly wish they were still in private).
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2025 18:23     Subject: Which W school is better?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You might want to consider beyond high school. Will your child want UMD? If so, it will be much easier in a non- W/non-magnet school.

If they don’t want UMD, any of the schools mentioned will work. Nobody here is going to have experience with multiple schools, but most will recommend the school their child goes to. That’s because there are more similarities than differences.

I have 1 at Churchill (and another who graduated from Churchill). Nothing but positive things to say about the school. My kids are both far from the tippy top and we are also not rich (live with my parents after a divorce), yet they have been accepted whole heartedly within the community.

Don’t let people scare you off from any of the schools!

He doesn’t want UMD honestly it’s more so academics and safety as he needs a non chaotic environment to succeed.


No school in mcps will give you that. Most are 2-3k students, some more.

This gives me a lot to consider thanks.