Anonymous wrote:Thank you, PP for posting the numbers for Potomac. I see now that it is one of the good schools in this area. I don't see, though, how one could, as a least a few PPs have tried to do, call Potomac one of the Big 3 or Big 2. I guess from your post I see that some people use the term "Big 3" to refer to the three schools their family deems the best for them. If these advocates for Potomac are using "Big 3" in that sense, I understand. Most people use the term, though, to refer to the schools that most people in the DC area to be the top schools. Under thsi definition I would consider it fair to call Potomac one of the "Big 10." What do you think? I think people are feeling hurt that their school is not regarded more highly by people on this thread, but if one is that sensitive on this topic, one should avoid threads titled "Big 3."

I think the whole point of the original post in this thread is that there is no consensus 2 or 3 schools that people in the DC metro area consider the best. I have NEVER heard the term "Big 3" used anywhere accept this anonymous forum... which leads many posters to believe that a handful of boosters of certain schools go to great lengths to try and single out there schools as the consensus best.

The point I've been making is that, yes, you could probably identify a handful of schools (maybe 5-10) that are considered "top tier" - but then within that group you are going to get honest differences of opinion on which 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 schools are the very best of the bunch. This is going to be dependent on things like geography (where you live), the student body demographics you are looking for, and the specific culture and/or relative strengths of the schools themselves. Let me give you some examples:

- In my family's geography (McLean/Great Falls) and social circle (top execs of Northern VA tech companies and financial/investment banks), Potomac is the #1 choice and target. After that it's probably StA/NCS. Now, if you live in Chevy Chase and run in those circles, perhaps Sidwell is the #1 choice.

- I know many families who do not like the idea of single-sex education. So schools like StA, NCS, Holton, Landon, and others are not in their top 3.

- Some families with more conservative political leanings might not feel as comfortable sending their kids to Sidwell or GDS as some other schools, so those schools are not in their top 3.

- Some families put a high value on top tier athletics, so for them the single sex schools like StA and Landon might be top choices, and they eliminate eliminate GDS and Maret for their list

- Some families are very focused on the "well-rounded" approach to learning (stressing academics, athletics, arts, social etc and expecting participating in all and so might prioritize schools like Sidwell and Potomac

- Some families are very focused on a more intellectual and artistic experience, and so for them a school like GDS might be the #1 choice

You get my point.

Also, the top tier discussions tend to exclude some wonderful K-8 or K-3/6 programs like Norwood, Langley, and St Patricks. These schools offer a compelling experience as well and if they were K-12 would be included in all of these discussions.

The bottom line is that out there in the "real word" (outside of DCUM), there is a general sense of the top tier schools (the Washington Examiner list is fairly accurate), but I hear no broad consensus, across all geographic areas of metro DC, as to which 2 or 3 schools are clearly better than others in all circumstances.

09:44 here. Wow. I am astonished at the level of anger and hostility in your post, PP. Please get a grip and take a break from this thread if it upsets you this much. I am sorry to have made you feel bad.

How about Big Bunch of Bull----!!! PP somehow I sense the fact that your DC goes to one of the schools YOU consider a Big 3 school you are relentless in your quest to make others see it that way too! You seem to get way to0 much from this ranking BS! Find something else to give you an identity, not just the fact your DC goes to a "Real Big 3" Put some of this energy into your kid.

Thank you, PP for posting the numbers for Potomac. I see now that it is one of the good schools in this area. I don't see, though, how one could, as a least a few PPs have tried to do, call Potomac one of the Big 3 or Big 2. I guess from your post I see that some people use the term "Big 3" to refer to the three schools their family deems the best for them. If these advocates for Potomac are using "Big 3" in that sense, I understand. Most people use the term, though, to refer to the schools that most people in the DC area to be the top schools. Under thsi definition I would consider it fair to call Potomac one of the "Big 10." What do you think? I think people are feeling hurt that their school is not regarded more highly by people on this thread, but if one is that sensitive on this topic, one should avoid threads titled "Big 3."

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in Chevy Chase in Montgomery County, MD, for 13 years and have a 13yo and a 9yo yet had never heard of Potomac until I joined this forum this year. Potomac never even came up on the radar as we researched private schools for our two children. It has no national reputation at all. How can you call Potomac a Big 3 when the other schools usuallly referred to as Big 3 (or Big 2) have national reputations?

It's amazing how within a post about the fact that their really should be no "Big 3", you get posters who are bent on proving their school (assume GDS, Sidwell, or StA) is superior to others. Really, what is the point?

To these recent posters (or the same sock puppet poster) who is claiming never to have even heard of a school like Potomac and claiming it has no national reputation - you are simply just wrong. Here's some of the info you seek from 3rd parties (who I put a lot more credibility in than some anonymous posting on an anonymous forum).

The Washington Examiner - http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/40314672.html - lists the top tier schools in the DC area, Potomac included, and lists avg SAT scores which are consistent with the other schools listed

Worth Magazine http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/43718.page#295235 - lists the top 100 high schools for getting into an Ivy League school. Potomac listed as the #22 school in the country, behind #13 St Albans and #17 NCS, and ahead of #28 Sidwell, #42 Holton, and #43 GDS.

Matriculation stats can be found here - http://www.potomacschool.org/admission/applying-to-potomac/index.aspx

Now I'm not making a claim that Potomac is any better (or worse) than Sidwell, Cathedral, GDS, Maret, Holton, or others. I believe there are perhaps 5-10 top tier schools out there and "the best" really is a subjective choice based on the best fit for a given family (ie. a conservative, athletically inclined family would never rank GDS in it's top 3). However, to try and suggest that Potomac is not a top tier school is silly and misinformed.

Well I've heard of Potomac. It's a very nice suburb in Montgomery County, Maryland. I heard they have great public schools .

Anonymous wrote:petty...I'd bet the person made a typo and not a spelling mistake. And, really -- never heard of Potomac? Seriously scary.

I've never heard of Potomac either, but based on this thread, it seems that the parents are hurt that it doesn't command the same gravitas as Sidwell or St. Albans. Frankly, there are very few schools in the U.S. that have managed to achieve national or international reputations. Sadly, Potomac is just not one of them.

Anonymous wrote:petty...I'd bet the person made a typo and not a spelling mistake. And, really -- never heard of Potomac? Seriously scary.

an

petty...I'd bet the person made a typo and not a spelling mistake. And, really -- never heard of Potomac? Seriously scary.

Let me get this straight, you're accusing other people of arrogance and self-idolatry (you misspelled "self" by the way), yet you claim that anyone who has not heard of the Potomac school is "ignorant"? I'm guessing that you fail to see the irony of your post. But in any event, thanks for the afternoon chuckle...

By the way, I'm yet another one who had never heard of the Potomac School before until just last year--and I've lived in the D.C. area for the past 15 years.

Anonymous wrote:The arrogance and sefl-idolatry are so evident in the comments here. Not even being aware of a school like Potomac (or at least the proclamation of such) is a level of ignorance that is just not real. For people who proclaim to be educated and informed, this is certainly not indicative of such.

I am sorry that you are offended to find there are people in the DC area who have not heard of Potomac School.

The arrogance and sefl-idolatry are so evident in the comments here. Not even being aware of a school like Potomac (or at least the proclamation of such) is a level of ignorance that is just not real. For people who proclaim to be educated and informed, this is certainly not indicative of such.

Anonymous wrote:You are a broken record

08:00 here. I believe you were replying to me, but I had not posted before.

You are a broken record

Anonymous wrote:Various stats on Patomac are available on the other FAQ thread.

In other words, you don't have the numbers to support the claim.

Various stats on Patomac are available on the other FAQ thread.