How or why are Howard County public schools so good?

[Anonymous]

Are they super well funded? It doesn’t seem like the wealthiest area of the state, right? Is it high test scores from kids who would have gotten high test scores anywhere? Or are the Howard County schools really better than other schools in some way? I’m moving to the DMV area from out of state and was only considering Fairfax and MoCo but everyone keeps telling me to look at Howard County because of the schools, so I’m super curious. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Demographics are destiny.

[Anonymous]

HoCo has the highest median income in the state.

[Anonymous]

Not sure where your job is, but Howard County is not even close to Fairfax. We moved to Ellicott City from NY, but our jobs were in HoCo. Median HH income is $121k which is pretty high.

Schools have been fine (our youngest is graduating HS this year). Tbh the public schools are probably not much different than MoCo or Fairfax. I would live close to your job if I were you!

[Anonymous]

$$$$

[Anonymous]

This is OP again. Where does everyone in Howard County work that they are so well paid? I only need to commute into DC one day per week, and I have a special needs child. Interesting that the PP thinks the schools are nothing special. It feels like everyone has been telling me to look at Howard County, particularly for my special needs child.

[Anonymous]

Money, less poverty and diversity

[Anonymous]

Every school is different. To base your decision on an entire county is crazy. Every school/teacher/ principal/pta is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every school is different. To base your decision on an entire county is crazy. Every school/teacher/ principal/pta is different.

That makes sense. But when you’re moving from somewhere else and when the housing market is so tight that you don’t have many choices, you have to make crazy decisions. Without sufficient information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Money, less poverty and diversity

Howard County is 34% white and 25% black, so let’s not have the idea Howard County isn’t diverse. But Howard County doesn’t have the amount of poverty other counties have to deal with.

Another pro about Howard County schools is that they tinker way less in regards to their curricula. I have not heard anyone complain about it whereas Curriculum 2.0 was a disaster in Montgomery county and had to be scrapped.

The downside to Howard County is that it redistricts A LOT. Like every 5 years. There are stories of kids living in the same house being redistricted 5 times from K to 12.

If you want to live in Howard County then buy a house that’s close to the high school you want. Otherwise, you’re fodder for redistricting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Money, less poverty and diversity

Howard County is 34% white and 25% black, so let’s not have the idea Howard County isn’t diverse. But Howard County doesn’t have the amount of poverty other counties have to deal with.

Another pro about Howard County schools is that they tinker way less in regards to their curricula. I have not heard anyone complain about it whereas Curriculum 2.0 was a disaster in Montgomery county and had to be scrapped.

The downside to Howard County is that it redistricts A LOT. Like every 5 years. There are stories of kids living in the same house being redistricted 5 times from K to 12.

If you want to live in Howard County then buy a house that’s close to the high school you want. Otherwise, you’re fodder for redistricting.

I mean, that is a good thing for economic and racially diversity in the schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP again. Where does everyone in Howard County work that they are so well paid? I only need to commute into DC one day per week, and I have a special needs child. Interesting that the PP thinks the schools are nothing special. It feels like everyone has been telling me to look at Howard County, particularly for my special needs child.

Lots of government contractors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Money, less poverty and diversity

Howard County is 34% white and 25% black, so let’s not have the idea Howard County isn’t diverse. But Howard County doesn’t have the amount of poverty other counties have to deal with.

Another pro about Howard County schools is that they tinker way less in regards to their curricula. I have not heard anyone complain about it whereas Curriculum 2.0 was a disaster in Montgomery county and had to be scrapped.

The downside to Howard County is that it redistricts A LOT. Like every 5 years. There are stories of kids living in the same house being redistricted 5 times from K to 12.

If you want to live in Howard County then buy a house that’s close to the high school you want. Otherwise, you’re fodder for redistricting.

I mean, that is a good thing for economic and racially diversity in the schools.

Every once in a while is good, but imagine being that kid that got redistricted 5 times. How are you supposed to keep any school friends?

There may be some upsides to redistricting, but there are also downsides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Money, less poverty and diversity

Howard County is 34% white and 25% black, so let’s not have the idea Howard County isn’t diverse. But Howard County doesn’t have the amount of poverty other counties have to deal with.

Another pro about Howard County schools is that they tinker way less in regards to their curricula. I have not heard anyone complain about it whereas Curriculum 2.0 was a disaster in Montgomery county and had to be scrapped.

The downside to Howard County is that it redistricts A LOT. Like every 5 years. There are stories of kids living in the same house being redistricted 5 times from K to 12.

If you want to live in Howard County then buy a house that’s close to the high school you want. Otherwise, you’re fodder for redistricting.

I mean, that is a good thing for economic and racially diversity in the schools.

Every once in a while is good, but imagine being that kid that got redistricted 5 times. How are you supposed to keep any school friends?

There may be some upsides to redistricting, but there are also downsides.

Most kids don’t keep their friends from ES for too long anyway. You make it sound like kids are being forced to change schools every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Money, less poverty and diversity

Howard County is 34% white and 25% black, so let’s not have the idea Howard County isn’t diverse. But Howard County doesn’t have the amount of poverty other counties have to deal with.

Another pro about Howard County schools is that they tinker way less in regards to their curricula. I have not heard anyone complain about it whereas Curriculum 2.0 was a disaster in Montgomery county and had to be scrapped.

The downside to Howard County is that it redistricts A LOT. Like every 5 years. There are stories of kids living in the same house being redistricted 5 times from K to 12.

If you want to live in Howard County then buy a house that’s close to the high school you want. Otherwise, you’re fodder for redistricting.

I mean, that is a good thing for economic and racially diversity in the schools.

Every once in a while is good, but imagine being that kid that got redistricted 5 times. How are you supposed to keep any school friends?

There may be some upsides to redistricting, but there are also downsides.

Most kids don’t keep their friends from ES for too long anyway. You make it sound like kids are being forced to change schools every year.

Some definitely are being forced to change a lot considering their parents never moved. The 5 times has happened but would clearly be an exception though 2 times is fairly common.