Tween going from private to public for middle school - what does she need to know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why you would do private for k-5 then public for middle school. We did public K-5 then private middle school then back to public high school. Worked out great.

You really want to know about the kids your middle schooler is hanging out with and who their parents are. Easy to do in private but harder in public middle. Private middle schools do a much better job of no phones in class and are stricter in terms of behavior. You learn better study skills as well.

We did this because there were actually more opportunities for advancement in our public district. K-5 private was great for building (reinforcing) high expectations, good behavior, and let them learn with less distractions and more focus from teacher. We moved them in middle school to public because our district has an amazing accelerated academic program where they can work several grades ahead. Private school just couldn’t do this, at least not well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No jeans allowed, only athletic wear. Probably only a clear backpack. Keep her eyes to herself, preferably on the floor. Learn how to hold it, so she doesn't have to use the restrooms.

No jeans? Huh. My daughter is in public MS and she wears jeans all the time, although they have holes in the knees. My daughter also uses restrooms. What school are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

It entirely depends on the district/school. My kids did private from K and switched to public in middle school. Here are my takeaways:

-Have them do band. It’s fun and takes up a spot to an otherwise undesirable elective would fill.

-remind them to not engage in drama they may see.

-Don’t watch/run toward the fights.
Avoid the kids that are not doing the right things. Mind their own business (unless it is a safety issue, in which case discreetly notify an adult)

-avoid the bathrooms unless it is an emergency

-pack your lunch. Bad food plus long lines.

-be kind and helpful to other kids in class that may be struggling

Overall I think my kids are gaining a lot of empathy for others and appreciation for how we have parented them so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It entirely depends on the district/school. My kids did private from K and switched to public in middle school. Here are my takeaways:

-Have them do band. It’s fun and takes up a spot to an otherwise undesirable elective would fill.

-remind them to not engage in drama they may see.

-Don’t watch/run toward the fights.
Avoid the kids that are not doing the right things. Mind their own business (unless it is a safety issue, in which case discreetly notify an adult)

-avoid the bathrooms unless it is an emergency

-pack your lunch. Bad food plus long lines.

-be kind and helpful to other kids in class that may be struggling

Overall I think my kids are gaining a lot of empathy for others and appreciation for how we have parented them so far.

This is fantastic. Thank you!!!!!

[Anonymous]

for middle school?!!!


Yes. My DD was hold in place Friday for 25 minutes so EMS could get the “medical emergency” out. A 6th grader overdosed. This is like the 4th this year. She says the bathrooms often smell like smoke.

[Anonymous]

I would absolutely never send a private school kid to public middle school. Wait until high school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No jeans allowed, only athletic wear. Probably only a clear backpack. Keep her eyes to herself, preferably on the floor. Learn how to hold it, so she doesn't have to use the restrooms.

I guess it depends on the MS bc this doesn’t apply to my kids FCPS MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^^ thank you!! This is really helpful.

My dd is introverted, artsy & sporty. I am hoping she finds some likeminded kids in school and in our neighborhood.

She will PP. My kid is into choir and introverted. She’s also in the FCPS version of GT so her core classes are with kids who care about grades. The thing about public schools is that kids who are interested in academics tend to pick the same classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It entirely depends on the district/school. My kids did private from K and switched to public in middle school. Here are my takeaways:

-Have them do band. It’s fun and takes up a spot to an otherwise undesirable elective would fill.

-remind them to not engage in drama they may see.

-Don’t watch/run toward the fights.
Avoid the kids that are not doing the right things. Mind their own business (unless it is a safety issue, in which case discreetly notify an adult)

-avoid the bathrooms unless it is an emergency

-pack your lunch. Bad food plus long lines.

-be kind and helpful to other kids in class that may be struggling

Overall I think my kids are gaining a lot of empathy for others and appreciation for how we have parented them so far.

This is fantastic. Thank you!!!!!

I’m the PP. Also adding you really need to supplement at home too. Academics in public school are subpar. It is what it is. My child’s “advanced” ELA read two books (that she already read several yrs ago in elementary) the entire year and wrote a one, maybe two 3-paragraph essays. They are 100 percent focused on 1) behavior control and safety 2) getting kids that are far behind to catch up. They are not successful with either though.

I’d focus efforts and math and writing if you have to narrow it down for home study work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It entirely depends on the district/school. My kids did private from K and switched to public in middle school. Here are my takeaways:

-Have them do band. It’s fun and takes up a spot to an otherwise undesirable elective would fill.

-remind them to not engage in drama they may see.

-Don’t watch/run toward the fights.
Avoid the kids that are not doing the right things. Mind their own business (unless it is a safety issue, in which case discreetly notify an adult)

-avoid the bathrooms unless it is an emergency

-pack your lunch. Bad food plus long lines.

-be kind and helpful to other kids in class that may be struggling

Overall I think my kids are gaining a lot of empathy for others and appreciation for how we have parented them so far.

This is fantastic. Thank you!!!!!

I’m the PP. Also adding you really need to supplement at home too. Academics in public school are subpar. It is what it is. My child’s “advanced” ELA read two books (that she already read several yrs ago in elementary) the entire year and wrote a one, maybe two 3-paragraph essays. They are 100 percent focused on 1) behavior control and safety 2) getting kids that are far behind to catch up. They are not successful with either though.

I’d focus efforts and math and writing if you have to narrow it down for home study work.

Do you have evidence to support your assertion that “academics in public school are subpar”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It entirely depends on the district/school. My kids did private from K and switched to public in middle school. Here are my takeaways:

-Have them do band. It’s fun and takes up a spot to an otherwise undesirable elective would fill.

-remind them to not engage in drama they may see.

-Don’t watch/run toward the fights.
Avoid the kids that are not doing the right things. Mind their own business (unless it is a safety issue, in which case discreetly notify an adult)

-avoid the bathrooms unless it is an emergency

-pack your lunch. Bad food plus long lines.

-be kind and helpful to other kids in class that may be struggling

Overall I think my kids are gaining a lot of empathy for others and appreciation for how we have parented them so far.

This is fantastic. Thank you!!!!!

I’m the PP. Also adding you really need to supplement at home too. Academics in public school are subpar. It is what it is. My child’s “advanced” ELA read two books (that she already read several yrs ago in elementary) the entire year and wrote a one, maybe two 3-paragraph essays. They are 100 percent focused on 1) behavior control and safety 2) getting kids that are far behind to catch up. They are not successful with either though.

I’d focus efforts and math and writing if you have to narrow it down for home study work.

Do you have evidence to support your assertion that “academics in public school are subpar”?

Nationally:

26% of 8th graders test proficient in math, per grade level standards

31% of 8th graders test proficient in reading

You can google this to verify. Proficiency varies by district, but the common denominator of the high achieving public school kids is what is happening at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It entirely depends on the district/school. My kids did private from K and switched to public in middle school. Here are my takeaways:

-Have them do band. It’s fun and takes up a spot to an otherwise undesirable elective would fill.

-remind them to not engage in drama they may see.

-Don’t watch/run toward the fights.
Avoid the kids that are not doing the right things. Mind their own business (unless it is a safety issue, in which case discreetly notify an adult)

-avoid the bathrooms unless it is an emergency

-pack your lunch. Bad food plus long lines.

-be kind and helpful to other kids in class that may be struggling

Overall I think my kids are gaining a lot of empathy for others and appreciation for how we have parented them so far.

This is fantastic. Thank you!!!!!

I’m the PP. Also adding you really need to supplement at home too. Academics in public school are subpar. It is what it is. My child’s “advanced” ELA read two books (that she already read several yrs ago in elementary) the entire year and wrote a one, maybe two 3-paragraph essays. They are 100 percent focused on 1) behavior control and safety 2) getting kids that are far behind to catch up. They are not successful with either though.

I’d focus efforts and math and writing if you have to narrow it down for home study work.

Do you have evidence to support your assertion that “academics in public school are subpar”?

Nationally:

26% of 8th graders test proficient in math, per grade level standards

31% of 8th graders test proficient in reading

You can google this to verify. Proficiency varies by district, but the common denominator of the high achieving public school kids is what is happening at home.

This is DCUM…I doubt the poster is going to a school that has these scores.

Certainly there are high performing MS that feed into Whitman or Churchill or Langley, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It entirely depends on the district/school. My kids did private from K and switched to public in middle school. Here are my takeaways:

-Have them do band. It’s fun and takes up a spot to an otherwise undesirable elective would fill.

-remind them to not engage in drama they may see.

-Don’t watch/run toward the fights.
Avoid the kids that are not doing the right things. Mind their own business (unless it is a safety issue, in which case discreetly notify an adult)

-avoid the bathrooms unless it is an emergency

-pack your lunch. Bad food plus long lines.

-be kind and helpful to other kids in class that may be struggling

Overall I think my kids are gaining a lot of empathy for others and appreciation for how we have parented them so far.

This is fantastic. Thank you!!!!!

I’m the PP. Also adding you really need to supplement at home too. Academics in public school are subpar. It is what it is. My child’s “advanced” ELA read two books (that she already read several yrs ago in elementary) the entire year and wrote a one, maybe two 3-paragraph essays. They are 100 percent focused on 1) behavior control and safety 2) getting kids that are far behind to catch up. They are not successful with either though.

I’d focus efforts and math and writing if you have to narrow it down for home study work.

Do you have evidence to support your assertion that “academics in public school are subpar”?

Nationally:

26% of 8th graders test proficient in math, per grade level standards

31% of 8th graders test proficient in reading

You can google this to verify. Proficiency varies by district, but the common denominator of the high achieving public school kids is what is happening at home.

This is DCUM…I doubt the poster is going to a school that has these scores.

Certainly there are high performing MS that feed into Whitman or Churchill or Langley, no?

But the schools are higher performing because of the PARENTS, not what they are doing at school. Public school curriculum is standard throughout the state

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It entirely depends on the district/school. My kids did private from K and switched to public in middle school. Here are my takeaways:

-Have them do band. It’s fun and takes up a spot to an otherwise undesirable elective would fill.

-remind them to not engage in drama they may see.

-Don’t watch/run toward the fights.
Avoid the kids that are not doing the right things. Mind their own business (unless it is a safety issue, in which case discreetly notify an adult)

-avoid the bathrooms unless it is an emergency

-pack your lunch. Bad food plus long lines.

-be kind and helpful to other kids in class that may be struggling

Overall I think my kids are gaining a lot of empathy for others and appreciation for how we have parented them so far.

This is fantastic. Thank you!!!!!

I’m the PP. Also adding you really need to supplement at home too. Academics in public school are subpar. It is what it is. My child’s “advanced” ELA read two books (that she already read several yrs ago in elementary) the entire year and wrote a one, maybe two 3-paragraph essays. They are 100 percent focused on 1) behavior control and safety 2) getting kids that are far behind to catch up. They are not successful with either though.

I’d focus efforts and math and writing if you have to narrow it down for home study work.

Do you have evidence to support your assertion that “academics in public school are subpar”?

Nationally:

26% of 8th graders test proficient in math, per grade level standards

31% of 8th graders test proficient in reading

You can google this to verify. Proficiency varies by district, but the common denominator of the high achieving public school kids is what is happening at home.

This is DCUM…I doubt the poster is going to a school that has these scores.

Certainly there are high performing MS that feed into Whitman or Churchill or Langley, no?

But the schools are higher performing because of the PARENTS, not what they are doing at school. Public school curriculum is standard throughout the state

Is it? I know at Deal in DCPS there are advanced Math levels (through Algebra II), more language offerings, better after school/EC opportunities, etc. not offered at other middle schools.

You won’t find the same at any other DCPS school. I would assume wealthy MCPS and FCPS schools are similarly not the same as less fortunate schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would absolutely never send a private school kid to public middle school. Wait until high school

These are bathrooms at Sherwood HS. From what I understand this is also happening at W schools.