Overwhelmed with moving to MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Historical Inquiries in Global Humanities in sixth and seventh is a farce at some schools. For example at Pyle, they dropped it being a separate class for this last 6th grade class. Was told by the principal and head of history that all kids will be mixed, and they will differentiate at kid level. Definitely didn’t happen with 34 kids in the class. Our child’s report card said she had it, she didn’t in reality. What was really crazy, this wasn’t common knowledge. A parent with older kids figured it out and only upon direct questions was it confirmed. MCPS is all about hiding the ball these days.

It was a fantastic course at our MS. In fact, one of the only to come close to the rigor DC had back in CES.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We are considering a move to MCPS from a small school district in the PNW. I am incredibly overwhelmed with all the schools and options.

I have one kid in middle school and one in elementary. Both are neurodivergent. Older kid is a high performer in all areas; was in the gifted program in her previous district. Younger kid is strong in math, not reading, and has other special needs.

It seems we are too late to get into magnet programs, and it’s difficult to find out about the honors and elective offerings for middle school.

I’m trying to decide what areas to focus on and I’m overwhelmed. We don’t have the budget for the top-performing areas. I keep finding articles about fights and drugs and weapons, and I’m nervous about safety.

Which schools or areas should I look into?

Some areas we are considering based on current research are:
-Takoma Park
-Four Corners
-Olney
-Damascus
-Clarksburg
-Urbana (not in MCPS and would be a longer than ideal commute, but seems to have a strong school system with less red-tape to navigate)

You must be kidding!

No to Damascus and olney and Clarksburg. All are too maga morons.

Look you want good schools W clusters or possibly Quince Orchid.

Otherwise move to Howard county. Better schools at this moment in time.

+1

Clarksburg too maga???? Clearly you don’t know anything about the Clarksburg area. Clarksburg is so diverse.

Yeah, that comment is asinine. So many ignorant people here.

Someone confusing Clarksburg with Damascus again.

The distinction isn't all that significant to me.

Then you have no room to comment since it's clear you're ignorant on this topic.

Nah, they're very similar but I'd leave the hair splitting to the locals.

Good! Just stay out because you can’t keep up with the ever-changing demographics in MOCO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pyle can be problematic because so many parents are pushy and demand their child get into the highest level of classes even if it's not a good match for their child. It happens at the feeder elementary schools in the same way. When they started the faster track for years ago for 4/5 math the parents of the kids who did not make the cut argued and argued until they wore down the principal at our school and it went from one out of 5 classes to 4 out of 5 classes being the accelerated track.

Pyle is problematic for a lot of reasons, least of all the parents.
Its grossly over crowded
The principal and his AP are dolts without any backbone
The teachers of World Histories are a total mess and some of the science teachers as well.
However, the foreign language teachers are amazing as are some of the math and English teachers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pyle can be problematic because so many parents are pushy and demand their child get into the highest level of classes even if it's not a good match for their child. It happens at the feeder elementary schools in the same way. When they started the faster track for years ago for 4/5 math the parents of the kids who did not make the cut argued and argued until they wore down the principal at our school and it went from one out of 5 classes to 4 out of 5 classes being the accelerated track.

Pyle is problematic for a lot of reasons, least of all the parents.
Its grossly over crowded
The principal and his AP are dolts without any backbone
The teachers of World Histories are a total mess and some of the science teachers as well.
However, the foreign language teachers are amazing as are some of the math and English teachers

Pyle is not overcrowded at all. It has over 200 seats available.

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/cipmasterpdfs/MP25_Chapter4Whitman.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pyle can be problematic because so many parents are pushy and demand their child get into the highest level of classes even if it's not a good match for their child. It happens at the feeder elementary schools in the same way. When they started the faster track for years ago for 4/5 math the parents of the kids who did not make the cut argued and argued until they wore down the principal at our school and it went from one out of 5 classes to 4 out of 5 classes being the accelerated track.

Pyle is problematic for a lot of reasons, least of all the parents.
Its grossly over crowded
The principal and his AP are dolts without any backbone
The teachers of World Histories are a total mess and some of the science teachers as well.
However, the foreign language teachers are amazing as are some of the math and English teachers

Pyle is not overcrowded at all. It has over 200 seats available.

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/cipmasterpdfs/MP25_Chapter4Whitman.pdf

The stats at our school say there are 22 students to a classroom. We've never had less than w9 but it is usually 30, 31. Fudging numbers is mcps sport

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pyle can be problematic because so many parents are pushy and demand their child get into the highest level of classes even if it's not a good match for their child. It happens at the feeder elementary schools in the same way. When they started the faster track for years ago for 4/5 math the parents of the kids who did not make the cut argued and argued until they wore down the principal at our school and it went from one out of 5 classes to 4 out of 5 classes being the accelerated track.

Pyle is problematic for a lot of reasons, least of all the parents.
Its grossly over crowded
The principal and his AP are dolts without any backbone
The teachers of World Histories are a total mess and some of the science teachers as well.
However, the foreign language teachers are amazing as are some of the math and English teachers

Pyle is not overcrowded at all. It has over 200 seats available.

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/cipmasterpdfs/MP25_Chapter4Whitman.pdf

The stats at our school say there are 22 students to a classroom. We've never had less than w9 but it is usually 30, 31. Fudging numbers is mcps sport

When you account for a whole school, with all sorts of classrooms - some with very low numbers, you can get lower average numbers. I'm guessing you don't have a SN kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pyle can be problematic because so many parents are pushy and demand their child get into the highest level of classes even if it's not a good match for their child. It happens at the feeder elementary schools in the same way. When they started the faster track for years ago for 4/5 math the parents of the kids who did not make the cut argued and argued until they wore down the principal at our school and it went from one out of 5 classes to 4 out of 5 classes being the accelerated track.

Pyle is problematic for a lot of reasons, least of all the parents.
Its grossly over crowded
The principal and his AP are dolts without any backbone
The teachers of World Histories are a total mess and some of the science teachers as well.
However, the foreign language teachers are amazing as are some of the math and English teachers

Pyle is not overcrowded at all. It has over 200 seats available.

https://gis.mcpsmd.org/cipmasterpdfs/MP25_Chapter4Whitman.pdf

It is very telling that from that long list of quite serious criticisms, the only one you attempt to refute is the over-crowding.
Frankly that makes it sound like a terrible place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Four corners is good for ES. Pinecrest ES is excellent. Eastern MS' great strength is its magnet. Takoma Park has city and county taxes - be prepared to pay on that score if that is a concern. TPES and Piney Branch ES are good, but overcrowded. Takoma Park MS is excellent.

I don't know much about the other areas.

Am I correct in my understanding that kids who are zoned for the school but not in the magnet do not have access to the magnet classes? So it’s almost like two “schools” in one building?

People will say no! Of course not! But actually yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Four corners is good for ES. Pinecrest ES is excellent. Eastern MS' great strength is its magnet. Takoma Park has city and county taxes - be prepared to pay on that score if that is a concern. TPES and Piney Branch ES are good, but overcrowded. Takoma Park MS is excellent.

I don't know much about the other areas.

Am I correct in my understanding that kids who are zoned for the school but not in the magnet do not have access to the magnet classes? So it’s almost like two “schools” in one building?

People will say no! Of course not! But actually yes.

Not sure how that is possible when Smac classes are only 4/8 spots on the day. English,SS,Languages and electives are all out of the magnet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Four corners is good for ES. Pinecrest ES is excellent. Eastern MS' great strength is its magnet. Takoma Park has city and county taxes - be prepared to pay on that score if that is a concern. TPES and Piney Branch ES are good, but overcrowded. Takoma Park MS is excellent.

I don't know much about the other areas.

Am I correct in my understanding that kids who are zoned for the school but not in the magnet do not have access to the magnet classes? So it’s almost like two “schools” in one building?

People will say no! Of course not! But actually yes.

Not sure how that is possible when Smac classes are only 4/8 spots on the day. English,SS,Languages and electives are all out of the magnet.

Also nonmagnet kids do have access to elective classes when space is available.