If you got reassigned to Seneca Valley HS and Neelsville MS

[Anonymous]

Can you tell me what the experience this year has been like? Our oldest is in 5th grade and we're debating if we should give Neelsville a try or move. If we move, we need to move this summer. So many people on DCUM and in general were calling out the families who were adamantly against getting moved to these schools but now that we've had almost one year of students being in-person, I'd like to hear from families (or who knows of a family) who gave it a go at either one of these schools. Please let me know if your experience has been positive/negative, if you plan on staying put, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you tell me what the experience this year has been like? Our oldest is in 5th grade and we're debating if we should give Neelsville a try or move. If we move, we need to move this summer. So many people on DCUM and in general were calling out the families who were adamantly against getting moved to these schools but now that we've had almost one year of students being in-person, I'd like to hear from families (or who knows of a family) who gave it a go at either one of these schools. Please let me know if your experience has been positive/negative, if you plan on staying put, etc.

There's little or no difference between these schools despite what some people may suggest. The same kid will do the same at any of them. They have the same teachers and curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you tell me what the experience this year has been like? Our oldest is in 5th grade and we're debating if we should give Neelsville a try or move. If we move, we need to move this summer. So many people on DCUM and in general were calling out the families who were adamantly against getting moved to these schools but now that we've had almost one year of students being in-person, I'd like to hear from families (or who knows of a family) who gave it a go at either one of these schools. Please let me know if your experience has been positive/negative, if you plan on staying put, etc.

There's little or no difference between these schools despite what some people may suggest. The same kid will do the same at any of them. They have the same teachers and curriculum.

This is such a boiler-plate response. If you have direct experience, please share, but this is not helpful at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you tell me what the experience this year has been like? Our oldest is in 5th grade and we're debating if we should give Neelsville a try or move. If we move, we need to move this summer. So many people on DCUM and in general were calling out the families who were adamantly against getting moved to these schools but now that we've had almost one year of students being in-person, I'd like to hear from families (or who knows of a family) who gave it a go at either one of these schools. Please let me know if your experience has been positive/negative, if you plan on staying put, etc.

There are major problems at Neelsville school to meet basic needs such as adequate ventilation and bathrooms etc. When students struggle with these issues, they will not be able to focus on anything else.
Several parents moved or remained virtual.

[Anonymous]

Teaching itself is also an issue due to lack of motivation and commitment and you see that in the ratings. School is at the bottom of the list.

[Anonymous]

Following. My daughter will be attending Neelsville in 4 years, and I hope they make improvements to the infrastructure before then. Honestly not looking forward to it.

[Anonymous]

Neelsville will be getting a new principal this coming summer, and a new building in 2024, so there will be some major changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teaching itself is also an issue due to lack of motivation and commitment and you see that in the ratings. School is at the bottom of the list.

Nope, it all starts at home and with a good peer group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teaching itself is also an issue due to lack of motivation and commitment and you see that in the ratings. School is at the bottom of the list.

Ah the classic blame the teachers. I bet you could replace the entire staff at these schools and you would get the exact same standardized test results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you tell me what the experience this year has been like? Our oldest is in 5th grade and we're debating if we should give Neelsville a try or move. If we move, we need to move this summer. So many people on DCUM and in general were calling out the families who were adamantly against getting moved to these schools but now that we've had almost one year of students being in-person, I'd like to hear from families (or who knows of a family) who gave it a go at either one of these schools. Please let me know if your experience has been positive/negative, if you plan on staying put, etc.

Talked to few parents. All said it was fine aside from Neelsville needing a new school building.

[Anonymous]

How about Seneca Valley? I'm a bit nervous about the multiple lockdowns they experienced this year. I know that the neighborhood it's in is not the best so even that is making me question things.

[Anonymous]

I have a 10th grader at Seneca and a 7th grader at Neelsville. We were redistricted from Rocky Hill and Clarksburg HS.
Neelsville has been an amazing experience for my 7th grader. The vast majority of her teachers have been excellent and have worked so hard to build and nurture relationships with her. It really seems like most Neelsville teachers want to be there and serve the Neelsville student community. They are a committed bunch, as talented as the Rocky Hill staff (and I LOVED Rocky Hill - amazing school for my 2 oldest). My child struggled in reading for most of elementary. Multiple Neelsville teachers quickly noticed and identified her struggles, even over Zoom. Within a few weeks of her returning to the building Q4 of 6th grade the Neelsville staff had her tested at MCPS expense (we had to privately pay for testing in elementary) and she was granted an IEP for reading challenges. Her reading level jumped from a 4th grade level to on grade level in one year thanks to their excellent teaching. Her case manager is incredible too. The teachers are so dedicated. My daughter LOVES Neelsville and is proud to go there. Yes, the building is old but my daughter says “who cares”. None of her friends seem to care either when I’ve asked them about it - it is only parents I have ever heard complain about the building. Speaking of friends - my child enjoys the vast majority of her classmates a lot. It seems overall to be a school where the students generally get along which is all I can really hope for during the generally awful middle school years. Admin is incredibly responsive and I have much hope the new principal will carry on the great legacy Vicky Parcan is leaving. Neelsville is a wonderful place.
Seneca has been more of a mixed bag. The many fights, the bomb threats, the lockdowns during the fall semester really spooked my son. He was afraid to go to school for a few weeks when things were really bad. I thought Dr Cohen responded well to the situation - he is active on the parent FB page, sent multiple detailed emails explaining plans for moving ahead, and very quickly organized a town hall for parents to address concerns. He responded as well as I could have hoped. Since winter break, things have been quiet and stable. No more bomb threats or lockdowns. Student fights still occur every so often (not daily anymore) but that is true at other MCPS high schools too. (Our oldest is a Clarksburg HS graduate - fights happened there too). The parent community is really strong at Seneca as is the PTSA and parents are proud of the school. There are dads who regularly volunteer during lunch “the dad squad” so there are extra eyes on students and extra adult presence to keep everything orderly while 1000+ teenagers are roaming around. I love that parents give their time at the high school level to do that! My son has had some amazing teachers at Seneca and some not so great ones. But again - will be true at any high school. Overall, we are happy with Seneca, which is fortunate since we have 2 more kids going there in future years.
I encourage families to give these schools a chance. Especially Neelsville. The people who badmouth these schools - I’m skeptical they have actually had a child attend these schools. I think you will be very surprised with the greatness within!

[Anonymous]

Former teacher at Neelsville here. I left 8 years ago, so my experience isn’t recent. A new principal could help a lot, because the current principal was very absent my time there. Many kids had high needs and very little support at home. We surveyed the students and a high percentage said they were scared at school. It was very stressful for teachers to do a good job and care for so many high needs kids. I had 38 students in a special ed course. If I had the choice, I wouldn’t send my children there. However, my experience isn’t completely recent.

[Anonymous]

I’m so sorry for your experience there. 8 years is a long time (8th grade current Neelsville Students were in Kindergarten and current 6th and 7th graders were preschoolers) and with the redistricting, the student population is quite different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Neelsville will be getting a new principal this coming summer, and a new building in 2024, so there will be some major changes.

What about new teachers? Aademic focus does not exist there.