What matters more test scores or safety?

[Anonymous]

I feel like in mcps the eastern schools always get a bad rap as not being “ good schools” while the schools in the western part are seen as good schools. All this is based on SES and test scores as we all know. But with the recent uptick in violence and drug issues in the “ good schools” which don’t seem to be happening in the “ not good school” why is everyone still worshiping the good schools? Doesn’t make sense. I personally think my kids mental and physical well being is more important than appearance of going to a good school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like in mcps the eastern schools always get a bad rap as not being “ good schools” while the schools in the western part are seen as good schools. All this is based on SES and test scores as we all know. But with the recent uptick in violence and drug issues in the “ good schools” which don’t seem to be happening in the “ not good school” why is everyone still worshiping the good schools? Doesn’t make sense. I personally think my kids mental and physical well being is more important than appearance of going to a good school.

Huh? Who said drug use and violence are not seeing upticks in the "not good schools" in east county? That's definitely not the case for us in the DCC. It's been a nightmare.

[Anonymous]

drug use is up everywhere even in the W schools. The only safe bet is homeschool because there is drug use even in private schools.

[Anonymous]

Not all western schools are considered good schools. Only w schools and feeder ES/MSs.

[Anonymous]

Drug/weapon/racial issues at W schools will get a lot of press BECAUSE they are in wealthy districts, and people love to rag on the rich, OP.

Sadly there are issues in every MCPS school. The only differentiator is neighborhood HHI. The higher it is, the better the school has to be, because those parents will not hesitate to pressure the Principal to hire good teachers and provide enough AP courses. They will provide enrichment and tutoring to their kids outside of school, which also makes the school's academic job a little easier.

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard good things about Paint Branch HS recently, in our neighborhood. Haven’t seen a lot of police presence there either. Sounds like a good school to me regarding programs available so why isn’t it a good school for dcum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like in mcps the eastern schools always get a bad rap as not being “ good schools” while the schools in the western part are seen as good schools. All this is based on SES and test scores as we all know. But with the recent uptick in violence and drug issues in the “ good schools” which don’t seem to be happening in the “ not good school” why is everyone still worshiping the good schools? Doesn’t make sense. I personally think my kids mental and physical well being is more important than appearance of going to a good school.

Many people know better and realize that student test scores are a function of the student's parents and home life more than anything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drug/weapon/racial issues at W schools will get a lot of press BECAUSE they are in wealthy districts, and people love to rag on the rich, OP.

Sadly there are issues in every MCPS school. The only differentiator is neighborhood HHI. The higher it is, the better the school has to be, because those parents will not hesitate to pressure the Principal to hire good teachers and provide enough AP courses. They will provide enrichment and tutoring to their kids outside of school, which also makes the school's academic job a little easier.

It's also common at those wealthy schools for parents to pressure teachers to inflate grades and dumb down classes to ensure their precious children get a's no matter what.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drug/weapon/racial issues at W schools will get a lot of press BECAUSE they are in wealthy districts, and people love to rag on the rich, OP.

Sadly there are issues in every MCPS school. The only differentiator is neighborhood HHI. The higher it is, the better the school has to be, because those parents will not hesitate to pressure the Principal to hire good teachers and provide enough AP courses. They will provide enrichment and tutoring to their kids outside of school, which also makes the school's academic job a little easier.

wealthy schools are able to sweep issues under the rug.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve heard good things about Paint Branch HS recently, in our neighborhood. Haven’t seen a lot of police presence there either. Sounds like a good school to me regarding programs available so why isn’t it a good school for dcum?

It’s an ok school considering it is mostly black, farms kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drug/weapon/racial issues at W schools will get a lot of press BECAUSE they are in wealthy districts, and people love to rag on the rich, OP.

Sadly there are issues in every MCPS school. The only differentiator is neighborhood HHI. The higher it is, the better the school has to be, because those parents will not hesitate to pressure the Principal to hire good teachers and provide enough AP courses. They will provide enrichment and tutoring to their kids outside of school, which also makes the school's academic job a little easier.

wealthy schools are able to sweep issues under the rug.

They never do, though. The communities are super woke and like to examine their failings publicly and flog themselves about it. I live in Bethesda and have witnessed this many times over, for anti-semitic signs at school, unruly behavior, slurs in the corridor, and now the televised meeting at BCC over drugs in bathrooms. It’s exhausting, but people think public assemblies and class explorations of racial equity are the only way to address the issues. Meanwhile, my friend decided to homeschool her kid from Sligo MS in Silver Spring because racial discrimination against her kid went unaddressed by the school. I only had to contact the Principal ONCE at Bethesda ES for an instance of bullying and the boy in question gets an escort in and out of class.

They do not sweep under the rug. There issues are better addressed in wealthy schools, even if sometimes it’s over the top and sometimes it’s not enough. They always make an effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not all western schools are considered good schools. Only w schools and feeder ES/MSs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drug/weapon/racial issues at W schools will get a lot of press BECAUSE they are in wealthy districts, and people love to rag on the rich, OP.

Sadly there are issues in every MCPS school. The only differentiator is neighborhood HHI. The higher it is, the better the school has to be, because those parents will not hesitate to pressure the Principal to hire good teachers and provide enough AP courses. They will provide enrichment and tutoring to their kids outside of school, which also makes the school's academic job a little easier.

It's also common at those wealthy schools for parents to pressure teachers to inflate grades and dumb down classes to ensure their precious children get a's no matter what.

Which is why those kids at wealthy schools score so much lower on any standardized measure of academic achievement? Ummm... no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drug/weapon/racial issues at W schools will get a lot of press BECAUSE they are in wealthy districts, and people love to rag on the rich, OP.

Sadly there are issues in every MCPS school. The only differentiator is neighborhood HHI. The higher it is, the better the school has to be, because those parents will not hesitate to pressure the Principal to hire good teachers and provide enough AP courses. They will provide enrichment and tutoring to their kids outside of school, which also makes the school's academic job a little easier.

It's also common at those wealthy schools for parents to pressure teachers to inflate grades and dumb down classes to ensure their precious children get a's no matter what.

Grade inflation is the same everywhere, but wealthy kids get tutors to help them understand the material, so they get better grades in school. There are way more AP courses offered in wealthy schools than others. Because again, these kids can handle it, given the pressure and support they have at home, and family focus to get into the best colleges. This is a highly education-driven community. The downside is the PRESSURE. A book was written about Whitman students and the pressure they were under, by an alumna: "The Overachievers; the secret lives of driven kids", by Alexandra Robbins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drug/weapon/racial issues at W schools will get a lot of press BECAUSE they are in wealthy districts, and people love to rag on the rich, OP.

Sadly there are issues in every MCPS school. The only differentiator is neighborhood HHI. The higher it is, the better the school has to be, because those parents will not hesitate to pressure the Principal to hire good teachers and provide enough AP courses. They will provide enrichment and tutoring to their kids outside of school, which also makes the school's academic job a little easier.

It's also common at those wealthy schools for parents to pressure teachers to inflate grades and dumb down classes to ensure their precious children get a's no matter what.

Grade inflation is the same everywhere, but wealthy kids get tutors to help them understand the material, so they get better grades in school. There are way more AP courses offered in wealthy schools than others. Because again, these kids can handle it, given the pressure and support they have at home, and family focus to get into the best colleges. This is a highly education-driven community. The downside is the PRESSURE. A book was written about Whitman students and the pressure they were under, by an alumna: "The Overachievers; the secret lives of driven kids", by Alexandra Robbins.

They're wealthy families throughout the county that prioritize education. Some schools have greater SES diversity and that's reflected in their test score. Averages. Nevertheless, if a school offers four sections of AP English and another offers two sections of AP English, the same student can get the same quality education at either school.