| Our child is zoned for Bayard Rustin, starting Kindergarten. Curious about your experiences at the school if you have children who go there (especially in the lower grades)? While it's a beautiful new school, the class sizes already seem big and I'd be concerned about overcrowding. How do you feel about the teachers and administration? Thank you! |
Class sizes should be the same as in any other standard (not Title I) school |
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Principal is fine, nothing special. Mrs Dubois was amazing, and the current principal learned a lot from her but can't match the way she cared for students & staff, created inclusive environments, and built school spirit.
Teachers are the same as any other school: some great, some OK, a few not-so-hot. |
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Couple great teachers: Mattheeussen in 2nd grade (loved her, truly a gem) and Glass in 5th grade. None of my kids had him, but Gazda (3rd) seems like a student and parent fave as well. And Lightman as well -- he's PE and he runs the safety patrols.
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| We've had a great experience in the school. Make sure to enroll your kid ASAP because if the incoming kindergarten class is big they will need to recruit another teacher over the summer. |
| Our child is about to end third grade and has been there since Kindergarten. We've been very happy there, including with Principal West. There were some crowding issues last year and into the beginning of this year with a lot of people coming back to public school having unenrolled during the pandemic, but Ms. West was able to get more staff and prevent the need for a portable. Meanwhile other schools in the cluster are under enrolled because MCPS doesn't have a good handle on drawing boundaries with new housing development in mind :/ |
| I think there have been a lot of staffing changes since Covid, probably due to change in leadership. |
A lot of teachers left the profession across the country during/after Covid due to burnout, feeling underpaid, etc. That's been as true in MCPS as elsewhere. We've had some staff changes year over year but I wouldn't call it above the norm, and some are folks like the office staff, not teachers. Many of the teachers have been there since the school first opened. Several have also gotten married and changed their names, which could give the impression that someone has been replaced if you're just, say, looking at staff directories. On the whole I get the impression that the majority of teachers are happy with Ms. West and Ms. Goldberg. |
| Thanks everyone for your replies. Appreciate it! |
| It’s da best |
| Was this meant to be a serious reply? |
| Anyone here have experience transitioning to bayard rustin from pep? My son is in a pep class at another school. He is autistic and in a mainstream pep class. Bayard rustin is his home school. We are unsure of whether mcps will recommend that he go to bayard rustin or a learning center, but curious to hear more about special Ed at bre in case that is where he ends up. |
| Did you find more info on how your autistic child will be supported? I’m looking to move to the area (from Canada) and my son will be starting grade 3 (and is autistic also, in typical classroom with light support). Thanks. |
| Not a Bayard Rustin parent but Ms. Goldberg is an absolutely wonderful person. I think any school is lucky to have her. |
| Yes - overcrowded, big class sizes, two portable classrooms outside. |