Are we wrong to leave ACPS?

[Anonymous]

Over the last few years I have read all there is to read about how crappy ACPS is at the middle and HS level. I have read all about the gang activity, the bathrooms, and we know a child who was severely bullied there (and whose mom saw kids having sex on campus on two occasions). It's not great.

AND YET there is a small part of me wondering if what I've seen/read/heard is not accurate and if, in fact, our run-of-the-mill kid can get a great, safe, happy education at GWMS or ACHS? Is what I've been reading just totally biased? Bc a couple thousand kids walk into, and graduate from, these schools every day/year and seem OK.

[Anonymous]

Never take "stories from a mom" as the entire world of what is happening.

The worst incidents get the most press. The kids who go to class, do their work, perform well, graduate and go to college do not make the news or gossip cycle.

[Anonymous]

You just have to do what's right for your child and your family. I personally don't love my child being exposed to the amount of violence in our MS and HS. I too have a friend whose child at GW was so bullied they needed a protective order... and they are not the only ones about which I've heard this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You just have to do what's right for your child and your family. I personally don't love my child being exposed to the amount of violence in our MS and HS. I too have a friend whose child go at GW was so bullied they needed a protective order... and they are not the only ones about which I've heard this.

Your child got a protective order from another child at school? Is this common in public schools?

[Anonymous]

If you don’t think 40% of the kids at episcopal high school arent bumping uglies you are naïve

[Anonymous]

We moved when our eldest got to MS. I can think of one or two families that stayed within ACPS - and dozens who moved or went private.

[Anonymous]

Due to “Privacy laws” I believe parents only get informed of 20% of the crazy stuff that goes on in schools.

[Anonymous]

My child doesn't feel unsafe, but that doesn't mean that you are wrong to leave. The issues I have experienced in ACPS are very different from the ones that get the most focus here. There is just total disorganization, no teachers for numerous classes at the high school, and constant issues with IEP/504 compliance. That alone is a good reason to leave if you can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t think 40% of the kids at episcopal high school arent bumping uglies you are naïve

OP here - I never said "the horror of high schoolers having sex! I can't believe it!" And don't make this a public vs private thing, either, it has nothing to do with that.

What I said was: kids were having sex on campus, visibly in the parking lot, during school hours. That seems like an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child doesn't feel unsafe, but that doesn't mean that you are wrong to leave. The issues I have experienced in ACPS are very different from the ones that get the most focus here. There is just total disorganization, no teachers for numerous classes at the high school, and constant issues with IEP/504 compliance. That alone is a good reason to leave if you can.

OP again. This is also a big concern particularly as my eldest and youngest both have IEPs and are in some special ed classes. Elementary school services have been insufficient in terms of quantity BUT the providers have been absolutely wonderful, so I can't complain at all about that. But organizationally it just seems like a mess and I figure once things get more complicated, we have the safety issue AND the organization issue. We are in a neighborhood we love and can't afford private, so it will be hard to leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved when our eldest got to MS. I can think of one or two families that stayed within ACPS - and dozens who moved or went private.

PP did you move districts or to a private school? If public, do you mind sharing where and what your impressions have been so far?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child doesn't feel unsafe, but that doesn't mean that you are wrong to leave. The issues I have experienced in ACPS are very different from the ones that get the most focus here. There is just total disorganization, no teachers for numerous classes at the high school, and constant issues with IEP/504 compliance. That alone is a good reason to leave if you can.

OP again. This is also a big concern particularly as my eldest and youngest both have IEPs and are in some special ed classes. Elementary school services have been insufficient in terms of quantity BUT the providers have been absolutely wonderful, so I can't complain at all about that. But organizationally it just seems like a mess and I figure once things get more complicated, we have the safety issue AND the organization issue. We are in a neighborhood we love and can't afford private, so it will be hard to leave.

If you can't afford private, can you afford to move to an area where the public schools wouldn't have the issues you mention? I think large public shools in most areas are going to have similar issues.

[Anonymous]

I graduated from ACPS (admittedly, 20 years ago now) and I’ve been a teacher there for a while. I think that I got a good education and that most typical kids can, too, if they are motivated. Lots of kids from ACPS go on to good colleges, including Ivies. I went to a top state school and did well. Yes, there have been some concerning incidents at the schools, but if your kid stays out of the drama, they will be fine. I wouldn’t worry about ACPS if your kid is neurotypical and generally well behaved.

However, I have a completely different opinion when it comes to serving kids with special needs. I have taught an inclusion class for years and I’m disturbed by how under resourced special education services are and the way kids with behavior problems and learning issues are tracked together all day. My own kid has significant disabilities, and there was no way I was sending them to ACPS. We moved out of the district.

[Anonymous]

We have many friends whose kids go seemingly with zero issues. However, there are perfect kids. I mean no LD, no social issues, strong family environment. I personally don't know how the kids are able to get through it and they definitely see a lot of things my kids on private MS do not. Mine are very happy and are doing great but yes, it's a price tag involved. The friends they have who are in MS at GW seem to def troubled by the environment at one time or another but to the degree it impacts them, their parents seem not to be concerned. Personally I would never let my kids go through that but knowing these families I also know they are good parents. The other consideration is the grade impacts their experience since each grade has different floors for the most part. If your grade is more problematic or less, your kid may be OK on more days than not. We know a family who had such a nightmare 6th grade experience they will not be going public in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Over the last few years I have read all there is to read about how crappy ACPS is at the middle and HS level. I have read all about the gang activity, the bathrooms, and we know a child who was severely bullied there (and whose mom saw kids having sex on campus on two occasions). It's not great.

AND YET there is a small part of me wondering if what I've seen/read/heard is not accurate and if, in fact, our run-of-the-mill kid can get a great, safe, happy education at GWMS or ACHS? Is what I've been reading just totally biased? Bc a couple thousand kids walk into, and graduate from, these schools every day/year and seem OK.

Denial is a hell of a drug.