Is Julius West or Tilden better as a middle school?

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I have heard horrible things about Tilden- bad principal, teachers quitting, and lots of bullying/fighting. Is this still true? Can I get parents from both Julius West and Tilden to chime in on the following on which middle school is better? We are debating to move...my son is in 5th grade and will be going to middle school in 2024

Both schools
1. Are the teachers good?
2. Is there a lot of bullying/fighting?
3. Do your kids feel safe?
4. Is the principal good?
5. Any other comments or suggestions?

Thank you in advance!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi,

I have heard horrible things about Tilden- bad principal, teachers quitting, and lots of bullying/fighting. Is this still true? Can I get parents from both Julius West and Tilden to chime in on the following on which middle school is better? We are debating to move...my son is in 5th grade and will be going to middle school in 2024

Both schools
1. Are the teachers good?
2. Is there a lot of bullying/fighting?
3. Do your kids feel safe?
4. Is the principal good?
5. Any other comments or suggestions?

Thank you in advance!

Splitting hairs here. They're both about the same as any MCPS MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi,

I have heard horrible things about Tilden- bad principal, teachers quitting, and lots of bullying/fighting. Is this still true? Can I get parents from both Julius West and Tilden to chime in on the following on which middle school is better? We are debating to move...my son is in 5th grade and will be going to middle school in 2024

Both schools
1. Are the teachers good?
2. Is there a lot of bullying/fighting?
3. Do your kids feel safe?
4. Is the principal good?
5. Any other comments or suggestions?

Thank you in advance!

Splitting hairs here. They're both about the same as any MCPS MS.

Disagree. Tilden has some very specific social issues not seen at other MCPS MS. That said, race-based bullying of a friend’s daughter was so severe at JW that she left MCPS entirely for private school and then HCPS the following year. And my friend worked in central office at the time. The perpetrators’ ADHD made them untouchable in the eyes of JW admin.

[Anonymous]

Based on the 2023 staff climate survey, teachers at Julius West are significantly happier at Julius West. But it doesn't seem like West is amazing either. https://sharedaccountability.mcpsmd.org/SurveyResults/content.php

[Anonymous]

JWMS has great teachers under a principal who is dedicated to equity in my experience - while I've heard much more about social issues that happen at Tilden like racism that goes unchecked from the teachers there. I think all schools have a level of unhappiness post covid but if I had the choice, I'd go with JWMS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi,

I have heard horrible things about Tilden- bad principal, teachers quitting, and lots of bullying/fighting. Is this still true? Can I get parents from both Julius West and Tilden to chime in on the following on which middle school is better? We are debating to move...my son is in 5th grade and will be going to middle school in 2024

Both schools
1. Are the teachers good?
2. Is there a lot of bullying/fighting?
3. Do your kids feel safe?
4. Is the principal good?
5. Any other comments or suggestions?

Thank you in advance!

Splitting hairs here. They're both about the same as any MCPS MS.

Not true. Tilden is much worse than most MCPS Middle schools. But this poster is so afraid someone will say a W feeder is better they have to jump in immediately with the all the schools are the same talking point. Tilden is awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi,

I have heard horrible things about Tilden- bad principal, teachers quitting, and lots of bullying/fighting. Is this still true? Can I get parents from both Julius West and Tilden to chime in on the following on which middle school is better? We are debating to move...my son is in 5th grade and will be going to middle school in 2024

Both schools
1. Are the teachers good?
2. Is there a lot of bullying/fighting?
3. Do your kids feel safe?
4. Is the principal good?
5. Any other comments or suggestions?

Thank you in advance!

Splitting hairs here. They're both about the same as any MCPS MS.

Disagree. Tilden has some very specific social issues not seen at other MCPS MS. That said, race-based bullying of a friend’s daughter was so severe at JW that she left MCPS entirely for private school and then HCPS the following year. And my friend worked in central office at the time. The perpetrators’ ADHD made them untouchable in the eyes of JW admin.

Nah, the PP was right It's splitting hairs. The same kid will do the same at any of these schools. The differences have more to do with their homelife and parental education level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi,

I have heard horrible things about Tilden- bad principal, teachers quitting, and lots of bullying/fighting. Is this still true? Can I get parents from both Julius West and Tilden to chime in on the following on which middle school is better? We are debating to move...my son is in 5th grade and will be going to middle school in 2024

Both schools
1. Are the teachers good?
2. Is there a lot of bullying/fighting?
3. Do your kids feel safe?
4. Is the principal good?
5. Any other comments or suggestions?

Thank you in advance!

Splitting hairs here. They're both about the same as any MCPS MS.

Disagree. Tilden has some very specific social issues not seen at other MCPS MS. That said, race-based bullying of a friend’s daughter was so severe at JW that she left MCPS entirely for private school and then HCPS the following year. And my friend worked in central office at the time. The perpetrators’ ADHD made them untouchable in the eyes of JW admin.

Nah, the PP was right It's splitting hairs. The same kid will do the same at any of these schools. The differences have more to do with their homelife and parental education level.

Families move within MCPS and see differences.

[Anonymous]

We had a horrible experience at Julius West. I’d stay away if you have the choice.

[Anonymous]

Julius West is fine. There are definitely troubled kids there who skip class, start fights, vape -- but that is true in just about every middle school. I would like the principal and administration to be more focused on addressing the real problems as opposed to confiscating hoodies and phones in the hallway but I also understand that the ridiculous restorative justice program limits their ability to actually crack down on harmful behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Julius West is fine. There are definitely troubled kids there who skip class, start fights, vape -- but that is true in just about every middle school. I would like the principal and administration to be more focused on addressing the real problems as opposed to confiscating hoodies and phones in the hallway but I also understand that the ridiculous restorative justice program limits their ability to actually crack down on harmful behavior.

Vaping in MS now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Julius West is fine. There are definitely troubled kids there who skip class, start fights, vape -- but that is true in just about every middle school. I would like the principal and administration to be more focused on addressing the real problems as opposed to confiscating hoodies and phones in the hallway but I also understand that the ridiculous restorative justice program limits their ability to actually crack down on harmful behavior.

Vaping in MS now?

They’re starting even before MS now. We had issues with vaping last year at Twinbrook ES. Principal sent home a note.

Twinbrook feeds into West MS so it’s not surprising.

[Anonymous]

Tilden is awful. Its always leadership down, in my opinion. Some teachers are bigger bullies then the kids. Teachers are more into drama then the actual middle schoolers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Julius West is fine. There are definitely troubled kids there who skip class, start fights, vape -- but that is true in just about every middle school. I would like the principal and administration to be more focused on addressing the real problems as opposed to confiscating hoodies and phones in the hallway but I also understand that the ridiculous restorative justice program limits their ability to actually crack down on harmful behavior.

Vaping in MS now?

Vaping in ES! Twinbrook ES (in the JW cluster) has had issues with kids vaping.

[Anonymous]

MS is the weakest link MCPS.

-former JWMS parent