Why are the East County schools the way they are?
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Anonymous
| High FARMS rate, huge discipline issues, failing infrastructure—and before you guys say anything, I sent my kid to Briggs Chaney, so I have experience. I pulled him out for private after three months. It was a zoo and still is, from what I hear. The local high schools are also bad, even from what I hear from neighbors. If you guys have any insights, let me know. I’ve always wondered. |
Anonymous
| It's no longer your concern. |
Anonymous
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Because they are majority-minority and MCPS doesn't care about the outcomes or experiences for students and families in those schools.
Also, parents at those schools have historically not organized formally. They have weak or non-existent PTAs, which are supposed to be the formal mechanism for parent engagement and school improvement. It's a sad situation and unfortunately, I don't believe MCPS cares to improve it. |
Anonymous
Those are not East County-specific concerns. |
Anonymous
| Redlining determined the residential patterns of concentrated poverty. Kids living in concentrated poverty face more challenges than any school system can effectively address. Right now, these schools are doing their best. |
Anonymous
| Because MCPS doesn't give them the resources they need. |
Anonymous
It's not just resources. These schools also suffer from poor leadership. Many of the principals in these schools are inexperienced, corrupt or complacent, with the exception of Blair, which has always been the exception to the norm in the DCC/NEC. |
Anonymous
| Schools are a reflection of the parents in the neighborhood. |
Anonymous
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Socio-economics, OP. I used to live in Silver Spring and moved to Bethesda for the schools and a shorter work commute. The degree of wealth and education is not the same. East MoCo has more populations than West MoCo who lack the background, education, money or time to insist that their kids do their homework and pay attention to their teachers. There are lots of special needs that go undiagnosed and untreated, due to parental ignorance and lack of funds, and which contribute to classroom disruptions. In communities where education is not held to the stratospheric standards of the rich, it makes it harder for those families who do prioritize it, because classroom atmosphere is not conducive to learning.
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Anonymous
It's this. The impoverished schools actually receive more resources from the federal government, not less. It's not the teachers or the admin, it's the kids and parents/families. |
Anonymous
+1. What many studies have proven time and again and organizations is that minority parents DO want their kids to succeed in school. However often there are systems in place that require understanding and time to navigate if one wishes for their child to be in the best place for success. Ask why is it in the same district some schools have homework and others don’t. Some English classes complete a novel or more per quarter and some might not complete any a year. Some ES school websites are full of information about the new ELA program (CKLA) and others have nothing. Yes there does need to be parenting going on at home, but high expectations of students and what school is supposed to deliver should be present across the entire district regardless of school or location. Additionally there is history to contend with and the idea that major minority schools are somehow lesser. |
Anonymous
Wrong. Let's take Churchill vs Einstein. Einstein has a student:staff ratio of 11.2. Churchill has a ratio of 12.8. In fact, Churchill has about 10% (200) more students than Einstein, but fewer professional (teaching) staff. Churchill has 145 while Einstein has 157. https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04602.pdf https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04789.pdf |
Anonymous
Because you can't fix poverty or family issues in schools. You can try your best, and I think MCPS does try its best... but pervasive socio-economic differences cannot be erased with school services and accommodations. |
Anonymous
You left out desire of parents to prioritize their children's education. My elementary-aged kids like to visit libraries all over MoCo, so we've been doing this for years. We've probably been to 80% of all libraries in the county. One pattern I noticed in the kids section no matter where we go -- the vast majority of kids there are white or Asian, even when the demographics of the surrounding area is not like that. It's not a cost thing. Libraries are free, open long hours (all are open as I write this, in fact), and many are easily accessibly by public transportation. All MCPS students can ride Ride-On for free. Of course, going to libraries is not required, and there are many other activities children can do to improve their knowledge, but we see this consistently on our library trips and it seems like a sign. |
Anonymous
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The county concentrated all the pools in one area. A lot of them depend on the schools to do the parents job. Parents do not care to be involved with anything happening at the school. I know because u was a sub in that area and have lived there for 20
Years. I am a stones throw away from Briggs Chaney ms and refused to send my kids there. Shelled out for private. The schools don’t allow discipline and the parents can’t be bothered so this is what you get. |