NEC cluster or private?

[Anonymous]

I’m moving to this cluster and my assigned school would be Benjamin Banneker middle school. However, looking up reviews, and seeing news reports and proficiency stats I’m concerned. Should I look into other options? I’ve already signed the paperwork so I’m stuck in that cluster thanks in advance if you need more info please ask.

[Anonymous]

I moved here in 2004. My kid went to Banneker for a week and was ridiculed and bullied—fights were daily. I took on a second job and sent him to St. Bernadette for middle school, then to DeMatha for high school. This was in the mid to late 2000s. Hearing about the stuff that goes on at the schools now, and seeing the kids come out at my bus stop getting rougher over these past 20 years—sometimes even fighting there near my townhome—I would wholeheartedly advise you to go private. It was bad 20 years ago; now it’s obscene.

[Anonymous]

Tell your kid to keep they’re head down they will be fine all middle schools suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell your kid to keep they’re head down they will be fine all middle schools suck.

Exactly. It’s middle school not Narnia. Drama and people needing to develop thicker skin. Most kids are fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell your kid to keep they’re head down they will be fine all middle schools suck.

Exactly. It’s middle school not Narnia. Drama and people needing to develop thicker skin. Most kids are fine.

True “most” but if op has the means to send her kid to a better school. Wouldn’t that be the best course of action?

[Anonymous]

MCPS is a train wreck, declining faster and faster. Go private

[Anonymous]

We are also in Bannekers area.
We are in private but switched from mcps because of Covid. I drive past Banneker at drop off and pick up time. I see kids walking down Old Columbia to the rec center/library every day, not fighting or misbehaving.
We have friends there that are ok with it. There are occasional fights but that’s normal in any MS in MCPS.
We will switch back to MCPS for high school. Our home school is PBHS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are also in Bannekers area.
We are in private but switched from mcps because of Covid. I drive past Banneker at drop off and pick up time. I see kids walking down Old Columbia to the rec center/library every day, not fighting or misbehaving.
We have friends there that are ok with it. There are occasional fights but that’s normal in any MS in MCPS.
We will switch back to MCPS for high school. Our home school is PBHS

Kids often fight in school not out also I would really advise you to do research on PB if your kid is used to a private school environment paint branch will be a huge adjustment for them.

[Anonymous]

We’re in the NEC but not Banneker. My friends who have had kids there liked it.

The HS options are good. My kids selected Blake, which right now is the top choice. All three have signature programs and Blake and PB have good sports teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are also in Bannekers area.
We are in private but switched from mcps because of Covid. I drive past Banneker at drop off and pick up time. I see kids walking down Old Columbia to the rec center/library every day, not fighting or misbehaving.
We have friends there that are ok with it. There are occasional fights but that’s normal in any MS in MCPS.
We will switch back to MCPS for high school. Our home school is PBHS

Kids often fight in school not out also I would really advise you to do research on PB if your kid is used to a private school environment paint branch will be a huge adjustment for them.

As a teacher in the NEC, I would suggest Blake for high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are also in Bannekers area.
We are in private but switched from mcps because of Covid. I drive past Banneker at drop off and pick up time. I see kids walking down Old Columbia to the rec center/library every day, not fighting or misbehaving.
We have friends there that are ok with it. There are occasional fights but that’s normal in any MS in MCPS.
We will switch back to MCPS for high school. Our home school is PBHS

Kids often fight in school not out also I would really advise you to do research on PB if your kid is used to a private school environment paint branch will be a huge adjustment for them.

As a teacher in the NEC, I would suggest Blake for high school.

NP, that’s not easy considering that Blake seems to be full and only taking kids that are actually zoned for Blake now. It’s very disappointing.

[Anonymous]

My kid and his cohort will be headed to Banneker year after next. They are a great group of kids with active, involved parents. I have similar concerns to you, OP, but think it will be fine. The more stable families and kids that go, the better. In the near past, many families in this area were declining to send their kids there but that is changing.

[Anonymous]

Don’t do it op, my kid is there and it’s like you have read on the reviews. It’s just that people like to for some reason make bad schools seem better then they are.

[Anonymous]

Mods lock this post the posters question has been answered and it will probably devolve into nonsensical comments like other posts

[Anonymous]

It all depends on. Your tolerance and threshold for systemic failure and chaos. The NEC has more of that than other parts of the county. I’d say 70% of the kids are ok and 30% are a problem. Unfortunately, MCPS has no meaningful or effective plan to manage or improve the 30%z so your kid will be exposed to problematic, dangerous and toxic behaviors on the student behavior front.

From a teacher perspective, your less experienced and less effective teachers are going to be in your NEC schools. That’s because most teachers who can choose where to go in MCPS don’t want to be at NEC schools. So be prepared to supplement with tutoring if you have high expectations for your child cause you will have gaps in instruction that won’t be covered by the school.