DCPS (Upper NW) vs MCPS, where to go?

[Anonymous]

posted this on DCPS side and reposted in MCPS to get thoughts from MCPS side.

We are Asian and kids are rising K. One parent works downtown DC 3 days a week and one works from home. We are trying to think more broadly about where to settle long-term, and would love to hear from families who have experience with both DCPS and MCPS.

Specifically: Upper NW DC vs MCPS (Bethesda / WJ / Churchill clusters)

Moving to MCPS is definitely appealing from an academic / peer standpoint, but we have been really loving DC’s walkability and more multicultural environment, so feeling a bit torn.

It also seems like some families start in DCPS for elementary and then move to MCPS later — curious how common / smooth that actually is?

Questions we have been thinking:

For those who chose to stay in DCPS long-term till finish high school, what made you stay?
For those who moved to MCPS, when did you decide to move and why?
Is the “DC for elementary → MCPS later” path actually realistic in practice?
How do the peer environments feel different (especially for Asian kids)?
What's the difference between those two school system?
A lot people are saying MCPS qualities are going down- how true is that? is it still worthy of moving there

We can't clear our mind and would really appreciate any firsthand experiences or perspectives. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

If you stick to the Churchill HS cluster, you will be with a high performing student cohort. It’s likely that Churchill will remain accelerated with academics. BCC HS will continue to have a high performing IB program. Much of the rest of the schools will be in decline academically as the superintendent is currently cancelling accelerated ES learning and reducing the size of previous magnet programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you stick to the Churchill HS cluster, you will be with a high performing student cohort. It’s likely that Churchill will remain accelerated with academics. BCC HS will continue to have a high performing IB program. Much of the rest of the schools will be in decline academically as the superintendent is currently cancelling accelerated ES learning and reducing the size of previous magnet programs.

Whitman or Churchill, stick with the people resourced to fight for resources

[Anonymous]

What made us stay in DCPS through high school was kids were really happy, made great friends, and overall had great teachers and admin.

[Anonymous]

some people says Churchill HS is next target?

Anonymous wrote:If you stick to the Churchill HS cluster, you will be with a high performing student cohort. It’s likely that Churchill will remain accelerated with academics. BCC HS will continue to have a high performing IB program. Much of the rest of the schools will be in decline academically as the superintendent is currently cancelling accelerated ES learning and reducing the size of previous magnet programs.

[Anonymous]

It wouldn't be a bad idea to wait and see how the MCPS superintendent's many proposed changes roll out over the next 4-5 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:posted this on DCPS side and reposted in MCPS to get thoughts from MCPS side.

We are Asian and kids are rising K. One parent works downtown DC 3 days a week and one works from home. We are trying to think more broadly about where to settle long-term, and would love to hear from families who have experience with both DCPS and MCPS.

Specifically: Upper NW DC vs MCPS (Bethesda / WJ / Churchill clusters)

Moving to MCPS is definitely appealing from an academic / peer standpoint, but we have been really loving DC’s walkability and more multicultural environment, so feeling a bit torn.

It also seems like some families start in DCPS for elementary and then move to MCPS later — curious how common / smooth that actually is?

Questions we have been thinking:

For those who chose to stay in DCPS long-term till finish high school, what made you stay?
For those who moved to MCPS, when did you decide to move and why?
Is the “DC for elementary → MCPS later” path actually realistic in practice?
How do the peer environments feel different (especially for Asian kids)?
What's the difference between those two school system?
A lot people are saying MCPS qualities are going down- how true is that? is it still worthy of moving there

We can't clear our mind and would really appreciate any firsthand experiences or perspectives. Thanks!

Bethesda is very multicultural and international.

[Anonymous]

We ended up staying in DC and don’t regret it. We did public schools but you could try and save some money for private high school as a back up plan. We were torn about staying but I’m very glad we didn’t move. Kids got into good colleges and are doing well. DCPS is a bumpy ride but kids can thrive there. My sister actually works for MCPS and says it is declining rapidly.

[Anonymous]

You are screwed where ever you go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:posted this on DCPS side and reposted in MCPS to get thoughts from MCPS side.

We are Asian and kids are rising K. One parent works downtown DC 3 days a week and one works from home. We are trying to think more broadly about where to settle long-term, and would love to hear from families who have experience with both DCPS and MCPS.

Specifically: Upper NW DC vs MCPS (Bethesda / WJ / Churchill clusters)

Moving to MCPS is definitely appealing from an academic / peer standpoint, but we have been really loving DC’s walkability and more multicultural environment, so feeling a bit torn.

It also seems like some families start in DCPS for elementary and then move to MCPS later — curious how common / smooth that actually is?

Questions we have been thinking:

For those who chose to stay in DCPS long-term till finish high school, what made you stay?
For those who moved to MCPS, when did you decide to move and why?
Is the “DC for elementary → MCPS later” path actually realistic in practice?
How do the peer environments feel different (especially for Asian kids)?
What's the difference between those two school system?
A lot people are saying MCPS qualities are going down- how true is that? is it still worthy of moving there

We can't clear our mind and would really appreciate any firsthand experiences or perspectives. Thanks!

Bethesda is very multicultural and international.

lol sure it is

[Anonymous]

Move to Whitman cluster in Bethesda. Or even lease a condo there.

[Anonymous]

Why not Howard County? I could make it work there. Or maybe even Urbana or Frederick.

[Anonymous]

I don't know why being Asian factors into your thinking, but we're Asian too and deliberately moved to the Bethesda area for the schools.

We've lived here for 20 years, know people in multiple different MCPS clusters across the county, DCPS, FCPS, and private schools.

If you don't want the cost of a top private, then the MCPS area you mentioned, or certain areas of FCPS, are the best. Please don't even entertain the thought of DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why being Asian factors into your thinking, but we're Asian too and deliberately moved to the Bethesda area for the schools.

We've lived here for 20 years, know people in multiple different MCPS clusters across the county, DCPS, FCPS, and private schools.

If you don't want the cost of a top private, then the MCPS area you mentioned, or certain areas of FCPS, are the best. Please don't even entertain the thought of DCPS.

Me again. The suburbs can be more multicultural then DC, by the way. Schools in downtown Bethesda have 70 or more countries represented at international night. Walt Whitman is very white, but it doesn't mean it's all-American. WJ and Churchill have a strong Asian contingent.

[Anonymous]

We were in a similar position. In the Whitman and WJ and Churchill clusters, you know what you are getting. These are mostly high performing students with families that give a damn.

DCPS is too random. There are far too many in DCPS that don't care. And peer group is very important for kids.

No regrets about the move. But it's really the peer group you're moving for. Not the brilliance of MCPS administrators, who suck too.