Are the wealthy leaving MCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sure seems like many affluent in Bethesda/ Potomac, Chevy Chase are exiting MCPS in droves. Has anyone else observed this happening?

Based on what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before covid, Rachel Carson ES in Gaithersburg was way overcrowded and planned to move some kids to Dufief ES after its expansion. We are recently told that there won't be any kid moving school zone at Rachel Carson ES, and all portables would be removed (kids move back in building) because we are under capacity now. I wonder where those kids move to, private school or different ES/school district?

I live in the Kentlands and it's very obvious just from observing the pickup and dropoffs that enrollment has plummeted at Rachel Carson. The place used to be thronged and caused big traffic disruptions. Now it's not a big deal. What's the current enrollment there? A few years ago it was at 1100. Just anecdotally, we have several neighbors who had planned to send their kids there pre-pandemic but are now doing homeschool and private school.

Rachel Carson is a good example of parents with means who might be sending to private because of problems in mcps, but the principal is also a problem. It once had a very accomplished, competent principal but that person left a year or two before the pandemic. The problems at that school have been increasing ever since.

What is wrong with current principal at Rachel Carson?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spent the last few years in a top private in DC and have been underwhelmed.

Ditto

I think those underwhelmed simply don’t share the same values and priorities.

[Anonymous]

A couple of things here to think about.

The retiree population is exploding in the county. It is predicted to make up over 20% of the county population in 5 to 10 years. They tend to retire in place and stay in their single family homes near many of us live.

Educated Families and other groups are having fewer kids.

The wealthy are getting more wealthy due to increases in income. Stock market and inheritance. We are seeing a huge wealth transfer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spent the last few years in a top private in DC and have been underwhelmed.

Ditto

I think those underwhelmed simply don’t share the same values and priorities.

You think wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The retiree population is exploding in the county. It is predicted to make up over 20% of the county population in 5 to 10 years. They tend to retire in place and stay in their single family homes near many of us live.

They're also dying. In our neighborhood (Bethesda), whenever they pass away, the house gets bought, torn down and rebuilt with a much bigger house, then a family moves in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spent the last few years in a top private in DC and have been underwhelmed.

Ditto

I think those underwhelmed simply don’t share the same values and priorities.

You think wrong.

Profound.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s plainly true that many people with the means left MCPS over the last two years in the wealthiest clusters. Out neighborhood pre pandemic was like 30-40% private. Now it is closer to 70%. Most that made the switch aren’t coming back. So definitely fewer wealthy families using public in our neighborhood but it is not everyone by any means.

BS

I don’t know why people find this hard to believe, but it’s true. This is one of the wealthier neighborhoods in the county so it’s not representative. But there has been a strong exodus to private.

Same in my neighborhood. I'd say 20 years ago about 10% to 20% of kids attended private, but now it is well over half, perhaps more. They tend to give MCPS a shot and then peel off by about 3rd or 4th grade.

And then most of them come back by 9th grade

Cite to this piece of data? We will wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spent the last few years in a top private in DC and have been underwhelmed.

Ditto

I think those underwhelmed simply don’t share the same values and priorities.

You think wrong.

Profound.

Same to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spent the last few years in a top private in DC and have been underwhelmed.

Ditto

I think those underwhelmed simply don’t share the same values and priorities.

That’s outstanding critical thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spent the last few years in a top private in DC and have been underwhelmed.

Ditto

I think those underwhelmed simply don’t share the same values and priorities.

I’m curious what values and priorities you think they don’t share? Especially since private schools tend have very individual values and priorites.

[Anonymous]

Of the group of people moving to privates but staying in MoCo, I think there can only be a very statistically insignificant upswing as the seats available at privates have been relatively constant over the last three years. Yes, there have been people moving out of MCPS to other modes of education: home school, virtual high school, leaving to a *cheaper* location due to telework. I don't think any of that means the shift out of MCPS is lead by the wealthy. The truly wealthy have generally been moving out of MoCo (not necessarily MCPS) since the O'Malley administration not due to MCPS but for wealth preservation, estate planning, and business friendly environments. That is not the same thing as the wealthy leaving MCPS. Certainly there will be anecdotal evidence in your circles of people moving to privates, but that is most likely due to outliers (either extremely bright and needing/can afford Big 3 DC privates or learning/accountability challenges that only some specialized schools can provide).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spent the last few years in a top private in DC and have been underwhelmed.

Ditto

I think those underwhelmed simply don’t share the same values and priorities.

I’m curious what values and priorities you think they don’t share? Especially since private schools tend have very individual values and priorites.

They cannot answer that, it was an absurd thing to say. They don’t even know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before covid, Rachel Carson ES in Gaithersburg was way overcrowded and planned to move some kids to Dufief ES after its expansion. We are recently told that there won't be any kid moving school zone at Rachel Carson ES, and all portables would be removed (kids move back in building) because we are under capacity now. I wonder where those kids move to, private school or different ES/school district?

I live in the Kentlands and it's very obvious just from observing the pickup and dropoffs that enrollment has plummeted at Rachel Carson. The place used to be thronged and caused big traffic disruptions. Now it's not a big deal. What's the current enrollment there? A few years ago it was at 1100. Just anecdotally, we have several neighbors who had planned to send their kids there pre-pandemic but are now doing homeschool and private school.

Rachel Carson is a good example of parents with means who might be sending to private because of problems in mcps, but the principal is also a problem. It once had a very accomplished, competent principal but that person left a year or two before the pandemic. The problems at that school have been increasing ever since.

Last year RCES: 773
Year before: 893
Year before that: 973
Year before that 1022

*includes PreK

Wow.

Not really a shock. The lakelands were built, young couples bought homes, had kids, those kids went to Rachel Carson and are now aging out. Meanwhile, the older population in the kentlands hasn't died yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most high earners I know have gone to private. I'm not even talking about rich, just 250k+.
There's very little reason to stay in mcps.

Then you must be talking about a small sample size or don’t know many high earners. Top schools in the DMV while they have earners in the 250k and even below range, those are in the minority. The majority make 450k+ . And news flash, high earners ‘haven’t gone private’ many were already there. People in the 250k range if in private are making sacrifices to be there. Most are still in public.

Your reading comprehension skills are definitely "public school level." Poster said "I'm not even talking about the rich, just 250k"
I agree that among that crowd they are turning to private. Doesn't bode well for public schools.