Option B Alternate - Adding extra ES to WJ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Viers Mill Parents - I firmly suggest you write a letter to the BOE stating your preferred school choice and reasoning. Stating it on this thread is meaningless. There are various groups trying to reengineer us to Walter Johnson and back to Wheaton. We need to make our voices heard to the BOE as they are the ones that have the final say. Take 5 minutes and write an email.

[e-mail]

I'm not saying that you shouldn't write to the BOE, but I would not hold my breath that anything will change. They just rubber-stamp Taylor.

[Anonymous]

BALANCED SCHOOLS ARE BETTER SCHOOLS! Both WJ and Woodward will be great schools but they should absolutely be more balanced. There is no gross “token” aspect. Drop that. The goal should always be to balance the schools when it makes sense logistically. Which it does when 2 schools are a mile apart.

VMES is a wonderful elementary school and our kids will succeed in whichever high school we are assigned.

Absolutely reach out to BOE. Ideally before their Feb 24 meeting but consider using this email:

[e-mail]

You can register to make your voice heard at the BOE March 9 and 10 meetings - register by Feb 26:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/community/participation/

Please just remember to speak for what is best for ALL KIDS not just your kids. We are all in this together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three years ago, Viers Mill had universal free lunch for one year. That is why they have greater than 95% for "now or in the past" FARMs. Literally every kid (including the PEP classes for 3yos, meaning some current K) who was there in the 2023-24 school year is counted in the percentage.

I've been a VM parent for 10 years. Nobody I've heard from here wants to go to WJ. For many reasons. VM families have been happy mostly with Wheaton/DCC, and most people seem reasonably okay with Woodward.

The VM community is super tight and protective. Maybe it feels like WJ is racist/classist/whatever, but mostly I think it's that those feeder schools operate in completely different worlds.

Then it's super important for area to change this by not segregating them. It will be helpful for WJ community to increase diversity. Otherwise we will get another Whitman where racism has become a norm.

I mean yes, from the superintendent's POV. But don't expect VMES families to enjoy being known as the literal diversity hires, and integrate another school at the expense of their own community.

No need to put down VMES families by saying they are diversity hires. It's offensive.

VMES kids will benefit from attending lower FARMS schools as well. In fact all kids will benefit from that so it make sense to not put all FARMS kids in one school and put all rich kids in another. Both schools are side by side. Two well balanced schools will benefit everyone attending both schools. It;s best for our region.

Offensive to whom? My family, which attends VMES? I'm sure there are families that would be cool with WJ and I'm not denying their opinion, but far and wide most of the other parents here I've talked to are very aware of the perception that our kids would be the token brown/FARMs students (even the white and not FARMs jaguars) and are not comfortable with it. VMES kids would benefit from a lower FARMs school because too many FARMs is bad? A school is inherently better because its FARMs is lower? That kind of doesn't resonate when you're talking about a high FARMs ES with families who love their school community. "There's fewer people like you at this other school. You understand why that makes it better, don't you?"

Not the PP, but nothing offensive in it unless you look for offence. Concentrating poverty in one high school is not a good idea.

+1 it is a tricky subject which is probably why MCPS is getting away with perpetuating racial segregation. The reality is that kids that receive FARMS have a lot of different needs. Children from all backgrounds can struggle or excel academically and behaviorally, and poverty has a real impact on whether or not a child struggles. Concentrating poverty in one school doesn't help those kids. Balancing FARMS can make a real difference in outcomes for those kids.

[Anonymous]

What is best for one family is not necessarily the best for another family. Viers Mill is totally unbalanced right now and is an amazing school so you have no point.

Why are you trying to tell me Walter Johnson is best for my family? There is no way you are a Viers Mill parent.

Families decide for yourself what is best for your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three years ago, Viers Mill had universal free lunch for one year. That is why they have greater than 95% for "now or in the past" FARMs. Literally every kid (including the PEP classes for 3yos, meaning some current K) who was there in the 2023-24 school year is counted in the percentage.

I've been a VM parent for 10 years. Nobody I've heard from here wants to go to WJ. For many reasons. VM families have been happy mostly with Wheaton/DCC, and most people seem reasonably okay with Woodward.

The VM community is super tight and protective. Maybe it feels like WJ is racist/classist/whatever, but mostly I think it's that those feeder schools operate in completely different worlds.

Then it's super important for area to change this by not segregating them. It will be helpful for WJ community to increase diversity. Otherwise we will get another Whitman where racism has become a norm.

I mean yes, from the superintendent's POV. But don't expect VMES families to enjoy being known as the literal diversity hires, and integrate another school at the expense of their own community.

No need to put down VMES families by saying they are diversity hires. It's offensive.

VMES kids will benefit from attending lower FARMS schools as well. In fact all kids will benefit from that so it make sense to not put all FARMS kids in one school and put all rich kids in another. Both schools are side by side. Two well balanced schools will benefit everyone attending both schools. It;s best for our region.

Offensive to whom? My family, which attends VMES? I'm sure there are families that would be cool with WJ and I'm not denying their opinion, but far and wide most of the other parents here I've talked to are very aware of the perception that our kids would be the token brown/FARMs students (even the white and not FARMs jaguars) and are not comfortable with it. VMES kids would benefit from a lower FARMs school because too many FARMs is bad? A school is inherently better because its FARMs is lower? That kind of doesn't resonate when you're talking about a high FARMs ES with families who love their school community. "There's fewer people like you at this other school. You understand why that makes it better, don't you?"

Not the PP, but nothing offensive in it unless you look for offence. Concentrating poverty in one high school is not a good idea.

+1 it is a tricky subject which is probably why MCPS is getting away with perpetuating racial segregation. The reality is that kids that receive FARMS have a lot of different needs. Children from all backgrounds can struggle or excel academically and behaviorally, and poverty has a real impact on whether or not a child struggles. Concentrating poverty in one school doesn't help those kids. Balancing FARMS can make a real difference in outcomes for those kids.

35% farms is not high. Viers Mill is 63% now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is best for one family is not necessarily the best for another family. Viers Mill is totally unbalanced right now and is an amazing school so you have no point.

Why are you trying to tell me Walter Johnson is best for my family? There is no way you are a Viers Mill parent.

Families decide for yourself what is best for your family.

It may have wonderful staff that go above and beyond, but large majorities of children at VMES are not proficient in math or reading. It may be you are personally offended by the notion of balancing FARMS, but this isn't about your ego.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three years ago, Viers Mill had universal free lunch for one year. That is why they have greater than 95% for "now or in the past" FARMs. Literally every kid (including the PEP classes for 3yos, meaning some current K) who was there in the 2023-24 school year is counted in the percentage.

I've been a VM parent for 10 years. Nobody I've heard from here wants to go to WJ. For many reasons. VM families have been happy mostly with Wheaton/DCC, and most people seem reasonably okay with Woodward.

The VM community is super tight and protective. Maybe it feels like WJ is racist/classist/whatever, but mostly I think it's that those feeder schools operate in completely different worlds.

Then it's super important for area to change this by not segregating them. It will be helpful for WJ community to increase diversity. Otherwise we will get another Whitman where racism has become a norm.

I mean yes, from the superintendent's POV. But don't expect VMES families to enjoy being known as the literal diversity hires, and integrate another school at the expense of their own community.

No need to put down VMES families by saying they are diversity hires. It's offensive.

VMES kids will benefit from attending lower FARMS schools as well. In fact all kids will benefit from that so it make sense to not put all FARMS kids in one school and put all rich kids in another. Both schools are side by side. Two well balanced schools will benefit everyone attending both schools. It;s best for our region.

Offensive to whom? My family, which attends VMES? I'm sure there are families that would be cool with WJ and I'm not denying their opinion, but far and wide most of the other parents here I've talked to are very aware of the perception that our kids would be the token brown/FARMs students (even the white and not FARMs jaguars) and are not comfortable with it. VMES kids would benefit from a lower FARMs school because too many FARMs is bad? A school is inherently better because its FARMs is lower? That kind of doesn't resonate when you're talking about a high FARMs ES with families who love their school community. "There's fewer people like you at this other school. You understand why that makes it better, don't you?"

Not the PP, but nothing offensive in it unless you look for offence. Concentrating poverty in one high school is not a good idea.

+1 it is a tricky subject which is probably why MCPS is getting away with perpetuating racial segregation. The reality is that kids that receive FARMS have a lot of different needs. Children from all backgrounds can struggle or excel academically and behaviorally, and poverty has a real impact on whether or not a child struggles. Concentrating poverty in one school doesn't help those kids. Balancing FARMS can make a real difference in outcomes for those kids.

35% farms is not high. Viers Mill is 63% now.

A 35% FARMS rate is not terrible, but 20% would be significantly better for the kids from low income families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three years ago, Viers Mill had universal free lunch for one year. That is why they have greater than 95% for "now or in the past" FARMs. Literally every kid (including the PEP classes for 3yos, meaning some current K) who was there in the 2023-24 school year is counted in the percentage.

I've been a VM parent for 10 years. Nobody I've heard from here wants to go to WJ. For many reasons. VM families have been happy mostly with Wheaton/DCC, and most people seem reasonably okay with Woodward.

The VM community is super tight and protective. Maybe it feels like WJ is racist/classist/whatever, but mostly I think it's that those feeder schools operate in completely different worlds.

Then it's super important for area to change this by not segregating them. It will be helpful for WJ community to increase diversity. Otherwise we will get another Whitman where racism has become a norm.

I mean yes, from the superintendent's POV. But don't expect VMES families to enjoy being known as the literal diversity hires, and integrate another school at the expense of their own community.

No need to put down VMES families by saying they are diversity hires. It's offensive.

VMES kids will benefit from attending lower FARMS schools as well. In fact all kids will benefit from that so it make sense to not put all FARMS kids in one school and put all rich kids in another. Both schools are side by side. Two well balanced schools will benefit everyone attending both schools. It;s best for our region.

Offensive to whom? My family, which attends VMES? I'm sure there are families that would be cool with WJ and I'm not denying their opinion, but far and wide most of the other parents here I've talked to are very aware of the perception that our kids would be the token brown/FARMs students (even the white and not FARMs jaguars) and are not comfortable with it. VMES kids would benefit from a lower FARMs school because too many FARMs is bad? A school is inherently better because its FARMs is lower? That kind of doesn't resonate when you're talking about a high FARMs ES with families who love their school community. "There's fewer people like you at this other school. You understand why that makes it better, don't you?"

Not the PP, but nothing offensive in it unless you look for offence. Concentrating poverty in one high school is not a good idea.

+1 it is a tricky subject which is probably why MCPS is getting away with perpetuating racial segregation. The reality is that kids that receive FARMS have a lot of different needs. Children from all backgrounds can struggle or excel academically and behaviorally, and poverty has a real impact on whether or not a child struggles. Concentrating poverty in one school doesn't help those kids. Balancing FARMS can make a real difference in outcomes for those kids.

+2. And in fact MCPS's own regulation FAA-RA calls out "significant disparity in the demographic characteristics between
schools in the affected geographic areas that cannot be justified by any other factor." And Taylor's recommendation hasn't justified this disparity he's created. The board could easily adjust this to comply with the regulation.

[Anonymous]

This is a non-problem. The proposed zones are logical and contiguous. The student populations reflect the neighborhoods that make up the zones. I assume people like their neighbors. 35% FARMs is not concentrated poverty. There are adjacent high schools in the district with much greater FARMs disparities that the BOE should deal with first, if that is their goal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BALANCED SCHOOLS ARE BETTER SCHOOLS! Both WJ and Woodward will be great schools but they should absolutely be more balanced. There is no gross “token” aspect. Drop that. The goal should always be to balance the schools when it makes sense logistically. Which it does when 2 schools are a mile apart.

VMES is a wonderful elementary school and our kids will succeed in whichever high school we are assigned.

Absolutely reach out to BOE. Ideally before their Feb 24 meeting but consider using this email:

[e-mail]

You can register to make your voice heard at the BOE March 9 and 10 meetings - register by Feb 26:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/community/participation/

Please just remember to speak for what is best for ALL KIDS not just your kids. We are all in this together.

I generally agree with the substance of this, but it rings kinda hollow knowing that the people saying this probably never said anything if favor of balancing in the past and likely never will again except when it personally benefits you. Are you going to be singing the same tune if they propose changing your ES boundaries to balance the number of FARMS kids with a nearby poorer schools? I doubt it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BALANCED SCHOOLS ARE BETTER SCHOOLS! Both WJ and Woodward will be great schools but they should absolutely be more balanced. There is no gross “token” aspect. Drop that. The goal should always be to balance the schools when it makes sense logistically. Which it does when 2 schools are a mile apart.

VMES is a wonderful elementary school and our kids will succeed in whichever high school we are assigned.

Absolutely reach out to BOE. Ideally before their Feb 24 meeting but consider using this email:

[e-mail]

You can register to make your voice heard at the BOE March 9 and 10 meetings - register by Feb 26:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/community/participation/

Please just remember to speak for what is best for ALL KIDS not just your kids. We are all in this together.

I generally agree with the substance of this, but it rings kinda hollow knowing that the people saying this probably never said anything if favor of balancing in the past and likely never will again except when it personally benefits you. Are you going to be singing the same tune if they propose changing your ES boundaries to balance the number of FARMS kids with a nearby poorer schools? I doubt it.

DP here

How do you know who is saying this? I agree with the PP and I wanted KPES to be zoned for Einstein

Also when you resort to personal attacks like this it tells me you are trying to distract from a.valkd argument that you can't refute. We are talking about people's education here. Your sad little comeback is pathetic and self serving.

[Anonymous]

If you’re proposing shuffling real families around, at least be forthcoming with your reasons:

1) I prefer fewer FARMs students in my zoned HS.
2) I don’t want my property values affected.

Those are valid reasons. And more believable than:

3) I want to balance FARMs in this specific instance (because I am negatively impacted).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re proposing shuffling real families around, at least be forthcoming with your reasons:

1) I prefer fewer FARMs students in my zoned HS.
2) I don’t want my property values affected.

Those are valid reasons. And more believable than:

3) I want to balance FARMs in this specific instance (because I am negatively impacted).

I'm actually not impacted directly by this at all.

[Anonymous]

Glad to see we're not the only VM family who does NOT want to be reassigned to WJ. The Luxmanor and Farmland families only want to balance farm rates because they're concerned about their property values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BALANCED SCHOOLS ARE BETTER SCHOOLS! Both WJ and Woodward will be great schools but they should absolutely be more balanced. There is no gross “token” aspect. Drop that. The goal should always be to balance the schools when it makes sense logistically. Which it does when 2 schools are a mile apart.

VMES is a wonderful elementary school and our kids will succeed in whichever high school we are assigned.

Absolutely reach out to BOE. Ideally before their Feb 24 meeting but consider using this email:

[e-mail]

You can register to make your voice heard at the BOE March 9 and 10 meetings - register by Feb 26:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/community/participation/

Please just remember to speak for what is best for ALL KIDS not just your kids. We are all in this together.

I generally agree with the substance of this, but it rings kinda hollow knowing that the people saying this probably never said anything if favor of balancing in the past and likely never will again except when it personally benefits you. Are you going to be singing the same tune if they propose changing your ES boundaries to balance the number of FARMS kids with a nearby poorer schools? I doubt it.

DP here

How do you know who is saying this? I agree with the PP and I wanted KPES to be zoned for Einstein

Also when you resort to personal attacks like this it tells me you are trying to distract from a.valkd argument that you can't refute. We are talking about people's education here. Your sad little comeback is pathetic and self serving.

That's why I said 'probably" and "I doubt it.". And how is it self serving? I live in Silver Spring and none of this really affects me... it's just annoying to see WJ parents (and sure, they might not actually be WJ parents, I know,) who have fought for years to keep their schools better-off than other schools suddenly pretend like they care about balancing FARMS rate when in all likelihood they are just saying it because they want a lower FARMS rate of their own personal school.

Just be honest about that if that's the case-- don't pretend that you're being principled and care about all kids for just long enough to win something that you think helps your kids, and then drop those principles like a hot potato as soon as changes are proposed that aren't what you would pick for your own kids.

I mean, if this is about WJ/Woodward families developing real principles about valuing the well-being of all MCPS kids, then wonderful, welcome to the party, and I look forward to your support in the upcoming elementary school boundary study which really ought to include some big but controversial changes to support more balanced elementary schools. I'm just skeptical.