Bullying at Wood Acres?

[Anonymous]

We are considering buying a home in the wood acres neighborhood. I have heard through the grapevine that their is a bullying issue there. Can anyone give me any insight?

[Anonymous]

That is the onyl school that has it. I would move to another area because all the bullying happens there.

It happens everywhere, it happened when we were kids, it will happen when our grandkids are in school just like binge drinking in college. It all has to do with how you deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Actually it has to do with how the school handles it. Which is what OP's question what getting at.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I know of two families that left Woodacres after last year. They put their kids into private school b/c their kids were bullied all year and had low confidence/hated school. Now the kids are thriving. I would look houses in Burning Tree/ Bradley Hills. 20817. Plus you get more house for your money, imho.

[Anonymous]

Seems like the administration is fairly "bureaucratic" so-to-speak about the issue of bullying. They quote from MCPS official terminology (i.e., MCPS defines bullying as X, etc.) yet rarely address the kids who are acting out and making things difficult. Some schools make sure to have a lot of adult supervision (lunch, recess, hallways) to ensure that an adult can hear/see the problem. That's always a good first step.

[Anonymous]

thank you, this is very helpful.

[Anonymous]

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/schoolimprovementplans/SIP02417_climate.pdf

Based on MCPS survey, all monitored areas have improved. 48.3% of students still report that teasing is a problem. Therefore, continued emphasis on recess policies and No Put-Down Program is warranted.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/SafetyGlance/currentyear/schools/02417.pdf

Last year 4 bullying incidents were repoarted and confirmed

"In this school, students bullying other students is a problem."

Who agreed with that statement? 53% of students; 27% of parents, and 22% of staff

[Anonymous]

OP, when we were considering where to move in Bethesda I reviewed the "surveys of school environment" available for each school at the MCPS website.

For each school, parent, student, and staff surveys are posted. Included are questions about teasing, bullying, and safety (and of course academics).

What caught my eye at Wood Acres were the staff survey results regarding school leadership. We ended up in another school zone for $ reasons, but had we considered a house in the Wood Acres zone I would have wanted to know more about what's going on there.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, :22 here. Forgot to include the link to the school surveys page:

http://sharedaccountability.mcpsmd.org/SurveyResults/content.php

[Anonymous]

staff survey of wood acres school last year:

http://sharedaccountability.mcpsmd.org/SurveyResults/content.php?survey=2009SSE&l=0&type=Staff&sch=417

[Anonymous]

I'd look at Carderock too.