Can't decide whether to stay in Einstein/downcounty zoning or move

[Anonymous]

Be wary of people who blithely tell you "Oh just go private" or "Oh, consider the magnets."

The middle school magnets are by application. There are 100 slots each at Eastern and Takoma and 800-1000 kids apply. The middle school magnet consortium...that's a lottery. (And transportation to all is being threatened.) There is a good chance your child will end up in "regular" MCPS middle school, with growing class sizes, and heterogeneous ability grouping. MCPS loves to tout that its classes are "rigorous" for all, with appropriate "scaffolding" but the reality is that there is a much larger ability span in the Down County than there might be in other parts of the county. There are enormous pressures for "advanced" classes to "look like the county"...the result being that often unprepared, less academically inclined students are placed in the advanced classes. And then the advanced classes aren't so advanced any more. Peers matter.

As for "go private"... there really aren't that many options in the county, once you rule out religiously affiliated schools and schools catering to kids with learning differences. There are crazy few slots at middle school and it's very competitive at ninth grade--just check the Private School forum for a taste of the crazy.

[Anonymous]

There are enormous pressures for "advanced" classes to "look like the county"...the result being that often unprepared, less academically inclined students are placed in the advanced classes. And then the advanced classes aren't so advanced any more. Peers matter.

What does this mean, exactly? I want to understand exactly what you are saying, without veiled references.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be wary of people who blithely tell you "Oh just go private" or "Oh, consider the magnets."

The middle school magnets are by application. There are 100 slots each at Eastern and Takoma and 800-1000 kids apply. The middle school magnet consortium...that's a lottery. (And transportation to all is being threatened.) There is a good chance your child will end up in "regular" MCPS middle school, with growing class sizes, and heterogeneous ability grouping. MCPS loves to tout that its classes are "rigorous" for all, with appropriate "scaffolding" but the reality is that there is a much larger ability span in the Down County than there might be in other parts of the county. There are enormous pressures for "advanced" classes to "look like the county"...the result being that often unprepared, less academically inclined students are placed in the advanced classes. And then the advanced classes aren't so advanced any more. Peers matter.

As for "go private"... there really aren't that many options in the county, once you rule out religiously affiliated schools and schools catering to kids with learning differences. There are crazy few slots at middle school and it's very competitive at ninth grade--just check the Private School forum for a taste of the crazy.

Can you explain precisely what you mean by this?

And while I agree that peers matter, there are appropriate (read: motivated, college-bound, bright) peers at Down County schools. Not the entire population, but there is certainly a good population of bright and motivated peers for our children here.

As for "advanced" classes not really being "advanced," my DD, who graduated from a Down County high school and is now on the Dean's List at her top-20 college, certainly experienced her classes as advanced - and they obviously prepared her for college.

18:28, where do you live? Do you live in Silver Spring, or nearby? Do you have any personal experience with the schools here? If not, what do you base your views on?

[Anonymous]

I'm a different poster but I don't think it's all that veiled! If you have a class that's labeled GT but is full of kids who can't do the work at the level of GT, the class will be less stimulating and enriching for the kids who really need it.

And very gifted kids really need peers -- they are often teased and bullied because they are different. They need a sanctuary where they can be themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a different poster but I don't think it's all that veiled! If you have a class that's labeled GT but is full of kids who can't do the work at the level of GT, the class will be less stimulating and enriching for the kids who really need it.

And very gifted kids really need peers -- they are often teased and bullied because they are different. They need a sanctuary where they can be themselves.

Ok, so we can stipulate to that.

Is everyone in Bethesda and Potomac gifted?

[Anonymous]

I agree that there aren't good privates around unless you want a religious education. I also agree that you can't count on magnets, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a different poster but I don't think it's all that veiled! If you have a class that's labeled GT but is full of kids who can't do the work at the level of GT, the class will be less stimulating and enriching for the kids who really need it.

And very gifted kids really need peers -- they are often teased and bullied because they are different. They need a sanctuary where they can be themselves.

Ok, so we can stipulate to that.

Is everyone in Bethesda and Potomac gifted?

And, what is the basis for the claim that the kids in the Downcounty consortium advanced classes don't really belong there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a different poster but I don't think it's all that veiled! If you have a class that's labeled GT but is full of kids who can't do the work at the level of GT, the class will be less stimulating and enriching for the kids who really need it.

And very gifted kids really need peers -- they are often teased and bullied because they are different. They need a sanctuary where they can be themselves.

Ok, so we can stipulate to that.

Is everyone in Bethesda and Potomac gifted?

And, what is the basis for the claim that the kids in the Downcounty consortium advanced classes don't really belong there?

The suggestion seems to be that Downcounty consortium kids aren't sufficiently bright to (a) be in these classes; or (b) be appropriate peers for bright or "gifted" kids.

Or am I misunderstanding?

[Anonymous]

Oh, no, you are misunderstanding. I have downcounty kids and I think they are very bright!

I was just stating what I thought the importance of peers was for gifted kids.

I don't have any idea whether the downcounty middle and high schools have high enough criteria to ensure peers for gifted kids -- mine are still in elementary school. But I don't think it has anything to do with socieoeconomic status, it's just a statistics thing. In any given population, the percentage of truly gifted individuals, measured on intellectual ability, is only about 5% (depending on how you define gifted). If they are putting a much higher percentage of kids than that in gifted classes, then they aren't really gifted classes.

This could be really good for the group if they are getting more enriched instruction. But it doesn't address the social needs of highly gifted kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, no, you are misunderstanding. I have downcounty kids and I think they are very bright!

I was just stating what I thought the importance of peers was for gifted kids.

I don't have any idea whether the downcounty middle and high schools have high enough criteria to ensure peers for gifted kids -- mine are still in elementary school. But I don't think it has anything to do with socieoeconomic status, it's just a statistics thing. In any given population, the percentage of truly gifted individuals, measured on intellectual ability, is only about 5% (depending on how you define gifted). If they are putting a much higher percentage of kids than that in gifted classes, then they aren't really gifted classes.

This could be really good for the group if they are getting more enriched instruction. But it doesn't address the social needs of highly gifted kids.

We are in agreement on that point. Of course, the statistics thing would apply to any given population, whether in Bethesda or Wheaton.

There are programs available for truly gifted kids (e.g. the Centers for the Highly Gifted) all over the county. Very-bright kids who are not admitted (or who don't apply) can still get enriched instruction at home schools (but unfortunately, this is often insufficient - no matter where you live).

[Anonymous]

19:37 - Yes and yes.

Science, social studies at middle school are heterogeneous--all ability levels in the same class.

[Anonymous]

Science, social studies at middle school are heterogeneous--all ability levels in the same class.

Not at DD's MoCo MS. Her MS is piloting enriched science instruction for every classroom.

[Anonymous]

Percent of Students Meeting University System of Maryland Entrance Requirements

Eintein: 54%
Bethesda: 80%

Since you already live in Silver Spring, I'd see how the kids do in elementary/middle schools before I would move. My first choice was also Bethesda/Kensington - shorter commute and better schools, but couldn't find a shoebox house we could afford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Percent of Students Meeting University System of Maryland Entrance Requirements

Eintein: 54%
Bethesda: 80%

Since you already live in Silver Spring, I'd see how the kids do in elementary/middle schools before I would move. My first choice was also Bethesda/Kensington - shorter commute and better schools, but couldn't find a shoebox house we could afford.

16:18 here, acknowledging these statistics (which I already had, and which we considered prior to buying in Silver Spring). Do you think, given what little we know about OP (she is involved in/concerned about her kids' education) are at risk of being in that 46% at Einstein who don't meet U of Maryland entrance requirements? Because I have zero concern about that. I am 100% confident that my kids, now ages 12 and 9, will exceed those requirements.

I don't worry about statistics. I focus on my own kids.

[Anonymous]

Accepting that achievement is dependent more on the family than the school, what about safety concerns? Any sense of whether they are something to take seriously, or do you think all the HS in MoCo have problems. And what about being surrounded by motivated/qualified peers?