MS classes vs HS classes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're not in BCC cluster, but basically MS in general seems to really suck.

It's all about social emotional learning in MS apparently. No real academic challenge or interesting discussions. They do nothing about making sure the student is ready for more challenging work in HS. Lots of kids start taking AP classes in 9th grade, and it's a big jump.

IMO, HS is so much better because you do have the option to take AP classes.

Both my now HSers started with AP Gov and AP CS. It was a big jump for one of my kids who found AP gov challenging. Doing well now, but but the first few weeks were really bumpy for DC.

I really wish MCPS would focus more on MS academics. It really is lacking. And the so called "honors" courses MCPS created to appease the parents for making MS magnet more of a lottery is a joke. It was a bone they threw in, and it lacks any meat.

I agree with most of this. We are not in the BCC cluster, so I can’t comment on that in particular. However, we are in a nonW cluster in MCPS. My kid went from a CES to a home MS and it was incredibly underwhelming. English is a complete joke. The teacher would assign something that could be completed in a day, but give the kids a week to work on it. HIGH and French were his only classes where he actually had to work and/or study.

High school has been a great improvement. And I agree that it was a huge jump and a big adjustment.

The one thing I will add to the PP, is that IF MCPS is prioritizing social-emotional learning in MS, it is doing a terrible job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're not in BCC cluster, but basically MS in general seems to really suck.

It's all about social emotional learning in MS apparently. No real academic challenge or interesting discussions. They do nothing about making sure the student is ready for more challenging work in HS. Lots of kids start taking AP classes in 9th grade, and it's a big jump.

IMO, HS is so much better because you do have the option to take AP classes.

Both my now HSers started with AP Gov and AP CS. It was a big jump for one of my kids who found AP gov challenging. Doing well now, but but the first few weeks were really bumpy for DC.

I really wish MCPS would focus more on MS academics. It really is lacking. And the so called "honors" courses MCPS created to appease the parents for making MS magnet more of a lottery is a joke. It was a bone they threw in, and it lacks any meat.

I agree with most of this. We are not in the BCC cluster, so I can’t comment on that in particular. However, we are in a nonW cluster in MCPS. My kid went from a CES to a home MS and it was incredibly underwhelming. English is a complete joke. The teacher would assign something that could be completed in a day, but give the kids a week to work on it. HIGH and French were his only classes where he actually had to work and/or study.

High school has been a great improvement. And I agree that it was a huge jump and a big adjustment.

The one thing I will add to the PP, is that IF MCPS is prioritizing social-emotional learning in MS, it is doing a terrible job.

PP here... and I agree with the bolded. Most of the kids don't take any of the social/emotional learning seriously. It is a joke to them. So, at least focus on the academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MS sucks, there's no differentiation and all classes are geared toward the lowest common denominator. In HS, you have on-grade level, honors, and AP, so they sort themselves!

We are also in a B-CC feeder, and when I looked at the offerings there, it looks like everyone takes honors, which seems like the same problem with the MS curriculum. I wish they would do on-grade level vs. honors, but they don't appear to do that there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS sucks, there's no differentiation and all classes are geared toward the lowest common denominator. In HS, you have on-grade level, honors, and AP, so they sort themselves!

We are also in a B-CC feeder, and when I looked at the offerings there, it looks like everyone takes honors, which seems like the same problem with the MS curriculum. I wish they would do on-grade level vs. honors, but they don't appear to do that there.

PP here and to be clearer... B-CC seems to put everyone in honors classes, just like the feeder MS do. If everyone is in the honors classes, then it's not actually an honors class. I wish they would differentiate at least in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're not in BCC cluster, but basically MS in general seems to really suck.

It's all about social emotional learning in MS apparently. No real academic challenge or interesting discussions. They do nothing about making sure the student is ready for more challenging work in HS. Lots of kids start taking AP classes in 9th grade, and it's a big jump.

IMO, HS is so much better because you do have the option to take AP classes.

Both my now HSers started with AP Gov and AP CS. It was a big jump for one of my kids who found AP gov challenging. Doing well now, but but the first few weeks were really bumpy for DC.

I really wish MCPS would focus more on MS academics. It really is lacking. And the so called "honors" courses MCPS created to appease the parents for making MS magnet more of a lottery is a joke. It was a bone they threw in, and it lacks any meat.

My MS kid at TPMS seems to really enjoy their classes and teachers. Many go above and beyond to make school challenging and fun. DC was just telling me about one teacher's practical jokes and great sense of humor.

I have an 8th grader at TPMS and the teachers have been beyond engaging and really outstanding every year. Every one of them. Kid definitely isn’t bored in class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS sucks, there's no differentiation and all classes are geared toward the lowest common denominator. In HS, you have on-grade level, honors, and AP, so they sort themselves!

We are also in a B-CC feeder, and when I looked at the offerings there, it looks like everyone takes honors, which seems like the same problem with the MS curriculum. I wish they would do on-grade level vs. honors, but they don't appear to do that there.

PP here and to be clearer... B-CC seems to put everyone in honors classes, just like the feeder MS do. If everyone is in the honors classes, then it's not actually an honors class. I wish they would differentiate at least in HS.

It’s not just BCC. Our high school does the same. It’s the way MCPS pretends to be closing the Achievement Gap. By putting all kids in Honors classes, it makes it look as though the Black and Brown students are doing better. And it makes their parents happy because they are proud of the fact that Larlo and Larla are in Honors classes.

MCPS is all about optics. Putting all kids in Honors offers better optics than having certain kids in ‘remedial’ or on-level classes.

It is a disservice to all kids. The kids who do actually need extra help don’t get it. And the kids who could be challenged are not engaged or learning.