New to MCPS...had a few questions

[Anonymous]

You must be in DC. PK here is for low-income families and families with special-needs kids. Everyone else does private.

Don’t count on any GT programming. It’s by lottery for ES and MS among kids who qualify. Many more qualified families are not offered a spot than get one. There is no application; all 3rd and 5th graders are automatically screened.

Like PPs, I would first focus on what neighborhoods work for you and then consider schools. We wanted a relatively urban area with an easy commute to DC. We ended up in the B-CC district and really like our neighborhood, and we somewhat like our schools (though they have been better than what we got in our WOTP DCPS when we were there).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will second the long responder to say that there are many more similarities than differences for MCPS schools, especially when you consider the perspective of how your student will do (vs how the “average” student at the school does) so I would find a place to live and let schools be secondary.

Yes, very true! Although some parents would like to believe there are significant differences, there really only kidding themselves. The same kid will do pretty much the same at any of these schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will second the long responder to say that there are many more similarities than differences for MCPS schools, especially when you consider the perspective of how your student will do (vs how the “average” student at the school does) so I would find a place to live and let schools be secondary.

Yes, very true! Although some parents would like to believe there are significant differences, there really only kidding themselves. The same kid will do pretty much the same at any of these schools.

From a social perspective- there are some huge differences in MS and HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will second the long responder to say that there are many more similarities than differences for MCPS schools, especially when you consider the perspective of how your student will do (vs how the “average” student at the school does) so I would find a place to live and let schools be secondary.

Yes, very true! Although some parents would like to believe there are significant differences, there really only kidding themselves. The same kid will do pretty much the same at any of these schools.

This is not true at all. There are huge difference between schools. The more ‘challenging’ middle schools and high schools have such lowered expectations for the kids that if your kid is not self-motivated, it is easy for them to skate by and/or disengage.

We went from a lower-performing MS to a ‘better’ one and it was a world of difference. The teachers actually expected the kids to do the work. The peer review process was actually more effective. Better environment and the kids actually did the work and sometimes even participated in class (versus the previous MS).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will second the long responder to say that there are many more similarities than differences for MCPS schools, especially when you consider the perspective of how your student will do (vs how the “average” student at the school does) so I would find a place to live and let schools be secondary.

Yes, very true! Although some parents would like to believe there are significant differences, there really only kidding themselves. The same kid will do pretty much the same at any of these schools.

There can be very significant differences from school to school, mostly in terms of student populations, and in some cases with the programs available. However, one individual student's ability to do well isn't likely to change very much because they're enrolled in this school vs that school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will second the long responder to say that there are many more similarities than differences for MCPS schools, especially when you consider the perspective of how your student will do (vs how the “average” student at the school does) so I would find a place to live and let schools be secondary.

Yes, very true! Although some parents would like to believe there are significant differences, there really only kidding themselves. The same kid will do pretty much the same at any of these schools.

From a social perspective- there are some huge differences in MS and HS.

I have kids in MCPS. I have no idea what you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will second the long responder to say that there are many more similarities than differences for MCPS schools, especially when you consider the perspective of how your student will do (vs how the “average” student at the school does) so I would find a place to live and let schools be secondary.

Yes, very true! Although some parents would like to believe there are significant differences, there really only kidding themselves. The same kid will do pretty much the same at any of these schools.

There can be very significant differences from school to school, mostly in terms of student populations, and in some cases with the programs available. However, one individual student's ability to do well isn't likely to change very much because they're enrolled in this school vs that school.

Maybe. But if you are surrounded by other kids who plan to go to college, then it might help you stay motivated to go to college. If your teachers expect you to do solid work, you will do the work. On the flip side, if the teachers have low expectations and basically give out As for completion (which is the case at our non-W barely mediocre middle school), then you may learn to do the bare minimum.

Also, there are stats posted on the MCPS website that provide solid data about the difference in student performance. You can look at proficiently rates and information on the number of kids who score well on the AP exams, etc.

There is most definitely a difference among schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will second the long responder to say that there are many more similarities than differences for MCPS schools, especially when you consider the perspective of how your student will do (vs how the “average” student at the school does) so I would find a place to live and let schools be secondary.

Yes, very true! Although some parents would like to believe there are significant differences, there really only kidding themselves. The same kid will do pretty much the same at any of these schools.

From a social perspective- there are some huge differences in MS and HS.

Yes, some schools have 8 sections of AP English while others may have 4 but they all teach the same course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will second the long responder to say that there are many more similarities than differences for MCPS schools, especially when you consider the perspective of how your student will do (vs how the “average” student at the school does) so I would find a place to live and let schools be secondary.

Yes, very true! Although some parents would like to believe there are significant differences, there really only kidding themselves. The same kid will do pretty much the same at any of these schools.

There can be very significant differences from school to school, mostly in terms of student populations, and in some cases with the programs available. However, one individual student's ability to do well isn't likely to change very much because they're enrolled in this school vs that school.

Maybe. But if you are surrounded by other kids who plan to go to college, then it might help you stay motivated to go to college. If your teachers expect you to do solid work, you will do the work. On the flip side, if the teachers have low expectations and basically give out As for completion (which is the case at our non-W barely mediocre middle school), then you may learn to do the bare minimum.

Also, there are stats posted on the MCPS website that provide solid data about the difference in student performance. You can look at proficiently rates and information on the number of kids who score well on the AP exams, etc.

There is most definitely a difference among schools.

Yes, but those stats are largely correlated with a school's FARMS rate and don't dictate how your own child may do in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will second the long responder to say that there are many more similarities than differences for MCPS schools, especially when you consider the perspective of how your student will do (vs how the “average” student at the school does) so I would find a place to live and let schools be secondary.

Yes, very true! Although some parents would like to believe there are significant differences, there really only kidding themselves. The same kid will do pretty much the same at any of these schools.

There can be very significant differences from school to school, mostly in terms of student populations, and in some cases with the programs available. However, one individual student's ability to do well isn't likely to change very much because they're enrolled in this school vs that school.

Maybe. But if you are surrounded by other kids who plan to go to college, then it might help you stay motivated to go to college. If your teachers expect you to do solid work, you will do the work. On the flip side, if the teachers have low expectations and basically give out As for completion (which is the case at our non-W barely mediocre middle school), then you may learn to do the bare minimum.

Also, there are stats posted on the MCPS website that provide solid data about the difference in student performance. You can look at proficiently rates and information on the number of kids who score well on the AP exams, etc.

There is most definitely a difference among schools.

Yes, but those stats are largely correlated with a school's FARMS rate and don't dictate how your own child may do in school.

Agree the bulk averages aren't meaningful. They simply reflect a schools demographic mix which doesn't relate to actual opportunities for one kid of another.