"Is MCPS losing its edge?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at demographics, compare whites and asians to blacks and hispanics

No, compare to people from similar backgrounds in other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Demographics are destiny.

I hate to agree but this is the truth. Your childhood zip codes are your destiny.

[Anonymous]

Another post on this topic? Wasn't there one just a few days ago that was locked? This may be an article but same topic. Getting old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all only the top 2 W schools are the well regarded MCPS schools. MCPS overall was not uniformly good.

Second SAT and ACT scores are a combo of the students studying and parents paying for tutoring. So scores good or bad have little to do with the schools.

People love to roll out this generalization, but it is not true (perhaps in your household it is).

My student was never tutored, for pay or free.
He looked at the SAT paper booklet and did a free online review the evening prior to the exam.
Scored in the 1400's on his first try. Not excellent by DCUM standards, but pretty good for doing none of the above, as you imply.

My kid was the same. No tutors for the SAT and no prep classes. She did Khan academy totally for free. Looked at the College Board online tests. Though I did buy her the Meltzer book.

She also did well.

There are plenty of free/low-cost resources out there for students to take advantage of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BTW, image is a clickable link to online magazine.

Thank you. Did not realize that.

[Anonymous]

The article points out that at ALL MCPS schools, even in honor classes, there’s a lack of rigor, grade level assignments, and assigned books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The article points out that at ALL MCPS schools, even in honor classes, there’s a lack of rigor, grade level assignments, and assigned books.

But is this also true for magnet programs? I honestly don't know so I am asking. I really hope this is not the case.

But what I do know is that it is an arms race to get into the magnet program. But it's very frustrating because the magnet programs seem more like a random lottery. Parents just want their kids to get a rigorous education and there are so few spots.

I was prepared to hate this article but I thought it made some very valid points. I hope the Board and the County Council humbly read this and make changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The article points out that at ALL MCPS schools, even in honor classes, there’s a lack of rigor, grade level assignments, and assigned books.

But is this also true for magnet programs? I honestly don't know so I am asking. I really hope this is not the case.

But what I do know is that it is an arms race to get into the magnet program. But it's very frustrating because the magnet programs seem more like a random lottery. Parents just want their kids to get a rigorous education and there are so few spots.

I was prepared to hate this article but I thought it made some very valid points. I hope the Board and the County Council humbly read this and make changes.

There are very few slots for magnets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The article points out that at ALL MCPS schools, even in honor classes, there’s a lack of rigor, grade level assignments, and assigned books.

Even in AP classes! Look at your high school’s AP scores and you can easily see that. Very much a lack of rigor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The article points out that at ALL MCPS schools, even in honor classes, there’s a lack of rigor, grade level assignments, and assigned books.

But is this also true for magnet programs? I honestly don't know so I am asking. I really hope this is not the case.

But what I do know is that it is an arms race to get into the magnet program. But it's very frustrating because the magnet programs seem more like a random lottery. Parents just want their kids to get a rigorous education and there are so few spots.

I was prepared to hate this article but I thought it made some very valid points. I hope the Board and the County Council humbly read this and make changes.

I had a kid in a regional CES years ago and then another kid attend years later. Definitely a difference in the quality of education after the magnet became more of a lottery process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all only the top 2 W schools are the well regarded MCPS schools. MCPS overall was not uniformly good.

Second SAT and ACT scores are a combo of the students studying and parents paying for tutoring. So scores good or bad have little to do with the schools.

Which 2 W schools do you consider well regarded? Whitman and Wootton or Whitman and Winston Churchill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all only the top 2 W schools are the well regarded MCPS schools. MCPS overall was not uniformly good.

Second SAT and ACT scores are a combo of the students studying and parents paying for tutoring. So scores good or bad have little to do with the schools.

People love to roll out this generalization, but it is not true (perhaps in your household it is).

My student was never tutored, for pay or free.
He looked at the SAT paper booklet and did a free online review the evening prior to the exam.
Scored in the 1400's on his first try. Not excellent by DCUM standards, but pretty good for doing none of the above, as you imply.

Of course it's true that more preparation increases your score!
My kid walked into a mock exam and scored a 31 out of 36 or something like that on his ACT. He prepped with tutors and got a 35.

You're flying in the face of all the data, PP. Just because kids can start with a decent score, doesn't mean they can't improve with prep.

And that's just one facet of how wealth helps kids get a good start in life. The other is a usually more stable home life and regular habits, good healthcare, educated parents who can guide them and help them network... and cumulative extra-curriculars, which all significantly help US college admissions. Low-income families cannot afford the more expensive extras over an entire childhood and possibly multiple kids.

To discuss the question, I don't think you can really say a public school system has an edge. Obviously it's easier to educate wealthy kids, and it's easier to cater to a more culturally homogeneous group - without having to deal with bringing them up to speed in English, cultural expectations, or care for outliers (gifted and/or special needs). I say this as an international family who has one child with special needs. We had no language barrier, but sure did cost the county in terms of services and accommodations!

All MCPS can do is educate its resident kids. That's all. I know you're all disappointed by its efforts, but please consider it's one of the best school systems in the nation...

[Anonymous]

"Losing its edge" is not accurate. It should say"lost its edge."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The article points out that at ALL MCPS schools, even in honor classes, there’s a lack of rigor, grade level assignments, and assigned books.

Even in AP classes! Look at your high school’s AP scores and you can easily see that. Very much a lack of rigor.

21 out 25 MCPS schools made the AP honor roll.
MCPS has an AP passing rate of over 70%.
How is it a lack of rigor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The article points out that at ALL MCPS schools, even in honor classes, there’s a lack of rigor, grade level assignments, and assigned books.

But is this also true for magnet programs? I honestly don't know so I am asking. I really hope this is not the case.

But what I do know is that it is an arms race to get into the magnet program. But it's very frustrating because the magnet programs seem more like a random lottery. Parents just want their kids to get a rigorous education and there are so few spots.

I was prepared to hate this article but I thought it made some very valid points. I hope the Board and the County Council humbly read this and make changes.

I had a kid in a regional CES years ago and then another kid attend years later. Definitely a difference in the quality of education after the magnet became more of a lottery process.

The lottery thing is so odd