Please explain how Silver Spring high school assignments work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking at houses in Silver Spring. I have a memory that your kids don't actually go to the high school that you're zoned for. Is that right? Do they go to the elementary and middle school that you're zoned for (unless you apply to a lottery or something)?

Others have decent points about upcoming boundary changes and whatnot, but to answer your question:

Yes, kids go to the zoned ES and MS unless they apply to a different program, whether criteria-based or lottery.

For HS, assuming either the DCC or NEC, your child would "rank" high schools during the fall of 8th grade. They will get their home high school if:

A) They rank it first; OR
B) If they rank it second and their first choice is not available

Within the DCC, historically Blair and Einstein have been the hardest to opt into. That's particularly true at the moment while Northwood is under construction and in a "holding school" but more kids might opt into Northwood once it has a beautiful new building, and it sounds like your kids are young enough that it will be done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the DCC schools have strengths and weaknesses. But realistically, MCPS is doing a program analysis and I wouldn't be surprised if the choice consortia are on the chopping block after it as they haven't really achieved what they were designed to, and they are an expense (all the additional bus routes). I also suspect we will begin to see a decrease in the number of academy programs.

So it's pretty much impossible to try to figure out the best fit.

If the DCC choice stays, you may also be surprised by what your child decides to prioritize. After open houses and presentations, my child applied to a couple of programs I had no idea they'd be interested in.

They have achieved what they were designed for.

Not really. If you look at the history of various integration programs, it is clear that the consortia were considered to be a tool for that and the DCC schools are not any more integrated than they were in the 1990s and outcomes haven't improved with the "smaller learning communities", which is the Clinton-era Department of Education program it was initially funded by.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/info/choice/updatedhistory-context.pdf

[Anonymous]

The area near Rock Creek Forest ES is assigned to BCC. We live at the beg. of Silver Spring and our road Spencer crosses over from Chevy Chase to Silver Spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking at houses in Silver Spring. I have a memory that your kids don't actually go to the high school that you're zoned for. Is that right? Do they go to the elementary and middle school that you're zoned for (unless you apply to a lottery or something)?

Your child can apply to another DCC school, but there’s a deadline and some schools have less room for others.

I had two go to our home school, Blair. One by choice and one because he came to live with us after it was too late for the choice process. My third child went to Northwood by choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There will also be new middle school and high school boundary lines/assignments starting in 2027 (your daughter's 6th grade year), by the way. So I wouldn't make any huge sacrifices for a given school because you never know if it will actually be the one she'll be assigned to by the time it's time for her to attend.

In Silver Spring?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There will also be new middle school and high school boundary lines/assignments starting in 2027 (your daughter's 6th grade year), by the way. So I wouldn't make any huge sacrifices for a given school because you never know if it will actually be the one she'll be assigned to by the time it's time for her to attend.

In Silver Spring?

Yes, all the DCC high schools and their feeder middle schools are included in the Woodward boundary study, as is BCC, which covers part of Silver Spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the DCC schools have strengths and weaknesses. But realistically, MCPS is doing a program analysis and I wouldn't be surprised if the choice consortia are on the chopping block after it as they haven't really achieved what they were designed to, and they are an expense (all the additional bus routes). I also suspect we will begin to see a decrease in the number of academy programs.

So it's pretty much impossible to try to figure out the best fit.

If the DCC choice stays, you may also be surprised by what your child decides to prioritize. After open houses and presentations, my child applied to a couple of programs I had no idea they'd be interested in.

They have achieved what they were designed for.

Not really. If you look at the history of various integration programs, it is clear that the consortia were considered to be a tool for that and the DCC schools are not any more integrated than they were in the 1990s and outcomes haven't improved with the "smaller learning communities", which is the Clinton-era Department of Education program it was initially funded by.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/info/choice/updatedhistory-context.pdf

In the 2004–05 school year, the Downcounty Consortium (DCC) opened. The SLC grant outlined the following goals for the DCC: 1) provide students with the opportunity to choose an academic or career program that is based on their identified post-secondary aptitudes and interests by creating a system of themed academics within the high schools of this region; 2) address the unique needs of entering freshmen, cause them to persist in their studies, and improve their post-secondary attainment levels by creating a system of programs, supports, and pathways within the freshman programs in each of these high schools; and 3) support increased levels of student performance by creating and sustaining professional learning communities within and across the faculties of DCC high schools.

Seems that they have achieved their goals.
DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There will also be new middle school and high school boundary lines/assignments starting in 2027 (your daughter's 6th grade year), by the way. So I wouldn't make any huge sacrifices for a given school because you never know if it will actually be the one she'll be assigned to by the time it's time for her to attend.

In Silver Spring?

Yes, all the DCC high schools and their feeder middle schools are included in the Woodward boundary study, as is BCC, which covers part of Silver Spring.

Only the tiniest slivers of downtown Silver Spring goes to BCC. It was a historically black neighborhood and low income apartments gerrymandered into BCC’s zone to integrate it to the point Bethesda successfully lobbied the central office to close rosemary hills in the early 80s when the county was closing schools from the population shrinkage. They only acquiesced when the feds threatened to pull county funding. Funny part is those historically modest homes in rosemary hills are now some of most expensive in Silver Spring (Woodside non-withstanding) and being snatched up not by lower SES people of color looking to get in to BCC for as cheap as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of the DCC schools have strengths and weaknesses. But realistically, MCPS is doing a program analysis and I wouldn't be surprised if the choice consortia are on the chopping block after it as they haven't really achieved what they were designed to, and they are an expense (all the additional bus routes). I also suspect we will begin to see a decrease in the number of academy programs.

So it's pretty much impossible to try to figure out the best fit.

If the DCC choice stays, you may also be surprised by what your child decides to prioritize. After open houses and presentations, my child applied to a couple of programs I had no idea they'd be interested in.

They have achieved what they were designed for.

Not really. If you look at the history of various integration programs, it is clear that the consortia were considered to be a tool for that and the DCC schools are not any more integrated than they were in the 1990s and outcomes haven't improved with the "smaller learning communities", which is the Clinton-era Department of Education program it was initially funded by.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/info/choice/updatedhistory-context.pdf

In the 2004–05 school year, the Downcounty Consortium (DCC) opened. The SLC grant outlined the following goals for the DCC: 1) provide students with the opportunity to choose an academic or career program that is based on their identified post-secondary aptitudes and interests by creating a system of themed academics within the high schools of this region; 2) address the unique needs of entering freshmen, cause them to persist in their studies, and improve their post-secondary attainment levels by creating a system of programs, supports, and pathways within the freshman programs in each of these high schools; and 3) support increased levels of student performance by creating and sustaining professional learning communities within and across the faculties of DCC high schools.

Seems that they have achieved their goals.
DP

Their real goal was to load balance the rapidly slipping economic demographics and prevent areas of the county from being no-man’s land real estate wise. If mom thinks they can opt out of the local high school but is happy with the elementary, vastly larger sections of the county’s real estate maintains it liquidity. The said programs are introduced and metered to engineer the flow of kids to where the central office feels they are needed. It’s an opt-in bussing program. That’s why the consortiums are all in bottom 2/3rds of ranked schools without one exception. People who think BCC will be added to the DCC are not thinking logically.

[Anonymous]

I would look for a school in the DCC or that feeds into BCC or that is close to Woodward (new school) and will likely feed in to that.

No NEC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking at houses in Silver Spring. I have a memory that your kids don't actually go to the high school that you're zoned for. Is that right? Do they go to the elementary and middle school that you're zoned for (unless you apply to a lottery or something)?

Others have decent points about upcoming boundary changes and whatnot, but to answer your question:

Yes, kids go to the zoned ES and MS unless they apply to a different program, whether criteria-based or lottery.

For HS, assuming either the DCC or NEC, your child would "rank" high schools during the fall of 8th grade. They will get their home high school if:

A) They rank it first; OR
B) If they rank it second and their first choice is not available

Within the DCC, historically Blair and Einstein have been the hardest to opt into. That's particularly true at the moment while Northwood is under construction and in a "holding school" but more kids might opt into Northwood once it has a beautiful new building, and it sounds like your kids are young enough that it will be done.

The boundary changes will be a light rebalancing to fill in a new school and balance out capacity nothing diametrically shattering. Buy where you like and can afford as most likely that is where you will go. A few streets or neighborhoods might fall into the winners/losers category but only a few. People act like it is a complete reconceptualization of the boundaries is more weird hope based than fact

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would look for a school in the DCC or that feeds into BCC or that is close to Woodward (new school) and will likely feed in to that.

No NEC

The DCC doesn’t feed BCC and aren't peered at any level. Woodward won’t feed BCC either as they just got a band new middle in silver creek. It most likely will be split articulation between WJ and Einstein.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking at houses in Silver Spring. I have a memory that your kids don't actually go to the high school that you're zoned for. Is that right? Do they go to the elementary and middle school that you're zoned for (unless you apply to a lottery or something)?

Others have decent points about upcoming boundary changes and whatnot, but to answer your question:

Yes, kids go to the zoned ES and MS unless they apply to a different program, whether criteria-based or lottery.

For HS, assuming either the DCC or NEC, your child would "rank" high schools during the fall of 8th grade. They will get their home high school if:

A) They rank it first; OR
B) If they rank it second and their first choice is not available

Within the DCC, historically Blair and Einstein have been the hardest to opt into. That's particularly true at the moment while Northwood is under construction and in a "holding school" but more kids might opt into Northwood once it has a beautiful new building, and it sounds like your kids are young enough that it will be done.

The boundary changes will be a light rebalancing to fill in a new school and balance out capacity nothing diametrically shattering. Buy where you like and can afford as most likely that is where you will go. A few streets or neighborhoods might fall into the winners/losers category but only a few. People act like it is a complete reconceptualization of the boundaries is more weird hope based than fact

Opening two new high schools the same year is hardly "a light rebalancing."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look for a school in the DCC or that feeds into BCC or that is close to Woodward (new school) and will likely feed in to that.

No NEC

The DCC doesn’t feed BCC and aren't peered at any level. Woodward won’t feed BCC either as they just got a band new middle in silver creek. It most likely will be split articulation between WJ and Einstein.

That's what pp said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There will also be new middle school and high school boundary lines/assignments starting in 2027 (your daughter's 6th grade year), by the way. So I wouldn't make any huge sacrifices for a given school because you never know if it will actually be the one she'll be assigned to by the time it's time for her to attend.

In Silver Spring?

Yes, all the DCC high schools and their feeder middle schools are included in the Woodward boundary study, as is BCC, which covers part of Silver Spring.

Only the tiniest slivers of downtown Silver Spring goes to BCC. It was a historically black neighborhood and low income apartments gerrymandered into BCC’s zone to integrate it to the point Bethesda successfully lobbied the central office to close rosemary hills in the early 80s when the county was closing schools from the population shrinkage. They only acquiesced when the feds threatened to pull county funding. Funny part is those historically modest homes in rosemary hills are now some of most expensive in Silver Spring (Woodside non-withstanding) and being snatched up not by lower SES people of color looking to get in to BCC for as cheap as possible.

Yes but it's also the closest geographic high-school to many parts of Silver Spring so it makes sense. In fact, BCC was originally part of the DCC until the parents were able to get the county to change this.