I Know This Has Been Discussed Before But Please Indulge Me... (MD School-Related)

[Anonymous]

I have had a good friend who is a MS Teacher tell me that middle school basically sucks for everyone - by that she meant its a really tough age for kids - they are going thru so many changes hormonal etc. The Teacher says its hard to motivate the kids and the kids are into social grouping and pressures that relate to that. So she said even if you are a wealthy neighborhood, you are going to find MS challenging on a variety of different levels. Granted having your child feel save is important but there are going to be challenge related to the age just about every where.

[Anonymous]

This has been on my mind a great deal lately. I have a younger student at woodlin (also live in Woodside Park) and we love Silver Spring. When I see the overcrowding in the BCC schools, it makes me question our longer term plan to move a mile up East-West Hwy to get into that district. It is really tough stuff.

[Anonymous]

We also feed into Sligo/Einstein. I'm ok with Einstein and unsure about Sligo. I think we will likely stay. Just doesn't seem worth it to uproot the kids since, as another poster pointed out, MS is just a hard time. And it's only three years. I've also heard that most of the discipline problems are in the regular tract classes so if your kids are in advanced classes there is less of a concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same here! I'm a PP -we live in Takoma Park and love it but we need a bigger house and are getting priced out of TP. Very curious as to what is so bad about Sligo MS? Anybody?

Sligo has deteriorated remarkably in the last few years and I attribute it to the leadership at the school (or lack of). He is a very polished guy, but there have been a massive staff departure at the school (like 50%?), and the teachers I spoke to all indicated that they were leaving because of the principal and lack of support from the administration.
Several parents have written to Bronda Mills, but she supports principal and looks polished too.
The teachers themselves are pretty great, though I was really sorry to see so many go.
Consistently good are veteran Band and Spanish teachers and English generally. After that it is hit or miss.

4 years ago I was ok with Sligo, but by last year, I wished I pushed harder for my second to go to Eastern Magnet.

Even with all that said, I'd stay in Woodside. Middle school years are hard everywhere (except maybe pyle?). Newport has problems. Friends who took their kids to private schools have problems.

AND then it ends. We are so happy at Einstein. Night and day!! And I hear this over and over from parents of high-schoolers.

Come to Oct 8 open house, and Oct 10 PTSA meeting. the latter will probably give you a better sense. Eavesdrop small clusters of parents as they leave...

[Anonymous]

Sligo also will probably change again. This area is changing and there is a good chance there will be a new principal by the time your kids are there.

[Anonymous]

My friend's DD inadvertently ticked off a group of girls who waited for her after school and beat her up. Nothing serious, just emotionally traumatizing, she did not want to return to school.

Wow. "Nothing serious" for me does not describe "emotionally traumatizing" and getting beat up by a group of students. If that happened to my kid, we would be out of that school in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Same here! I'm a PP -we live in Takoma Park and love it but we need a bigger house and are getting priced out of TP. Very curious as to what is so bad about Sligo MS? Anybody?

Sligo has deteriorated remarkably in the last few years and I attribute it to the leadership at the school (or lack of). He is a very polished guy, but there have been a massive staff departure at the school (like 50%?), and the teachers I spoke to all indicated that they were leaving because of the principal and lack of support from the administration.
Several parents have written to Bronda Mills, but she supports principal and looks polished too.
The teachers themselves are pretty great, though I was really sorry to see so many go.
Consistently good are veteran Band and Spanish teachers and English generally. After that it is hit or miss.

4 years ago I was ok with Sligo, but by last year, I wished I pushed harder for my second to go to Eastern Magnet.

Even with all that said, I'd stay in Woodside. Middle school years are hard everywhere (except maybe pyle?). Newport has problems. Friends who took their kids to private schools have problems.

AND then it ends. We are so happy at Einstein. Night and day!! And I hear this over and over from parents of high-schoolers.

Come to Oct 8 open house, and Oct 10 PTSA meeting. the latter will probably give you a better sense. Eavesdrop small clusters of parents as they leave...

OP here. Thanks for this post, it is really helpful, as are all the continuing posts on this thread. I really appreciate all this input! My DH and I still haven't decided what to do but this is making me feel a little more comfortable if we do end up staying in Woodside.

[Anonymous]

I don't know much about Sligo. My kids go to Pyle and each (3 of them) has had a great experience. I don't know one person who has not been impressed with Pyle.

[Anonymous]

Because at Pyle, all the universal middle school problems don't exist. No angst, no hormones, no mean girls, nothing.

[Anonymous]

Middle School was great for me growing up. Much better than the end years of elementary. Not everyone considers those years to be problematic.

[Anonymous]

Middle School is difficult, whether at Sligo or Pyle. My kids went to Pyle; daughter cried all the time (hormones) and son slacked ("Cs are ok, Mom"). Teachers seemed to think his getting Cs were ok, too. I wasn't and we ended up sending him to private school for HS rather than continue. So it depends - on your child as well as school and parents. DD did fine in Whitman where she found her niche. DS flourished elsewhere with small classes where he couldn't get away with slacking.

[Anonymous]

How much time do you have? We moved a while ago into Oakland/Newport/Einstein. In the last 5 years, Oakland's scores have substantially bridged the gap compared to the Kensington/CC schools. Add to that a incredible sense of community, great faculty and after school programs. I wouldn't move for any other elementary and even when I think about moving for middle school, I would hate for my younger child to miss out on Oakland.

Middle school is rough and I have heard the last few years have been rough on both Newport and Sligo. However, there is a movement of parents in the area trying to improve things. Participation in the movement has trickled down to the elementary PTA so there is more of a voice re: issues.

Finally, have been following Einstein. It has a great IB program for the students and has been on an upward trajectory for the last 5-7 years. About 7 years ago, around half of the students graduated in four years - the last couple of years has been 81% and every year gets better. There has been steady improvement in all scores and I think that will continue based on the number of people in my neighborhood who plan to stay.

[Anonymous]

If it aint broke, don't fix it. If you love what you've got, stick with it. I have a child with social skills deficits. We moved (from out of state) and it has been really hard for my child. Some kids move easier than others. Given your child's age, I think she would probably do OK with a move, but if you already have those concerns and you love where you are and the house you found (which will be bigger in woodside than same cost house in WJ or BCC) then go for it. Woodside is beautiful and walkable. You won't find walkable as easily in the western suburbs. Good luck with your decision.

[Anonymous]

I know 2 teachers at Sligo and they both hate the principal.