leaving private for public

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in the same boat, and it breaks our heart to think about switching our kids from their small, nurturing, private school full of art, music, and physical activity into a large (700+) public with low test scores and a high percentage of FARMS. It is not the demographics we are concerned about as our current school is nearly 50% African American, but it is the sheer size, as well as the loss of the enrichment activities. Plus, our kids both have learning and attention issues, but are currently straight A students. I am worried sick that I won't be able to get the accommodations they need. I know parents who have had to fight tooth and nail for an IEP, and even then implementation seems to be very teacher specific. I know that DH and I must get on board with the switch before we see it to DC, but how do you pull your kids from a school they love and where they are succeeding?

I wish I could feel better about our public, but with NCLB, and the focus on testing, and the general overcrowding, I am worried my kids will simply fall through the cracks, and not reach their full potential.

How high is this "high" percentage of students who receive Free and Reduced Meals?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in the same boat, and it breaks our heart to think about switching our kids from their small, nurturing, private school full of art, music, and physical activity into a large (700+) public with low test scores and a high percentage of FARMS. It is not the demographics we are concerned about as our current school is nearly 50% African American, but it is the sheer size, as well as the loss of the enrichment activities. Plus, our kids both have learning and attention issues, but are currently straight A students. I am worried sick that I won't be able to get the accommodations they need. I know parents who have had to fight tooth and nail for an IEP, and even then implementation seems to be very teacher specific. I know that DH and I must get on board with the switch before we see it to DC, but how do you pull your kids from a school they love and where they are succeeding?

I wish I could feel better about our public, but with NCLB, and the focus on testing, and the general overcrowding, I am worried my kids will simply fall through the cracks, and not reach their full potential.

How high is this "high" percentage of students who receive Free and Reduced Meals?

If it's Montgomery County, Schools at Glance contains all of that data:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in the same boat, and it breaks our heart to think about switching our kids from their small, nurturing, private school full of art, music, and physical activity into a large (700+) public with low test scores and a high percentage of FARMS. It is not the demographics we are concerned about as our current school is nearly 50% African American, but it is the sheer size, as well as the loss of the enrichment activities. Plus, our kids both have learning and attention issues, but are currently straight A students. I am worried sick that I won't be able to get the accommodations they need. I know parents who have had to fight tooth and nail for an IEP, and even then implementation seems to be very teacher specific. I know that DH and I must get on board with the switch before we see it to DC, but how do you pull your kids from a school they love and where they are succeeding?

I wish I could feel better about our public, but with NCLB, and the focus on testing, and the general overcrowding, I am worried my kids will simply fall through the cracks, and not reach their full potential.

How high is this "high" percentage of students who receive Free and Reduced Meals?

Nearly 40%. And the middle school, which where our DD would be going in two years is 60%, and a fairly sizable suspension rate. The elementary school is currently 300 over capacity and is one of the largest in MoCo. I don't know, maybe homeschooling is the way to go, although I'm not sure that would be best for them either. As far as magnets go, we are looking at the GT programs as well as the LDGT programs, but they are incredibly hard to get into, and I suspect they will become increasingly more competitive as more families consider pulling out of private. Anyone want to pool resources and start a little secular home-school? I think I am half serious!

[Anonymous]

I'm curious about which private schools people have their kids in. I had mine in a private Christian school. The small class size was wonderful, but the academics were not nearly as rigorous as those in the MoCo curriculum. Art class was better in private, but music is better in public.

Overall, I would say the biggest issue we faced was that different curriculums have kids learning certain skills at different points. Catching my kids up on those that MoCo did at a younger age than in our schools was a lot of work.

As to friends, it is always a challenge for kids to break into existing groups. So, that takes some time.

Finally, someone mentioned a trip to Hershey Park. We found this great small amusement park and swimming pool that cost $10 per person to get in last summer and there were no lines for any of the rides. In fact, sometimes we were the only ones on a ride, so they would run it as many times as we asked without us ever having to get off. It doesn't have the big exciting rides that Hershey has, but the perk of not waiting in lines all day more than made up for it given that my kids were in third and kindergarten. It is in Johnstown PA.

[Anonymous]

I predict there will be a LOT of people in this boat in the current economy. It should be very interesting what the ramifications are - especially in some of the wealthier school districts, at least in DC. If enough people leave private for public, then there will be fewer spots for OOB transfers. OTOH, some parents may find themselves competing for placements in the most sought-after charters relying on blind luck for the first time in their adult lives. After all, no amount of powerful connections will raise your lottery number. Over all though, more public students in the DC schools will be a good thing for the system as a whole -- assuming Michelle Rhee continues her reforms.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you are even semi-serious about gettnig a group of people together for a homeschool group, you should check out the BWHE yahoogroup. (Baltimore Washington Home Education).

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BWHE

Also- Montgomery Home Learning Network

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MHLNnet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because of the economy and other issues we think we will leave private school and start public school next year. It would be great to hear from other parents who've made the switch (dc would be entering 3rd & 6th grades in MoCo). Was it a hard transition? The upside, besides not paying tuition, is that dc would have classmates nearby. The downside is that they'd miss all the extras they've enjoyed at private school. I guess I'm looking for a way to make this switch as easy as possible on dc.

With the money you save you can pay for the extras! that is what I did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, by extras I mean the art, music and sports that they get, but also the small classes and the sense that they are not falling through the cracks.

If you are the OP, you said kids are in 3rd and 6th grade? In MoCo all kids get art, music, PE, at our school (which is math and sci magnet) kids also get computers and science lab. Don't know if those last 2 would exist in every MoCo school. In 4th and above, the music includes choral and instrumental music opportunities. Our school also organizes afterschool clubs which include sports, theater, and other activities. FLES (foreign language in elementary school) is available 1 morning a week for a modest extra tuition.

So, check your local school to see how many of these "extras" you'll really be missing from private school.