What is it like sending your DC to a majority/plurality asian school?(Churchill/Wootton area)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, they are more competitive. Cold Spring CES scores are always really high compared to the other CES. In some of these ESs, 100% of the students are in compacted math, so if your DC is just average or even above average, your DC will be considered "slow".

True. I'm glad DC is finished with Cold Spring. The challenging academics were great, but not worth the significant downside socially imo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kinda racist but yes, it is much more stressful for the kids, especially at the high school level. DD will be a 12th grader in the fall at Wootton high school and I am super happy for her that she can finally get out of the school. The environment is so toxic, cutthroat, and competitive. She is an above average student but had struggled so much in her classes because she always felt so dumb even though she was a great student. It is hard for her to be active in the community as well since everyone is fighting so hard for the leadership positions in student activities. Trust me, I never would thought that these problems could arise after we researched for so long trying to find the right schools. I doubt it is that bad at the elementary or middle school level though. Would have preferred to send DD to QO, RM, or even Churchill which all seem much more well-rounded. Obviously for some students this type of environment is good but for others it can be horrible.

Not that bad - unless you are in the running for any 'gifted' or 'magnet' programs. There are kids prepped for the test starting in the summer before 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

I’m in the Wootton cluster. It’s not that the population is largely Asian, it’s that the parents are mostly immigrants. Chinese, Korean, Indian, Pakistani, middle eastern, Russian.

The parent groups are largely insular. The kids are expected to be high performing. Their behavior outside of grades seems largely ignored, particularly for the boys. I’m sure many kids are lovely. But many have significant issues. Drugs and theft are prevalent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is this a troll? This is a realistic question in my mind. OP, it might make a small difference but these demographics shouldn't be what prevents you from buying in one of those elementaries' neighborhoods .

Why?

Not OP, but I absolutely think this is a reasonable question and I don't think it's a bit racist. There are certainly cultural differences between schools that are majority white vs. majority Hispanic vs. majority [insert race here]. Not to imply that these differences are bad, but there could be differences that OP should be aware of. It's not entirely different from asking what to expect if you send your kids to school in England. There are going to be cultural differences.

Further, in no way is this question racist. The OP asked if there as a difference and the example she provided (being more competitive) is not routinely considered a undesirable trait -- one could certainly argue that being highly competitive is a considered a positive trait in the US. Now, if she had assumed something bad or something stupidly stereotypical -- like "will my kids be expected to use chopsticks and eat tofu?" or "will my kids be hit by cars in the parking lots because of the parents' poor driving skills?" Those are racist questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kinda racist but yes, it is much more stressful for the kids, especially at the high school level. DD will be a 12th grader in the fall at Wootton high school and I am super happy for her that she can finally get out of the school. The environment is so toxic, cutthroat, and competitive. She is an above average student but had struggled so much in her classes because she always felt so dumb even though she was a great student. It is hard for her to be active in the community as well since everyone is fighting so hard for the leadership positions in student activities. Trust me, I never would thought that these problems could arise after we researched for so long trying to find the right schools. I doubt it is that bad at the elementary or middle school level though. Would have preferred to send DD to QO, RM, or even Churchill which all seem much more well-rounded. Obviously for some students this type of environment is good but for others it can be horrible.

My kid's middle school (Rocky Hill MS) is plurality Asian-heritage students, and it's not like that. Maybe an Asian-heritage plurality is not the cause of the things you dislike about Wootton.

Haha, I was going to come and say the same thing about Wilson Wims and Hallie Wells where my kids go . Go Clarksburg!! :)

Thank goodness! My kids will be going to Rocky Hill as well and I'm just glad there isn't that crazy cutthroat environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kinda racist but yes, it is much more stressful for the kids, especially at the high school level. DD will be a 12th grader in the fall at Wootton high school and I am super happy for her that she can finally get out of the school. The environment is so toxic, cutthroat, and competitive. She is an above average student but had struggled so much in her classes because she always felt so dumb even though she was a great student. It is hard for her to be active in the community as well since everyone is fighting so hard for the leadership positions in student activities. Trust me, I never would thought that these problems could arise after we researched for so long trying to find the right schools. I doubt it is that bad at the elementary or middle school level though. Would have preferred to send DD to QO, RM, or even Churchill which all seem much more well-rounded. Obviously for some students this type of environment is good but for others it can be horrible.

How do you know your DD's experience would have been any different at another MoCo school with different demographics? You don't, but it's easy to assume that the "problem" is the Asian kids. Yeah, that's "kinda racist."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kinda racist but yes, it is much more stressful for the kids, especially at the high school level. DD will be a 12th grader in the fall at Wootton high school and I am super happy for her that she can finally get out of the school. The environment is so toxic, cutthroat, and competitive. She is an above average student but had struggled so much in her classes because she always felt so dumb even though she was a great student. It is hard for her to be active in the community as well since everyone is fighting so hard for the leadership positions in student activities. Trust me, I never would thought that these problems could arise after we researched for so long trying to find the right schools. I doubt it is that bad at the elementary or middle school level though. Would have preferred to send DD to QO, RM, or even Churchill which all seem much more well-rounded. Obviously for some students this type of environment is good but for others it can be horrible.

How do you know your DD's experience would have been any different at another MoCo school with different demographics? You don't, but it's easy to assume that the "problem" is the Asian kids. Yeah, that's "kinda racist."

I've heard the same things said about Whitman.

[Anonymous]

Asian is too big a category anyway. It includes North Indian Sikhs and people from mainland China.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is this a troll? This is a realistic question in my mind. OP, it might make a small difference but these demographics shouldn't be what prevents you from buying in one of those elementaries' neighborhoods .

Why?

Not OP, but I absolutely think this is a reasonable question and I don't think it's a bit racist. There are certainly cultural differences between schools that are majority white vs. majority Hispanic vs. majority [insert race here]. Not to imply that these differences are bad, but there could be differences that OP should be aware of. It's not entirely different from asking what to expect if you send your kids to school in England. There are going to be cultural differences.

Further, in no way is this question racist. The OP asked if there as a difference and the example she provided (being more competitive) is not routinely considered a undesirable trait -- one could certainly argue that being highly competitive is a considered a positive trait in the US. Now, if she had assumed something bad or something stupidly stereotypical -- like "will my kids be expected to use chopsticks and eat tofu?" or "will my kids be hit by cars in the parking lots because of the parents' poor driving skills?" Those are racist questions.

I'm a bit flummoxed at the idea that "highly competitive" is not stereotypical here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kinda racist but yes, it is much more stressful for the kids, especially at the high school level. DD will be a 12th grader in the fall at Wootton high school and I am super happy for her that she can finally get out of the school. The environment is so toxic, cutthroat, and competitive. She is an above average student but had struggled so much in her classes because she always felt so dumb even though she was a great student. It is hard for her to be active in the community as well since everyone is fighting so hard for the leadership positions in student activities. Trust me, I never would thought that these problems could arise after we researched for so long trying to find the right schools. I doubt it is that bad at the elementary or middle school level though. Would have preferred to send DD to QO, RM, or even Churchill which all seem much more well-rounded. Obviously for some students this type of environment is good but for others it can be horrible.

I find it hilarious that you think Churchill is well-rounded.

what does well rounded mean? Do these kids just study all day and do not do an instrument, take a language, be involved in drama/arts, volunteer in a community, do a sport? From what I know of kids in the W schools, they are pretty well rounded to me. If your racist implication is that Asians aren't well-rounded, you're dead wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Asian is too big a category anyway. It includes North Indian Sikhs and people from mainland China.

And Russia among other countries!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kinda racist but yes, it is much more stressful for the kids, especially at the high school level. DD will be a 12th grader in the fall at Wootton high school and I am super happy for her that she can finally get out of the school. The environment is so toxic, cutthroat, and competitive. She is an above average student but had struggled so much in her classes because she always felt so dumb even though she was a great student. It is hard for her to be active in the community as well since everyone is fighting so hard for the leadership positions in student activities. Trust me, I never would thought that these problems could arise after we researched for so long trying to find the right schools. I doubt it is that bad at the elementary or middle school level though. Would have preferred to send DD to QO, RM, or even Churchill which all seem much more well-rounded. Obviously for some students this type of environment is good but for others it can be horrible.

The sad thing about Cold Spring CES is it's gone downhill. Barely any kids from there cut the muster with middle school STEM magnet in Takoma. I heard it's because the new testing methodology mostly eliminates the advantages of the preppers had in years past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Asian is too big a category anyway. It includes North Indian Sikhs and people from mainland China.

And Russia among other countries!

True!

[Anonymous]

I would imagine if you went to a school where most kids did Kumon or something similar, then your child would be at a disadvantage if you did not also have them do that. That could be an additional expense if you have multiple children over multiple years. Certainly worth factoring into the equation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kinda racist but yes, it is much more stressful for the kids, especially at the high school level. DD will be a 12th grader in the fall at Wootton high school and I am super happy for her that she can finally get out of the school. The environment is so toxic, cutthroat, and competitive. She is an above average student but had struggled so much in her classes because she always felt so dumb even though she was a great student. It is hard for her to be active in the community as well since everyone is fighting so hard for the leadership positions in student activities. Trust me, I never would thought that these problems could arise after we researched for so long trying to find the right schools. I doubt it is that bad at the elementary or middle school level though. Would have preferred to send DD to QO, RM, or even Churchill which all seem much more well-rounded. Obviously for some students this type of environment is good but for others it can be horrible.

The sad thing about Cold Spring CES is it's gone downhill. Barely any kids from there cut the muster with middle school STEM magnet in Takoma. I heard it's because the new testing methodology mostly eliminates the advantages of the preppers had in years past.

It hasn’t gone downhill, it’s just that MCPS believes the school can address advanced learners without needing to send someone to a magnet.