Exactly what are the reasons MCPS are going down the toilet and what areas will be hit hardest?

[Anonymous]

People love to complain about MCPS. Some schools are doing much better than in the past (like Einstein) and many of the schools that were considered most desirable are not doing as well as they have in the past.

Overall, it probably nets out about the same.

[Anonymous]

"7. Horrendous capacity planning- yes, agreed. although I'm glad to hear that they've stopped building in some areas. "

The moratorium is a bit of a joke. Anything already approved gets to go through, and much that was approved even decades ago, is still grandfathered in. And sometimes the County Council puts money for a placeholder in, so building take continue. In a year, when Woodward will be in the CIP for example, the building continues. But it never really stopped...

the capacity planning is awful because they have bad data and their predictions are wrong, despite their claim of 99% accuracy. Sure, some schools will be 99% accurate, and others would be 60% accurate. And, the other piece, is that mcps does not have enough funding to build all the capacity needed. Nor could they solve this problem by bussing, despite what some people continue to say. It would cost too much money, and there really isn't that much capacity available nearby. They're not going to move kids for 40 seats, because the next year those seats might not be available. There would need to be hundreds of seats available to move kids. Plus huge increase in busing would have a horrible impact on traffic, which is already awful.

[Anonymous]

So now it is racial discrimation to try to undo racial discrimination?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So now it is racial discrimation to try to undo racial discrimination?

Except it isn’t. It’s simply switching to systems that no longer guarantee a pipeline from certain ES to MS magnets.

Look we know that the lose of privilege can feel like injustice, so we are here for you to help you unpack your feelings and adjust to new ways that don’t revolve around you getting what you perceive you are entitled to. It won’t be easy, but we have faith that you can do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has been going down for the past 10 years.

1. Curriculum 2.0 fiasco. Parents and teachers hated it and complained but MCPS didn't listen. The John Hopkins audit validated all the complaints and said it was a disaster so now they are finally get rid of it. The whole thing really tanked MCPS' reputation. Parents no longer raved about the school. The elementary school grading process with everything being a P was a joke. The year it rolled out when they ended math acceleration kids who had been taking classes 2 years ahead and performing very well were sent back to repeat a remedial and laughably easy 2.0 class. Compacted math was a small comprise but still very behind the prior math acceleration pathway. This started to tip the scales toward VA and Howard county for people looking for good schools and sent others into privates.

2. Scandals. MCPS is truly unique in the sheer number and frequency of employee predators in the system. Issues of MCPS hiding predators or ignoring problems are on the same level as the Catholic Church. There have been so many incident. The one that stick out in my mind was when the middle school girl reported being molested by her teacher and the principal sent her back to his classroom. No punishment or consequences for the principal, just a "misstep". Bad management from Starr and then Smith in not getting rid of people who are a risk to kids and allowing staff to cover up crimes is a big black mark.

3. Plummeting test scores and performance with incompetent attempts to cover it up. Combination of changing demographics and bad curriculum. MCPS wants to blame the dropping scores on the changing demographics but the bad curriculum has had a far greater impact. MCPS focused more on hiding the problem than solving it. Kids failing Algebra exams at increasing rates? Lets not look at the new curriculum, lets just remove final exams so it won't be public.

4. Racial discrimination in the magnets. The new policy to reduce Asian American student representation in magnets is heinous and will drive high performing Asian American to other systems. This in turn will lower test scores.

5. Increasing poverty. MCPS has not responded to this very well. MCPS interpreted restorative justice process to mean not expelling dangerous, violent kids. Victims get to sit next to their attackers the next day.

6. Poor facilities management. Lead and mold way above EPA guidelines in elementary schools, ceilings with holes and leaks, plumbing problems, HVAC problems.

7. Horrendous capacity planning and forecasting.

8. Acrimonious relationship with the community and parents. MCPS motto " we don't care, were just here for our paycheck".

As to which areas will be hit the hardest? All of them. There is an ignorant lets cut off our nose to spite out face behavior going on in TP/Silver Spring. Some think that they will benefit if they can push changes that take down the W schools where they couldn't afford to live. This is short sighted because changes that hurt the W schools will hurt them too. Their property values won't rise if the top schools evaporate. In fact, the SS/TP schools will go down first because they are more on the edge.

Painting TP and SS with such a broad brush tells me you don't know what you are talking about and have a grudge or an agenda. Clearly areas of those places are trending upward and have been for years. You obviously don't follow the market.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP check out the VA school forum and you'll see the same paranoia. MoCo schools aren't going to crap but feel free to look at GS ratings to answer your question. You seem to be the type that would be interested in only those ratings.

The entitled people aren’t getting what they want, but can’t afford private because they spent all their money on a mortgage for a sh*tshack zoned for a W.

And the "poors" are so beyond jealous that other people in this world are doing better than them. With this, they are intent on helping to bring down any school that they deem to be better than where their child presently attends. Everything Op, and I mean everything, in MCPS and for that matter, Montgomery County is now about race first, then money. If you have money and can afford a safe, nice neighborhood your are over achieving and a closet bigot. But isn't this what you with your post and anyone who purchases a house wants? A safe place to raise our family in and the best teachers we can provide them, but to get this in a neighborhood you need parents who are actively involved in their children's education on a daily basis, every single day, every single evening. If you are in a school district where there is not that type of parental involvement, then your child will be doomed. It does take a village to have a successful school family. The only thing you will see on this board with your question is people questioning your motive for asking what used to be a very important question when making one of the biggest selections of your adult life, your home. I'm sorry, but that is the truth. Jealously abounds here and most will not be happy until everyone is in the same boat as them, there is not room for success in MCPS for any family without judgement by those who feel angry about their situation in life. Op, under no circumstances would I purchase in MC at this point, it is worst, and will continue to go downhill, the voters have voted for the same continuation of failed policies and social justice experiments that have not and never will work.

[Anonymous]

Its been terrible for 40+ years and just riding on old reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its been terrible for 40+ years and just riding on old reputation.

I have to admit, I kinda of agree with this, it's been going downhill for sometime now. Lived in the County (moved last year) for 30 years and raised my DC there. There's a lot about MC that is now firmly in the "good old days" book of life and that includes the schools. To go from number one in the country to where's my curriculum is just beyond sad and I don't see them doing anything of any true value to right the ship. The reason we left was that we were seeing a decline (although subtle) in property values and watching the majority of those living in our neighborhood using private schools, at elementary school age. While a good number of people I know used private school for high school, it was almost never done in the lower grades and that was a big factor in us deciding to leave when we did, to keep the value we had created in our property and get out before we lost money. The naysayers can say what they will but when the majority of your neighbors are using private over public (and most had to sacrifice to do so) then there is obviously something seriously wrong with the public school program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its been terrible for 40+ years and just riding on old reputation.

I have to admit, I kinda of agree with this, it's been going downhill for sometime now. Lived in the County (moved last year) for 30 years and raised my DC there. There's a lot about MC that is now firmly in the "good old days" book of life and that includes the schools. To go from number one in the country to where's my curriculum is just beyond sad and I don't see them doing anything of any true value to right the ship. The reason we left was that we were seeing a decline (although subtle) in property values and watching the majority of those living in our neighborhood using private schools, at elementary school age. While a good number of people I know used private school for high school, it was almost never done in the lower grades and that was a big factor in us deciding to leave when we did, to keep the value we had created in our property and get out before we lost money. The naysayers can say what they will but when the majority of your neighbors are using private over public (and most had to sacrifice to do so) then there is obviously something seriously wrong with the public school program.

Exact opposite happened in my neighborhood. But if you moved, why are you still lurking on forums? You seem out of touch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its been terrible for 40+ years and just riding on old reputation.

I have to admit, I kinda of agree with this, it's been going downhill for sometime now. Lived in the County (moved last year) for 30 years and raised my DC there. There's a lot about MC that is now firmly in the "good old days" book of life and that includes the schools. To go from number one in the country to where's my curriculum is just beyond sad and I don't see them doing anything of any true value to right the ship. The reason we left was that we were seeing a decline (although subtle) in property values and watching the majority of those living in our neighborhood using private schools, at elementary school age. While a good number of people I know used private school for high school, it was almost never done in the lower grades and that was a big factor in us deciding to leave when we did, to keep the value we had created in our property and get out before we lost money. The naysayers can say what they will but when the majority of your neighbors are using private over public (and most had to sacrifice to do so) then there is obviously something seriously wrong with the public school program.

Interesting... PP which neighborhood are you in where majority of your neighbors are using private? Must be nice to be able to afford it. I must be poor because in the 3 neighborhoods that I've lived in, everyone goes to public and have been happy with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP check out the VA school forum and you'll see the same paranoia. MoCo schools aren't going to crap but feel free to look at GS ratings to answer your question. You seem to be the type that would be interested in only those ratings.

Exactly. Everyone seems to be having a collective flip-out over their school districts at the moment. The reality is, of course, things are neither wholly good nor wholly bad anywhere. Whether a school works for your kid is a personal thing. No one can figure out what you need except for you.

+1 There's a huge thread on the impending demise of Fairfax schools. Chill out OP, not sure what axe you have to grind, but while MCPS schools aren't perfect, they are working well for many families (including mine).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP check out the VA school forum and you'll see the same paranoia. MoCo schools aren't going to crap but feel free to look at GS ratings to answer your question. You seem to be the type that would be interested in only those ratings.

The entitled people aren’t getting what they want, but can’t afford private because they spent all their money on a mortgage for a sh*tshack zoned for a W.

And the "poors" are so beyond jealous that other people in this world are doing better than them. With this, they are intent on helping to bring down any school that they deem to be better than where their child presently attends. Everything Op, and I mean everything, in MCPS and for that matter, Montgomery County is now about race first, then money. If you have money and can afford a safe, nice neighborhood your are over achieving and a closet bigot. But isn't this what you with your post and anyone who purchases a house wants? A safe place to raise our family in and the best teachers we can provide them, but to get this in a neighborhood you need parents who are actively involved in their children's education on a daily basis, every single day, every single evening. If you are in a school district where there is not that type of parental involvement, then your child will be doomed. It does take a village to have a successful school family. The only thing you will see on this board with your question is people questioning your motive for asking what used to be a very important question when making one of the biggest selections of your adult life, your home. I'm sorry, but that is the truth. Jealously abounds here and most will not be happy until everyone is in the same boat as them, there is not room for success in MCPS for any family without judgement by those who feel angry about their situation in life. Op, under no circumstances would I purchase in MC at this point, it is worst, and will continue to go downhill, the voters have voted for the same continuation of failed policies and social justice experiments that have not and never will work.

OP here:. Personally, I give very little crap about the quality of the schools because we are DINKs and have 0 intent on ever having a kid. That being said, the only reason I'd care about schools is if their quality decline drives down property value. Yeah, that's selfish of me, I don't give a crap, I still pay taxes for your kids to go to school. The least I can get in return for my money is competent administration and results that keep property value unaffected.

[Anonymous]

OP, then if you don't give a crap then why start a thread asking for specific reasons of the percieved decline. If all you care about is home values then check out GS ratings. Stop back pedaling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has been going down for the past 10 years.

1. Curriculum 2.0 fiasco. Parents and teachers hated it and complained but MCPS didn't listen. The John Hopkins audit validated all the complaints and said it was a disaster so now they are finally get rid of it. The whole thing really tanked MCPS' reputation. Parents no longer raved about the school. The elementary school grading process with everything being a P was a joke. The year it rolled out when they ended math acceleration kids who had been taking classes 2 years ahead and performing very well were sent back to repeat a remedial and laughably easy 2.0 class. Compacted math was a small comprise but still very behind the prior math acceleration pathway. This started to tip the scales toward VA and Howard county for people looking for good schools and sent others into privates.

2. Scandals. MCPS is truly unique in the sheer number and frequency of employee predators in the system. Issues of MCPS hiding predators or ignoring problems are on the same level as the Catholic Church. There have been so many incident. The one that stick out in my mind was when the middle school girl reported being molested by her teacher and the principal sent her back to his classroom. No punishment or consequences for the principal, just a "misstep". Bad management from Starr and then Smith in not getting rid of people who are a risk to kids and allowing staff to cover up crimes is a big black mark.

3. Plummeting test scores and performance with incompetent attempts to cover it up. Combination of changing demographics and bad curriculum. MCPS wants to blame the dropping scores on the changing demographics but the bad curriculum has had a far greater impact. MCPS focused more on hiding the problem than solving it. Kids failing Algebra exams at increasing rates? Lets not look at the new curriculum, lets just remove final exams so it won't be public.

4. Racial discrimination in the magnets. The new policy to reduce Asian American student representation in magnets is heinous and will drive high performing Asian American to other systems. This in turn will lower test scores.

5. Increasing poverty. MCPS has not responded to this very well. MCPS interpreted restorative justice process to mean not expelling dangerous, violent kids. Victims get to sit next to their attackers the next day.

6. Poor facilities management. Lead and mold way above EPA guidelines in elementary schools, ceilings with holes and leaks, plumbing problems, HVAC problems.

7. Horrendous capacity planning and forecasting.

8. Acrimonious relationship with the community and parents. MCPS motto " we don't care, were just here for our paycheck".

As to which areas will be hit the hardest? All of them. There is an ignorant lets cut off our nose to spite out face behavior going on in TP/Silver Spring. Some think that they will benefit if they can push changes that take down the W schools where they couldn't afford to live. This is short sighted because changes that hurt the W schools will hurt them too. Their property values won't rise if the top schools evaporate. In fact, the SS/TP schools will go down first because they are more on the edge.

Other than this, things are perfect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People love to complain about MCPS. Some schools are doing much better than in the past (like Einstein) and many of the schools that were considered most desirable are not doing as well as they have in the past.

Overall, it probably nets out about the same.

Please show us the data where Einstein is getting “better”. When was it a bad school?