Woodward Boundary Study discussion at next BoE meeting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminder that school boundaries wouldn’t be such a blood sport if MCPS delivered the same product at each location and addressed safety issues across the district. We all know these schools aren’t equal but we pretend they are because many people on this board directly benefit from the inequality.

The only people who pretend the schools are equal are people in lesser schools. The high SES schools know better than anybody the differences. The muddled middle has a lot of parity, save a special program or two most of the DCC are about the same.

Actually, no the only people who pretend they're significantly different are misguided. The same opportunities exist at most every school. The same kid can get the exact same education at almost any MCPS school. Yes, there are minor differences in standardized test averages which stem largely from differences in demographics, but that's not the same thing as good. Why a student does well isn't so much the school but largely parental involvement which unfortunately isn't something the county can change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminder that school boundaries wouldn’t be such a blood sport if MCPS delivered the same product at each location and addressed safety issues across the district. We all know these schools aren’t equal but we pretend they are because many people on this board directly benefit from the inequality.

The only people who pretend the schools are equal are people in lesser schools. The high SES schools know better than anybody the differences. The muddled middle has a lot of parity, save a special program or two most of the DCC are about the same.

Actually, no the only people who pretend they're significantly different are misguided. The same opportunities exist at most every school. The same kid can get the exact same education at almost any MCPS school. Yes, there are minor differences in standardized test averages which stem largely from differences in demographics, but that's not the same thing as good. Why a student does well isn't so much the school but largely parental involvement which unfortunately isn't something the county can change.

"Parental involvement" means: household income and parental education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminder that school boundaries wouldn’t be such a blood sport if MCPS delivered the same product at each location and addressed safety issues across the district. We all know these schools aren’t equal but we pretend they are because many people on this board directly benefit from the inequality.

The only people who pretend the schools are equal are people in lesser schools. The high SES schools know better than anybody the differences. The muddled middle has a lot of parity, save a special program or two most of the DCC are about the same.

Actually, no the only people who pretend they're significantly different are misguided. The same opportunities exist at most every school. The same kid can get the exact same education at almost any MCPS school. Yes, there are minor differences in standardized test averages which stem largely from differences in demographics, but that's not the same thing as good. Why a student does well isn't so much the school but largely parental involvement which unfortunately isn't something the county can change.

"Parental involvement" means: household income and parental education.

Yes, this is what underlies these differences and why it's unlikely the county will have much success closing the achievement gap since nothing they do will impact those critical variables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminder that school boundaries wouldn’t be such a blood sport if MCPS delivered the same product at each location and addressed safety issues across the district. We all know these schools aren’t equal but we pretend they are because many people on this board directly benefit from the inequality.

The only people who pretend the schools are equal are people in lesser schools. The high SES schools know better than anybody the differences. The muddled middle has a lot of parity, save a special program or two most of the DCC are about the same.

Actually, no the only people who pretend they're significantly different are misguided. The same opportunities exist at most every school. The same kid can get the exact same education at almost any MCPS school. Yes, there are minor differences in standardized test averages which stem largely from differences in demographics, but that's not the same thing as good. Why a student does well isn't so much the school but largely parental involvement which unfortunately isn't something the county can change.

"Parental involvement" means: household income and parental education.

Yes, this is what underlies these differences and why it's unlikely the county will have much success closing the achievement gap since nothing they do will impact those critical variables.

It's always possible to find an excuse for inaction, if you look hard enough.

[Anonymous]

As i said in multiple posts on here the boundary study is going to impact all the schools and according to Seth Adams, who is not qualified for his job, it appears that it will.

According to Adams, the boundary study will look at “identifying the breadth of the study and what clusters of schools we’ll be looking at as we go through this lengthy process to determine the surface area of these two schools.”

For the current boundary study, MCPS officials will be focusing on Bethesda Chevy Chase, Montgomery Blair, Albert Einstein, Walter Johnson, John F. Kennedy, Northwood, Wheaton and Walt Whitman high schools. The study also includes the 14 middle schools associated with the high schools, Adams said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminder that school boundaries wouldn’t be such a blood sport if MCPS delivered the same product at each location and addressed safety issues across the district. We all know these schools aren’t equal but we pretend they are because many people on this board directly benefit from the inequality.

The only people who pretend the schools are equal are people in lesser schools. The high SES schools know better than anybody the differences. The muddled middle has a lot of parity, save a special program or two most of the DCC are about the same.

The only major difference between a high SES school and a low SES school is the demographics. MCPS academics are the same everywhere- yes, there are some differences in programs (a lot of the good ones are in the low SES schools, actually) and maybe foreign language options. The difference is demographics, demographics, demographics. Let me repeat.. demographics. A lot of the people in the high SES high schools are there because of that reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminder that school boundaries wouldn’t be such a blood sport if MCPS delivered the same product at each location and addressed safety issues across the district. We all know these schools aren’t equal but we pretend they are because many people on this board directly benefit from the inequality.

The only people who pretend the schools are equal are people in lesser schools. The high SES schools know better than anybody the differences. The muddled middle has a lot of parity, save a special program or two most of the DCC are about the same.

Actually, no the only people who pretend they're significantly different are misguided. The same opportunities exist at most every school. The same kid can get the exact same education at almost any MCPS school. Yes, there are minor differences in standardized test averages which stem largely from differences in demographics, but that's not the same thing as good. Why a student does well isn't so much the school but largely parental involvement which unfortunately isn't something the county can change.

"Parental involvement" means: household income and parental education.

Yes, this is what underlies these differences and why it's unlikely the county will have much success closing the achievement gap since nothing they do will impact those critical variables.

It's always possible to find an excuse for inaction, if you look hard enough.

Or an excuse to throw infinite money into a black hole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminder that school boundaries wouldn’t be such a blood sport if MCPS delivered the same product at each location and addressed safety issues across the district. We all know these schools aren’t equal but we pretend they are because many people on this board directly benefit from the inequality.

The only people who pretend the schools are equal are people in lesser schools. The high SES schools know better than anybody the differences. The muddled middle has a lot of parity, save a special program or two most of the DCC are about the same.

Actually, no the only people who pretend they're significantly different are misguided. The same opportunities exist at most every school. The same kid can get the exact same education at almost any MCPS school. Yes, there are minor differences in standardized test averages which stem largely from differences in demographics, but that's not the same thing as good. Why a student does well isn't so much the school but largely parental involvement which unfortunately isn't something the county can change.

tell me you go to a DCC or NCC school without saying it that is like saying all burger joints are the same because they all serve burgers and fires. the clientele, Facilites and the staff make all the difference. There are some restaurants most of us would never go in because of the people who frequent them, same could be said of some of the lower SES schools. If youre happy more power to you, I have one kid in a W and one in Private and I can tell you many W parents aren't super happy with MoCo either

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminder that school boundaries wouldn’t be such a blood sport if MCPS delivered the same product at each location and addressed safety issues across the district. We all know these schools aren’t equal but we pretend they are because many people on this board directly benefit from the inequality.

The only people who pretend the schools are equal are people in lesser schools. The high SES schools know better than anybody the differences. The muddled middle has a lot of parity, save a special program or two most of the DCC are about the same.

Actually, no the only people who pretend they're significantly different are misguided. The same opportunities exist at most every school. The same kid can get the exact same education at almost any MCPS school. Yes, there are minor differences in standardized test averages which stem largely from differences in demographics, but that's not the same thing as good. Why a student does well isn't so much the school but largely parental involvement which unfortunately isn't something the county can change.

tell me you go to a DCC or NCC school without saying it that is like saying all burger joints are the same because they all serve burgers and fires. the clientele, Facilites and the staff make all the difference. There are some restaurants most of us would never go in because of the people who frequent them, same could be said of some of the lower SES schools. If youre happy more power to you, I have one kid in a W and one in Private and I can tell you many W parents aren't super happy with MoCo either

What is a "lower SES school" please?

My child attends a school where about half of kids qualify for free and reduced meals. The facilities are beautiful, many teachers are good, the principal is very good, and honestly, I hope you never do go in the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminder that school boundaries wouldn’t be such a blood sport if MCPS delivered the same product at each location and addressed safety issues across the district. We all know these schools aren’t equal but we pretend they are because many people on this board directly benefit from the inequality.

The only people who pretend the schools are equal are people in lesser schools. The high SES schools know better than anybody the differences. The muddled middle has a lot of parity, save a special program or two most of the DCC are about the same.

Actually, no the only people who pretend they're significantly different are misguided. The same opportunities exist at most every school. The same kid can get the exact same education at almost any MCPS school. Yes, there are minor differences in standardized test averages which stem largely from differences in demographics, but that's not the same thing as good. Why a student does well isn't so much the school but largely parental involvement which unfortunately isn't something the county can change.

tell me you go to a DCC or NCC school without saying it that is like saying all burger joints are the same because they all serve burgers and fires. the clientele, Facilites and the staff make all the difference. There are some restaurants most of us would never go in because of the people who frequent them, same could be said of some of the lower SES schools. If youre happy more power to you, I have one kid in a W and one in Private and I can tell you many W parents aren't super happy with MoCo either

"Most of us"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminder that school boundaries wouldn’t be such a blood sport if MCPS delivered the same product at each location and addressed safety issues across the district. We all know these schools aren’t equal but we pretend they are because many people on this board directly benefit from the inequality.

The only people who pretend the schools are equal are people in lesser schools. The high SES schools know better than anybody the differences. The muddled middle has a lot of parity, save a special program or two most of the DCC are about the same.

Actually, no the only people who pretend they're significantly different are misguided. The same opportunities exist at most every school. The same kid can get the exact same education at almost any MCPS school. Yes, there are minor differences in standardized test averages which stem largely from differences in demographics, but that's not the same thing as good. Why a student does well isn't so much the school but largely parental involvement which unfortunately isn't something the county can change.

Disagree. If you are in a class with engaged students, answering questions, raising hands, participating with one another, that is not the same as being in a classroom where you are the only one sitting in the first row or two, without teacher redirection. The only student raising their hand. Repeatedly, until the teacher stops calling on you in hope that someone else will participate. Where students are not one their phones, or making noise, or banging on the walls or desks (yes, true story from my friend the substitute teacher). Let's not pretend the same opportunities to learn, or be in a safe environment in the halls or bathrooms or parking lot, present themselves at every school. A good student will have a much harder time with success IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminder that school boundaries wouldn’t be such a blood sport if MCPS delivered the same product at each location and addressed safety issues across the district. We all know these schools aren’t equal but we pretend they are because many people on this board directly benefit from the inequality.

The only people who pretend the schools are equal are people in lesser schools. The high SES schools know better than anybody the differences. The muddled middle has a lot of parity, save a special program or two most of the DCC are about the same.

Actually, no the only people who pretend they're significantly different are misguided. The same opportunities exist at most every school. The same kid can get the exact same education at almost any MCPS school. Yes, there are minor differences in standardized test averages which stem largely from differences in demographics, but that's not the same thing as good. Why a student does well isn't so much the school but largely parental involvement which unfortunately isn't something the county can change.

Disagree. If you are in a class with engaged students, answering questions, raising hands, participating with one another, that is not the same as being in a classroom where you are the only one sitting in the first row or two, without teacher redirection. The only student raising their hand. Repeatedly, until the teacher stops calling on you in hope that someone else will participate. Where students are not one their phones, or making noise, or banging on the walls or desks (yes, true story from my friend the substitute teacher). Let's not pretend the same opportunities to learn, or be in a safe environment in the halls or bathrooms or parking lot, present themselves at every school. A good student will have a much harder time with success IMO.

Let's not pretend that every student in Bethesda and Potomac is engaged and raising hands in class, while every student (except one per class) everywhere else is preparing themselves for a life in prison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminder that school boundaries wouldn’t be such a blood sport if MCPS delivered the same product at each location and addressed safety issues across the district. We all know these schools aren’t equal but we pretend they are because many people on this board directly benefit from the inequality.

The only people who pretend the schools are equal are people in lesser schools. The high SES schools know better than anybody the differences. The muddled middle has a lot of parity, save a special program or two most of the DCC are about the same.

Actually, no the only people who pretend they're significantly different are misguided. The same opportunities exist at most every school. The same kid can get the exact same education at almost any MCPS school. Yes, there are minor differences in standardized test averages which stem largely from differences in demographics, but that's not the same thing as good. Why a student does well isn't so much the school but largely parental involvement which unfortunately isn't something the county can change.

Disagree. If you are in a class with engaged students, answering questions, raising hands, participating with one another, that is not the same as being in a classroom where you are the only one sitting in the first row or two, without teacher redirection. The only student raising their hand. Repeatedly, until the teacher stops calling on you in hope that someone else will participate. Where students are not one their phones, or making noise, or banging on the walls or desks (yes, true story from my friend the substitute teacher). Let's not pretend the same opportunities to learn, or be in a safe environment in the halls or bathrooms or parking lot, present themselves at every school. A good student will have a much harder time with success IMO.

Let's not pretend that every student in Bethesda and Potomac is engaged and raising hands in class, while every student (except one per class) everywhere else is preparing themselves for a life in prison.

DP.. of course not, but chances are, there are more students in higher achieving schools who are engaged than the lower performing ones. And I don't live in a W cluster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

DP.. of course not, but chances are, there are more students in higher achieving schools who are engaged than the lower performing ones. And I don't live in a W cluster.

What is a "higher achieving school", and what exactly is it achieving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reminder that school boundaries wouldn’t be such a blood sport if MCPS delivered the same product at each location and addressed safety issues across the district. We all know these schools aren’t equal but we pretend they are because many people on this board directly benefit from the inequality.

The only people who pretend the schools are equal are people in lesser schools. The high SES schools know better than anybody the differences. The muddled middle has a lot of parity, save a special program or two most of the DCC are about the same.

Actually, no the only people who pretend they're significantly different are misguided. The same opportunities exist at most every school. The same kid can get the exact same education at almost any MCPS school. Yes, there are minor differences in standardized test averages which stem largely from differences in demographics, but that's not the same thing as good. Why a student does well isn't so much the school but largely parental involvement which unfortunately isn't something the county can change.

Disagree. If you are in a class with engaged students, answering questions, raising hands, participating with one another, that is not the same as being in a classroom where you are the only one sitting in the first row or two, without teacher redirection. The only student raising their hand. Repeatedly, until the teacher stops calling on you in hope that someone else will participate. Where students are not one their phones, or making noise, or banging on the walls or desks (yes, true story from my friend the substitute teacher). Let's not pretend the same opportunities to learn, or be in a safe environment in the halls or bathrooms or parking lot, present themselves at every school. A good student will have a much harder time with success IMO.

Look I get you to want to convince others of this folly because you paid extra for this "good" school, but AP English or Calc BC is the same everywhere. Sure, the school in the more affluent area may have 6 sections of AP English whereas others may have 4 but the same kid can do exactly the same at either school. And in MCPS don't try to pretend there's any real difference, kids are running around schools like Whitman and Churchill with knives this year and those schools also are infamous for the drug use.