Looking for a good Charter / public school for a 5th grader next year

[Anonymous]

Hi, My son goes to Seneca Academy in Darnestown, MD. But we are looking to go to a good public schools next year, as he can get the benefits of free testing for gifted and talented and also other benefits like no tution, or less tuition. Are there any good charter schools in Germantown area? Or do we have to belong to a cluster to get to a good charter school too?
No idea, I really need help in this, and I appreciate any advice .
thanks

[Anonymous]

No charters at all in Montgomery County, although one is in the works for elementary schoolers.

In fifth grade, he can apply for the GT magnet middle school (there are two programs, humanities and STEM). However, don't delay because the application due date is November 7 and this is the ONLY chance he will get to apply. If he doesn't, or doesn't get in, he will have to attend your local school.

[Anonymous]

What cluster are you in now? Wooton? Poolesville? Aren't the schools in that part of the county already good? What do your neighbors think of the elementary and middle school that you are zoned for?

It might be odd to switch in 5th grade for the last year of ES. Can you wait until MS at 6th grade?

[Anonymous]

Hi, thanks a lot for all the replies. Our cluster is Clarksburg, and all the kids in our neighborhood go to Littlebenette ES, or Clarksburg ES - both of which are really horrible, no exceptions. Middle school is Rocky Hill, nothing special about this school, and HS is Clarksburg. I've been hearing awful stories about this HS. My son is little bit concerned about being bullied also at these schools. At his school, they practically do not have any, any behavioural issues with any kids. Just that they do not have a Middle school, so I wanted him to get some taste of public school system before jumping into middle school. I've always seen Middle school children to be totally drawn into all kinds of stuff and cannot focus on their studeis.
And it does look like if he can make into GT, then he will have same kind of curriculum that he has currently. But cannot take a chance at the schools we have here. Need a lot of advice on how to handle this situation.

[Anonymous]

I don't know anything about those schools in particular but I find it hard to believe that they are "horrible, no exceptions." Really? What are you basing this on?

I have recently had the chance to see up close some middle schools that have pretty bad reputations in MCPS among anxious parents -- Eastern, Loiederman, SSIMS ... I've been really amazed at the achievements and maturity of many of the students there, as well as the quality and dedication of teaching.

Sure, there are some rough kids and some kids who don't care much about learning. But it is clear to me that kids who want to learn and do interesting things are nurtured, encouraged and supported.

If you are interested in shielding your child from any kind of behavioral issue, you probably would do better with a very small private school. If you choose a public middle school, your kid will hear bad language and crude references and see misbehavior -- this is also true in exclusive western moco schools. Look at the safety reports for MCPS middle schools in both east and west county -- it's very interesting.

But the idea that you "can't take a chance" on schools in Clarksburg ... that's just weird.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why you want to send him to public school when you seem to have a very low opinion of the schools in your area. Why not just keep him at Seneca for his last year, then find another private school?

[Anonymous]

Also, the idea that there's any substantive "free GT screening" is just false.

There's the HGC test but that has no bearing on your neighborhood school experience if you don't get into HGC.

[Anonymous]

Also, the idea that there's any substantive "free GT screening" is just false.

There's the HGC test but that has no bearing on your neighborhood school experience if you don't get into HGC.


Hi, what I meant by free GT screening is that if the kid is in the private schools, the parent has to keepup with the applications and the dates, and then have to separately get all the recommendation letters and all those from the private school teachers. I was under the impression that if the child is in the class, and the teacher has an opportunity to see the kid first hand and then recommend then they will have a chance, ofcourse the kid has to pass the test too. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

And another reason is, I can leave my DC there for 5th grade and move to next private school, but i also want my DC to see the bad behavior, so moving forward the kid knows what choices to make, and how the choices affect life. In Seneca Academy, i really like that the kids are very well behaved, but i feel they are also sheltered. I cannot decide which way.
thanks

[Anonymous]

No, that's not correct. You get recommendations from your child's teachers, whether they are in private or public. In public you still have to keep track of the application etc.

And you want your kid to experience bad behavior so he can make good choices?

You are nuts lady.

[Anonymous]

hahahahahha. Well I also think I will not have a choice to keep my kid in private schools once they are in High school, so do you think it would be good to drop them directly in HS?

[Anonymous]

I think making him transition to a new school next year and then transition AGAIN the following year into middle school is not a kind thing to do to your son. Let him have his final year with his friends and then transition him then.

Your thought process and ideas just seem so bizarre to me. If your child is in a supportive and challenging environment now he'll be fine in his next school. There will always be adjustments but I think you are overblowing the situation.

[Anonymous]

Interestingly, this OP has posted in a different thread that she's dissatisfied with Seneca Academy and doesn't think it's a good school. I also think she/he may have posted about sharing HCG materials. So I think she isn't happy with her current school. Very strange though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:hahahahahha. Well I also think I will not have a choice to keep my kid in private schools once they are in High school, so do you think it would be good to drop them directly in HS?

We "dropped" our DC directly in MCPS for high school, coming from a small private school and it's worked out great. I don't know anything about Clarksburg HS other than seeing the fabulous building and facilities but if your child is a top performer (which presumably he is if he is HGC) he can stick with honors and AP classes and probably do very well and be with a good group of kids.