Where do you consider MCPS high schools on a scale of good-bad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Very different schools... the main difference is the overall vibes of the school. QO is run by Kentlands, Lakelands, and Darnestown kids. NW is run by the citizens of Cinnamon woods. NW has robberies in the parking lot of their own school, this doesn't happen at QO and a riot would start if it did. Look similar on paper but completely different schools in reality. Have you seen the student bodies? NW is the next best thing if you can't afford the QO or Wootton area but definitely a level down for schools.

DP.. let me see if I understand.... the only reason QO is "better" is because it's run by richer people?

And how do you know that QO would start a riot if there were robberies in the parking lot?

QO parents are high maintenance. Not PP but maybe that was the reasoning? They are in very different areas though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Very different schools... the main difference is the overall vibes of the school. QO is run by Kentlands, Lakelands, and Darnestown kids. NW is run by the citizens of Cinnamon woods. NW has robberies in the parking lot of their own school, this doesn't happen at QO and a riot would start if it did. Look similar on paper but completely different schools in reality. Have you seen the student bodies? NW is the next best thing if you can't afford the QO or Wootton area but definitely a level down for schools.

DP.. let me see if I understand.... the only reason QO is "better" is because it's run by richer people?

And how do you know that QO would start a riot if there were robberies in the parking lot?

QO parents are high maintenance. Not PP but maybe that was the reasoning? They are in very different areas though.

Based on what first PP stated, QO sounds like one of those HSs you might see in those 80s teen movies like Pretty in Pink or something. Is there someone named Blane there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Very different schools... the main difference is the overall vibes of the school. QO is run by Kentlands, Lakelands, and Darnestown kids. NW is run by the citizens of Cinnamon woods. NW has robberies in the parking lot of their own school, this doesn't happen at QO and a riot would start if it did. Look similar on paper but completely different schools in reality. Have you seen the student bodies? NW is the next best thing if you can't afford the QO or Wootton area but definitely a level down for schools.

What am I supposed to be seeing? That there are more brown studies at Northwest?

Here's what I see when I look at Northwest students at dismissal time: high school students at dismissal time. In contrast to what I see when I look at Seneca Valley students at dismissal time, who look like: high school students at dismissal time. And when I look at Quince Orchard students at dismissal time, who look like: high school students at dismissal time. And for completeness - the Clarksburg students at dismissal time also look like high school students at dismissal time. Your kids (if you have high-school-aged kids), my kids, anybody's kids.

[Anonymous]

W schools are just segregated. Their test averages aren't lowered by the poverty that's present elsewhere. There's nothing special about this. It doesn't mean that a high-performed wouldn't find similar opportunities or a strong cohort at any other MCPS school. Further, they might develop a stronger empathy and compassion for others which isn't happening at places like Churchill where bullying and racism are rampant.

I agree and disagree with parts of this. The W schools are segregated and primarily UMC to wealthy which correlates in MD to race. Within the W schools though wealthy Africans, AA and hispanics do quite well. There simply are not enough wealthy AA and Hispanic residents in Montgomery County using the public schools. The DCC and other non-W schools are segregated to just in a different way. The segregation occurs within the school which is sad.

I have no experience with Churchill but sadly these racial incidents are happening everywhere including schools like those in the DCC. I suspect the PP is just one of the W haters so loves pushing any negative thing that happens at one. Racism in the form of stereotypes is in some ways more prevalent in DCC schools where so many of the POC are also lower income. At a school like WJ where there is more SES homogeny, kids see that AA and hispanic students as well as middle eastern, African and asian students do just as well as white students. In some ways, these kids will come out with a healthier view that all people are equal than the kids who were exposed daily to segregation within their own school.

I agree that a top high performing kid can do well anywhere but far more kids exist right below this bar. We all want to think that our child is gifted or a genius but many are simply slightly above average with potential. They are impressionable and could be top students with high expectations and peer influences but they can also go the other direction and just skate by having fun. This type of kids performs much better surrounded by a high performing cohort with fewer options find peers who are not interested in school.

[Anonymous]

Middle of the pack schools are RM, Clarksburg, NW, Sherwood, Einstein, and Blair. Not too high FARMs rates, good diversity, not too much wealth, full of middle class families. I think these are the best. Curriculum in MCPS is the same across the board so finding that ideal peer group and student body is what should be prioritized, not which schools have the least poor kids or which have the best test scores. That won't determine your child's success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I find it funny that so many people on this site denigrate Northwest as if it is ganglandia

Well, there are active gangs in some of the areas that feed NW and kids who drop out of NW to join gangs. I'm not saying that QO is academically a better or worse school than NW but the FARMS kids who go to QO and primarily come from Brown Station have not been associated with or involved in gang activity. You can't say the same for NW.

Gangs are real and they are scary. GHS, Wheaton and a few others have larger problems with active gangs. There is a Montgomery County gang task force that works with MCPS and focuses on particular schools so no the gang issue is not universal across MCPS.

I'm sure you have facts (references, sources) to back up the statement above....right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny bc svhs and NW are basically within a mile of each other on 118 (ish) yet 3 greatschool SES levels apart.

SO FAR YET SO CLOSE!

Northwest gets the kids from Darnestown and Boyds, the nicer part of Germantown. SVHS pulls from the rough neighborhoods.

I live in the "nicer" part of Germantown and if we stay where we are (we are renting), our kids will attend Northwest. From what I can tell, it is a good school. We would like to stay in the area and specifically in our current neighborhood (we are buying next year), but we are also considering neighborhoods zoned for Clarksburg and Quince Orchard.

I find it funny that so many people on this site denigrate Northwest as if it is ganglandia. Yet I see so many accolades for QO. When you look at the demographics of the school, the primary difference is that QO has a higher percentage of white students. The FARMS percentage for these schools are not far apart:

Quince Orchard: 21.3%
Northwest: 22.5%

Also, Northwest had a higher average for SAT scores for the 2017-2018 school year, 1145 to QO's 1134.

I think Seneca Valley has the potential to be a great school. Yes, it currently pulls from areas in Germantown that are densely populated (lots of apartments), but the upcoming boundary study will hopefully create 3 wonderful schools between Clarksburg and Germantown.

Here are the "At A Glance" Reports for both schools if you want to look for yourself:
Northwest: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04246.pdf
Quince Orchard: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04125.pdf

Very different schools... the main difference is the overall vibes of the school. QO is run by Kentlands, Lakelands, and Darnestown kids. NW is run by the citizens of Cinnamon woods. NW has robberies in the parking lot of their own school, this doesn't happen at QO and a riot would start if it did. Look similar on paper but completely different schools in reality. Have you seen the student bodies? NW is the next best thing if you can't afford the QO or Wootton area but definitely a level down for schools.

I see someone doesn't like the stats I posted showing just how similar the schools are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I agree and disagree with parts of this. The W schools are segregated and primarily UMC to wealthy which correlates in MD to race. Within the W schools though wealthy Africans, AA and hispanics do quite well. There simply are not enough wealthy AA and Hispanic residents in Montgomery County using the public schools. The DCC and other non-W schools are segregated to just in a different way. The segregation occurs within the school which is sad.

I have no experience with Churchill but sadly these racial incidents are happening everywhere including schools like those in the DCC. I suspect the PP is just one of the W haters so loves pushing any negative thing that happens at one. Racism in the form of stereotypes is in some ways more prevalent in DCC schools where so many of the POC are also lower income. At a school like WJ where there is more SES homogeny, kids see that AA and hispanic students as well as middle eastern, African and asian students do just as well as white students. In some ways, these kids will come out with a healthier view that all people are equal than the kids who were exposed daily to segregation within their own school.

I agree that a top high performing kid can do well anywhere but far more kids exist right below this bar. We all want to think that our child is gifted or a genius but many are simply slightly above average with potential. They are impressionable and could be top students with high expectations and peer influences but they can also go the other direction and just skate by having fun. This type of kids performs much better surrounded by a high performing cohort with fewer options find peers who are not interested in school.

Because kids have little or no contact with people who are different are MORE accepting of differences than kids who have lots of contact?

If your slightly-above-average kid must be kept from all contact with potential bad influences in order to be a "top student", then my advice is for you to home school. There are lots of different ways to be a bad influence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

W schools are just segregated. Their test averages aren't lowered by the poverty that's present elsewhere. There's nothing special about this. It doesn't mean that a high-performed wouldn't find similar opportunities or a strong cohort at any other MCPS school. Further, they might develop a stronger empathy and compassion for others which isn't happening at places like Churchill where bullying and racism are rampant.

I agree and disagree with parts of this. The W schools are segregated and primarily UMC to wealthy which correlates in MD to race. Within the W schools though wealthy Africans, AA and hispanics do quite well. There simply are not enough wealthy AA and Hispanic residents in Montgomery County using the public schools. The DCC and other non-W schools are segregated to just in a different way. The segregation occurs within the school which is sad.

I have no experience with Churchill but sadly these racial incidents are happening everywhere including schools like those in the DCC. I suspect the PP is just one of the W haters so loves pushing any negative thing that happens at one. Racism in the form of stereotypes is in some ways more prevalent in DCC schools where so many of the POC are also lower income. At a school like WJ where there is more SES homogeny, kids see that AA and hispanic students as well as middle eastern, African and asian students do just as well as white students. In some ways, these kids will come out with a healthier view that all people are equal than the kids who were exposed daily to segregation within their own school.

I agree that a top high performing kid can do well anywhere but far more kids exist right below this bar. We all want to think that our child is gifted or a genius but many are simply slightly above average with potential. They are impressionable and could be top students with high expectations and peer influences but they can also go the other direction and just skate by having fun. This type of kids performs much better surrounded by a high performing cohort with fewer options find peers who are not interested in school.

Bolded is very true. We used to live in a really wealthy district out west. 90% white, no blacks, and the Hispanics were mostly all low income and didn't do well in school. I didn't want my kids to have this perception growing up. So we moved. We are now in a cluster that is very diverse, both racially and income, and though many of the low income kids are still hispanic, there are several who are not, including black students (and in my neighborhood which we didn't have out west), and several of the "smart" kids are minorities. One beat my pretty smart DC in a math competition. My DC would never have experienced this kind of thing where we used to live.

My HS DC does recognize that many of the low income students here are hispanic/black, and some do cause trouble. But, DC also recognizes that not all of them are like this because of the positive exposure DC has had as well.

[Anonymous]

Yes within each race there is SES segmentation, same anywhere.
Yes they worst mix would be a school where the poor are all one color - black, brown- and the bottom performers. This can bring about stereotyping, or dissing of affirmative action later for college, jobs, promotions.

Being rude or lazy or dumb or not law abiding is not a race thigZ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes within each race there is SES segmentation, same anywhere.
Yes they worst mix would be a school where the poor are all one color - black, brown- and the bottom performers. This can bring about stereotyping, or dissing of affirmative action later for college, jobs, promotions.

Being rude or lazy or dumb or not law abiding is not a race thigZ

Attempting to read this post results in brain damage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I find it funny that so many people on this site denigrate Northwest as if it is ganglandia

Well, there are active gangs in some of the areas that feed NW and kids who drop out of NW to join gangs. I'm not saying that QO is academically a better or worse school than NW but the FARMS kids who go to QO and primarily come from Brown Station have not been associated with or involved in gang activity. You can't say the same for NW.

Gangs are real and they are scary. GHS, Wheaton and a few others have larger problems with active gangs. There is a Montgomery County gang task force that works with MCPS and focuses on particular schools so no the gang issue is not universal across MCPS.

I'm sure you have facts (references, sources) to back up the statement above....right?

No, they don't. This is just fear mongering. There was a 40-page thread on this last year and the only facts the Stephen Miller wannabe could come up with were articles about MS-13 activity in Texas. There wasn't a single incident at any MC school in years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find the climate of racism and bullying at Churchill to be a sad indicator of a school in decline. Posts in this thread telling me how great Churchill is when there's another hate incident there every other week makes me think this thread is a joke.

Affluent schools have always mocked and ridiculed poor people, minorities and schools. Hell look at the year books form UVA and the Virginia gov. These are indicative of the current SJW climate of accountability and not a change, trend or decline. If anything I bet it happens way less now days then at a school like Churchill’s peak which was most likely in the 80s or 90s at the peak of the suburbs.

You may be right; however, I'd be more concerned about the type of person my kid would grow up to be in a place like Churchill because of the rampant bullying and racism that still exists there. I'm also fairly certain the only difference between a W and a DCC school is one or two additional sections of AP English. The same quality of education can be had at many schools, but a school that fosters compassion and understanding seems more valuable and rare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Middle of the pack schools are RM, Clarksburg, NW, Sherwood, Einstein, and Blair. Not too high FARMs rates, good diversity, not too much wealth, full of middle class families. I think these are the best. Curriculum in MCPS is the same across the board so finding that ideal peer group and student body is what should be prioritized, not which schools have the least poor kids or which have the best test scores. That won't determine your child's success.

^^^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I find it funny that so many people on this site denigrate Northwest as if it is ganglandia

Well, there are active gangs in some of the areas that feed NW and kids who drop out of NW to join gangs. I'm not saying that QO is academically a better or worse school than NW but the FARMS kids who go to QO and primarily come from Brown Station have not been associated with or involved in gang activity. You can't say the same for NW.

Gangs are real and they are scary. GHS, Wheaton and a few others have larger problems with active gangs. There is a Montgomery County gang task force that works with MCPS and focuses on particular schools so no the gang issue is not universal across MCPS.

I'm sure you have facts (references, sources) to back up the statement above....right?

Well, Cinnamon woods feeds into NW and there have been quite a few shootings there...

http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-news/21-year-old-man-in-serious-condition-after-gunfire-erupts-at-vigil-for-shooting-victim

Also there was a body found at Black Rock Mill... https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Police-Seek-Public-Help-After-Human-Remains-Found-in-a-Germantown-Park-485948991.html

It sure is great to know that Germantown is the graveyard for MS-13 victims. Don't let your kids wander too deep into the woods!