Where are all you families of high performing students planning on moving to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:a school boundary near you then... we get it. people misuse the word district

I am not really on the same side of the debate as that poster, but it's true that Rosemary Hills / Chevy Chase is an extreme example of busing in the county

No, it really isn't. It is an example of busing - in fact, it was specifically intended as busing. But there are lots of areas in Montgomery County that have much longer bus rides, such as the parts of Laytonsville zoned for Gaithersburg MS/Gaithersburg HS. Some perspective, please.

Oh ya, I forgot about that one. Laytonsville to GHS is ridiculous. I don't get why MoCo is trying to fix this diversity problem through schools instead of housing.

You don't get why the Montgomery County Board of Education is trying to address this through schools?

Just to be clear. I get why they're doing it but I completely disagree with their solution. This a housing issue.

It is a housing issue. It is ALSO a school issue.

Well, it goes like this.. One buys or rents a house they can afford. If the only places that have homes for the poor are at a handful of neighborhoods, then that's where most of the poor will go. If you want to stop this trend then build affordable housing for the poor in more neighborhoods. Why should children have to suffer long bus rides as a result of years of faulty housing policy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a significant faction pushing for MCPS to even our FARMs rates as much as possible among MCPS schools. What “as much as possible” means and whether the BOE will do it over the objections of low income communities remains to be seen. Some of this came out of the RM5/Bayard Rustin boundary study where Twinbrook was left with a much higher FARMs rate than the other schools in the cluster. But the Twinbrook community was not supportive of a change to “integrate” with the other elementary schools in the cluster. Gaithersburg also relatively recently came out strongly in favor of an addition to Gaithersburg ES rather than “integrate” with Wootton elementary schools. So it certainly remains to be seen how it will play out. But balancing FARMs rate is a primary goal of some people involved in this process.

Gaithersburg and Wooten? They are not even adjacent clusters.

They actually are adjacent clusters. But PP's account is, at best, incomplete.

The only option involving Gaithersburg and Wootton was: "Reassign students out of the Gaithersburg Cluster from areas on the periphery of the cluster with existing and master planned housing development." Specifically, the part of Washington Grove ES east of 370 (around Shady Grove) would have been reassigned to Magruder under that option, and the part of Rosemont ES in Decoverly and Crown would have been reassigned to Wootton.

http://www.candlewoodpta.com/TriCluster_Meeting2ApproachesEnglish.pdf

And then they didn't do that anyway:

https://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/A8YUV4614BD0/$file/Rec%20Tri-cluster%20Rdtble%20Disc%20Group.pdf

What does this support? It supports that idea that MCPS is including boundary adjustments in its options - as it should, and as DCUM has been hollering for MCPS to do, for years.

Oh I see that little island of Wooten. I was not aware of that. Clearly that will become Crown eventually.

Additionally, RM#5 and Twinbrook -- the options they put forward for breaking up Twinbrook would've resulted in 1. TB losing Title 1 funding 2. One of the option would've caused two schools to not only have a high FARMs rate (40%), but also still be at over capacity.

IMO, when I saw those options, I realized they were nonstarters, but everyone was still panicking though. I think they threw in those options just for the sake of showing how slicing and dicing for FARMs diversity would look like. And now we know.. it ain't pretty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a significant faction pushing for MCPS to even our FARMs rates as much as possible among MCPS schools. What “as much as possible” means and whether the BOE will do it over the objections of low income communities remains to be seen. Some of this came out of the RM5/Bayard Rustin boundary study where Twinbrook was left with a much higher FARMs rate than the other schools in the cluster. But the Twinbrook community was not supportive of a change to “integrate” with the other elementary schools in the cluster. Gaithersburg also relatively recently came out strongly in favor of an addition to Gaithersburg ES rather than “integrate” with Wootton elementary schools. So it certainly remains to be seen how it will play out. But balancing FARMs rate is a primary goal of some people involved in this process.

I totally agree that is a goal for some. But when push comes to shove, I don't see the County doing it -- precisely because lower SES communities are disproportionately burdened by imposing long travel distances on those kids. That's why MCPS didn't try to even out the FARMs rate or demographic balance during the boundary study for Silver Creek - they instead agreed to let Westland become whiter and higher income rather than subject Rock Creek Forest elementary kids to long bus rides to balance things out. Personally I can see both sides of the argument and I think even those parents who wanted greater parity are happy with the outcome of Silver Creek.

For that reason I'm skeptical about radical boundary revisions overall. I'd guess they may try to find a way to tweak around the edges if there are ways to lean into greater diversity. I also think it's not inconceivable that you could wind up with other types of Rosemary Hills experiments, where they deliberately disrupt a few neighborhood schools to achieve a better balance. BTW I wouldn't be shocked if the Rosemary Hills arrangement itself changes. The demographics around the neighborhood itself are no longer the same as they were 40 years ago. And my elementary kid came home the other day and said that the teachers told them that North Chevy Chase may become a K-5 school. We had a good experience at RH but I know it's still a pain point for a lot of people who don't want their 5yo spending 45 minutes twice a day on the bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:a school boundary near you then... we get it. people misuse the word district

I am not really on the same side of the debate as that poster, but it's true that Rosemary Hills / Chevy Chase is an extreme example of busing in the county

No, it really isn't. It is an example of busing - in fact, it was specifically intended as busing. But there are lots of areas in Montgomery County that have much longer bus rides, such as the parts of Laytonsville zoned for Gaithersburg MS/Gaithersburg HS. Some perspective, please.

Oh ya, I forgot about that one. Laytonsville to GHS is ridiculous. I don't get why MoCo is trying to fix this diversity problem through schools instead of housing.

You don't get why the Montgomery County Board of Education is trying to address this through schools?

Just to be clear. I get why they're doing it but I completely disagree with their solution. This a housing issue.

It is a housing issue. It is ALSO a school issue.

Well, it goes like this.. One buys or rents a house they can afford. If the only places that have homes for the poor are at a handful of neighborhoods, then that's where most of the poor will go. If you want to stop this trend then build affordable housing for the poor in more neighborhoods. Why should children have to suffer long bus rides as a result of years of faulty housing policy?

PP above again. I do believe that bordering school service areas need to be evaluated and adjusted if needed. Damascus and Seneca Valley is an example. But busing? Terrible idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really I don't want to brag but my child is pretty smart (5.1 GPA, JV Athletics, anime club etc etc) high preforming, and perfect SAT/ACT/LSATs.
And I don't want them getting dumbed down by these poor kids.
Cmon just being real.
I also give a little money to my dear Alma Mater in Boston so I'm not that worried about them getting into college.
So I hear good things about Howard but they're too many Asians and schools are filling up like tuna cans there too.
The kids have to stay smart, at the top of there class. Those asians are too smart high performing. Frederick is nice too but I'll miss waking to drybar, Kapnos, Lululemon and all the other luxuries in bethesda row. Seriously any other suggestions??

I have so many suggestions for you....

Please tell me this is a troll

Take a breath. This person is clearly being sarcastic.

Sounds like a typical DCUM response to me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is a housing issue. It is ALSO a school issue.

Well, it goes like this.. One buys or rents a house they can afford. If the only places that have homes for the poor are at a handful of neighborhoods, then that's where most of the poor will go. If you want to stop this trend then build affordable housing for the poor in more neighborhoods. Why should children have to suffer long bus rides as a result of years of faulty housing policy?

Since your school is based on the location of your residence, it's also a school issue. Why should children have to suffer lack of opportunity in school as a result of years of housing policy?

Incidentally, describing it as 'faulty' housing policy is, well, faulty. The segregation was a feature, not a bug.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

PP above again. I do believe that bordering school service areas need to be evaluated and adjusted if needed. Damascus and Seneca Valley is an example. But busing? Terrible idea.

What's the difference between "evaluating and adjusting bordering school service areas" and "busing"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a significant faction pushing for MCPS to even our FARMs rates as much as possible among MCPS schools. What “as much as possible” means and whether the BOE will do it over the objections of low income communities remains to be seen. Some of this came out of the RM5/Bayard Rustin boundary study where Twinbrook was left with a much higher FARMs rate than the other schools in the cluster. But the Twinbrook community was not supportive of a change to “integrate” with the other elementary schools in the cluster. Gaithersburg also relatively recently came out strongly in favor of an addition to Gaithersburg ES rather than “integrate” with Wootton elementary schools. So it certainly remains to be seen how it will play out. But balancing FARMs rate is a primary goal of some people involved in this process.

I totally agree that is a goal for some. But when push comes to shove, I don't see the County doing it -- precisely because lower SES communities are disproportionately burdened by imposing long travel distances on those kids. That's why MCPS didn't try to even out the FARMs rate or demographic balance during the boundary study for Silver Creek - they instead agreed to let Westland become whiter and higher income rather than subject Rock Creek Forest elementary kids to long bus rides to balance things out. Personally I can see both sides of the argument and I think even those parents who wanted greater parity are happy with the outcome of Silver Creek.

For that reason I'm skeptical about radical boundary revisions overall. I'd guess they may try to find a way to tweak around the edges if there are ways to lean into greater diversity. I also think it's not inconceivable that you could wind up with other types of Rosemary Hills experiments, where they deliberately disrupt a few neighborhood schools to achieve a better balance. BTW I wouldn't be shocked if the Rosemary Hills arrangement itself changes. The demographics around the neighborhood itself are no longer the same as they were 40 years ago. And my elementary kid came home the other day and said that the teachers told them that North Chevy Chase may become a K-5 school. We had a good experience at RH but I know it's still a pain point for a lot of people who don't want their 5yo spending 45 minutes twice a day on the bus.

I don't buy this. They can bus Northwood kids halfway across the county to use Woodward for a couple years they can do anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't buy this. They can bus Northwood kids halfway across the county to use Woodward for a couple years they can do anything.

?

It's not like they can send the Northwood kids to Northwood while the building is being rebuilt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is a housing issue. It is ALSO a school issue.

Well, it goes like this.. One buys or rents a house they can afford. If the only places that have homes for the poor are at a handful of neighborhoods, then that's where most of the poor will go. If you want to stop this trend then build affordable housing for the poor in more neighborhoods. Why should children have to suffer long bus rides as a result of years of faulty housing policy?

Since your school is based on the location of your residence, it's also a school issue. Why should children have to suffer lack of opportunity in school as a result of years of housing policy?

Incidentally, describing it as 'faulty' housing policy is, well, faulty. The segregation was a feature, not a bug.

Well it's a terrible feature that needs to be replaced. And the so called fix that MCPS presumably wants to implement is a bandaid. Fix the source of the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:a school boundary near you then... we get it. people misuse the word district

I am not really on the same side of the debate as that poster, but it's true that Rosemary Hills / Chevy Chase is an extreme example of busing in the county

No, it really isn't. It is an example of busing - in fact, it was specifically intended as busing. But there are lots of areas in Montgomery County that have much longer bus rides, such as the parts of Laytonsville zoned for Gaithersburg MS/Gaithersburg HS. Some perspective, please.

+1

And Woodside Park ---> Einstein, when Blair is so close by.

The DCC boundaries are weird because Blair is not in its original location. There are houses right across the street from Blair that are zoned for Northwood: http://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/NorthwoodHS.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is a housing issue. It is ALSO a school issue.

Well, it goes like this.. One buys or rents a house they can afford. If the only places that have homes for the poor are at a handful of neighborhoods, then that's where most of the poor will go. If you want to stop this trend then build affordable housing for the poor in more neighborhoods. Why should children have to suffer long bus rides as a result of years of faulty housing policy?

Since your school is based on the location of your residence, it's also a school issue. Why should children have to suffer lack of opportunity in school as a result of years of housing policy?

Incidentally, describing it as 'faulty' housing policy is, well, faulty. The segregation was a feature, not a bug.

Well it's a terrible feature that needs to be replaced. And the so called fix that MCPS presumably wants to implement is a bandaid. Fix the source of the problem.

If you want to advocate for changes in housing policy to the county council, the county executive, and the planning board, then there are plenty of opportunities for you to do so. Meanwhile, the Board of Education has evidently decided to do what it can, with respect to schools. Housing changes 20 years from now won't help kids who are in school now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The DCC boundaries are weird because Blair is not in its original location. There are houses right across the street from Blair that are zoned for Northwood: http://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/NorthwoodHS.pdf

Yup. Discussed in this 1998 article here, along with other issues that may seem familiar: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1998/06/09/out-with-old-in-with-new-blair-high/7cb8ba9c-c5d2-45ad-9773-7da2759f0571/?utm_term=.2426d50debf1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is a housing issue. It is ALSO a school issue.

Well, it goes like this.. One buys or rents a house they can afford. If the only places that have homes for the poor are at a handful of neighborhoods, then that's where most of the poor will go. If you want to stop this trend then build affordable housing for the poor in more neighborhoods. Why should children have to suffer long bus rides as a result of years of faulty housing policy?

Since your school is based on the location of your residence, it's also a school issue. Why should children have to suffer lack of opportunity in school as a result of years of housing policy?

Incidentally, describing it as 'faulty' housing policy is, well, faulty. The segregation was a feature, not a bug.

"lack of opportunity in school"?

Demonstrated by?

Lower performance? Then why not target the low performers instead of those live in a school zone with claimed "lack of opportunity"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is a housing issue. It is ALSO a school issue.

Well, it goes like this.. One buys or rents a house they can afford. If the only places that have homes for the poor are at a handful of neighborhoods, then that's where most of the poor will go. If you want to stop this trend then build affordable housing for the poor in more neighborhoods. Why should children have to suffer long bus rides as a result of years of faulty housing policy?

Since your school is based on the location of your residence, it's also a school issue. Why should children have to suffer lack of opportunity in school as a result of years of housing policy?

Incidentally, describing it as 'faulty' housing policy is, well, faulty. The segregation was a feature, not a bug.

"lack of opportunity in school"?

Demonstrated by?

Lower performance? Then why not target the low performers instead of those live in a school zone with claimed "lack of opportunity"?

Demonstrated by lack of opportunity in the school.