All the boundary options are bad for the DCC-- how do we organize against that? (Any ideas for alternative options?)

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If you don’t have kids lotterying to other schools and therefore reducing demand for advanced classes at the homeschool, you would presumably have more demand in the homeschool.

Unless you are saying something like FARMS kids won’t demand advanced classes.

Look at the test scores. MCPS does a terrible.job educating Black and Brown students regardless of income.

They do a terrible job of educating kids. Many kids who are achieving parents work with them at home, take private an academic classes or tutors.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I’m in-bound for Einstein but my kids don’t attend yet. I don’t care about nimby Kensington parents who can’t handle the thought of being rezoned to Einstein. I don’t care about nimby currently zoned Einstein parents who can’t handle the thought of any higher FARMs schools being rezoned to Einstein. My gripe with MCPS is that they don’t have the same course offerings at all the schools. Offer the same classes at each high school and we’re good!

To the bolded: currently-zoned Einstein parents also want the same classes at each high school. It’s not the FARMS rate, it’s the possibility that Einstein won’t have the same classes as other schools because there would be less demand, i.e., your gripe.

Yes, but there was someone who made it about both. I was saying I care about the course offerings.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It is reasonable for non-DCC parents to care about what the DCC parents might propose if that has an impact on the non-DCC. This thread early in had some significant negative comments from DCC parents regarding BCC and Whitman. Ergo one would expect DCC parents to propose changes that would negatively impact non-DCC.

I think you should stop reading this thread and determine how you feel about the MCPS regional program proposal on its merits. Don't worry , the DCC PTAs are mobilizing to advocate for ourselves. I know that may seem unbelievable to you but it is true. You should advocate for what you think is important.

I have been following those discussions as well. I’m happy that the DCC PTA are mobilizing around them. To me the magnet issues seem to only impact a select few (who can get into magnets/regional programs/whatever we are calling them now) and I therefore am not as moved by the issue (even for my own family).

The magnet is a separate issue and most families don't care as there are about 100 slots per grade. The bonus of the magnet and other programs is because of these programs those schools to offer higher-level courses that all families can try to lottery into. The lottery system with the DCC affords some kids the opportunity to go to schools that have the classes they need so they don't go without. The course offerings between your schools and our schools is very different.

But how many kids in the DCC go to a different school than their one assigned by boundary? That’s still a minority.

A good number.

So a good number bought in areas in order to not attend your neighborhood school but to attend a different school, and now are upset through the change in the regions and the end in the DCC this will be at least different? And what’s the issue with the boundaries? Is that a separate issue or overlapping?

So we moved to the area when my child was 2. She is 6 now. If the DCC were to continue, I have no idea which high school she'd list as her first choice in 7 years because it would depend on her interests. That's how the DCC works. As numerous people have explained, the proposed regional program model will reduce choice and flexibility for kids in the DCC to pursue their interests. Many people bought in the area after hearing about the benefits of the choice and the various programs from parents whose kids went through the programs.

But what in the new boundary options influences this? This sounds like you are upset in the regional program change. I am just trying to understand the DCC issues with these options.

DP but the issue is that both the boundary options and the program changes are bad for Einstein (boundary options all increase the FARMS rate at Einstein, some substantially.) Either one on its own might be tolerable, but the combination of the both of them (plus the drop in enrollment due to the boundary changes, which would be fine on its own but just further aggravates these issues in combination) is just going to be a really big blow to Einstein unless one or both of those things changes.

Sorry are you people who are zoned to Einstein don’t want to be and want to be able to go to a different school? Is it that bad of a school?

What are you talking about? We like Einstein now, and we don't want it to get worse. How hard is that to understand?

And it is getting worse how? More FARMS kids?

Yes. It's the path of least resistance. Increasing FARMs at a school with an already moderately high FARMs level is easier than the other way around. You see that same trend when boundaries are redrawn in other nearby school districts, like Arlington and Fairfax Counties. Even if options that balance demographics are initially presented, historically, they always get eliminated in favor of the ones that exacerbate the divide between wealthier and poorer schools. Wealthier neighborhoods tend to speak out more at the board meetings and community engagement events.

The better option is to put this money into the lower performing schools stating in elementary to make sure students get what they need and are on grade level. This new plan shuffles things around to hide the problems.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in-bound for Einstein but my kids don’t attend yet. I don’t care about nimby Kensington parents who can’t handle the thought of being rezoned to Einstein. I don’t care about nimby currently zoned Einstein parents who can’t handle the thought of any higher FARMs schools being rezoned to Einstein. My gripe with MCPS is that they don’t have the same course offerings at all the schools. Offer the same classes at each high school and we’re good!

To the bolded: currently-zoned Einstein parents also want the same classes at each high school. It’s not the FARMS rate, it’s the possibility that Einstein won’t have the same classes as other schools because there would be less demand, i.e., your gripe.

Yes, but there was someone who made it about both. I was saying I care about the course offerings.

Why should Einstein and other schools have equal offerings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in-bound for Einstein but my kids don’t attend yet. I don’t care about nimby Kensington parents who can’t handle the thought of being rezoned to Einstein. I don’t care about nimby currently zoned Einstein parents who can’t handle the thought of any higher FARMs schools being rezoned to Einstein. My gripe with MCPS is that they don’t have the same course offerings at all the schools. Offer the same classes at each high school and we’re good!

To the bolded: currently-zoned Einstein parents also want the same classes at each high school. It’s not the FARMS rate, it’s the possibility that Einstein won’t have the same classes as other schools because there would be less demand, i.e., your gripe.

Yes, but there was someone who made it about both. I was saying I care about the course offerings.

Why should Einstein and other schools have equal offerings?

I’m sorry, what? Why should high schools in the same school district offer the same classes as each other?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in-bound for Einstein but my kids don’t attend yet. I don’t care about nimby Kensington parents who can’t handle the thought of being rezoned to Einstein. I don’t care about nimby currently zoned Einstein parents who can’t handle the thought of any higher FARMs schools being rezoned to Einstein. My gripe with MCPS is that they don’t have the same course offerings at all the schools. Offer the same classes at each high school and we’re good!

To the bolded: currently-zoned Einstein parents also want the same classes at each high school. It’s not the FARMS rate, it’s the possibility that Einstein won’t have the same classes as other schools because there would be less demand, i.e., your gripe.

Yes, but there was someone who made it about both. I was saying I care about the course offerings.

Why should Einstein and other schools have equal offerings?

I’m sorry, what? Why should high schools in the same school district offer the same classes as each other?

Yes, all the schools should have the same course offerings. Why should one set of kids get more, while another set go without when we all pay taxes to fund all the schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in-bound for Einstein but my kids don’t attend yet. I don’t care about nimby Kensington parents who can’t handle the thought of being rezoned to Einstein. I don’t care about nimby currently zoned Einstein parents who can’t handle the thought of any higher FARMs schools being rezoned to Einstein. My gripe with MCPS is that they don’t have the same course offerings at all the schools. Offer the same classes at each high school and we’re good!

To the bolded: currently-zoned Einstein parents also want the same classes at each high school. It’s not the FARMS rate, it’s the possibility that Einstein won’t have the same classes as other schools because there would be less demand, i.e., your gripe.

Yes, but there was someone who made it about both. I was saying I care about the course offerings.

Why should Einstein and other schools have equal offerings?

I’m sorry, what? Why should high schools in the same school district offer the same classes as each other?

Yes, all the schools should have the same course offerings. Why should one set of kids get more, while another set go without when we all pay taxes to fund all the schools?

Of course. My post was an incredulous question to the poster above.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in-bound for Einstein but my kids don’t attend yet. I don’t care about nimby Kensington parents who can’t handle the thought of being rezoned to Einstein. I don’t care about nimby currently zoned Einstein parents who can’t handle the thought of any higher FARMs schools being rezoned to Einstein. My gripe with MCPS is that they don’t have the same course offerings at all the schools. Offer the same classes at each high school and we’re good!

To the bolded: currently-zoned Einstein parents also want the same classes at each high school. It’s not the FARMS rate, it’s the possibility that Einstein won’t have the same classes as other schools because there would be less demand, i.e., your gripe.

Yes, but there was someone who made it about both. I was saying I care about the course offerings.

Why should Einstein and other schools have equal offerings?

I’m sorry, what? Why should high schools in the same school district offer the same classes as each other?

Yes, all the schools should have the same course offerings. Why should one set of kids get more, while another set go without when we all pay taxes to fund all the schools?

+1. We have one public school system. Educational opportunities shouldn’t be determined by your address. If you want your school to be special, then pay for private.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Sargent Shriver from Wheaton to Woodward, Farmland from Woodward to WJ. Move some Kensington kids from WJ into Einstein (if that makes Einstein too overcrowded, make small tweaks like maybe keeping the Flora Singer kids together and sending them to Northwood.) Move some kids from Kennedy into Wheaton to address overcrowding if needed. Done.

I don’t disagree with any of this but good lord, the ToK families who live thisclose to Einstein would throw a fit. Why the BOE won’t stand up to them is beyond me.

All that said, thank you, OP, for starting this thread. I’ve already submitted feedback to the survey a few times and have emailed Councilmembers. I know other parents at our schools are doing the same. I’m all for a larger organizing effort - it’s infuriating that yet again, the wealthiest communities are appeased.

Those wealthy communities organized, responded, and used the forms available to advocate for what they wanted. Unlike the person above said they didn’t think it would make a difference so they didn’t bother responding. Organize and get people engaged!

I live in Bethesda and did not respond because my last kid will soon be out of MCPS. But in all my years of volunteering, and attending the general County-wide assemblies of school PTAs, I've noticed that parents are so much better organized in well-to-do districts. I think it's because those groups have more people who know how the world works, and which leverage has a chance to work. They know how to organize people, how to communicate, etc.

They know people who know people. They are connected with the money. Nothing talks more than money when it comes to elected officials.

They aren’t connected to the consultants or to Taylor or the central office. They have the same number of reps on the BOE as someone in the dcc.

As you know, BOE members are all elected at large. Yes, money talks. Are you really this deluded?

Also making decisions based on which monster screams the loudest is abhorrent policy but that's politics I guess.

Do you not understand social capital, cultural capital, financial capital? Read Bourdieu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in-bound for Einstein but my kids don’t attend yet. I don’t care about nimby Kensington parents who can’t handle the thought of being rezoned to Einstein. I don’t care about nimby currently zoned Einstein parents who can’t handle the thought of any higher FARMs schools being rezoned to Einstein. My gripe with MCPS is that they don’t have the same course offerings at all the schools. Offer the same classes at each high school and we’re good!

To the bolded: currently-zoned Einstein parents also want the same classes at each high school. It’s not the FARMS rate, it’s the possibility that Einstein won’t have the same classes as other schools because there would be less demand, i.e., your gripe.

Yes, but there was someone who made it about both. I was saying I care about the course offerings.

Why should Einstein and other schools have equal offerings?

I’m sorry, what? Why should high schools in the same school district offer the same classes as each other?

Yes, all the schools should have the same course offerings. Why should one set of kids get more, while another set go without when we all pay taxes to fund all the schools?

+1. We have one public school system. Educational opportunities shouldn’t be determined by your address. If you want your school to be special, then pay for private.

+1. It very much impacts kids in getting into college and opportunities, like camps and internships not having access to the courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in-bound for Einstein but my kids don’t attend yet. I don’t care about nimby Kensington parents who can’t handle the thought of being rezoned to Einstein. I don’t care about nimby currently zoned Einstein parents who can’t handle the thought of any higher FARMs schools being rezoned to Einstein. My gripe with MCPS is that they don’t have the same course offerings at all the schools. Offer the same classes at each high school and we’re good!

To the bolded: currently-zoned Einstein parents also want the same classes at each high school. It’s not the FARMS rate, it’s the possibility that Einstein won’t have the same classes as other schools because there would be less demand, i.e., your gripe.

Einstein, despite being a good school that families are happy with already has limited course offerings. If you make it smaller, it will lose staff which will decrease offerings. If you decrease offerings, it will be less diverse as families will move or go private if they cannot transfer to other schools. Right now the only option for advanced classes is MC which is a transportation and timing issue for some. It’s more doable senior year if you only need math and English, your child has a car and a flexible schedule or not a lot of activities.

The tricky thing with Einstein is that it has to lose enrollment because it's over-utilized right now, right?

But yes, as someone with an address that's currently zoned for Einstein but will probably not be in the future - I agree the negative impacts to the school from that should be mitigated, which I don't think the current plans seem to have taken care to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in-bound for Einstein but my kids don’t attend yet. I don’t care about nimby Kensington parents who can’t handle the thought of being rezoned to Einstein. I don’t care about nimby currently zoned Einstein parents who can’t handle the thought of any higher FARMs schools being rezoned to Einstein. My gripe with MCPS is that they don’t have the same course offerings at all the schools. Offer the same classes at each high school and we’re good!

To the bolded: currently-zoned Einstein parents also want the same classes at each high school. It’s not the FARMS rate, it’s the possibility that Einstein won’t have the same classes as other schools because there would be less demand, i.e., your gripe.

Einstein, despite being a good school that families are happy with already has limited course offerings. If you make it smaller, it will lose staff which will decrease offerings. If you decrease offerings, it will be less diverse as families will move or go private if they cannot transfer to other schools. Right now the only option for advanced classes is MC which is a transportation and timing issue for some. It’s more doable senior year if you only need math and English, your child has a car and a flexible schedule or not a lot of activities.

The tricky thing with Einstein is that it has to lose enrollment because it's over-utilized right now, right?

But yes, as someone with an address that's currently zoned for Einstein but will probably not be in the future - I agree the negative impacts to the school from that should be mitigated, which I don't think the current plans seem to have taken care to do.

Making Eisntein not over crowded is good thing. We can't keep schools over crowded just to have more class offerings.

[Anonymous]

If the kids wanting advanced course offerings are not longer able to go to other schools (at least at the same rate as occurs with the DCC) wouldn’t there be more kids at Einstein demanding the advanced courses? Wouldn’t that create the needed demand?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in-bound for Einstein but my kids don’t attend yet. I don’t care about nimby Kensington parents who can’t handle the thought of being rezoned to Einstein. I don’t care about nimby currently zoned Einstein parents who can’t handle the thought of any higher FARMs schools being rezoned to Einstein. My gripe with MCPS is that they don’t have the same course offerings at all the schools. Offer the same classes at each high school and we’re good!

To the bolded: currently-zoned Einstein parents also want the same classes at each high school. It’s not the FARMS rate, it’s the possibility that Einstein won’t have the same classes as other schools because there would be less demand, i.e., your gripe.

Einstein, despite being a good school that families are happy with already has limited course offerings. If you make it smaller, it will lose staff which will decrease offerings. If you decrease offerings, it will be less diverse as families will move or go private if they cannot transfer to other schools. Right now the only option for advanced classes is MC which is a transportation and timing issue for some. It’s more doable senior year if you only need math and English, your child has a car and a flexible schedule or not a lot of activities.

The tricky thing with Einstein is that it has to lose enrollment because it's over-utilized right now, right?

But yes, as someone with an address that's currently zoned for Einstein but will probably not be in the future - I agree the negative impacts to the school from that should be mitigated, which I don't think the current plans seem to have taken care to do.

It is overcrowded and a small reduction in students would be good to get rid of the portables but too many and you lose staff and they aready are short staffed with limited offerings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the kids wanting advanced course offerings are not longer able to go to other schools (at least at the same rate as occurs with the DCC) wouldn’t there be more kids at Einstein demanding the advanced courses? Wouldn’t that create the needed demand?

Families are demanding it now but are told its a funding/staffing issue.