Dc v. Md publics

[Anonymous]

We current live in a JKLM district, but arent happy with our public school, even though it is well-regarded and has high test scores. Our concerns are large class sizes, not enough recess time, homework too early, and a curriculum constrained by testing requirements.

Would any of these things be better in a close-in moco public?

[Anonymous]

I doubt it. Classes in close-in Moco are pretty large, there's an appalling emphasis on homework IMO, and teaching to the test and MoCo educational standards is rampant.

[Anonymous]

I like our MoCo ES but I agree with 12:59.

We considered private but decided it wasn't worth it.

[Anonymous]

I'm also in MoCoand basically agree with the PPs, with one exception - while I thinkthebasicconcerns you outlined for a young elementary student are pretty equivalent between MCPS and the better NWDC elementaries, the disparity is much more pronounced at the middle and high school level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm also in MoCoand basically agree with the PPs, with one exception - while I thinkthebasicconcerns you outlined for a young elementary student are pretty equivalent between MCPS and the better NWDC elementaries, the disparity is much more pronounced at the middle and high school level.

+1 I'd agree with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm also in MoCoand basically agree with the PPs, with one exception - while I thinkthebasicconcerns you outlined for a young elementary student are pretty equivalent between MCPS and the better NWDC elementaries, the disparity is much more pronounced at the middle and high school level.

Actually, I think the concerns about testing and teaching to the MoCo standards are much worse in ES than in HS. In HS kids have lots more latitude to take electives, and the only testing, the HSAs, are really basic and can be knocked off by most kids without a whole lot of effort. MCPS is ridiculous on some fronts, but I think the whole testing thing is overblown. Especially after my kids spent a week each doing ERBs in private school.

[Anonymous]

Dcps are a disgrace compared to mcps

[Anonymous]

Dcps are a disgrace compared to mcps

I would agree for middle or high school but the better DC elementary schools are not much different form MCPS. MCPS is also having problems with its new curriculum so good teachers who had everything together are now scrambling to figure out to teach it and no one including the teachers understands what grades should be given. Unless you are having problems at your DCPS, I would wait to see if MCPS changes it position on the new grading system and 2.0 and how they resolve the budget issues. It might make sense for you to stay in DC for ES and then do private for MS or HS or move at that time.

You may also want to include moving Virginia anyway. While MCPS used to be the stronger system, there has been a big reversal over the past few years and now Arlington and Fairfax are much better. MCPS is also facing a big structural deficit and the existing BOE are not equipped to address it. There have been yearly cuts to staff in schools (rather than staff in the central office), specials, resources along with increases in class size. This will only get much worse. You also have more in state college/university options in VA than MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt it. Classes in close-in Moco are pretty large, there's an appalling emphasis on homework IMO, and teaching to the test and MoCo educational standards is rampant.

Classes are only large in Bethesda and other more high-income areas. Our (terrific) school in Silver Spring has 15 kids in my child's 1st grade class. The school is about 30% low-income and the county tries to improve outcomes for lower income kids by having lower class sizes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We current live in a JKLM district, but arent happy with our public school, even though it is well-regarded and has high test scores. Our concerns are large class sizes, not enough recess time, homework too early, and a curriculum constrained by testing requirements.

Would any of these things be better in a close-in moco public?

OP, I could have written this post. I'd add to the list of concerns the emphasis on reading and writing to the exclusion of social studies/science and other core subjects. Our JKLM only teaches science every other month. Is that an issue in MoCo? We had thought we would move to MoCo for middle school, but we are disheartened by our child's elementary experience and we're starting to have serious conversations now.

[Anonymous]

I LOVE my mcps. Can't say whether it's better than the DCPS. My kids get 30 minutes for recess. Class sizes are about 21 kids to a class. That's pretty good, in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Dcps are a disgrace compared to mcps

I would agree for middle or high school but the better DC elementary schools are not much different form MCPS. MCPS is also having problems with its new curriculum so good teachers who had everything together are now scrambling to figure out to teach it and no one including the teachers understands what grades should be given. Unless you are having problems at your DCPS, I would wait to see if MCPS changes it position on the new grading system and 2.0 and how they resolve the budget issues. It might make sense for you to stay in DC for ES and then do private for MS or HS or move at that time.

You may also want to include moving Virginia anyway. While MCPS used to be the stronger system, there has been a big reversal over the past few years and now Arlington and Fairfax are much better. MCPS is also facing a big structural deficit and the existing BOE are not equipped to address it. There have been yearly cuts to staff in schools (rather than staff in the central office), specials, resources along with increases in class size. This will only get much worse. You also have more in state college/university options in VA than MD.

Do other PPs concur? Things will indeed get much worse? We're thinking of moving from Capitol Hill to Takoma Park MD, where we have close friends, for middle and high school. We're Asian-Amerian and don't like the fact that our weak in-bounds DCPS MS and HS seem to have no Asian kids, and we're not remotely impressed with the facilities at DC Charters like Latin and BASIS, or the lack of advanced courses/tracking outside math. Our 3rd grader happily did JH CTY over the summer. VA would mean bad commutes for us.

[Anonymous]

I disagree that VA schools are better than MoCo, based on our experience and that of our friends here and in Arlington and Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Moco and maryland will be going down the crapper because of the dream act. Ironically the illegals will flee virginia to maryland and the smart ones will leave maryland to virginia, making virginia schools better. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moco and maryland will be going down the crapper because of the dream act. Ironically the illegals will flee virginia to maryland and the smart ones will leave maryland to virginia, making virginia schools better. Thanks

The MD dream act allows kids who graduate from maryland high schools and whose parents pay md state taxes to pay in-state tuition (but still need to earn admissin as international students). How will this hurt md k-12? How will this encourage smart people to go to virginia?