Beall Elementary in Rockville

[Anonymous]

Just curious if there are any recent opinions on Beall Elementary. Have heard great things over the years but mostly from folks who went there when it was a FOCUS school, which required small class sizes. Now, I've heard they may 26 kids or more in a class with one teacher and could be higher. Seems high especially for early grades. Appreciat any thoughts. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

The principal is hard to work with.

[Anonymous]

does nobody have kids at this elementery school?

[Anonymous]

Bump.

[Anonymous]

I have kids in the cluster but not the school. I don't think there are many posters from our area.

[Anonymous]

I have a child in the cluster but not at the school. I have only heard really good things.

[Anonymous]

Beall parent here. I have been pleased with the school. DC is in 2nd grade and 2 teachers have been good and 1 was great. The PTA is active and there seems to be good communication among the administration, PTA, and families. The biggest complaint I have is the overcrowding but that's a widespread problem in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Another Beall parent here. You're right, when we had the focus designation, there were 12-14 kids in the K classes and now it's 26. Unfortunately, it's a county-wide problem. 19 in focus K classes (Focus means high FARMS number - more poor families - if you aren't familiar - so that comes with it's own problems) and up to 27 otherwise. The only way you'll get less is to either leave the county or to luck out and end up with an entire grade with something like 40 kids registered (2 classes of 20).

You can't do anything about class size, it's a countywide problem. But the overall school is very overcrowded. The entire 3rd grade is in trailers - we have the most of any school in the county. There are plans on the books to build a 5th elementary school in the RM cluster by 2017 (it was originally 2015 but got pushed off, 2017 unfortunately isn't set in stone). That will bring the school back to its intended capacity but unless you have a very young kid that won't matter to you. I have to say though, I think they handle it as best as they can.

The new principal is extremely hands on. The PTA just got an award for practically doubling the # of members - of 600 families ~330 families are members). I've been VERY happy with Beall, even to the point of turning down a move to the Wootton footprint.

[Anonymous]

Just came across this post and have to respond to PP regarding county-wide overcrowding. First, I hear Beall is great. Never spoke to anyone who had a negative thing to say. Committed teachers and administration and very active PTA.

Regarding overcrowding, it is a problem with elementary schools in the Richard Montgomery cluster. And relief by way of 5th elementary school was delayed for apparent funding reasons. Meanwhile new elementary schools are being built elsewhere, where enrollment is under capacity. Why relief for Beall and other RM schools got passed over while these were allowed to continue, not sure. For reference, see following link:

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/planning/PDF/CIP14CH4_Churchill.pdf

I don't have a child at Beall, but if my tax dollars are being used to support strong public schools, I'm happy to pay them. Would just like the money to go where it is really needed. And PP, you can do something about it. Write to the County Council and urge them to fund the 5th school for RM now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just came across this post and have to respond to PP regarding county-wide overcrowding. First, I hear Beall is great. Never spoke to anyone who had a negative thing to say. Committed teachers and administration and very active PTA.

Regarding overcrowding, it is a problem with elementary schools in the Richard Montgomery cluster. And relief by way of 5th elementary school was delayed for apparent funding reasons. Meanwhile new elementary schools are being built elsewhere, where enrollment is under capacity. Why relief for Beall and other RM schools got passed over while these were allowed to continue, not sure. For reference, see following link:

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/planning/PDF/CIP14CH4_Churchill.pdf

I don't have a child at Beall, but if my tax dollars are being used to support strong public schools, I'm happy to pay them. Would just like the money to go where it is really needed. And PP, you can do something about it. Write to the County Council and urge them to fund the 5th school for RM now.

Because the projected 10yr capacity was incorrect thanks to immigrants (many illegal) in RM district that live 5-7 kids in a tiny home. The Rockville Town center homes turned to many low income housing and apartments that were not predicted to be filled with kids. Churchill cluster doesn't have these issues. The schools needed to be modernized and the PTA's worked hard to support it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just came across this post and have to respond to PP regarding county-wide overcrowding. First, I hear Beall is great. Never spoke to anyone who had a negative thing to say. Committed teachers and administration and very active PTA.

Regarding overcrowding, it is a problem with elementary schools in the Richard Montgomery cluster. And relief by way of 5th elementary school was delayed for apparent funding reasons. Meanwhile new elementary schools are being built elsewhere, where enrollment is under capacity. Why relief for Beall and other RM schools got passed over while these were allowed to continue, not sure. For reference, see following link:

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/planning/PDF/CIP14CH4_Churchill.pdf

I don't have a child at Beall, but if my tax dollars are being used to support strong public schools, I'm happy to pay them. Would just like the money to go where it is really needed. And PP, you can do something about it. Write to the County Council and urge them to fund the 5th school for RM now.

Because the projected 10yr capacity was incorrect thanks to immigrants (many illegal) in RM district that live 5-7 kids in a tiny home. The Rockville Town center homes turned to many low income housing and apartments that were not predicted to be filled with kids. Churchill cluster doesn't have these issues. The schools needed to be modernized and the PTA's worked hard to support it.

To PP, please cite your source regarding illegal immigrants and Town Center homes contributing to overcrowding at RM cluster. My hat goes off to the PTA in Churchill cluster. I know your schools had no renovations since they opened and now are getting brand new schools built. Beall has had one renovation since it opened that amounted to an addition, not a new school. They were supposed to have a new school built but those plans were halted in favor of a 5th elementary school. Moreover, construction on the 5th elementary school in RM cluster was requested by the Board of Education to begin this year but was delayed by the Council for budget reasons. At the same time, plans for new construction in Churchill cluster was allowed to continue even when enrollment was under capacity. I don't mean to pick on the Churchill cluster PTA. You stood up for your schools like RM cluster is doing. Bravo. My beef is with the County Council. If money and resources are as tight as they claimed, why move forward with one project when there was a greater need elsewhere.