New to Pyle middle school...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't this true of middle schools in general? Middle school sucks all around. It's always sucked unless you go through puberty early and/or one of the popular ones. Just find your people and get through it.

100% correct

+1

[Anonymous]

My kid is in 6th at Pyle, and so far has had a great experience. I think the teachers seem phenomenal as well. OP, Any chance you can move your child there now? Outdoor Ed is in mid October, and would likely be a great way for your child to really meet and bond with other 6th graders.

[Anonymous]

Not impressed. Teachers are very mixed. We did not have the positive experience with the counselor a PP mentioned. It has a factory feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s some intramural sports that anyone can join, like drop in basketball which was popular when my son was in 6th.

Can you say more about this? They don't seem to have it now.

Intramural basketball is one of the after school activities listed here:

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/pylems/about/panprog/

They don’t compete against other schools? That’s terrible. Every private offers interscholastic sports in middle school, many offer it in elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s some intramural sports that anyone can join, like drop in basketball which was popular when my son was in 6th.

Can you say more about this? They don't seem to have it now.

Intramural basketball is one of the after school activities listed here:

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/pylems/about/panprog/

They don’t compete against other schools? That’s terrible. Every private offers interscholastic sports in middle school, many offer it in elementary school.

In 7th and 8th grade they do play against other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not impressed. Teachers are very mixed. We did not have the positive experience with the counselor a PP mentioned. It has a factory feel.

I am the poster who mentioned that counselor. I agree, there's a culture of dismiss and move forward, If you ask a question you're largely ignored, the entire Social studies Dept is a disaster, but the French Dept is strong with really committed teachers and you find the odd teacher here and there who sticks their neck out. The SSL coordinator / science teacher is a bust who behaves badly. Overall it's definitely something to "get through"

How's science, math and English?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can join clubs at any time during the school year. There aren't a ton of them. I agree with the advice about after school activities.

Your child will still be able to make winter and spring school sports tryouts for basketball and soccer in the spring. They are both really hard to make despite the fact that MS sports are kind of lame. Much worse for boys. Heard more tha 100 for 15 spots on basketball, more than 100 for 22 for soccer. But girls teams are also extremely difficult too.

They should just pick the top 15 percent and then hold a lottery, for equity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not impressed. Teachers are very mixed. We did not have the positive experience with the counselor a PP mentioned. It has a factory feel.

I am the poster who mentioned that counselor. I agree, there's a culture of dismiss and move forward, If you ask a question you're largely ignored, the entire Social studies Dept is a disaster, but the French Dept is strong with really committed teachers and you find the odd teacher here and there who sticks their neck out. The SSL coordinator / science teacher is a bust who behaves badly. Overall it's definitely something to "get through"

How's science, math and English?

Luck of the draw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not impressed. Teachers are very mixed. We did not have the positive experience with the counselor a PP mentioned. It has a factory feel.

I am the poster who mentioned that counselor. I agree, there's a culture of dismiss and move forward, If you ask a question you're largely ignored, the entire Social studies Dept is a disaster, but the French Dept is strong with really committed teachers and you find the odd teacher here and there who sticks their neck out. The SSL coordinator / science teacher is a bust who behaves badly. Overall it's definitely something to "get through"

How's science, math and English?

It is very teacher dependent. Some are ok others are terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can join clubs at any time during the school year. There aren't a ton of them. I agree with the advice about after school activities.

Your child will still be able to make winter and spring school sports tryouts for basketball and soccer in the spring. They are both really hard to make despite the fact that MS sports are kind of lame. Much worse for boys. Heard more tha 100 for 15 spots on basketball, more than 100 for 22 for soccer. But girls teams are also extremely difficult too.

They should just pick the top 15 percent and then hold a lottery, for equity.

You could actually write a pretty good argument for that in my opinion. This is a public school and it should provide equal services to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not impressed. Teachers are very mixed. We did not have the positive experience with the counselor a PP mentioned. It has a factory feel.

I am the poster who mentioned that counselor. I agree, there's a culture of dismiss and move forward, If you ask a question you're largely ignored, the entire Social studies Dept is a disaster, but the French Dept is strong with really committed teachers and you find the odd teacher here and there who sticks their neck out. The SSL coordinator / science teacher is a bust who behaves badly. Overall it's definitely something to "get through"

How's science, math and English?

It is very teacher dependent. Some are ok others are terrible.

The math teachers are very good in DC's opinion. Science hit or miss. English is a huge weakness and there's even an English teacher who makes multiple spelling mistakes in her slides and other materials. It is shocking.

You didn't ask about social studies but I was impressed with those teachers.

[Anonymous]

A couple of the social studies teachers are “creepy,” to quote the kids. A lot of young and inexperienced teachers as well. Perhaps due to turnover.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not impressed. Teachers are very mixed. We did not have the positive experience with the counselor a PP mentioned. It has a factory feel.

I am the poster who mentioned that counselor. I agree, there's a culture of dismiss and move forward, If you ask a question you're largely ignored, the entire Social studies Dept is a disaster, but the French Dept is strong with really committed teachers and you find the odd teacher here and there who sticks their neck out. The SSL coordinator / science teacher is a bust who behaves badly. Overall it's definitely something to "get through"

How's science, math and English?

It is very teacher dependent. Some are ok others are terrible.

The math teachers are very good in DC's opinion. Science hit or miss. English is a huge weakness and there's even an English teacher who makes multiple spelling mistakes in her slides and other materials. It is shocking.

You didn't ask about social studies but I was impressed with those teachers.

Social studies dept was the most chaotic and idiot filled in recent years. My son when in 7th grade even wrote a paper on his SS teacher's complete lack of knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can join clubs at any time during the school year. There aren't a ton of them. I agree with the advice about after school activities.

Your child will still be able to make winter and spring school sports tryouts for basketball and soccer in the spring. They are both really hard to make despite the fact that MS sports are kind of lame. Much worse for boys. Heard more tha 100 for 15 spots on basketball, more than 100 for 22 for soccer. But girls teams are also extremely difficult too.

They should just pick the top 15 percent and then hold a lottery, for equity.

You could actually write a pretty good argument for that in my opinion. This is a public school and it should provide equal services to everyone.

Thanks. I really don’t see why they do this for public school academics but not public school athletics. in both cases, high SES has the large advantage, some minority groups and low SES is very disadvantaged. This is inequitable.

[Anonymous]

It's a logical argument but would probably result in more Asian-American kids getting on teams which MCPS does not want. We have seen tryouts that are representative of the school but then the whole team selected is white, Black and Latino and no Asians.