Starr chooses Burning Tree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the new Superintendent moves to a swanky community, and from this you get "a concern that smart, college-bound kids don't exist or can't/aren't nurtured in other parts of the county."

I suppose there's some logic there, I just can't find it.

I guess I could have worded it better. I'm thinking you would know what I mean, though, if you lived in Silver Spring like I do. I feel like my kids and their needs are invisible. When MCPS looks at Silver Spring schools, I think all they see are the (very significant and legitimate) needs of the part of the population that's low SES, non english speaking, etc. The perception around here is that schools and principals have a duty to bring the lower performers up to the middle -- which of course they do. But MCPS needs to figure out how to meet the needs of kids who require more challenge, who are up to a higher level of academic attainment, etc. without driving us to move west to get it.

If you sit in Rockville and look at statistics, you're going to have an entirely different outlook than if you are a parent in a school with a diversity of kids and needs. I just wish he would get that perspective - it's such a great opportunity for a superintendent to really understand and live what it's like in this part of the county, and I regret that he's missing it.

I agree with you.

[Anonymous]

I can tell by your respones that most of you are not familiar with the Burning Tree School Districit. Yes, there are some really big houses that feed into the school but the school is also surrounded by 1950's ramblers and split levels that are more modest in nature. I am an MCPS educator and I live in this neighborhood on a street with career firefighters, government workers, and of course attorneys.
To set the record straight, Burning Tree is getting a new principal this year and did not make AYP in special education and will probably not make it this year. Every school in MCPS is facing tighter standards to make AYP and no school can just cruise anymore. The school is home to a Learning Center where students with special needs are either taught using an inclusion model or in a self-contained classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can tell by your respones that most of you are not familiar with the Burning Tree School Districit. Yes, there are some really big houses that feed into the school but the school is also surrounded by 1950's ramblers and split levels that are more modest in nature. I am an MCPS educator and I live in this neighborhood on a street with career firefighters, government workers, and of course attorneys.
To set the record straight, Burning Tree is getting a new principal this year and did not make AYP in special education and will probably not make it this year. Every school in MCPS is facing tighter standards to make AYP and no school can just cruise anymore. The school is home to a Learning Center where students with special needs are either taught using an inclusion model or in a self-contained classroom.

I don't doubt that there are more modest houses in the neighborhood. However, a look at MCPS' website will tell you that the student body of the school is not representative of a lot of the rest of the county. Only 4% are on free and reduced price meals -- this means there are virtually no truly economically disadvantaged students in the school. And the student body is 80% white/Asian -- again, not really representative of the rest of MCPS. It would have been hard for him to pick a less diverse school in MCPS.

As for the AYP in special education, that's a bit misleading, particularly if it has a Learning Center. And I don't see how the new principal has anything to do with the diversity of the school.

[Anonymous]

A quick look at the real estate listings in the neighborhood shows four listings between $1.9M and $5.9M. Even expanding the search geographically, there's nothing under $1.9M.

[Anonymous]

That simply isn't true--I am in the burning tree district and there are 3 houses in my neighborhood that are for sale or recently sold for under 750,000. I am not claiming it is an economically disadvantaged area, clearly, but the specific burning tree section of bethesda is a small part of the neighborhoods that feed to burning tree. Also, the reason the prior poster mentioned the principal is because someone claimed the principal is liked and respected, when in fact there currently is no one slotted for that role, that I know of.

[Anonymous]

Did he grow up in Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That simply isn't true--I am in the burning tree district and there are 3 houses in my neighborhood that are for sale or recently sold for under 750,000. I am not claiming it is an economically disadvantaged area, clearly, but the specific burning tree section of bethesda is a small part of the neighborhoods that feed to burning tree. Also, the reason the prior poster mentioned the principal is because someone claimed the principal is liked and respected, when in fact there currently is no one slotted for that role, that I know of.

OK, fair enough. I still say that choosing a school with that demographic (80% white or Asian, 4% free and reduced) is a bad signal to those of us on the east side of the county. I'm afraid it will perpetuate the way MCPS looks at us and how they tailor programs and initiatives.

[Anonymous]

What's your source, OP?

Anonymous wrote:So our new superintendent has chosen to move to Bethesda and send his kids to Burning Tree. Some vote of confidence for MCPS, right? Choose the school with the 4% FARMS rate and all that goes with it. The school that trumpets its "no labels" approach -- easy because all the kids are "above average."

If he'd even chosen Kensington or some neighborhood that even borders on true middle class, it would be a better sign.

[Anonymous]

He uprooted his family for his career. My guess is that he told his wife to pick the house and she was swayed by the fancy kitchen and huge master suite.

[Anonymous]

He uprooted his family for his career. My guess is that he told his wife to pick the house

very likely. That said, as someone living on the east side in an iffy area even for elementary schools....I don't think it's good news. I think it will reinforce his view that things are hunky dory and he just needs to stay the course when I don't feel like that's what many middle class families on the east side believe about MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least he went public. After all, we have a president who professes support for the public schools and his teachers -- and proceeds to enroll his children in the most exclusive and expensive private school in DC.

Can you name one president besides Carter that sent his kids to public?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least he went public. After all, we have a president who professes support for the public schools and his teachers -- and proceeds to enroll his children in the most exclusive and expensive private school in DC.

Can you name one president besides Carter that sent his kids to public?

[Anonymous]

I just glanced through all the posts, so my apologies if the arguments in this post has been mentioned before. I think Star should send his kids where ever he wants. I would just note that some of us are a little wary of his past statements in favor of 'one-size-fits-all' heterogeneous classrooms already. Many of us who send kids to more diverse schools really do not like this 'no labels' plan to mix all levels in the same class. The more diverse the school and classroom, it makes sense that it is harder to meet all the kids needs. Therefore, sending his kids to a less diverse school that is a 'no labels' experiment is a potential concern.

For the record, I have one GT kid and another pretty average kid on the academic spectrum (they both are special to me and have different talents). I personally like homogeneous classrooms for both kids. I hate that my 'average' kid complains that he is dumb sometimes. Meanwhile, I hate that my GT kid is bored in some subjects.
I want them to advance and work at their own pace with their own peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's your source, OP?

Anonymous wrote:So our new superintendent has chosen to move to Bethesda and send his kids to Burning Tree. Some vote of confidence for MCPS, right? Choose the school with the 4% FARMS rate and all that goes with it. The school that trumpets its "no labels" approach -- easy because all the kids are "above average."

If he'd even chosen Kensington or some neighborhood that even borders on true middle class, it would be a better sign.

The FARMS info and other data are on the "school at a glance" page on the MCPS website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

He uprooted his family for his career. My guess is that he told his wife to pick the house

very likely. That said, as someone living on the east side in an iffy area even for elementary schools....I don't think it's good news. I think it will reinforce his view that things are hunky dory and he just needs to stay the course when I don't feel like that's what many middle class families on the east side believe about MCPS.

I'm the OP, and this is really what I meant to say! Thanks PP!