MoCo question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is everyone giving the op a hard time? She asked a specific question, which many of us have been able to answer in detail and posters are getting angry that their long, excruciatingly dull posts are going unheeded? Pah, what time wasters youbare.

Because she's getting snippy. Several people are telling her similar things: ex. "it depends on the teacher."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is everyone giving the op a hard time? She asked a specific question, which many of us have been able to answer in detail and posters are getting angry that their long, excruciatingly dull posts are going unheeded? Pah, what time wasters youbare.

Because she's getting snippy. Several people are telling her similar things: ex. "it depends on the teacher."

There is no one who can give a precis on the nurturing scale of multiple elementary schools in Bethesda, with scores for individual teachers included. This is like posters who ask about the telework policies of "federal agencies." What you get that year in that classroom/teacher and division/boss is what you get.

[Anonymous]

Green Acres

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for these answers. Very helpful. Comments on Somerset and West(forgot full name derf) also of interest.

You probably mean Westbook. Both great schools with high test scores and very involved families. Both very homogenous (white, wealthy) and very "Bethesda" where many of the kids and parents dress in the same brands. Lots of lawyers, lobbyists, higher-ranking gov. types in these schools. Of the Bethesda schools the ones that are more diverse are closer to Rockville like Ashburton and Wyngate. Lots of NIH families in these.

I wouldn't characterize Somerset the same as Westbrook. We toured both and decided on Somerset in part because of its higher diplomatic and international population. We love the school, faculty and community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is everyone giving the op a hard time? She asked a specific question, which many of us have been able to answer in detail and posters are getting angry that their long, excruciatingly dull posts are going unheeded? Pah, what time wasters youbare.

Because she's getting snippy. Several people are telling her similar things: ex. "it depends on the teacher."

You're right. She is really snippy. Do you even have a child in elementary yet? You can't generalize like that about public schools. At Westbrook my child had a horrible K teacher and a great 1st great one I wouldn't call either of them nurturing, though. Some other parents I know didn't like the 1st grade teacher but she was great with my own child. I have a lot of friends at another school in Bethesda and the atmosphere there two years ago was horrible because of the principal who picked favorites among the PTA moms and kids. Now they have a new principal who has more integrity and it's night a day with what they tell me is a wonderful community feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Use the search function for the many specific schools (what, about two dozen?) you want specific information about.

+1 OP seems to have challenges related to written communication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have decided that it is time to move our elementary school children to public schools--likely in the Bethesda area. Many reasons, but mainly more house and financial reasons.

What schools are seen as nurturing and teaching a live of learning versus schools that are essentially institutional and homogenous? Also, when do the schools start tracking kids as far as academic achievement levels? Thank you

No public school is nurturing. Honestly. Tracking? That slightly begins in math only in 4/5th. Otherwise high school and again, only for certain classes. Even honors classes are mixed with the dumbest kids. If you have been to private with small class sizes you are in for a ride awakening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many times do I need to say I am looking at experiences as they relate to specific schools?

You sound like a real charmer. Choose anything but BE, please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am asking for actual schools and experiences.

Our child is at Bradley Hills. 4th grade with 24 kids in her homeroom- the classes rotate for different subjects but most if the 4th grade rooms have 24 kids. Of the three teachers she encounters for academic subjects, two are very nuturing, encouraging, kind and enthusiastic. The third is ok but still a bit green. He art, music and PE teachers are all great.

As a BCC cluster ES parent, we know other families at Bradley Hills and have openly wondered if we didn't make a massive mistake. Our DC is in a class with 30 kids. It was 29 but a new kid arrived just last week.

OP, the biggest issue with MCPS is overcrowding. We have ESs the size of most HSs in other places and HSs the size of small colleges. My advice would be to stay away from the BCC cluster, except for Westbrook ES. Most ESs in the Whitman cluster are fine, except for Wood Acres. Definitely stay away from that one. I would also stay away from the WJ cluster, the whole thing is basically overcrowded and there is a bruising boundary study coming up for a new HS.

In terms of quality of education, it is 100% the parents. Some teachers are better than others, but if you are not actively engaged as a parent and really pushing your child with extracurriculars you may find that your child will stagnate. This was not how my public school experience was growing up, but it seems pretty consistent with the current mood of "no child left behind" in many jurisdictions in the area and the focus on testing. I guess it is just the way it is nowadays unless you foot the bill for a good private. We have considered private, however I am not so sure that many privates are essentially any better.

Why stay away from Wood Acres? Could you elaborate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am asking for actual schools and experiences.

Our child is at Bradley Hills. 4th grade with 24 kids in her homeroom- the classes rotate for different subjects but most if the 4th grade rooms have 24 kids. Of the three teachers she encounters for academic subjects, two are very nuturing, encouraging, kind and enthusiastic. The third is ok but still a bit green. He art, music and PE teachers are all great.

As a BCC cluster ES parent, we know other families at Bradley Hills and have openly wondered if we didn't make a massive mistake. Our DC is in a class with 30 kids. It was 29 but a new kid arrived just last week.

OP, the biggest issue with MCPS is overcrowding. We have ESs the size of most HSs in other places and HSs the size of small colleges. My advice would be to stay away from the BCC cluster, except for Westbrook ES. Most ESs in the Whitman cluster are fine, except for Wood Acres. Definitely stay away from that one. I would also stay away from the WJ cluster, the whole thing is basically overcrowded and there is a bruising boundary study coming up for a new HS.

In terms of quality of education, it is 100% the parents. Some teachers are better than others, but if you are not actively engaged as a parent and really pushing your child with extracurriculars you may find that your child will stagnate. This was not how my public school experience was growing up, but it seems pretty consistent with the current mood of "no child left behind" in many jurisdictions in the area and the focus on testing. I guess it is just the way it is nowadays unless you foot the bill for a good private. We have considered private, however I am not so sure that many privates are essentially any better.

Part of the problem is schools go on cycles, wood acres was crowded 5-7 years ago but then they moved and remodeled which caused an exodus. This year which is the 1st in the new building it has just under 600 kids in a building big enough for over 900 and the K classes have 23kids. Most parents would love those ratios but by the time they get there it could change. Wood acres is the place to be this year next year who knows

[Anonymous]

The level of nurturing your child will get at and individual school is very teacher and child specific. If you have a child with ADHD or anxiety who acts out, your child will not be nurtured. If you have a compliant child with an endearing personality, the chances of being nurtured go up. All the schools care about their children, but don't expect a private school experience.

[Anonymous]

+1
They don't have the staffing to care about kids with ADHD or anxiety or other special needs even if they are mild. The attitude at many of the schools is to keep high performing kids and their parents happy and to get rid of the low performers. It hurts their test scores and principal salaries and promotions.

[Anonymous]

Um, you don't "get rid" of low performers in public schools. It's not like private school where slower students are counseled out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um, you don't "get rid" of low performers in public schools. It's not like private school where slower students are counseled out.

No they don't "get rid" of the low performers. But if they don't offer the resources to assist your low performing child you are either taking a lot of time off work to fight for resources or paying for outside resources, perhaps private school, if you can afford it. What are you going to do, let your child fail if the school isn't helping?

[Anonymous]

19:56: I agree that nobody wants to see their child fail in school. But many can't easily pay the bill for the Lab Schools of the world and must struggle/fight with the system to get support, which the schools by federal law are obligated to give.