Schools splitting from large ineffective school systems - could the 4 Ws split from MCPS?

[Anonymous]

The people at the top of the MCPS system want to close the achievement gap, and they think it's totally fair for the richer taxpayers to pay for the poorer areas' schools. They also will move programs around as needed to achieve equity. Same with admissions criteria for magnets, or extra resources for individual schools, or policies regarding PTA fundraising efforts etc. I know this from talking to several people in the system who are decision-makers. This is the MCPS mandate and the philosophy and you should plan accordingly. I'm not commenting on that one way or the other, I'm just stating the facts. If what you want is inconsistent with those goals, you can try to lobby for a town-like school system or go to private and live somewhere where your taxes won't be used like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But look at Rockville and Takoma Park, incorporated cities in a sea of un-incorporated suburbia.

There is nothing to stop a school system from developing independently of a County.

There is not a single town based school system in the state. Are you sure it's possible to crest one under state law?

Sorry, I expressed myself badly. I meant, if some areas can incorporate and have their own systems to deal with public services, why can't an area request to create its own public school system?

If there is a Bethesda public school system, I wonder what effect it would have on college admissions. I assume a student would have to have slightly better grades in such a system than in the surrounding public schools, since universities will assume that families have the means to educated their children well. Of course, perhaps they do so now! If that's already the case, perhaps it would be best for residents of Bethesda to have their own schools where the curriculum can be more in-depth and teachers better paid and more intelligent.

I dream of textbooks with full color on every page and quality paper, just like I had as a child. One problem with that: backpacks get REALLY heavy

Basically you want to build a wall, a socio economic one.

I wasn't the one who floated the idea, but since I am a product of private schools and send my kids to public school in Bethesda... I wouldn't be against it.

Please realize that the wall you speak of is already there, in real estate value. Creating a different public school system in Bethesda won't change anything.

On social media I bet you complain about Trump and virtue signal "diversity is our strength" all day. DCUM is the safespace that NIMBYs need to express how they really feel.

Why do you insist on assuming things about me?
And in this case, it's IN my back yard
You don't seem to be making much sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The people at the top of the MCPS system want to close the achievement gap, and they think it's totally fair for the richer taxpayers to pay for the poorer areas' schools. They also will move programs around as needed to achieve equity. Same with admissions criteria for magnets, or extra resources for individual schools, or policies regarding PTA fundraising efforts etc. I know this from talking to several people in the system who are decision-makers. This is the MCPS mandate and the philosophy and you should plan accordingly. I'm not commenting on that one way or the other, I'm just stating the facts. If what you want is inconsistent with those goals, you can try to lobby for a town-like school system or go to private and live somewhere where your taxes won't be used like this.

Yes, that's because taxes are taxes, not user fees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I wasn't the one who floated the idea, but since I am a product of private schools and send my kids to public school in Bethesda... I wouldn't be against it.

Please realize that the wall you speak of is already there, in real estate value. Creating a different public school system in Bethesda won't change anything.

Right, but changing zoning and housing laws would.

There wouldn't be a need to change anything. School boundaries would be kept intact. The same school buildings would be used, bought or leased. A few students, however, would be affected, because they are currently bused across clusters to special programs, so an agreement would have to be made concerning them. My child among them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

On social media I bet you complain about Trump and virtue signal "diversity is our strength" all day. DCUM is the safespace that NIMBYs need to express how they really feel.

Why do you insist on assuming things about me?
And in this case, it's IN my back yard
You don't seem to be making much sense.

DP. Generally I figure that people who talk about "virtue signaling" are projecting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I wasn't the one who floated the idea, but since I am a product of private schools and send my kids to public school in Bethesda... I wouldn't be against it.

Please realize that the wall you speak of is already there, in real estate value. Creating a different public school system in Bethesda won't change anything.

Right, but changing zoning and housing laws would.

There wouldn't be a need to change anything. School boundaries would be kept intact. The same school buildings would be used, bought or leased. A few students, however, would be affected, because they are currently bused across clusters to special programs, so an agreement would have to be made concerning them. My child among them.

Changing zoning and housing laws would get rid of the socioeconomic wall that (as you say) currently exists.

[Anonymous]

Good idea OP! Let's self-segregate and make certain the poorer people don't get any nice things. You really get it - I wish everyone thought like you - stratification is where it's at!!

[Anonymous]

It actually is like being in a separate school system under the current system. If you don't think it is the. You haven't spent time at the Title 1 or focus schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people at the top of the MCPS system want to close the achievement gap, and they think it's totally fair for the richer taxpayers to pay for the poorer areas' schools. They also will move programs around as needed to achieve equity. Same with admissions criteria for magnets, or extra resources for individual schools, or policies regarding PTA fundraising efforts etc. I know this from talking to several people in the system who are decision-makers. This is the MCPS mandate and the philosophy and you should plan accordingly. I'm not commenting on that one way or the other, I'm just stating the facts. If what you want is inconsistent with those goals, you can try to lobby for a town-like school system or go to private and live somewhere where your taxes won't be used like this.

Yes, that's because taxes are taxes, not user fees.

Exactly. The entitlement of people is so strong. You pay taxes because you are required to and it is part of the social contract we have for the greater good.

If we did not subsidize the lives of the poorer people that still get paid slave wages, you would be far poorer because you would still pay a ton in taxes AND pay far more for goods and services. And the fact that the poor would literally revolt and we would have a Purge movie type situation on our hands if we actually screwed them as badly as many of you would like to.

[Anonymous]

Very few kids are eligible or get into magnets. Get over it.

[Anonymous]

New poster here. Could someone please define W-cluster? I'm seeing it pop up all over the forum. 4 Ws? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster here. Could someone please define W-cluster? I'm seeing it pop up all over the forum. 4 Ws? Thanks!

4 of the 5 high school clusters in the wealthy, western, white parts of the county. Churchill, Walter Johnson, Whitman, Wootton, but NOT Bethesda-Chevy Chase.

[Anonymous]

Can someone give a quick summary on what's happening with the magnet programs and how they are no longer open to W students? I get that there's a bunch of threads on them but I don't want to skim through 100s of posts to understand what's going on. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone give a quick summary on what's happening with the magnet programs and how they are no longer open to W students? I get that there's a bunch of threads on them but I don't want to skim through 100s of posts to understand what's going on. Thanks.

Quick summary: they are open to students from Bethesda and Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But look at Rockville and Takoma Park, incorporated cities in a sea of un-incorporated suburbia.

There is nothing to stop a school system from developing independently of a County.

There is not a single town based school system in the state. Are you sure it's possible to crest one under state law?

Sorry, I expressed myself badly. I meant, if some areas can incorporate and have their own systems to deal with public services, why can't an area request to create its own public school system?

If there is a Bethesda public school system, I wonder what effect it would have on college admissions. I assume a student would have to have slightly better grades in such a system than in the surrounding public schools, since universities will assume that families have the means to educated their children well. Of course, perhaps they do so now! If that's already the case, perhaps it would be best for residents of Bethesda to have their own schools where the curriculum can be more in-depth and teachers better paid and more intelligent.

I dream of textbooks with full color on every page and quality paper, just like I had as a child. One problem with that: backpacks get REALLY heavy

Basically you want to build a wall, a socio economic one.

I wasn't the one who floated the idea, but since I am a product of private schools and send my kids to public school in Bethesda... I wouldn't be against it.

Please realize that the wall you speak of is already there, in real estate value. Creating a different public school system in Bethesda won't change anything.

On social media I bet you complain about Trump and virtue signal "diversity is our strength" all day. DCUM is the safespace that NIMBYs need to express how they really feel.

Why do you insist on assuming things about me?
And in this case, it's IN my back yard
You don't seem to be making much sense.

I don't think you correctly understand the term NIMBY.