Has anyone had a good experience with MCPS?

[Anonymous]

It's sort of like how if someone likes a restaurant, they'll tell a couple of friends, but it they don't like it, they'll gripe to anyone who will listen.

On these threads there are people who are convinced that people won't admit they think their Silver Spring schools are horrible, because that would mean they would admit that their property values are plummeting and they made a mistake buying property in Silver Spring. Then there are the people who think you are just clueless if you like the schools, or the "Just wait until middle school, You'll see!" people.

It's kind of funny that people on these posts who say they are happy with the schools, that their children are happy and thriving, and are now successful studying at a university, must just not know any better.

I can just see their epitaph. Poor guy thought he had a great life. He just didn't know better.

[Anonymous]

If the kid is not very bright (i.e., gifted) nor very struggling, and if you earn enough to live in a good school district, I think MCPS runs pretty good compare to many other places in this country. So for most people, the answer is "fine".

DCUM is a highly biased sample.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's sort of like how if someone likes a restaurant, they'll tell a couple of friends, but it they don't like it, they'll gripe to anyone who will listen.

On these threads there are people who are convinced that people won't admit they think their Silver Spring schools are horrible, because that would mean they would admit that their property values are plummeting and they made a mistake buying property in Silver Spring. Then there are the people who think you are just clueless if you like the schools, or the "Just wait until middle school, You'll see!" people.

It's kind of funny that people on these posts who say they are happy with the schools, that their children are happy and thriving, and are now successful studying at a university, must just not know any better.

I can just see their epitaph. Poor guy thought he had a great life. He just didn't know better.

life is all about getting into the best college. that is all.

except for east county where the graduation rates of blacks and hispanics is 46%. then what. ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It was. And what are your thoughts on the curriculum, the school calendar, etc?

Here's the truth for you, OP: the silent majority is happy with MCPS. Why? because they don't know any better. The end.

I think that is the correct smiley for the idea that, if somebody's opinion is different from mine, it can only be because they don't know better.

Unless you come out with your own thoughtful analysis of the school system under discussion, your opinion doesn't count for much, PP. Others have laid out in detail why they are happy/unhappy with MCPS. If the best you can do is bleat out: "I feel the staff knows my kid", well, that's not really cutting it, is it? Especially at the elementary school level, where that is their job! Return in a few years and tell me how well teachers know your kid in middle and high school.

I'm not the person who posted the PP, but I actually think staff knowing my kid is a pretty important metric in elementary school. I also don't get the impression it is universal, particularly from parents always complaining about overcrowding. Maybe it is the job of elementary teachers and staff to know kids as unique individuals, but a heck of a lot of parents in bigger schools don't seem to think it is happening.

[Anonymous]

There is a big difference between have you had any good experiences with local staff at your MCPS school and have you had a good experience with MCPS. The better teachers once you get to know them will all start spilling the beans about how MCPS jerks them around horribly. Even the principals can't stand the ridiculous nonsense that comes down from the central office. MCPS is a horrible mismanaged system so few parents or educators have nice things to say about them.

This doesn't mean that there are not good people trapped in a bad system down at the local schools. There are some very creative teachers who are doing their best to go above and around MCPS dictates. There are teachers that add to the curriculum to make things more interesting. There are teachers who show kids the obligatory nonsense way of doing MCPS math and then let the kids do math the correct way. These are usually the rare math oriented teachers rather than the math phobic central staff types. They would be wonderful teachers anywhere but their ability to exist within this system is impressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a big difference between have you had any good experiences with local staff at your MCPS school and have you had a good experience with MCPS. The better teachers once you get to know them will all start spilling the beans about how MCPS jerks them around horribly. Even the principals can't stand the ridiculous nonsense that comes down from the central office. MCPS is a horrible mismanaged system so few parents or educators have nice things to say about them.

This doesn't mean that there are not good people trapped in a bad system down at the local schools. There are some very creative teachers who are doing their best to go above and around MCPS dictates. There are teachers that add to the curriculum to make things more interesting. There are teachers who show kids the obligatory nonsense way of doing MCPS math and then let the kids do math the correct way. These are usually the rare math oriented teachers rather than the math phobic central staff types. They would be wonderful teachers anywhere but their ability to exist within this system is impressive.

This is SPOT ON in my experience.

My kids have had some FANTASTIC teachers who do above and beyond, despite the crappy system they are forced to work in.

I would say I have had a good experience with the teachers/staff, but I firmly believe that MCPS is a terribly managed, too large school district. 100%. And, pretty much every teacher that I know will say the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a big difference between have you had any good experiences with local staff at your MCPS school and have you had a good experience with MCPS. The better teachers once you get to know them will all start spilling the beans about how MCPS jerks them around horribly. Even the principals can't stand the ridiculous nonsense that comes down from the central office. MCPS is a horrible mismanaged system so few parents or educators have nice things to say about them.

This doesn't mean that there are not good people trapped in a bad system down at the local schools. There are some very creative teachers who are doing their best to go above and around MCPS dictates. There are teachers that add to the curriculum to make things more interesting. There are teachers who show kids the obligatory nonsense way of doing MCPS math and then let the kids do math the correct way. These are usually the rare math oriented teachers rather than the math phobic central staff types. They would be wonderful teachers anywhere but their ability to exist within this system is impressive.

OP: Have you had a good experience with MCPS?
Various posters: Yes, I have.
Various other posters: No, you have not.

What next?

OP: Did you enjoy going to Disneyworld?
Various posters: Yes, I did.
Various other posters: No, you didn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had a good experience. We're at a Focus School in Silver Spring, and I've been really impressed with the degree to which teachers and administrators *know* my kids. They are incredibly committed, and have a good sense of who my kids are and what they need, which is reflected in the teachers they are assigned, support from the counselor for typical kid stuff, etc.

As an example, my child was supposed to sit for the GT test last week but had a bug. The GT coordinator reached out that same morning to make sure I knew my child could take the test as soon as they felt better. It was a kind gesture.

Uh - they're supposed to do that, PP. It's in the written guidelines for the exam.

Of course. Letting them retake the test is in the guidelines. Proactively reaching out before I'd even called in the absence was nice.

It was. And what are your thoughts on the curriculum, the school calendar, etc?


Here's the truth for you, OP: the silent majority is happy with MCPS. Why? because they don't know any better. The end.

Then why don't you tell us what better?

[Anonymous]

I don't have much new to add, but with all of the bashing of MCPS, I wanted to add my voice to the satisfied crew.

We've had very positive experiences with teachers and administrators who care a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have much new to add, but with all of the bashing of MCPS, I wanted to add my voice to the satisfied crew.

We've had very positive experiences with teachers and administrators who care a lot.

+1

And I agree with PP above about the importance of school leadership knowing their kids. Our principal knows my Kindergartener by name and also what's going on with her academically. This makes my kid feel even more excited to learn and more engaged in school than she already is. That student enthusiasm matters, and props to our principal for fostering it.

[Anonymous]

For a system that everyone says is a hellhole to work for, they have pretty good glassdoor reviews:

https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Montgomery-County-Public-Schools/reviews

- signed, a parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For a system that everyone says is a hellhole to work for, they have pretty good glassdoor reviews:

https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Montgomery-County-Public-Schools/reviews

- signed, a parent

sorry, indeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had a good experience. We're at a Focus School in Silver Spring, and I've been really impressed with the degree to which teachers and administrators *know* my kids. They are incredibly committed, and have a good sense of who my kids are and what they need, which is reflected in the teachers they are assigned, support from the counselor for typical kid stuff, etc.

As an example, my child was supposed to sit for the GT test last week but had a bug. The GT coordinator reached out that same morning to make sure I knew my child could take the test as soon as they felt better. It was a kind gesture.

Uh - they're supposed to do that, PP. It's in the written guidelines for the exam.

Of course. Letting them retake the test is in the guidelines. Proactively reaching out before I'd even called in the absence was nice.

It was. And what are your thoughts on the curriculum, the school calendar, etc?


Here's the truth for you, OP: the silent majority is happy with MCPS. Why? because they don't know any better. The end.

Then why don't you tell us what better?

Numerous posters have done so, in this thread, and for years. Read the archives of the MD public schools forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a big difference between have you had any good experiences with local staff at your MCPS school and have you had a good experience with MCPS. The better teachers once you get to know them will all start spilling the beans about how MCPS jerks them around horribly. Even the principals can't stand the ridiculous nonsense that comes down from the central office. MCPS is a horrible mismanaged system so few parents or educators have nice things to say about them.

This doesn't mean that there are not good people trapped in a bad system down at the local schools. There are some very creative teachers who are doing their best to go above and around MCPS dictates. There are teachers that add to the curriculum to make things more interesting. There are teachers who show kids the obligatory nonsense way of doing MCPS math and then let the kids do math the correct way. These are usually the rare math oriented teachers rather than the math phobic central staff types. They would be wonderful teachers anywhere but their ability to exist within this system is impressive.

This is SPOT ON in my experience.

My kids have had some FANTASTIC teachers who do above and beyond, despite the crappy system they are forced to work in.

I would say I have had a good experience with the teachers/staff, but I firmly believe that MCPS is a terribly managed, too large school district. 100%. And, pretty much every teacher that I know will say the same thing.

This has been my experience as well. I agree that good math instruction comes from teachers rather than the curriculum. I would add that I think the same holds true for language arts. If your child has had handwriting, grammar, systematic spelling, etc., you can thank the teacher.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been happy with MCPS. Good teachers and good principals. They accept parental input for things like the calendar. It could be better, but it’s a good school district.