Ashburton Elementary - GreatSchools Rating

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For thr record, my kids had amazing experiences and teachers in K and 1st. They are in private now and were much ahead academically than the remaining class.

Not sure how things are with covid, that should be your biggest question now. All of the schools will be in similar positions for a couple years.

Ashburton first grade family here. Our child has done very well at Ashburton academically and socially. Appreciate the diverse student body, love the engaged parents and PTA. Our teacher has tried really hard to make sure our kid has continued to learn and had a sense of community even during remote learning for the last year. The school is definitely over capacity, but the teachers and administrators try their absolute best to make lemonade out of the lemons that have been handed to them by MCPS. Given the student body makeup I welcome the focus on inclusion and anti-racism. Not sure why some find it controversial, but for those that do this probably is not the right school community for them.

Did you watch the video (either live or on YouTube)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For thr record, my kids had amazing experiences and teachers in K and 1st. They are in private now and were much ahead academically than the remaining class.

Not sure how things are with covid, that should be your biggest question now. All of the schools will be in similar positions for a couple years.

Ashburton first grade family here. Our child has done very well at Ashburton academically and socially. Appreciate the diverse student body, love the engaged parents and PTA. Our teacher has tried really hard to make sure our kid has continued to learn and had a sense of community even during remote learning for the last year. The school is definitely over capacity, but the teachers and administrators try their absolute best to make lemonade out of the lemons that have been handed to them by MCPS. Given the student body makeup I welcome the focus on inclusion and anti-racism. Not sure why some find it controversial, but for those that do this probably is not the right school community for them.

Did you watch the video (either live or on YouTube)?

I’m not the OP but I watched the video. What concerns you about anti-racist training? What I saw was an administration and teachers committed to addressing systemic racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For thr record, my kids had amazing experiences and teachers in K and 1st. They are in private now and were much ahead academically than the remaining class.

Not sure how things are with covid, that should be your biggest question now. All of the schools will be in similar positions for a couple years.

Ashburton first grade family here. Our child has done very well at Ashburton academically and socially. Appreciate the diverse student body, love the engaged parents and PTA. Our teacher has tried really hard to make sure our kid has continued to learn and had a sense of community even during remote learning for the last year. The school is definitely over capacity, but the teachers and administrators try their absolute best to make lemonade out of the lemons that have been handed to them by MCPS. Given the student body makeup I welcome the focus on inclusion and anti-racism. Not sure why some find it controversial, but for those that do this probably is not the right school community for them.

Did you watch the video (either live or on YouTube)?

I’m not the OP but I watched the video. What concerns you about anti-racist training? What I saw was an administration and teachers committed to addressing systemic racism.

I could write a lengthy response, but I'll let John McWhorter speak for me. https://www.persuasion.community/p/john-mcwhorter-the-neoracists

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For thr record, my kids had amazing experiences and teachers in K and 1st. They are in private now and were much ahead academically than the remaining class.

Not sure how things are with covid, that should be your biggest question now. All of the schools will be in similar positions for a couple years.

Ashburton first grade family here. Our child has done very well at Ashburton academically and socially. Appreciate the diverse student body, love the engaged parents and PTA. Our teacher has tried really hard to make sure our kid has continued to learn and had a sense of community even during remote learning for the last year. The school is definitely over capacity, but the teachers and administrators try their absolute best to make lemonade out of the lemons that have been handed to them by MCPS. Given the student body makeup I welcome the focus on inclusion and anti-racism. Not sure why some find it controversial, but for those that do this probably is not the right school community for them.

Did you watch the video (either live or on YouTube)?

I’m not the OP but I watched the video. What concerns you about anti-racist training? What I saw was an administration and teachers committed to addressing systemic racism.

I could write a lengthy response, but I'll let John McWhorter speak for me. https://www.persuasion.community/p/john-mcwhorter-the-neoracists

PP, what is your solution? What are you doing in the interest of improvement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see Ashburton Elementary's GreatSchools rating is down to a 6. Any idea what has caused the decrease in ranking?

I would also be interested in any current parents' experience with Kindergarten / 1st grade at Ashburton. My kids would start Kindergarten in Fall 2022 and we are already starting to think about whether we will send them there or to a private school in the area.

It’s the new GS equity ratings driving down the score, punishing schools with more diverse (income, English language fluency), hence the sharp drop
over 1-2 years. A few other schools with more diverse swings in income in their student populations have dropped as well (Bradley Hills went down to a 7 for example, Garrett Park is down to a 6). Other nearby schools (with higher GS scores) that they’re being measured against have near totally homogeneous student populations when it comes to family background and income. So they’re essentially rewarded (in scoring) for their lack of income diversity in their student body.

Cry me a river. I can name several very diverse schools in Howard and Anne Arundel Counties that have much much higher equity ratings than Ashburton. Maybe compared to the richer schools nearby (which would probably also have the same ratings if the demographics were flipped) you’re being “punished,” but not compared to Maryland state averages for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, which is who those kids are being measured against in that section. Ashburton got a low equity score because it doesn’t serve its students from disadvantaged backgrounds well compared to the MARYLAND state average, not compared to just the other schools in rich W clusters.

Everyone is always so quick to discredit rating websites that rate schools in W clusters low, but when it’s a school in a non-W cluster, everyone assumes it’s cause those kids are lazy.

I don’t know much about Howard or Anne Arundel County schools since I don’t live anywhere near there, but I’m sure others who follow those forums do. However, since we’re on the MCPS forum: can PP name several very diverse MCPS schools with similar SES demographics to Ashburton (and Bradley Hills and Garrett Park) that currently enjoy sky-high equity ratings on GS?

- Wilson Wilms Elementary in Clarksburg has a 7/10 GS Equity rating with a student body that is 27% Black and Hispanic and 9% FARMs recipients (vs 32%/12% at Ashburton): https://www.greatschools.org/maryland/clarksburg/5188-Wilson-Wims-Elementary-School/#Equity_overview
- Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary in Germantown has an 8/10 equity rating and 9/10 overall rating with a student body that is 36% Black/Hispanic and 20% FARMs recipients: https://www.greatschools.org/maryland/germantown/2039-Spark-M.-Matsunaga-Elementary-School/#Race_ethnicity*Test_scores*Math
- Bells Mill Elementary in Rockville has a 10/10 Equity rating with 20% of its students being Black or Hispanic and 10% being FARMs recipients: https://www.greatschools.org/maryland/rockville/858-Bells-Mill-Elementary-School/
- Westover Elementary in Silver Spring has a 9/10 equity rating with 60% of its students being Black and Hispanic and 27% receiving FARMs: https://www.greatschools.org/maryland/silver-spring/979-Westover-Elementary-School/#Equity_overview

Oh, and there’s plenty of more. GS is not “punishing” Ashburton for having more ethnic minorities, Ashburton is punishing itself by not serving its students from disadvantaged backgrounds as well. So funny how W school families will accuse the ratings of being racially biased when it’s their school but not when it’s a non-W elementary school with twice the amount of students from disadvantaged backgrounds that somehow manage to shame Ashburton when it comes to equity.

Np- These are completely different scenarios and your listing of schools is a waste of time. I think you all don't understand how real estate works. Their goal buyer is not looking in these neighborhoods you describe. They are steering buyers in very close neighborhoods to those with more affluent schools (and homes).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see Ashburton Elementary's GreatSchools rating is down to a 6. Any idea what has caused the decrease in ranking?

I would also be interested in any current parents' experience with Kindergarten / 1st grade at Ashburton. My kids would start Kindergarten in Fall 2022 and we are already starting to think about whether we will send them there or to a private school in the area.

It’s the new GS equity ratings driving down the score, punishing schools with more diverse (income, English language fluency), hence the sharp drop
over 1-2 years. A few other schools with more diverse swings in income in their student populations have dropped as well (Bradley Hills went down to a 7 for example, Garrett Park is down to a 6). Other nearby schools (with higher GS scores) that they’re being measured against have near totally homogeneous student populations when it comes to family background and income. So they’re essentially rewarded (in scoring) for their lack of income diversity in their student body.

Cry me a river. I can name several very diverse schools in Howard and Anne Arundel Counties that have much much higher equity ratings than Ashburton. Maybe compared to the richer schools nearby (which would probably also have the same ratings if the demographics were flipped) you’re being “punished,” but not compared to Maryland state averages for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, which is who those kids are being measured against in that section. Ashburton got a low equity score because it doesn’t serve its students from disadvantaged backgrounds well compared to the MARYLAND state average, not compared to just the other schools in rich W clusters.

Everyone is always so quick to discredit rating websites that rate schools in W clusters low, but when it’s a school in a non-W cluster, everyone assumes it’s cause those kids are lazy.

I don’t know much about Howard or Anne Arundel County schools since I don’t live anywhere near there, but I’m sure others who follow those forums do. However, since we’re on the MCPS forum: can PP name several very diverse MCPS schools with similar SES demographics to Ashburton (and Bradley Hills and Garrett Park) that currently enjoy sky-high equity ratings on GS?

- Wilson Wilms Elementary in Clarksburg has a 7/10 GS Equity rating with a student body that is 27% Black and Hispanic and 9% FARMs recipients (vs 32%/12% at Ashburton): https://www.greatschools.org/maryland/clarksburg/5188-Wilson-Wims-Elementary-School/#Equity_overview
- Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary in Germantown has an 8/10 equity rating and 9/10 overall rating with a student body that is 36% Black/Hispanic and 20% FARMs recipients: https://www.greatschools.org/maryland/germantown/2039-Spark-M.-Matsunaga-Elementary-School/#Race_ethnicity*Test_scores*Math
- Bells Mill Elementary in Rockville has a 10/10 Equity rating with 20% of its students being Black or Hispanic and 10% being FARMs recipients: https://www.greatschools.org/maryland/rockville/858-Bells-Mill-Elementary-School/
- Westover Elementary in Silver Spring has a 9/10 equity rating with 60% of its students being Black and Hispanic and 27% receiving FARMs: https://www.greatschools.org/maryland/silver-spring/979-Westover-Elementary-School/#Equity_overview

Oh, and there’s plenty of more. GS is not “punishing” Ashburton for having more ethnic minorities, Ashburton is punishing itself by not serving its students from disadvantaged backgrounds as well. So funny how W school families will accuse the ratings of being racially biased when it’s their school but not when it’s a non-W elementary school with twice the amount of students from disadvantaged backgrounds that somehow manage to shame Ashburton when it comes to equity.

These examples are great. But unfortunately none of the schools listed here, with the possible exception of Bells Mills (and even that’s off), come close to mirroring the community makeup, or demographic or income distribution of Ashburton. However, it is truly encouraging to see that within a mere 45-60 min drive exist schools who have managed to meet GS’ equity criteria. Kudos to them.

It still doesn’t change the fact that GS new equity ratings factors are penalizing *many* schools with diverse SES populations. And they are further boosting scores of schools with demographically homogeneous populations—by rewarding them for “equitably serving” their students who all come from the same levels of advantage. And no personal vendetta against all “W” Cluster will change this fact borne out by the data.

Thank you, well stated.

[Anonymous]

The diversion is well known info. https://www.chalkbeat.org/2019/12/5/21121858/looking-for-a-home-you-ve-seen-greatschools-ratings-here-s-how-they-nudge-families-toward-schools-wi

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For thr record, my kids had amazing experiences and teachers in K and 1st. They are in private now and were much ahead academically than the remaining class.

Not sure how things are with covid, that should be your biggest question now. All of the schools will be in similar positions for a couple years.

Ashburton first grade family here. Our child has done very well at Ashburton academically and socially. Appreciate the diverse student body, love the engaged parents and PTA. Our teacher has tried really hard to make sure our kid has continued to learn and had a sense of community even during remote learning for the last year. The school is definitely over capacity, but the teachers and administrators try their absolute best to make lemonade out of the lemons that have been handed to them by MCPS. Given the student body makeup I welcome the focus on inclusion and anti-racism. Not sure why some find it controversial, but for those that do this probably is not the right school community for them.

Did you watch the video (either live or on YouTube)?

I’m not the OP but I watched the video. What concerns you about anti-racist training? What I saw was an administration and teachers committed to addressing systemic racism.

I could write a lengthy response, but I'll let John McWhorter speak for me. https://www.persuasion.community/p/john-mcwhorter-the-neoracists

Holy crudballs, you have a breathtaking obsession with MCPS being too "woke,"-- first in the other thread, in reference to Blair, and now at Ashburton? Do you keep some sort of Woke MCPS Enemies List? Do you have your own anti-MCPS website where you collect data on administrators you find offensive to your precious sensibilities? Lol forever at "watch the video" and at McWhorter being a "liberal," because that's what he called himself according to Wikipedia or whatever. My goodness. Get off YouTube. Or maybe stay there.

[Anonymous]

So, OP, in other words, if your kids is wealthy, white and bright, they will do great at Ashburton. Try it out before spending big bucks on private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the definition of a "good" school?

Here's mine:
1. good programs
2. good job educating low income children who usually score lower - this is also subjective.

If a school is mostly made up of wealthiesh families, of course the scores will be higher. It would not matter where the school is located.

That's why the GS rating makes sense to include the equity rating. It gives a much better picture of how "good" the school is. It's easy to have wealthier students score well; it's a lot harder to educate lower income students such that they score well .

Let's say you have two schools with similar demographics of low income students:
School A low income students score very well
School B low income students score poorly

Which is school is "better"? School A, because clearly, they are doing something right. Obviously, this is an oversimplification as there could be a myriad of factors, but as a parent coming from the outside, you can only know the stats, and not those other factors.


Having stated that, there's nothing wrong with Ashburton.

OR you have School C- zero low income students to compare to and only rich students. TOP scores for this school! Even if the overall score was the same as School B, School C is going to be way higher because they don't have the lower kids to compare to.

[Anonymous]

I don’t live in the ashburton neighborhood so I have no dog in this fight but I am genuinely curious as to why it might be that the low income students are doing worse at ashburton than they are doing at other schools. I’ve only heard good things about ashburton from families that live there, other than the crowding and schoolyard issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t live in the ashburton neighborhood so I have no dog in this fight but I am genuinely curious as to why it might be that the low income students are doing worse at ashburton than they are doing at other schools. I’ve only heard good things about ashburton from families that live there, other than the crowding and schoolyard issues.

My kids attended Ashburton and I do not really know if this has anything to do with it; IMO the atmosphere there does not push kids to excel. It's a nurturing place, but it encourages students to be kind and comfortable and not stress themselves out with academic achievement. "Oh, Larla, maybe you don't want to take on Compact Math in 4th Grade because you might not be up to taking Calculus in Junior year. You know, Math is hard." The students who do best are supported by parents, not pushed by the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t live in the ashburton neighborhood so I have no dog in this fight but I am genuinely curious as to why it might be that the low income students are doing worse at ashburton than they are doing at other schools. I’ve only heard good things about ashburton from families that live there, other than the crowding and schoolyard issues.

My kids attended Ashburton and I do not really know if this has anything to do with it; IMO the atmosphere there does not push kids to excel. It's a nurturing place, but it encourages students to be kind and comfortable and not stress themselves out with academic achievement. "Oh, Larla, maybe you don't want to take on Compact Math in 4th Grade because you might not be up to taking Calculus in Junior year. You know, Math is hard." The students who do best are supported by parents, not pushed by the teachers.

Does anyone else agree with this? Would be curious to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t live in the ashburton neighborhood so I have no dog in this fight but I am genuinely curious as to why it might be that the low income students are doing worse at ashburton than they are doing at other schools. I’ve only heard good things about ashburton from families that live there, other than the crowding and schoolyard issues.

My kids attended Ashburton and I do not really know if this has anything to do with it; IMO the atmosphere there does not push kids to excel. It's a nurturing place, but it encourages students to be kind and comfortable and not stress themselves out with academic achievement. "Oh, Larla, maybe you don't want to take on Compact Math in 4th Grade because you might not be up to taking Calculus in Junior year. You know, Math is hard." The students who do best are supported by parents, not pushed by the teachers.

Does anyone else agree with this? Would be curious to know.

Ashburton parent here. This has not been our experience. Our kids have been encouraged to excel by their teachers. We have loved Ashburton, and our kids are very happy there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids attended Ashburton and I do not really know if this has anything to do with it; IMO the atmosphere there does not push kids to excel. It's a nurturing place, but it encourages students to be kind and comfortable and not stress themselves out with academic achievement. "Oh, Larla, maybe you don't want to take on Compact Math in 4th Grade because you might not be up to taking Calculus in Junior year. You know, Math is hard." The students who do best are supported by parents, not pushed by the teachers.

DCUM gonna DCUM!