Eastern middle school magnet

[Anonymous]

Our 8th grader is in Eastern Magnet, and virtual learning was challenging, but I guess we got lucky because I can't remember a teacher not showing up. Virtual PE was a bit of a joke, but all the magnet classes remained challenging and the teachers worked hard to be engaging. The other non-magnet classes were also done well - including an especially awesome and enthusiastic science teacher. Our DC took art, which again - the art teacher was great at virtual learning. We had challenges with virtual learning, but not because the teachers were absent or aloof - they were there, engaged, and really trying. I'm sorry to hear others at Eastern had issues.

As for the original question: We knew of only a couple people who left - because of the challenge of the program. Especially adjusting in 6th grade and the rigor of 7th grade. 8th grade has been the most enjoyable for our DC - and is loving the 8th grade teacher team.

Yes, the hallways are loud, the lunchroom is chaotic, and the language can be foul, but I don't know that it is different than other places. I hear the same complaints from friends who stayed at our home middle school. Our DC has made friends with kids in the magnet and outside of the magnet. Some of the local kids live in apartment buildings and others live in single family homes. Again, not sure how this is different than any other middle school around.

[Anonymous]

Please stop talking about the FARMS rate of the schools and alluding to its weight on some sort of morality equation. It is shouting out aporophobia. Why are you so afraid of those with fewer financial resources than you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please stop talking about the FARMS rate of the schools and alluding to its weight on some sort of morality equation. It is shouting out aporophobia. Why are you so afraid of those with fewer financial resources than you?

No but it is a harbinger for shitty outcomes and yes sometimes too many bodies sink the life boats. Really poor people have poor problems while other schools have kids all jockey to see who visits who’s beach house. I’ll take the latter outcome please. You do you

My friends mom was a teacher at the Elementary school next to eastern “New Hampshire Estates”, even that sweet old lady used to call it the third world. Not one of the parents on this board would send their kids to that school, not one of you. But you’ll send your kids to the middle school with them. Ok makes perfect sense

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the school is in/near a really slummy part of the county. Drive a few blocks to piney branch and university and see for your self. It is one of the worst areas in the DC metro region and those kids go to Eastern. They have to go somewhere and they are not all bad but people need to ask if the crazy commute and exposure for their kids is worth it for the privilege of propping up the test score of a very seedy area. I dare a perspective magnet parent to drive though Knob Hill, Long Branch Garland or Quebec terrace at night and ask your self if that peer group is worth a fancy text book in middle school. There is a reason they put carrot programs that attract high flyers in schools like eastern or Blair which is near by on the same road as well.

If you do I suspect you will find your answer

What is it like to feel like you're being "real" and "fair" and not know you sound like a complete asshole?

Sounding like and A-hole and being wrong are two different things. I know the truth triggers many people and acknowledging the truth doesn't mean I am endorsing the injustice of it all. Also few people who go back to their home will be honest with the % that reality played into their decision. I suspect most people who claim commute or local friends are really thinking a portion of this.

This person was blunt but they’re not wrong. It pulls from a terrible area and the admin isn’t great. I didn’t pull my child out but I sure wish I would have. My kid did virtual while at Eastern and it was a shitshow.

The area is not that bad. It's like a regular working class area and that's only one small part of the catchment area. There are also a number of really cute MC neighborhoods with nice detached suburban homes. What are you even talking about?

Now you’re in straight out denial.
Look at the FARMS rate. Hard to take this post seriously.

Huh? Everything the PP said is accurate.

2/3 of the kids are on or have been in on FARMs. Clearly full of lovely middle class kids on free lunch just goes to show you the actual middle class people are the ones pretending the poor people aren’t there. Which is more racist? pointing at them and going ewww or pretending they don’t exist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My friends mom was a teacher at the Elementary school next to eastern “New Hampshire Estates”, even that sweet old lady used to call it the third world. Not one of the parents on this board would send their kids to that school, not one of you. But you’ll send your kids to the middle school with them. Ok makes perfect sense

Actually, you bring up a strong negative point about attending public schools with a sizeable lower SES population: teacher perception. Years ago, I was terrified when I read that a staff member at the school my child was attending went on the record to refer to our neighborhood as having the nickname of "slumville" among the staff.

Teachers with a condescending mindset towards the community they teach at are...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the school is in/near a really slummy part of the county. Drive a few blocks to piney branch and university and see for your self. It is one of the worst areas in the DC metro region and those kids go to Eastern. They have to go somewhere and they are not all bad but people need to ask if the crazy commute and exposure for their kids is worth it for the privilege of propping up the test score of a very seedy area. I dare a perspective magnet parent to drive though Knob Hill, Long Branch Garland or Quebec terrace at night and ask your self if that peer group is worth a fancy text book in middle school. There is a reason they put carrot programs that attract high flyers in schools like eastern or Blair which is near by on the same road as well.

If you do I suspect you will find your answer

What is it like to feel like you're being "real" and "fair" and not know you sound like a complete asshole?

Sounding like and A-hole and being wrong are two different things. I know the truth triggers many people and acknowledging the truth doesn't mean I am endorsing the injustice of it all. Also few people who go back to their home will be honest with the % that reality played into their decision. I suspect most people who claim commute or local friends are really thinking a portion of this.

This person was blunt but they’re not wrong. It pulls from a terrible area and the admin isn’t great. I didn’t pull my child out but I sure wish I would have. My kid did virtual while at Eastern and it was a shitshow.

The area is not that bad. It's like a regular working class area and that's only one small part of the catchment area. There are also a number of really cute MC neighborhoods with nice detached suburban homes. What are you even talking about?

Now you’re in straight out denial.
Look at the FARMS rate. Hard to take this post seriously.

Huh? Everything the PP said is accurate.

2/3 of the kids are on or have been in on FARMs. Clearly full of lovely middle class kids on free lunch just goes to show you the actual middle class people are the ones pretending the poor people aren’t there. Which is more racist? pointing at them and going ewww or pretending they don’t exist?

Who is pretending kids on FARMS don't exist?! The PP said, correctly, that there are also a number of middle class neighborhoods with single family homes in-bounds for Eastern. Are you pretending those don't exist? Guess what, all over Montgomery County there are neighborhoods with a wide range of economic diversity, and the kids all go to school together. This is one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please stop talking about the FARMS rate of the schools and alluding to its weight on some sort of morality equation. It is shouting out aporophobia. Why are you so afraid of those with fewer financial resources than you?

No but it is a harbinger for shitty outcomes and yes sometimes too many bodies sink the life boats. Really poor people have poor problems while other schools have kids all jockey to see who visits who’s beach house. I’ll take the latter outcome please. You do you

My friends mom was a teacher at the Elementary school next to eastern “New Hampshire Estates”, even that sweet old lady used to call it the third world. Not one of the parents on this board would send their kids to that school, not one of you. But you’ll send your kids to the middle school with them. Ok makes perfect sense

The elementary school next to Eastern is Montgomery Knolls. It's surrounded by middle class single family homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our 8th grader is in Eastern Magnet, and virtual learning was challenging, but I guess we got lucky because I can't remember a teacher not showing up. Virtual PE was a bit of a joke, but all the magnet classes remained challenging and the teachers worked hard to be engaging. The other non-magnet classes were also done well - including an especially awesome and enthusiastic science teacher. Our DC took art, which again - the art teacher was great at virtual learning. We had challenges with virtual learning, but not because the teachers were absent or aloof - they were there, engaged, and really trying. I'm sorry to hear others at Eastern had issues.

As for the original question: We knew of only a couple people who left - because of the challenge of the program. Especially adjusting in 6th grade and the rigor of 7th grade. 8th grade has been the most enjoyable for our DC - and is loving the 8th grade teacher team.

Yes, the hallways are loud, the lunchroom is chaotic, and the language can be foul, but I don't know that it is different than other places. I hear the same complaints from friends who stayed at our home middle school. Our DC has made friends with kids in the magnet and outside of the magnet. Some of the local kids live in apartment buildings and others live in single family homes. Again, not sure how this is different than any other middle school around.

It depends on your home school then. My older kids went to our public middle school and it wasn’t as bad as Eastern. Admin also seems to just have a “this is how it is” attitude with regards to things like the lunchroom.
I will disagree that’s just how middle school is. Nope, we still need discipline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please stop talking about the FARMS rate of the schools and alluding to its weight on some sort of morality equation. It is shouting out aporophobia. Why are you so afraid of those with fewer financial resources than you?

No but it is a harbinger for shitty outcomes and yes sometimes too many bodies sink the life boats. Really poor people have poor problems while other schools have kids all jockey to see who visits who’s beach house. I’ll take the latter outcome please. You do you

My friends mom was a teacher at the Elementary school next to eastern “New Hampshire Estates”, even that sweet old lady used to call it the third world. Not one of the parents on this board would send their kids to that school, not one of you. But you’ll send your kids to the middle school with them. Ok makes perfect sense

Tell me you're racist without telling me you're racist...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the school is in/near a really slummy part of the county. Drive a few blocks to piney branch and university and see for your self. It is one of the worst areas in the DC metro region and those kids go to Eastern. They have to go somewhere and they are not all bad but people need to ask if the crazy commute and exposure for their kids is worth it for the privilege of propping up the test score of a very seedy area. I dare a perspective magnet parent to drive though Knob Hill, Long Branch Garland or Quebec terrace at night and ask your self if that peer group is worth a fancy text book in middle school. There is a reason they put carrot programs that attract high flyers in schools like eastern or Blair which is near by on the same road as well.

If you do I suspect you will find your answer

What is it like to feel like you're being "real" and "fair" and not know you sound like a complete asshole?

Sounding like and A-hole and being wrong are two different things. I know the truth triggers many people and acknowledging the truth doesn't mean I am endorsing the injustice of it all. Also few people who go back to their home will be honest with the % that reality played into their decision. I suspect most people who claim commute or local friends are really thinking a portion of this.

This person was blunt but they’re not wrong. It pulls from a terrible area and the admin isn’t great. I didn’t pull my child out but I sure wish I would have. My kid did virtual while at Eastern and it was a shitshow.

The area is not that bad. It's like a regular working class area and that's only one small part of the catchment area. There are also a number of really cute MC neighborhoods with nice detached suburban homes. What are you even talking about?

Now you’re in straight out denial.
Look at the FARMS rate. Hard to take this post seriously.

Huh? Everything the PP said is accurate.

2/3 of the kids are on or have been in on FARMs. Clearly full of lovely middle class kids on free lunch just goes to show you the actual middle class people are the ones pretending the poor people aren’t there. Which is more racist? pointing at them and going ewww or pretending they don’t exist?

Who is pretending kids on FARMS don't exist?! The PP said, correctly, that there are also a number of middle class neighborhoods with single family homes in-bounds for Eastern. Are you pretending those don't exist? Guess what, all over Montgomery County there are neighborhoods with a wide range of economic diversity, and the kids all go to school together. This is one of them.

Silver Spring is pretty economically mixed and you have single family home neighborhoods interspersed with garden apartments and a few high-rises. It's not exactly some horrible slum

[Anonymous]

FWIW I have a current 7th grader and the teaching during pandemic was fine. As fine as it was at my other child's well-regarded low-FARMS school.

As for the other stuff, my kid eats with friends (magnet and comprehensive) and doesn't pay much attention to lunchroom drama or swearing. If you have a child who craves attention, or is easily impressionable, I can see some of the social dynamics being a challenge, but if your child has even an iota of real world sense, it'll be fine.

According to my kid, a handful of students left at the end of 6th and another will leave at the end of this year. It's not incredibly common, though, and most of those were/will be families moving out of district for unrelated reasons like jobs or family.

[Anonymous]

Having classmates who are poor is not the reason why your child had a bad experience. I think you are conflating two separate issues.

[Anonymous]

If memory serves, there were a few violent incidents there that seemed over the top for a MS. Wasn’t someone stabbed in the back and another mowed down by a vehicle? This was a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having classmates who are poor is not the reason why your child had a bad experience. I think you are conflating two separate issues.

You think there is no correlation with some of the issues at Eastern?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If memory serves, there were a few violent incidents there that seemed over the top for a MS. Wasn’t someone stabbed in the back and another mowed down by a vehicle? This was a few years ago.

This is ridiculous. You guys awful spewing this nonsense. My kid from a W school never saw vaping there.