MCPS level of academic rigor

[Anonymous]

Not to be the bearer of bad news but I’m a teacher. there is significant grade inflation. The school I teach at: the average unweighted gpa is a 3.7. And kids can barely read and write.

I don’t have kids in high school, but I don’t think I’d care at all about gpa. I would care more about how much they are working and learning. That matters significantly more than gpa and grades. I’m looking to send my kids to private one day, but don’t know where to find meaningful rigor.

But, Bs and Cs are what D’s and Fs used to be. Teachers can’t give authentic grades anymore because the teachers who do get terrorized for having high expectations.

So, look at the evidence in front of you: if she is on YouTube or what not and not studying much, she’s probably not learning much either.

I wish this was a bigger concern to society and parents - than packaging kids as marketable objects for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This seems to be a problem with public schools nationwide. I have a kid who had straight As through a W schools (and high SAT) and is now at an Ivy. She said there is a stark contrast in public vs private school kids in work ethic. The private school kids sit somewhere quiet and focus and study hard on a regular basis, all semester. The public school kids, not so much.

She had a prof who said as much. He had a tendency to say the quiet part out loud and gave them a bit of a pep talk saying he wants EVERYONE to succeed. And then said, 'I've found from past semesters that I tend to have kids drop out or not do well--especially women, minorities, and kids from public schools' (she is all three), 'so especially if you are in one of these categories, please come to office hours and we'll work through this stuff together to make sure you succeed.'

Kind of a jerk thing to say, but it suggests that he can see a difference between public and private school kids...

I don't think you can say the same for the kids coming through RM, Blair and Poolesville magnets.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This seems to be a problem with public schools nationwide. I have a kid who had straight As through a W schools (and high SAT) and is now at an Ivy. She said there is a stark contrast in public vs private school kids in work ethic. The private school kids sit somewhere quiet and focus and study hard on a regular basis, all semester. The public school kids, not so much.

She had a prof who said as much. He had a tendency to say the quiet part out loud and gave them a bit of a pep talk saying he wants EVERYONE to succeed. And then said, 'I've found from past semesters that I tend to have kids drop out or not do well--especially women, minorities, and kids from public schools' (she is all three), 'so especially if you are in one of these categories, please come to office hours and we'll work through this stuff together to make sure you succeed.'

Kind of a jerk thing to say, but it suggests that he can see a difference between public and private school kids...

[/quote]

Seems strange that the prof would look up the students' high schools.[/quote]


Because it's a fake story.

A (probably white) professor called most of the class, including the women, bad students? And invited the women to spend extra time in office hours? And the students didn't rage about him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems to be a problem with public schools nationwide. I have a kid who had straight As through a W schools (and high SAT) and is now at an Ivy. She said there is a stark contrast in public vs private school kids in work ethic. The private school kids sit somewhere quiet and focus and study hard on a regular basis, all semester. The public school kids, not so much.

She had a prof who said as much. He had a tendency to say the quiet part out loud and gave them a bit of a pep talk saying he wants EVERYONE to succeed. And then said, 'I've found from past semesters that I tend to have kids drop out or not do well--especially women, minorities, and kids from public schools' (she is all three), 'so especially if you are in one of these categories, please come to office hours and we'll work through this stuff together to make sure you succeed.'

Kind of a jerk thing to say, but it suggests that he can see a difference between public and private school kids...

I don't think you can say the same for the kids coming through RM, Blair and Poolesville magnets.

we figured kids needed to go to one of the magnets to get education. one is in, but two more to go. privates are too expensive for us so we haven't bothered to learn much about education there.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This seems to be a problem with public schools nationwide. I have a kid who had straight As through a W schools (and high SAT) and is now at an Ivy. She said there is a stark contrast in public vs private school kids in work ethic. The private school kids sit somewhere quiet and focus and study hard on a regular basis, all semester. The public school kids, not so much.

She had a prof who said as much. He had a tendency to say the quiet part out loud and gave them a bit of a pep talk saying he wants EVERYONE to succeed. And then said, 'I've found from past semesters that I tend to have kids drop out or not do well--especially women, minorities, and kids from public schools' (she is all three), 'so especially if you are in one of these categories, please come to office hours and we'll work through this stuff together to make sure you succeed.'

Kind of a jerk thing to say, but it suggests that he can see a difference between public and private school kids...

[/quote]

Seems strange that the prof would look up the students' high schools.[/quote]



Because it's a fake story.

A (probably white) professor called most of the class, including the women, bad students? And invited the women to spend extra time in office hours? And the students didn't rage about him?
[/quote]

PP here. True story. I asked my daughter if she resented him saying it, and she said, "No. I feel like he wants me to succeed." (Personally, I was shocked.). And it wasn't 'most of the class.' There were apparently students from any three of the groups registered in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a blended family with 3 kids at W cluster in all AP/Honor's classes and one kid at a private high school with same course load. The public kids never have much work and speak of grade inflation and kids openly cheating during tests, etc. The private school kid works tremendously hard to make A's and follows a strict honor code. This kid complains regularly about how unfair it is that the others have it so easy. There is a huge difference in the kids' educational experience. This became much more apparent during covid and the gap has only remained consistently large since then.

"Things I made up to justify paying for private school" for $200, Alex!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went through all 4 years at a W school like this. Took the most rigorous classes across the board. All honors and APs. Did almost all of her work in school and aside from studying for end of year AP exams, never spent more than an hour at night doing work, and often far less. It drove me crazy and I could never understand how she always got straight As with such little work in classes that were supposedly rigorous. I still don’t really know if she was just exceptionally organized and efficient or if it really was that much of a joke. Regardless, she is doing very well at a top college. First semester was an adjustment period, but it is for most kids. Your kid will be fine. Try not to worry.

Thank you so much for your advice. I hope my kid just falls exactly same into your kid's case. In her elementary school and until G7 we've got great lengthy feedbacks from class teachers in her school reports, so we had good understanding of how she was doing in her class. I also had chance of having regular, scheduled meeting with teachers. Here in MCPS however, I only get her grades and the number of absent days. That's it. There's no comments, feedbacks, nothing whatsoever. Is this same for all other schools in MCPS or just her school? I try not to worry and I don't believe she changed 180 all of a sudden in high school, but this lack of communication between the school and parents really makes me feel nervous.

I sometimes see comments from teachers on assignments in Canvas. You can adjust the notification settings there to send emails with teacher comments.

My kid is in elementary and we also only get grades and days absent/days tardy + 15min once a year parent teacher conference. We always ask for another conference if/as things come up. It's not great for the reputation it has and why we moved here.

You get a PTC, grades, can see the papers that are returned. What more do you need?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went through all 4 years at a W school like this. Took the most rigorous classes across the board. All honors and APs. Did almost all of her work in school and aside from studying for end of year AP exams, never spent more than an hour at night doing work, and often far less. It drove me crazy and I could never understand how she always got straight As with such little work in classes that were supposedly rigorous. I still don’t really know if she was just exceptionally organized and efficient or if it really was that much of a joke. Regardless, she is doing very well at a top college. First semester was an adjustment period, but it is for most kids. Your kid will be fine. Try not to worry.

Thank you so much for your advice. I hope my kid just falls exactly same into your kid's case. In her elementary school and until G7 we've got great lengthy feedbacks from class teachers in her school reports, so we had good understanding of how she was doing in her class. I also had chance of having regular, scheduled meeting with teachers. Here in MCPS however, I only get her grades and the number of absent days. That's it. There's no comments, feedbacks, nothing whatsoever. Is this same for all other schools in MCPS or just her school? I try not to worry and I don't believe she changed 180 all of a sudden in high school, but this lack of communication between the school and parents really makes me feel nervous.

I sometimes see comments from teachers on assignments in Canvas. You can adjust the notification settings there to send emails with teacher comments.

My kid is in elementary and we also only get grades and days absent/days tardy + 15min once a year parent teacher conference. We always ask for another conference if/as things come up. It's not great for the reputation it has and why we moved here.

You get a PTC, grades, can see the papers that are returned. What more do you need?

Step back from the helicopter. It will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a blended family with 3 kids at W cluster in all AP/Honor's classes and one kid at a private high school with same course load. The public kids never have much work and speak of grade inflation and kids openly cheating during tests, etc. The private school kid works tremendously hard to make A's and follows a strict honor code. This kid complains regularly about how unfair it is that the others have it so easy. There is a huge difference in the kids' educational experience. This became much more apparent during covid and the gap has only remained consistently large since then.

"Things I made up to justify paying for private school" for $200, Alex!

Nah that's things I made to show how much I disrespect my stepchildren.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's my question.

1. Is freshman year in high school that easy peasy? She's my only child, so I don't have any previous experience whatsoever. Was easy for both of our W school kids. FWIW, both did their homework during class, rather than listen to the teacher

2. Will there be a significant leap in sophomore year and going forward in terms of academic rigor and load of school works? Nope. And one of ours took 3 APs sophomore year

3. Can she maintain her edge in writing and reading through upperclassman year without significant reading?
Probably - I don't think you lose it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems to be a problem with public schools nationwide. I have a kid who had straight As through a W schools (and high SAT) and is now at an Ivy. She said there is a stark contrast in public vs private school kids in work ethic. The private school kids sit somewhere quiet and focus and study hard on a regular basis, all semester. The public school kids, not so much.

She had a prof who said as much. He had a tendency to say the quiet part out loud and gave them a bit of a pep talk saying he wants EVERYONE to succeed. And then said, 'I've found from past semesters that I tend to have kids drop out or not do well--especially women, minorities, and kids from public schools' (she is all three), 'so especially if you are in one of these categories, please come to office hours and we'll work through this stuff together to make sure you succeed.'

Kind of a jerk thing to say, but it suggests that he can see a difference between public and private school kids...

I don't think you can say the same for the kids coming through RM, Blair and Poolesville magnets.

My Blair kid found college easier than high school. I think that’s a pretty common experience for the magnet kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went through all 4 years at a W school like this. Took the most rigorous classes across the board. All honors and APs. Did almost all of her work in school and aside from studying for end of year AP exams, never spent more than an hour at night doing work, and often far less. It drove me crazy and I could never understand how she always got straight As with such little work in classes that were supposedly rigorous. I still don’t really know if she was just exceptionally organized and efficient or if it really was that much of a joke. Regardless, she is doing very well at a top college. First semester was an adjustment period, but it is for most kids. Your kid will be fine. Try not to worry.

Thank you so much for your advice. I hope my kid just falls exactly same into your kid's case. In her elementary school and until G7 we've got great lengthy feedbacks from class teachers in her school reports, so we had good understanding of how she was doing in her class. I also had chance of having regular, scheduled meeting with teachers. Here in MCPS however, I only get her grades and the number of absent days. That's it. There's no comments, feedbacks, nothing whatsoever. Is this same for all other schools in MCPS or just her school? I try not to worry and I don't believe she changed 180 all of a sudden in high school, but this lack of communication between the school and parents really makes me feel nervous.

I sometimes see comments from teachers on assignments in Canvas. You can adjust the notification settings there to send emails with teacher comments.

My kid is in elementary and we also only get grades and days absent/days tardy + 15min once a year parent teacher conference. We always ask for another conference if/as things come up. It's not great for the reputation it has and why we moved here.

You get a PTC, grades, can see the papers that are returned. What more do you need?

Assignments aren't graded often regularly and you don't get them back. So, yes, they want more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a blended family with 3 kids at W cluster in all AP/Honor's classes and one kid at a private high school with same course load. The public kids never have much work and speak of grade inflation and kids openly cheating during tests, etc. The private school kid works tremendously hard to make A's and follows a strict honor code. This kid complains regularly about how unfair it is that the others have it so easy. There is a huge difference in the kids' educational experience. This became much more apparent during covid and the gap has only remained consistently large since then.

"Things I made up to justify paying for private school" for $200, Alex!

Nah that's things I made to show how much I disrespect my stepchildren.

You resent kids because their two parents could and would pay for private and you didn't?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went through all 4 years at a W school like this. Took the most rigorous classes across the board. All honors and APs. Did almost all of her work in school and aside from studying for end of year AP exams, never spent more than an hour at night doing work, and often far less. It drove me crazy and I could never understand how she always got straight As with such little work in classes that were supposedly rigorous. I still don’t really know if she was just exceptionally organized and efficient or if it really was that much of a joke. Regardless, she is doing very well at a top college. First semester was an adjustment period, but it is for most kids. Your kid will be fine. Try not to worry.

Thank you so much for your advice. I hope my kid just falls exactly same into your kid's case. In her elementary school and until G7 we've got great lengthy feedbacks from class teachers in her school reports, so we had good understanding of how she was doing in her class. I also had chance of having regular, scheduled meeting with teachers. Here in MCPS however, I only get her grades and the number of absent days. That's it. There's no comments, feedbacks, nothing whatsoever. Is this same for all other schools in MCPS or just her school? I try not to worry and I don't believe she changed 180 all of a sudden in high school, but this lack of communication between the school and parents really makes me feel nervous.

I sometimes see comments from teachers on assignments in Canvas. You can adjust the notification settings there to send emails with teacher comments.

My kid is in elementary and we also only get grades and days absent/days tardy + 15min once a year parent teacher conference. We always ask for another conference if/as things come up. It's not great for the reputation it has and why we moved here.

You get a PTC, grades, can see the papers that are returned. What more do you need?

Assignments aren't graded often regularly and you don't get them back. So, yes, they want more.

+100 - rarely get anything back and if so, weeks later. It is woefully inadequate. Every elementary classroom should have a paraeducator + main teacher at minimum to help with class control, attention to student needs, and work/life balance of the teachers!

[Anonymous]

My DD is a senior at a W school. Took 9 APs and has gotten straight As throughout high school. I cannot think of one time she was stressed about too much work or gave up any leisure activities to study.

I am not telling you this to brag, quite the opposite: her first shot on the SAT was 1080. That should tell you all there is to know.