Shell-shocked student - on to Deal?

[Anonymous]

Thank you 16:09 and all others striving for an honest discussion. I'm a parent who is frantically researching DCPS and charter school options.

It's so frustrating to see parents and school staff beat down anyone who dares say anything that isn't a glowing reference. It would be best to hear many opinions to make an informed choice. Most people can see through someone with an axe to grind who only spews negativity. Most people can also spot a snow job.

All honest opinions should be heard. Also, just because someone had a different experience doesn't mean they're wrong. I wish posters like 14:41 would stop this controlling, punitive behavior.

[Anonymous]

Deal parent here who has toured Westland. I looked at Westland a few years before my DC was to go to Deal. The two schools are comparable. If you live in bounds for Deal, I see no reason to need to move to MoCo for middle school, if you are going the public route. In regards to the Westland math curriculum, it is overly complicated and has been under scrutiny lately for ill-preparing kids for future math courses. Also, if your child is taking 9th grade math classes when they are in 6th or 7th grade, grades from those classes will go on school transcripts when applying to college. My friends who have moved to MoCo fret about this quite a bit. My child is getting a great education at Deal both from a curriculum standpoint and a life standpoint. Is it perfect? No, but no school is and Deal is pretty darn good. We thank our lucky stars we are in bounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. I think this can happen anywhere, no school is perfect. The difference with you schools you mention, however, is that those schools have a record of objective achievements. It seems the DC schools we're discussing can't compete on that objective measurement -- which is why pretending they are "amazing" is all the more damaging.

On what "objective" measurement can't the JKLM schools compete with MoCo schools?

I believe Montgomery County Schools are ranked at the top of school systems nationwide and DCPS is among the worst.

JKLM schools have the same curriculum as other DCPS schools. Anecdotally (so take it with a grain of salt), many former-JKLM families who are shocked by the rigor and depth of curriculum after moving to FCPS, MCPS or privates. It is not uncommon for JKLM families be told that their child is doing great only to find that same child is woefully behind after moving to a more competent school environment. Plenty of former JKLM families spend months/years with extra tutoring so that their child can simply keep up after such a move.

So often we think of JKLM as "real" designation. It isn't -- those schools are still just a part of a broken system. JKLM doesn't get its own curriculum, its own standards of achievement, etc. I think this realization is why people feel the disconnect that the OP first mentioned when she began this thread.

This is quite fascinating as I know many former elementary DCPS graduates who have performed quite well at the "Big 3" and other local privates. Perhaps these struggling students you mention were admitted to the wrong schools on the heels of their high performing older siblings or via connections and would have needed the additional tutoring regardless of their elementary school performance.

[Anonymous]

Ditto 9:36. My DC attended a (gasp) East of the Park school and just made honor roll at a school that is very highly regarded (at least on these boards!).

To further add fuel to this, the teachers at the school have remarked several times how well-prepared my child was for the rigor of this academically challenging school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

On what "objective" measurement can't the JKLM schools compete with MoCo schools?

I believe Montgomery County Schools are ranked at the top of school systems nationwide and DCPS is among the worst.

JKLM schools have the same curriculum as other DCPS schools. Anecdotally (so take it with a grain of salt), many former-JKLM families who are shocked by the rigor and depth of curriculum after moving to FCPS, MCPS or privates. It is not uncommon for JKLM families be told that their child is doing great only to find that same child is woefully behind after moving to a more competent school environment. Plenty of former JKLM families spend months/years with extra tutoring so that their child can simply keep up after such a move.

So often we think of JKLM as "real" designation. It isn't -- those schools are still just a part of a broken system. JKLM doesn't get its own curriculum, its own standards of achievement, etc. I think this realization is why people feel the disconnect that the OP first mentioned when she began this thread.

Actually, school by school does matter. Sure, the systems as a whole perform differently, but in fact the JKLM schools perform comparably to the top MoCo schools in terms of test scores and eventual college admissions. I don't really care about test scores, personally, but if you are looking for "objective" measurements,

Your response is anecdote and conjecture. I could counter your anecdotes point for point, which proves only that different schools work for different people. You seem bent on proving that DCPS is terrible and that anyone who says otherwise is a blind booster. I say that school experience and perception is, like ever
If you can show me actual data indicating that

[Anonymous]

PP here-- pressed submit too soon!

Meant to say that school perception and experience is individual. Show me actual data indicating that the best MOCO elementary schools are "better" than the best DCPS elementary schools.

[Anonymous]

I'm 14:41, and frankly I think the responses on this post just show that most posters on this forum have an ax to grind and aren't providing a valid representation of experiences.

First of all, I'm not involved with the Janney PTA, not even close.

Secondly, I never said Janney was perfect or that there aren't any problems - no school is perfect and there are things I don't love about Janney. What I said was that, contrary to other claims on here, there wasn't an atmosphere, at least at my child's school, where parents feel that they can't speak their minds. My God, just take a look at the Janney Yahoo board or go to a school meeting and all you'll find is parents speaking their minds and, yes, criticizing, seeking improvements, etc.

Third, in terms of how I know what other parents think or feel, well, I talk to them! I see them at school events or class parties or playdates, and we talk. And because these other parents offer their views, and these views are not always positive, I've concluded that Janney parents don't feel inhibited from expressing their opinions.

The purpose of my posts is two-fold. First, to learn from parents what their experiences are at Deal, which my child likely will attend, or at Janney, or with DCPS in general. And second, to determine whether the posters criticizing upper NW schools actually have experience with these schools, or whether they are just repeating gossip or making things up. Frankly, I think the latter happens not infrequently on this board.

I really can't see how my posts were offensive, seem contrary to an "honest discussion," or appear as beating up on others. I'm just looking for the truth. However, given that some are offend by my posts makes me believe even more that some of the posters are just blowing smoke and their kids never attended the schools they are discussing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 14:41, and frankly I think the responses on this post just show that most posters on this forum have an ax to grind and aren't providing a valid representation of experiences.

First of all, I'm not involved with the Janney PTA, not even close.

Secondly, I never said Janney was perfect or that there aren't any problems - no school is perfect and there are things I don't love about Janney. What I said was that, contrary to other claims on here, there wasn't an atmosphere, at least at my child's school, where parents feel that they can't speak their minds. My God, just take a look at the Janney Yahoo board or go to a school meeting and all you'll find is parents speaking their minds and, yes, criticizing, seeking improvements, etc.

Third, in terms of how I know what other parents think or feel, well, I talk to them! I see them at school events or class parties or playdates, and we talk. And because these other parents offer their views, and these views are not always positive, I've concluded that Janney parents don't feel inhibited from expressing their opinions.

The purpose of my posts is two-fold. First, to learn from parents what their experiences are at Deal, which my child likely will attend, or at Janney, or with DCPS in general. And second, to determine whether the posters criticizing upper NW schools actually have experience with these schools, or whether they are just repeating gossip or making things up. Frankly, I think the latter happens not infrequently on this board.

I really can't see how my posts were offensive, seem contrary to an "honest discussion," or appear as beating up on others. I'm just looking for the truth. However, given that some are offend by my posts makes me believe even more that some of the posters are just blowing smoke and their kids never attended the schools they are discussing.

A good friend of mine has a DD in 2nd at Janney. She would never voice her complaints to you for fear of her daughter becoming even more of a target.

[Anonymous]

My kid is in a pretty highly regarded charter, but one that didn't make AYP last year; not the most coveted. My nieces are enrolled in one of the best school districts in the U.S.; a suburban district in another state with outstanding test scores and HHIs.

Over Thanksgiving a number of topics came up at the dinner table or in conversation, such as other countries, for example. My kid just had such a wider background than these girls did. Plus she already knows a second language since that's an emphasis at the charter. If a person had to pick, sight unseen, which school was better, no doubt the person would pick the suburban school. It's uniformly upper middle class, diverse in certain ways, but not like DC's charter.

In the end, the kid who was able to participate in the conversation, who knew where other countries were and about their cultures, and understood current events and so forth, was my DCPS kid. So I don't know, who's getting the broadest education and will be the most prepared for a 21st century life and workplace?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in a pretty highly regarded charter, but one that didn't make AYP last year; not the most coveted. My nieces are enrolled in one of the best school districts in the U.S.; a suburban district in another state with outstanding test scores and HHIs.

Over Thanksgiving a number of topics came up at the dinner table or in conversation, such as other countries, for example. My kid just had such a wider background than these girls did. Plus she already knows a second language since that's an emphasis at the charter. If a person had to pick, sight unseen, which school was better, no doubt the person would pick the suburban school. It's uniformly upper middle class, diverse in certain ways, but not like DC's charter.

In the end, the kid who was able to participate in the conversation, who knew where other countries were and about their cultures, and understood current events and so forth, was my DCPS kid. So I don't know, who's getting the broadest education and will be the most prepared for a 21st century life and workplace?

Is it Stokes? I think that's a pretty coveted school.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't put charters in the same category as DCPS -- in terms of curriculum alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here-- pressed submit too soon!

Meant to say that school perception and experience is individual. Show me actual data indicating that the best MOCO elementary schools are "better" than the best DCPS elementary schools.

I second this request.

[Anonymous]

We are at an up-and-coming East of the park school. I love the school and have no concerns about my child's education right now but am a little irritated by boosterism and resistance to concerns/complaints. I don't think the boosterism strengthens the school. I once openly criticized the school because the principal made a terrible, terrible management decision (to fire a wondeful teacher) that had negative repercussions for the kids, and the PTA president was super pissed at me. The PTA president and I are still friends; our kids are friends.

[Anonymous]

"A good friend of mine has a DD in 2nd at Janney. She would never voice her complaints to you for fear of her daughter becoming even more of a target. "

What in the world are you talking about? That's just a crazy thing to say.

[Anonymous]

interesting article in today's WaPo about MoCo math

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/22/AR2010122205655.html