The problem with low SES middle schools -unfair!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so annoyed - I was willing to give the home school a chance. Despite its poor reputation. My child keeps hearing about the cool after school activities that her former classmates get to do at their school. Our school offers basketball, which she tried to join, and as the only white player, she was not welcome and stopped going. There are no other activities offered. So, I volunteered to research and promote a few other fun after school options. We had a sports clinic, drama/drawing and chess activities selected and not a singe person registered. Emails, written communications to family, nothing helped to drive interest. I know cost is an issue, but the chess activity was free. My child is so disappointing because she is having a hard time fitting in and making friends. We can't afford private, we can't move and even though we can do stuff thru rec centers, it isn't the same as doing stuff with your classmates. All her friends from elementary school were zoned for another school or if they were zoned for ours, moved or are going to private and in a couple cases, are being home schooled.

When we moved here, demographics were different. And now, with aging parents that live nearby and our housing/job situation we aren't able to leave. She wouldn't qualify for magnet or IB programs - it just really seems unfair that you have to have $$$ to provide a well rounded education in an inclusive environment or your kid has to be super smart to get to go to another school with more engaged families. I would be willing to drive her to the other school where all her friends are - it would be a much better fit for her but I know I can't do that - only the smart kids get to go to other schools where their needs are better met.

Just venting - it has been a hard transition for my child and I hate to see her so unhappy and unfulfilled.

Sure you can leave. This is always an option. You just have to be willing to do it and be willing to give up what is comfortable and known.
Personally I would not sacrifice my kids education because "aging parents" live nearby.

[Anonymous]

Trolllllll

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have great extracurriculars at Cabin John MS and our school is very diverse.

I'm sure it's diverse in SES, too, at 7% FARMs.

Stop being stupid.



[Anonymous]

Second the suggestion that you investigate Catholic schools as well as independent schools tha offer a lot of FA. It doesn't hurt to look.

[Anonymous]

I feel like this has to be a troll, not just because I'm pretty sure MCPS tries to avoid split articulation, but because of the obvious racial overtones of her daughter "not being welcome" on the basketball team.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if this is a troll. Could easily be a kid from Cloverly ES, which splits to Briggs Chaney and Farquahr MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would love to know what middle this is. I live in the NEC cluster too and the middle school my DD attends has after school sports.

Me too, but my kids are still day care age. Your post has me a little worried, as I was planning on giving our home schools a chance in spite of not so great reputations. I too get frustrated when I see offerings of culinary programs, hair styling programs, ROTC, at our high school. Not that they don't have other, more academic programs as well, but do the W schools have those offerings too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if this is a troll. Could easily be a kid from Cloverly ES, which splits to Briggs Chaney and Farquahr MS.

That's my guess too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if this is a troll. Could easily be a kid from Cloverly ES, which splits to Briggs Chaney and Farquahr MS.

Or from Stonegate which splits to White Oak and Farquhar.

[Anonymous]

If its cloverly, then why not move up the road to Ashton, Sandy Spring or (better yet) Olney?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, the trick is the OP does not have to move far, just enough to change schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Except W-districts, magnets, privates, and BCC schools, this is where MCPS is now days. Kinda ghetto schools all over.

Stop smoking crack. RM and QO are not ghetto schools. Yes, RM has IB, but that's not the majority of the schools. Just look at JW racial breakdown.

I don't do crack, I don't smoke, I don't drink. I standby what I said.

Then get that large stick out of your ass.

No wonder mcps is in ghetto. This idiot is a parent? God help us!

offended your delicate sensibilities?

do all of us a favor and STFU! you obviously have nothing to contribute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually - it could be more diverse - it is about 64% BL, 15%HI, 12%MU, 8%WH
55% FARMS

Algebra completion rate by grade 8 is 36%

So basically - hardly any white or hispanic kids - negligible asian.
Predominantly low income
But the big issue is:
Predominantly low achievement

My daughters peers don't care about school and they aren't interested in any enrichment programs. She was so sad when her old friends invited her to one of their after school soccer practices at their school. I felt like we belonged there. I am hoping this adjustment builds character or does something positive for her. I am also hoping she doesn't lose interest in her education. One of the programs this school does offer is a truancy court program. Can anyone out there say that their school offers this???

Interesting. When posters talk about bethesda and potpmac schools with 15% Hispanic kids and and 8% black kids, but the majority are white, people seem to think that is a decent amount of diversity. Hmm.

It's enough for many white parents. BS meets the reality of racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If its cloverly, then why not move up the road to Ashton, Sandy Spring or (better yet) Olney?

OP here. Not a troll. School offers an after school basketball skills program. My child stopped going after 3 sessions.

If we were to sell our house, we would take a huge hit and would have a hard time finding something in out price range. I did investigate some catholic school options. I just hate having to pay extra since I really do believe the public schools offer a good education. But. they can't easily control the peer group. I have a friend who had 2 kids attend this middle scool, mentioned above. The one managed to stay focused and do well, but she was teased a lot for being studious. The other one fit in socially but got in trouble a lot and didn't excel academically. She was in the rotc program in high school and ultimately dropped out. Her demeanor changed, her language style changed, her goals changed and her parents feel it was not just herbat-risk personality but also her environment.

I know my daughter. She will be the one to do what she can to fit in. There have been a couple comments about me being a whiner. Before you point fingers, please visit a school with similar demographics and tell me if you still feel the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So your dissatisfaction with your daughter's school is due to the lack of exciting afterschool activities? Just sign her up for activities outside of school. DD goes to a middle range MS with lots of activities. But she is too busy with her won outside activities to do much of the school-sponsored activities.
I am not sure what the SES of the school population has to do with it. There are high SES schools with limited afterschool activities too.

That's part of it - but she is struggling making friends. She has always been like this until she was in sports and other activities with her classmates. Then she did much better. It is really hard to go thru middle school without any friends and just feeling out of place.

I agree with you, OP. Sorry your daughter is going through this.