Primer on Montgomery County schools?

[Anonymous]

I am new to this area and renting while researching where to buy a house. We have a tiny budget compared to what I am seeing here on DCUM. Is there a place to find a primer on the quality of schools in the county, to guide where I am looking? Or perhaps a blog? I have gone on Greatschools but I am sure that doesn't tell the whole story.

[Anonymous]

Look Howard county if possible.

[Anonymous]

What grade is your child in and what are his or her needs (i.e. needs accelerated support? learning English? STEM interests are important? etc...?) This will help posters recommend better schools for you.

[Anonymous]

Our son is 4 months old.. So I am looking at the long game I suppose

[Anonymous]

It's hard, because the district is so big. Basically, I'd zero in on a neighborhood that offers most of what you want (metro access or not, walkability, affordability) and then ask here or in a less elitist space about the local schools.

I'll tell you that we're in a "low ranked" Maryland Focus School in a neighborhood we love, and our kids are doing great. They are working above grade level, have plenty of academic and social peers, and are enjoying the small class sizes that high needs schools are allowed. A high number of English language learners and some special programs for kids with learning differences impact the test scores, but the experience for an English speaking, typically developing, kid is really quite good.

To get info like that, though, you need to narrow down a neighborhood and talk to people actually using the schools, not folks who once heard a story from someone whose nanny's kids went there one time, which is the kind of input you get on DCUM about majority minority schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our son is 4 months old.. So I am looking at the long game I suppose

MCPS has changed and continues to change drastically. By the time your DC goes to school, it will be a completely different place.

[Anonymous]

I've read that schooldigger is considered more accurate than greatschools fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look Howard county if possible.

Not the OP, but what are class sizes like in Howard County?

We're in MCPS and I find that to be the toughest thing about MCPS. Class sizes are just TOO BIG, across the board - ES/MS/HS. Schools are just too overcrowded, and there don't seem to be plans in place to alleviate the over-crowding. No matter how wonderful the teachers are (and there are some FANTASTIC teachers in MCPS), it just makes their job so much harder when they have to teach such large numbers of students.

In ES, my kid's teacher doesn't even look at, let alone check, their homework. There is a lower paid aide who just puts checkmarks on it (whether it's correct or not). So, what's the point of the homework? I thought it was so the teachers could have an idea about what kids need help on, but I guess it's more just extra practice for the kids at home. The teacher never sees it, and never provides any feedback. And, to be honest, I can understand that it's difficult in such huge class sizes!

[Anonymous]

What is your budget, and what are your priorities (walkability, proximity to Metro, etc.)? That is the starting point.

[Anonymous]

I would focus more on neighborhoods that meet your need and budget to narrow down your school options. You will get better recommendations on this board is you post about specific parts of the county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son is 4 months old.. So I am looking at the long game I suppose

MCPS has changed and continues to change drastically. By the time your DC goes to school, it will be a completely different place.

Not really...

When our child was four months old the west side of the country was high performing, the east not so much and now that my child is 9 that is still the case. The major clusters should remain relatively the same while individual school may change slightly or be rezoned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son is 4 months old.. So I am looking at the long game I suppose

MCPS has changed and continues to change drastically. By the time your DC goes to school, it will be a completely different place.

Not really...

When our child was four months old the west side of the country was high performing, the east not so much and now that my child is 9 that is still the case. The major clusters should remain relatively the same while individual school may change slightly or be rezoned.

It sounds like OP can't afford to buy in one of the bulletproof, always popular and high-achieving, zones, so she needs to figure out longer-term trends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son is 4 months old.. So I am looking at the long game I suppose

MCPS has changed and continues to change drastically. By the time your DC goes to school, it will be a completely different place.

Not really...

When our child was four months old the west side of the country was high performing, the east not so much and now that my child is 9 that is still the case. The major clusters should remain relatively the same while individual school may change slightly or be rezoned.

It sounds like OP can't afford to buy in one of the bulletproof, always popular and high-achieving, zones, so she needs to figure out longer-term trends.

I don't agree at all... She can rely for the most part on the current state of the schools. You just have to piece meal evaluate the feeder patterns across the whole entire county regardless because the performance of individual schools in very spotty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son is 4 months old.. So I am looking at the long game I suppose

MCPS has changed and continues to change drastically. By the time your DC goes to school, it will be a completely different place.

Not really...

When our child was four months old the west side of the country was high performing, the east not so much and now that my child is 9 that is still the case. The major clusters should remain relatively the same while individual school may change slightly or be rezoned.

It sounds like OP can't afford to buy in one of the bulletproof, always popular and high-achieving, zones, so she needs to figure out longer-term trends.

With an exception of W schools, BCC, and magnets, schools have changed significantly. We raised three kids in this county. You wouldn't believe how much it has changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son is 4 months old.. So I am looking at the long game I suppose

MCPS has changed and continues to change drastically. By the time your DC goes to school, it will be a completely different place.

Not really...

When our child was four months old the west side of the country was high performing, the east not so much and now that my child is 9 that is still the case. The major clusters should remain relatively the same while individual school may change slightly or be rezoned.

It sounds like OP can't afford to buy in one of the bulletproof, always popular and high-achieving, zones, so she needs to figure out longer-term trends.

With an exception of W schools, BCC, and magnets, schools have changed significantly. We raised three kids in this county. You wouldn't believe how much it has changed.

20 years... maybe... 4 years... not so much...