The state of MCPS is atrocious

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if your source is from 2019, it’s irrelevant. COVID revealed to a ton of parents how awful MCPS really is.

Moreover, only 17% of the people contacted for the 2019 survey responded.

https://moco360.media/2019/10/03/parents-pleased-with-mcps-survey-shows/

And yet they keep sending their kids to MCPS schools, while they themselves do little to affect any change or want to increase taxes to pay for their champagne wishes.

What choice do most of us have? Not everyone is wealthy or living in a "good" school district. The only "affordable" privates are Catholic schools and that's only for elementary. Only a few Catholic schools are remotely welcoming to non-Catholic/non-Christian families. The rest of us cannot afford $50-60K privates, and there are very few privates let alone non-religious ones.

And, the privates don't have the same math track come MS/HS.

I used to think this. Then I took my child out of MCPS and put him in a Catholic k-8. (We aren’t Catholic.) He is now excelling at a Catholic high school. We have never experienced anything other than acceptance as non-Catholics. It has been a great experience and I am thrilled by the effectiveness of the teachers. He’s really learning how to write! As for Math, it’s true that the K-8 didn’t offer Algebra until 8th. Why exactly is that a problem? Students can still take Calculus in high school and kids from Catholic high schools aren’t having problems getting into colleges.

I’d give the Catholic schools another look.

I looked at about 6 Catholics and only one was welcoming. There is a difference between being Christian and another religion or atheist. They had a more structured curriculum but the religion was a huge issue, several were pretty clear they didn't want non-Christians and when I asked how many non-Christians there were, none would tell me except the one.

The problem with starting later is it impacts other classes you take. You are looking for reasons to justify your choices and if you have a kid who should be on a regular or slower path, that makes sense but it comes an issue with higher level science and other STEM related things. Often the private school kids have to take geometry in summer school to make up for the slower pace. Most smarter kids take it in 7th.

If you don’t want to consider Catholic schools, then fine. Just don’t think you can paint them all with the same brush. Your experience merely looking at schools doesn’t erase our years of experience attending one, nor does it erase the similar experiences of many others. (Our school also has atheists and non-Christians. About 50% are Catholic.)

As for your second paragraph, that’s a little hard to take seriously. There is a growing concern about over-acceleration in Math, and there’s a growing consensus that American students are doing worse because more advanced Math is pushed before young brains are ready. Does your child really need to take Calculus in 11th? Why? What purpose does that even serve?

I don’t need to justify my choices to you or anyone. Taking him out of MCPS was the correct choice, as was sending him to a Catholic high school. I post here so others can see that there are options. Maybe you don’t want them. Fine. But there are other parents who may want to know.

That's just looser talk!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if your source is from 2019, it’s irrelevant. COVID revealed to a ton of parents how awful MCPS really is.

Moreover, only 17% of the people contacted for the 2019 survey responded.

https://moco360.media/2019/10/03/parents-pleased-with-mcps-survey-shows/

And yet they keep sending their kids to MCPS schools, while they themselves do little to affect any change or want to increase taxes to pay for their champagne wishes.

What choice do most of us have? Not everyone is wealthy or living in a "good" school district. The only "affordable" privates are Catholic schools and that's only for elementary. Only a few Catholic schools are remotely welcoming to non-Catholic/non-Christian families. The rest of us cannot afford $50-60K privates, and there are very few privates let alone non-religious ones.

And, the privates don't have the same math track come MS/HS.

I used to think this. Then I took my child out of MCPS and put him in a Catholic k-8. (We aren’t Catholic.) He is now excelling at a Catholic high school. We have never experienced anything other than acceptance as non-Catholics. It has been a great experience and I am thrilled by the effectiveness of the teachers. He’s really learning how to write! As for Math, it’s true that the K-8 didn’t offer Algebra until 8th. Why exactly is that a problem? Students can still take Calculus in high school and kids from Catholic high schools aren’t having problems getting into colleges.

I’d give the Catholic schools another look.

I looked at about 6 Catholics and only one was welcoming. There is a difference between being Christian and another religion or atheist. They had a more structured curriculum but the religion was a huge issue, several were pretty clear they didn't want non-Christians and when I asked how many non-Christians there were, none would tell me except the one.

The problem with starting later is it impacts other classes you take. You are looking for reasons to justify your choices and if you have a kid who should be on a regular or slower path, that makes sense but it comes an issue with higher level science and other STEM related things. Often the private school kids have to take geometry in summer school to make up for the slower pace. Most smarter kids take it in 7th.

If you don’t want to consider Catholic schools, then fine. Just don’t think you can paint them all with the same brush. Your experience merely looking at schools doesn’t erase our years of experience attending one, nor does it erase the similar experiences of many others. (Our school also has atheists and non-Christians. About 50% are Catholic.)

As for your second paragraph, that’s a little hard to take seriously. There is a growing concern about over-acceleration in Math, and there’s a growing consensus that American students are doing worse because more advanced Math is pushed before young brains are ready. Does your child really need to take Calculus in 11th? Why? What purpose does that even serve?

I don’t need to justify my choices to you or anyone. Taking him out of MCPS was the correct choice, as was sending him to a Catholic high school. I post here so others can see that there are options. Maybe you don’t want them. Fine. But there are other parents who may want to know.

That's just looser talk!

I personally prefer tighter talk. Loose talk is terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year’s Norwood HS acceptances included Exeter and Lawrenceville, but sure: meh school.

https://www.norwoodschool.org/program/high-school-placement

how many are ALDC? If none, then you have an argument. If a lot are, then it's an apples to oranges comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year’s Norwood HS acceptances included Exeter and Lawrenceville, but sure: meh school.

https://www.norwoodschool.org/program/high-school-placement

how many are ALDC? If none, then you have an argument. If a lot are, then it's an apples to oranges comparison.

ALDC? What’s that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year’s Norwood HS acceptances included Exeter and Lawrenceville, but sure: meh school.

https://www.norwoodschool.org/program/high-school-placement

how many are ALDC? If none, then you have an argument. If a lot are, then it's an apples to oranges comparison.

ALDC? What’s that?

American League Division Series.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if your source is from 2019, it’s irrelevant. COVID revealed to a ton of parents how awful MCPS really is.

Moreover, only 17% of the people contacted for the 2019 survey responded.

https://moco360.media/2019/10/03/parents-pleased-with-mcps-survey-shows/

And yet they keep sending their kids to MCPS schools, while they themselves do little to affect any change or want to increase taxes to pay for their champagne wishes.

What choice do most of us have? Not everyone is wealthy or living in a "good" school district. The only "affordable" privates are Catholic schools and that's only for elementary. Only a few Catholic schools are remotely welcoming to non-Catholic/non-Christian families. The rest of us cannot afford $50-60K privates, and there are very few privates let alone non-religious ones.

And, the privates don't have the same math track come MS/HS.

I used to think this. Then I took my child out of MCPS and put him in a Catholic k-8. (We aren’t Catholic.) He is now excelling at a Catholic high school. We have never experienced anything other than acceptance as non-Catholics. It has been a great experience and I am thrilled by the effectiveness of the teachers. He’s really learning how to write! As for Math, it’s true that the K-8 didn’t offer Algebra until 8th. Why exactly is that a problem? Students can still take Calculus in high school and kids from Catholic high schools aren’t having problems getting into colleges.

I’d give the Catholic schools another look.

I looked at about 6 Catholics and only one was welcoming. There is a difference between being Christian and another religion or atheist. They had a more structured curriculum but the religion was a huge issue, several were pretty clear they didn't want non-Christians and when I asked how many non-Christians there were, none would tell me except the one.

The problem with starting later is it impacts other classes you take. You are looking for reasons to justify your choices and if you have a kid who should be on a regular or slower path, that makes sense but it comes an issue with higher level science and other STEM related things. Often the private school kids have to take geometry in summer school to make up for the slower pace. Most smarter kids take it in 7th.

If you don’t want to consider Catholic schools, then fine. Just don’t think you can paint them all with the same brush. Your experience merely looking at schools doesn’t erase our years of experience attending one, nor does it erase the similar experiences of many others. (Our school also has atheists and non-Christians. About 50% are Catholic.)

As for your second paragraph, that’s a little hard to take seriously. There is a growing concern about over-acceleration in Math, and there’s a growing consensus that American students are doing worse because more advanced Math is pushed before young brains are ready. Does your child really need to take Calculus in 11th? Why? What purpose does that even serve?

I don’t need to justify my choices to you or anyone. Taking him out of MCPS was the correct choice, as was sending him to a Catholic high school. I post here so others can see that there are options. Maybe you don’t want them. Fine. But there are other parents who may want to know.

You very clearly are looking to justify it as otherwise you would not be posting here about it.

How many other religions are at your school? Jewish, Muslim…..

Yes to Muslim and Jewish at the school, including in my son’s class. Perhaps there aren’t many, but this may disprove some of your misconceptions about Catholic schools.

I don’t need to justify my decisions. I’m clearly very happy with our private school, and if I wasn’t we could simply transfer back to public. That won’t be happening.

I’ve already said why I am posting. We left MCPS. Others may want to know options exist. If you are satisfied with where your child is, then there’s no need for you to search any more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if your source is from 2019, it’s irrelevant. COVID revealed to a ton of parents how awful MCPS really is.

Moreover, only 17% of the people contacted for the 2019 survey responded.

https://moco360.media/2019/10/03/parents-pleased-with-mcps-survey-shows/

And yet they keep sending their kids to MCPS schools, while they themselves do little to affect any change or want to increase taxes to pay for their champagne wishes.

What choice do most of us have? Not everyone is wealthy or living in a "good" school district. The only "affordable" privates are Catholic schools and that's only for elementary. Only a few Catholic schools are remotely welcoming to non-Catholic/non-Christian families. The rest of us cannot afford $50-60K privates, and there are very few privates let alone non-religious ones.

And, the privates don't have the same math track come MS/HS.

I used to think this. Then I took my child out of MCPS and put him in a Catholic k-8. (We aren’t Catholic.) He is now excelling at a Catholic high school. We have never experienced anything other than acceptance as non-Catholics. It has been a great experience and I am thrilled by the effectiveness of the teachers. He’s really learning how to write! As for Math, it’s true that the K-8 didn’t offer Algebra until 8th. Why exactly is that a problem? Students can still take Calculus in high school and kids from Catholic high schools aren’t having problems getting into colleges.

I’d give the Catholic schools another look.

I looked at about 6 Catholics and only one was welcoming. There is a difference between being Christian and another religion or atheist. They had a more structured curriculum but the religion was a huge issue, several were pretty clear they didn't want non-Christians and when I asked how many non-Christians there were, none would tell me except the one.

The problem with starting later is it impacts other classes you take. You are looking for reasons to justify your choices and if you have a kid who should be on a regular or slower path, that makes sense but it comes an issue with higher level science and other STEM related things. Often the private school kids have to take geometry in summer school to make up for the slower pace. Most smarter kids take it in 7th.

If you don’t want to consider Catholic schools, then fine. Just don’t think you can paint them all with the same brush. Your experience merely looking at schools doesn’t erase our years of experience attending one, nor does it erase the similar experiences of many others. (Our school also has atheists and non-Christians. About 50% are Catholic.)

As for your second paragraph, that’s a little hard to take seriously. There is a growing concern about over-acceleration in Math, and there’s a growing consensus that American students are doing worse because more advanced Math is pushed before young brains are ready. Does your child really need to take Calculus in 11th? Why? What purpose does that even serve?

I don’t need to justify my choices to you or anyone. Taking him out of MCPS was the correct choice, as was sending him to a Catholic high school. I post here so others can see that there are options. Maybe you don’t want them. Fine. But there are other parents who may want to know.

You very clearly are looking to justify it as otherwise you would not be posting here about it.

How many other religions are at your school? Jewish, Muslim…..

Yes to Muslim and Jewish at the school, including in my son’s class. Perhaps there aren’t many, but this may disprove some of your misconceptions about Catholic schools.

I don’t need to justify my decisions. I’m clearly very happy with our private school, and if I wasn’t we could simply transfer back to public. That won’t be happening.

I’ve already said why I am posting. We left MCPS. Others may want to know options exist. If you are satisfied with where your child is, then there’s no need for you to search any more.

How many total children are in your child's 8th grade class? And, how many are not Catholic or Christian?

It's not really an option for those of us with other religions or atheist without a Christian background. Sure, the schools will be happy to convert our kids, but that's not what some of us want.

Usually most to these schools have 30-60 kids per grade and only a handful of them may be non-Christian/Catholic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if your source is from 2019, it’s irrelevant. COVID revealed to a ton of parents how awful MCPS really is.

Moreover, only 17% of the people contacted for the 2019 survey responded.

https://moco360.media/2019/10/03/parents-pleased-with-mcps-survey-shows/

And yet they keep sending their kids to MCPS schools, while they themselves do little to affect any change or want to increase taxes to pay for their champagne wishes.

What choice do most of us have? Not everyone is wealthy or living in a "good" school district. The only "affordable" privates are Catholic schools and that's only for elementary. Only a few Catholic schools are remotely welcoming to non-Catholic/non-Christian families. The rest of us cannot afford $50-60K privates, and there are very few privates let alone non-religious ones.

And, the privates don't have the same math track come MS/HS.

I used to think this. Then I took my child out of MCPS and put him in a Catholic k-8. (We aren’t Catholic.) He is now excelling at a Catholic high school. We have never experienced anything other than acceptance as non-Catholics. It has been a great experience and I am thrilled by the effectiveness of the teachers. He’s really learning how to write! As for Math, it’s true that the K-8 didn’t offer Algebra until 8th. Why exactly is that a problem? Students can still take Calculus in high school and kids from Catholic high schools aren’t having problems getting into colleges.

I’d give the Catholic schools another look.

I looked at about 6 Catholics and only one was welcoming. There is a difference between being Christian and another religion or atheist. They had a more structured curriculum but the religion was a huge issue, several were pretty clear they didn't want non-Christians and when I asked how many non-Christians there were, none would tell me except the one.

The problem with starting later is it impacts other classes you take. You are looking for reasons to justify your choices and if you have a kid who should be on a regular or slower path, that makes sense but it comes an issue with higher level science and other STEM related things. Often the private school kids have to take geometry in summer school to make up for the slower pace. Most smarter kids take it in 7th.

If you don’t want to consider Catholic schools, then fine. Just don’t think you can paint them all with the same brush. Your experience merely looking at schools doesn’t erase our years of experience attending one, nor does it erase the similar experiences of many others. (Our school also has atheists and non-Christians. About 50% are Catholic.)

As for your second paragraph, that’s a little hard to take seriously. There is a growing concern about over-acceleration in Math, and there’s a growing consensus that American students are doing worse because more advanced Math is pushed before young brains are ready. Does your child really need to take Calculus in 11th? Why? What purpose does that even serve?

I don’t need to justify my choices to you or anyone. Taking him out of MCPS was the correct choice, as was sending him to a Catholic high school. I post here so others can see that there are options. Maybe you don’t want them. Fine. But there are other parents who may want to know.

You very clearly are looking to justify it as otherwise you would not be posting here about it.

How many other religions are at your school? Jewish, Muslim…..

Yes to Muslim and Jewish at the school, including in my son’s class. Perhaps there aren’t many, but this may disprove some of your misconceptions about Catholic schools.

I don’t need to justify my decisions. I’m clearly very happy with our private school, and if I wasn’t we could simply transfer back to public. That won’t be happening.

I’ve already said why I am posting. We left MCPS. Others may want to know options exist. If you are satisfied with where your child is, then there’s no need for you to search any more.

How many total children are in your child's 8th grade class? And, how many are not Catholic or Christian?

It's not really an option for those of us with other religions or atheist without a Christian background. Sure, the schools will be happy to convert our kids, but that's not what some of us want.

Usually most to these schools have 30-60 kids per grade and only a handful of them may be non-Christian/Catholic.

I want to chime in as a Jewish person who isn’t sending my kid to a Catholic school. However, them wanting to convert my kid is not the reason we didn’t choose that option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if your source is from 2019, it’s irrelevant. COVID revealed to a ton of parents how awful MCPS really is.

Moreover, only 17% of the people contacted for the 2019 survey responded.

https://moco360.media/2019/10/03/parents-pleased-with-mcps-survey-shows/

And yet they keep sending their kids to MCPS schools, while they themselves do little to affect any change or want to increase taxes to pay for their champagne wishes.

What choice do most of us have? Not everyone is wealthy or living in a "good" school district. The only "affordable" privates are Catholic schools and that's only for elementary. Only a few Catholic schools are remotely welcoming to non-Catholic/non-Christian families. The rest of us cannot afford $50-60K privates, and there are very few privates let alone non-religious ones.

And, the privates don't have the same math track come MS/HS.

I used to think this. Then I took my child out of MCPS and put him in a Catholic k-8. (We aren’t Catholic.) He is now excelling at a Catholic high school. We have never experienced anything other than acceptance as non-Catholics. It has been a great experience and I am thrilled by the effectiveness of the teachers. He’s really learning how to write! As for Math, it’s true that the K-8 didn’t offer Algebra until 8th. Why exactly is that a problem? Students can still take Calculus in high school and kids from Catholic high schools aren’t having problems getting into colleges.

I’d give the Catholic schools another look.

I looked at about 6 Catholics and only one was welcoming. There is a difference between being Christian and another religion or atheist. They had a more structured curriculum but the religion was a huge issue, several were pretty clear they didn't want non-Christians and when I asked how many non-Christians there were, none would tell me except the one.

The problem with starting later is it impacts other classes you take. You are looking for reasons to justify your choices and if you have a kid who should be on a regular or slower path, that makes sense but it comes an issue with higher level science and other STEM related things. Often the private school kids have to take geometry in summer school to make up for the slower pace. Most smarter kids take it in 7th.

If you don’t want to consider Catholic schools, then fine. Just don’t think you can paint them all with the same brush. Your experience merely looking at schools doesn’t erase our years of experience attending one, nor does it erase the similar experiences of many others. (Our school also has atheists and non-Christians. About 50% are Catholic.)

As for your second paragraph, that’s a little hard to take seriously. There is a growing concern about over-acceleration in Math, and there’s a growing consensus that American students are doing worse because more advanced Math is pushed before young brains are ready. Does your child really need to take Calculus in 11th? Why? What purpose does that even serve?

I don’t need to justify my choices to you or anyone. Taking him out of MCPS was the correct choice, as was sending him to a Catholic high school. I post here so others can see that there are options. Maybe you don’t want them. Fine. But there are other parents who may want to know.

You very clearly are looking to justify it as otherwise you would not be posting here about it.

How many other religions are at your school? Jewish, Muslim…..

Yes to Muslim and Jewish at the school, including in my son’s class. Perhaps there aren’t many, but this may disprove some of your misconceptions about Catholic schools.

I don’t need to justify my decisions. I’m clearly very happy with our private school, and if I wasn’t we could simply transfer back to public. That won’t be happening.

I’ve already said why I am posting. We left MCPS. Others may want to know options exist. If you are satisfied with where your child is, then there’s no need for you to search any more.

How many total children are in your child's 8th grade class? And, how many are not Catholic or Christian?

It's not really an option for those of us with other religions or atheist without a Christian background. Sure, the schools will be happy to convert our kids, but that's not what some of us want.

Usually most to these schools have 30-60 kids per grade and only a handful of them may be non-Christian/Catholic.

I want to chime in as a Jewish person who isn’t sending my kid to a Catholic school. However, them wanting to convert my kid is not the reason we didn’t choose that option.

Does your school have ALCS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if your source is from 2019, it’s irrelevant. COVID revealed to a ton of parents how awful MCPS really is.

Moreover, only 17% of the people contacted for the 2019 survey responded.

https://moco360.media/2019/10/03/parents-pleased-with-mcps-survey-shows/

And yet they keep sending their kids to MCPS schools, while they themselves do little to affect any change or want to increase taxes to pay for their champagne wishes.

What choice do most of us have? Not everyone is wealthy or living in a "good" school district. The only "affordable" privates are Catholic schools and that's only for elementary. Only a few Catholic schools are remotely welcoming to non-Catholic/non-Christian families. The rest of us cannot afford $50-60K privates, and there are very few privates let alone non-religious ones.

And, the privates don't have the same math track come MS/HS.

I used to think this. Then I took my child out of MCPS and put him in a Catholic k-8. (We aren’t Catholic.) He is now excelling at a Catholic high school. We have never experienced anything other than acceptance as non-Catholics. It has been a great experience and I am thrilled by the effectiveness of the teachers. He’s really learning how to write! As for Math, it’s true that the K-8 didn’t offer Algebra until 8th. Why exactly is that a problem? Students can still take Calculus in high school and kids from Catholic high schools aren’t having problems getting into colleges.

I’d give the Catholic schools another look.

I looked at about 6 Catholics and only one was welcoming. There is a difference between being Christian and another religion or atheist. They had a more structured curriculum but the religion was a huge issue, several were pretty clear they didn't want non-Christians and when I asked how many non-Christians there were, none would tell me except the one.

The problem with starting later is it impacts other classes you take. You are looking for reasons to justify your choices and if you have a kid who should be on a regular or slower path, that makes sense but it comes an issue with higher level science and other STEM related things. Often the private school kids have to take geometry in summer school to make up for the slower pace. Most smarter kids take it in 7th.

If you don’t want to consider Catholic schools, then fine. Just don’t think you can paint them all with the same brush. Your experience merely looking at schools doesn’t erase our years of experience attending one, nor does it erase the similar experiences of many others. (Our school also has atheists and non-Christians. About 50% are Catholic.)

As for your second paragraph, that’s a little hard to take seriously. There is a growing concern about over-acceleration in Math, and there’s a growing consensus that American students are doing worse because more advanced Math is pushed before young brains are ready. Does your child really need to take Calculus in 11th? Why? What purpose does that even serve?

I don’t need to justify my choices to you or anyone. Taking him out of MCPS was the correct choice, as was sending him to a Catholic high school. I post here so others can see that there are options. Maybe you don’t want them. Fine. But there are other parents who may want to know.

You very clearly are looking to justify it as otherwise you would not be posting here about it.

How many other religions are at your school? Jewish, Muslim…..

Yes to Muslim and Jewish at the school, including in my son’s class. Perhaps there aren’t many, but this may disprove some of your misconceptions about Catholic schools.

I don’t need to justify my decisions. I’m clearly very happy with our private school, and if I wasn’t we could simply transfer back to public. That won’t be happening.

I’ve already said why I am posting. We left MCPS. Others may want to know options exist. If you are satisfied with where your child is, then there’s no need for you to search any more.

How many total children are in your child's 8th grade class? And, how many are not Catholic or Christian?

It's not really an option for those of us with other religions or atheist without a Christian background. Sure, the schools will be happy to convert our kids, but that's not what some of us want.

Usually most to these schools have 30-60 kids per grade and only a handful of them may be non-Christian/Catholic.

Hmmm… I’ve never felt like the school is trying to convert us. Not once. Ever. I also already stated the school is almost 50% non-Catholic. I suppose your assumptions carry more value than my lived reality, and the lived realities of many people we have met through both schools (both the K-8 and the high school). I have many years’ experience with other families - Catholic and non-Catholic. We’ve found a home at these schools.

Again, if it isn’t a choice for YOU, then fine. Others may wish to consider. That doesn’t threaten you in any way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if your source is from 2019, it’s irrelevant. COVID revealed to a ton of parents how awful MCPS really is.

Moreover, only 17% of the people contacted for the 2019 survey responded.

https://moco360.media/2019/10/03/parents-pleased-with-mcps-survey-shows/

And yet they keep sending their kids to MCPS schools, while they themselves do little to affect any change or want to increase taxes to pay for their champagne wishes.

What choice do most of us have? Not everyone is wealthy or living in a "good" school district. The only "affordable" privates are Catholic schools and that's only for elementary. Only a few Catholic schools are remotely welcoming to non-Catholic/non-Christian families. The rest of us cannot afford $50-60K privates, and there are very few privates let alone non-religious ones.

And, the privates don't have the same math track come MS/HS.

I used to think this. Then I took my child out of MCPS and put him in a Catholic k-8. (We aren’t Catholic.) He is now excelling at a Catholic high school. We have never experienced anything other than acceptance as non-Catholics. It has been a great experience and I am thrilled by the effectiveness of the teachers. He’s really learning how to write! As for Math, it’s true that the K-8 didn’t offer Algebra until 8th. Why exactly is that a problem? Students can still take Calculus in high school and kids from Catholic high schools aren’t having problems getting into colleges.

I’d give the Catholic schools another look.

I looked at about 6 Catholics and only one was welcoming. There is a difference between being Christian and another religion or atheist. They had a more structured curriculum but the religion was a huge issue, several were pretty clear they didn't want non-Christians and when I asked how many non-Christians there were, none would tell me except the one.

The problem with starting later is it impacts other classes you take. You are looking for reasons to justify your choices and if you have a kid who should be on a regular or slower path, that makes sense but it comes an issue with higher level science and other STEM related things. Often the private school kids have to take geometry in summer school to make up for the slower pace. Most smarter kids take it in 7th.

If you don’t want to consider Catholic schools, then fine. Just don’t think you can paint them all with the same brush. Your experience merely looking at schools doesn’t erase our years of experience attending one, nor does it erase the similar experiences of many others. (Our school also has atheists and non-Christians. About 50% are Catholic.)

As for your second paragraph, that’s a little hard to take seriously. There is a growing concern about over-acceleration in Math, and there’s a growing consensus that American students are doing worse because more advanced Math is pushed before young brains are ready. Does your child really need to take Calculus in 11th? Why? What purpose does that even serve?

I don’t need to justify my choices to you or anyone. Taking him out of MCPS was the correct choice, as was sending him to a Catholic high school. I post here so others can see that there are options. Maybe you don’t want them. Fine. But there are other parents who may want to know.

You very clearly are looking to justify it as otherwise you would not be posting here about it.

How many other religions are at your school? Jewish, Muslim…..

Yes to Muslim and Jewish at the school, including in my son’s class. Perhaps there aren’t many, but this may disprove some of your misconceptions about Catholic schools.

I don’t need to justify my decisions. I’m clearly very happy with our private school, and if I wasn’t we could simply transfer back to public. That won’t be happening.

I’ve already said why I am posting. We left MCPS. Others may want to know options exist. If you are satisfied with where your child is, then there’s no need for you to search any more.

How many total children are in your child's 8th grade class? And, how many are not Catholic or Christian?

It's not really an option for those of us with other religions or atheist without a Christian background. Sure, the schools will be happy to convert our kids, but that's not what some of us want.

Usually most to these schools have 30-60 kids per grade and only a handful of them may be non-Christian/Catholic.

I want to chime in as a Jewish person who isn’t sending my kid to a Catholic school. However, them wanting to convert my kid is not the reason we didn’t choose that option.

It's not the reason why we didn't choose it either. We only found one that was remotely welcoming of the ones we looked at. But, they had a very small class size and other social issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if your source is from 2019, it’s irrelevant. COVID revealed to a ton of parents how awful MCPS really is.

Moreover, only 17% of the people contacted for the 2019 survey responded.

https://moco360.media/2019/10/03/parents-pleased-with-mcps-survey-shows/

And yet they keep sending their kids to MCPS schools, while they themselves do little to affect any change or want to increase taxes to pay for their champagne wishes.

What choice do most of us have? Not everyone is wealthy or living in a "good" school district. The only "affordable" privates are Catholic schools and that's only for elementary. Only a few Catholic schools are remotely welcoming to non-Catholic/non-Christian families. The rest of us cannot afford $50-60K privates, and there are very few privates let alone non-religious ones.

And, the privates don't have the same math track come MS/HS.

I used to think this. Then I took my child out of MCPS and put him in a Catholic k-8. (We aren’t Catholic.) He is now excelling at a Catholic high school. We have never experienced anything other than acceptance as non-Catholics. It has been a great experience and I am thrilled by the effectiveness of the teachers. He’s really learning how to write! As for Math, it’s true that the K-8 didn’t offer Algebra until 8th. Why exactly is that a problem? Students can still take Calculus in high school and kids from Catholic high schools aren’t having problems getting into colleges.

I’d give the Catholic schools another look.

I looked at about 6 Catholics and only one was welcoming. There is a difference between being Christian and another religion or atheist. They had a more structured curriculum but the religion was a huge issue, several were pretty clear they didn't want non-Christians and when I asked how many non-Christians there were, none would tell me except the one.

The problem with starting later is it impacts other classes you take. You are looking for reasons to justify your choices and if you have a kid who should be on a regular or slower path, that makes sense but it comes an issue with higher level science and other STEM related things. Often the private school kids have to take geometry in summer school to make up for the slower pace. Most smarter kids take it in 7th.

If you don’t want to consider Catholic schools, then fine. Just don’t think you can paint them all with the same brush. Your experience merely looking at schools doesn’t erase our years of experience attending one, nor does it erase the similar experiences of many others. (Our school also has atheists and non-Christians. About 50% are Catholic.)

As for your second paragraph, that’s a little hard to take seriously. There is a growing concern about over-acceleration in Math, and there’s a growing consensus that American students are doing worse because more advanced Math is pushed before young brains are ready. Does your child really need to take Calculus in 11th? Why? What purpose does that even serve?

I don’t need to justify my choices to you or anyone. Taking him out of MCPS was the correct choice, as was sending him to a Catholic high school. I post here so others can see that there are options. Maybe you don’t want them. Fine. But there are other parents who may want to know.

You very clearly are looking to justify it as otherwise you would not be posting here about it.

How many other religions are at your school? Jewish, Muslim…..

Yes to Muslim and Jewish at the school, including in my son’s class. Perhaps there aren’t many, but this may disprove some of your misconceptions about Catholic schools.

I don’t need to justify my decisions. I’m clearly very happy with our private school, and if I wasn’t we could simply transfer back to public. That won’t be happening.

I’ve already said why I am posting. We left MCPS. Others may want to know options exist. If you are satisfied with where your child is, then there’s no need for you to search any more.

How many total children are in your child's 8th grade class? And, how many are not Catholic or Christian?

It's not really an option for those of us with other religions or atheist without a Christian background. Sure, the schools will be happy to convert our kids, but that's not what some of us want.

Usually most to these schools have 30-60 kids per grade and only a handful of them may be non-Christian/Catholic.

Hmmm… I’ve never felt like the school is trying to convert us. Not once. Ever. I also already stated the school is almost 50% non-Catholic. I suppose your assumptions carry more value than my lived reality, and the lived realities of many people we have met through both schools (both the K-8 and the high school). I have many years’ experience with other families - Catholic and non-Catholic. We’ve found a home at these schools.

Again, if it isn’t a choice for YOU, then fine. Others may wish to consider. That doesn’t threaten you in any way.

Again, how many Jewish and Muslim families are at your school? Sure, you can find a home at the school but a non-religious child or a child from another religion or culture may not feel comfortable. Big difference from being Christian and having similar teachings to another religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if your source is from 2019, it’s irrelevant. COVID revealed to a ton of parents how awful MCPS really is.

Moreover, only 17% of the people contacted for the 2019 survey responded.

https://moco360.media/2019/10/03/parents-pleased-with-mcps-survey-shows/

And yet they keep sending their kids to MCPS schools, while they themselves do little to affect any change or want to increase taxes to pay for their champagne wishes.

What choice do most of us have? Not everyone is wealthy or living in a "good" school district. The only "affordable" privates are Catholic schools and that's only for elementary. Only a few Catholic schools are remotely welcoming to non-Catholic/non-Christian families. The rest of us cannot afford $50-60K privates, and there are very few privates let alone non-religious ones.

And, the privates don't have the same math track come MS/HS.

I used to think this. Then I took my child out of MCPS and put him in a Catholic k-8. (We aren’t Catholic.) He is now excelling at a Catholic high school. We have never experienced anything other than acceptance as non-Catholics. It has been a great experience and I am thrilled by the effectiveness of the teachers. He’s really learning how to write! As for Math, it’s true that the K-8 didn’t offer Algebra until 8th. Why exactly is that a problem? Students can still take Calculus in high school and kids from Catholic high schools aren’t having problems getting into colleges.

I’d give the Catholic schools another look.

I looked at about 6 Catholics and only one was welcoming. There is a difference between being Christian and another religion or atheist. They had a more structured curriculum but the religion was a huge issue, several were pretty clear they didn't want non-Christians and when I asked how many non-Christians there were, none would tell me except the one.

The problem with starting later is it impacts other classes you take. You are looking for reasons to justify your choices and if you have a kid who should be on a regular or slower path, that makes sense but it comes an issue with higher level science and other STEM related things. Often the private school kids have to take geometry in summer school to make up for the slower pace. Most smarter kids take it in 7th.

If you don’t want to consider Catholic schools, then fine. Just don’t think you can paint them all with the same brush. Your experience merely looking at schools doesn’t erase our years of experience attending one, nor does it erase the similar experiences of many others. (Our school also has atheists and non-Christians. About 50% are Catholic.)

As for your second paragraph, that’s a little hard to take seriously. There is a growing concern about over-acceleration in Math, and there’s a growing consensus that American students are doing worse because more advanced Math is pushed before young brains are ready. Does your child really need to take Calculus in 11th? Why? What purpose does that even serve?

I don’t need to justify my choices to you or anyone. Taking him out of MCPS was the correct choice, as was sending him to a Catholic high school. I post here so others can see that there are options. Maybe you don’t want them. Fine. But there are other parents who may want to know.

You very clearly are looking to justify it as otherwise you would not be posting here about it.

How many other religions are at your school? Jewish, Muslim…..

Yes to Muslim and Jewish at the school, including in my son’s class. Perhaps there aren’t many, but this may disprove some of your misconceptions about Catholic schools.

I don’t need to justify my decisions. I’m clearly very happy with our private school, and if I wasn’t we could simply transfer back to public. That won’t be happening.

I’ve already said why I am posting. We left MCPS. Others may want to know options exist. If you are satisfied with where your child is, then there’s no need for you to search any more.

How many total children are in your child's 8th grade class? And, how many are not Catholic or Christian?

It's not really an option for those of us with other religions or atheist without a Christian background. Sure, the schools will be happy to convert our kids, but that's not what some of us want.

Usually most to these schools have 30-60 kids per grade and only a handful of them may be non-Christian/Catholic.

Hmmm… I’ve never felt like the school is trying to convert us. Not once. Ever. I also already stated the school is almost 50% non-Catholic. I suppose your assumptions carry more value than my lived reality, and the lived realities of many people we have met through both schools (both the K-8 and the high school). I have many years’ experience with other families - Catholic and non-Catholic. We’ve found a home at these schools.

Again, if it isn’t a choice for YOU, then fine. Others may wish to consider. That doesn’t threaten you in any way.

I’ll chime in as a non-Jewish person whose kids both attended a Jewish pre-school.

I’ll say that my kids participated in Shabbat and respected the Kosher guidelines and celebrated all the Jewish holidays at pre-school. I never felt that they were trying to convert my kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if your source is from 2019, it’s irrelevant. COVID revealed to a ton of parents how awful MCPS really is.

Moreover, only 17% of the people contacted for the 2019 survey responded.

https://moco360.media/2019/10/03/parents-pleased-with-mcps-survey-shows/

And yet they keep sending their kids to MCPS schools, while they themselves do little to affect any change or want to increase taxes to pay for their champagne wishes.

What choice do most of us have? Not everyone is wealthy or living in a "good" school district. The only "affordable" privates are Catholic schools and that's only for elementary. Only a few Catholic schools are remotely welcoming to non-Catholic/non-Christian families. The rest of us cannot afford $50-60K privates, and there are very few privates let alone non-religious ones.

And, the privates don't have the same math track come MS/HS.

I used to think this. Then I took my child out of MCPS and put him in a Catholic k-8. (We aren’t Catholic.) He is now excelling at a Catholic high school. We have never experienced anything other than acceptance as non-Catholics. It has been a great experience and I am thrilled by the effectiveness of the teachers. He’s really learning how to write! As for Math, it’s true that the K-8 didn’t offer Algebra until 8th. Why exactly is that a problem? Students can still take Calculus in high school and kids from Catholic high schools aren’t having problems getting into colleges.

I’d give the Catholic schools another look.

I looked at about 6 Catholics and only one was welcoming. There is a difference between being Christian and another religion or atheist. They had a more structured curriculum but the religion was a huge issue, several were pretty clear they didn't want non-Christians and when I asked how many non-Christians there were, none would tell me except the one.

The problem with starting later is it impacts other classes you take. You are looking for reasons to justify your choices and if you have a kid who should be on a regular or slower path, that makes sense but it comes an issue with higher level science and other STEM related things. Often the private school kids have to take geometry in summer school to make up for the slower pace. Most smarter kids take it in 7th.

If you don’t want to consider Catholic schools, then fine. Just don’t think you can paint them all with the same brush. Your experience merely looking at schools doesn’t erase our years of experience attending one, nor does it erase the similar experiences of many others. (Our school also has atheists and non-Christians. About 50% are Catholic.)

As for your second paragraph, that’s a little hard to take seriously. There is a growing concern about over-acceleration in Math, and there’s a growing consensus that American students are doing worse because more advanced Math is pushed before young brains are ready. Does your child really need to take Calculus in 11th? Why? What purpose does that even serve?

I don’t need to justify my choices to you or anyone. Taking him out of MCPS was the correct choice, as was sending him to a Catholic high school. I post here so others can see that there are options. Maybe you don’t want them. Fine. But there are other parents who may want to know.

You very clearly are looking to justify it as otherwise you would not be posting here about it.

How many other religions are at your school? Jewish, Muslim…..

Yes to Muslim and Jewish at the school, including in my son’s class. Perhaps there aren’t many, but this may disprove some of your misconceptions about Catholic schools.

I don’t need to justify my decisions. I’m clearly very happy with our private school, and if I wasn’t we could simply transfer back to public. That won’t be happening.

I’ve already said why I am posting. We left MCPS. Others may want to know options exist. If you are satisfied with where your child is, then there’s no need for you to search any more.

How many total children are in your child's 8th grade class? And, how many are not Catholic or Christian?

It's not really an option for those of us with other religions or atheist without a Christian background. Sure, the schools will be happy to convert our kids, but that's not what some of us want.

Usually most to these schools have 30-60 kids per grade and only a handful of them may be non-Christian/Catholic.

Hmmm… I’ve never felt like the school is trying to convert us. Not once. Ever. I also already stated the school is almost 50% non-Catholic. I suppose your assumptions carry more value than my lived reality, and the lived realities of many people we have met through both schools (both the K-8 and the high school). I have many years’ experience with other families - Catholic and non-Catholic. We’ve found a home at these schools.

Again, if it isn’t a choice for YOU, then fine. Others may wish to consider. That doesn’t threaten you in any way.

I’ll chime in as a non-Jewish person whose kids both attended a Jewish pre-school.

I’ll say that my kids participated in Shabbat and respected the Kosher guidelines and celebrated all the Jewish holidays at pre-school. I never felt that they were trying to convert my kids.

Jews don’t proselytize. How did you not learn that after your kids went to a Jewish preschool?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if your source is from 2019, it’s irrelevant. COVID revealed to a ton of parents how awful MCPS really is.

Moreover, only 17% of the people contacted for the 2019 survey responded.

https://moco360.media/2019/10/03/parents-pleased-with-mcps-survey-shows/

And yet they keep sending their kids to MCPS schools, while they themselves do little to affect any change or want to increase taxes to pay for their champagne wishes.

What choice do most of us have? Not everyone is wealthy or living in a "good" school district. The only "affordable" privates are Catholic schools and that's only for elementary. Only a few Catholic schools are remotely welcoming to non-Catholic/non-Christian families. The rest of us cannot afford $50-60K privates, and there are very few privates let alone non-religious ones.

And, the privates don't have the same math track come MS/HS.

I used to think this. Then I took my child out of MCPS and put him in a Catholic k-8. (We aren’t Catholic.) He is now excelling at a Catholic high school. We have never experienced anything other than acceptance as non-Catholics. It has been a great experience and I am thrilled by the effectiveness of the teachers. He’s really learning how to write! As for Math, it’s true that the K-8 didn’t offer Algebra until 8th. Why exactly is that a problem? Students can still take Calculus in high school and kids from Catholic high schools aren’t having problems getting into colleges.

I’d give the Catholic schools another look.

I looked at about 6 Catholics and only one was welcoming. There is a difference between being Christian and another religion or atheist. They had a more structured curriculum but the religion was a huge issue, several were pretty clear they didn't want non-Christians and when I asked how many non-Christians there were, none would tell me except the one.

The problem with starting later is it impacts other classes you take. You are looking for reasons to justify your choices and if you have a kid who should be on a regular or slower path, that makes sense but it comes an issue with higher level science and other STEM related things. Often the private school kids have to take geometry in summer school to make up for the slower pace. Most smarter kids take it in 7th.

If you don’t want to consider Catholic schools, then fine. Just don’t think you can paint them all with the same brush. Your experience merely looking at schools doesn’t erase our years of experience attending one, nor does it erase the similar experiences of many others. (Our school also has atheists and non-Christians. About 50% are Catholic.)

As for your second paragraph, that’s a little hard to take seriously. There is a growing concern about over-acceleration in Math, and there’s a growing consensus that American students are doing worse because more advanced Math is pushed before young brains are ready. Does your child really need to take Calculus in 11th? Why? What purpose does that even serve?

I don’t need to justify my choices to you or anyone. Taking him out of MCPS was the correct choice, as was sending him to a Catholic high school. I post here so others can see that there are options. Maybe you don’t want them. Fine. But there are other parents who may want to know.

You very clearly are looking to justify it as otherwise you would not be posting here about it.

How many other religions are at your school? Jewish, Muslim…..

Yes to Muslim and Jewish at the school, including in my son’s class. Perhaps there aren’t many, but this may disprove some of your misconceptions about Catholic schools.

I don’t need to justify my decisions. I’m clearly very happy with our private school, and if I wasn’t we could simply transfer back to public. That won’t be happening.

I’ve already said why I am posting. We left MCPS. Others may want to know options exist. If you are satisfied with where your child is, then there’s no need for you to search any more.

How many total children are in your child's 8th grade class? And, how many are not Catholic or Christian?

It's not really an option for those of us with other religions or atheist without a Christian background. Sure, the schools will be happy to convert our kids, but that's not what some of us want.

Usually most to these schools have 30-60 kids per grade and only a handful of them may be non-Christian/Catholic.

Hmmm… I’ve never felt like the school is trying to convert us. Not once. Ever. I also already stated the school is almost 50% non-Catholic. I suppose your assumptions carry more value than my lived reality, and the lived realities of many people we have met through both schools (both the K-8 and the high school). I have many years’ experience with other families - Catholic and non-Catholic. We’ve found a home at these schools.

Again, if it isn’t a choice for YOU, then fine. Others may wish to consider. That doesn’t threaten you in any way.

I’ll chime in as a non-Jewish person whose kids both attended a Jewish pre-school.

I’ll say that my kids participated in Shabbat and respected the Kosher guidelines and celebrated all the Jewish holidays at pre-school. I never felt that they were trying to convert my kids.

Jews don't convert.