Please suggest good elementary schools for IEP in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I decided to call the schools. Called highly rated Fairfax county schools- the replies were mostly they did not have an inclusion program. So basically my kid will be placed in a special needs classroom irrespective of how high functioning he is. Rest had a huge waiting list.
I then called the schools this board suggested- FKES and Flora Singer, immediately got transferred to someone willing to help and basically got the response I was looking for- he will be placed in a regular classroom with extra help, a teaching aide. I don’t know I’m just very relieved and not getting the comments which spoke negatively about these schools.

It's DCUM - there's always negativity talking about anything or anyone in MCPS.

I’m amused because the Op is trusting what the MCPS employee says will actually happen. When an MCPS employee is speaking you have to seriously question what they are promising. But keep hoping and then come back to this board and join the rest of us who tried to prevent you from getting the t-shirt. Basically my view is Takoma Park cluster or bust - that’s the only neighborhood that’s cared about in the county…hope your kid can 2e into Blair Magnet / then you are a ‘good’ parent worthy of support (you have the right politics and your kid is making a really screwy public school system look good).

Wow: you must have had some negative experiences, and for that I am sorry. Our story does not match yours. Everyone we have worked with has done what they promised to do or been honest with us when something could not happen. We have never had to threaten, argue, beg, or report one person to another; we have never been ignored or dismissed. I have to hope that our school shows the same level of interest and care to every family, because we don't bring any special connections or power to the table and I don't think we're particularly either low-maintenance or high-maintenance.

Congratulations to you. Know your experience is in the minority. Although you didn’t ask we left DMV and all got better.

OP here , where are you now if you don’t mind me asking..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I decided to call the schools. Called highly rated Fairfax county schools- the replies were mostly they did not have an inclusion program. So basically my kid will be placed in a special needs classroom irrespective of how high functioning he is. Rest had a huge waiting list.
I then called the schools this board suggested- FKES and Flora Singer, immediately got transferred to someone willing to help and basically got the response I was looking for- he will be placed in a regular classroom with extra help, a teaching aide. I don’t know I’m just very relieved and not getting the comments which spoke negatively about these schools.

We are at Rock View, which nearby. We have had good IEP experiences, and Rock View also hosts a Learning Center for kids who can’t be mainstreamed. So the staff are used to kids with significant special needs (lunch ladies, secretary, etc), and it’s been great. My kid also likes being able to be a leader and help kids with bigger challenges than him, and he doesn’t get to do that much!

Hi, I am new in this forum and searching for a house in Silver Spring too. Like OP, my child also has an IEP and is 4. I liked a house that is zoned for Rock View and wondering if the services are good. Will they also provide inclusion. Thank you in advance!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I decided to call the schools. Called highly rated Fairfax county schools- the replies were mostly they did not have an inclusion program. So basically my kid will be placed in a special needs classroom irrespective of how high functioning he is. Rest had a huge waiting list.
I then called the schools this board suggested- FKES and Flora Singer, immediately got transferred to someone willing to help and basically got the response I was looking for- he will be placed in a regular classroom with extra help, a teaching aide. I don’t know I’m just very relieved and not getting the comments which spoke negatively about these schools.

We are at Rock View, which nearby. We have had good IEP experiences, and Rock View also hosts a Learning Center for kids who can’t be mainstreamed. So the staff are used to kids with significant special needs (lunch ladies, secretary, etc), and it’s been great. My kid also likes being able to be a leader and help kids with bigger challenges than him, and he doesn’t get to do that much!

Hi, I am new in this forum and searching for a house in Silver Spring too. Like OP, my child also has an IEP and is 4. I liked a house that is zoned for Rock View and wondering if the services are good. Will they also provide inclusion. Thank you in advance!

I did not see this thread when the original post was put up but I have a child at flower valley elementary school with an IEP (not for autism) and we have been incredibly happy. Most families I know are pleased with the school, although I don’t know for sure anyone else with an IEP.

[Anonymous]

That’s good info for some other parents with kids on IEP looking for a school in MCPS!

[Anonymous]

Title I schools like Twinbrook often have more staff resources.

[Anonymous]

What I realized is this, good ES does not necessary translate to good ES for IEP kids. My kid goes to Stone Mill and we are not happy there. I think a lot of it is our principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I realized is this, good ES does not necessary translate to good ES for IEP kids. My kid goes to Stone Mill and we are not happy there. I think a lot of it is our principal.

That’s strange. I checked the reviews on great schools and the scores and they look great on paper. Of course that is all subjective.
May I ask why your experience hasn’t been positive…

[Anonymous]

Great Schools scores are flawed and have nothing to do with special education/IEP experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I realized is this, good ES does not necessary translate to good ES for IEP kids. My kid goes to Stone Mill and we are not happy there. I think a lot of it is our principal.

That’s strange. I checked the reviews on great schools and the scores and they look great on paper. Of course that is all subjective.
May I ask why your experience hasn’t been positive…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I realized is this, good ES does not necessary translate to good ES for IEP kids. My kid goes to Stone Mill and we are not happy there. I think a lot of it is our principal.

That’s strange. I checked the reviews on great schools and the scores and they look great on paper. Of course that is all subjective.
May I ask why your experience hasn’t been positive…

I don’t feel the special ed team is supportive of my child. I wouldn’t rave about them way some of the other posters here raved their schools. I also think a lot of is due to the principal. I don’t think she sets the right tone for her staff. Just my 2 cents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I realized is this, good ES does not necessary translate to good ES for IEP kids. My kid goes to Stone Mill and we are not happy there. I think a lot of it is our principal.

That’s strange. I checked the reviews on great schools and the scores and they look great on paper. Of course that is all subjective.
May I ask why your experience hasn’t been positive…

I don’t feel the special ed team is supportive of my child. I wouldn’t rave about them way some of the other posters here raved their schools. I also think a lot of is due to the principal. I don’t think she sets the right tone for her staff. Just my 2 cents.

That’s very helpful and I’m sorry you are going through it. I hope the Principal changes soon or the school starts supporting all kids better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I realized is this, good ES does not necessary translate to good ES for IEP kids. My kid goes to Stone Mill and we are not happy there. I think a lot of it is our principal.

That’s strange. I checked the reviews on great schools and the scores and they look great on paper. Of course that is all subjective.
May I ask why your experience hasn’t been positive…

I don’t feel the special ed team is supportive of my child. I wouldn’t rave about them way some of the other posters here raved their schools. I also think a lot of is due to the principal. I don’t think she sets the right tone for her staff. Just my 2 cents.

Nah it’s the cluster. They lost a big court case about 20 years ago to a family in this cluster. Since then all of the schools in that cluster despise kids on IEPs. You are fighting a huge and powerful institution (with a really long memory). Sell and get out. We did and it got better for child. You can make bank now on your house as well.

[Anonymous]

OP it's naive to think you can call a school and someone who answers will tell you where your child will be placed. That's not how it works. Please don't forget that MCPS considers eating lunch in the lunchroom with typical peers as "inclusion" and that's as much "inclusion" children in self contained classrooms get everyday. I'd recommend not moving to MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP it's naive to think you can call a school and someone who answers will tell you where your child will be placed. That's not how it works. Please don't forget that MCPS considers eating lunch in the lunchroom with typical peers as "inclusion" and that's as much "inclusion" children in self contained classrooms get everyday. I'd recommend not moving to MCPS.

My DCs have been in class with kids who are accompanied by full-time aides, kids who are pulled out for various kinds of special-ed interventions, kids who are put into small groups with paras. Even the pre-K is mixed between kids who need physical assistance and kids who don't. If there are kids in our school who never spend time in a mainstream classroom, I don't know who they are or where they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I decided to call the schools. Called highly rated Fairfax county schools- the replies were mostly they did not have an inclusion program. So basically my kid will be placed in a special needs classroom irrespective of how high functioning he is. Rest had a huge waiting list.
I then called the schools this board suggested- FKES and Flora Singer, immediately got transferred to someone willing to help and basically got the response I was looking for- he will be placed in a regular classroom with extra help, a teaching aide. I don’t know I’m just very relieved and not getting the comments which spoke negatively about these schools.

It's DCUM - there's always negativity talking about anything or anyone in MCPS.

I’m amused because the Op is trusting what the MCPS employee says will actually happen. When an MCPS employee is speaking you have to seriously question what they are promising. But keep hoping and then come back to this board and join the rest of us who tried to prevent you from getting the t-shirt. Basically my view is Takoma Park cluster or bust - that’s the only neighborhood that’s cared about in the county…hope your kid can 2e into Blair Magnet / then you are a ‘good’ parent worthy of support (you have the right politics and your kid is making a really screwy public school system look good).

2e into Blair magnet? The 2e HS program is at Northwood.

[Anonymous]

OP, the Silver Spring schools tend to be highly diverse and often with bifurcated testing scores.

The Potomac/Bethesda crowd paid more for their houses and are convinced that they are smarter and have better schools because they did.

Welcome to DCUM.