If MCPS is so bad

[Anonymous]

MCPS shines in high school imo. The magnet programs , career programs, SAT prep, college counseling, ESL . They really want people to go off to great colleges .

It’s ok in middle school. Meh in elementary. At that age, it’s really the parents job to teach the kids honestly. Teachers aren’t paid much in ES and classroom sizes are too large for them to really focus on one kids development at a time.

I think because private schools are smaller class sizes they’re better for K-8 .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS shines in high school imo. The magnet programs , career programs, SAT prep, college counseling, ESL . They really want people to go off to great colleges .

It’s ok in middle school. Meh in elementary. At that age, it’s really the parents job to teach the kids honestly. Teachers aren’t paid much in ES and classroom sizes are too large for them to really focus on one kids development at a time.

I think because private schools are smaller class sizes they’re better for K-8 .

Or MCPS elementary classes have never been over 20, younger grades were more like 15. Maybe private is smaller, but it's always been manageable.

[Anonymous]

I've had kids in the system since 2009. I can say unequivocally that MCPS has fallen dramatically over that 15 year period. Even the best high schools are shells of what they were; Whitman might still be a holdout, but I'm not sure of that at this point. The latest debacle has been the Covid grade inflation leading to colleges essentially throwing MCPS kids into a separate pile. The district, like the County, fell for the equity of outcomes trap hard, and is taking far too long to change course back to sanity--because it's simply too large. Parents in MC should wake up and demand breaking the District up, but that would be immediately painted as "MAGA" or something and it wouldn't go anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in the system since 2009. I can say unequivocally that MCPS has fallen dramatically over that 15 year period. Even the best high schools are shells of what they were; Whitman might still be a holdout, but I'm not sure of that at this point. The latest debacle has been the Covid grade inflation leading to colleges essentially throwing MCPS kids into a separate pile. The district, like the County, fell for the equity of outcomes trap hard, and is taking far too long to change course back to sanity--because it's simply too large. Parents in MC should wake up and demand breaking the District up, but that would be immediately painted as "MAGA" or something and it wouldn't go anywhere.

Not an option. Districts are set up this way per the state. But most of know this already. Not sure why you throw that odd statement in there about how it would be perceived.

[Anonymous]

My honest opinion as a mom with 2 kids at MCPS, one in MS, one in HS- both have been through MCPS elementary school. I think elementary is pretty good especially if you have a great principal. We were at a high FARMS elementary school and it was fabulous. The families were engaged, principal was fantastic, and the PTA was super active. MS is okay. I just think that MS is super hard as kids transition to young teens as there's a lot of drama involved; and to top it off- MCPS doesn't put a ton of effort at the MS level. HS is great in terms of the programs, advanced level courses, and opportunities available- regardless of which HS your child attends. I truly feel that if your kid is bright and has a good head on their shoulders, it's hard to not do well. If on the other hand your kid doesn't fall in this category, it could be more challenging as some of the High Schools are too big and have to cater to a diverse set of needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS shines in high school imo. The magnet programs , career programs, SAT prep, college counseling, ESL . They really want people to go off to great colleges .

It’s ok in middle school. Meh in elementary. At that age, it’s really the parents job to teach the kids honestly. Teachers aren’t paid much in ES and classroom sizes are too large for them to really focus on one kids development at a time.

I think because private schools are smaller class sizes they’re better for K-8 .

Interesting. I think the opposite. I actually think MCPS is good for the most part the elementary level, ok at the middle and can be horrendous at the high school level, depending on which school you go to.

To be clear, my kid goes to an MCPS high school that is in the bottom tier, so my experience is colored by that. But I know that other MCPS high schools are much better than mine, so it can be great. The problem is MCPS allows for way too much variability in this system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS shines in high school imo. The magnet programs , career programs, SAT prep, college counseling, ESL . They really want people to go off to great colleges .

It’s ok in middle school. Meh in elementary. At that age, it’s really the parents job to teach the kids honestly. Teachers aren’t paid much in ES and classroom sizes are too large for them to really focus on one kids development at a time.

I think because private schools are smaller class sizes they’re better for K-8 .

Aren’t ES teachers paid in the same pay scale as HS? I don’t understand your comment above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS shines in high school imo. The magnet programs , career programs, SAT prep, college counseling, ESL . They really want people to go off to great colleges .

It’s ok in middle school. Meh in elementary. At that age, it’s really the parents job to teach the kids honestly. Teachers aren’t paid much in ES and classroom sizes are too large for them to really focus on one kids development at a time.

I think because private schools are smaller class sizes they’re better for K-8 .

Interesting. I think the opposite. I actually think MCPS is good for the most part the elementary level, ok at the middle and can be horrendous at the high school level, depending on which school you go to.

To be clear, my kid goes to an MCPS high school that is in the bottom tier, so my experience is colored by that. But I know that other MCPS high schools are much better than mine, so it can be great. The problem is MCPS allows for way too much variability in this system.

DP - MCPS really shines at the High School level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in the system since 2009. I can say unequivocally that MCPS has fallen dramatically over that 15 year period. Even the best high schools are shells of what they were; Whitman might still be a holdout, but I'm not sure of that at this point. The latest debacle has been the Covid grade inflation leading to colleges essentially throwing MCPS kids into a separate pile. The district, like the County, fell for the equity of outcomes trap hard, and is taking far too long to change course back to sanity--because it's simply too large. Parents in MC should wake up and demand breaking the District up, but that would be immediately painted as "MAGA" or something and it wouldn't go anywhere.

Where do you come up with this BS that colleges are throwing MCPS into a separate pile??? They are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in the system since 2009. I can say unequivocally that MCPS has fallen dramatically over that 15 year period. Even the best high schools are shells of what they were; Whitman might still be a holdout, but I'm not sure of that at this point. The latest debacle has been the Covid grade inflation leading to colleges essentially throwing MCPS kids into a separate pile. The district, like the County, fell for the equity of outcomes trap hard, and is taking far too long to change course back to sanity--because it's simply too large. Parents in MC should wake up and demand breaking the District up, but that would be immediately painted as "MAGA" or something and it wouldn't go anywhere.

Where do you come up with this BS that colleges are throwing MCPS into a separate pile??? They are not.

DP. Exactly, in fact MCPS dominates UMD college acceptances across the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS shines in high school imo. The magnet programs , career programs, SAT prep, college counseling, ESL . They really want people to go off to great colleges .

It’s ok in middle school. Meh in elementary. At that age, it’s really the parents job to teach the kids honestly. Teachers aren’t paid much in ES and classroom sizes are too large for them to really focus on one kids development at a time.

I think because private schools are smaller class sizes they’re better for K-8 .

It wasn't always that way, but things have gotten so much worse since COVID. ES teachers spend 95%+ of their time with 2-3 kids with behavioral issues while the rest are just get daycare and worksheets. I had to teach my kids reading and math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS shines in high school imo. The magnet programs , career programs, SAT prep, college counseling, ESL . They really want people to go off to great colleges .

It’s ok in middle school. Meh in elementary. At that age, it’s really the parents job to teach the kids honestly. Teachers aren’t paid much in ES and classroom sizes are too large for them to really focus on one kids development at a time.

I think because private schools are smaller class sizes they’re better for K-8 .

Or MCPS elementary classes have never been over 20, younger grades were more like 15. Maybe private is smaller, but it's always been manageable.

In your dreams!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in the system since 2009. I can say unequivocally that MCPS has fallen dramatically over that 15 year period. Even the best high schools are shells of what they were; Whitman might still be a holdout, but I'm not sure of that at this point. The latest debacle has been the Covid grade inflation leading to colleges essentially throwing MCPS kids into a separate pile. The district, like the County, fell for the equity of outcomes trap hard, and is taking far too long to change course back to sanity--because it's simply too large. Parents in MC should wake up and demand breaking the District up, but that would be immediately painted as "MAGA" or something and it wouldn't go anywhere.

Where do you come up with this BS that colleges are throwing MCPS into a separate pile??? They are not.

DP. Exactly, in fact MCPS dominates UMD college acceptances across the state.

But is only 1/4 of the enrolled students at UMD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS shines in high school imo. The magnet programs , career programs, SAT prep, college counseling, ESL . They really want people to go off to great colleges .

It’s ok in middle school. Meh in elementary. At that age, it’s really the parents job to teach the kids honestly. Teachers aren’t paid much in ES and classroom sizes are too large for them to really focus on one kids development at a time.

I think because private schools are smaller class sizes they’re better for K-8 .

Or MCPS elementary classes have never been over 20, younger grades were more like 15. Maybe private is smaller, but it's always been manageable.

In your dreams!

I'm describing our actual experience. Our daughter's K class was 17, first grade was 13, second grade was 18 (average of 16, I guess, not 15). Other grades are larger (at or around 20), but the largest grade level at her ES right now is 62 kids with 3 teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS shines in high school imo. The magnet programs , career programs, SAT prep, college counseling, ESL . They really want people to go off to great colleges .

It’s ok in middle school. Meh in elementary. At that age, it’s really the parents job to teach the kids honestly. Teachers aren’t paid much in ES and classroom sizes are too large for them to really focus on one kids development at a time.

I think because private schools are smaller class sizes they’re better for K-8 .

Interesting. I think the opposite. I actually think MCPS is good for the most part the elementary level, ok at the middle and can be horrendous at the high school level, depending on which school you go to.

To be clear, my kid goes to an MCPS high school that is in the bottom tier, so my experience is colored by that. But I know that other MCPS high schools are much better than mine, so it can be great. The problem is MCPS allows for way too much variability in this system.

DP - MCPS really shines at the High School level.

This probably is a function of students having choices. Not all students are put in the same class. This allows them to learn at an appropriate rate.