Silver Spring schools- are they bad?

[Anonymous]

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/SafetyGlance/currentyear/schools/03787.pdf

FWIW I was trying to find more info on the incident, and google directed me to this site. Although it doesn't give any details about this incident, it indicates that schools keep data (which is available online) about all incidents that lead to suspension. The accountability reports also break down the kinds of incidents and whether or not the police were called.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. Wonder how it compares to all of the other middle schools in Mont. Co.

[Anonymous]

Hmmmm. I live in 20906. The entire zip is not bad. Silver Spring is Huge. I live in Longmead Crossing- a beautiful townhouse and single family home neighborhood. There are some newer apartments near us, but they are not crime filled. The ES is Stonegate and I have heard great things about it. I would like to live in or closer to Bethesda when DD is in ES but for now it is safe and a great community. I do agree that the surrounding areas such as Bel Pre are not nice and there is a lot of crime in Wheaton.

[Anonymous]

My kids attended the magnet programs, so we are happy with our MCPS experience while living in Silver Spring. But if they had not gotten into the magnets, we would have gone the private school route after elementary school. Also, though, be aware that many, many parents in Bethesda and Potomac have problems and complaints about their public schools. It's not nirvana anywhere in MCPS--there are oversized classes, lousy teachers and a stupid teach-to-the-test curriculum everywhere. MCPS has become very standardized and the emphasis is on providing the same education to all, doing away with the GT label, etc. In wealthy areas you also can face a situation where many neighborhood kids don't attend public schools and your kid is left out of the loop for playdates and friends nearby.

[Anonymous]

We are one of those 2 pretty affluent families living in Forest Glen. Our neighbor teaches at Oakland Terrace and love it. But, we along with 3 other close in neighbors are chosing to bite the bullet and go private. There are not a lot of school age kid near us, but a fair share of little kids. I think everyone is concerned about safety even though our neighborhood is pretty safe. But we are concerned about the nucklehead factor that exists in certain areas. And yes, I know nuckleheads...plenty in my family and I don't want dd to go to school with them either. Nuckleheads also travel, break into homes, cars, and make life terrible for everyone. So, while they might not be in my neighborhood now, they creep along the borders and make it hard for good kids to get an education. So, are Silver Spring schools bad. Nope, but some have some bad kids in them and wreaking havoc nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are one of those 2 pretty affluent families living in Forest Glen. Our neighbor teaches at Oakland Terrace and love it. But, we along with 3 other close in neighbors are chosing to bite the bullet and go private. There are not a lot of school age kid near us, but a fair share of little kids. I think everyone is concerned about safety even though our neighborhood is pretty safe. But we are concerned about the nucklehead factor that exists in certain areas. And yes, I know nuckleheads...plenty in my family and I don't want dd to go to school with them either. Nuckleheads also travel, break into homes, cars, and make life terrible for everyone. So, while they might not be in my neighborhood now, they creep along the borders and make it hard for good kids to get an education. So, are Silver Spring schools bad. Nope, but some have some bad kids in them and wreaking havoc nearby.

I don't really understand this message. We live in this area and I don't think you really know what you are talking about. Have you actually visited the local elementary school? Why don't you just move?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are one of those 2 pretty affluent families living in Forest Glen. Our neighbor teaches at Oakland Terrace and love it. But, we along with 3 other close in neighbors are chosing to bite the bullet and go private. There are not a lot of school age kid near us, but a fair share of little kids. I think everyone is concerned about safety even though our neighborhood is pretty safe. But we are concerned about the nucklehead factor that exists in certain areas. And yes, I know nuckleheads...plenty in my family and I don't want dd to go to school with them either. Nuckleheads also travel, break into homes, cars, and make life terrible for everyone. So, while they might not be in my neighborhood now, they creep along the borders and make it hard for good kids to get an education. So, are Silver Spring schools bad. Nope, but some have some bad kids in them and wreaking havoc nearby.

And then there's the Bethesda teen (McKenzie-Gude who attends a PRIVATE school - St. John's College High) accused of making and exploding pipe bombs and illegally possessing firearms. So what's your point?

[Anonymous]

A kid from Whitman robbed a convenience store with a gun last year or the year before. It made the Post.

Perhaps the quality of drugs differs between southeast and northwest MoCo

[Anonymous]

I know a bunch of MCPS teachers and administrators and I had the opportunity to pick the brain of a retired MC cop who has worked security in a number of county high schools (including Wheaton, Kennedy and Einstein -- as well as some of the more affluent schools) and he presently works in the guidance dept of a HS in a more affluent area. Bottom line from all of these folks: EVERY school has a population of roughly 10% that gets into trouble. 5% get in trouble every now and then -- and 5% are complete and total thugs. EVERY SCHOOL. Having said that, schools with significantly high populations of very low income kids struggle with other issues -- theft is common, and all the kids realize it. IMHO, the gang problem in parts of the county is most problematic to me. Gang violence is more "violent" (sometimes deadly) than your run of the mill drug problems that ALL schools face. And let's face it, the gang problems are limited to certain parts of the county.

[Anonymous]

Yes, this was "The Whitman 5" - five kids (four of them athletes, one a "star") who committed armed robbery in 2006.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/26/AR2006052601944.html

We're in the Whitman school district, and we have no illusions about what charming activities entitled wealthy kids can get up to. Sh*t happens everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A kid from Whitman robbed a convenience store with a gun last year or the year before. It made the Post.

Perhaps the quality of drugs differs between southeast and northwest MoCo

very true

Back in the 80s, it was marijuana in public schools and cocaine in private. I'm sure this "trend" in quality hasn't changed much.