So would you still say the public school was just fine?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok so those kids didn't take any AP coursework and got high honors for regular or at least honors classes?
I know people from TJ (that did well and got into fancy colleges) that failed out of MIT and I know people from PG county schools that did brilliantly in engineering and went on to all honors in college. Yes some of it is about the school and the rigor but so much is about the student. Did the parents ever read what and how the students wrote while in hs? College transition is hard for a lot of people no matter how well prepared. The remedial courses seem strange. The student was admitted based on an essay presumably and then it was clear they couldn't write?

I do as well. People fail out for many reasons, not just being under prepared. I haven't asked the parents what they did or didnt do, I only know they where shocked their kids weren't prepared. To provide some context the high school is a PG county school and the college of the remedial course is Bowie State. I'm not sure what Bowie State's admission process looks like. I only know the student had to attend the Bulldog summer program and first semester was all remedial courses. The student is doing OK (i.e., surviving) but it still struggling to keep up with the demands of college level workload.

Is it bladensburg? If the school is mostly a trade school well what do u expect?

What does this even mean? Cheverly students are slated for Bladensburg. I assume many children would like to follow in the footsteps of their parents, who, in general, have advanced degrees in everything from law to STEM focuses. All students deserve good options. Too bad for them that their parents didn't move to McLean or one of the coveted Bethesda area pyramids?

[Anonymous]

I think there are some kids who will be able to come from a school that is blowing smoke academically and do very well in their chosen field. I was the above poster whose dh sent to a truly terrible high school. Majority dropped out, of what was left 110 or so students, 4 went to college. My dh went to a good university and did very well (liberal arts) and now is in biglaw. The valedictorian went in to stem field and was unprepared but persevered.

There are always a few kids like my dh who are going to do well but it doesn't mean the school is "fine" IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: I find it interesting that once I identified the county all of my harsh critics and people calling this post boring have gone silent. I wonder why. I intentionally didn't name the county because I didn't want anyone to think I was trashing an entire county's public school system. But the silence of all the other posters speaks volumes. I suspect not one of them still thinks my public school should be an option. It never fails to amaze me the type of people who are on this board.

I was a PP, and just returned to this post after an absence ... shoveling. I haven't yet gone back through to see where you identify the school, and I probably won't. But you are reading to much into what you call silence. Sometimes, silence is actually absence.

Yeah ok, keep shoveling that BS.

Wow really? You have issues. I was supportive of you in prior posts. Sheesh. Not everyone is evil.

Then common sense should have told you that YOU weren't one of the PP my comment was directed towards.
The people it was directed towards are silent for a reason and it's not because they moved on (this is DCUM no one really moves on).

Well I guess I was giving them the benefit of the doubt based on my own POV.

[Anonymous]

OP I would send your kids to private school in the situation you described. Absolutely and without hesitation.

[Anonymous]

We live in FCPS and our local elementary is also a "6". I find that the people that think the school is "fine" are those that send their kids there. I don't understand how 25- 30% of the students failing SOLs in certain subjects is "fine." Especially since they teach to the test.

OP, if you have a better way for your kids, you should take it. Do what's best for your family and don't worry about everyone else.

[Anonymous]

OP, please send your kids to private school. Just don't let it be our private. TIA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, please send your kids to private school. Just don't let it be our private. TIA!

Touché! I've read many posts on here and have said to myself I only wish I knew which school their kid was going to so I could avoid it like a plague! If the majority of the people on this board represents the typical private school parent God help us! Rude, opinionated, self-centered, selfish, entitled and all knowing sarcastic idiots; do tell, how do I avoid all of that? Perhaps starting with your private would be a good start.

[Anonymous]

OP - your two pieces of anonymous anecdotes
Presented as evidence are just not that compelling. So yes, I still think public school is just fine.

[Anonymous]

Our local elementary public school is more than just fine, its absolutely great and we're really happy we pulled our kids out of the high profile but lackadaisical private in Bethesda and put them in the local. Very happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, please send your kids to private school. Just don't let it be our private. TIA!

Touché! I've read many posts on here and have said to myself I only wish I knew which school their kid was going to so I could avoid it like a plague! If the majority of the people on this board represents the typical private school parent God help us! Rude, opinionated, self-centered, selfish, entitled and all knowing sarcastic idiots; do tell, how do I avoid all of that? Perhaps starting with your private would be a good start.

Really? Because I find the posters on the DCPS forum to be the worst of the bunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I do as well. People fail out for many reasons, not just being under prepared. I haven't asked the parents what they did or didnt do, I only know they where shocked their kids weren't prepared. To provide some context the high school is a PG county school and the college of the remedial course is Bowie State. I'm not sure what Bowie State's admission process looks like. I only know the student had to attend the Bulldog summer program and first semester was all remedial courses. The student is doing OK (i.e., surviving) but it still struggling to keep up with the demands of college level workload.

Is this a correct summary of your posts?

You know two kids who went to a public high school in Prince George's County. Their parents thought they were doing fine. They went to college and had academic problems. One of the colleges was Bowie State. Therefore, the public high school they went to is bad.

Yes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our local elementary public school is more than just fine, its absolutely great and we're really happy we pulled our kids out of the high profile but lackadaisical private in Bethesda and put them in the local. Very happy.

That's funny, we had the opposite experience in Bethesda. DC couldn't stand constant interruptions in class from other students, crazy playground, repressed Lunch period with no sitting with friends. We couldn't stand lack of focus on excellence, total lack of grammar in school program, Ps, ESs, no meaningful teacher input on report cards...Moved to a Bethesda private not known as "Best," but standards, rigor, focus on community, fun, caring values, relaxing lunch and breaks, recess multiple times...loads of teacher input, encouragement to excel and participate in contests....like night and day.

[Anonymous]

Your sample size is two. How have you controlled for other factors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our local elementary public school is more than just fine, its absolutely great and we're really happy we pulled our kids out of the high profile but lackadaisical private in Bethesda and put them in the local. Very happy.

That's funny, we had the opposite experience in Bethesda. DC couldn't stand constant interruptions in class from other students, crazy playground, repressed Lunch period with no sitting with friends. We couldn't stand lack of focus on excellence, total lack of grammar in school program, Ps, ESs, no meaningful teacher input on report cards...Moved to a Bethesda private not known as "Best," but standards, rigor, focus on community, fun, caring values, relaxing lunch and breaks, recess multiple times...loads of teacher input, encouragement to excel and participate in contests....like night and day.

Well I'm glad we're all happy, you and me both. I suspect we're not talking about the same exact public school. And we have been particularly lucky with the teachers our children have this year. Its always a case of individual factors after all.