DCPS vs. MoCo Downcounty

[Anonymous]

I posted this on one of the schools boards, but got no response. I know the answer would vary depending on what specific schools we're talking about, but what are people's general feelings about the quality of education these two systems have to offer? I'm not terribly concerned about elementary school, because I feel like whatever our elementary school lacks, we can make up for at home (so long as it's safe and reasonably good). But what about middle/high school options? Do you think the downcounty consortium outshines the best of DCPS at this level, or is it about even?

[Anonymous]

sorry, new the area. what does downcounty refer to?

[Anonymous]

Duh, yes. The facilities, quality of teachers, abundance and quality of programs (i.e. IB) are all superior in MoCo in the BCC/Whitman cluster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duh, yes. The facilities, quality of teachers, abundance and quality of programs (i.e. IB) are all superior in MoCo in the BCC/Whitman cluster.

I think the OP is talking about the Downcounty area of Mo Co, which includes Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Wheaton and some of Kensington. How good the schools for older kids are in this area has been a great unaswered question on DCUM and one I'm pondering myself.

My sense is that the quality of education is still better in the lesser-performing Mo Co schools than DC. A number of high schools have the IB program, funding is better, and I think the administration is better as well. Still, many of these schools face high poverty rates, higher violence than schools in more well-off clusters, etc. At the same time, there are great neighborhoods and more affordable housing prices (because of the questionable schools).

[Anonymous]

My impression is that Wilson is comparable to the downcounty high schools, for kids in an academy program or taking AP courses.
The hierarchy might be:
BCC/Whitman and other "W's"/magnet programs within MCPS
Wilson if in the right classes
MCPS downcounty consortium
Wilson in regular classes
other DCPS high schools

Caveat: this is based on reports from friends, not my personal experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duh, yes. The facilities, quality of teachers, abundance and quality of programs (i.e. IB) are all superior in MoCo in the BCC/Whitman cluster.

Thanks for your "insight," but I'm specifically referring to the schools that are in the Downcounty Consortium - which are in Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Wheaton and part of Kensington. The BCC/Whitman cluster is separate from Downcounty.

[Anonymous]

I live in down county and the schools here basically suck. They really do. They are crowded filled with kids from upcounty (whose parents work nearby and snuck in) and kids from DC who have also snuck in. I hear DC is great in some areas like Murch Elementary and Wilson High. In fact, I hear lots of great things. Very family oriented area and neighborly.

[Anonymous]

wow, i'm really surprised that one of the best school system in the country is compared to one of the worth. as ms. ree (sp?) already made such a difference. i'm just really honestly surprised.

[Anonymous]

Well, the "worst" parts of the one of the "best" school systems is hard to compared with the "best" parts of one of the "worst" systems. I think this is why the OP is not getting many responses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, the "worst" parts of the one of the "best" school systems is hard to compared with the "best" parts of one of the "worst" systems. I think this is why the OP is not getting many responses.

OP here. PP has exactly captured my dilemma. We might be able to move into a part of DC that would allow our kids to attend some of the "best" DCPS, or we can stay in downcounty MoCo (Blair would be the high school). Having trouble figuring out if it would be a wash, or if one option is overall better than the other.

[Anonymous]

I thought Blair was supposed to be pretty good?

Are there other reasons that you want to move?

[Anonymous]

While Blair is huge, it is a great school.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I thought Blair was pretty good too, until I became a frequent reader of DCUM, lol. There are other reasons I'd like to move, but there are also reasons I'd like to stay put. However, the schools are probably the deciding factor in the decision - we are not going to move if we feel we would be moving to worse schools, as going private is not really an option. I know with schools you really have to "take it to the streets" and talk to the parents/students that are in the system/school you're looking for info on, but just wanted to see if there was a clear opinion as to quality between these systems. As in how there is a clear opinion that the schools in public schools in Bethesda are better than either DCPS or downcounty MoCo.

[Anonymous]

Isn't Blair a magnet? Go if you can. Wilson is the only DC HS I'd even consider, and I think Blair is probably a better choice than Wilson.

[Anonymous]

OP, don't know about the MoCo schools but DCPS has a couple of other magnet high schools in addition to the magnet programs within Wilson -- School without Walls, Banneker, and if your child is devoted to an art, Ellington. Plus some folks on DCUM talk about Washington Latin as a good charter.

Middle school has fewer options but my kid did okay at Hardy and some folks like Deal and again there are other charter options out there.

The big thing in DC is whether you are the assertive type who can be an advocate for your kid. Also, if there is the right school for your kid and they can get into that school. Additionally things will probably change by the time your dc is in high school. There's a move to renovate and restructure Eastern High over in Capitol Hill.

As I've always said, there's lots of school choice in DC but there is little school "guarantee." You have to have the right personality to take it on but there are opportunities out there!

Sorry I can't help with MoCo info.