Gang Activity in Montgomery County Shcools?

[Anonymous]

I have been taking our twins to the open houses for high schools around the county. We are up-county, but they can attend DCC as they went to school in DCC already. In assessing the schools they are taking into consideration "gang activity" as being a criteria. They will not even consider Blair or Paint Branch as they say their friends have cited Gang issues at those two schools. Does anyone have any experience with these issues? I hate to take schools off the list due to gossip..thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been taking our twins to the open houses for high schools around the county. We are up-county, but they can attend DCC as they went to school in DCC already. In assessing the schools they are taking into consideration "gang activity" as being a criteria. They will not even consider Blair or Paint Branch as they say their friends have cited Gang issues at those two schools. Does anyone have any experience with these issues? I hate to take schools off the list due to gossip..thanks.

Good idea.

[Anonymous]

Do a Google search. Might give you some info. MCPD has been talking about an increase in gang activity in the county over the past decade or so. There was recently a story on ABC7 about what gangs are doing in schools to try and recruit new members. I’m sure it will come up on a Google search.

[Anonymous]

http://wjla.com/news/crime/2-men-savagely-beaten-by-ms-13-gang-in-md-park-after-being-mistaken-for-gang-members

There were some 16 year olds involved in this attack over the summer at Wheaton Park (we go there all the time because we live in the area). I’m assuming those two 16 year olds were going to High School somewhere in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

I think your daughters are reasonable to have this as a consideration. What’s more important that feeling safe at school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think your daughters are reasonable to have this as a consideration. What’s more important that feeling safe at school?

Where did OP say that OP's twins are daughters?

But, speaking of feeling safe at school, you can look at the school safety reports. They're for 2015-2016, and MCPS didn't administer the School Survey of Environment to students that year, but for parents, the percent of parents who agreed with "my child feels safe at school" was

Blair - 98%
Paint Branch - 91%
Einstein - 91%
Kennedy - 91%
Northwood - 90%
Wheaton - 91%

and for reference

Whitman - 97%
Wootton - 96%
Churchill - 95%
Walter Johnson - 97%

I doubt there's a meaningful difference between 95% and 91%. So I think your twins will be ok.

[Anonymous]

gang activity is in every single school. It isn't always a minority wearing a bandana and covered in tattoos.

The way most schools are involved is in the drug trade and violence that is rare on school grounds but involves the students. A gang will have dealers in the schools, yes every single one of them. Private and public. This is how gangs make money, the kids selling at the school level are tied to the gang that way. Again they might not look like the gang members you read about but they are out there could even be your own child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been taking our twins to the open houses for high schools around the county. We are up-county, but they can attend DCC as they went to school in DCC already. In assessing the schools they are taking into consideration "gang activity" as being a criteria. They will not even consider Blair or Paint Branch as they say their friends have cited Gang issues at those two schools. Does anyone have any experience with these issues? I hate to take schools off the list due to gossip..thanks.

Good idea.

+1

My high-performing college kids had a great experience at Blair.

I would be interested to know what facts re: gang activity OP's twins have verified.

[Anonymous]

While I think the county needs to put huge efforts behind getting rid of gangs in MoCo your daughters biggest threat is the cute, rich guy that is giving her drugs for free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:gang activity is in every single school. It isn't always a minority wearing a bandana and covered in tattoos.

The way most schools are involved is in the drug trade and violence that is rare on school grounds but involves the students. A gang will have dealers in the schools, yes every single one of them. Private and public. This is how gangs make money, the kids selling at the school level are tied to the gang that way. Again they might not look like the gang members you read about but they are out there could even be your own child.

OP, you need to understand this. They are everywhere. EVERY.SINGLE.SCHOOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I think the county needs to put huge efforts behind getting rid of gangs in MoCo your daughters biggest threat is the cute, rich guy that is giving her drugs for free.

Per a PP, that cute, rich guy is a part of the gang activity in question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think your daughters are reasonable to have this as a consideration. What’s more important that feeling safe at school?

My kid is in a choice program at a middle school. My kid knows kids whose parents refused to allow them to go to this choice program, due to gangs. My kid has not yet, as far as my kid knows, seen, been approached by, or felt threatened by gang members. Those parents' refusals open up spaces for kids whose parents don't base their decisions on gossip and fear, so that's good, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Tell them they should be more worried about drugs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell them they should be more worried about drugs.

which is driven into the schools by the gangs.

this is much bigger than a few kids saying they are a gang.

[Anonymous]

There are over 2,000 kids in most MoCo high schools, so there's going to be some element of a dangerous crowd at every one of them. Teach your kids to pick and choose their friends carefully and be willing to cut loose anyone who might cause harm to their own safety or well-being.

Frankly, unless there is some specific academic interest that isn't being met by your neighborhood high school, I can't see hauling my kids somewhere else. It's not just the drive to and from school, but all their friends live elsewhere, after school activities, sports, etc. And remember, once they get their drivers licenses, you are going to have these rookie drivers making these trips on their own for a few years.