fairness of allowing change of school assignment to overcrowded MCPS

[Anonymous]

I was recently at a neighborhood party for new kindergartners in our MCPS elementary school. I met a mother who said that she didn't actually live in our neighborhood but actually lives in the next neighborhood over (very close) and is assigned to a different elementary school. She said that her child was going to school at our school b/c they had been granted a change of school assignment. I find the whole thing perplexing b/c we have one of the largest, most overcrowded elementary schools in all of Mont. County. Why would they allow someone to transfer in for no apparent good reason as far as I could tell. The school the child is assigned to is not overcrowded but it does not have quite as good a reputation.

It seems unfair to me to burden our school further and I wonder what goes into making these decisions.

[Anonymous]

Did the mother tell you WHY they were granted an transfer? If you don't know, then why are you speculating like this?? I'm sure the school system had a reason for doing it. Mind your own damn business.

[Anonymous]

Children who attend underperforming schools can get a waiver to change to a high performing school. I can't remember the details, but certain schools are designated to take the kids from the underperforming schools. Like it or not, it's allowed. And, good for that mom for getting her child into what she believes is a better place for her child.

[Anonymous]

It's my business because my child goes to the largest most overcrowded school in MCPS. So I am just trying to undestand how the decision is made. FWIW, both schools are Title I schools in the Downcounty consortium and they are not far apart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did the mother tell you WHY they were granted an transfer? If you don't know, then why are you speculating like this?? I'm sure the school system had a reason for doing it. Mind your own damn business.

She didn't tell me why. I am not speculating, actually.

[Anonymous]

People on these boards are so nice, aren't they? I hope all their children grow up to be as civil and diplomatic as they are.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it seems that "mind your own damn business" is a cop-out response when the person supposedly intruding actually is affected so it is their business...

[Anonymous]

There are reasons why they will grant a change of school. For example, if her aftercare is near your elementary school they may grant her a change of schools.

[Anonymous]

It is not your business because she lives in Montgomery County, too. And, since you are clearly the type to blab her business, it is probably best she keeps her own counsel.

Yeah, there are people who abuse the schools and fake their way into some crowded schools. This neighbor of yours followed proper channels and was given the rights she's entitled to as a county resident.

[Anonymous]

It is not your business because she lives in Montgomery County, too. And, since you are clearly the type to blab her business, it is probably best she keeps her own counsel.

Yeah, there are people who abuse the schools and fake their way into some crowded schools. This neighbor of yours followed proper channels and was given the rights she's entitled to as a county resident.

This doesn't make sense. First, I have only told this story to an anonymous board and haven't blabbed it to anyone. Not a soul other than my husband who also hasn't told anyone. Second, I would not care AT ALL except that our elementary school has 800 kids and is designed for 450. So yes, I am curious as to why the school allows people to transfer in when they are zoned for a school that is not overcrowded.

If the people who are being so rude are being rude because their own kids were granted a change of school assignment, I would love to know the reasons why a change of school assignment would be granted.

The real problem is that Mont. Co. has such an overcrowded school.

[Anonymous]

It is acutally quite interesting to see the available spots on the MCPS website that are available at the more modernized schools. They are building for growth, so it makes sense.

Has anyone tried to apply out of boundary from their neighborhood school to one that is more modernized and shows open spots?
For instance Somerset, online, shows they have plenty of growth room.
And once Caderock Springs opens, one would assume they have open spots for out of boundary children.

[Anonymous]

PP poster here - I am in Westbrook and would much prefer Wood Acres for the facilities, eventhough its larger. Once you've toured outside your homeschool, you start to see the physical and aesthetic differences.

[Anonymous]

My kid is still not school age, but I can tell you this. We live only a few blocks from an excellent school, and montgomery county has arbitrarily selected to bus kids on our street and a few of the surrounding streets out of the neighborhood to an underperforming school in a poor neighborhood in the name of diversity. And that may not be fair either, right? If it were your child, you would try to make sure that the county's agenda didn't interfere with your child's ability to get a decent education, wouldn't you? I suspect the woman you encountered faced such a dilemma, and if the consequence involves overcrowding at the higher achieving school, maybe it will start to affect enough parents that attention gets paid to the fact that the schools need improving and that we all own the problem, not just the kids who live on the other side of the street who had the misfortune of being assigned to the underperforming school. Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is still not school age, but I can tell you this. We live only a few blocks from an excellent school, and montgomery county has arbitrarily selected to bus kids on our street and a few of the surrounding streets out of the neighborhood to an underperforming school in a poor neighborhood in the name of diversity.

I thought there was a court ruling that pretty much spelled the end for school busing for school integration purposes so I am surprised to hear this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is still not school age, but I can tell you this. We live only a few blocks from an excellent school, and montgomery county has arbitrarily selected to bus kids on our street and a few of the surrounding streets out of the neighborhood to an underperforming school in a poor neighborhood in the name of diversity. And that may not be fair either, right? If it were your child, you would try to make sure that the county's agenda didn't interfere with your child's ability to get a decent education, wouldn't you? I suspect the woman you encountered faced such a dilemma, and if the consequence involves overcrowding at the higher achieving school, maybe it will start to affect enough parents that attention gets paid to the fact that the schools need improving and that we all own the problem, not just the kids who live on the other side of the street who had the misfortune of being assigned to the underperforming school. Just a thought.

OP here- I agree that this isn't fair. I also think that it isn't fair that some parts of the county have better schools than other parts of the county. And, as I said before, it isn't fair that some schools are as overcrowded as ours. I guess I am just trying to understand why kids are allowed to transfer in and further overcrowd the school.