This is why I moved my kid from public to private school

[Anonymous]

I'm not the woman in the article -- I'm not even in the same school district. But her story is way too much like mine, and I keep hearing it over and over again. The key thing for me: in the public school, I felt like the teachers and administrators copped an attitude of "your kid will be fine, why are you bothering me?" No one was on our side.

http://www.takoma.com/archives/copy/2009/10/schoolscene1009.html

[Anonymous]

I agree that MCPS schools can be frustrating, especially when it comes to meeting the needs of gifted kids. And even more especially in schools that are having trouble meeting NCLB targets, where all the focus is on the kids on the cusp (and helping these kids is a great thing, don't get me wrong, but the MCPS pie just isn't big enough to give slices to everybody).

However, it's possible to weather MCPS and use the money you've saved on private to provide enrichment in the form of music lessons, sports coaches, and travel to Europe. That's what we're doing, and so far we're happy with our choices. The language immersion programs will give your kids a skill that no private (except maybe WIS) can provide, then the MS and HS magnets for math & science or languages are extremely challenging.

[Anonymous]

I would look at long term data. There is nothing to show that gifted children are harmed by putting them in the same room as kids with academic difficulties in elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would look at long term data. There is nothing to show that gifted children are harmed by putting them in the same room as kids with academic difficulties in elementary school.

Except that those gifted kids tend towards becoming behavior issues or dumbing themselves down to fit the other kids in the class. Or having a kid who hates school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would look at long term data. There is nothing to show that gifted children are harmed by putting them in the same room as kids with academic difficulties in elementary school.

Actually, yes there is. Look at the hoagies gifted site for such research.

[Anonymous]

This is where Virginia schools have it all over MCPS - more access to immersion programs. Even DC has better immersion offerings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that MCPS schools can be frustrating, especially when it comes to meeting the needs of gifted kids. And even more especially in schools that are having trouble meeting NCLB targets, where all the focus is on the kids on the cusp (and helping these kids is a great thing, don't get me wrong, but the MCPS pie just isn't big enough to give slices to everybody).

However, it's possible to weather MCPS and use the money you've saved on private to provide enrichment in the form of music lessons, sports coaches, and travel to Europe. That's what we're doing, and so far we're happy with our choices. The language immersion programs will give your kids a skill that no private (except maybe WIS) can provide, then the MS and HS magnets for math & science or languages are extremely challenging.

Most interested families are not able to get into language immersion in MCPS. It's very popular and a small percentage of kids win the lotto-about 8% for the Spanish immersion, for example. I thought the magnets were lottery based admissions also. MCPS just likes to say it has these programs. It doesn't like to admit that very few kids can benefit.

[Anonymous]

Most interested families are not able to get into language immersion in MCPS. It's very popular and a small percentage of kids win the lotto-about 8% for the Spanish immersion, for example. I thought the magnets were lottery based admissions also. MCPS just likes to say it has these programs. It doesn't like to admit that very few kids can benefit.

Ditto for Virginia. At least in my (closer-in) area of Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most interested families are not able to get into language immersion in MCPS. It's very popular and a small percentage of kids win the lotto-about 8% for the Spanish immersion, for example. I thought the magnets were lottery based admissions also. MCPS just likes to say it has these programs. It doesn't like to admit that very few kids can benefit.

Ditto for Virginia. At least in my (closer-in) area of Virginia.

In Arlington, virtually anyone who wants immersion can get it. There are 2 Spanish immersion schools and the one our son attends didn't have to resort to a lottery until this year.

[Anonymous]

I'm considering moving my kid to private school before she even starts at our elementary school. On our local Mont Co elementary school's listserv, they mentioned that they'll be having the kids sign something saying they've agreed to to live healthy and drug-free lives. WTF???? DD doesn't even know what drugs are, and I would seriously hope that most kids age K-2 in the school are in the same situation. I'm starting to think that in order to keep my kid a KID for a couple more years I'll need to go private. Ugh. It should not be this hard.

[Anonymous]

Yikes, 19:32. Which moco school? We will probably do private for the same reason: helping our kid stay a kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes, 19:32. Which moco school? We will probably do private for the same reason: helping our kid stay a kid.

I'd rather not get too specific, but I will say that it's in the Whitman cluster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm considering moving my kid to private school before she even starts at our elementary school. On our local Mont Co elementary school's listserv, they mentioned that they'll be having the kids sign something saying they've agreed to to live healthy and drug-free lives. WTF???? DD doesn't even know what drugs are, and I would seriously hope that most kids age K-2 in the school are in the same situation. I'm starting to think that in order to keep my kid a KID for a couple more years I'll need to go private. Ugh. It should not be this hard.

BTW, even though I am a health nut and very anti drugs, this seems like an invasion of that free will that we all love in this country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm considering moving my kid to private school before she even starts at our elementary school. On our local Mont Co elementary school's listserv, they mentioned that they'll be having the kids sign something saying they've agreed to to live healthy and drug-free lives. WTF???? DD doesn't even know what drugs are, and I would seriously hope that most kids age K-2 in the school are in the same situation. I'm starting to think that in order to keep my kid a KID for a couple more years I'll need to go private. Ugh. It should not be this hard.

This is not true. My kids have not signed anything like this. Lots of kids in private schools take drugs too not just public school kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes, 19:32. Which moco school? We will probably do private for the same reason: helping our kid stay a kid.

Cross GDS off the list, then! Freedom from Chemical Dependency starts in 2nd grade. And "free to be" (e.g. gay) assemblies start in PreK. Everything's done at an age-appropriate level. FWIW, my DC's there and I understand and agree with the logic of framing these issues from an early age. Just saying that not all privates take the kind of approach you're looking for.