Has anyone had a good experience with MCPS?

[Anonymous]

For all the winging on this board, MCPS is lightyears ahead of my experience with FCPS 30 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in K and I’ve been happy with MCPS so far. Teacher is well educated and energetic and incorporates aspects of evidence based learning in her classroom (lots of movement breaks, hands on learning, flexible seating options). I do wish that class sizes were smaller but my kid’s non Focus classroom is still smaller than the classroom of other kids I know who are in DCPS.

When we were in DCPS, the K class had 20 with 2 teachers. In our MCPS non-focus school we have 25 in K with 1 teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's sort of like how if someone likes a restaurant, they'll tell a couple of friends, but it they don't like it, they'll gripe to anyone who will listen.

On these threads there are people who are convinced that people won't admit they think their Silver Spring schools are horrible, because that would mean they would admit that their property values are plummeting and they made a mistake buying property in Silver Spring. Then there are the people who think you are just clueless if you like the schools, or the "Just wait until middle school, You'll see!" people.

It's kind of funny that people on these posts who say they are happy with the schools, that their children are happy and thriving, and are now successful studying at a university, must just not know any better.

I can just see their epitaph. Poor guy thought he had a great life. He just didn't know better.

life is all about getting into the best college. that is all.

except for east county where the graduation rates of blacks and hispanics is 46%. then what. ?

From some of the posts on this forum, I fear that a lot of people feel that life really is about getting into the best college.

As for the 46% graduation rate, what high school is that? Its not Sherwood, Springbrook, Blair, Northwood, Wheaton, Einstein, BCC, or JFK. Not even close. Just curious what schools you are referring to.

[Anonymous]

That Raider's fan secretary in the front office, though. Good lord, what a bitch.

[Anonymous]

When my now junior was in ES and they tracked kids and accelerated math, when they gave actual spelling quizzes and math graded math tests, had normal graded reports cards and a paragraph of comments each from each child - it was pretty nice. Many involved families, more parent volunteers, less stud3nt teacher ratios and much less ESOL, it was nice.

Now my youngest is in ES and the difference is night and day. It just sucks to put it nicely. One more year and she will be in private. All 3 ended up there and it is just a better fit. More recess, less kids per class, more thinking, less busy work, more overall responsibilities. Thank God for financial aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in K and I’ve been happy with MCPS so far. Teacher is well educated and energetic and incorporates aspects of evidence based learning in her classroom (lots of movement breaks, hands on learning, flexible seating options). I do wish that class sizes were smaller but my kid’s non Focus classroom is still smaller than the classroom of other kids I know who are in DCPS.

When we were in DCPS, the K class had 20 with 2 teachers. In our MCPS non-focus school we have 25 in K with 1 teacher.

Fairfax county has 25 kids and two teachers for K. MCPS is a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in K and I’ve been happy with MCPS so far. Teacher is well educated and energetic and incorporates aspects of evidence based learning in her classroom (lots of movement breaks, hands on learning, flexible seating options). I do wish that class sizes were smaller but my kid’s non Focus classroom is still smaller than the classroom of other kids I know who are in DCPS.

When we were in DCPS, the K class had 20 with 2 teachers. In our MCPS non-focus school we have 25 in K with 1 teacher.

Fairfax county has 25 kids and two teachers for K. MCPS is a joke.

MCPS here. My kid's K had 14 kids in class so..

[Anonymous]

When we were in DCPS, the K class had 20 with 2 teachers. In our MCPS non-focus school we have 25 in K with 1 teacher.

Our K class in MCPS had 29 kids one teacher no aide -I'm not kidding. In the high performing schools, the "cap" is often exceeded when new students enter or the enrollment is just under the cap.

DCPS allows parents to fund raise for an aide. MCPS could allow the non-focus schools to fund raise for aides as long as the ratios were not better than the non-focus schools. It doesn't. Part of ending the achievement gap for MCPS is to create whatever educational disadvantage it can in higher performing areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Our K class in MCPS had 29 kids one teacher no aide -I'm not kidding. In the high performing schools, the "cap" is often exceeded when new students enter or the enrollment is just under the cap.

DCPS allows parents to fund raise for an aide. MCPS could allow the non-focus schools to fund raise for aides as long as the ratios were not better than the non-focus schools. It doesn't. Part of ending the achievement gap for MCPS is to create whatever educational disadvantage it can in higher performing areas.

Do you know how MCPS measures the achievement gap?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

When we were in DCPS, the K class had 20 with 2 teachers. In our MCPS non-focus school we have 25 in K with 1 teacher.

Our K class in MCPS had 29 kids one teacher no aide -I'm not kidding. In the high performing schools, the "cap" is often exceeded when new students enter or the enrollment is just under the cap.

DCPS allows parents to fund raise for an aide. MCPS could allow the non-focus schools to fund raise for aides as long as the ratios were not better than the non-focus schools. It doesn't. Part of ending the achievement gap for MCPS is to create whatever educational disadvantage it can in higher performing areas.

DCPS also has dedicated aides in all classes through k. You do not need to fundraise for it, though some schools do so to get aides in older grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my now junior was in ES and they tracked kids and accelerated math, when they gave actual spelling quizzes and math graded math tests, had normal graded reports cards and a paragraph of comments each from each child - it was pretty nice. Many involved families, more parent volunteers, less stud3nt teacher ratios and much less ESOL, it was nice.

Now my youngest is in ES and the difference is night and day. It just sucks to put it nicely. One more year and she will be in private. All 3 ended up there and it is just a better fit. More recess, less kids per class, more thinking, less busy work, more overall responsibilities. Thank God for financial aid.

ugh. this has been our impression and experience as well. oldest shipping out to great college this fall, not sure what to do with 6th grader.... she is having a rough time back from HGC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in K and I’ve been happy with MCPS so far. Teacher is well educated and energetic and incorporates aspects of evidence based learning in her classroom (lots of movement breaks, hands on learning, flexible seating options). I do wish that class sizes were smaller but my kid’s non Focus classroom is still smaller than the classroom of other kids I know who are in DCPS.

When we were in DCPS, the K class had 20 with 2 teachers. In our MCPS non-focus school we have 25 in K with 1 teacher.

Fairfax county has 25 kids and two teachers for K. MCPS is a joke.

MCPS here. My kid's K had 14 kids in class so..

non focus school? non Title 1 school? Only 1 K class?

Because two or three classes of 14 wouldn't fly at ours. We have two classes at 29. K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

When we were in DCPS, the K class had 20 with 2 teachers. In our MCPS non-focus school we have 25 in K with 1 teacher.

Our K class in MCPS had 29 kids one teacher no aide -I'm not kidding. In the high performing schools, the "cap" is often exceeded when new students enter or the enrollment is just under the cap.

DCPS allows parents to fund raise for an aide. MCPS could allow the non-focus schools to fund raise for aides as long as the ratios were not better than the non-focus schools. It doesn't. Part of ending the achievement gap for MCPS is to create whatever educational disadvantage it can in higher performing areas.

I would say it definitely IGNORES higher performing schools. And it does not prioritize their need for additional teachers or physical space or budgetary resources.

Now if that can be cynically interpreted as creating edu disadvantages? I'd agree it does not teach to potential, and therefore is letting down a lot of good students. K-12 is such a great age to learn as much as possible and try new things and develop new interests and tests one's limits. That just isn't happening at MCPS non-focus schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

When we were in DCPS, the K class had 20 with 2 teachers. In our MCPS non-focus school we have 25 in K with 1 teacher.

Our K class in MCPS had 29 kids one teacher no aide -I'm not kidding. In the high performing schools, the "cap" is often exceeded when new students enter or the enrollment is just under the cap.

DCPS allows parents to fund raise for an aide. MCPS could allow the non-focus schools to fund raise for aides as long as the ratios were not better than the non-focus schools. It doesn't. Part of ending the achievement gap for MCPS is to create whatever educational disadvantage it can in higher performing areas.

I would say it definitely IGNORES higher performing schools. And it does not prioritize their need for additional teachers or physical space or budgetary resources.

Now if that can be cynically interpreted as creating edu disadvantages? I'd agree it does not teach to potential, and therefore is letting down a lot of good students. K-12 is such a great age to learn as much as possible and try new things and develop new interests and tests one's limits. That just isn't happening at MCPS non-focus schools.

It's happening at my kids' schools, which are not focus schools.

[Anonymous]

Yes! We LOVE our kids' schools in MCPS and have been very happy! Our elementary school is a gem.