African American parents - which schools in MoCo?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BCC or Walter Johnson Pyramid has strong, involved black families and students.

+1
These will be the two schools that I will recommend. Academics are strong and they are both diverse. I will caution sending an AA boy to any of the low performing high schools in Montgomery County because of the negative social influences at those particular schools. Leaving DC for Montgomery County only to attend a MCPS that is on the same level or in some cases worst than a DCPS will be a waste of money IMO.

However, as a UMC black parent I will choose private in this area. The public schools just do not fare well for many high achieving AA students. The public schools in the DC area have too many pitfalls. If you have the money, then go private instead. If not, then BCC and Walter Johnson will suffice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BCC or Walter Johnson Pyramid has strong, involved black families and students.

+1
These will be the two schools that I will recommend. Academics are strong and they are both diverse. I will caution sending an AA boy to any of the low performing high schools in Montgomery County because of the negative social influences at those particular schools. Leaving DC for Montgomery County only to attend a MCPS that is on the same level or in some cases worst than a DCPS will be a waste of money IMO.

However, as a UMC black parent I will choose private in this area. The public schools just do not fare well for many high achieving AA students. The public schools in the DC area have too many pitfalls. If you have the money, then go private instead. If not, then BCC and Walter Johnson will suffice.

+1. Another UMC AA family paying for private. We don't have a boy, but agree with the bolded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One pyramid to consider is the following, which we have found much more diverse than what we experienced in DCPS in 2 different schools, one of which (at the time at least) touted its diversity:

Rosemary Hills (K-2), Chevy Chase/North Chevy Chase (3-5), Silver Creek (6-8), BCC (9-12)

This is the winner. BCC HS district, preferably Silver Creek MS. Elem is eh, but hey you can’t have everything

Another great thing about this pyramid is it will also become a lot more diverse once they complete the boundary study.

Which boundary study? Silver Creek MS had a boundary study when it opened, but that was a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One pyramid to consider is the following, which we have found much more diverse than what we experienced in DCPS in 2 different schools, one of which (at the time at least) touted its diversity:

Rosemary Hills (K-2), Chevy Chase/North Chevy Chase (3-5), Silver Creek (6-8), BCC (9-12)

This is the winner. BCC HS district, preferably Silver Creek MS. Elem is eh, but hey you can’t have everything

Another great thing about this pyramid is it will also become a lot more diverse once they complete the boundary study.

Which boundary study? Silver Creek MS had a boundary study when it opened, but that was a few years ago.

+1. The only boundary study in the B-CC cluster is one upcoming for Somerset and Westbrook, and that doesn't seem relevant here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. No love for the NEC or down county schools? Having had my AA child in a wealthy cluster K-8 and a NEC school 9-12 I can tell you that so much of this starts in the home. Test scores, FARMS rate, etc. Please stop with this. My child faired extremely well after graduation. Got into some very competitive schools and UMD, which some of her cohorts we left on the wealthier district did not. Yes, we left the affluence for a wonderful diverse groups of kids from all sorts of backgrounds, income brackets, etc. and it was the best tho g we ever did for our child. That’s the real world folks.

That's why I suggested Westover. We love it there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BCC or Walter Johnson Pyramid has strong, involved black families and students.

+1
These will be the two schools that I will recommend. Academics are strong and they are both diverse. I will caution sending an AA boy to any of the low performing high schools in Montgomery County because of the negative social influences at those particular schools. Leaving DC for Montgomery County only to attend a MCPS that is on the same level or in some cases worst than a DCPS will be a waste of money IMO.

However, as a UMC black parent I will choose private in this area. The public schools just do not fare well for many high achieving AA students. The public schools in the DC area have too many pitfalls. If you have the money, then go private instead. If not, then BCC and Walter Johnson will suffice.

Now that is a waste of money.
AA in MCPS score higher in AP tests than anywhere in the nation.

[Anonymous]

Agree with not going private. Waste of money. Save it for college. I can’t tell you how many of our friends went private because of the same faulty thinking and now regret it. The Moco curriculum is the same across the board. There are “problem” kids at every school. The more affluent areas just have different problems. Don’t like gangs? Well good luck with all the under aged drinking parties with lots of drugs and plenty of sex. Good luck being a small fish in a big pond when it comes to college admissions. Brown isn’t taking but so many kids from each school and the competition is fierce. Each moco school has its cohort of smart, achieving kids. Many of my child’s friends were not the most scholarly but we set high expectations at home. Made all the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One pyramid to consider is the following, which we have found much more diverse than what we experienced in DCPS in 2 different schools, one of which (at the time at least) touted its diversity:

Rosemary Hills (K-2), Chevy Chase/North Chevy Chase (3-5), Silver Creek (6-8), BCC (9-12)

This is the winner. BCC HS district, preferably Silver Creek MS. Elem is eh, but hey you can’t have everything

Another great thing about this pyramid is it will also become a lot more diverse once they complete the boundary study.

Which boundary study? Silver Creek MS had a boundary study when it opened, but that was a few years ago.

+1. The only boundary study in the B-CC cluster is one upcoming for Somerset and Westbrook, and that doesn't seem relevant here.

There's a countywide boundary study underway and with the not so distant addition of Woodward adjacent to the north of BCC's boundary things are going to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please make sure you're getting answers from AA. Some of these suggestions are absurd.

This.

I’d try my best to get direct perspectives from recent grads/ families of recent AA male attendees to whichever school you want your kids to attend. And be very clear with your children (age appropriate) about the school choices , pros and cons.

When a kid is clear with why they are attending a school (and they buy in to the rationale) it gives them an agency to sidestep a lot of the distractions that are out of their control. AA boys tend to be the target for bias ( the whole “he’s so well behaved” to “thug” spectrum) regardless of SES of the family. I’d think deeply about how that plays out daily for my boys on a teacher to student, student to student, level. Athletics also bring another dynamic into consideration ( team culture, coaching reputation) to consider.

If I were in your shoes, assurances from non-AA families would not mean as much to me, as the lens would be limited, despite the best of intentions.

With your HHI I’d personally stay in DC and consider ST Johns, Gonzaga, Burke, Langdon, or a higher performing public/charter.

[Anonymous]

I have an AA DD who is going to a focus school and doing just fine, she has friends, is doing well academically and does after school activities she enjoys.
We are in Eastern Moco which is generally looked down upon.
I want my kid to do well but also be happy, so much stress in school these days. I would pick a neighborhood you like where most of the kids go to the local schools and move there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BCC or Walter Johnson Pyramid has strong, involved black families and students.

+1
These will be the two schools that I will recommend. Academics are strong and they are both diverse. I will caution sending an AA boy to any of the low performing high schools in Montgomery County because of the negative social influences at those particular schools. Leaving DC for Montgomery County only to attend a MCPS that is on the same level or in some cases worst than a DCPS will be a waste of money IMO.

However, as a UMC black parent I will choose private in this area. The public schools just do not fare well for many high achieving AA students. The public schools in the DC area have too many pitfalls. If you have the money, then go private instead. If not, then BCC and Walter Johnson will suffice.

Now that is a waste of money.
AA in MCPS score higher in AP tests than anywhere in the nation.

I don’t think you are looking at the whole picture of comparing AA experiences in private vs. MCPS.

We intended to do private up through 12 for our youngest. In her case, the switch to MCPS has been good academically and she has an exceptional opportunity for 9-12 because of where we live. However, socially, it has been a very mixed bag. I think being female shields her from some of the worst of it. If we had a minor son, he’d be in private.

[Anonymous]

Depending on your commute, the RM cluster could be great for you. You’ll get a far better house than you could in Bethesda/Chevy Chase/Potomac, there’s great diversity by race and wealth, and the school got high marks educationally. It’s also centrally located, and if you live within the city limits, has a nice community vibe. We pay some extra tax but get our own police, etc. And in some parts you can walk to Metro/Town Square and are right by 270.

The amazing community outreach in the search for the missing girl the other day really underscored what a great place this is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Another great thing about this pyramid is it will also become a lot more diverse once they complete the boundary study.

Which boundary study? Silver Creek MS had a boundary study when it opened, but that was a few years ago.

+1. The only boundary study in the B-CC cluster is one upcoming for Somerset and Westbrook, and that doesn't seem relevant here.

There's a countywide boundary study underway and with the not so distant addition of Woodward adjacent to the north of BCC's boundary things are going to change.

No, there isn't a countywide boundary study underway. And no, Woodward is opening for the relief of overcrowding at WJ and the DCC schools, not B-CC.

[Anonymous]

There is a new elementary school proposed to relieve overcrowding at BCC and WJ. Seems likely/possible that will feed to WJ when Woodward opens. So in a way, Woodward will help (future) overcrowding at BCC.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest looking at Twitter feeds for the schools to see what the culture is like.

Also kids, including AA kids, from WJ and BCC who are in the top ten percent of the class or higher are going to top schools, including the Ivies. They’ve earned that - those schools are tough academically and very competitive. Public school is for independent kids who have some grit and resilience. They then go on to succeed in college without much handholding.