African American parents - which schools in MoCo?

[Anonymous]

AA mom raising 2 black boys and looking to move to MoCo from DC. Which schools would other AA parents recommend? We don’t want our boys to be one of the only in their classrooms and appreciate diversity in students and staff. Also being mindful of how AA children especially boys are treated in the school system, looking for schools that will nourish our children with love and education. May be a long shot here but please share below! (Elementary - high school)

[Anonymous]

Whitman pyramid. And private tutoring.

[Anonymous]

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)

[Anonymous]

QO HS.
SVHS
Northwest HS.

[Anonymous]

What kind of students?

[Anonymous]

BCC, QO and NW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whitman pyramid. And private tutoring.

Whitman HS, with <5% black/African-American students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman pyramid. And private tutoring.

Whitman HS, with <5% black/African-American students?

DP here - don't agree with Whitman at all. Northwest would be my pick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman pyramid. And private tutoring.

Whitman HS, with <5% black/African-American students?

+1, not to mention several racist incidents directed towards black students there recently--blackface and other incidents.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/blackface-photo-posted-by-whitman-students-prompts-police-hate-bias-investigation/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AA mom raising 2 black boys and looking to move to MoCo from DC. Which schools would other AA parents recommend? We don’t want our boys to be one of the only in their classrooms and appreciate diversity in students and staff. Also being mindful of how AA children especially boys are treated in the school system, looking for schools that will nourish our children with love and education. May be a long shot here but please share below! (Elementary - high school)

There are many good options, but a lot will depend on your budget and your commute. How much do you want to spend/where will you be working?

[Anonymous]

This is purely anecdotal, but after having spent years in MCPS, and talking to my friends and acquaintances who all have their kids in different MCPS schools than my kids, I have found an interesting thing: it seems to me that AA children have a better experience as minorities in wealthier schools than as the plurality in more average schools. This is because the area is progressive and wealthy/prominent progressives have a stake in at least appearing to defend minorities - and to be honest, most are perfectly sincere in that belief! You can take advantage of that.

Allow me to explain: Whitman HS in Bethesda, the whitest, wealthiest and most high-scoring high school in MCPS, dealt with racist issues last year, the most egregious of which was the case of a white student who was caught with a photo of herself in blackface with the n-word. There was an uproar, and AA parents at the school immediately worked with the administration to engage the community in race conversations. I went to one presentation, and the AA parent and Principal who spoke were both very impressive in their delivery and choice of plans going forward. I felt their voices were heard. MCPS has a team dedicated to facilitating such discussions, but I forget their name. They were also present at the meeting.

On the other hand, most students at the diverse Sligo MS in Silver Spring feel the need to group themselves according to skin color, and my friend's daughter felt excluded from her white friends' group because she was not white. Race is such a constant factor there that the administration doesn't even get involved. I'm not sure that a blackface photo would generate the amount of angst and public debate that it triggered at Whitman. It just seems to be a fact of life there.

I may be viewing this completely wrong, of course. Perhaps your children would prefer to not stand out as one of the very few AA students. I understand that.

In addition, MCPS schools are not created equal in the sense that they do not control the class atmosphere and whether students are more academically motivated or not. This depends entirely on the neighborhood, and not to put too fine a point on it, on the wealth/education of the parents, since these families will be able to emphasize college readiness and support it with tutors or whatever is needed. Education begins at home, so there is no reason that a child cannot be successful in a lower-income school, however they will have to expend some energy in avoiding students who are not college-bound. Wheaton and some Silver Spring schools have gang issues. There are drugs everywhere, of course. But wealthier high schools will have more students who have the means to succeed despite temptations, than the other high schools, and children always benefit from being part of a strong cohort. I am talking about high schools, because ultimately you are choosing a school pyramid and investing in a neighborhood, even if your children are very young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I am talking about high schools, because ultimately you are choosing a school pyramid and investing in a neighborhood, even if your children are very young.

Snipping this out, because no, you're not. You're buying into a neighborhood. You are not buying into a school.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/government/proposed-legislation-would-ban-marketing-homes-based-on-school-assignment/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AA mom raising 2 black boys and looking to move to MoCo from DC. Which schools would other AA parents recommend? We don’t want our boys to be one of the only in their classrooms and appreciate diversity in students and staff. Also being mindful of how AA children especially boys are treated in the school system, looking for schools that will nourish our children with love and education. May be a long shot here but please share below! (Elementary - high school)

Are you single or married? I am an AA teacher and you will need to think about the social components of well-regarded schools. Many times some families do not invite children who have single parents on play dates or outside of school social activities because they worry that single parents are not responsible. Just as you wouldn't invite parents of children who are really young, immature, undisciplined, etc. I would also suggest ensuring that you do not attend a high ESOL school population as your children's needs will not be met.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This is purely anecdotal, but after having spent years in MCPS, and talking to my friends and acquaintances who all have their kids in different MCPS schools than my kids, I have found an interesting thing: it seems to me that AA children have a better experience as minorities in wealthier schools than as the plurality in more average schools. This is because the area is progressive and wealthy/prominent progressives have a stake in at least appearing to defend minorities - and to be honest, most are perfectly sincere in that belief! You can take advantage of that.

Allow me to explain: Whitman HS in Bethesda, the whitest, wealthiest and most high-scoring high school in MCPS, dealt with racist issues last year, the most egregious of which was the case of a white student who was caught with a photo of herself in blackface with the n-word. There was an uproar, and AA parents at the school immediately worked with the administration to engage the community in race conversations. I went to one presentation, and the AA parent and Principal who spoke were both very impressive in their delivery and choice of plans going forward. I felt their voices were heard. MCPS has a team dedicated to facilitating such discussions, but I forget their name. They were also present at the meeting.

On the other hand, most students at the diverse Sligo MS in Silver Spring feel the need to group themselves according to skin color, and my friend's daughter felt excluded from her white friends' group because she was not white. Race is such a constant factor there that the administration doesn't even get involved. I'm not sure that a blackface photo would generate the amount of angst and public debate that it triggered at Whitman. It just seems to be a fact of life there.

I may be viewing this completely wrong, of course. Perhaps your children would prefer to not stand out as one of the very few AA students. I understand that.

In addition, MCPS schools are not created equal in the sense that they do not control the class atmosphere and whether students are more academically motivated or not. This depends entirely on the neighborhood, and not to put too fine a point on it, on the wealth/education of the parents, since these families will be able to emphasize college readiness and support it with tutors or whatever is needed. Education begins at home, so there is no reason that a child cannot be successful in a lower-income school, however they will have to expend some energy in avoiding students who are not college-bound. Wheaton and some Silver Spring schools have gang issues. There are drugs everywhere, of course. But wealthier high schools will have more students who have the means to succeed despite temptations, than the other high schools, and children always benefit from being part of a strong cohort. I am talking about high schools, because ultimately you are choosing a school pyramid and investing in a neighborhood, even if your children are very young.

I actually would agree with this. I’m not White (but not AA) and have personally had the experience of being at a totally White school and then later at a very diverse school. This would absolutely be my experience.

OP, MCPS is very diverse in general. Find the community and neighborhood that feels most comfortable to you and go from there.

[Anonymous]

QO
BCC
Richard Montgomery