I fear for the future of Einstein.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwood is a better performing arts program and that’s why they are getting the criteria program. Einstein has a better visual arts program. Both schools will keep local programs too. I don’t know why this is so complicated for Einstein parents except they are have prejudice against other schools which makes no sense because Einstein is no blue ribbon school either.

Does Northwood split Guitar 1 and Guitar institute separate classes (same question for piano)? If not, I’m not at all impressed. Einstein also combines these courses and it’s painful for experienced students. Especially if you’re coming from a MS where you already took guitar and piano or have private lessons.

Does Northwood have 2 curricular jazz bands? Does their marching band do community parades? How many students from Northwood end up in All State and Honors ensembles?

Einstein only has two where as other schools have more. Einstein marching band doesn’t compete. The teacher at Einstein runs all state so they take their students. I wouldn’t look at that as criteria. I’d look at how many students participate in other competitive groups. Very few at both schools.

I'd like to weigh in here as a music parent, even though I don't have kids in any of the schools mentioned. My kids are now 20 and 15.

For music, you need years of private lessons with a great teacher to get into All-State regularly and do well in similar or higher level auditions or regional or international competitions. The caliber of the public school program doesn't matter at all. It's negligible.

My youngest kid was at Westland MS, which has a jazz band, and three orchestras, and sends students to junior All-State regularly: the level of the highest musical ensembles was not comparable to what my kid was doing in her private music lessons and private youth orchestra (MCYO). Now she's at BCC HS, and again, even though there's a nice jazz department, and multiple orchestras and bands and whatnots (it's a reputable program, as public schools go)... the level of the top philharmonic orchestra, which my kid is in, is not comparable to the music she does outside of school. All these school ensembles win top prizes at national events *for public schools* in Chicago or Nashville or New York every year. But compared to the real stuff that goes in the world of music, the public school music level is abysmal. There's no other word. We love all the teachers, they're great! But they're dealing with kids who don't have private lessons, or who don't have many years of private lessons. They're limited in what they can do. It's not their fault. The level of a public school music program is never going to impress a college admissions officer.

The kids who are going to Senior All-State didn't get there because of their public schools. They are required to sign up for music class in public school to be *eligible* for All-State. This is how public schools retain talent to boost music programs. Talent that is built on years of private lessons paid for by parents.

I want to explain this so that you stop wringing your hands and comparing two public school music programs. The differences between them are NEGLIGIBLE. Truly.

I cannot comment about other art forms, but in general academics are what's most important when choosing a school. This is really what's going to matter in life: developing critical thinking skills, that are mostly taught through higher-level math and analytical reading and writing. The arts enhance critical understanding and cultural development, but if the core academics aren't there... they cannot replace them.

Please focus on your kids' academics. And I say this as a parent whose kids spent years in music and really loved it. One of my kids started their instrument at 3 and did two private lessons every week, year round, won international competitions and performed solo at Carnegie Hall. Math and writing are still more important.

What an unhelpful comment. "if you are wealthy like me, you can put you children into even BETTER programs beyond what is available MCPS! Who cares about those poor, public schools!" Study math, it's important.

This is not useful to most people. Everyone is already focusing on" your kids academics". We know that math is important. That is not the point of all of this. The point is that schools that have interesting and successful program are being destroyed. No one is mentioning this, but the IB program--a rigorous, internationally-recognized curriculum) at Einstein is also being dismantled. Why?

Kids at Einstein want to study math but they have to go outside Einstein to other schools to do anything beyond BC. MCPS is not offering anything more than what is already there. Not all kids want IB. Poll the students and ask them what they want.

How many kids leave Einstein for higher level math than BC? I have a kid at Einstein and am not aware of any, so am curious how big a problem this is.

+1. There's one poster here who is obsessed with MVC not being at Einstein and posts about it over and over.

Whenever you read “Einstein doesn’t offer enough math to graduate” remember that it is that single MVC poster who can’t bear for their child to take some simpler math class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwood is a better performing arts program and that’s why they are getting the criteria program. Einstein has a better visual arts program. Both schools will keep local programs too. I don’t know why this is so complicated for Einstein parents except they are have prejudice against other schools which makes no sense because Einstein is no blue ribbon school either.

Does Northwood split Guitar 1 and Guitar institute separate classes (same question for piano)? If not, I’m not at all impressed. Einstein also combines these courses and it’s painful for experienced students. Especially if you’re coming from a MS where you already took guitar and piano or have private lessons.

Does Northwood have 2 curricular jazz bands? Does their marching band do community parades? How many students from Northwood end up in All State and Honors ensembles?

Einstein only has two where as other schools have more. Einstein marching band doesn’t compete. The teacher at Einstein runs all state so they take their students. I wouldn’t look at that as criteria. I’d look at how many students participate in other competitive groups. Very few at both schools.

I'd like to weigh in here as a music parent, even though I don't have kids in any of the schools mentioned. My kids are now 20 and 15.

For music, you need years of private lessons with a great teacher to get into All-State regularly and do well in similar or higher level auditions or regional or international competitions. The caliber of the public school program doesn't matter at all. It's negligible.

My youngest kid was at Westland MS, which has a jazz band, and three orchestras, and sends students to junior All-State regularly: the level of the highest musical ensembles was not comparable to what my kid was doing in her private music lessons and private youth orchestra (MCYO). Now she's at BCC HS, and again, even though there's a nice jazz department, and multiple orchestras and bands and whatnots (it's a reputable program, as public schools go)... the level of the top philharmonic orchestra, which my kid is in, is not comparable to the music she does outside of school. All these school ensembles win top prizes at national events *for public schools* in Chicago or Nashville or New York every year. But compared to the real stuff that goes in the world of music, the public school music level is abysmal. There's no other word. We love all the teachers, they're great! But they're dealing with kids who don't have private lessons, or who don't have many years of private lessons. They're limited in what they can do. It's not their fault. The level of a public school music program is never going to impress a college admissions officer.

The kids who are going to Senior All-State didn't get there because of their public schools. They are required to sign up for music class in public school to be *eligible* for All-State. This is how public schools retain talent to boost music programs. Talent that is built on years of private lessons paid for by parents.

I want to explain this so that you stop wringing your hands and comparing two public school music programs. The differences between them are NEGLIGIBLE. Truly.

I cannot comment about other art forms, but in general academics are what's most important when choosing a school. This is really what's going to matter in life: developing critical thinking skills, that are mostly taught through higher-level math and analytical reading and writing. The arts enhance critical understanding and cultural development, but if the core academics aren't there... they cannot replace them.

Please focus on your kids' academics. And I say this as a parent whose kids spent years in music and really loved it. One of my kids started their instrument at 3 and did two private lessons every week, year round, won international competitions and performed solo at Carnegie Hall. Math and writing are still more important.

What an unhelpful comment. "if you are wealthy like me, you can put you children into even BETTER programs beyond what is available MCPS! Who cares about those poor, public schools!" Study math, it's important.

This is not useful to most people. Everyone is already focusing on" your kids academics". We know that math is important. That is not the point of all of this. The point is that schools that have interesting and successful program are being destroyed. No one is mentioning this, but the IB program--a rigorous, internationally-recognized curriculum) at Einstein is also being dismantled. Why?

Kids at Einstein want to study math but they have to go outside Einstein to other schools to do anything beyond BC. MCPS is not offering anything more than what is already there. Not all kids want IB. Poll the students and ask them what they want.

How many kids leave Einstein for higher level math than BC? I have a kid at Einstein and am not aware of any, so am curious how big a problem this is.

+1. There's one poster here who is obsessed with MVC not being at Einstein and posts about it over and over.

Why shouldn’t Einstein and the other schools have the same access to upper level math, science and other stem? Why should it only be at the wealthier schools?

They should all have access to high level courses. Can we stop with the wealthier schools trope, though? All schools should have the typical progression of challenging courses. But most kids in most schools are not on a trajectory for MVC.

But, they don’t and that’s the point. And, this new plan only has advanced classes at specific schools so it’s separate and unequal at its finest.

No, it’s not being stupid and allocating scarce and finite resources to an edge case. It’s about a critical mass of demand being met with an appropriate allocation of resources. Does that mean some DD may, gasp, have to be mildly inconvenienced or unable to take certain math courses a few levels above what is generally considered an appropriate high school course offering? Well, yes, it does. If you disagree, move to a place offering what you want.

It's easy to say that when your kids have access to the classes they need to graduate and be successful, but what if they didn't? We aren't moving and shouldn't have to move to get what your kids get. By the time I spend $200-300K, I will choose private, which is what we will do. We like our home and community. We don't to be in a community like yours that self-segregates and looks down on others.

If you would really spend $200-300K on private so your kid has higher level courses like MVC then you aren’t very good at math. That’s a terrible return on investment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwood is a better performing arts program and that’s why they are getting the criteria program. Einstein has a better visual arts program. Both schools will keep local programs too. I don’t know why this is so complicated for Einstein parents except they are have prejudice against other schools which makes no sense because Einstein is no blue ribbon school either.

Does Northwood split Guitar 1 and Guitar institute separate classes (same question for piano)? If not, I’m not at all impressed. Einstein also combines these courses and it’s painful for experienced students. Especially if you’re coming from a MS where you already took guitar and piano or have private lessons.

Does Northwood have 2 curricular jazz bands? Does their marching band do community parades? How many students from Northwood end up in All State and Honors ensembles?

Einstein only has two where as other schools have more. Einstein marching band doesn’t compete. The teacher at Einstein runs all state so they take their students. I wouldn’t look at that as criteria. I’d look at how many students participate in other competitive groups. Very few at both schools.

I'd like to weigh in here as a music parent, even though I don't have kids in any of the schools mentioned. My kids are now 20 and 15.

For music, you need years of private lessons with a great teacher to get into All-State regularly and do well in similar or higher level auditions or regional or international competitions. The caliber of the public school program doesn't matter at all. It's negligible.

My youngest kid was at Westland MS, which has a jazz band, and three orchestras, and sends students to junior All-State regularly: the level of the highest musical ensembles was not comparable to what my kid was doing in her private music lessons and private youth orchestra (MCYO). Now she's at BCC HS, and again, even though there's a nice jazz department, and multiple orchestras and bands and whatnots (it's a reputable program, as public schools go)... the level of the top philharmonic orchestra, which my kid is in, is not comparable to the music she does outside of school. All these school ensembles win top prizes at national events *for public schools* in Chicago or Nashville or New York every year. But compared to the real stuff that goes in the world of music, the public school music level is abysmal. There's no other word. We love all the teachers, they're great! But they're dealing with kids who don't have private lessons, or who don't have many years of private lessons. They're limited in what they can do. It's not their fault. The level of a public school music program is never going to impress a college admissions officer.

The kids who are going to Senior All-State didn't get there because of their public schools. They are required to sign up for music class in public school to be *eligible* for All-State. This is how public schools retain talent to boost music programs. Talent that is built on years of private lessons paid for by parents.

I want to explain this so that you stop wringing your hands and comparing two public school music programs. The differences between them are NEGLIGIBLE. Truly.

I cannot comment about other art forms, but in general academics are what's most important when choosing a school. This is really what's going to matter in life: developing critical thinking skills, that are mostly taught through higher-level math and analytical reading and writing. The arts enhance critical understanding and cultural development, but if the core academics aren't there... they cannot replace them.

Please focus on your kids' academics. And I say this as a parent whose kids spent years in music and really loved it. One of my kids started their instrument at 3 and did two private lessons every week, year round, won international competitions and performed solo at Carnegie Hall. Math and writing are still more important.

What an unhelpful comment. "if you are wealthy like me, you can put you children into even BETTER programs beyond what is available MCPS! Who cares about those poor, public schools!" Study math, it's important.

This is not useful to most people. Everyone is already focusing on" your kids academics". We know that math is important. That is not the point of all of this. The point is that schools that have interesting and successful program are being destroyed. No one is mentioning this, but the IB program--a rigorous, internationally-recognized curriculum) at Einstein is also being dismantled. Why?

Kids at Einstein want to study math but they have to go outside Einstein to other schools to do anything beyond BC. MCPS is not offering anything more than what is already there. Not all kids want IB. Poll the students and ask them what they want.

How many kids leave Einstein for higher level math than BC? I have a kid at Einstein and am not aware of any, so am curious how big a problem this is.

+1. There's one poster here who is obsessed with MVC not being at Einstein and posts about it over and over.

Whenever you read “Einstein doesn’t offer enough math to graduate” remember that it is that single MVC poster who can’t bear for their child to take some simpler math class.

If your kids don't have to take simplier math classes, why should mine and the point is they did the simplier math classes and ready for more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwood is a better performing arts program and that’s why they are getting the criteria program. Einstein has a better visual arts program. Both schools will keep local programs too. I don’t know why this is so complicated for Einstein parents except they are have prejudice against other schools which makes no sense because Einstein is no blue ribbon school either.

Does Northwood split Guitar 1 and Guitar institute separate classes (same question for piano)? If not, I’m not at all impressed. Einstein also combines these courses and it’s painful for experienced students. Especially if you’re coming from a MS where you already took guitar and piano or have private lessons.

Does Northwood have 2 curricular jazz bands? Does their marching band do community parades? How many students from Northwood end up in All State and Honors ensembles?

Einstein only has two where as other schools have more. Einstein marching band doesn’t compete. The teacher at Einstein runs all state so they take their students. I wouldn’t look at that as criteria. I’d look at how many students participate in other competitive groups. Very few at both schools.

I'd like to weigh in here as a music parent, even though I don't have kids in any of the schools mentioned. My kids are now 20 and 15.

For music, you need years of private lessons with a great teacher to get into All-State regularly and do well in similar or higher level auditions or regional or international competitions. The caliber of the public school program doesn't matter at all. It's negligible.

My youngest kid was at Westland MS, which has a jazz band, and three orchestras, and sends students to junior All-State regularly: the level of the highest musical ensembles was not comparable to what my kid was doing in her private music lessons and private youth orchestra (MCYO). Now she's at BCC HS, and again, even though there's a nice jazz department, and multiple orchestras and bands and whatnots (it's a reputable program, as public schools go)... the level of the top philharmonic orchestra, which my kid is in, is not comparable to the music she does outside of school. All these school ensembles win top prizes at national events *for public schools* in Chicago or Nashville or New York every year. But compared to the real stuff that goes in the world of music, the public school music level is abysmal. There's no other word. We love all the teachers, they're great! But they're dealing with kids who don't have private lessons, or who don't have many years of private lessons. They're limited in what they can do. It's not their fault. The level of a public school music program is never going to impress a college admissions officer.

The kids who are going to Senior All-State didn't get there because of their public schools. They are required to sign up for music class in public school to be *eligible* for All-State. This is how public schools retain talent to boost music programs. Talent that is built on years of private lessons paid for by parents.

I want to explain this so that you stop wringing your hands and comparing two public school music programs. The differences between them are NEGLIGIBLE. Truly.

I cannot comment about other art forms, but in general academics are what's most important when choosing a school. This is really what's going to matter in life: developing critical thinking skills, that are mostly taught through higher-level math and analytical reading and writing. The arts enhance critical understanding and cultural development, but if the core academics aren't there... they cannot replace them.

Please focus on your kids' academics. And I say this as a parent whose kids spent years in music and really loved it. One of my kids started their instrument at 3 and did two private lessons every week, year round, won international competitions and performed solo at Carnegie Hall. Math and writing are still more important.

What an unhelpful comment. "if you are wealthy like me, you can put you children into even BETTER programs beyond what is available MCPS! Who cares about those poor, public schools!" Study math, it's important.

This is not useful to most people. Everyone is already focusing on" your kids academics". We know that math is important. That is not the point of all of this. The point is that schools that have interesting and successful program are being destroyed. No one is mentioning this, but the IB program--a rigorous, internationally-recognized curriculum) at Einstein is also being dismantled. Why?

Kids at Einstein want to study math but they have to go outside Einstein to other schools to do anything beyond BC. MCPS is not offering anything more than what is already there. Not all kids want IB. Poll the students and ask them what they want.

How many kids leave Einstein for higher level math than BC? I have a kid at Einstein and am not aware of any, so am curious how big a problem this is.

+1. There's one poster here who is obsessed with MVC not being at Einstein and posts about it over and over.

Why shouldn’t Einstein and the other schools have the same access to upper level math, science and other stem? Why should it only be at the wealthier schools?

They should all have access to high level courses. Can we stop with the wealthier schools trope, though? All schools should have the typical progression of challenging courses. But most kids in most schools are not on a trajectory for MVC.

But, they don’t and that’s the point. And, this new plan only has advanced classes at specific schools so it’s separate and unequal at its finest.

No, it’s not being stupid and allocating scarce and finite resources to an edge case. It’s about a critical mass of demand being met with an appropriate allocation of resources. Does that mean some DD may, gasp, have to be mildly inconvenienced or unable to take certain math courses a few levels above what is generally considered an appropriate high school course offering? Well, yes, it does. If you disagree, move to a place offering what you want.

It's easy to say that when your kids have access to the classes they need to graduate and be successful, but what if they didn't? We aren't moving and shouldn't have to move to get what your kids get. By the time I spend $200-300K, I will choose private, which is what we will do. We like our home and community. We don't to be in a community like yours that self-segregates and looks down on others.

If you would really spend $200-300K on private so your kid has higher level courses like MVC then you aren’t very good at math. That’s a terrible return on investment.

You are bad at math. It would cost us $200-400K or more plus moving expenses to sell our house and move.. cheaper and easier to go private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwood is a better performing arts program and that’s why they are getting the criteria program. Einstein has a better visual arts program. Both schools will keep local programs too. I don’t know why this is so complicated for Einstein parents except they are have prejudice against other schools which makes no sense because Einstein is no blue ribbon school either.

Does Northwood split Guitar 1 and Guitar institute separate classes (same question for piano)? If not, I’m not at all impressed. Einstein also combines these courses and it’s painful for experienced students. Especially if you’re coming from a MS where you already took guitar and piano or have private lessons.

Does Northwood have 2 curricular jazz bands? Does their marching band do community parades? How many students from Northwood end up in All State and Honors ensembles?

Einstein only has two where as other schools have more. Einstein marching band doesn’t compete. The teacher at Einstein runs all state so they take their students. I wouldn’t look at that as criteria. I’d look at how many students participate in other competitive groups. Very few at both schools.

I'd like to weigh in here as a music parent, even though I don't have kids in any of the schools mentioned. My kids are now 20 and 15.

For music, you need years of private lessons with a great teacher to get into All-State regularly and do well in similar or higher level auditions or regional or international competitions. The caliber of the public school program doesn't matter at all. It's negligible.

My youngest kid was at Westland MS, which has a jazz band, and three orchestras, and sends students to junior All-State regularly: the level of the highest musical ensembles was not comparable to what my kid was doing in her private music lessons and private youth orchestra (MCYO). Now she's at BCC HS, and again, even though there's a nice jazz department, and multiple orchestras and bands and whatnots (it's a reputable program, as public schools go)... the level of the top philharmonic orchestra, which my kid is in, is not comparable to the music she does outside of school. All these school ensembles win top prizes at national events *for public schools* in Chicago or Nashville or New York every year. But compared to the real stuff that goes in the world of music, the public school music level is abysmal. There's no other word. We love all the teachers, they're great! But they're dealing with kids who don't have private lessons, or who don't have many years of private lessons. They're limited in what they can do. It's not their fault. The level of a public school music program is never going to impress a college admissions officer.

The kids who are going to Senior All-State didn't get there because of their public schools. They are required to sign up for music class in public school to be *eligible* for All-State. This is how public schools retain talent to boost music programs. Talent that is built on years of private lessons paid for by parents.

I want to explain this so that you stop wringing your hands and comparing two public school music programs. The differences between them are NEGLIGIBLE. Truly.

I cannot comment about other art forms, but in general academics are what's most important when choosing a school. This is really what's going to matter in life: developing critical thinking skills, that are mostly taught through higher-level math and analytical reading and writing. The arts enhance critical understanding and cultural development, but if the core academics aren't there... they cannot replace them.

Please focus on your kids' academics. And I say this as a parent whose kids spent years in music and really loved it. One of my kids started their instrument at 3 and did two private lessons every week, year round, won international competitions and performed solo at Carnegie Hall. Math and writing are still more important.

What an unhelpful comment. "if you are wealthy like me, you can put you children into even BETTER programs beyond what is available MCPS! Who cares about those poor, public schools!" Study math, it's important.

This is not useful to most people. Everyone is already focusing on" your kids academics". We know that math is important. That is not the point of all of this. The point is that schools that have interesting and successful program are being destroyed. No one is mentioning this, but the IB program--a rigorous, internationally-recognized curriculum) at Einstein is also being dismantled. Why?

Kids at Einstein want to study math but they have to go outside Einstein to other schools to do anything beyond BC. MCPS is not offering anything more than what is already there. Not all kids want IB. Poll the students and ask them what they want.

How many kids leave Einstein for higher level math than BC? I have a kid at Einstein and am not aware of any, so am curious how big a problem this is.

+1. There's one poster here who is obsessed with MVC not being at Einstein and posts about it over and over.

Whenever you read “Einstein doesn’t offer enough math to graduate” remember that it is that single MVC poster who can’t bear for their child to take some simpler math class.

If your kids don't have to take simplier math classes, why should mine and the point is they did the simplier math classes and ready for more.

The point is that you are disingenuous about the state of your school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwood is a better performing arts program and that’s why they are getting the criteria program. Einstein has a better visual arts program. Both schools will keep local programs too. I don’t know why this is so complicated for Einstein parents except they are have prejudice against other schools which makes no sense because Einstein is no blue ribbon school either.

Does Northwood split Guitar 1 and Guitar institute separate classes (same question for piano)? If not, I’m not at all impressed. Einstein also combines these courses and it’s painful for experienced students. Especially if you’re coming from a MS where you already took guitar and piano or have private lessons.

Does Northwood have 2 curricular jazz bands? Does their marching band do community parades? How many students from Northwood end up in All State and Honors ensembles?

Einstein only has two where as other schools have more. Einstein marching band doesn’t compete. The teacher at Einstein runs all state so they take their students. I wouldn’t look at that as criteria. I’d look at how many students participate in other competitive groups. Very few at both schools.

I'd like to weigh in here as a music parent, even though I don't have kids in any of the schools mentioned. My kids are now 20 and 15.

For music, you need years of private lessons with a great teacher to get into All-State regularly and do well in similar or higher level auditions or regional or international competitions. The caliber of the public school program doesn't matter at all. It's negligible.

My youngest kid was at Westland MS, which has a jazz band, and three orchestras, and sends students to junior All-State regularly: the level of the highest musical ensembles was not comparable to what my kid was doing in her private music lessons and private youth orchestra (MCYO). Now she's at BCC HS, and again, even though there's a nice jazz department, and multiple orchestras and bands and whatnots (it's a reputable program, as public schools go)... the level of the top philharmonic orchestra, which my kid is in, is not comparable to the music she does outside of school. All these school ensembles win top prizes at national events *for public schools* in Chicago or Nashville or New York every year. But compared to the real stuff that goes in the world of music, the public school music level is abysmal. There's no other word. We love all the teachers, they're great! But they're dealing with kids who don't have private lessons, or who don't have many years of private lessons. They're limited in what they can do. It's not their fault. The level of a public school music program is never going to impress a college admissions officer.

The kids who are going to Senior All-State didn't get there because of their public schools. They are required to sign up for music class in public school to be *eligible* for All-State. This is how public schools retain talent to boost music programs. Talent that is built on years of private lessons paid for by parents.

I want to explain this so that you stop wringing your hands and comparing two public school music programs. The differences between them are NEGLIGIBLE. Truly.

I cannot comment about other art forms, but in general academics are what's most important when choosing a school. This is really what's going to matter in life: developing critical thinking skills, that are mostly taught through higher-level math and analytical reading and writing. The arts enhance critical understanding and cultural development, but if the core academics aren't there... they cannot replace them.

Please focus on your kids' academics. And I say this as a parent whose kids spent years in music and really loved it. One of my kids started their instrument at 3 and did two private lessons every week, year round, won international competitions and performed solo at Carnegie Hall. Math and writing are still more important.

What an unhelpful comment. "if you are wealthy like me, you can put you children into even BETTER programs beyond what is available MCPS! Who cares about those poor, public schools!" Study math, it's important.

This is not useful to most people. Everyone is already focusing on" your kids academics". We know that math is important. That is not the point of all of this. The point is that schools that have interesting and successful program are being destroyed. No one is mentioning this, but the IB program--a rigorous, internationally-recognized curriculum) at Einstein is also being dismantled. Why?

Kids at Einstein want to study math but they have to go outside Einstein to other schools to do anything beyond BC. MCPS is not offering anything more than what is already there. Not all kids want IB. Poll the students and ask them what they want.

How many kids leave Einstein for higher level math than BC? I have a kid at Einstein and am not aware of any, so am curious how big a problem this is.

+1. There's one poster here who is obsessed with MVC not being at Einstein and posts about it over and over.

Whenever you read “Einstein doesn’t offer enough math to graduate” remember that it is that single MVC poster who can’t bear for their child to take some simpler math class.

If your kids don't have to take simplier math classes, why should mine and the point is they did the simplier math classes and ready for more.

The point is that you are disingenuous about the state of your school.

Not at all. I think it's a great school but it doesn't have the courses required to meet graduation requirements. It's disingenuous to criticize someone for wanting the same things at their school that your school has. Your child can take MVC, but either you will not let them or they don't want to. You have yet to come up with a good alternative class. Let's hear it. It's unfortunate you hold your kids back academically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwood is a better performing arts program and that’s why they are getting the criteria program. Einstein has a better visual arts program. Both schools will keep local programs too. I don’t know why this is so complicated for Einstein parents except they are have prejudice against other schools which makes no sense because Einstein is no blue ribbon school either.

Does Northwood split Guitar 1 and Guitar institute separate classes (same question for piano)? If not, I’m not at all impressed. Einstein also combines these courses and it’s painful for experienced students. Especially if you’re coming from a MS where you already took guitar and piano or have private lessons.

Does Northwood have 2 curricular jazz bands? Does their marching band do community parades? How many students from Northwood end up in All State and Honors ensembles?

Einstein only has two where as other schools have more. Einstein marching band doesn’t compete. The teacher at Einstein runs all state so they take their students. I wouldn’t look at that as criteria. I’d look at how many students participate in other competitive groups. Very few at both schools.

I'd like to weigh in here as a music parent, even though I don't have kids in any of the schools mentioned. My kids are now 20 and 15.

For music, you need years of private lessons with a great teacher to get into All-State regularly and do well in similar or higher level auditions or regional or international competitions. The caliber of the public school program doesn't matter at all. It's negligible.

My youngest kid was at Westland MS, which has a jazz band, and three orchestras, and sends students to junior All-State regularly: the level of the highest musical ensembles was not comparable to what my kid was doing in her private music lessons and private youth orchestra (MCYO). Now she's at BCC HS, and again, even though there's a nice jazz department, and multiple orchestras and bands and whatnots (it's a reputable program, as public schools go)... the level of the top philharmonic orchestra, which my kid is in, is not comparable to the music she does outside of school. All these school ensembles win top prizes at national events *for public schools* in Chicago or Nashville or New York every year. But compared to the real stuff that goes in the world of music, the public school music level is abysmal. There's no other word. We love all the teachers, they're great! But they're dealing with kids who don't have private lessons, or who don't have many years of private lessons. They're limited in what they can do. It's not their fault. The level of a public school music program is never going to impress a college admissions officer.

The kids who are going to Senior All-State didn't get there because of their public schools. They are required to sign up for music class in public school to be *eligible* for All-State. This is how public schools retain talent to boost music programs. Talent that is built on years of private lessons paid for by parents.

I want to explain this so that you stop wringing your hands and comparing two public school music programs. The differences between them are NEGLIGIBLE. Truly.

I cannot comment about other art forms, but in general academics are what's most important when choosing a school. This is really what's going to matter in life: developing critical thinking skills, that are mostly taught through higher-level math and analytical reading and writing. The arts enhance critical understanding and cultural development, but if the core academics aren't there... they cannot replace them.

Please focus on your kids' academics. And I say this as a parent whose kids spent years in music and really loved it. One of my kids started their instrument at 3 and did two private lessons every week, year round, won international competitions and performed solo at Carnegie Hall. Math and writing are still more important.

What an unhelpful comment. "if you are wealthy like me, you can put you children into even BETTER programs beyond what is available MCPS! Who cares about those poor, public schools!" Study math, it's important.

This is not useful to most people. Everyone is already focusing on" your kids academics". We know that math is important. That is not the point of all of this. The point is that schools that have interesting and successful program are being destroyed. No one is mentioning this, but the IB program--a rigorous, internationally-recognized curriculum) at Einstein is also being dismantled. Why?

Kids at Einstein want to study math but they have to go outside Einstein to other schools to do anything beyond BC. MCPS is not offering anything more than what is already there. Not all kids want IB. Poll the students and ask them what they want.

How many kids leave Einstein for higher level math than BC? I have a kid at Einstein and am not aware of any, so am curious how big a problem this is.

+1. There's one poster here who is obsessed with MVC not being at Einstein and posts about it over and over.

Whenever you read “Einstein doesn’t offer enough math to graduate” remember that it is that single MVC poster who can’t bear for their child to take some simpler math class.

Hundreds of kids graduate from Einstein every year. Either they have access to four years of math or Einstein is committing the greatest fraud in academic history and should be studied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwood is a better performing arts program and that’s why they are getting the criteria program. Einstein has a better visual arts program. Both schools will keep local programs too. I don’t know why this is so complicated for Einstein parents except they are have prejudice against other schools which makes no sense because Einstein is no blue ribbon school either.

Does Northwood split Guitar 1 and Guitar institute separate classes (same question for piano)? If not, I’m not at all impressed. Einstein also combines these courses and it’s painful for experienced students. Especially if you’re coming from a MS where you already took guitar and piano or have private lessons.

Does Northwood have 2 curricular jazz bands? Does their marching band do community parades? How many students from Northwood end up in All State and Honors ensembles?

Einstein only has two where as other schools have more. Einstein marching band doesn’t compete. The teacher at Einstein runs all state so they take their students. I wouldn’t look at that as criteria. I’d look at how many students participate in other competitive groups. Very few at both schools.

I'd like to weigh in here as a music parent, even though I don't have kids in any of the schools mentioned. My kids are now 20 and 15.

For music, you need years of private lessons with a great teacher to get into All-State regularly and do well in similar or higher level auditions or regional or international competitions. The caliber of the public school program doesn't matter at all. It's negligible.

My youngest kid was at Westland MS, which has a jazz band, and three orchestras, and sends students to junior All-State regularly: the level of the highest musical ensembles was not comparable to what my kid was doing in her private music lessons and private youth orchestra (MCYO). Now she's at BCC HS, and again, even though there's a nice jazz department, and multiple orchestras and bands and whatnots (it's a reputable program, as public schools go)... the level of the top philharmonic orchestra, which my kid is in, is not comparable to the music she does outside of school. All these school ensembles win top prizes at national events *for public schools* in Chicago or Nashville or New York every year. But compared to the real stuff that goes in the world of music, the public school music level is abysmal. There's no other word. We love all the teachers, they're great! But they're dealing with kids who don't have private lessons, or who don't have many years of private lessons. They're limited in what they can do. It's not their fault. The level of a public school music program is never going to impress a college admissions officer.

The kids who are going to Senior All-State didn't get there because of their public schools. They are required to sign up for music class in public school to be *eligible* for All-State. This is how public schools retain talent to boost music programs. Talent that is built on years of private lessons paid for by parents.

I want to explain this so that you stop wringing your hands and comparing two public school music programs. The differences between them are NEGLIGIBLE. Truly.

I cannot comment about other art forms, but in general academics are what's most important when choosing a school. This is really what's going to matter in life: developing critical thinking skills, that are mostly taught through higher-level math and analytical reading and writing. The arts enhance critical understanding and cultural development, but if the core academics aren't there... they cannot replace them.

Please focus on your kids' academics. And I say this as a parent whose kids spent years in music and really loved it. One of my kids started their instrument at 3 and did two private lessons every week, year round, won international competitions and performed solo at Carnegie Hall. Math and writing are still more important.

What an unhelpful comment. "if you are wealthy like me, you can put you children into even BETTER programs beyond what is available MCPS! Who cares about those poor, public schools!" Study math, it's important.

This is not useful to most people. Everyone is already focusing on" your kids academics". We know that math is important. That is not the point of all of this. The point is that schools that have interesting and successful program are being destroyed. No one is mentioning this, but the IB program--a rigorous, internationally-recognized curriculum) at Einstein is also being dismantled. Why?

Kids at Einstein want to study math but they have to go outside Einstein to other schools to do anything beyond BC. MCPS is not offering anything more than what is already there. Not all kids want IB. Poll the students and ask them what they want.

How many kids leave Einstein for higher level math than BC? I have a kid at Einstein and am not aware of any, so am curious how big a problem this is.

+1. There's one poster here who is obsessed with MVC not being at Einstein and posts about it over and over.

Whenever you read “Einstein doesn’t offer enough math to graduate” remember that it is that single MVC poster who can’t bear for their child to take some simpler math class.

If your kids don't have to take simplier math classes, why should mine and the point is they did the simplier math classes and ready for more.

The point is that you are disingenuous about the state of your school.

Not at all. I think it's a great school but it doesn't have the courses required to meet graduation requirements. It's disingenuous to criticize someone for wanting the same things at their school that your school has. Your child can take MVC, but either you will not let them or they don't want to. You have yet to come up with a good alternative class. Let's hear it. It's unfortunate you hold your kids back academically.

MVC is not required to meet graduation requirements. Stop repeating this misinformation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwood is a better performing arts program and that’s why they are getting the criteria program. Einstein has a better visual arts program. Both schools will keep local programs too. I don’t know why this is so complicated for Einstein parents except they are have prejudice against other schools which makes no sense because Einstein is no blue ribbon school either.

Does Northwood split Guitar 1 and Guitar institute separate classes (same question for piano)? If not, I’m not at all impressed. Einstein also combines these courses and it’s painful for experienced students. Especially if you’re coming from a MS where you already took guitar and piano or have private lessons.

Does Northwood have 2 curricular jazz bands? Does their marching band do community parades? How many students from Northwood end up in All State and Honors ensembles?

Einstein only has two where as other schools have more. Einstein marching band doesn’t compete. The teacher at Einstein runs all state so they take their students. I wouldn’t look at that as criteria. I’d look at how many students participate in other competitive groups. Very few at both schools.

I'd like to weigh in here as a music parent, even though I don't have kids in any of the schools mentioned. My kids are now 20 and 15.

For music, you need years of private lessons with a great teacher to get into All-State regularly and do well in similar or higher level auditions or regional or international competitions. The caliber of the public school program doesn't matter at all. It's negligible.

My youngest kid was at Westland MS, which has a jazz band, and three orchestras, and sends students to junior All-State regularly: the level of the highest musical ensembles was not comparable to what my kid was doing in her private music lessons and private youth orchestra (MCYO). Now she's at BCC HS, and again, even though there's a nice jazz department, and multiple orchestras and bands and whatnots (it's a reputable program, as public schools go)... the level of the top philharmonic orchestra, which my kid is in, is not comparable to the music she does outside of school. All these school ensembles win top prizes at national events *for public schools* in Chicago or Nashville or New York every year. But compared to the real stuff that goes in the world of music, the public school music level is abysmal. There's no other word. We love all the teachers, they're great! But they're dealing with kids who don't have private lessons, or who don't have many years of private lessons. They're limited in what they can do. It's not their fault. The level of a public school music program is never going to impress a college admissions officer.

The kids who are going to Senior All-State didn't get there because of their public schools. They are required to sign up for music class in public school to be *eligible* for All-State. This is how public schools retain talent to boost music programs. Talent that is built on years of private lessons paid for by parents.

I want to explain this so that you stop wringing your hands and comparing two public school music programs. The differences between them are NEGLIGIBLE. Truly.

I cannot comment about other art forms, but in general academics are what's most important when choosing a school. This is really what's going to matter in life: developing critical thinking skills, that are mostly taught through higher-level math and analytical reading and writing. The arts enhance critical understanding and cultural development, but if the core academics aren't there... they cannot replace them.

Please focus on your kids' academics. And I say this as a parent whose kids spent years in music and really loved it. One of my kids started their instrument at 3 and did two private lessons every week, year round, won international competitions and performed solo at Carnegie Hall. Math and writing are still more important.

What an unhelpful comment. "if you are wealthy like me, you can put you children into even BETTER programs beyond what is available MCPS! Who cares about those poor, public schools!" Study math, it's important.

This is not useful to most people. Everyone is already focusing on" your kids academics". We know that math is important. That is not the point of all of this. The point is that schools that have interesting and successful program are being destroyed. No one is mentioning this, but the IB program--a rigorous, internationally-recognized curriculum) at Einstein is also being dismantled. Why?

Kids at Einstein want to study math but they have to go outside Einstein to other schools to do anything beyond BC. MCPS is not offering anything more than what is already there. Not all kids want IB. Poll the students and ask them what they want.

How many kids leave Einstein for higher level math than BC? I have a kid at Einstein and am not aware of any, so am curious how big a problem this is.

+1. There's one poster here who is obsessed with MVC not being at Einstein and posts about it over and over.

Whenever you read “Einstein doesn’t offer enough math to graduate” remember that it is that single MVC poster who can’t bear for their child to take some simpler math class.

Yes, that is probably the most irritating person on this entire forum, because she just cannot stop bringing it up over and over and over again in any thread that is even the tiniest bit related, as maybe the 400th time she says it to random parents here the class will magically materialize.

How old is your kid, Einstein MVC poster? Just wondering how many years until we are all finally done with this.

[Anonymous]

I'm not the MVC poster but the point Iran's MVc. The point is MCPS investing enough in ALL the schools and being able to offer rigorous courses to kids who want and need them so they don't need to go to a "good school". They should be able to go to their home school and get and equivalent educational opportunity anywhere in the county!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the MVC poster but the point Iran's MVc. The point is MCPS investing enough in ALL the schools and being able to offer rigorous courses to kids who want and need them so they don't need to go to a "good school". They should be able to go to their home school and get and equivalent educational opportunity anywhere in the county!

I do not disagree that it's a good point. But the frequency with which that poster brings it up (and her deceptive language claiming that kids can't meet the math graduation requirements at Einstein, which can actively confuse people who don't know who she is and what she's really saying, as if taking Calc AB and/or AP Stats is somehow impossible rather than just not ideal and, yes, not equitable) is incredibly frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwood is a better performing arts program and that’s why they are getting the criteria program. Einstein has a better visual arts program. Both schools will keep local programs too. I don’t know why this is so complicated for Einstein parents except they are have prejudice against other schools which makes no sense because Einstein is no blue ribbon school either.

Does Northwood split Guitar 1 and Guitar institute separate classes (same question for piano)? If not, I’m not at all impressed. Einstein also combines these courses and it’s painful for experienced students. Especially if you’re coming from a MS where you already took guitar and piano or have private lessons.

Does Northwood have 2 curricular jazz bands? Does their marching band do community parades? How many students from Northwood end up in All State and Honors ensembles?

Einstein only has two where as other schools have more. Einstein marching band doesn’t compete. The teacher at Einstein runs all state so they take their students. I wouldn’t look at that as criteria. I’d look at how many students participate in other competitive groups. Very few at both schools.

I'd like to weigh in here as a music parent, even though I don't have kids in any of the schools mentioned. My kids are now 20 and 15.

For music, you need years of private lessons with a great teacher to get into All-State regularly and do well in similar or higher level auditions or regional or international competitions. The caliber of the public school program doesn't matter at all. It's negligible.

My youngest kid was at Westland MS, which has a jazz band, and three orchestras, and sends students to junior All-State regularly: the level of the highest musical ensembles was not comparable to what my kid was doing in her private music lessons and private youth orchestra (MCYO). Now she's at BCC HS, and again, even though there's a nice jazz department, and multiple orchestras and bands and whatnots (it's a reputable program, as public schools go)... the level of the top philharmonic orchestra, which my kid is in, is not comparable to the music she does outside of school. All these school ensembles win top prizes at national events *for public schools* in Chicago or Nashville or New York every year. But compared to the real stuff that goes in the world of music, the public school music level is abysmal. There's no other word. We love all the teachers, they're great! But they're dealing with kids who don't have private lessons, or who don't have many years of private lessons. They're limited in what they can do. It's not their fault. The level of a public school music program is never going to impress a college admissions officer.

The kids who are going to Senior All-State didn't get there because of their public schools. They are required to sign up for music class in public school to be *eligible* for All-State. This is how public schools retain talent to boost music programs. Talent that is built on years of private lessons paid for by parents.

I want to explain this so that you stop wringing your hands and comparing two public school music programs. The differences between them are NEGLIGIBLE. Truly.

I cannot comment about other art forms, but in general academics are what's most important when choosing a school. This is really what's going to matter in life: developing critical thinking skills, that are mostly taught through higher-level math and analytical reading and writing. The arts enhance critical understanding and cultural development, but if the core academics aren't there... they cannot replace them.

Please focus on your kids' academics. And I say this as a parent whose kids spent years in music and really loved it. One of my kids started their instrument at 3 and did two private lessons every week, year round, won international competitions and performed solo at Carnegie Hall. Math and writing are still more important.

What an unhelpful comment. "if you are wealthy like me, you can put you children into even BETTER programs beyond what is available MCPS! Who cares about those poor, public schools!" Study math, it's important.

This is not useful to most people. Everyone is already focusing on" your kids academics". We know that math is important. That is not the point of all of this. The point is that schools that have interesting and successful program are being destroyed. No one is mentioning this, but the IB program--a rigorous, internationally-recognized curriculum) at Einstein is also being dismantled. Why?

Kids at Einstein want to study math but they have to go outside Einstein to other schools to do anything beyond BC. MCPS is not offering anything more than what is already there. Not all kids want IB. Poll the students and ask them what they want.

How many kids leave Einstein for higher level math than BC? I have a kid at Einstein and am not aware of any, so am curious how big a problem this is.

+1. There's one poster here who is obsessed with MVC not being at Einstein and posts about it over and over.

Why shouldn’t Einstein and the other schools have the same access to upper level math, science and other stem? Why should it only be at the wealthier schools?

They should all have access to high level courses. Can we stop with the wealthier schools trope, though? All schools should have the typical progression of challenging courses. But most kids in most schools are not on a trajectory for MVC.

But, they don’t and that’s the point. And, this new plan only has advanced classes at specific schools so it’s separate and unequal at its finest.

No, it’s not being stupid and allocating scarce and finite resources to an edge case. It’s about a critical mass of demand being met with an appropriate allocation of resources. Does that mean some DD may, gasp, have to be mildly inconvenienced or unable to take certain math courses a few levels above what is generally considered an appropriate high school course offering? Well, yes, it does. If you disagree, move to a place offering what you want.

It's easy to say that when your kids have access to the classes they need to graduate and be successful, but what if they didn't? We aren't moving and shouldn't have to move to get what your kids get. By the time I spend $200-300K, I will choose private, which is what we will do. We like our home and community. We don't to be in a community like yours that self-segregates and looks down on others.

If you would really spend $200-300K on private so your kid has higher level courses like MVC then you aren’t very good at math. That’s a terrible return on investment.

You are bad at math. It would cost us $200-400K or more plus moving expenses to sell our house and move.. cheaper and easier to go private.

The point is paying that kind of money for one class that very few people take in high school is a terrible financial decision. You will never get that kind of value out of it and colleges are already aware of what high schools don’t offer it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwood is a better performing arts program and that’s why they are getting the criteria program. Einstein has a better visual arts program. Both schools will keep local programs too. I don’t know why this is so complicated for Einstein parents except they are have prejudice against other schools which makes no sense because Einstein is no blue ribbon school either.

Does Northwood split Guitar 1 and Guitar institute separate classes (same question for piano)? If not, I’m not at all impressed. Einstein also combines these courses and it’s painful for experienced students. Especially if you’re coming from a MS where you already took guitar and piano or have private lessons.

Does Northwood have 2 curricular jazz bands? Does their marching band do community parades? How many students from Northwood end up in All State and Honors ensembles?

Einstein only has two where as other schools have more. Einstein marching band doesn’t compete. The teacher at Einstein runs all state so they take their students. I wouldn’t look at that as criteria. I’d look at how many students participate in other competitive groups. Very few at both schools.

I'd like to weigh in here as a music parent, even though I don't have kids in any of the schools mentioned. My kids are now 20 and 15.

For music, you need years of private lessons with a great teacher to get into All-State regularly and do well in similar or higher level auditions or regional or international competitions. The caliber of the public school program doesn't matter at all. It's negligible.

My youngest kid was at Westland MS, which has a jazz band, and three orchestras, and sends students to junior All-State regularly: the level of the highest musical ensembles was not comparable to what my kid was doing in her private music lessons and private youth orchestra (MCYO). Now she's at BCC HS, and again, even though there's a nice jazz department, and multiple orchestras and bands and whatnots (it's a reputable program, as public schools go)... the level of the top philharmonic orchestra, which my kid is in, is not comparable to the music she does outside of school. All these school ensembles win top prizes at national events *for public schools* in Chicago or Nashville or New York every year. But compared to the real stuff that goes in the world of music, the public school music level is abysmal. There's no other word. We love all the teachers, they're great! But they're dealing with kids who don't have private lessons, or who don't have many years of private lessons. They're limited in what they can do. It's not their fault. The level of a public school music program is never going to impress a college admissions officer.

The kids who are going to Senior All-State didn't get there because of their public schools. They are required to sign up for music class in public school to be *eligible* for All-State. This is how public schools retain talent to boost music programs. Talent that is built on years of private lessons paid for by parents.

I want to explain this so that you stop wringing your hands and comparing two public school music programs. The differences between them are NEGLIGIBLE. Truly.

I cannot comment about other art forms, but in general academics are what's most important when choosing a school. This is really what's going to matter in life: developing critical thinking skills, that are mostly taught through higher-level math and analytical reading and writing. The arts enhance critical understanding and cultural development, but if the core academics aren't there... they cannot replace them.

Please focus on your kids' academics. And I say this as a parent whose kids spent years in music and really loved it. One of my kids started their instrument at 3 and did two private lessons every week, year round, won international competitions and performed solo at Carnegie Hall. Math and writing are still more important.

What an unhelpful comment. "if you are wealthy like me, you can put you children into even BETTER programs beyond what is available MCPS! Who cares about those poor, public schools!" Study math, it's important.

This is not useful to most people. Everyone is already focusing on" your kids academics". We know that math is important. That is not the point of all of this. The point is that schools that have interesting and successful program are being destroyed. No one is mentioning this, but the IB program--a rigorous, internationally-recognized curriculum) at Einstein is also being dismantled. Why?

Kids at Einstein want to study math but they have to go outside Einstein to other schools to do anything beyond BC. MCPS is not offering anything more than what is already there. Not all kids want IB. Poll the students and ask them what they want.

How many kids leave Einstein for higher level math than BC? I have a kid at Einstein and am not aware of any, so am curious how big a problem this is.

+1. There's one poster here who is obsessed with MVC not being at Einstein and posts about it over and over.

Whenever you read “Einstein doesn’t offer enough math to graduate” remember that it is that single MVC poster who can’t bear for their child to take some simpler math class.

Hundreds of kids graduate from Einstein every year. Either they have access to four years of math or Einstein is committing the greatest fraud in academic history and should be studied.

You still are not anwsering the question. The more academic kids don't go to Einstein due to the course offerings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwood is a better performing arts program and that’s why they are getting the criteria program. Einstein has a better visual arts program. Both schools will keep local programs too. I don’t know why this is so complicated for Einstein parents except they are have prejudice against other schools which makes no sense because Einstein is no blue ribbon school either.

Does Northwood split Guitar 1 and Guitar institute separate classes (same question for piano)? If not, I’m not at all impressed. Einstein also combines these courses and it’s painful for experienced students. Especially if you’re coming from a MS where you already took guitar and piano or have private lessons.

Does Northwood have 2 curricular jazz bands? Does their marching band do community parades? How many students from Northwood end up in All State and Honors ensembles?

Einstein only has two where as other schools have more. Einstein marching band doesn’t compete. The teacher at Einstein runs all state so they take their students. I wouldn’t look at that as criteria. I’d look at how many students participate in other competitive groups. Very few at both schools.

I'd like to weigh in here as a music parent, even though I don't have kids in any of the schools mentioned. My kids are now 20 and 15.

For music, you need years of private lessons with a great teacher to get into All-State regularly and do well in similar or higher level auditions or regional or international competitions. The caliber of the public school program doesn't matter at all. It's negligible.

My youngest kid was at Westland MS, which has a jazz band, and three orchestras, and sends students to junior All-State regularly: the level of the highest musical ensembles was not comparable to what my kid was doing in her private music lessons and private youth orchestra (MCYO). Now she's at BCC HS, and again, even though there's a nice jazz department, and multiple orchestras and bands and whatnots (it's a reputable program, as public schools go)... the level of the top philharmonic orchestra, which my kid is in, is not comparable to the music she does outside of school. All these school ensembles win top prizes at national events *for public schools* in Chicago or Nashville or New York every year. But compared to the real stuff that goes in the world of music, the public school music level is abysmal. There's no other word. We love all the teachers, they're great! But they're dealing with kids who don't have private lessons, or who don't have many years of private lessons. They're limited in what they can do. It's not their fault. The level of a public school music program is never going to impress a college admissions officer.

The kids who are going to Senior All-State didn't get there because of their public schools. They are required to sign up for music class in public school to be *eligible* for All-State. This is how public schools retain talent to boost music programs. Talent that is built on years of private lessons paid for by parents.

I want to explain this so that you stop wringing your hands and comparing two public school music programs. The differences between them are NEGLIGIBLE. Truly.

I cannot comment about other art forms, but in general academics are what's most important when choosing a school. This is really what's going to matter in life: developing critical thinking skills, that are mostly taught through higher-level math and analytical reading and writing. The arts enhance critical understanding and cultural development, but if the core academics aren't there... they cannot replace them.

Please focus on your kids' academics. And I say this as a parent whose kids spent years in music and really loved it. One of my kids started their instrument at 3 and did two private lessons every week, year round, won international competitions and performed solo at Carnegie Hall. Math and writing are still more important.

What an unhelpful comment. "if you are wealthy like me, you can put you children into even BETTER programs beyond what is available MCPS! Who cares about those poor, public schools!" Study math, it's important.

This is not useful to most people. Everyone is already focusing on" your kids academics". We know that math is important. That is not the point of all of this. The point is that schools that have interesting and successful program are being destroyed. No one is mentioning this, but the IB program--a rigorous, internationally-recognized curriculum) at Einstein is also being dismantled. Why?

Kids at Einstein want to study math but they have to go outside Einstein to other schools to do anything beyond BC. MCPS is not offering anything more than what is already there. Not all kids want IB. Poll the students and ask them what they want.

How many kids leave Einstein for higher level math than BC? I have a kid at Einstein and am not aware of any, so am curious how big a problem this is.

+1. There's one poster here who is obsessed with MVC not being at Einstein and posts about it over and over.

Why shouldn’t Einstein and the other schools have the same access to upper level math, science and other stem? Why should it only be at the wealthier schools?

They should all have access to high level courses. Can we stop with the wealthier schools trope, though? All schools should have the typical progression of challenging courses. But most kids in most schools are not on a trajectory for MVC.

But, they don’t and that’s the point. And, this new plan only has advanced classes at specific schools so it’s separate and unequal at its finest.

No, it’s not being stupid and allocating scarce and finite resources to an edge case. It’s about a critical mass of demand being met with an appropriate allocation of resources. Does that mean some DD may, gasp, have to be mildly inconvenienced or unable to take certain math courses a few levels above what is generally considered an appropriate high school course offering? Well, yes, it does. If you disagree, move to a place offering what you want.

It's easy to say that when your kids have access to the classes they need to graduate and be successful, but what if they didn't? We aren't moving and shouldn't have to move to get what your kids get. By the time I spend $200-300K, I will choose private, which is what we will do. We like our home and community. We don't to be in a community like yours that self-segregates and looks down on others.

If you would really spend $200-300K on private so your kid has higher level courses like MVC then you aren’t very good at math. That’s a terrible return on investment.

You are bad at math. It would cost us $200-400K or more plus moving expenses to sell our house and move.. cheaper and easier to go private.

The point is paying that kind of money for one class that very few people take in high school is a terrible financial decision. You will never get that kind of value out of it and colleges are already aware of what high schools don’t offer it.

Not if I have a math child and math is important to them. Value is subjective. If something is important to your kids, don't you find a way to make it happen? It's not about college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the MVC poster but the point Iran's MVc. The point is MCPS investing enough in ALL the schools and being able to offer rigorous courses to kids who want and need them so they don't need to go to a "good school". They should be able to go to their home school and get and equivalent educational opportunity anywhere in the county!

I do not disagree that it's a good point. But the frequency with which that poster brings it up (and her deceptive language claiming that kids can't meet the math graduation requirements at Einstein, which can actively confuse people who don't know who she is and what she's really saying, as if taking Calc AB and/or AP Stats is somehow impossible rather than just not ideal and, yes, not equitable) is incredibly frustrating.

You don't need to take AB, and you are still missing a year of math. How can you not understand the math courses? Kid will take Calc BC and Statistics but that still leaves a year of math missing.