no trolling - comparing MoCo vs WOTP DCPS schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the Janney parent above and there is zero formal differentiation at Janney. My kids did (and do) well with no effort and always get 5's on the PARCC. When we asked about more, it was suggested that they join the lunch time math club. My neighbor's kid is a true prodigy (doing math 5 grades up, etc). The parents had many meetings and were also provided with nothing except for suggestions about the math club and for a few weeks one year their kids was given extra work-sheets. They were far more frustrated than we were because they have a kid who truly needs differentiation and was bored out of his mind (but well behaved because he's a quiet kid) and the school provided nothing year after year. This school is 100% in the business of teaching AT GRADE LEVEL and providing a ton of support for kids who are behind. But zero, nothing for kids who are ahead, even many years ahead.

Maybe it's different across the park where the array of ability is much wider. At a school like Janney, I'd guess you have 75% of kids functioning very easily at grade level. 20% who lag behind in some way and 5% who are ahead.

Murch differentiates and it isn't a PTA thing, and teachers have professional development on how to do it well. It is school driven coming from the top, not from the PTA.

Janney apparently doesn't. I've been told by teachers there (and a few parents who switched schools and were shocked at the difference) that Janney is all about the PARCC and teaching to the test, so teaching ahead doesn't help them (and may hurt). But they do get the good test scores out of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the Janney parent above and there is zero formal differentiation at Janney. My kids did (and do) well with no effort and always get 5's on the PARCC. When we asked about more, it was suggested that they join the lunch time math club. My neighbor's kid is a true prodigy (doing math 5 grades up, etc). The parents had many meetings and were also provided with nothing except for suggestions about the math club and for a few weeks one year their kids was given extra work-sheets. They were far more frustrated than we were because they have a kid who truly needs differentiation and was bored out of his mind (but well behaved because he's a quiet kid) and the school provided nothing year after year. This school is 100% in the business of teaching AT GRADE LEVEL and providing a ton of support for kids who are behind. But zero, nothing for kids who are ahead, even many years ahead.

Maybe it's different across the park where the array of ability is much wider. At a school like Janney, I'd guess you have 75% of kids functioning very easily at grade level. 20% who lag behind in some way and 5% who are ahead.

No, it’s worst EOTP. Except for the CH schools the majority of kids (60-75%) are not even at grade level. Below or well below, so the achievement gap is much greater. The focus is just getting these kids up to grade level. Kids who are at or above grade level are bored. This is evident in 1st or 2nd, why parents bail in 3rd and 4th. It’s also why charter spots in the lottery are competitive and in demand because there, at least 1/2 kids or so are at grade level and the achievement gap is not as wide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the Janney parent above and there is zero formal differentiation at Janney. My kids did (and do) well with no effort and always get 5's on the PARCC. When we asked about more, it was suggested that they join the lunch time math club. My neighbor's kid is a true prodigy (doing math 5 grades up, etc). The parents had many meetings and were also provided with nothing except for suggestions about the math club and for a few weeks one year their kids was given extra work-sheets. They were far more frustrated than we were because they have a kid who truly needs differentiation and was bored out of his mind (but well behaved because he's a quiet kid) and the school provided nothing year after year. This school is 100% in the business of teaching AT GRADE LEVEL and providing a ton of support for kids who are behind. But zero, nothing for kids who are ahead, even many years ahead.

Maybe it's different across the park where the array of ability is much wider. At a school like Janney, I'd guess you have 75% of kids functioning very easily at grade level. 20% who lag behind in some way and 5% who are ahead.

Murch differentiates and it isn't a PTA thing, and teachers have professional development on how to do it well. It is school driven coming from the top, not from the PTA.

Janney apparently doesn't. I've been told by teachers there (and a few parents who switched schools and were shocked at the difference) that Janney is all about the PARCC and teaching to the test, so teaching ahead doesn't help them (and may hurt). But they do get the good test scores out of kids.

Right, and I have been told by my 8th grader (a Janney grad, high performer, most advanced math, yada, yada, yada) that the strongest students come from Janney and Lafayette, then Murch and Eaton and I don’t hear a lot about Bancroft and Shepherd likely because the groups are smaller. My child is a fairly astute observer and in many ways not a Janney booster. This is the last 8th grade class where Eaton had the right to attend for those that might be confused by this list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the Janney parent above and there is zero formal differentiation at Janney. My kids did (and do) well with no effort and always get 5's on the PARCC. When we asked about more, it was suggested that they join the lunch time math club. My neighbor's kid is a true prodigy (doing math 5 grades up, etc). The parents had many meetings and were also provided with nothing except for suggestions about the math club and for a few weeks one year their kids was given extra work-sheets. They were far more frustrated than we were because they have a kid who truly needs differentiation and was bored out of his mind (but well behaved because he's a quiet kid) and the school provided nothing year after year. This school is 100% in the business of teaching AT GRADE LEVEL and providing a ton of support for kids who are behind. But zero, nothing for kids who are ahead, even many years ahead.

Maybe it's different across the park where the array of ability is much wider. At a school like Janney, I'd guess you have 75% of kids functioning very easily at grade level. 20% who lag behind in some way and 5% who are ahead.

No, it’s worst EOTP. Except for the CH schools the majority of kids (60-75%) are not even at grade level. Below or well below, so the achievement gap is much greater. The focus is just getting these kids up to grade level. Kids who are at or above grade level are bored. This is evident in 1st or 2nd, why parents bail in 3rd and 4th. It’s also why charter spots in the lottery are competitive and in demand because there, at least 1/2 kids or so are at grade level and the achievement gap is not as wide.

+1 Take a look at the share of Wilson students meeting basic proficiency standards. Just 22% of students meet basic proficiency standards for math. And this is supposedly DC's best, wealthiest non-magnet high school. Meanwhile just across the border at BCC, 90% of students meet basic proficiency standards for math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the Janney parent above and there is zero formal differentiation at Janney. My kids did (and do) well with no effort and always get 5's on the PARCC. When we asked about more, it was suggested that they join the lunch time math club. My neighbor's kid is a true prodigy (doing math 5 grades up, etc). The parents had many meetings and were also provided with nothing except for suggestions about the math club and for a few weeks one year their kids was given extra work-sheets. They were far more frustrated than we were because they have a kid who truly needs differentiation and was bored out of his mind (but well behaved because he's a quiet kid) and the school provided nothing year after year. This school is 100% in the business of teaching AT GRADE LEVEL and providing a ton of support for kids who are behind. But zero, nothing for kids who are ahead, even many years ahead.

Maybe it's different across the park where the array of ability is much wider. At a school like Janney, I'd guess you have 75% of kids functioning very easily at grade level. 20% who lag behind in some way and 5% who are ahead.

No, it’s worst EOTP. Except for the CH schools the majority of kids (60-75%) are not even at grade level. Below or well below, so the achievement gap is much greater. The focus is just getting these kids up to grade level. Kids who are at or above grade level are bored. This is evident in 1st or 2nd, why parents bail in 3rd and 4th. It’s also why charter spots in the lottery are competitive and in demand because there, at least 1/2 kids or so are at grade level and the achievement gap is not as wide.

+1 Take a look at the share of Wilson students meeting basic proficiency standards. Just 22% of students meet basic proficiency standards for math. And this is supposedly DC's best, wealthiest non-magnet high school. Meanwhile just across the border at BCC, 90% of students meet basic proficiency standards for math.

This is comparing apples to oranges. Wilson’s student body doesn’t reflect BCC’s population. You can make yourself feel better that MoCo is superior if that is what you need to do. I am happy living in DC and like my kids having to do class projects with students who aren’t the best scoring or not your average BCC student. In the long run, my kids are learning how to communicate and work with kids from different backgrounds and with different challenges. I don’t run my life according to test scores; they’re only one piece of the whole picture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the Janney parent above and there is zero formal differentiation at Janney. My kids did (and do) well with no effort and always get 5's on the PARCC. When we asked about more, it was suggested that they join the lunch time math club. My neighbor's kid is a true prodigy (doing math 5 grades up, etc). The parents had many meetings and were also provided with nothing except for suggestions about the math club and for a few weeks one year their kids was given extra work-sheets. They were far more frustrated than we were because they have a kid who truly needs differentiation and was bored out of his mind (but well behaved because he's a quiet kid) and the school provided nothing year after year. This school is 100% in the business of teaching AT GRADE LEVEL and providing a ton of support for kids who are behind. But zero, nothing for kids who are ahead, even many years ahead.

Maybe it's different across the park where the array of ability is much wider. At a school like Janney, I'd guess you have 75% of kids functioning very easily at grade level. 20% who lag behind in some way and 5% who are ahead.

No, it’s worst EOTP. Except for the CH schools the majority of kids (60-75%) are not even at grade level. Below or well below, so the achievement gap is much greater. The focus is just getting these kids up to grade level. Kids who are at or above grade level are bored. This is evident in 1st or 2nd, why parents bail in 3rd and 4th. It’s also why charter spots in the lottery are competitive and in demand because there, at least 1/2 kids or so are at grade level and the achievement gap is not as wide.

+1 Take a look at the share of Wilson students meeting basic proficiency standards. Just 22% of students meet basic proficiency standards for math. And this is supposedly DC's best, wealthiest non-magnet high school. Meanwhile just across the border at BCC, 90% of students meet basic proficiency standards for math.

This is comparing apples to oranges. Wilson’s student body doesn’t reflect BCC’s population. You can make yourself feel better that MoCo is superior if that is what you need to do. I am happy living in DC and like my kids having to do class projects with students who aren’t the best scoring or not your average BCC student. In the long run, my kids are learning how to communicate and work with kids from different backgrounds and with different challenges. I don’t run my life according to test scores; they’re only one piece of the whole picture.

Wilson has a FARMS population of 11%. BCC has a FARMS population of 12%. The populations are similar yet there is a huge performance gap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the Janney parent above and there is zero formal differentiation at Janney. My kids did (and do) well with no effort and always get 5's on the PARCC. When we asked about more, it was suggested that they join the lunch time math club. My neighbor's kid is a true prodigy (doing math 5 grades up, etc). The parents had many meetings and were also provided with nothing except for suggestions about the math club and for a few weeks one year their kids was given extra work-sheets. They were far more frustrated than we were because they have a kid who truly needs differentiation and was bored out of his mind (but well behaved because he's a quiet kid) and the school provided nothing year after year. This school is 100% in the business of teaching AT GRADE LEVEL and providing a ton of support for kids who are behind. But zero, nothing for kids who are ahead, even many years ahead.

Maybe it's different across the park where the array of ability is much wider. At a school like Janney, I'd guess you have 75% of kids functioning very easily at grade level. 20% who lag behind in some way and 5% who are ahead.

No, it’s worst EOTP. Except for the CH schools the majority of kids (60-75%) are not even at grade level. Below or well below, so the achievement gap is much greater. The focus is just getting these kids up to grade level. Kids who are at or above grade level are bored. This is evident in 1st or 2nd, why parents bail in 3rd and 4th. It’s also why charter spots in the lottery are competitive and in demand because there, at least 1/2 kids or so are at grade level and the achievement gap is not as wide.

+1 Take a look at the share of Wilson students meeting basic proficiency standards. Just 22% of students meet basic proficiency standards for math. And this is supposedly DC's best, wealthiest non-magnet high school. Meanwhile just across the border at BCC, 90% of students meet basic proficiency standards for math.

This is comparing apples to oranges. Wilson’s student body doesn’t reflect BCC’s population. You can make yourself feel better that MoCo is superior if that is what you need to do. I am happy living in DC and like my kids having to do class projects with students who aren’t the best scoring or not your average BCC student. In the long run, my kids are learning how to communicate and work with kids from different backgrounds and with different challenges. I don’t run my life according to test scores; they’re only one piece of the whole picture.

Wilson has a FARMS population of 11%. BCC has a FARMS population of 12%. The populations are similar yet there is a huge performance gap.

Agree, they are similar schools - BCC is a much more diverse school than the MCPS high schools farther west.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the Janney parent above and there is zero formal differentiation at Janney. My kids did (and do) well with no effort and always get 5's on the PARCC. When we asked about more, it was suggested that they join the lunch time math club. My neighbor's kid is a true prodigy (doing math 5 grades up, etc). The parents had many meetings and were also provided with nothing except for suggestions about the math club and for a few weeks one year their kids was given extra work-sheets. They were far more frustrated than we were because they have a kid who truly needs differentiation and was bored out of his mind (but well behaved because he's a quiet kid) and the school provided nothing year after year. This school is 100% in the business of teaching AT GRADE LEVEL and providing a ton of support for kids who are behind. But zero, nothing for kids who are ahead, even many years ahead.

Maybe it's different across the park where the array of ability is much wider. At a school like Janney, I'd guess you have 75% of kids functioning very easily at grade level. 20% who lag behind in some way and 5% who are ahead.

No, it’s worst EOTP. Except for the CH schools the majority of kids (60-75%) are not even at grade level. Below or well below, so the achievement gap is much greater. The focus is just getting these kids up to grade level. Kids who are at or above grade level are bored. This is evident in 1st or 2nd, why parents bail in 3rd and 4th. It’s also why charter spots in the lottery are competitive and in demand because there, at least 1/2 kids or so are at grade level and the achievement gap is not as wide.

+1 Take a look at the share of Wilson students meeting basic proficiency standards. Just 22% of students meet basic proficiency standards for math. And this is supposedly DC's best, wealthiest non-magnet high school. Meanwhile just across the border at BCC, 90% of students meet basic proficiency standards for math.

This is comparing apples to oranges. Wilson’s student body doesn’t reflect BCC’s population. You can make yourself feel better that MoCo is superior if that is what you need to do. I am happy living in DC and like my kids having to do class projects with students who aren’t the best scoring or not your average BCC student. In the long run, my kids are learning how to communicate and work with kids from different backgrounds and with different challenges. I don’t run my life according to test scores; they’re only one piece of the whole picture.

Wilson has a FARMS population of 11%. BCC has a FARMS population of 12%. The populations are similar yet there is a huge performance gap.

Agree, they are similar schools - BCC is a much more diverse school than the MCPS high schools farther west.

NP. I'm not one to live my life by test scores, but I took a look at Wlison's scores, and decided to concentrate my housing search in MCPS and NOVA areas. There aren't enough poor kids there to explain such weak test scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the Janney parent above and there is zero formal differentiation at Janney. My kids did (and do) well with no effort and always get 5's on the PARCC. When we asked about more, it was suggested that they join the lunch time math club. My neighbor's kid is a true prodigy (doing math 5 grades up, etc). The parents had many meetings and were also provided with nothing except for suggestions about the math club and for a few weeks one year their kids was given extra work-sheets. They were far more frustrated than we were because they have a kid who truly needs differentiation and was bored out of his mind (but well behaved because he's a quiet kid) and the school provided nothing year after year. This school is 100% in the business of teaching AT GRADE LEVEL and providing a ton of support for kids who are behind. But zero, nothing for kids who are ahead, even many years ahead.

Maybe it's different across the park where the array of ability is much wider. At a school like Janney, I'd guess you have 75% of kids functioning very easily at grade level. 20% who lag behind in some way and 5% who are ahead.

No, it’s worst EOTP. Except for the CH schools the majority of kids (60-75%) are not even at grade level. Below or well below, so the achievement gap is much greater. The focus is just getting these kids up to grade level. Kids who are at or above grade level are bored. This is evident in 1st or 2nd, why parents bail in 3rd and 4th. It’s also why charter spots in the lottery are competitive and in demand because there, at least 1/2 kids or so are at grade level and the achievement gap is not as wide.

+1 Take a look at the share of Wilson students meeting basic proficiency standards. Just 22% of students meet basic proficiency standards for math. And this is supposedly DC's best, wealthiest non-magnet high school. Meanwhile just across the border at BCC, 90% of students meet basic proficiency standards for math.

This is comparing apples to oranges. Wilson’s student body doesn’t reflect BCC’s population. You can make yourself feel better that MoCo is superior if that is what you need to do. I am happy living in DC and like my kids having to do class projects with students who aren’t the best scoring or not your average BCC student. In the long run, my kids are learning how to communicate and work with kids from different backgrounds and with different challenges. I don’t run my life according to test scores; they’re only one piece of the whole picture.

Wilson has a FARMS population of 11%. BCC has a FARMS population of 12%. The populations are similar yet there is a huge performance gap.

Agree, they are similar schools - BCC is a much more diverse school than the MCPS high schools farther west.

NP. I'm not one to live my life by test scores, but I took a look at Wlison's scores, and decided to concentrate my housing search in MCPS and NOVA areas. There aren't enough poor kids there to explain such weak test scores.

Good for you. We want to live in DC and our kids are the ones who exceed standards. I'm not moving out of the city and neighborhood I like because most of the kids in their school don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the Janney parent above and there is zero formal differentiation at Janney. My kids did (and do) well with no effort and always get 5's on the PARCC. When we asked about more, it was suggested that they join the lunch time math club. My neighbor's kid is a true prodigy (doing math 5 grades up, etc). The parents had many meetings and were also provided with nothing except for suggestions about the math club and for a few weeks one year their kids was given extra work-sheets. They were far more frustrated than we were because they have a kid who truly needs differentiation and was bored out of his mind (but well behaved because he's a quiet kid) and the school provided nothing year after year. This school is 100% in the business of teaching AT GRADE LEVEL and providing a ton of support for kids who are behind. But zero, nothing for kids who are ahead, even many years ahead.

Maybe it's different across the park where the array of ability is much wider. At a school like Janney, I'd guess you have 75% of kids functioning very easily at grade level. 20% who lag behind in some way and 5% who are ahead.

No, it’s worst EOTP. Except for the CH schools the majority of kids (60-75%) are not even at grade level. Below or well below, so the achievement gap is much greater. The focus is just getting these kids up to grade level. Kids who are at or above grade level are bored. This is evident in 1st or 2nd, why parents bail in 3rd and 4th. It’s also why charter spots in the lottery are competitive and in demand because there, at least 1/2 kids or so are at grade level and the achievement gap is not as wide.

+1 Take a look at the share of Wilson students meeting basic proficiency standards. Just 22% of students meet basic proficiency standards for math. And this is supposedly DC's best, wealthiest non-magnet high school. Meanwhile just across the border at BCC, 90% of students meet basic proficiency standards for math.

This is comparing apples to oranges. Wilson’s student body doesn’t reflect BCC’s population. You can make yourself feel better that MoCo is superior if that is what you need to do. I am happy living in DC and like my kids having to do class projects with students who aren’t the best scoring or not your average BCC student. In the long run, my kids are learning how to communicate and work with kids from different backgrounds and with different challenges. I don’t run my life according to test scores; they’re only one piece of the whole picture.

Wilson has a FARMS population of 11%. BCC has a FARMS population of 12%. The populations are similar yet there is a huge performance gap.

Agree, they are similar schools - BCC is a much more diverse school than the MCPS high schools farther west.

NP. I'm not one to live my life by test scores, but I took a look at Wlison's scores, and decided to concentrate my housing search in MCPS and NOVA areas. There aren't enough poor kids there to explain such weak test scores.

Good for you. We want to live in DC and our kids are the ones who exceed standards.I'm not moving out of the city and neighborhood I like because most of the kids in their school don't.

i.e. Let them eat cake!

[Anonymous]

This is a huge waste of time thread. It would be more productive to argue over whether Mercedes is better than BMW.

Can't we do better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a huge waste of time thread. It would be more productive to argue over whether Mercedes is better than BMW.

Can't we do better?

Not true. I looked at these threads when buying a home. There are relevant differences between MCPS and DCPS. Parents should know them before choosing a school for their kids.h

[Anonymous]

“I've been told by teachers there (and a few parents who switched schools and were shocked at the difference) that Janney is all about the PARCC and teaching to the test, so teaching ahead doesn't help them (and may hurt).”

That’s the craziest statement I’ve seen in awhile. There’s very little PARRC test prep at Janney - it’s just not a big deal, the test and scores are barely discussed, and the scores are good because there’s a good cohort of high achieving kids. Not because they’re doing extensive test prep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“I've been told by teachers there (and a few parents who switched schools and were shocked at the difference) that Janney is all about the PARCC and teaching to the test, so teaching ahead doesn't help them (and may hurt).”

That’s the craziest statement I’ve seen in awhile. There’s very little PARRC test prep at Janney - it’s just not a big deal, the test and scores are barely discussed, and the scores are good because there’s a good cohort of high achieving kids. Not because they’re doing extensive test prep.

Agree! I’m a Janney parent. Also have a kid at Deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the Janney parent above and there is zero formal differentiation at Janney. My kids did (and do) well with no effort and always get 5's on the PARCC. When we asked about more, it was suggested that they join the lunch time math club. My neighbor's kid is a true prodigy (doing math 5 grades up, etc). The parents had many meetings and were also provided with nothing except for suggestions about the math club and for a few weeks one year their kids was given extra work-sheets. They were far more frustrated than we were because they have a kid who truly needs differentiation and was bored out of his mind (but well behaved because he's a quiet kid) and the school provided nothing year after year. This school is 100% in the business of teaching AT GRADE LEVEL and providing a ton of support for kids who are behind. But zero, nothing for kids who are ahead, even many years ahead.

Maybe it's different across the park where the array of ability is much wider. At a school like Janney, I'd guess you have 75% of kids functioning very easily at grade level. 20% who lag behind in some way and 5% who are ahead.

Murch differentiates and it isn't a PTA thing, and teachers have professional development on how to do it well. It is school driven coming from the top, not from the PTA.

Janney apparently doesn't. I've been told by teachers there (and a few parents who switched schools and were shocked at the difference) that Janney is all about the PARCC and teaching to the test, so teaching ahead doesn't help them (and may hurt). But they do get the good test scores out of kids.

Right, and I have been told by my 8th grader (a Janney grad, high performer, most advanced math, yada, yada, yada) that the strongest students come from Janney and Lafayette, then Murch and Eaton and I don’t hear a lot about Bancroft and Shepherd likely because the groups are smaller. My child is a fairly astute observer and in many ways not a Janney booster. This is the last 8th grade class where Eaton had the right to attend for those that might be confused by this list.

You actually have these kinds of conversations with your eighth grader? Honestly, this is one the most pathetic things I’ve ever read on DCUM. Obviously the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.