Richard Montgomery or private school?

[Anonymous]

We live in the RM district for highschool and are wondering if it’s a good school and what experiences people have had with the school. If it’s not good as a public school we will have to consider private school. Just wanted to hear some thoughts from folks. TIA.

[Anonymous]

RM is considered a good school only because of IB magnet. Unless your kid gets into IB, RM is no better than any other HS in MoCo.

[Anonymous]

It was a great school around 9 years ago. It had a valuable, rigorous magnet IB program and Jennifer Hoover was the coordinator who was knowledgeable. Then the low achieving principal came and could not stand all the brilliant kids. Some deep insecurity and self loathing made him push Hoover out. The entire Math dept resigned. All the best teachers have left. Do you have a brilliant Humanities kid and a team of private college counselors to help your kid navigate the shitshow that is RM today? You will be fine then.

[Anonymous]

I remember ms. Hoover. She was a wonderful coordinator. Loved the program, loved the kids...

[Anonymous]

RM is a fine high school. Except to those who want to tear MCPS down. DCUM gonna DCUM!

[Anonymous]

We've sent 3 kids through RM (youngest is a senior). Overall, our experience has been good, and we're happy with the education they received. It's not perfect, but we haven't had many complaints.

My younger two applied to the IB program in 10th and got in but ultimately decided not to do it. All 3 of them preferred the flexibility of AP classes. They had/have a lot of friends in the IB program and didn't see much of a gulf between IB kids and kids taking AP classes.

[Anonymous]

Good is subjective and it depends on the kid.

[Anonymous]

My son is in college now but had a great experience. He had no interest in IB (after being exposed to it from K at College Gardens). Nice friend group, involved in sports, prepared for college.

We liked the principal (who was new when my son started). His focus on including more local kids in IB for 11th grade did cause IB families some concern but it was not our issue. I later read about the lawsuit with Hoover that is linked somewhere on DCUM. I was not convinced she was a victim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is in college now but had a great experience. He had no interest in IB (after being exposed to it from K at College Gardens). Nice friend group, involved in sports, prepared for college.

We liked the principal (who was new when my son started). His focus on including more local kids in IB for 11th grade did cause IB families some concern but it was not our issue. I later read about the lawsuit with Hoover that is linked somewhere on DCUM. I was not convinced she was a victim.

She was clearly a victim. But that’s another story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in college now but had a great experience. He had no interest in IB (after being exposed to it from K at College Gardens). Nice friend group, involved in sports, prepared for college.

We liked the principal (who was new when my son started). His focus on including more local kids in IB for 11th grade did cause IB families some concern but it was not our issue. I later read about the lawsuit with Hoover that is linked somewhere on DCUM. I was not convinced she was a victim.

She was clearly a victim. But that’s another story.

She certainly had a cult following but parents are not always the best judge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in college now but had a great experience. He had no interest in IB (after being exposed to it from K at College Gardens). Nice friend group, involved in sports, prepared for college.

We liked the principal (who was new when my son started). His focus on including more local kids in IB for 11th grade did cause IB families some concern but it was not our issue. I later read about the lawsuit with Hoover that is linked somewhere on DCUM. I was not convinced she was a victim.

She was clearly a victim. But that’s another story.

She certainly had a cult following but parents are not always the best judge.

Lets not let this thread become a debate over a issue from years ago. Focus on current RM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in the RM district for highschool and are wondering if it’s a good school and what experiences people have had with the school. If it’s not good as a public school we will have to consider private school. Just wanted to hear some thoughts from folks. TIA.

Doesn't the answer to your question depend on

a. what makes a school "good", in your opinion
b. the specific private schools you would consider sending your child(ren) to instead?

Also, the school district is Montgomery County Public Schools.

Also, you will not *have to* consider private school, you will *choose to* consider private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in college now but had a great experience. He had no interest in IB (after being exposed to it from K at College Gardens). Nice friend group, involved in sports, prepared for college.

We liked the principal (who was new when my son started). His focus on including more local kids in IB for 11th grade did cause IB families some concern but it was not our issue. I later read about the lawsuit with Hoover that is linked somewhere on DCUM. I was not convinced she was a victim.

She was clearly a victim. But that’s another story.

+1 read the other thread, read the links to the legal case. He was clearly a dick-swinging dude who didn't like feeling his authority undermined and he went for her throat. 100% Nasty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in college now but had a great experience. He had no interest in IB (after being exposed to it from K at College Gardens). Nice friend group, involved in sports, prepared for college.

We liked the principal (who was new when my son started). His focus on including more local kids in IB for 11th grade did cause IB families some concern but it was not our issue. I later read about the lawsuit with Hoover that is linked somewhere on DCUM. I was not convinced she was a victim.

She was clearly a victim. But that’s another story.

She certainly had a cult following but parents are not always the best judge.

A cult? You are nasty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in the RM district for highschool and are wondering if it’s a good school and what experiences people have had with the school. If it’s not good as a public school we will have to consider private school. Just wanted to hear some thoughts from folks. TIA.

It's a strong school for all students (not just the magnet program). It is very diverse - kids with all types of interests, tons of clubs and activities. Students who are not in the magnet can still join the IB diploma programme in 11th grade, but many qualified students choose not to because they prefer the flexibility of the AP program (as another poster said.) My DS graduated last year - very involved in sports and clubs and academics. RM is big enough to accommodate all sorts of student interests.