Thank you -- this is helpful. I know that there are extremely large counselor to student ratios, across all schools nationwide. So wasn't expecting too much personal touch. But was wondering if at least there were strong informational processes in place. It is good to know the extent to which there is or isn't. To those interested, I posted this same question in the MCPS forum. You may be interested in reading there as well: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1138369.page

Thank you -- this is helpful. I know that there are extremely large counselor to student ratios, across all schools nationwide. So wasn't expecting too much personal touch. But was wondering if at least there were strong informational processes in place. This is all great to hear. Thank you.

This is all great insight and advice. Thank you.

Thank you for offering that perspective without any political-equity bashing. I appreciate it.

Thank you very much. This is very helpful.

Thank you. This is helpful. Is there anything like this:
https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/wjhs/parents/guidance_events/

Thank you. This is amazing.

I was wondering, what / how Jackson Reed does in terms of working with studens in the college planning process? Are there college fairs, do colleges visit for information sessions? Are there parent events? student events? Information sessions? Etc.

I see a lot in DCUMs about curriculum, grading, assessment scores, etc. But not about the college planning process. - Thank you in advance.

+1

I'm considering moving out of NW DC (zoned for Jackson Reed (JR)) into MoCo for BCC. Have done a lot of research. But wondering if worth doing, and how much it really is better at BCC.

-- I've heard that both schools are honors for all, and students are expected to self select.
-- I've heard that taking APs in 9th grade at BCC is a bit "normal" (at JR, I've heard students can't take APs in 9th grade, with exceptions only for very advanced math and language.)
-- I've heard that JR is more "disorganized," poorer communications, etc. (Even now, with a 7th grader bound for JR, I can't seem to find information anywhere.)
-- I've heard both are large urban schools, so kid can get lost between the cracks as in any large urban schools. What I wonder is the extent to which parents have visibility so they can help their child along with executive function, organizing, etc. to help minimize the loss. A concern for me is that in the interest of "equity," visibility to parents is made difficult so that kids of supportive, active, well-resourced parents can't / don't help as much as they can.

My experience with Deal (the feeder middle school to JR) for its grade recording system (called Aspen) is as follow:
-- one teacher inputs grades in a timely fashion (timely feedback is important for it to be meaningful,) and my child knows what they've missed and still have to hand in, and knows why a grade is low and what they got wrong.
-- one teacher is extremely lagged, and my child doesn't understand what assignments are considered missing, why he got a low grade, and what he needs to study for the re-take to get a higher grade. He takes re-takes without knowing what he got wrong.
-- in 2 classes he is 100% for the past 2 terms -- but I can't tell what he's doing well since he seems to put in little effort, and I suspect teachers may want to minimize parent inquiry. One of them in English, and I'm worried he doesn't actually know how to write a well structered essay of even just 2-3 paragraphs.

I'm worried lack of visibility will continue and potentially be worse in JR. Is the feedback at BCC HS better?

Agreed, for that age group: 1) too much $$, 2) too large roster, 3) too little playing time. At that age its so important that it be fun, and good comraderie created. At that age, no kid is going to find it fun with that little playing time, and bad comraderie will be created with that much unequal playing time. At that age, kids pick up on it and can be mean to each other without the maturity when older. That's my humble opinion.

I would advice to look at training.

In older age group, is club "better" bc:
-- winning by recruiting outside, and lots of big kids on the field; or
-- technically better, and training is better, and perhaps not winning as much bc not doing first bullet point above.

Not sure "cut throat" can't be applied to some other clubs as well.

If on a second team, the bigger clubs might be better for providing opportunity to first team, but a kid can still move up in any club, if you put in time and effort (and probably on your own through training, which you would probably have to do in a bigger club as well, esp. as you get older.) Also, look at the coaching of the first team, ... is that the coaching you want at the highest level?

If your son loves soccer, and you want to start him off with great technical training as a young player (and U10 is not too young) that'll last him the logevity of his soccer career and give him an edge as he ages, and he's offered a spot on the Achilles first team, Achillees will offer you much better technical training than PPA. Can't say how Achilles first team is vs. Bethesda's first team. If he's not on Achilles' first team, research the coach / watch a training for whichever team he's placed on.

I would also say that this is a long game, a game of uncertainty as your child grows and changes (and you as a parent tries to best support him/her,) and not a cheap game - in terms of money, time, and mental bandwidth. My son started early showing an interest in soccer and was in very low key rec. Starting in 2nd grade, he played for fun nearly everyday after school with fellow soccer loving classmates, and whatever parent was around that joined. In 3rd grade joined a serious travel team. He kept showing love and interest and wanting to getting better. I came to learn about him as he grew that he was naturally athletic, agile, balanced, and had a good sense of his body in space. So as a parent, I supported. In middle school there's a bit more balancing to do with HW. But for elementary... there was no HW, so it was all about just seeing where his interest went and supporting him. So don't get too discouraged about the environment. As in all things, it's about YOUR CHILD and your support. And as you enter the world, do lots of chatting with other parents and coaches to learn more.

Check out the coach. At that age, it's all about the coach. Ask to attend a few practices.