Reply to If you got reassigned to Seneca Valley HS and Neelsville MS

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[quote=Anonymous]I have a 10th grader at Seneca and a 7th grader at Neelsville.  We were redistricted from Rocky Hill and Clarksburg HS.  
Neelsville has been an amazing experience for my 7th grader.  The vast majority of her teachers have been excellent and have worked so hard to build and nurture relationships with her.  It really seems like most Neelsville teachers want to be there and serve the Neelsville student community.  They are a committed bunch, as talented as the Rocky Hill staff (and I LOVED Rocky Hill - amazing school for my 2 oldest).  My child struggled in reading for most of elementary.  Multiple Neelsville teachers quickly noticed and identified her struggles, even over Zoom.  Within a few weeks of her returning to the building Q4 of 6th grade the Neelsville staff had her tested at MCPS expense (we had to privately pay for testing in elementary) and she was granted an IEP for reading challenges.  Her reading level jumped from a 4th grade level to on grade level in one year thanks to their excellent teaching.  Her case manager is incredible too.  The teachers are so dedicated.  My daughter LOVES Neelsville and is proud to go there.  Yes, the building is old but my daughter says “who cares”.  None of her friends seem to care either when I’ve asked them about it - it is only parents I have ever heard complain about the building.  Speaking of friends - my child enjoys the vast majority of her classmates a lot.  It seems overall to be a school where the students generally get along which is all I can really hope for during the generally awful middle school years. Admin is incredibly responsive and I have much hope the new principal will carry on the great legacy Vicky Parcan is leaving.  Neelsville is a wonderful place.  
Seneca has been more of a mixed bag.  The many fights, the bomb threats, the lockdowns during the fall semester really spooked my son.  He was afraid to go to school for a few weeks when things were really bad.  I thought Dr Cohen responded well to the situation - he is active on the parent FB page, sent multiple detailed emails explaining plans for moving ahead, and very quickly organized a town hall for parents to address concerns.  He responded as well as I could have hoped.  Since winter break, things have been quiet and stable.  No more bomb threats or lockdowns.  Student fights still occur every so often (not daily anymore) but that is true at other MCPS high schools too.  (Our oldest is a Clarksburg HS graduate - fights happened there too).  The parent community is really strong at Seneca as is the PTSA and parents are proud of the school.  There are dads who regularly volunteer during lunch “the dad squad” so there are extra eyes on students and extra adult presence to keep everything orderly while 1000+ teenagers are roaming around.  I love that parents give their time at the high school level to do that!  My son has had some amazing teachers at Seneca and some not so great ones.  But again - will be true at any high school.  Overall, we are happy with Seneca, which is fortunate since we have 2 more kids going there in future years.  
I encourage families to give these schools a chance.  Especially Neelsville.  The people who badmouth these schools - I’m skeptical they have actually had a child attend these schools.  I think you will be very surprised with the greatness within!  [/quote]

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