Reply to If I'm not supposed to judge based on FARMS and test scores, what CAN I judge on?

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Reply to "If I'm not supposed to judge based on FARMS and test scores, what CAN I judge on?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Gotta say ... DD is at a high FARMS school (approximately 40%) and she has 15 kids in her 1st grade class.  There's an upside to it, too.  While there are kids there who need a lot more academic help, she is getting way more individual attention than her peers at predominantly white & asian and high SES schools in other areas (who have 20+ kids in their classes).[/quote]

Small class sizes are great, but not at the expense of having a critical mass of students at or near the ability of your child. The real issue at elementary schools with high FARMs is that the teacher cannot differentiate the learning.  Many of the FARMs kids are working at or below grade level. If your kid is only one of a few working above grade level, then it's not likely she will get instruction that will challenge her.  Most of the resources are going to be put towards getting the below level students up to passing.[/quote]

In FCPS, many (but not all) of the high FARMS schools have the Young Scholars program (starting in K). (There are 76 elementary schools with Young Scholars.) Depending upon how Young Scholars is implemented at the school, this critical mass of students is formed to make classroom differentiation easier for the teacher.[/quot

In which schools is this really happening?   We previously attended a higher FARMs school. DC was multiple grades ahead in math, and we were offered pull out math. It consisted of one 45 minute session once a month. This is at a school with a full time AART.  We moved and switched to schools with very low FARMs, and DC was identified for level III pull outs, which were told was the same as Young Scholars, and its still only once a month.  However at the new school, we get differentiated math in the class. Some sections are divided amongst all the students in the grade. For other sections, DC and a group of other students gets higher level math in class.

Young Schloars was originated for services for unrepresented minorities. If one isn't a minority can a child still receive services?  We qualified, and barely received any extra help. We're thankful our budget and work commute allow for us to live in a strong pyramid. Please post the name of your high FARMs schools that has  regular differentiated learning. [/quote]

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