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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am PP, one more point. Science was the weak link for us in private. MS and HS in particular. Science curriculum and teaching has been much stronger in public. We are at a "w" school.[/quote]

As this pp said, so much depends on the actual private vs the public. While I completely agree that it is hard for the private upper schools to compete in science / STEM with TJ or Blair (and their HGC/AAP feeders), some independent schools do have innovative new programs. For example, I hear great things about Bullis' engineering program from a senior there, and the curriculum looks amazing).

At the middle and elementary level, it is not such a cut and dry comparison, primarily because of the impact of large class sizes and inability to differentiate. By 7th grade in MCPS, my DC was slated for a "mixed" "advanced" science class in which the "advanced" kids acceleration was to consist of being given "extra" work. Seriously? [b]Congratulations! You're great at science. Here's another worksheet! [/b]And my DC complained about the kids in class who were slower and took up a lot of the teachers' time on basic concepts that should have been mastered.

We moved DC to an independent that has excellent science teachers, both in the lower and middle schools. DC's science teacher, Caterina Earle, was recognized by Bethesda Magazine recently, and she also encouraged the kids to participate in a county-wide engineering competition sponsored by The Maryland Space Business Roundtable. Mrs. Earle's 7th grade team came in second in the physics competition - and this included STEM students from all Montgomery County independents as well as publics, including, all of the HGCs and magnet middle schools.

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We have experienced non of that.. Lots of labs and projects. I think it is very dependent on your school and the teacher.[/quote]

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