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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP are you talking independent Catholic? If not, I really don't think a Catholic school is better than MCPS, certainly in terms of rigor of work/curriculum.[/quote]

Teacher who just posted. My kid had nightly homework starting in kindergarten. Spelling tests each week, daily grammar and writing instruction, handwriting, midterms and finals starting in 3rd grade. He also wrote his own speeches and delivered them in yearly oratory contests each year. Yearly Ted talks with partners on current events too. He started reading novels in third grade. I think they read 2-3 each trimester. Summer reading was 3-5 books each summer plus essays on 1-3 of them.

His education was top notch and affordable. He was an atheist through most of his MS and HS years and his teachers encouraged him to participate in discussions in religion class. The brothers at his HS were happy to have engaged students like him.

I teach in public school and we aren’t allowed to give homework. Students don’t read books. They read passages and excerpts. It’s all to prepare them for MCAP testing. Very little grammar, writing, and spelling instruction. No public speaking, attendance doesn’t matter, etc. I could go on. It’s night and day. [/quote]

Very similar experience - I am also an MCPS teacher. My four children attended a combination of public and private - we started in public, switched to private, older two finished in private and my younger two advocated to return to MCPS for high school because they were very sports focused. Day and night differences, just as described above. The independence my kids developed in elem and middle school by preparing reports, giving oral presentations, grammar, rich quality literature discussions, etc. is not something I could put a price on. Even my youngest with ADHD who dislikes school admits he is still using notes he took in MIDDLE SCHOOL HISTORY to prepare for his (public) h.s. quizzes. As much as he complained about the amount of homework, reports, projects, etc. while at private school, he said he felt like he was actively learning vs now where he can do the bare minimum and still do okay. My second to youngest  started college last year and actually commented on how it was a good thing she had to take midterms and finals in middle school because otherwise she would feel more stressed about college exams (no finals or midterms with MCPS - only took AP exams).

And yes, while there are still behavior issues at any school, there was a definite line not to be crossed at the private schools my children attended. There is no line with MCPS, and no real consequences for extreme behavior. Add in these huge class sizes and Honors English for all 9th and 10th graders regardless of ability level, and it’s no wonder there are so differences between public and private. Even something as simple as wearing a uniform and having dress code standards communicates the message to students the importance of looking neat and presentable when the time arises. As much as I value creativity and freedom of expression (I am an art teacher), it’s important to know when / how one should dress, act, speak, etc. in different situations.

My younger two have throughly enjoyed their MCPS hs experience - and, I guess that’s what truly counts, but there are such HUGE academic and life skill differences and expectations at public vs private schools. I’m happy my younger two had a good hs experience but there is a noticeable difference in their work ethic after four years of MCPS vs when they first entered (and compared to my younger two who attended private high school).[/quote]

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