Anonymous
12/12/2021 06:40
Subject: Re:Howard County Schools
Anonymous wrote:Very accurate summary by previous poster.
I agree. I grew up there and my nieces and nephews all go to school there now. I am in MoCo, where my son attends public schools. MoCo did online learning faster during COVID, and at least for my son, the content was pretty darned good. Lots of grumbles from my siblings over lack of online learning, and then really mediocre content. But during "normal" times, Howard seems solid and not as experimental with their curricula.
Anonymous
12/12/2021 06:29
Subject: Re:Howard County Schools
Very accurate summary by previous poster.
Anonymous
12/10/2021 18:25
Subject: Howard County Schools
I'll give it a shot.
Howard County is good because all of the schools are competent. Even the high FARM schools aren't all that bad compared to the high FARM schools in other counties.
Part of it is due to the high average wealth of the area. Part of it is that the county redistributes funding to all the schools. Part of it is due to the solid choice of curriculum.
Howard County doesn't have magnet programs, so you won't get an experience like TJ in Virginia or Montgomery Blair in Montgomery County.
But if you want solid schools you can feel safe in then Howard County is a good choice. There are a number of schools with good diversity if that's what you're into as well.
Howard County also has wealthier areas with schools that produce excellent test scores, but your post makes it sound like you're not interested in that.
Howard County does have a couple of issues though.
One is that housing development has kind of gone unchecked and overcrowding has become an issue, particularly on the East side of the county.
The school system doesn't have nearly enough funds to keep pace with population growth.
The other issue is that Howard County likes to redistrict fairly often, like once every 5 years. I don't see that abating given the overcrowding issues. Some people are ok with that. Some people aren't.
Howard County is good because all of the schools are competent. Even the high FARM schools aren't all that bad compared to the high FARM schools in other counties.
Part of it is due to the high average wealth of the area. Part of it is that the county redistributes funding to all the schools. Part of it is due to the solid choice of curriculum.
Howard County doesn't have magnet programs, so you won't get an experience like TJ in Virginia or Montgomery Blair in Montgomery County.
But if you want solid schools you can feel safe in then Howard County is a good choice. There are a number of schools with good diversity if that's what you're into as well.
Howard County also has wealthier areas with schools that produce excellent test scores, but your post makes it sound like you're not interested in that.
Howard County does have a couple of issues though.
One is that housing development has kind of gone unchecked and overcrowding has become an issue, particularly on the East side of the county.
The school system doesn't have nearly enough funds to keep pace with population growth.
The other issue is that Howard County likes to redistrict fairly often, like once every 5 years. I don't see that abating given the overcrowding issues. Some people are ok with that. Some people aren't.
Anonymous
12/09/2021 15:58
Subject: Howard County Schools
Hello,
We are thinking of moving to Howard County because we hear great things about the schools (and the location is near our jobs). Can someone share why the schools are so great? What is the district doing differently that makes them so wonderful? Or is it that Howard County has many affluent areas, with parents that are involved in their childrens' education and have the means for enrichments, thus driving up test scores? Any insight is appreciated.
We are thinking of moving to Howard County because we hear great things about the schools (and the location is near our jobs). Can someone share why the schools are so great? What is the district doing differently that makes them so wonderful? Or is it that Howard County has many affluent areas, with parents that are involved in their childrens' education and have the means for enrichments, thus driving up test scores? Any insight is appreciated.