Anonymous
05/06/2025 15:21
Subject: MCPS-Bridge Program
What does the peer group in bridge look like? How would a neurotypical presenting kid do there?
Anonymous
05/06/2025 12:51
Subject: MCPS-Bridge Program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What "reputation" are you refering to?
If it's the Ivy strivers disdain at the lack of upper college level courses, that doesn't matter for Bridge.
Yes and no. Most Bridge kids aren't striving for an Ivy, but many are getting college-ready, or at least my kid. As my child is at Churchill, I do believe that he is hurt by being in Bridge since they are not offered honors-level classes. You know the complaint of honors for all, like honors English 9 and all? Bridge kids don't have that option. Therefore, Bridge students will have a lower weighted GPA before you even start comparing them. Then, when they apply to college, they are still compared to all of the kids in their grade level who have had honors/AP options since freshman year. Kids like mine need the smaller classes and behavioral support, but can absolutely handle the advanced coursework should it be offered.
I say this because it might actually be a help to be in the Paint Branch or Gaithersburg clusters as far as college goes. I wouldn't worry about the schools as far as safety- Brindge kids are separated. but do consider if your child needs advanced academics, that Bridge cannot meet that.
For the 25-26 school year, Churchill Bridge will be offering some honors classes.
● All English courses in the Bridge Program will transition to Honors-level beginning in the
2025–2026 school year.
● The Modern World History course will transition to Honors-level beginning in the
2025–2026 school year.
● The Biology course will transition to Honors-level beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.
No, it's not all of the core subjects across all grades, but it's a nice start. I'd like to see them expand the history and science offerings in the future. I met with Mr. Taylor back in October and raised this as a concern. I'm pleased to see that a change was implemented.
Now, I do worry about how colleges will view my kid. The saying is that colleges compare against other kids in the same school. If that's true, then you're right, our kids are at a disadvantage. I think the way I'm going to address this is via dual enrollment starting in 11th grade. AP classes have too many students for my kid to be successful. But at MC, I can see how many students are enrolled in a section and add/drop as necessary.
This is fantastic! I am so happy to hear this! It was something that greatly hurt my son, and am glad they are addressing it, though I wonder how they will handle the students not ready for the honors curriculum.
Anonymous
05/06/2025 12:20
Subject: MCPS-Bridge Program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What "reputation" are you refering to?
If it's the Ivy strivers disdain at the lack of upper college level courses, that doesn't matter for Bridge.
Yes and no. Most Bridge kids aren't striving for an Ivy, but many are getting college-ready, or at least my kid. As my child is at Churchill, I do believe that he is hurt by being in Bridge since they are not offered honors-level classes. You know the complaint of honors for all, like honors English 9 and all? Bridge kids don't have that option. Therefore, Bridge students will have a lower weighted GPA before you even start comparing them. Then, when they apply to college, they are still compared to all of the kids in their grade level who have had honors/AP options since freshman year. Kids like mine need the smaller classes and behavioral support, but can absolutely handle the advanced coursework should it be offered.
I say this because it might actually be a help to be in the Paint Branch or Gaithersburg clusters as far as college goes. I wouldn't worry about the schools as far as safety- Brindge kids are separated. but do consider if your child needs advanced academics, that Bridge cannot meet that.
For the 25-26 school year, Churchill Bridge will be offering some honors classes.
● All English courses in the Bridge Program will transition to Honors-level beginning in the
2025–2026 school year.
● The Modern World History course will transition to Honors-level beginning in the
2025–2026 school year.
● The Biology course will transition to Honors-level beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.
No, it's not all of the core subjects across all grades, but it's a nice start. I'd like to see them expand the history and science offerings in the future. I met with Mr. Taylor back in October and raised this as a concern. I'm pleased to see that a change was implemented.
Now, I do worry about how colleges will view my kid. The saying is that colleges compare against other kids in the same school. If that's true, then you're right, our kids are at a disadvantage. I think the way I'm going to address this is via dual enrollment starting in 11th grade. AP classes have too many students for my kid to be successful. But at MC, I can see how many students are enrolled in a section and add/drop as necessary.
Anonymous
05/06/2025 12:06
Subject: MCPS-Bridge Program
[quote=Anonymous]What "reputation" are you refering to?
If it's the Ivy strivers disdain at the lack of upper college level courses, that doesn't matter for Bridge. [/quote]
I heard Gaithersburg HS has police car parked outside all time due to constant incidents and violence. That's what I heard and that's the reputation I was referring to. So my concern was that kids from Bridge would share the same cafeteria with the mainstream students.
If it's the Ivy strivers disdain at the lack of upper college level courses, that doesn't matter for Bridge. [/quote]
I heard Gaithersburg HS has police car parked outside all time due to constant incidents and violence. That's what I heard and that's the reputation I was referring to. So my concern was that kids from Bridge would share the same cafeteria with the mainstream students.
Anonymous
05/06/2025 07:58
Subject: MCPS-Bridge Program
Briggs Chaney has many fights, aggressive faculty, and horribly maintained grounds. My son reported that he had to “look at the ground due to how many waterbugs there were” if the bridge suite is better maintained then great, but general school don’t do it.
Anonymous
05/06/2025 07:37
Subject: MCPS-Bridge Program
Anonymous wrote:What "reputation" are you refering to?
If it's the Ivy strivers disdain at the lack of upper college level courses, that doesn't matter for Bridge.
Yes and no. Most Bridge kids aren't striving for an Ivy, but many are getting college-ready, or at least my kid. As my child is at Churchill, I do believe that he is hurt by being in Bridge since they are not offered honors-level classes. You know the complaint of honors for all, like honors English 9 and all? Bridge kids don't have that option. Therefore, Bridge students will have a lower weighted GPA before you even start comparing them. Then, when they apply to college, they are still compared to all of the kids in their grade level who have had honors/AP options since freshman year. Kids like mine need the smaller classes and behavioral support, but can absolutely handle the advanced coursework should it be offered.
I say this because it might actually be a help to be in the Paint Branch or Gaithersburg clusters as far as college goes. I wouldn't worry about the schools as far as safety- Brindge kids are separated. but do consider if your child needs advanced academics, that Bridge cannot meet that.
Anonymous
05/06/2025 07:29
Subject: MCPS-Bridge Program
What "reputation" are you refering to?
If it's the Ivy strivers disdain at the lack of upper college level courses, that doesn't matter for Bridge.
If it's the Ivy strivers disdain at the lack of upper college level courses, that doesn't matter for Bridge.
Anonymous
05/06/2025 06:56
Subject: MCPS-Bridge Program
My kid has been at Hoover and now Churchill for Bridge. There is a separate area of the school called the Bridge Suite. Some kids never leave the suite. Other kids split their time between bridge classes in the suite and mainstream classes in the main school.
Anonymous
05/05/2025 22:39
Subject: MCPS-Bridge Program
Anonymous wrote:The Bridge program is so separate that if the program works for your child, don’t worry about the school.
+1 The schools are just fine, but if you're in the Bridge program that's wonderful for you.
Anonymous
05/05/2025 17:08
Subject: MCPS-Bridge Program
The Bridge program is so separate that if the program works for your child, don’t worry about the school.
Anonymous
05/05/2025 16:05
Subject: MCPS-Bridge Program
Hello-
Does anyone have insight on the Bridge program in Briggs Chaney MS or Gaithersburg MS in MCPS? Do those middle schoolers automatically enroll into the Bridge program in Gaithersburg HS or Paint Branch HS? In theory, the programs sounds great for getting high functioning kids with behavioral issues on right track, but my concern is those high schools with bad reputations.
Does anyone have insight on the Bridge program in Briggs Chaney MS or Gaithersburg MS in MCPS? Do those middle schoolers automatically enroll into the Bridge program in Gaithersburg HS or Paint Branch HS? In theory, the programs sounds great for getting high functioning kids with behavioral issues on right track, but my concern is those high schools with bad reputations.