Anonymous wrote:i don't think people can "have it all"--both nurturing and high test scores. Parents need to choose what they want. If you are choosing MCPS, you're going with the "high test scores" type of environment. As PPs have pointed out, you'll need to go private or another county or homeschool if you want a more nurturing environment.

I'm not sure I agree. I think that there's so much pressure on lower test score environments to fix their scores, than there is on kids in high pressure environments to keep their scores high.

I work in DC in a moderately well performing school and our kids are under way more pressure than my kid in a high performing MCPS school.

i don't think people can "have it all"--both nurturing and high test scores. Parents need to choose what they want. If you are choosing MCPS, you're going with the "high test scores" type of environment. As PPs have pointed out, you'll need to go private or another county or homeschool if you want a more nurturing environment.

Close-in silver spring is going to be way more laid back than anywhere south of Rockville, sorry but it's true. We have had a lot of luck with Forest Knolls, there is a big mix culturally, lots of inter-racial families, good mix of socio-economic groups, and the parents are very very active.
The school ranks very high and holds the kids to high standards-but none of this craziness that I see here on DCUM with tests score obsessions for 6/7 year olds, etc

Another vote for homeschooling especially if you come from NW.

Burning Tree Elementary. It cares about the "whole child."

Homeschooling is your best option!

Are there any laid back, nurturing elementary and middle schools in MCPS anywhere south of Rockville?

No, and especially no.

Maybe pg county is a better fit?

Anonymous wrote:really, OP?

really?

Really? That is really original. Is there anything else that you can think of?

Our child is in RHPS. I have found it to be laid back and nurturing despite its size.

Anonymous wrote:really, OP?

really?

Yeah, this. You are talking about MoCo. We don't believe in laid back.

really, OP?

really?

I'm not sure. I do know that a lot of families decide to go private for the very reasons you cite.

My son is at Westland, and while I think there is a lot of pressure on the kids from external sources it doesn't, in my experience, come from the school. The teachers and counselors really do care about my kid's emotional health, and support me when I prioritize that.

We weren't in MCPS for elementary so I can't comment on that.

Are there any laid back, nurturing elementary and middle schools in MCPS anywhere south of Rockville? We moved here from the west coast, are renting temporarily, and want to get away from the authoritarian, old-school, strict, pressured school culture that we have encountered thus far. We want a progressive, nurturing, and relaxed school culture where children's emotional development matters, like what we are used to from public school on the west coast. Does this exist in any capacity here?