Anonymous
Post 09/30/2013 14:50     Subject: Re:Diamond ES Kindergarten Program - Please Tell Me About Your Experiences
Thanks for the responses. Can anyone tell me more about the teachers and what they do and do not like about the K program?
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2013 09:56     Subject: Diamond ES Kindergarten Program - Please Tell Me About Your Experiences
Anonymous wrote:Not a Diamond parent, but just examining the at a glance from last year makes me think the administration has done something specific to reduce class size in K (16 students, while the other grades were at 34...?) Even with increased enrollment, it seems likely that they would continue that policy if possible. When I read 16 kids in K, I assumed they received some type of Focus funding to reduce class size, but they don't, obviously, with only 12% FARMs. It's worth calling up the school to find out, if you haven't already.


I don't understand where they get the 16 figure from because I know that classes last year were 21/22. What I think that means is that they had an aide. So when you divide the number of students by the number of teachers/aides - they get 16 as an average. The classes this year (five Kindergarten classes) share ONE aide. Ugh. (this is PP with a child at Diamond).
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2013 09:54     Subject: Diamond ES Kindergarten Program - Please Tell Me About Your Experiences
I am a Diamond parent of a K student. I was very surprised by the class size this year. I think my child's class has 26 kids. Last year I understand they had closer to 21. I believe the school is slated to be expanded (check MCPS long term planning for capital expenditures). That said and I really like all the K teachers and the admin staff. I also see a lot of parental involvement so that is good. We bought here specifically for this school and I am trying to withhold judgment until I see how my child progresses.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2013 19:08     Subject: Diamond ES Kindergarten Program - Please Tell Me About Your Experiences
Not a Diamond parent, but just examining the at a glance from last year makes me think the administration has done something specific to reduce class size in K (16 students, while the other grades were at 34...?) Even with increased enrollment, it seems likely that they would continue that policy if possible. When I read 16 kids in K, I assumed they received some type of Focus funding to reduce class size, but they don't, obviously, with only 12% FARMs. It's worth calling up the school to find out, if you haven't already.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2013 12:15     Subject: Diamond ES Kindergarten Program - Please Tell Me About Your Experiences
Its really the luck of the draw on the class size. I think the cutoff is 28 kids. If you are just over the cutoff you have a smaller class. If you are just under you have a huge one. We are not at Diamond but a nearby school with 170 Kindergartners. So it could be worse!
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2013 12:05     Subject: Diamond ES Kindergarten Program - Please Tell Me About Your Experiences
We are about to move into this school district and will have a little one going to K here. What can you tell me about the K teachers, programs and the school in general? I hear it is the largest class size ever with 137 kids (last year was 112) so class size has now increased to 26/27 students. Last year's MC Schools at a Glance shows the K class size was 16/17. I am wondering if and how that change in enrollment has affected the classes and teachers. Thanks!