Anonymous
Post 01/03/2014 17:39     Subject: Good elementary or middle. Which is more important?
My kids have been in three DCC elementary schools and there really are differences between them and six years is a long time.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2014 17:17     Subject: Re:Good elementary or middle. Which is more important?
"It seems to me that in ES, kids are generally just kids, and barring a few cases the curriculum is generally the same. The peer group issues start to come into effect later in the schooling process. I don't have any real data to back this up though; just my own feelings so take that for what it's worth! "

also my sense. If your ES does a good job of not ignoring non-FARMS kids then your child will be learning what they need to learn and negative social issues should not be too significant. MS and HS - social issues are the biggest concern in my view. It's entirely possible that a HS"s academic offerings could be stellar, but if i'm worried my kid will get beat up or be more likely to hang out with kids not spending their time well then it's a non-starter.
sigh - which is why we have a few years until we need to seriously house hunt...


I also think for many parents it is easier for them to supplement if they are not 100% thrilled with the degree of challenge in the curriculum in elementary school. Most people can work on reading and basic math at home. Later on in middle school and high school when kids really need to learn how to write, critically think, discuss literature, etc. I think it might be harder for most parents to supplement. I'm pretty sure I could help a high schooler out with trig, but I'd need to brush up, whereas teaching addition or fractions or whatever would be pretty easy.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2014 15:41     Subject: Good elementary or middle. Which is more important?
They are all important
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2014 15:39     Subject: Good elementary or middle. Which is more important?
"It seems to me that in ES, kids are generally just kids, and barring a few cases the curriculum is generally the same. The peer group issues start to come into effect later in the schooling process. I don't have any real data to back this up though; just my own feelings so take that for what it's worth! "

also my sense. If your ES does a good job of not ignoring non-FARMS kids then your child will be learning what they need to learn and negative social issues should not be too significant. MS and HS - social issues are the biggest concern in my view. It's entirely possible that a HS"s academic offerings could be stellar, but if i'm worried my kid will get beat up or be more likely to hang out with kids not spending their time well then it's a non-starter.
sigh - which is why we have a few years until we need to seriously house hunt...
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2014 14:06     Subject: Good elementary or middle. Which is more important?
Agree that MS and HS are important. you can do extra work at home in elementary school to be ready for the "better" MS.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2014 13:19     Subject: Good elementary or middle. Which is more important?
There may be rezoning in DCC schools in the next few years , so especially if you have young kids, it is really hard to tell. I think a lot may change by the time my young kids are in middle and high school.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2014 12:18     Subject: Good elementary or middle. Which is more important?
I think MS and HS are more important - MS more so because of the peer group component. This is when your kid is most prone to hang with the wrong kids and is the most impressionable. Too hard to predict though.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2014 12:16     Subject: Good elementary or middle. Which is more important?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our current home goes to a decent elementary school, however it goes to a pretty good middle school and high school. My kids are little the oldest starting kindergarten next year. We like a neighborhood with a highly rated elementary school. Houses in this neighborhood cost more and re generally larger with bigger yards than our current home. However the middle school is not the greatest neither is the high school although both my current neighbor hood and the place I am looking are in the moco down county consortium so I guess ultimately the high school isn't as big of a deal. The big question is which is more important? I want to decide now because we have the ability to pay off our mortgage right now which we would only do if we decide this is our forever house.



I would think middle and high school are much more important. That's where the real learning and peer group effects take place.


I am PP who leaned towards es. I agree the learning kicks up a notch in middle school and high school, but I wonder if a kid who has a good es background is in a better position to be in the classes/peer group where advanced learning is occurring.


I suppose. It seems to me that in ES, kids are generally just kids, and barring a few cases the curriculum is generally the same. The peer group issues start to come into effect later in the schooling process. I don't have any real data to back this up though; just my own feelings so take that for what it's worth!
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2014 12:05     Subject: Re:Good elementary or middle. Which is more important?
I'd stay and pay off the mortgage. That's huge! The school will be fine. I think your experience will vary based on specific class/teacher anyway, regardless of the overall "quality" of the school.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2014 12:03     Subject: Good elementary or middle. Which is more important?
ES is 6 years and MS just 3.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2014 11:45     Subject: Good elementary or middle. Which is more important?
Let me guess - you are zoned for ESS, TPMS, Blair, and considering moving to Woodlin, Sligo, Einstein.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2014 10:59     Subject: Good elementary or middle. Which is more important?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our current home goes to a decent elementary school, however it goes to a pretty good middle school and high school. My kids are little the oldest starting kindergarten next year. We like a neighborhood with a highly rated elementary school. Houses in this neighborhood cost more and re generally larger with bigger yards than our current home. However the middle school is not the greatest neither is the high school although both my current neighbor hood and the place I am looking are in the moco down county consortium so I guess ultimately the high school isn't as big of a deal. The big question is which is more important? I want to decide now because we have the ability to pay off our mortgage right now which we would only do if we decide this is our forever house.



I would think middle and high school are much more important. That's where the real learning and peer group effects take place.


I am PP who leaned towards es. I agree the learning kicks up a notch in middle school and high school, but I wonder if a kid who has a good es background is in a better position to be in the classes/peer group where advanced learning is occurring.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2014 10:58     Subject: Good elementary or middle. Which is more important?
I don't really know the answer-- my sense would be the good foundation of a good k-5 experience can matter a lot (who knows, maybe your kid will go to magnet, or consortium middle school)-- but I would suggest that it shouldn't really matter for your decision about whether to pay off the mortgage (unless perhaps the issue is being able to buy a new place before selling this one).
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2014 10:57     Subject: Good elementary or middle. Which is more important?
Anonymous wrote:Our current home goes to a decent elementary school, however it goes to a pretty good middle school and high school. My kids are little the oldest starting kindergarten next year. We like a neighborhood with a highly rated elementary school. Houses in this neighborhood cost more and re generally larger with bigger yards than our current home. However the middle school is not the greatest neither is the high school although both my current neighbor hood and the place I am looking are in the moco down county consortium so I guess ultimately the high school isn't as big of a deal. The big question is which is more important? I want to decide now because we have the ability to pay off our mortgage right now which we would only do if we decide this is our forever house.



I would think middle and high school are much more important. That's where the real learning and peer group effects take place.
Anonymous
Post 01/03/2014 10:46     Subject: Good elementary or middle. Which is more important?
Our current home goes to a decent elementary school, however it goes to a pretty good middle school and high school. My kids are little the oldest starting kindergarten next year. We like a neighborhood with a highly rated elementary school. Houses in this neighborhood cost more and re generally larger with bigger yards than our current home. However the middle school is not the greatest neither is the high school although both my current neighbor hood and the place I am looking are in the moco down county consortium so I guess ultimately the high school isn't as big of a deal. The big question is which is more important? I want to decide now because we have the ability to pay off our mortgage right now which we would only do if we decide this is our forever house.