Anonymous wrote:I'm a black PG county teacher. I completely understand where you're coming from. My fourth grade daughter goes to a school where she's been either the only black kid or one of two black kids in the whole grade level each year. Two years ago, she asked if she could go to a school with "kids who look like me." She said that no one has been mean to her or made her feel bad about being different, but she still doesn't like being the only one. From my own observations, I have noticed that none of the boys she likes have liked her back. I don't know how much race has to do with that, but I worry that eventually it will be an issue. Physically, she looks like a young Serena Williams because of all of the gymnastics and swimming. She also started puberty last year, so she's developing. She definitely stands out among the skinny blue-eyed, blonde haired kids at her school. Sending her to a PG County school isn't an option. I teach at a well regarded charter where staff get preference in the lottery. As nice as my school is, it's substantially lower in terms of academics, athletics, and exposure. I'm hoping middle and high school will be a little better as the black kids from the surrounding feeder schools will hopefully give her a bigger pool of people she can relate to. Perhaps a middle school equivalent of the "Black Student Alliance" you see at most PWIs.

Anonymous wrote:We've been in MoCo for 11 years now and our daughter is now in 4th grade. She has tons of friend, does well academically and has a healthy dose of self-esteem, which includes pride in being African-American. However, she is ALWAYS the only one in her class and I would love for her to have the experience of going to school with other African-American children. We are involved in Jack and Jill, so she has that as an outlet but it is not the same as going to school with other Black children. I grew up in a similar environment until I was around a sophomore in high school and then my parents moved states and I ended up at a high school with a population that was around 40% black. It made the world of difference to me - I had friends who looked like me; I dated and was asked to homecoming and prom, etc. I worry my daughter won't get to experience these things in our environment and don't want her to have to wait until college, particularly if she goes to an HBCU, to experience these things. I would love any thoughts or input on this issue.

Anonymous wrote:You could always stay within MoCo- my daughter’s school is less than 5% white and is 66% black. Move east!

Anonymous wrote:I second moving East. The DCC and NEC have lots of families like yours (we’re one and DH and I teach many others) and the kids are thriving academically and socially. Network with other parents now in late ES. I still keep in touch with my Mocha Moms group although I returned to work 13 years ago. Get your DD linked up with MSP starting in MS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could always stay within MoCo- my daughter’s school is less than 5% white and is 66% black. Move east!

What school is this? This is OP.

Anonymous wrote:You could always stay within MoCo- my daughter’s school is less than 5% white and is 66% black. Move east!

Anonymous wrote:I'm a black PG county teacher. I completely understand where you're coming from. My fourth grade daughter goes to a school where she's been either the only black kid or one of two black kids in the whole grade level each year. Two years ago, she asked if she could go to a school with "kids who look like me." She said that no one has been mean to her or made her feel bad about being different, but she still doesn't like being the only one. From my own observations, I have noticed that none of the boys she likes have liked her back. I don't know how much race has to do with that, but I worry that eventually it will be an issue. Physically, she looks like a young Serena Williams because of all of the gymnastics and swimming. She also started puberty last year, so she's developing. She definitely stands out among the skinny blue-eyed, blonde haired kids at her school. Sending her to a PG County school isn't an option. I teach at a well regarded charter where staff get preference in the lottery. As nice as my school is, it's substantially lower in terms of academics, athletics, and exposure. I'm hoping middle and high school will be a little better as the black kids from the surrounding feeder schools will hopefully give her a bigger pool of people she can relate to. Perhaps a middle school equivalent of the "Black Student Alliance" you see at most PWIs.