Anonymous
08/07/2025 21:08
Subject: Has the fall off of MCPS been as bad as people say?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The Takoma Park crowd and County Council has really led the County and MCPS to a bad place. 15 years ago MCPS had the best schools in the DMV. Now, folks are trying wondering what happened and how did it get so bad so quickly. Well, its likely going to get worse, unless the County realizes its mistakes and MCPS will continue the trend of most of the best student leaving for private school which will further erode school performance.
Only those loud minority on DCUM.
Another BOE or MCPS CO or TKPK rah, rah cheerleader? But it won't change the facts, no matter how much you blog here. Go ahead and do the Marie Antoinette thing all you want. Just don't be surprised when TKPK feels the squeeze.
MCPS is sliding and if they don't cut it out, they're headed to the dumpster. And guess what. All those cush six-figure Hungerford CO jobs and TKPK programs and special buses to TJ will be the first things cut from the budget. MCPS really can't read the handwriting on the wall, can they? Let me connect the dots for you.
1. Electric prices are through the roof. Not only are residents pocketbooks hit, but all those shiny electric buses that MCPS bought will draw down their operating budget.
2. Feds are let go. Many of them were in MC (ex. FDA, USDA, etc.). Even though they got a temporary boost from a VERA or VSIP, that money will run out by around xmas. From there, the job market is pretty bleak and you should see a whole bunch of super expensive houses up for fire sale come spring.
3. No expensive houses = less tax revenue = budget shortfall. Who's got the biggest chunk of labor budget who can be cut? You guessed it. MCPS will be belt tightening.
4. MAGA turned all those same TKPK lefties MCPS catered to into omega dogs... so no bailout help coming for at least 3+ years. That's a lot of budget shortfall to eat.
IF MCPS was smart, they'd start drawing down the budget now to avoid teacher cuts. The problem is that when was the last time MCPS did anything that made common sense? My guess is two years from now it will be a bloodbath. And here's the rub - if MCPS does something really stupid like cut academic programs in favor of friends-and-family programs, you can bet that parents will push for vouchers. MC Council won't have any choice but to pass it. Why? Because it's cheaper and they can draw down labor. Once that happens, MCPS will go the way of many, many other metropolitan public school systems and become a place that's more of a penal colony than an educational system.
Y'all better wake up. If you care about public education, better stop playing games.
But whatever. I've said my peace. Y'all can go on and bicker like you always do about how great MCPS is.
This.
Anonymous
08/07/2025 20:42
Subject: Has the fall off of MCPS been as bad as people say?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The Takoma Park crowd and County Council has really led the County and MCPS to a bad place. 15 years ago MCPS had the best schools in the DMV. Now, folks are trying wondering what happened and how did it get so bad so quickly. Well, its likely going to get worse, unless the County realizes its mistakes and MCPS will continue the trend of most of the best student leaving for private school which will further erode school performance.
Only those loud minority on DCUM.
Another BOE or MCPS CO or TKPK rah, rah cheerleader? But it won't change the facts, no matter how much you blog here. Go ahead and do the Marie Antoinette thing all you want. Just don't be surprised when TKPK feels the squeeze.
MCPS is sliding and if they don't cut it out, they're headed to the dumpster. And guess what. All those cush six-figure Hungerford CO jobs and TKPK programs and special buses to TJ will be the first things cut from the budget. MCPS really can't read the handwriting on the wall, can they? Let me connect the dots for you.
1. Electric prices are through the roof. Not only are residents pocketbooks hit, but all those shiny electric buses that MCPS bought will draw down their operating budget.
2. Feds are let go. Many of them were in MC (ex. FDA, USDA, etc.). Even though they got a temporary boost from a VERA or VSIP, that money will run out by around xmas. From there, the job market is pretty bleak and you should see a whole bunch of super expensive houses up for fire sale come spring.
3. No expensive houses = less tax revenue = budget shortfall. Who's got the biggest chunk of labor budget who can be cut? You guessed it. MCPS will be belt tightening.
4. MAGA turned all those same TKPK lefties MCPS catered to into omega dogs... so no bailout help coming for at least 3+ years. That's a lot of budget shortfall to eat.
IF MCPS was smart, they'd start drawing down the budget now to avoid teacher cuts. The problem is that when was the last time MCPS did anything that made common sense? My guess is two years from now it will be a bloodbath. And here's the rub - if MCPS does something really stupid like cut academic programs in favor of friends-and-family programs, you can bet that parents will push for vouchers. MC Council won't have any choice but to pass it. Why? Because it's cheaper and they can draw down labor. Once that happens, MCPS will go the way of many, many other metropolitan public school systems and become a place that's more of a penal colony than an educational system.
Y'all better wake up. If you care about public education, better stop playing games.
But whatever. I've said my peace. Y'all can go on and bicker like you always do about how great MCPS is.
Anonymous
08/07/2025 20:17
Subject: Has the fall off of MCPS been as bad as people say?
Anonymous wrote:The Takoma Park crowd and County Council has really led the County and MCPS to a bad place. 15 years ago MCPS had the best schools in the DMV. Now, folks are trying wondering what happened and how did it get so bad so quickly. Well, its likely going to get worse, unless the County realizes its mistakes and MCPS will continue the trend of most of the best student leaving for private school which will further erode school performance.
Different person. Yup. You nailed it.
Anonymous
08/07/2025 19:50
Subject: Has the fall off of MCPS been as bad as people say?
Anonymous wrote:The Takoma Park crowd and County Council has really led the County and MCPS to a bad place. 15 years ago MCPS had the best schools in the DMV. Now, folks are trying wondering what happened and how did it get so bad so quickly. Well, its likely going to get worse, unless the County realizes its mistakes and MCPS will continue the trend of most of the best student leaving for private school which will further erode school performance.
Only those loud minority on DCUM.
Anonymous
08/07/2025 18:28
Subject: Has the fall off of MCPS been as bad as people say?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The Takoma Park crowd and County Council has really led the County and MCPS to a bad place. 15 years ago MCPS had the best schools in the DMV. Now, folks are trying wondering what happened and how did it get so bad so quickly. Well, its likely going to get worse, unless the County realizes its mistakes and MCPS will continue the trend of most of the best student leaving for private school which will further erode school performance.
So your understanding is that "school performance" is driven by the best students and if those students leave then the schools become worse?
Doesnt it stand to reason?
Anonymous
08/07/2025 17:57
Subject: Has the fall off of MCPS been as bad as people say?
Anonymous wrote:The Takoma Park crowd and County Council has really led the County and MCPS to a bad place. 15 years ago MCPS had the best schools in the DMV. Now, folks are trying wondering what happened and how did it get so bad so quickly. Well, its likely going to get worse, unless the County realizes its mistakes and MCPS will continue the trend of most of the best student leaving for private school which will further erode school performance.
So your understanding is that "school performance" is driven by the best students and if those students leave then the schools become worse?
Anonymous
08/07/2025 17:42
Subject: Has the fall off of MCPS been as bad as people say?
The Takoma Park crowd and County Council has really led the County and MCPS to a bad place. 15 years ago MCPS had the best schools in the DMV. Now, folks are trying wondering what happened and how did it get so bad so quickly. Well, its likely going to get worse, unless the County realizes its mistakes and MCPS will continue the trend of most of the best student leaving for private school which will further erode school performance.
Anonymous
08/07/2025 10:47
Subject: Has the fall off of MCPS been as bad as people say?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What are the chances that all the positive comments are coming from parents of Ws (including "honorary" BCC), Blair/Poolesville magnets or RMIB? The OP/topic clearly is system-wide, and we know MCPS doesn't provide equitable experiences across clusters.
The vast majority of MoCo parents IRL are happy with MCPS.
Most of the ones posting here are private schools parents, trolls and wannabes.
DCUM is not real life.
And that's not true but it's okkay...
It's true. Over 80%
No, it's not.
https://montgomeryperspective.com/2025/03/06/county-survey-resident-perception-of-moco-declines/
K-12 education received a 68% positive rating in 2024. That’s below the 81-82% range of the earlier surveys, a precipitous drop. Superintendent Thomas Taylor’s recommended budget increase is so huge that it will probably require a property tax increase to fully fund. If residents’ perceptions of MCPS are indeed declining, are they willing to pay?
13% response rate. < 1000 responses.
Happy people don’t take surveys.
So 42% of 13% are unhappy. That is 5% so that’s a 95% positivity rating
That response rate is up from 2021. Did you dismiss the previous survey results as invalid based on response rate or do you only dismiss the results when they’re unfavorable to MCPS?
If you have issues with the county’s methodology, take it up with the county.
Anonymous
08/07/2025 10:35
Subject: Has the fall off of MCPS been as bad as people say?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What are the chances that all the positive comments are coming from parents of Ws (including "honorary" BCC), Blair/Poolesville magnets or RMIB? The OP/topic clearly is system-wide, and we know MCPS doesn't provide equitable experiences across clusters.
The vast majority of MoCo parents IRL are happy with MCPS.
Most of the ones posting here are private schools parents, trolls and wannabes.
DCUM is not real life.
And that's not true but it's okkay...
It's true. Over 80%
No, it's not.
https://montgomeryperspective.com/2025/03/06/county-survey-resident-perception-of-moco-declines/
K-12 education received a 68% positive rating in 2024. That’s below the 81-82% range of the earlier surveys, a precipitous drop. Superintendent Thomas Taylor’s recommended budget increase is so huge that it will probably require a property tax increase to fully fund. If residents’ perceptions of MCPS are indeed declining, are they willing to pay?
13% response rate. < 1000 responses.
Happy people don’t take surveys.
So 42% of 13% are unhappy. That is 5% so that’s a 95% positivity rating
Anonymous
08/07/2025 09:36
Subject: Re:Has the fall off of MCPS been as bad as people say?
We have kids at a DCC elementary school (Focus school with demographics pretty close to the county average, i.e. 40%ish FARMS, 30%ish EML, racial demographics similar as well) and are pretty happy. It's not, like, an A+ school experience, but a solid B+/A- type school experience, if you know what I mean? I don't know about how things "used to be" but I certainly wouldn't call things "bad," not for us anyway.
Anonymous
08/07/2025 06:34
Subject: Has the fall off of MCPS been as bad as people say?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What are the chances that all the positive comments are coming from parents of Ws (including "honorary" BCC), Blair/Poolesville magnets or RMIB? The OP/topic clearly is system-wide, and we know MCPS doesn't provide equitable experiences across clusters.
BCC is one school that has been mentioned a lot on this forum and most discussion titles do not seem to be too positive. Can you imagine what it could be like at non-"honorary" W schools?
Who even wants to go to a "W" school. The problem with MCPS is they cooked the rankings, so it is simply Big, Bigger, Biggest. Who wants to go to a big public school with graduating class of 600+, you won't make a sport team or get a leading spot in play or anything else. They may have good test scores, but that is about it, and mostly because they don't have anything else to speak of.
Anonymous
08/06/2025 22:09
Subject: Has the fall off of MCPS been as bad as people say?
Anonymous wrote:In terms of environment, teachers, and college outcomes.
Here is another thread if you need more ideas and reviews
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1195303.page
Anonymous
08/06/2025 21:59
Subject: Has the fall off of MCPS been as bad as people say?
Anonymous wrote:What are the chances that all the positive comments are coming from parents of Ws (including "honorary" BCC), Blair/Poolesville magnets or RMIB? The OP/topic clearly is system-wide, and we know MCPS doesn't provide equitable experiences across clusters.
BCC is one school that has been mentioned a lot on this forum and most discussion titles do not seem to be too positive. Can you imagine what it could be like at non-"honorary" W schools?
Anonymous
08/06/2025 21:47
Subject: Has the fall off of MCPS been as bad as people say?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The demographics in the county have completely changed and MCPS has had to adapt. This has been a challenge in most areas of the country, so definitely not just here. MCPS has made questionable decisions to try to even the playing field including lowering a lot of standards, taking away most homework, and not expecting as much effort from the students. A child with a strong home life can continue to flourish, but the lowered standards can be a tough pill to swallow.
However, for me, this is not the biggest problem in MCPS-the lack of discipline is. Kids being allowed to skip class, talk back, be disrespectful, start fights, talk in class, etc… Even students who are highly motivated and want to learn are getting distracted and unable to have great school experiences.
All kids should have access to rigorous classes with students who are not ruining the class. This starts in elementary where they are allowing horrible behaviors to just stay in class.
So, yes, MCPS has fallen so far.
It looks like favorite president is trying to help if that is what people are concerned
Do you not think that the changing demographics are a problem? If not, you’re very ignorant to the county. We are a sanctuary county and provide for everyone who lands here. This is a fantastic thing and should be celebrated. The problem is trying to even the playing field for everyone who lands in MCPS as a student, even those with significant trauma, little to no schooling, illiterate parents, etc…
I think that all parents would be happy if we had leveled instruction in literacy and math starting in kindergarten and working its way up. This would include actual entry standards for honors level classes. Give kids what they need and most will be happy. We also need more discipline standards from kindergarten up. Regardless of what level classes they are in, they need to show they are ready to learn. If they are not, they need to be with the counselor until they are. Stop hurting the students who are on grade level to bring up the bottom.
The current system isn’t working- a change needs to happen.
When I was in MCPS growing up, we had to have our current teachers approve us if we were interested in honors the next year. LC was given if you missed too many classes. Bring these back.
Anonymous
08/06/2025 21:45
Subject: Has the fall off of MCPS been as bad as people say?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Publics sucked before and COVID drove in the stake. Publics everywhere are nothing but a food distribution and babysitting depot for impoverished, overwhelmed or confused families. Families of clear thinking people are all homeschool or private. Publics everywhere are horrible.
See there are so many people like this posting on this board that it’s near impossible to get meaningful information about how your kid will do (esp because
complaints about how mcps is failing different groups may or may not be relevant to your kid)
Remember this board does not typically have posters from all 25 clusters of schools.