Anonymous
Post 03/06/2024 07:16     Subject: Title 1 elementary schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A friend likes Arcola.

We were at a different Title 1 and left bc my kid was clearly bored and being ignored. We went to a Focus School, which was a nice mix of diversity yet manageable needs.


How were you able to switch? Did you move or get a COSA?


Moved. Got an extra bedroom for the third kid while we were at it.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2024 07:11     Subject: Title 1 elementary schools
My 2 kids have IEP, one gifted & one with learning disability. I have a child bused to title 1 school before for IEP services, and I don't like the atmosphere and experiences. I think teachers there are overwhelmed with workload, and there seems to be a lot of Hispanic families because every announcer speaks in English & then Spanish translation. Only good thing is that they provide free breakfast/lunch for every kids, and they seem to have more activities.

I think my kids are better off in regular home elementary school even though class size is bigger. I think it was just me feeling overwhelmed with culture shock, and I bet kids would do fine in any school.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2024 20:31     Subject: Title 1 elementary schools
Anonymous wrote:A friend likes Arcola.

We were at a different Title 1 and left bc my kid was clearly bored and being ignored. We went to a Focus School, which was a nice mix of diversity yet manageable needs.


How were you able to switch? Did you move or get a COSA?
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2024 19:35     Subject: Title 1 elementary schools
We’re at ESS (a focus school) and it’s been a nice mix of challenging classes (the reading and math specialists in the upper grades are terrific) and their special ed services have been really good. They also have a preschool program that recently was looking for enrollees (both typically developing and with delays). I can’t recall if it’s income restricted. But overall, I think having dedicated special ed programs in the school means the special ed services for the whole school is just better resourced/staffed.

Focus schools also have smaller class sizes for the younger grades and that’s been very helpful.

I recommend looking at the mcps “at a glance” sheets for each school.

Anonymous
Post 03/05/2024 18:33     Subject: Re:Title 1 elementary schools
Anonymous wrote:So my quick take is that the wealthiest area schools often functionally have the most resources since the level of need per student is lower. Title 1 and focus schools have extra resources but this is in responsible to the very high needs of this population so your kids will be competing for resources with kids often with high needs. My children went to a focus school and yes the smaller class size was great as were some of the other resources. However because the school was high farms and high els it still struggled to meet the needs of special education students (504 plans or IEPs) and gifted students. If you need to live in a geography that sends to a Title 1 or Focus school, these can be very good schools that meet the high need of their students. But, realize you are moving into an area of high need students. Often these schools will have a less involved parent population (parents working multiple jobs) so the schools will not have the parent financial and volunteer support available at other schools. My advice for someone with a special needs child is I think the old adage of get the cheapest housing in the wealthiest area. As for gifted, the wealthy areas will also have more resources since more parents will be providing tutoring and pushing for accelerated options. If your child is very gifted then there are true gifted magnet programs, which require budding usually, that they can attempt to gain entrance to.


As someone who works at an affluent school, I'd say we get the least amount of resources because it's seen as we can handle it and don't need it. We get less staffing...we don't have focus teachers, extra special Education teachers, full time reading initiative, and larger class sizes. The most we have for the gifted kid is elc and compact math. We do have a great pta.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2024 18:07     Subject: Title 1 elementary schools
A friend likes Arcola.

We were at a different Title 1 and left bc my kid was clearly bored and being ignored. We went to a Focus School, which was a nice mix of diversity yet manageable needs.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2024 17:57     Subject: Title 1 elementary schools
Seems wrong for Oak View to lose Title 1 status. Clearly due to having the GT program because otherwise the same kids from New Hampshire Estates would be there and there would be no difference.
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 21:04     Subject: Re:Title 1 elementary schools
I agree with this. My DD is in a title 1 school. The class size is small and gets smaller when kids are pulled or are absent. There are many inclusion opportunities. My DD is on the higher end academically and she is making nice progress. She loves the school but tells me she is bored (although that is not uncommon for kids her age to say that) and has peers that seem to be at her level or above but I would say the majority of the kids are not (she is bright but not off the charts). The kids that need the services get them, which is great. I feel that there is some differentiation/enrichment but that is sometimes derailed due to behavior of other kids.

However (and it is not like this at all title 1 schools) there is very little parent involvement in PTA so that means there are limited to no after school clubs, not many school wide events unless organized by the staff and just the way the boundaries are drawn there is not a neighborhood feeling to the school. Also, there is a high mobility rate meaning many students move in or out of the school.

I went to a high school that I think was the equivalent of a W school and I know I didn't want that for my child. I think the title 1 is fine for what it is but I do wish I had moved somewhere that offered just a bit more then what the school does.

Anonymous wrote:So my quick take is that the wealthiest area schools often functionally have the most resources since the level of need per student is lower. Title 1 and focus schools have extra resources but this is in responsible to the very high needs of this population so your kids will be competing for resources with kids often with high needs. My children went to a focus school and yes the smaller class size was great as were some of the other resources. However because the school was high farms and high els it still struggled to meet the needs of special education students (504 plans or IEPs) and gifted students. If you need to live in a geography that sends to a Title 1 or Focus school, these can be very good schools that meet the high need of their students. But, realize you are moving into an area of high need students. Often these schools will have a less involved parent population (parents working multiple jobs) so the schools will not have the parent financial and volunteer support available at other schools. My advice for someone with a special needs child is I think the old adage of get the cheapest housing in the wealthiest area. As for gifted, the wealthy areas will also have more resources since more parents will be providing tutoring and pushing for accelerated options. If your child is very gifted then there are true gifted magnet programs, which require budding usually, that they can attempt to gain entrance to.
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 17:03     Subject: Title 1 elementary schools
Anonymous wrote:What are the "best" title 1 elementary schools in MCPS? I have one kid with SNs and and one "gifted" kid.


There are none. Try to avoid when looking at housing. They're only going to get worse as the population continues to grow in the county.
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 16:02     Subject: Re:Title 1 elementary schools
Anonymous wrote:So my quick take is that the wealthiest area schools often functionally have the most resources since the level of need per student is lower. Title 1 and focus schools have extra resources but this is in responsible to the very high needs of this population so your kids will be competing for resources with kids often with high needs. My children went to a focus school and yes the smaller class size was great as were some of the other resources. However because the school was high farms and high els it still struggled to meet the needs of special education students (504 plans or IEPs) and gifted students. If you need to live in a geography that sends to a Title 1 or Focus school, these can be very good schools that meet the high need of their students. But, realize you are moving into an area of high need students. Often these schools will have a less involved parent population (parents working multiple jobs) so the schools will not have the parent financial and volunteer support available at other schools. My advice for someone with a special needs child is I think the old adage of get the cheapest housing in the wealthiest area. As for gifted, the wealthy areas will also have more resources since more parents will be providing tutoring and pushing for accelerated options. If your child is very gifted then there are true gifted magnet programs, which require budding usually, that they can attempt to gain entrance to.


My kids go to a Title I school and my observation is that the school serves both kids who need extra help and kids who need extra enrichment very well. Class sizes are also smaller. There is also an active PTA.

OP should just decide where she wants to live for commute and neighborhood, and narrow it down from there. There is no “best” school or type of school. It’s all the same school system and other than true outlier situations of ineffective management of a school, the experience is not going to be all that different on a school-by-school basis.
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 15:54     Subject: Title 1 elementary schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Certain schools have special education magnets and therefore more resource teachers.

Flora Singer is one that has some moderate income housing.

New Hampshire Estates has a special ed preschool which brings in higher numbers of therapeutic staff. NHE has a variety of housing and reasonable housing prices. The neighborhoods off of Flower have great single family home neighborhoods.


Question - do those extra staff mean there is extra support for students that are not part of the special ed magnet or preschool? In other words if your kid is not placed in the special ed magnet program (I assume you are referring to the Learning Center) then does it matter that the school has that program?


It helps in a couple of ways. Your student is more likely to have their needs on their IEP fulfilled if there are more staff in the school. Also the staff in general is more aware of concerns and needs than in a school with fewer high needs kids. And, there is some incidental therapy that happens. My child did not qualify for a speech IEP however the speech therapist is in the classroom multiple time a day and is able to give small interventions along the way.


Thanks!
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 15:06     Subject: Title 1 elementary schools
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Certain schools have special education magnets and therefore more resource teachers.

Flora Singer is one that has some moderate income housing.

New Hampshire Estates has a special ed preschool which brings in higher numbers of therapeutic staff. NHE has a variety of housing and reasonable housing prices. The neighborhoods off of Flower have great single family home neighborhoods.


Question - do those extra staff mean there is extra support for students that are not part of the special ed magnet or preschool? In other words if your kid is not placed in the special ed magnet program (I assume you are referring to the Learning Center) then does it matter that the school has that program?


It helps in a couple of ways. Your student is more likely to have their needs on their IEP fulfilled if there are more staff in the school. Also the staff in general is more aware of concerns and needs than in a school with fewer high needs kids. And, there is some incidental therapy that happens. My child did not qualify for a speech IEP however the speech therapist is in the classroom multiple time a day and is able to give small interventions along the way.
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 14:39     Subject: Re:Title 1 elementary schools
So my quick take is that the wealthiest area schools often functionally have the most resources since the level of need per student is lower. Title 1 and focus schools have extra resources but this is in responsible to the very high needs of this population so your kids will be competing for resources with kids often with high needs. My children went to a focus school and yes the smaller class size was great as were some of the other resources. However because the school was high farms and high els it still struggled to meet the needs of special education students (504 plans or IEPs) and gifted students. If you need to live in a geography that sends to a Title 1 or Focus school, these can be very good schools that meet the high need of their students. But, realize you are moving into an area of high need students. Often these schools will have a less involved parent population (parents working multiple jobs) so the schools will not have the parent financial and volunteer support available at other schools. My advice for someone with a special needs child is I think the old adage of get the cheapest housing in the wealthiest area. As for gifted, the wealthy areas will also have more resources since more parents will be providing tutoring and pushing for accelerated options. If your child is very gifted then there are true gifted magnet programs, which require budding usually, that they can attempt to gain entrance to.
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 14:26     Subject: Title 1 elementary schools
Anonymous wrote:Certain schools have special education magnets and therefore more resource teachers.

Flora Singer is one that has some moderate income housing.

New Hampshire Estates has a special ed preschool which brings in higher numbers of therapeutic staff. NHE has a variety of housing and reasonable housing prices. The neighborhoods off of Flower have great single family home neighborhoods.


Question - do those extra staff mean there is extra support for students that are not part of the special ed magnet or preschool? In other words if your kid is not placed in the special ed magnet program (I assume you are referring to the Learning Center) then does it matter that the school has that program?
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 14:17     Subject: Title 1 elementary schools
Certain schools have special education magnets and therefore more resource teachers.

Flora Singer is one that has some moderate income housing.

New Hampshire Estates has a special ed preschool which brings in higher numbers of therapeutic staff. NHE has a variety of housing and reasonable housing prices. The neighborhoods off of Flower have great single family home neighborhoods.