Anonymous
Post 09/17/2024 15:15     Subject: Re:Updated views on Rosemary Hills post Covid as compared to private?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think with the current state of MCPS, getting feedback from parents that the school is "OK" is a positive thing. When parents tell you a school is bad, believe them. But "ok" means the school is pretty acceptable. There is a smaller and smaller pool of schools that parents rave about and feel is great in MCPS these days thanks to the wreckage that McKnight and Felder left behind. But maybe Taylor will turn things around. We'll have to wait and see.

You mean the so-called parents on DCUM, because IRL of 80% of parents are fine with MCPS.


I disagree. Lots of people I know in real life are unhappy with MCPS and some of them are moving over to private school. I'm sure OP has seen the thread about the "Is MCPS Losing Its Edge" piece.

OP, I agree with PPs telling you to go private if you can afford it. You can have a just fine experience at RHES but elementary school could be so much better and so much more joyful than what MCPS currently provides. RHES was pretty meh for my kids who attended during COVID but the issue isn't RHES, it's MCPS. Class sizes are getting bigger (thank you budget cuts!). RHES is big but I think the bigger problem is the split articulation, we felt like we never put roots down anywhere. And longer-term consideration: MCPS offers some advanced math pathways starting in grade 4 but the reading and writing curriculum is weak. My kids completed a lot of worksheets and Chromebook assignments grades K-5.


Be aware about what they market as "advanced" math. There are students who need MORE than that crappy Math 4/5 and Math 5/6 in ES. There are students who need more starting in younger grades and no they should not have to be bussed to another school to receive math instruction not just another damn worksheet. When you ask teachers for more math, they will give an additional worksheet, maybe. When you ask the "leader" in the school to start offering a more advanced pathway (by asking them in Kindergarten so they have time to set up a class and hire qualified teacher), they don't. But over there in a MCP ES in the western part of the county, students DO receive math leading them to Algebra in 6th. Not just one lone student or a few students in a class with students in the grade above. When you ask the school counselor, they will say they don't handle math. Lol. When you ask school content lead, they will repeat what anyone can already read on the outdated mcps website. When you ask Central Office math department questions about math, they will ask to take your name and # so their person overseeing math can call you back. Call back? BS.


I'm skeptical that there are many students who need even more advanced math options than what MCPS offers. I've read elsewhere on this board about parents pushing for some schools to create Algebra 1 classes for 6th graders. I'd be interested to know how those kids fare later in high school and whether they end up with knowledge gaps. If lots of kids are bored with Math 4/5 or 5/6, that suggests to me the class is not being taught well or going deep enough into the material, not that the kids have mastered several years of math and are ready for Algebra 1 in 6th grade.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2024 13:59     Subject: Updated views on Rosemary Hills post Covid as compared to private?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I woud reach out to your neighborhood listserv about experience with the school.


Why? So, families at RHES can do as poster 9/13, 12:01 wrote up-thread?:

"I'm the PP and I'm not trying to be a jerk, but as public school parents in diverse schools, a lot of us are just sick of being asked to talk other parents into choosing our schools over private.

If you can afford it, private will give you smaller class sizes, individualized attention, and segregation from the masses.

If that's what you feel like your child needs, great. We will accept your property taxes without adding another child to our already full schools."


Because you don't get anonymous opinions there.


Why should other parents have to try to sell the school to incoming parents? That should be the job of mcps if they could ever do it.


As a parent, I value my child being in school with students whose parents care enough about their education to look into it. I don't sell parents on our public school, but I'm happy to provide them the information they need to consider whether the school is a fit for them. These are the same parents who will volunteer and advocate for improvements.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2024 13:56     Subject: Re:Updated views on Rosemary Hills post Covid as compared to private?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think with the current state of MCPS, getting feedback from parents that the school is "OK" is a positive thing. When parents tell you a school is bad, believe them. But "ok" means the school is pretty acceptable. There is a smaller and smaller pool of schools that parents rave about and feel is great in MCPS these days thanks to the wreckage that McKnight and Felder left behind. But maybe Taylor will turn things around. We'll have to wait and see.

You mean the so-called parents on DCUM, because IRL of 80% of parents are fine with MCPS.


I disagree. Lots of people I know in real life are unhappy with MCPS and some of them are moving over to private school. I'm sure OP has seen the thread about the "Is MCPS Losing Its Edge" piece.

OP, I agree with PPs telling you to go private if you can afford it. You can have a just fine experience at RHES but elementary school could be so much better and so much more joyful than what MCPS currently provides. RHES was pretty meh for my kids who attended during COVID but the issue isn't RHES, it's MCPS. Class sizes are getting bigger (thank you budget cuts!). RHES is big but I think the bigger problem is the split articulation, we felt like we never put roots down anywhere. And longer-term consideration: MCPS offers some advanced math pathways starting in grade 4 but the reading and writing curriculum is weak. My kids completed a lot of worksheets and Chromebook assignments grades K-5.


Understatement.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2024 13:49     Subject: Re:Updated views on Rosemary Hills post Covid as compared to private?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think with the current state of MCPS, getting feedback from parents that the school is "OK" is a positive thing. When parents tell you a school is bad, believe them. But "ok" means the school is pretty acceptable. There is a smaller and smaller pool of schools that parents rave about and feel is great in MCPS these days thanks to the wreckage that McKnight and Felder left behind. But maybe Taylor will turn things around. We'll have to wait and see.

You mean the so-called parents on DCUM, because IRL of 80% of parents are fine with MCPS.


I disagree. Lots of people I know in real life are unhappy with MCPS and some of them are moving over to private school. I'm sure OP has seen the thread about the "Is MCPS Losing Its Edge" piece.

OP, I agree with PPs telling you to go private if you can afford it. You can have a just fine experience at RHES but elementary school could be so much better and so much more joyful than what MCPS currently provides. RHES was pretty meh for my kids who attended during COVID but the issue isn't RHES, it's MCPS. Class sizes are getting bigger (thank you budget cuts!). RHES is big but I think the bigger problem is the split articulation, we felt like we never put roots down anywhere. And longer-term consideration: MCPS offers some advanced math pathways starting in grade 4 but the reading and writing curriculum is weak. My kids completed a lot of worksheets and Chromebook assignments grades K-5.


Be aware about what they market as "advanced" math. There are students who need MORE than that crappy Math 4/5 and Math 5/6 in ES. There are students who need more starting in younger grades and no they should not have to be bussed to another school to receive math instruction not just another damn worksheet. When you ask teachers for more math, they will give an additional worksheet, maybe. When you ask the "leader" in the school to start offering a more advanced pathway (by asking them in Kindergarten so they have time to set up a class and hire qualified teacher), they don't. But over there in a MCP ES in the western part of the county, students DO receive math leading them to Algebra in 6th. Not just one lone student or a few students in a class with students in the grade above. When you ask the school counselor, they will say they don't handle math. Lol. When you ask school content lead, they will repeat what anyone can already read on the outdated mcps website. When you ask Central Office math department questions about math, they will ask to take your name and # so their person overseeing math can call you back. Call back? BS.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2024 13:26     Subject: Updated views on Rosemary Hills post Covid as compared to private?
OP, you can look up last year's teacher and parent survey results for RHES here: https://sharedaccountability.mcpsmd.org/SurveyResults/content.php

Seems like the teachers don't love it but parents are generally fine.

I went to private ES as a child and my kid just started K at a MCPS ES in Silver Spring (not RHES). I do really love having my kid at a neighborhood school. It is nice to be part of the community. And the older kids in the neighborhood in the public MS and HS all seem really smart, polite and would appear to have very bright futures ahead.
Anonymous
Post 09/17/2024 12:51     Subject: Re:Updated views on Rosemary Hills post Covid as compared to private?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think with the current state of MCPS, getting feedback from parents that the school is "OK" is a positive thing. When parents tell you a school is bad, believe them. But "ok" means the school is pretty acceptable. There is a smaller and smaller pool of schools that parents rave about and feel is great in MCPS these days thanks to the wreckage that McKnight and Felder left behind. But maybe Taylor will turn things around. We'll have to wait and see.

You mean the so-called parents on DCUM, because IRL of 80% of parents are fine with MCPS.


I disagree. Lots of people I know in real life are unhappy with MCPS and some of them are moving over to private school. I'm sure OP has seen the thread about the "Is MCPS Losing Its Edge" piece.

OP, I agree with PPs telling you to go private if you can afford it. You can have a just fine experience at RHES but elementary school could be so much better and so much more joyful than what MCPS currently provides. RHES was pretty meh for my kids who attended during COVID but the issue isn't RHES, it's MCPS. Class sizes are getting bigger (thank you budget cuts!). RHES is big but I think the bigger problem is the split articulation, we felt like we never put roots down anywhere. And longer-term consideration: MCPS offers some advanced math pathways starting in grade 4 but the reading and writing curriculum is weak. My kids completed a lot of worksheets and Chromebook assignments grades K-5.
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2024 15:45     Subject: Updated views on Rosemary Hills post Covid as compared to private?
I have a child there and definitely don't feel the need to recruit other parents. People should do what they thing is best for their kids, and I don't see it as my role to try to persuade anyone to send their kids to RHES.

That said, I'm happy to answer questions if OP still has them.
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2024 15:34     Subject: Updated views on Rosemary Hills post Covid as compared to private?
Private schools recruitment in progress...
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2024 14:20     Subject: Updated views on Rosemary Hills post Covid as compared to private?
My advice is to OP is to apply to the privates that interest you and make the decision in March when you have had more time to gather information.
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2024 12:59     Subject: Updated views on Rosemary Hills post Covid as compared to private?
Kid at Rosemary Hills pre Covid.

At the time these were 8 K classes with 25 students per class. Lunch and recess can be chaotic.

Loved that everything at the school is geared to younger kids since it is K-2. Library, playground, etc …..

My child had one okay teacher and 2 really amazing teachers. The specials teachers were also very good. Not sure if the same ones are still there.

The downside for me, which is not Rosemary Hills specific, was the curriculum.

I think this decision is also very child dependent. For a shy, anxious child private might be better if you can afford it.
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2024 12:47     Subject: Updated views on Rosemary Hills post Covid as compared to private?
If you can afford private, go private. That is always the default.
-- MCPS teacher
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2024 12:37     Subject: Updated views on Rosemary Hills post Covid as compared to private?
Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP and I'm not trying to be a jerk, but as public school parents in diverse schools, a lot of us are just sick of being asked to talk other parents into choosing our schools over private.

If you can afford it, private will give you smaller class sizes, individualized attention, and segregation from the masses.

If that's what you feel like your child needs, great. We will accept your property taxes without adding another child to our already full schools.


I have 2 kids in HS so my Rosemary Hills info is out of date but I absolutely feel like the poster above. There are absolutely gaps in MCPS education and if I had understood that 12+ years ago, I may have considered private schools seriously.

That said, I actually think K-2 is fine. That’s not where the issue is.
Anonymous
Post 09/15/2024 12:18     Subject: Updated views on Rosemary Hills post Covid as compared to private?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I woud reach out to your neighborhood listserv about experience with the school.


Why? So, families at RHES can do as poster 9/13, 12:01 wrote up-thread?:

"I'm the PP and I'm not trying to be a jerk, but as public school parents in diverse schools, a lot of us are just sick of being asked to talk other parents into choosing our schools over private.

If you can afford it, private will give you smaller class sizes, individualized attention, and segregation from the masses.

If that's what you feel like your child needs, great. We will accept your property taxes without adding another child to our already full schools."


Because you don't get anonymous opinions there.


Why should other parents have to try to sell the school to incoming parents? That should be the job of mcps if they could ever do it.
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2024 16:08     Subject: Updated views on Rosemary Hills post Covid as compared to private?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I woud reach out to your neighborhood listserv about experience with the school.


Why? So, families at RHES can do as poster 9/13, 12:01 wrote up-thread?:

"I'm the PP and I'm not trying to be a jerk, but as public school parents in diverse schools, a lot of us are just sick of being asked to talk other parents into choosing our schools over private.

If you can afford it, private will give you smaller class sizes, individualized attention, and segregation from the masses.

If that's what you feel like your child needs, great. We will accept your property taxes without adding another child to our already full schools."


Because you don't get anonymous opinions there.
Anonymous
Post 09/14/2024 15:35     Subject: Updated views on Rosemary Hills post Covid as compared to private?
Anonymous wrote:OP, I woud reach out to your neighborhood listserv about experience with the school.


Why? So, families at RHES can do as poster 9/13, 12:01 wrote up-thread?:

"I'm the PP and I'm not trying to be a jerk, but as public school parents in diverse schools, a lot of us are just sick of being asked to talk other parents into choosing our schools over private.

If you can afford it, private will give you smaller class sizes, individualized attention, and segregation from the masses.

If that's what you feel like your child needs, great. We will accept your property taxes without adding another child to our already full schools."