Reading this thread makes me think the education system in this country is completely broken. And it is actually distressing that parents are trying to convince themselves that this is all ok

Anonymous wrote:I agree that there's a big difference between "overcrowded" meaning the building wasn't designed to hold that many kids, and "large class size". Predicting class size is probably unreliable over the short term, and predicting over-crowding is unreliable over the longer term.

It doesn't matter, most MCPS have overcrowded schools AND classrooms. 10 kindergartens in one elementary school. INSANE!!! I can not believe people really like this system.

I agree that there's a big difference between "overcrowded" meaning the building wasn't designed to hold that many kids, and "large class size". Predicting class size is probably unreliable over the short term, and predicting over-crowding is unreliable over the longer term.

Bethesda Elementary School parent here. My child had 28 kids in kindergarden class last year; I think all three K classes had about that number of students. Yet my child's class was orderly; a lot of learning happened; and my child was happy.
This year it's again quite a large class, about 27-28 kids (there are transients--many, but not all, are military families or families associated with the Naval Medical Center somehow who parachute in for a few months and leave). Again, my child's class is orderly; the teacher is calm and wonderful, and my child has a lot of friends.
The entering K class this year for some reason is 20-21 kids. I am beyond jealous. It just happens--families hear about large classes and make other choices, so classes shrink and then people crowd in and classes grow again.

I observed some fine schools in Washington, D.C. before moving to Bethesda. Some seemed chaotic, particularly at dismissal. We are very, very happy at BE, both with teachers, the principal, and the level of services that we are receiving. I do wish there were more music (it's once a week), but I can supplement that.

Montgomery county has a standard for kindergarten class size. If you click on this link - http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2012/05/mcps-class-sizes-and-school-staffing.html. It says 27 or less for under grade 3 and 29 or less in grades 4 and 5. So class size between 25-29ish appears planned and standard in MCPS.

If you want to know which schools have portables because they have more students than the building can hold - look at this document from feb. 2012. One of the appendixs has info on portables. Downcounty consoritum has 75 in total - who knew? http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/pdf/agenda/cm/2012/120206/20120206_ED2-3.pdf
It also gives you some idea about where they are building additions, where they are going to tear down the whole school and rebuild. There might be a similar document for 2013, but google did not disclose that.

Anonymous wrote:Rosemary Hills - 10 Ks and my daughter has 25 kids. It was 26 but one moved away.

Wow - we have 7 K's and I thought that was bad

My daughter's grade was always on the brink of getting a new teacher if 1-2 more students enrolled. But of course 5-7 kids would come in DURING the school year and that doesn't count. So, yes they can get to 30+ in the school year but usually not to start. She had mid 20's in K-2, 29 in 3rd (33 in math!), and then 27-31 in 4/5 depending on class and fluctuations. We r in RM cluster. They are ALL over crowded. 4+ Portables at every elementary. JW is a scary scary undisciplined middle school that is beyond crowded.

Rosemary Hills - 10 Ks and my daughter has 25 kids. It was 26 but one moved away.