I just came back from a Westland intro night for parents from North Chevy Chase and Chevy Chase Elementaries whose kids are entering 7th grade. I was very impressed by the presentation. As far as being bored, or not challenged - how is that possible? My kid will have four high school classes under her belt by the time she finishes up at Westland. I think it's TOO accelerated for a 7th grader to have two high school classes, but all of my kid's peer group are in the same position.

My child did one year of middle school and we pulled her. She was in IM and it was her only challenging class. She had no homework, easy grades, very bored. Hated the mix up of classes with complete "loudmouth, I don't care about school" attitude kids in her other classes. If they put kids in classes according to ability it would be so much better for the kids and teachers. But that will never happen. We moved to private and it has been such a positive experience for us. She is learning, it is challenging, tons of outside of the box assignments, field trips, 30min of HW for all 5 subjects. mandatory sports, lost of art, music and study skills courses. They work hard but she loves it. I hope to move my other 2 before they enter middle school.

Anonymous wrote:
Seriously considering private school...disgusted with our Bethesda MCPS elementary school-
but wondering if things improve In the middle/high school level? Has 2.0 been introduced beyond
elementary school?

2.0 = IB practices implemented at the elementary level.

How hard is it for people to understand that?

The parents who have a difficult time with 2.0 are not the brightest bulbs. It's too gray. They want black and white and As and Bs.

I was the PP that posted about hearing good things about Pyle. I haven't heard anything about Westland at all -- neither positive, nor negative. It's just that all my friends are in the Pyle cluster. I have also heard positive things about Whitman (and again, nothing about BCC--but only because we are not in that cluster). We are happy with our private, but now that we are out of the elementary school, I look at MCPS as a very viable option if things change at the private.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard amazing things about Pyle -- if that is your middle school. We ended up in private after 3rd grade at our Bethesda elementary school and I am SO happy.

I have also heard good things about Pyle (from a friend who took one child out of private for Pyle).

We have one at Pyle and one at Whitman, and have been very happy with both. We think the teachers at Pyle are outstanding for the most part, though the community lost an absolutely top-notch algebra teacher with the passing of Mr. Witzenburg las year.

We now have our second at Westland and are generally happy. I think the administration is good and responsive, the curriculum is pretty good and engaging. We did not like BCC and ended up pulling the older one and going private. We may have just had a bad draw at BCC, but found the teachers uninspired, and the students unengaged (and yes, this was honors). There is a huge emphasis on acceleration and testing and not enough focus on engagement, passion and interest in learning.

We are very happy with our Silver Spring ES. Even happier when I compare what my child is experiencing compared to my sister in NC and friend in DC.

Anonymous wrote:It seems that there are many families who are disappointed in Westland Middle School. If you are in a Bethesda ES, that may be your concern. Families seem to generally be happy with Pyle but much less so with Westland. Not sure what the significant differences are.

there isn't a bit of doffernce between westland and pyle. we had kids in each school and they were carbon copies of each other. One went to Westland becuase of an after school activity they did in dc and it was a time saver to get them there.

our kids did the BE Westland thing and couldn't be happier.

but then again haters will hate no matter what the school

It seems that there are many families who are disappointed in Westland Middle School. If you are in a Bethesda ES, that may be your concern. Families seem to generally be happy with Pyle but much less so with Westland. Not sure what the significant differences are.

OP we decided for a number of reasons to start with private school rather than go to our Bethesda MCPS. It was probably still the right decision for early elementary but our DC is now in MCPS nd wishes he had moved earlier. More challenging classes, more motivated peer group, much better fit overall. But if its not a fit for your kid and a private school that s/he can get into is the right fit then by all means move. Make sure the private school really is a better fit though - paying for it does not necessarily make it better. Many private schools, especially the progressive ones, look a lot more like 2.0 than not.