Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Which school offers 2 to 3 recesses a day"

+1 I would love that in K

Also curious which school.

Not the previous poster, but we moved to the Seattle suburbs a few years ago from the Falls church area. Our school has a 15 minute morning recess and 30 minute lunch recess for K-5th graders. K-3rd graders get an additional 10 minute afternoon recess. At first, I thought this was such a waste of time - think 5 minute before and after each recess for transition periods, but the school is a pressure cooker and recess has a lot of redeeming qualities. Oh - and they also go out in the rain (but not pouring raining) so gortex is Queen.

If they couldn't go out in the rain they'd rarely ever go outside . And I knowbc we moved to falls church from north of seattle last year.

Anonymous wrote:

I am very happy with the education "I" am giving my child!
His MCPS elementary school has a good reputation, but only compared to the generally abysmal US standards. What makes me happy is how I supplement in math, writing, music, general culture, so that he can reach our family standards.

I would withdraw my child from his MCPS elementary school if I were you, PP. His experiences in school might contaminate him and reduce his chances of reaching your family standards. And you're providing all of the actual education already anyway, as you say. You would probably also make his teachers happier, if they no longer had a student whose parent has such contempt for the work they do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Which school offers 2 to 3 recesses a day"

+1 I would love that in K

Also curious which school.

Not the previous poster, but we moved to the Seattle suburbs a few years ago from the Falls church area. Our school has a 15 minute morning recess and 30 minute lunch recess for K-5th graders. K-3rd graders get an additional 10 minute afternoon recess. At first, I thought this was such a waste of time - think 5 minute before and after each recess for transition periods, but the school is a pressure cooker and recess has a lot of redeeming qualities. Oh - and they also go out in the rain (but not pouring raining) so gortex is Queen.

A lot of FCPS schools have what many consider 3 recess periods in kindergarten. There are two periods outside and then an indoor playtime at the end of the day. None of the schools near us have 3 recess periods outside.

Anonymous wrote:"Which school offers 2 to 3 recesses a day"

+1 I would love that in K

Also curious which school.

"Which school offers 2 to 3 recesses a day"

+1 I would love that in K

Anonymous wrote:FCPS Kindergarten. I give the school and education a 9.

We are actually zoned for a supposedly mediocre school based on greatschools. I was concerned solely based on this number. Because our school is not deemed prestigious, class sizes are small. My son's kindergarten class has 22 students and the teacher is truly marvelous. We are not a title 1 school. We have a fairly large Hispanic population but the families seem warm and friendly. My son LOVES going to school daily. Very satisfied with the curriculum, pace and specials. For some reason, I thought there would not be any play because I kept hearing about teaching to the test but my 5yo has 2-3 recesses per day, plenty of time to eat lunch and snack, has centers (DS considers this play), PE 4 times per week, Music and Art (not sure how often the special is but they seem to do art daily in the actual classroom).

I am thrilled that DH did not cave to me buying a home in the Haycock or similar boundary.

Which school offers 2 to 3 recesses a day

Anonymous wrote:I'd give my children's MoCo public high school about a 7. The teachers are generally excellent and the standards are high. I dislike how large the school is and the lack of more time during the day for social emotional learning, study halls, extracurriculars, getting help from teachers.

I can't comment on the lower grades because we moved here from another state.

To be clear, that's 7 with 10 being the best, 1 being the worst.

I'd give my children's MoCo public high school about a 7. The teachers are generally excellent and the standards are high. I dislike how large the school is and the lack of more time during the day for social emotional learning, study halls, extracurriculars, getting help from teachers.

I can't comment on the lower grades because we moved here from another state.

In Arlington, kids from elementary to high school.

Love the teachers, loathe the superintendent. Gifted services have been unsatisfactory, but ensuring that those teachers are providing something of value would require better guidance from on high, and I don't think Murphy is the guy for the job.

I figure it's giving my kids the opportunity to work on their social skills, so they don't end up with the charm of Sheldon Cooper.

FCPS Kindergarten. I give the school and education a 9.

We are actually zoned for a supposedly mediocre school based on greatschools. I was concerned solely based on this number. Because our school is not deemed prestigious, class sizes are small. My son's kindergarten class has 22 students and the teacher is truly marvelous. We are not a title 1 school. We have a fairly large Hispanic population but the families seem warm and friendly. My son LOVES going to school daily. Very satisfied with the curriculum, pace and specials. For some reason, I thought there would not be any play because I kept hearing about teaching to the test but my 5yo has 2-3 recesses per day, plenty of time to eat lunch and snack, has centers (DS considers this play), PE 4 times per week, Music and Art (not sure how often the special is but they seem to do art daily in the actual classroom).

I am thrilled that DH did not cave to me buying a home in the Haycock or similar boundary.

Anonymous wrote:

I am very happy with the education "I" am giving my child!
His MCPS elementary school has a good reputation, but only compared to the generally abysmal US standards. What makes me happy is how I supplement in math, writing, music, general culture, so that he can reach our family standards.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Me too, hailing from DCPS.

I expose them to much more than they would get at school alone. We set aside a small chunk of time a few evenings each week to good over some fundamentals, either to improve what they need for a stronger school standing or a subject that the school ignores.

The jury is still out. I won't be able to answer until they are finished. We have had many up and downs and I would have said every number on the scale at one time or another depending on the year, quarter, grade or even day. They are currently in 10th and 12th grade. Public, McLean pyramid.

I'm pretty happy. Not 100%. If 1 is the happiest, I'm about a 3.

Small private school in upcounty Montgomery County. 2nd grade. I like the school because of its focus not only on academics but also on social skills. Being a good friend is the best way to have good friends, and all of that. The kids are actually pretty kind to each other and my son learns to work out differences in healthy ways. It is an environment that reinforces what I try to teach at home.

I think the academics are pretty in line with MCPS. The only big difference would be the ability to provide truly differentiated instruction. And there is also more ability (I think) for flexibility in the curriculum.

And really personalized attention from the teachers. I get "tons" of feedback from the teachers and really feel like more of a partner with them in helping my son get a successful education.

There are drawbacks. Small classes can be socially smothering sometimes. There can be weird PTA infighting/gossiping/pettiness.

I don't think any particular school is perfect. But overall I'm happy with my son's school.

I am very happy with the education "I" am giving my child!
His MCPS elementary school has a good reputation, but only compared to the generally abysmal US standards. What makes me happy is how I supplement in math, writing, music, general culture, so that he can reach our family standards.