Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What is greatschools ? who gives ratings and how does the ratings work ?
ratings take SOL scores and compare them to other schools statewide. Very important.
Anonymous wrote:What is greatschools ? who gives ratings and how does the ratings work ?
Anonymous wrote:Hunt Valley has a strong accelerated math program. I have had kids at both the center and also Hunt Valley and have been very pleased with math acceleration at HV. So far, it seems as if the accelerated math kids at the center will end up at the same place as the AAP kids at the center. They do accelerated pull outs starting in first grade, and level three weekly classes starting in third. Hunt Valley has some wonderful teachers. It is smaller and very neighborly, and feels like the staff knows all the kids personally. The office staff is a huge part of the welcoming vibe.
Sangster has a very strong base school program with very bright kids. It also has an amazing elementary school performing arts program, for music, theater, band and orchestra. The school vibe is very positive too, with great families in both the base and AAP program. The families I know with some siblings in AAP and some siblings not are very pleased with both programs. I think it is because the school works very hard at making all the kids "sangster" kids and not AAP vs base school kids. There are exceptions like anywhere but everyone I have met, base or AAP is very proud of Sangster.
Look at all the elementary school feeders for West Springfield HS/Irving MS and Lake Braddock Secondary. The test scores are very comparable, as are the great school ratings. If you talk to people whose kids attend those elementaries, they all have similar good things to say about their schools. Most people feel their kids are being well challenged, and the exceptions are usually teacher specific (every school has at least one bad apple).
Anonymous wrote:What kinds of things are important to you in a school? Size? After school opportunities? Special services? Immersion?
Anonymous wrote:I would stay away from Marshall and focus on madison or oakton. Much better schools with similar priced neighborhoods.
Anonymous wrote:I would stay away from Marshall and focus on madison or oakton. Much better schools with similar priced neighborhoods.
Anonymous wrote:Hunt Valley has a strong accelerated math program. I have had kids at both the center and also Hunt Valley and have been very pleased with math acceleration at HV. So far, it seems as if the accelerated math kids at the BASE (correction from above) will end up at the same place as the AAP kids at the center. They do accelerated pull outs starting in first grade, and level three weekly classes starting in third. Hunt Valley has some wonderful teachers. It is smaller and very neighborly, and feels like the staff knows all the kids personally. The office staff is a huge part of the welcoming vibe.
Sangster has a very strong base school program with very bright kids. It also has an amazing elementary school performing arts program, for music, theater, band and orchestra. The school vibe is very positive too, with great families in both the base and AAP program. The families I know with some siblings in AAP and some siblings not are very pleased with both programs. I think it is because the school works very hard at making all the kids "sangster" kids and not AAP vs base school kids. There are exceptions like anywhere but everyone I have met, base or AAP is very proud of Sangster.
Look at all the elementary school feeders for West Springfield HS/Irving MS and Lake Braddock Secondary. The test scores are very comparable, as are the great school ratings. If you talk to people whose kids attend those elementaries, they all have similar good things to say about their schools. Most people feel their kids are being well challenged, and the exceptions are usually teacher specific (every school has at least one bad apple).