Anonymous wrote:The regulations use 40%:
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/index.html

Right, but then the county chooses which schools actually get the Title I funding. So there are lots of schools in MCPS (where we live) with more than 40% FARMS rates, but not all of them get Title I.

Here is the list of MCPS schools that have Title I. I guarantee this is not a comprehensive list of schools with more than 40% FARMS. http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/dtecps/title1/schools.aspx

Anonymous wrote:would be for me. i only consider 8 and above.

I used to think that too, but our school is a 7 and I love it. Everyone, from the people in the front office, to the teachers, students and families I've met have been so nice. My child is happy and learning and that's good enough for me. Years ago we were at a school with a 5 rating and it was AWFUL. So I agree with you, but my childs 7 school is pretty awesome.

GS rating is one of many factors that go into deciding whether a school is a good fit for your child. We happen to live in PG County and some MoCo residents look down on all the schools in the county without any other input. On the other hand, our local ES is a GS 8, has very involved parents and teachers and is generally well reviewed by most of the locals that we've spoken to who have their children there. I have no issues with starting my children there from my research. Just as I wouldn't only go by the GS rating, I don't only go by the fact that it is a PGCPS school.

Do your research and find out more.

would be for me. i only consider 8 and above.

absolutely not! Great schools is just a compilation of whomever happens to find the website and writes a review (very few people). A student at our school was expelled, and signed a non-disclosure agreement. He still posted on Great Schools.org a negative on our school but since it was clearly written by a child and matched another negative post on another site, the school got the only derogatory removed. Go visit yourself and run the name on this site through the archieves.

The regulations use 40%:
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/index.html

You can get diversity at a school with better test scores

^ pretty sure that is not how it works. Title 1 goes to the top neediest schools in as county above a certain level I think. Ours is a bit under 70% FARMS and is a focus school.

Anonymous wrote:GreatSchools ratings, pfft. It's information, I guess, but it's not useful information.

Well good for you. Many people find great schools ratings to be useful information. Obviously the op and many others think it means something, otherwise there wouldn't be so many threads about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here again - it is a Title 1 school. Where can I learn more about what this means?

What district are you in? I'd Google FCPS or MCPS or whatever, plus Title I and see what they say about it. In general, it means class sizes are capped and there are more resources. Title I status based on the number of kids receiving free and reduced lunches. I'm the PP upthread whose kids are at a GS4. Our school is in the high 60s in percentage of FARMS and is NOT Title I, just a Focus School.

You might want to just share what school it is and see if folks here have any thoughts.

What district are you in, PP? Focus and title I are different--focus means that there are big differences in test scores among the different subgroups. Schools with at least 40% FARM students are eligible for title I funding. I don't know why a school district would turn down title I funding from the federal government for a school that is over 60% FARM.

Anonymous wrote:I know Title 1 schools have smaller class sizes and get extra funding.

Title I means that the school get extra funding because more than 40% of students receive free and reduced price meals.

Anonymous wrote:OP here again - it is a Title 1 school. Where can I learn more about what this means?

What district are you in? I'd Google FCPS or MCPS or whatever, plus Title I and see what they say about it. In general, it means class sizes are capped and there are more resources. Title I status based on the number of kids receiving free and reduced lunches. I'm the PP upthread whose kids are at a GS4. Our school is in the high 60s in percentage of FARMS and is NOT Title I, just a Focus School.

You might want to just share what school it is and see if folks here have any thoughts.

I know Title 1 schools have smaller class sizes and get extra funding.

OP here again - it is a Title 1 school. Where can I learn more about what this means?

Our school was a GS5 and then improved to a GS6. We almost did not go to the school solely based on this GS rating. We decided to try out our public school option first. So far we have saved $60k for 2 grades. My younger child will start K next yr and we plan to continue with public school for now. We are taking it one year at a time. Once it stops working for us, we will either move or do private.