My kids go to a W school and I would say there are great inequities within our school based on family finances. We are a mixed school with low income families in Section 8 housing to the ubber super rich who probably are in the top 1% of income for families in the United States. The parents who donate time and ALOT of MONEY to the school receive special favors and treatment for their kids by the school staff and administration. These practices should be looked into by the Board of Education. Anything from lenient disciplinary actions, to choice class assignments and the ability to switch classes, to excused absences (for typically non-excused reasons such as family trips), etc. The inequities run across the board creating a system of discrimination based on a child's and his/her family's financial resources.

The donations also make our school out of wack with the resources other schools in the county have. I know last year the Board of Education was looking into donations going into a general fund eliminating the practice of school specific donations. The resources then could be evenly distributed among ALL of the public schools in MCPS. However, that proposal never came to fruition, at least not yet. If parents didn't feel they were supporting their child's school specifically and could see no direct benefit for their child, donations are feared to drop off. MCPS chose to turn a blind eye to the current practices so they could continue to receive the donations and thus have more public funds for eastern county schools.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

The class ratio is key. 12 kids in Title I vs. God knows how many in the Fancypants school.

How would bussing impact the ratio and additional services provided in Title I schools? Throw the kids who are struggling into much larger classes so they have the benefit of being in a classroom with white kids? Make all schools have a limit of 12 kids per class? Um, good luck with that!

IF the argument was we should bus kids from high SES schools into low SES schools and vice versa because schools in the high SES had a different curriculum, received more money for staffing, had better buildings etc then I could somehow see your logic. Although the solution would be to focus on the inequities not shuffle the kids around.)This is not your argument though. The low SES schools have significantly more staff and funds. A low SES school in the east as 12 kids to 1 teacher. In the west you have 28 K kids and 33 in 3rd grade. Many of the schools in the west are in terrible shape from a facilities standpoint. They just look pretty because parents volunteer their own time to plant flowers out front and there isn't graffiti.

Your argument is that the families of the kids in the high SES area value education more, spend money on supplementing or replacing aspects of the curriculum that are missing, support the schools more, are more active in their kids education and therefore these kids do better and they should be bussed into the lower SES schools to provide what..role models? This doesn't even work when the balance shifts where there are enough low SES students to reinforce the bad habits.

In the end the only thing you have created is the appearance of balance among the schools where half the school scores well and the other half fails. How would this help anyone other than MCPS when they file a report and show all schools are equal? It would do squat for the achievement gap. It would map Montgomery County be the least attract place in the metro area to move to for public schools. The students would be spending more time on buses than in classrooms -I guess they'll need to hook those chrome books to the back of the seats so they can watch videos while commuting.

The only equity you will create in parental support for the school is dropping it down to zero or single digit participation. If the school is near your neighborhood and in a local community parents are more able and willing to come out for an evening event, plant flowers, and participate. There is no one anyone is going to commute across the county for bingo night or to pull weeds.

My son is in a Title 1 school. He is in elementary school so for HS things maybe different. But our school is fantastic. My son is getting a great education and has friends at school. The PTA is very involved and brings programing to the school. School wide events are well attended.

Because it's a Title 1 school, I'm sure there is a high FARMS rate and I could probably look it up. But it doesn't impact my kids education.

"It certainly does sound like there is a lot of whinning on this thread from people who want access to the western schools but can't afford to buy in the zoned area. "

No not really. Most of us are not arguing we should be able to go to a w school while living elsewhere. What we are arguing is that the policy of allowing a few schools to be so highly concentrated with non-FARM kids means that FARM kids end up far too concentrated in other places. If instead the county worked to try to mix those areas more then you would end up with schools that are 80% FARM kids which simply does not work well. The county's policy of leaving the SW corner isolated means that more schools elsewhere become unworkable for middle class families because the FARM level at them becomes so highly concentrated.

Personally what I would ideally LIKE is for my kids to be able to go to the school that is around the corner from us - but since it is on the far left side of the graph OP posted that is simply not going to happen. But that is a choice the county makes - not simply a natural consequence that can't be tackled.

Anonymous wrote:Are you saying that you could build a 4 family housing unit on a 1/4 acre lot? Assuming parking is not a consideration?

Well, you can, in the sense that it's possible. In fact, not only is it possible, but it's the reality in many cities, both in the US and in the rest of the world.

But you can't, in the sense that it's not legal in many parts of Montgomery County.

Are you saying that you could build a 4 family housing unit on a 1/4 acre lot? Assuming parking is not a consideration?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is there available land in the western part of the county to support high density housing?

How about all those teardowns in Bethesda, with the new 7,000 square foot houses? You could put several residential units on those properties. Except, of course, that the zoning code doesn't allow it, because then non-rich people would be able to move in.

To put a high density unit on a current SF lot, you would need to assemble multiple lots. In addition to the physical housing unit, people in the suburbs drive. There has to be a place to park multiple cars per unit. And of course a road system that can handle multiple cars passing each other to get to the units. You can just leave the current existing single lane driveway in place. And of course larger water, sewer, and gas pipes will need to put in because the current infrastructure is not set up for multi unit use.

And all of this cannot be done on a single SF lot in Bethesda where the tear downs are occurring. Maybe you would have a chance if someone sold a farm in Potomac. But to ask a private developer to assemble multiple SFH as they become available and carry the carrying costs of property while they wait for the next house is not realistic.

The only reason you have to assemble multiple lots to put multiple units on a current SF lot in Bethesda is because the zoning code says that you can't put multiple units on a current SF lot in Bethesda. The only reason you have to provide on-site parking for x number of cars per unit is because the zoning code and the parking minimums say that you have to. The main reason people in the suburbs drive to get places is that the suburbs have been designed so that you have to drive to be able to get places.

There is nothing inherent to any of this. It's easy to look at current conditions and assume that things are as they have to be. But they aren't. Things are as we've made them. We designed for economic segregation, and that's what we got. We need to change that.

Anonymous wrote:

It certainly does sound like there is a lot of whinning on this thread from people who want access to the western schools but can't afford to buy in the zoned area.

Life is about choices. And America is a free market. No one says anyone has to live in Mont Cty. If you don't like what's offered move somewhere else where you can get what you want. People will say that they can't move--- their job is here, their parents are here, etc. But at the end of the day, you are making the choice to stay for your job or your family or whatever your reason is. You maybe a TS/SCI cleared person or a lobbyist for a non profit and you'll say your job is only available in DC. And maybe that's true, but your skill set is transferable and you have to reinvent and remarket yourself to a new industry. But it can be done. And maybe the lower corresponding salary equals a better cost of living in an area with good schools. Life is about priorities and choices. Each family needs to identify their priorities and make the choices that support them. If you live in a bad school zone, you have prioritized something else over access to good schools. There are good schools all over the country not just here.

Yes, life is about priorities and choices. Specifically,

1. Rich people's needs and wants take priority, and
2. The most important choice you'll ever make in your life is your choice of parents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omg. schools in Stockholm aren't very diverse. Too many whiteys. And then a handful of Asians. They must fly in more diverse sets of people. Or they and the "others", are dooooomed.

You can't compare Stockholm to the US

They're trying for diversity. It's working out very well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Stockholm_riots

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to mention the obvious self segregation. Spanish speaking people have moved into certain areas with the most Spanish speaking businesses and services. That's why certain schools are nearly 100% Hispanic (Weller Rd Elem). No one forced them to move to that area. They chose it to be close to their friends, family and support network. And they love their school and community. It's a bit paternalistic for us to assume they would prefer to bus their kids elsewhere to have the benefit of sitting in a classroom with white kids.

Oh please.

They move to places they can afford, as we all do.

I don't buy it. Let's say you have $X to spend on a house. There are various parts of the county where you can get similar housing, so why wouldn't people choose the one that's closer to family, friends, and services?

Same reason there's so many Asians in Rockville. There is similar-priced housing in other parts of the county, but those areas don't have nearly the choice of Asian groceries, restaurants, etc.

Let's say you have $1,600 a month to spend on rent. And you want to live in Bethesda, or Potomac, or Chevy Chase -- you know, where the "good" schools are. Well, too bad for you, because you can't.

I wanna live on Central Park West and go to good public schools. Whaaaaa. What do I do?

It certainly does sound like there is a lot of whinning on this thread from people who want access to the western schools but can't afford to buy in the zoned area.

Life is about choices. And America is a free market. No one says anyone has to live in Mont Cty. If you don't like what's offered move somewhere else where you can get what you want. People will say that they can't move--- their job is here, their parents are here, etc. But at the end of the day, you are making the choice to stay for your job or your family or whatever your reason is. You maybe a TS/SCI cleared person or a lobbyist for a non profit and you'll say your job is only available in DC. And maybe that's true, but your skill set is transferable and you have to reinvent and remarket yourself to a new industry. But it can be done. And maybe the lower corresponding salary equals a better cost of living in an area with good schools. Life is about priorities and choices. Each family needs to identify their priorities and make the choices that support them. If you live in a bad school zone, you have prioritized something else over access to good schools. There are good schools all over the country not just here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is there available land in the western part of the county to support high density housing?

How about all those teardowns in Bethesda, with the new 7,000 square foot houses? You could put several residential units on those properties. Except, of course, that the zoning code doesn't allow it, because then non-rich people would be able to move in.

To put a high density unit on a current SF lot, you would need to assemble multiple lots. In addition to the physical housing unit, people in the suburbs drive. There has to be a place to park multiple cars per unit. And of course a road system that can handle multiple cars passing each other to get to the units. You can just leave the current existing single lane driveway in place. And of course larger water, sewer, and gas pipes will need to put in because the current infrastructure is not set up for multi unit use.

And all of this cannot be done on a single SF lot in Bethesda where the tear downs are occurring. Maybe you would have a chance if someone sold a farm in Potomac. But to ask a private developer to assemble multiple SFH as they become available and carry the carrying costs of property while they wait for the next house is not realistic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omg. schools in Stockholm aren't very diverse. Too many whiteys. And then a handful of Asians. They must fly in more diverse sets of people. Or they and the "others", are dooooomed.

You can't compare Stockholm to the US

That's right, you can't. No people illegally crossing the border, no citizenship and aid by birth, and too cold out to be lazy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Shorter PP: I've got mine, who cares about you.
even shorter: I'M AN ASS

Isn't it amazing that all the rich are Asses and the poor are selfless!

It's not amazing at all. It's perfectly logical. The more money you have, the more opportunity and scope you have for being an ass.

No it is total BS. The poor want more and more from the rich. It is the Robin Hood effect. The seem selfless because they don't have the means to be selfish. Rich people do. Most people want more for their kids than they had. No matter what the wealth status is. But the poor don't take the time to bring up their children correctly. Instill values, importance of an education, discipline, etc.. The ones that do and become something, move out of the area because they too don't want to be there anymore. All these people shouting racist, I dare you to go move in SE DC to show how even you want everything. There is no way anyone would do that. No matter what their race or wealth.

Mo kids = mo money

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

That's great! but wait, Wootton is already super-crowded, we need to bus some kids out to RM. Who to bus out? En ..... definitely the white kids, otherwise it won't make any difference. We can't bus out all the white kids, have to leave some to preserve the diversity. to make it fair, the best performing white students should be bused out so that the inter-school achievement gap can be further reduced.

Wootton High School was at 105% of capacity last year. If that's super-crowded, I wonder what you call Matsunaga Elementary School, which was at 147% of capacity last year.

RM is projected to be more overcrowded that Wooton, so this is not such a good plan.

Many of the schools are overcrowded. The projections aren't pretty either. The legal and illegal Hispanic immigrant population is growing like gangbusters and has every incentive to do so in MoCo.