Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the Whitman cluster with ES kids. We are generally happy with our teachers and love our school community, but classes for my kindergartner and 4th grader have 25+ kids. The administrators are also extremely frustrating communicators and under qualified. My oldest needed some additional assistance learning to read, which we accomplished through after school tutoring. I am not sure we are quite ready to switch to private school quite yet, but my spouse is.

If you can afford parochial or private school, why do you keep your kids in MCPS?

We'd like to retire sooner rather than later, we have college expenses to look at, and we can't see sending my kids to a parochial for for religious indoctrination that doesn't match our beliefs.

Oh, and we find MCPS to be quite good despite all the people on DCUM lambasting 'em.

Does your kid feel safe?

What planet do you live on? Public schools in this country are extremely segregated by SES because public school funding comes out of property tax bills. Thus people who can afford to send their kids to private school likely live in a neighborhood whose public school pyramid is comprised with mostly white /
Asian kids with professional parents who are well off. Yes, their kids feel safe at school.

Really? So because their school is mostly white, they are safer? What about the knife incident at Churchill and most recently the gun found on the WJ student just this weekend. Public high schools are cesspools of disturbed youth. I'm sending mine to all girls.

FYI there's some scary stuff going on there, too.

I’m sorry to say there are disturbed kids everywhere these days. It’s very sad and at least in a large pool of kids your child can try to avoid them. It’s a hard time right now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think one of the themes in these responses is that people aren't seeing the valued added for most parochial/independent schools.

Yes, my child would probably get a better education at GDS or SFS than our local public, but I don't have that kind of money. So...once you get beyond the "top" four or so schools in the region, there's just no clear advantage for most kids.

I disagree. At the elementary level, students in parochial school actually learn phonics, spelling, and grammar (and even cursive) -- nonexistent in most MCPS elementary schools. Many MCPS students are lacking in these skills and we are learning of some 3rd grade students who are illiterate due to the substandard virtual format last year. My kids were in school for the entire year last year and are thriving.

You sound like someone justifying their own decision who has no experience with MCPS. Contrary to your belief, kids do learn spelling and grammar

What about phonics? I know many families that complain that there are no spelling tests and they never learn grammar...at least not at the same level as parochial schools. My daughter has a class just for spelling and for grammar. MCPS teachers do not correct grammar in papers that students submit. I know this because I had a kid there for 9 years until we moved him to private high school and he had a lot of catch up to do with writing, etc. Math was fine though.

I think most people learn spelling by reading...or at least much more than hard core memorization for a Friday quiz. My kids are older and they had spelling tests every Friday in MCPS. One is a great speller. The other labored over those words for years in ES and is a terrible speller. If I could go back I would not spend a minute on spelling lists with him.

I'm 50 and not a great speller. I rely on spellcheck a lot. I've been making six figures for 20+ years. I'm good at analyzing, asking the right questions.. but not good at spelling. I get paid to analyze, and provide expertise in my field. Of course, everyone needs to know how to spell, but I would not make this the end all be all in choosing whether to go private or not, especially in the 21st century where spellcheck is ubiquitous.

Anonymous wrote:We were in a Whitman-cluster ES. After 2nd grade, about 20% of kids didn't return -- they went to private. That includes us.

Not surprising in the Whitman cluster since a lot of people living in that cluster can afford private if they want to.

It really depends on the kids and their needs. Some thrive in public and if really gifted do better in the magnet programs that they offer. Private teaches yo the middle—all of them do for ES snd MS. If your kid needs more support then private might be a fit, but if they have LD then public is better on that end too.

Our child has ADHD and Aspergers. We were told by a private to not even apply even though he's an A student and getting minimal supports in MCPS. :/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the Whitman cluster with ES kids. We are generally happy with our teachers and love our school community, but classes for my kindergartner and 4th grader have 25+ kids. The administrators are also extremely frustrating communicators and under qualified. My oldest needed some additional assistance learning to read, which we accomplished through after school tutoring. I am not sure we are quite ready to switch to private school quite yet, but my spouse is.

If you can afford parochial or private school, why do you keep your kids in MCPS?

We'd like to retire sooner rather than later, we have college expenses to look at, and we can't see sending my kids to a parochial for for religious indoctrination that doesn't match our beliefs.

Oh, and we find MCPS to be quite good despite all the people on DCUM lambasting 'em.

Does your kid feel safe?

What planet do you live on? Public schools in this country are extremely segregated by SES because public school funding comes out of property tax bills. Thus people who can afford to send their kids to private school likely live in a neighborhood whose public school pyramid is comprised with mostly white /
Asian kids with professional parents who are well off. Yes, their kids feel safe at school.

Really? So because their school is mostly white, they are safer? What about the knife incident at Churchill and most recently the gun found on the WJ student just this weekend. Public high schools are cesspools of disturbed youth. I'm sending mine to all girls.

FYI there's some scary stuff going on there, too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think one of the themes in these responses is that people aren't seeing the valued added for most parochial/independent schools.

Yes, my child would probably get a better education at GDS or SFS than our local public, but I don't have that kind of money. So...once you get beyond the "top" four or so schools in the region, there's just no clear advantage for most kids.

I disagree. At the elementary level, students in parochial school actually learn phonics, spelling, and grammar (and even cursive) -- nonexistent in most MCPS elementary schools. Many MCPS students are lacking in these skills and we are learning of some 3rd grade students who are illiterate due to the substandard virtual format last year. My kids were in school for the entire year last year and are thriving.

You sound like someone justifying their own decision who has no experience with MCPS. Contrary to your belief, kids do learn spelling and grammar

What about phonics? I know many families that complain that there are no spelling tests and they never learn grammar...at least not at the same level as parochial schools. My daughter has a class just for spelling and for grammar. MCPS teachers do not correct grammar in papers that students submit. I know this because I had a kid there for 9 years until we moved him to private high school and he had a lot of catch up to do with writing, etc. Math was fine though.

I think most people learn spelling by reading...or at least much more than hard core memorization for a Friday quiz. My kids are older and they had spelling tests every Friday in MCPS. One is a great speller. The other labored over those words for years in ES and is a terrible speller. If I could go back I would not spend a minute on spelling lists with him.

Anonymous wrote:I have one in private and another in the Whitman cluster. Our eldest DC in the Whitman cluster is a high achiever who is self driven and they are being appropriately challenged with the variety of high level classes, clubs and sports. Our youngest DC needs more structure and teacher engagement so a private is a better fit, and they are excelling in a smaller environment.

My recommendation is to see what type of environment your DC will exceed in.

ITA.. my oldest is in an MCPS magnet, doing really really well. The coursework is *challenging*, but DC is doing great. Good peer group.

My other DC needed more individualized attention at a younger age. We kept private school at the back of our minds for this DC, but as DC has gotten older, DC seems to be hitting their stride in the large public. But, private school was definitely on the table for this DC for individualized attention, but not the other. Plus this DC is very social, and we are confident that DC would make friends easily if we switched schools. But, the small class size can also be a double edged sword from a social perspective if the kid has a falling out with their friend circle. Not a lot of other kids to socialize with in a small school. This DC had friend issues in ES, but thank goodness there were a lot of other kids DC could socialize with.

The other DC is not as social, and I could see this DC struggling socially in a small school, but the point is moot for this DC anyways.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think one of the themes in these responses is that people aren't seeing the valued added for most parochial/independent schools.

Yes, my child would probably get a better education at GDS or SFS than our local public, but I don't have that kind of money. So...once you get beyond the "top" four or so schools in the region, there's just no clear advantage for most kids.

I disagree. At the elementary level, students in parochial school actually learn phonics, spelling, and grammar (and even cursive) -- nonexistent in most MCPS elementary schools. Many MCPS students are lacking in these skills and we are learning of some 3rd grade students who are illiterate due to the substandard virtual format last year. My kids were in school for the entire year last year and are thriving.

You sound like someone justifying their own decision who has no experience with MCPS. Contrary to your belief, kids do learn spelling and grammar

What about phonics? I know many families that complain that there are no spelling tests and they never learn grammar...at least not at the same level as parochial schools. My daughter has a class just for spelling and for grammar. MCPS teachers do not correct grammar in papers that students submit. I know this because I had a kid there for 9 years until we moved him to private high school and he had a lot of catch up to do with writing, etc. Math was fine though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think one of the themes in these responses is that people aren't seeing the valued added for most parochial/independent schools.

Yes, my child would probably get a better education at GDS or SFS than our local public, but I don't have that kind of money. So...once you get beyond the "top" four or so schools in the region, there's just no clear advantage for most kids.

I disagree. At the elementary level, students in parochial school actually learn phonics, spelling, and grammar (and even cursive) -- nonexistent in most MCPS elementary schools. Many MCPS students are lacking in these skills and we are learning of some 3rd grade students who are illiterate due to the substandard virtual format last year. My kids were in school for the entire year last year and are thriving.

You sound like someone justifying their own decision who has no experience with MCPS. Contrary to your belief, kids do learn spelling and grammar

Anonymous wrote:In the Whitman cluster with ES kids. We are generally happy with our teachers and love our school community, but classes for my kindergartner and 4th grader have 25+ kids. The administrators are also extremely frustrating communicators and under qualified. My oldest needed some additional assistance learning to read, which we accomplished through after school tutoring. I am not sure we are quite ready to switch to private school quite yet, but my spouse is.

If you can afford parochial or private school, why do you keep your kids in MCPS?

Because my kids are doing great in MCPS.

OP we had one in each when they were in ES. Same grade. We realized very quickly that the kid in public (Whitman cluster) was getting a much better deal than the kid in private so we took that kid out and put them in public too. And they flourished. We had thought that kid needed smaller classes and more one-on-one attention, which is why we'd gone for the private in the first place. But it wasn't a good experience at all.

Anonymous wrote:My kid's 1st grade class has 18 students. It is not a Title 1 school.

My kid has ADHD, and parochial schools are generally terrible at accommodating that.

That leaves The Lab School and The Siena School. I'm not prepared to spend $40K+ a year just yet (DC is in 1st), assuming my kid would even get in.

You have 18 students cause you got lucky. It is a numbers game in public school.

Also, my daughter has "severe" ADHD and has thrived in a parochial school.

My kid's 1st grade class has 18 students. It is not a Title 1 school.

My kid has ADHD, and parochial schools are generally terrible at accommodating that.

That leaves The Lab School and The Siena School. I'm not prepared to spend $40K+ a year just yet (DC is in 1st), assuming my kid would even get in.

Anonymous wrote:I think one of the themes in these responses is that people aren't seeing the valued added for most parochial/independent schools.

Yes, my child would probably get a better education at GDS or SFS than our local public, but I don't have that kind of money. So...once you get beyond the "top" four or so schools in the region, there's just no clear advantage for most kids.

I disagree. At the elementary level, students in parochial school actually learn phonics, spelling, and grammar (and even cursive) -- nonexistent in most MCPS elementary schools. Many MCPS students are lacking in these skills and we are learning of some 3rd grade students who are illiterate due to the substandard virtual format last year. My kids were in school for the entire year last year and are thriving.

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, we have been in a private for the past 2 years due to the pandemic. Going back to MCPS next year. It’s all about the driving, our school does not have a bus service, and driving there twice a day has been an annoyance .

Just a tip...I would not let transportation drive such a critical desicion as best school for DC unless you have no choice. Just figure out the transportation for the few years the kids are at school.