My kids used to attend private school for elementary and are now both in public elementary in Bethesda. One of the private schools my kid attended was fabulous academically and socially but only went through early elementary. One kid attended a different private school and it was a disaster. Kids had the worst behavior imaginable. Fighting, bullying, and swearing. My kid was unlucky and got the worst teacher imaginable for 3rd grade. She didn’t know how to manage the ADHD kids with behavior problems (there were a LOT). Academics were weak. The social dynamics in such a small school were terrible. The ringleader determined who could be friends with whom. We moved our kid to public school for 4th grade and had none of those issues. Both kids are now in public and it has been a great fit socially. Math and science in public school is very strong. The major weakness of public is the mediocre writing instruction. Reading instruction was better in private in the earlier years but improves in public around 3rd-4th grade. I miss all the opportunities my kids had with public speaking in private as well as the 1on1 time with teachers but overall we are very happy. We will reevaluate during middle school but I think social dynamics will continue to drive a lot of our decision making. One of our kids just won’t be happy in an environment without a lot of friend options.

Our kids are in an immersion ES and they love it. We are satisfied. However, we plan to switch to Catholic or Episcopal for 6-12.

I am an MCPS teacher (DH is not).

Anonymous wrote:As much as we have loved MCPS, we are thinking to send our 3rd kiddo to private (catholic) but still struggling with "letting go" of the public school idea (neighbors being classmates etc). However, I am not expert on MCPS but seems like MCPS is on the decline.. crowded classrooms (ours is an ES in Bethesda), micro managing of teachers, not enough staff/resources to handle students with behavioral issues or different learning needs etc... Am I wrong? Our two oldest kiddos are a few years older than the last one... and seems that MCPS was in a much better place back when they started attending around 2013...til now. Would love to hear perspectives on this. If money was not an issue, would you go private vs MCPS? Thanks

Seems? It’s been declining for the past 10 years. It’s just declining at a more rapid rate since Covid. It’s not ever going to get better. MCPS’s best days are in the past.

I teach after school classes, and I have noticed a difference in the focus level, attention span and self-control of the kids post pandemic. I have shifted to smaller class sizes because I can, but teachers don't have that luxury. I don't know about mcps being in decline (except for the moral decline of leadership with the Beidleman issue, which is pretty obvious) or how exactly that would be defined, but I do think the needs are greater. I really feel for teachers. I am drained after an hour or two and can't imagine they are able to get a meaningful day of learning accomplished with the teacher/student ratios and the current state of post pandemic kids being less responsive to group dynamics.

We are in end times.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS feels like a lottery right now. It’s so poorly managed that your school could go from great to terrible over one summer.

That true anywhere (public or private) depending on the leadership and teachers. Ask some private school parents.

Literally have never heard this from any friends at private schools. Which ones are you referring to?

Those that have had new HOS in the US or LS. Like anywhere some people are going to be fine with the leadership change other people are not.

Ok, if you think that some people “not being fine” with a new HOS is the same as “MCPS feels like a lottery right now. It’s so poorly managed that your school could go from great to terrible over one summer”

Name a school in MCPS that’s actually gone from great to terrible over one summer?

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is going to be stronger academically than a $10K Catholic. No question.

Maybe but the problem is how these academics are being affected but the time the students receive them given the crowded classrooms, lack of enough supporting staff and micro managing of teachers

MCPS is going to be stronger academically than a $10K Catholic. No question.

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Anonymous wrote:Disagree. Pulled child from MCPS about five years ago for Catholic and paid a little less (pre-inflation it probably was this). Very pleased with facilities, education and overall care.

Which Catholic school?

Do your own research. Not gonna play.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS feels like a lottery right now. It’s so poorly managed that your school could go from great to terrible over one summer.

That true anywhere (public or private) depending on the leadership and teachers. Ask some private school parents.

Literally have never heard this from any friends at private schools. Which ones are you referring to?

Those that have had new HOS in the US or LS. Like anywhere some people are going to be fine with the leadership change other people are not.

Ok, if you think that some people “not being fine” with a new HOS is the same as “MCPS feels like a lottery right now. It’s so poorly managed that your school could go from great to terrible over one summer”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS feels like a lottery right now. It’s so poorly managed that your school could go from great to terrible over one summer.

That true anywhere (public or private) depending on the leadership and teachers. Ask some private school parents.

Literally have never heard this from any friends at private schools. Which ones are you referring to?

Those that have had new HOS in the US or LS. Like anywhere some people are going to be fine with the leadership change other people are not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS feels like a lottery right now. It’s so poorly managed that your school could go from great to terrible over one summer.

That true anywhere (public or private) depending on the leadership and teachers. Ask some private school parents.

Literally have never heard this from any friends at private schools. Which ones are you referring to?

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Actually we found a sweet little school for 10k. Do we have to volunteer more as a family? Sure. But that’s also kind of what we are looking for; more involvement with the school. They are Catholic but 40 % of the kids there arent. They are as inclusive as they can be and if something is “missing” our kid will get that at home. They offer accelerated math in older years and work hard and Qing commitment with kids with learning differences. It may not be perfect but we can always switch back to public if we wanted to go back.

sounds like you already made up your mind

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Actually we found a sweet little school for 10k. Do we have to volunteer more as a family? Sure. But that’s also kind of what we are looking for; more involvement with the school. They are Catholic but 40 % of the kids there arent. They are as inclusive as they can be and if something is “missing” our kid will get that at home. They offer accelerated math in older years and work hard and Qing commitment with kids with learning differences. It may not be perfect but we can always switch back to public if we wanted to go back.

What sweet little school did you find for 10k that is demonstrably better than MCPS? Why are you not actively involved in school now?

Anonymous wrote:MCPS feels like a lottery right now. It’s so poorly managed that your school could go from great to terrible over one summer.

That true anywhere (public or private) depending on the leadership and teachers. Ask some private school parents.