Anonymous wrote:a bit curious, but why do so many posters in this thread think wood is a bad middle school? My son is an 8th grader at Wood and he hasn't seen a lot of bad experiences with the school. Any reasons to why?

I’m an earlier poster. Both my kids did fine at Wood but there wasn’t anything great about the experience. I don’t know how much that’s the environment at Wood itself or just that middle school is a tough time. Both kind of sailed through academically and stayed out of trouble, but I’m friends with a few parents whose kids struggled. When DS started at Rockville it did seem like a breath of fresh air (and I’m not the poster who originally wrote that) - he was excited to actually be learning things in classes, enjoyed sports team, became more involved socially, got engaged in new activities. He does complain a bit that it’s the same old group of kids he’s been with since 6th grades, but for a kid who was eager to apply out of the cluster in 8th grade, it’s a nice surprise to see him so happy where he is.

Echoing other RHS parents who have posted. My kid is a sophomore. Involved in sports, clubs, goes to dances and football games. Teachers have been good. And really is having a great HS experience. If you are in the cluster- ask around, the majority of parents I know report positive experiences there.

a bit curious, but why do so many posters in this thread think wood is a bad middle school? My son is an 8th grader at Wood and he hasn't seen a lot of bad experiences with the school. Any reasons to why?

I'm surprised people say that Rockville is even a dangerous school, despite how it hasn't made any massive news reports since the rape incident. I can't say much for Wood since it's made the local news for the metro-area twice in 2023 and the reason why I say it is because Wood is the only middle school that serves the Rockville cluster and that's why most of the kids that go to Rockville already have known each other since elementary and middle school.

My daughter graduated from Rockville last year and she had a pretty good experience. No problems with fights and the principal did okay-ish for the most part. Since security is a problem in the school and pretty much with every MCPS high school, they have to revamp the entire security in the school.

I would say it's definitely a bit harder to make friends at Rockville depending on your view because of the school's very small population and how almost everyone had gone to Wood with each other, it's just the same people you've known already.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids there right now and I feel perfectly safe sending them there. It’s a small school and the principal really seems to care about them.

There’s a football game going on right now—since you’re in the cluster you should go and check out the scene! The band will play, the Poms will dance, the cheerleaders doing their cheers. The student section cheering. A lot of parents in the community go to the games. Little siblings walk back and forth to get snacks.

Sorry, I hit send too soon.

The fall play starts next weekend. There are always events happening, you really should go see for yourself. Is your kid at Wood? My kids like RHS more than they liked wood, and there are more fights at Wood that I’ve heard of. Ask your neighbors, I guarantee most will say that Rockville is a good school!

Lol, Wood was a nightmare for my kids. Didn't one of the security guards last year basically get arrested for showing a kid there sexually explicit images? My question is how he even got that job to be a security guard in front of 12-14 year olds.

Well that’s not the fault of the admin at Wood, but I do blame them for some of the other problems there. A lot a lot of bullying they did not get a handle on. But my kids were both happy to leave Wood and move on to RHS.

Uh, did you not remember the fake gun incident that happened almost 7 years ago at Wood? That kid was only 12.

source?

https://patch.com/maryland/rockville/student-arrested-after-aiming-fake-gun-auditorium-police

Thanks! It's almost as bad as when students at Churchill were trading N*word passes at lunch.
https://wjla.com/news/local/students-allegedly-caught-exchanging-n-word-passes-at-md-school

Anonymous wrote:I have a junior at Rockville. We’ve been really happy with the school. He keeps out of trouble in general and has a good group of friends who are all engaged with classes. He really does not talk about fights or things that make him feel unsafe and the gossip I heard his first two years in high school was pretty benign (and I heard a lot driving carpools). After a mediocre experience at Wood we’ve been really pleasantly surprised. It’s totally possible that there are some rougher groups within the school, but it’s a small school with a decent sense of community and I don’t worry about him at all there. He’s had some great teachers as well.

+1

Rockville is definitely hit or miss when it comes to the environment and security team as my kid stated when he graduated there a few years ago. He despised Wood but going to Rockville was a breath of fresh air for him. Carpools have recently started to surge in the school recently and my kid never had any problems with the security despite how nitpick the security is for the most part. Rockville isn't dangerous at all but I can see where people could be concerned.

I have a junior at Rockville. We’ve been really happy with the school. He keeps out of trouble in general and has a good group of friends who are all engaged with classes. He really does not talk about fights or things that make him feel unsafe and the gossip I heard his first two years in high school was pretty benign (and I heard a lot driving carpools). After a mediocre experience at Wood we’ve been really pleasantly surprised. It’s totally possible that there are some rougher groups within the school, but it’s a small school with a decent sense of community and I don’t worry about him at all there. He’s had some great teachers as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids there right now and I feel perfectly safe sending them there. It’s a small school and the principal really seems to care about them.

There’s a football game going on right now—since you’re in the cluster you should go and check out the scene! The band will play, the Poms will dance, the cheerleaders doing their cheers. The student section cheering. A lot of parents in the community go to the games. Little siblings walk back and forth to get snacks.

Sorry, I hit send too soon.

The fall play starts next weekend. There are always events happening, you really should go see for yourself. Is your kid at Wood? My kids like RHS more than they liked wood, and there are more fights at Wood that I’ve heard of. Ask your neighbors, I guarantee most will say that Rockville is a good school!

Lol, Wood was a nightmare for my kids. Didn't one of the security guards last year basically get arrested for showing a kid there sexually explicit images? My question is how he even got that job to be a security guard in front of 12-14 year olds.

Well that’s not the fault of the admin at Wood, but I do blame them for some of the other problems there. A lot a lot of bullying they did not get a handle on. But my kids were both happy to leave Wood and move on to RHS.

Uh, did you not remember the fake gun incident that happened almost 7 years ago at Wood? That kid was only 12.

source?

https://patch.com/maryland/rockville/student-arrested-after-aiming-fake-gun-auditorium-police

What an actual idiot.

You think his parents were even aware he had a fake gun?

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:MCPS in general is doing a terrible job with safety and security. I don't dispute there are probably some concerning incidents overall that have happened at Rockville High School, but it's definitely not one of the worst in MCPS.

Agree with this. We know families all over the county and safety is an issue at all high schools. MCPS likes to sweep things under the rug (like they tried to do with the Rockville HS rape case and the Damascus rape case). Admin is somewhat powerless when it comes to discipline students. Not enough security staff. It’s a combination of factors.

Rockville is no better or worse than any other school.

I disagree with this. They are not all the same. Wootton is better than Rockville which is better than Northwest. (Just using examples of high schools I am familiar with)

Sorry, while test scores may be better at some schools due to socio economic status in the neighborhoods, there are issues at all the schools. I recall some post-football game brawls from BCC, a better ranked school than Rockville. WJ students are periodically banned from their open lunch stores because of bad behavior. Racist incidents at Wooton in June. Vaping problems at all the schools. Rich kids can afford more drugs

Hope this paragraph makes you feel better about your school. Far reaching boundaries at schools....

This paragraph was meant to make the OP feel better about RHS. It’s the truth that there are issues at all schools. RHS is hardly a dangerous school where you should be worried about sending your child.

Yep, these agitators post hype every year but reality is there has been a single gang incident in well over a decade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids there right now and I feel perfectly safe sending them there. It’s a small school and the principal really seems to care about them.

There’s a football game going on right now—since you’re in the cluster you should go and check out the scene! The band will play, the Poms will dance, the cheerleaders doing their cheers. The student section cheering. A lot of parents in the community go to the games. Little siblings walk back and forth to get snacks.

Sorry, I hit send too soon.

The fall play starts next weekend. There are always events happening, you really should go see for yourself. Is your kid at Wood? My kids like RHS more than they liked wood, and there are more fights at Wood that I’ve heard of. Ask your neighbors, I guarantee most will say that Rockville is a good school!

Lol, Wood was a nightmare for my kids. Didn't one of the security guards last year basically get arrested for showing a kid there sexually explicit images? My question is how he even got that job to be a security guard in front of 12-14 year olds.

Well that’s not the fault of the admin at Wood, but I do blame them for some of the other problems there. A lot a lot of bullying they did not get a handle on. But my kids were both happy to leave Wood and move on to RHS.

Uh, did you not remember the fake gun incident that happened almost 7 years ago at Wood? That kid was only 12.

source?

https://patch.com/maryland/rockville/student-arrested-after-aiming-fake-gun-auditorium-police

What an actual idiot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids there right now and I feel perfectly safe sending them there. It’s a small school and the principal really seems to care about them.

There’s a football game going on right now—since you’re in the cluster you should go and check out the scene! The band will play, the Poms will dance, the cheerleaders doing their cheers. The student section cheering. A lot of parents in the community go to the games. Little siblings walk back and forth to get snacks.

Sorry, I hit send too soon.

The fall play starts next weekend. There are always events happening, you really should go see for yourself. Is your kid at Wood? My kids like RHS more than they liked wood, and there are more fights at Wood that I’ve heard of. Ask your neighbors, I guarantee most will say that Rockville is a good school!

Lol, Wood was a nightmare for my kids. Didn't one of the security guards last year basically get arrested for showing a kid there sexually explicit images? My question is how he even got that job to be a security guard in front of 12-14 year olds.

Well that’s not the fault of the admin at Wood, but I do blame them for some of the other problems there. A lot a lot of bullying they did not get a handle on. But my kids were both happy to leave Wood and move on to RHS.

Uh, did you not remember the fake gun incident that happened almost 7 years ago at Wood? That kid was only 12.

source?

https://patch.com/maryland/rockville/student-arrested-after-aiming-fake-gun-auditorium-police

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS in general is doing a terrible job with safety and security. I don't dispute there are probably some concerning incidents overall that have happened at Rockville High School, but it's definitely not one of the worst in MCPS.

Agree with this. We know families all over the county and safety is an issue at all high schools. MCPS likes to sweep things under the rug (like they tried to do with the Rockville HS rape case and the Damascus rape case). Admin is somewhat powerless when it comes to discipline students. Not enough security staff. It’s a combination of factors.

Rockville is no better or worse than any other school.

I disagree with this. They are not all the same. Wootton is better than Rockville which is better than Northwest. (Just using examples of high schools I am familiar with)

Sorry, while test scores may be better at some schools due to socio economic status in the neighborhoods, there are issues at all the schools. I recall some post-football game brawls from BCC, a better ranked school than Rockville. WJ students are periodically banned from their open lunch stores because of bad behavior. Racist incidents at Wooton in June. Vaping problems at all the schools. Rich kids can afford more drugs

Hope this paragraph makes you feel better about your school. Far reaching boundaries at schools....

This paragraph was meant to make the OP feel better about RHS. It’s the truth that there are issues at all schools. RHS is hardly a dangerous school where you should be worried about sending your child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids there right now and I feel perfectly safe sending them there. It’s a small school and the principal really seems to care about them.

There’s a football game going on right now—since you’re in the cluster you should go and check out the scene! The band will play, the Poms will dance, the cheerleaders doing their cheers. The student section cheering. A lot of parents in the community go to the games. Little siblings walk back and forth to get snacks.

Sorry, I hit send too soon.

The fall play starts next weekend. There are always events happening, you really should go see for yourself. Is your kid at Wood? My kids like RHS more than they liked wood, and there are more fights at Wood that I’ve heard of. Ask your neighbors, I guarantee most will say that Rockville is a good school!

Lol, Wood was a nightmare for my kids. Didn't one of the security guards last year basically get arrested for showing a kid there sexually explicit images? My question is how he even got that job to be a security guard in front of 12-14 year olds.

Well that’s not the fault of the admin at Wood, but I do blame them for some of the other problems there. A lot a lot of bullying they did not get a handle on. But my kids were both happy to leave Wood and move on to RHS.

Uh, did you not remember the fake gun incident that happened almost 7 years ago at Wood? That kid was only 12.

source?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids there right now and I feel perfectly safe sending them there. It’s a small school and the principal really seems to care about them.

There’s a football game going on right now—since you’re in the cluster you should go and check out the scene! The band will play, the Poms will dance, the cheerleaders doing their cheers. The student section cheering. A lot of parents in the community go to the games. Little siblings walk back and forth to get snacks.

I disagree with the principal part, most say she's really nice but I've heard a lot about her bad side.

As a Rockville parent for 3 years, I truly haven’t heard anything bad. What have you heard? I know that people have differing opinions, of course, but I’m surprised that you’ve heard from a lot of people that she has a bad side.

She cancelled the homecoming dance last year about an hour early because students were consuming on alcoholic drinks and the security wasn't aware, and she didn't even notify or warn the school about the incident, and I think the same think happened with last year's prom and this year's homecoming.

+ she is a bit aggressive on most days especially with some kids.

She did stop the homecoming dance an hour early because kids were drunk and puking in the bathrooms and there was also crowd surfing and the kids wouldn’t listen to the security guards.

I did not hear that about last years prom or this years homecoming. Just that one time, homecoming last year.

My kids are the type to share their strong opinions about the adults in the building and neither have said she’s aggressive. In fact their biggest annoyance with her is that she calls her students her “babies.” I don’t mind it; I feel like she’s telling them she’s going to take care of them. But I know it rubs some people the wrong way.

My kid said the same thing about calling her students her "babies". While I see nothing wrong with it, my kid said it just felt so weirdly uncomfortable and unsettling. It just doesn't sound right if you think about it. I take the blame on the aggressiveness on the security more than the principal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS in general is doing a terrible job with safety and security. I don't dispute there are probably some concerning incidents overall that have happened at Rockville High School, but it's definitely not one of the worst in MCPS.

Agree with this. We know families all over the county and safety is an issue at all high schools. MCPS likes to sweep things under the rug (like they tried to do with the Rockville HS rape case and the Damascus rape case). Admin is somewhat powerless when it comes to discipline students. Not enough security staff. It’s a combination of factors.

Rockville is no better or worse than any other school.

I disagree with this. They are not all the same. Wootton is better than Rockville which is better than Northwest. (Just using examples of high schools I am familiar with)

Sorry, while test scores may be better at some schools due to socio economic status in the neighborhoods, there are issues at all the schools. I recall some post-football game brawls from BCC, a better ranked school than Rockville. WJ students are periodically banned from their open lunch stores because of bad behavior. Racist incidents at Wooton in June. Vaping problems at all the schools. Rich kids can afford more drugs

Hope this paragraph makes you feel better about your school. Far reaching boundaries at schools....