Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they SHOULD end this program. Why would only a small area of the county have middle school choice? And why are we paying for bussing to multiple schools for one area.

I am an elementary school teacher at a school that feeds into this consortia. Many of the 5th graders do not like being forced to choose a program. They do not like leaving their friends. And when I drive to school it is absolutely ridiculous that one intersection has 3 bus stops- one for each school. The kids are told to wait on opposite corners for their bus. What a waste of transportation money.

Any child in the county can apply to the MSMC middle schools. Its a lottery.

I’m so tired of all the lotteries. I think it’s a way for MCPS to give the appearance of having both quality programming and equality but it actually works against that. They ration opportunities. They split kids up, and yes, I can’t imagine what they must be spending on wasteful transportation costs. Why can’t they just provide the same programs at all schools?

This exactly. They really need to focus on ensuring that home schools have good programming -- kids shouldn't have to lottery into another school to get a good basic education. But that is happening in way too much of the county.

These schools have the same academic curriculum as every other middle school. They add speciality focus classes to pull out of boundary students so the schools arent so poverty concentrated. If you did this in every school, it would not help balance FARMS rates because the rich kids would stay at their rich schools.

Right, that isn’t equal to other schools. Also, they pull wealthier students out of less wealthy schools, so it works both ways. I’ve seen this with the criteria magnets as well. It’s a shell game. MCPS could provide an equal education at local schools but chooses not to for some reason. Maybe because the small number of people who benefit from these programs are louder, I don’t know.

When you have populations with significantly higher needs but the same amount of funding at lower income schools, the education is not going to be "equal"

I’m not sure what your point is. My point is that I object to the false sense that MCPS provides equal opportunity for programming (criteria or choice programs) via lotteries, instead of providing the same programs at all schools. It’s an out for them, and it results in unequal access for students. Why can’t each elementary school have the CES curriculum? Why can’t each middle school have a STEM class? And put on a school play?

It sounds like you want every school to be the same even though the student populations they serve are vastly different. Why do you think this is going to work?

I don’t know why it wouldn’t work. It would certainly be fair. There are smart and high performing students at all schools, or did you not know that? My kids attend a title I elementary school. The school sends roughly 10 kids to the CES housed at a higher income school, leaving behind kids who qualified but didn’t get a seat. Why should MCPS take away from the peer cohort at a lower income school to put these kids at a higher income school? And why should the kids who didn’t get a seat not have access to the same curriculum? If MCPS would just offer the curriculum at the local school, then everyone who qualified could have access to the program (fairness), which would also be good for the school community. Instead they take from one school and give to another. Similar machinations happen at the middle school level through the lottery programs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they SHOULD end this program. Why would only a small area of the county have middle school choice? And why are we paying for bussing to multiple schools for one area.

I am an elementary school teacher at a school that feeds into this consortia. Many of the 5th graders do not like being forced to choose a program. They do not like leaving their friends. And when I drive to school it is absolutely ridiculous that one intersection has 3 bus stops- one for each school. The kids are told to wait on opposite corners for their bus. What a waste of transportation money.

Any child in the county can apply to the MSMC middle schools. Its a lottery.

I’m so tired of all the lotteries. I think it’s a way for MCPS to give the appearance of having both quality programming and equality but it actually works against that. They ration opportunities. They split kids up, and yes, I can’t imagine what they must be spending on wasteful transportation costs. Why can’t they just provide the same programs at all schools?

This exactly. They really need to focus on ensuring that home schools have good programming -- kids shouldn't have to lottery into another school to get a good basic education. But that is happening in way too much of the county.

These schools have the same academic curriculum as every other middle school. They add speciality focus classes to pull out of boundary students so the schools arent so poverty concentrated. If you did this in every school, it would not help balance FARMS rates because the rich kids would stay at their rich schools.

Right, that isn’t equal to other schools. Also, they pull wealthier students out of less wealthy schools, so it works both ways. I’ve seen this with the criteria magnets as well. It’s a shell game. MCPS could provide an equal education at local schools but chooses not to for some reason. Maybe because the small number of people who benefit from these programs are louder, I don’t know.

When you have populations with significantly higher needs but the same amount of funding at lower income schools, the education is not going to be "equal"

I’m not sure what your point is. My point is that I object to the false sense that MCPS provides equal opportunity for programming (criteria or choice programs) via lotteries, instead of providing the same programs at all schools. It’s an out for them, and it results in unequal access for students. Why can’t each elementary school have the CES curriculum? Why can’t each middle school have a STEM class? And put on a school play?

It sounds like you want every school to be the same even though the student populations they serve are vastly different. Why do you think this is going to work?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they SHOULD end this program. Why would only a small area of the county have middle school choice? And why are we paying for bussing to multiple schools for one area.

I am an elementary school teacher at a school that feeds into this consortia. Many of the 5th graders do not like being forced to choose a program. They do not like leaving their friends. And when I drive to school it is absolutely ridiculous that one intersection has 3 bus stops- one for each school. The kids are told to wait on opposite corners for their bus. What a waste of transportation money.

Any child in the county can apply to the MSMC middle schools. Its a lottery.

I’m so tired of all the lotteries. I think it’s a way for MCPS to give the appearance of having both quality programming and equality but it actually works against that. They ration opportunities. They split kids up, and yes, I can’t imagine what they must be spending on wasteful transportation costs. Why can’t they just provide the same programs at all schools?

This exactly. They really need to focus on ensuring that home schools have good programming -- kids shouldn't have to lottery into another school to get a good basic education. But that is happening in way too much of the county.

These schools have the same academic curriculum as every other middle school. They add speciality focus classes to pull out of boundary students so the schools arent so poverty concentrated. If you did this in every school, it would not help balance FARMS rates because the rich kids would stay at their rich schools.

Right, that isn’t equal to other schools. Also, they pull wealthier students out of less wealthy schools, so it works both ways. I’ve seen this with the criteria magnets as well. It’s a shell game. MCPS could provide an equal education at local schools but chooses not to for some reason. Maybe because the small number of people who benefit from these programs are louder, I don’t know.

When you have populations with significantly higher needs but the same amount of funding at lower income schools, the education is not going to be "equal"

I’m not sure what your point is. My point is that I object to the false sense that MCPS provides equal opportunity for programming (criteria or choice programs) via lotteries, instead of providing the same programs at all schools. It’s an out for them, and it results in unequal access for students. Why can’t each elementary school have the CES curriculum? Why can’t each middle school have a STEM class? And put on a school play?

All the middle schools Im aware of put on school plays - does yours not?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they SHOULD end this program. Why would only a small area of the county have middle school choice? And why are we paying for bussing to multiple schools for one area.

I am an elementary school teacher at a school that feeds into this consortia. Many of the 5th graders do not like being forced to choose a program. They do not like leaving their friends. And when I drive to school it is absolutely ridiculous that one intersection has 3 bus stops- one for each school. The kids are told to wait on opposite corners for their bus. What a waste of transportation money.

Any child in the county can apply to the MSMC middle schools. Its a lottery.

I’m so tired of all the lotteries. I think it’s a way for MCPS to give the appearance of having both quality programming and equality but it actually works against that. They ration opportunities. They split kids up, and yes, I can’t imagine what they must be spending on wasteful transportation costs. Why can’t they just provide the same programs at all schools?

This exactly. They really need to focus on ensuring that home schools have good programming -- kids shouldn't have to lottery into another school to get a good basic education. But that is happening in way too much of the county.

These schools have the same academic curriculum as every other middle school. They add speciality focus classes to pull out of boundary students so the schools arent so poverty concentrated. If you did this in every school, it would not help balance FARMS rates because the rich kids would stay at their rich schools.

Why should parts of the county be receiving focused instruction when not everyone is? They need to make sure every middle school in Montgomery County is providing a sound education rather than focusing on making just a few superior. It is time for these programs to go.

Busing in kids who come from families that prioritize academics provides a good influence to lower SES kids who would not normally be exposed to such students. If MCPS really wants to help URM/lower SES students, they would continue these programs. You are who you surround yourself with.

Otherwise these academically talented students will stay within their higher SES bubble and continue their success there, no problem.

As someone with a higher SES, who's daughter was accepted and attended one of these schools, I can say that our experiences is that the few kids bused (driven actually) to the magnet schools cannot make a difference in the environment of the school. They combine incoming 6th graders (who are often ahead academically) with 8th graders who are on level. The kids were mean and the school does not care. My daughter cried every day and only lasted one semester in the program before we pulled her.

Bused in middle school kids will never be able to turn the tide on what has been developing for over a decade. Put that on someone else.

Sorry for your child’s experience. Our experience was the opposite. Mine attended one of those schools as well. The students there were very different than those in the high SES environment we are used to. For example, it was surprising to learn most of the students taking part in the lunch program. We are from an environment where most parents shield their kids from the school lunch. What the kids are like is different too—almost like visiting a different country.

My kid made many friends of all SES, and students were well behaved in and out of classrooms. The school did not combine 6th and 8th graders, so perhaps this helped. There were enough academically advanced kids in each grade to keep them within their grade and able to provide rigor in a handful of classes.

Having the SES diversity seemed to have an uplifting effect as a whole for most in the school.

Do you hear yourself? What a savior complex.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they SHOULD end this program. Why would only a small area of the county have middle school choice? And why are we paying for bussing to multiple schools for one area.

I am an elementary school teacher at a school that feeds into this consortia. Many of the 5th graders do not like being forced to choose a program. They do not like leaving their friends. And when I drive to school it is absolutely ridiculous that one intersection has 3 bus stops- one for each school. The kids are told to wait on opposite corners for their bus. What a waste of transportation money.

Any child in the county can apply to the MSMC middle schools. Its a lottery.

I’m so tired of all the lotteries. I think it’s a way for MCPS to give the appearance of having both quality programming and equality but it actually works against that. They ration opportunities. They split kids up, and yes, I can’t imagine what they must be spending on wasteful transportation costs. Why can’t they just provide the same programs at all schools?

This exactly. They really need to focus on ensuring that home schools have good programming -- kids shouldn't have to lottery into another school to get a good basic education. But that is happening in way too much of the county.

These schools have the same academic curriculum as every other middle school. They add speciality focus classes to pull out of boundary students so the schools arent so poverty concentrated. If you did this in every school, it would not help balance FARMS rates because the rich kids would stay at their rich schools.

Right, that isn’t equal to other schools. Also, they pull wealthier students out of less wealthy schools, so it works both ways. I’ve seen this with the criteria magnets as well. It’s a shell game. MCPS could provide an equal education at local schools but chooses not to for some reason. Maybe because the small number of people who benefit from these programs are louder, I don’t know.

When you have populations with significantly higher needs but the same amount of funding at lower income schools, the education is not going to be "equal"

I’m not sure what your point is. My point is that I object to the false sense that MCPS provides equal opportunity for programming (criteria or choice programs) via lotteries, instead of providing the same programs at all schools. It’s an out for them, and it results in unequal access for students. Why can’t each elementary school have the CES curriculum? Why can’t each middle school have a STEM class? And put on a school play?

It sounds like you want every school to be the same even though the student populations they serve are vastly different. Why do you think this is going to work?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they SHOULD end this program. Why would only a small area of the county have middle school choice? And why are we paying for bussing to multiple schools for one area.

I am an elementary school teacher at a school that feeds into this consortia. Many of the 5th graders do not like being forced to choose a program. They do not like leaving their friends. And when I drive to school it is absolutely ridiculous that one intersection has 3 bus stops- one for each school. The kids are told to wait on opposite corners for their bus. What a waste of transportation money.

Any child in the county can apply to the MSMC middle schools. Its a lottery.

I’m so tired of all the lotteries. I think it’s a way for MCPS to give the appearance of having both quality programming and equality but it actually works against that. They ration opportunities. They split kids up, and yes, I can’t imagine what they must be spending on wasteful transportation costs. Why can’t they just provide the same programs at all schools?

This exactly. They really need to focus on ensuring that home schools have good programming -- kids shouldn't have to lottery into another school to get a good basic education. But that is happening in way too much of the county.

These schools have the same academic curriculum as every other middle school. They add speciality focus classes to pull out of boundary students so the schools arent so poverty concentrated. If you did this in every school, it would not help balance FARMS rates because the rich kids would stay at their rich schools.

Why should parts of the county be receiving focused instruction when not everyone is? They need to make sure every middle school in Montgomery County is providing a sound education rather than focusing on making just a few superior. It is time for these programs to go.

Busing in kids who come from families that prioritize academics provides a good influence to lower SES kids who would not normally be exposed to such students. If MCPS really wants to help URM/lower SES students, they would continue these programs. You are who you surround yourself with.

Otherwise these academically talented students will stay within their higher SES bubble and continue their success there, no problem.

As someone with a higher SES, who's daughter was accepted and attended one of these schools, I can say that our experiences is that the few kids bused (driven actually) to the magnet schools cannot make a difference in the environment of the school. They combine incoming 6th graders (who are often ahead academically) with 8th graders who are on level. The kids were mean and the school does not care. My daughter cried every day and only lasted one semester in the program before we pulled her.

Bused in middle school kids will never be able to turn the tide on what has been developing for over a decade. Put that on someone else.

Sorry for your child’s experience. Our experience was the opposite. Mine attended one of those schools as well. The students there were very different than those in the high SES environment we are used to. For example, it was surprising to learn most of the students taking part in the lunch program. We are from an environment where most parents shield their kids from the school lunch. What the kids are like is different too—almost like visiting a different country.

My kid made many friends of all SES, and students were well behaved in and out of classrooms. The school did not combine 6th and 8th graders, so perhaps this helped. There were enough academically advanced kids in each grade to keep them within their grade and able to provide rigor in a handful of classes.

Having the SES diversity seemed to have an uplifting effect as a whole for most in the school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they SHOULD end this program. Why would only a small area of the county have middle school choice? And why are we paying for bussing to multiple schools for one area.

I am an elementary school teacher at a school that feeds into this consortia. Many of the 5th graders do not like being forced to choose a program. They do not like leaving their friends. And when I drive to school it is absolutely ridiculous that one intersection has 3 bus stops- one for each school. The kids are told to wait on opposite corners for their bus. What a waste of transportation money.

Any child in the county can apply to the MSMC middle schools. Its a lottery.

I’m so tired of all the lotteries. I think it’s a way for MCPS to give the appearance of having both quality programming and equality but it actually works against that. They ration opportunities. They split kids up, and yes, I can’t imagine what they must be spending on wasteful transportation costs. Why can’t they just provide the same programs at all schools?

This exactly. They really need to focus on ensuring that home schools have good programming -- kids shouldn't have to lottery into another school to get a good basic education. But that is happening in way too much of the county.

These schools have the same academic curriculum as every other middle school. They add speciality focus classes to pull out of boundary students so the schools arent so poverty concentrated. If you did this in every school, it would not help balance FARMS rates because the rich kids would stay at their rich schools.

Why should parts of the county be receiving focused instruction when not everyone is? They need to make sure every middle school in Montgomery County is providing a sound education rather than focusing on making just a few superior. It is time for these programs to go.

Busing in kids who come from families that prioritize academics provides a good influence to lower SES kids who would not normally be exposed to such students. If MCPS really wants to help URM/lower SES students, they would continue these programs. You are who you surround yourself with.

Otherwise these academically talented students will stay within their higher SES bubble and continue their success there, no problem.

As someone with a higher SES, who's daughter was accepted and attended one of these schools, I can say that our experiences is that the few kids bused (driven actually) to the magnet schools cannot make a difference in the environment of the school. They combine incoming 6th graders (who are often ahead academically) with 8th graders who are on level. The kids were mean and the school does not care. My daughter cried every day and only lasted one semester in the program before we pulled her.

Bused in middle school kids will never be able to turn the tide on what has been developing for over a decade. Put that on someone else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they SHOULD end this program. Why would only a small area of the county have middle school choice? And why are we paying for bussing to multiple schools for one area.

I am an elementary school teacher at a school that feeds into this consortia. Many of the 5th graders do not like being forced to choose a program. They do not like leaving their friends. And when I drive to school it is absolutely ridiculous that one intersection has 3 bus stops- one for each school. The kids are told to wait on opposite corners for their bus. What a waste of transportation money.

Any child in the county can apply to the MSMC middle schools. Its a lottery.

I’m so tired of all the lotteries. I think it’s a way for MCPS to give the appearance of having both quality programming and equality but it actually works against that. They ration opportunities. They split kids up, and yes, I can’t imagine what they must be spending on wasteful transportation costs. Why can’t they just provide the same programs at all schools?

This exactly. They really need to focus on ensuring that home schools have good programming -- kids shouldn't have to lottery into another school to get a good basic education. But that is happening in way too much of the county.

These schools have the same academic curriculum as every other middle school. They add speciality focus classes to pull out of boundary students so the schools arent so poverty concentrated. If you did this in every school, it would not help balance FARMS rates because the rich kids would stay at their rich schools.

Why should parts of the county be receiving focused instruction when not everyone is? They need to make sure every middle school in Montgomery County is providing a sound education rather than focusing on making just a few superior. It is time for these programs to go.

Busing in kids who come from families that prioritize academics provides a good influence to lower SES kids who would not normally be exposed to such students. If MCPS really wants to help URM/lower SES students, they would continue these programs. You are who you surround yourself with.

Otherwise these academically talented students will stay within their higher SES bubble and continue their success there, no problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they SHOULD end this program. Why would only a small area of the county have middle school choice? And why are we paying for bussing to multiple schools for one area.

I am an elementary school teacher at a school that feeds into this consortia. Many of the 5th graders do not like being forced to choose a program. They do not like leaving their friends. And when I drive to school it is absolutely ridiculous that one intersection has 3 bus stops- one for each school. The kids are told to wait on opposite corners for their bus. What a waste of transportation money.

Any child in the county can apply to the MSMC middle schools. Its a lottery.

I’m so tired of all the lotteries. I think it’s a way for MCPS to give the appearance of having both quality programming and equality but it actually works against that. They ration opportunities. They split kids up, and yes, I can’t imagine what they must be spending on wasteful transportation costs. Why can’t they just provide the same programs at all schools?

This exactly. They really need to focus on ensuring that home schools have good programming -- kids shouldn't have to lottery into another school to get a good basic education. But that is happening in way too much of the county.

These schools have the same academic curriculum as every other middle school. They add speciality focus classes to pull out of boundary students so the schools arent so poverty concentrated. If you did this in every school, it would not help balance FARMS rates because the rich kids would stay at their rich schools.

Why should parts of the county be receiving focused instruction when not everyone is? They need to make sure every middle school in Montgomery County is providing a sound education rather than focusing on making just a few superior. It is time for these programs to go.

Busing in kids who come from families that prioritize academics provides a good influence to lower SES kids who would not normally be exposed to such students. If MCPS really wants to help URM/lower SES students, they would continue these programs. You are who you surround yourself with.

Otherwise these academically talented students will stay within their higher SES bubble and continue their success there, no problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they SHOULD end this program. Why would only a small area of the county have middle school choice? And why are we paying for bussing to multiple schools for one area.

I am an elementary school teacher at a school that feeds into this consortia. Many of the 5th graders do not like being forced to choose a program. They do not like leaving their friends. And when I drive to school it is absolutely ridiculous that one intersection has 3 bus stops- one for each school. The kids are told to wait on opposite corners for their bus. What a waste of transportation money.

Any child in the county can apply to the MSMC middle schools. Its a lottery.

I’m so tired of all the lotteries. I think it’s a way for MCPS to give the appearance of having both quality programming and equality but it actually works against that. They ration opportunities. They split kids up, and yes, I can’t imagine what they must be spending on wasteful transportation costs. Why can’t they just provide the same programs at all schools?

This exactly. They really need to focus on ensuring that home schools have good programming -- kids shouldn't have to lottery into another school to get a good basic education. But that is happening in way too much of the county.

These schools have the same academic curriculum as every other middle school. They add speciality focus classes to pull out of boundary students so the schools arent so poverty concentrated. If you did this in every school, it would not help balance FARMS rates because the rich kids would stay at their rich schools.

Right, that isn’t equal to other schools. Also, they pull wealthier students out of less wealthy schools, so it works both ways. I’ve seen this with the criteria magnets as well. It’s a shell game. MCPS could provide an equal education at local schools but chooses not to for some reason. Maybe because the small number of people who benefit from these programs are louder, I don’t know.

When you have populations with significantly higher needs but the same amount of funding at lower income schools, the education is not going to be "equal"

I’m not sure what your point is. My point is that I object to the false sense that MCPS provides equal opportunity for programming (criteria or choice programs) via lotteries, instead of providing the same programs at all schools. It’s an out for them, and it results in unequal access for students. Why can’t each elementary school have the CES curriculum? Why can’t each middle school have a STEM class? And put on a school play?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they SHOULD end this program. Why would only a small area of the county have middle school choice? And why are we paying for bussing to multiple schools for one area.

I am an elementary school teacher at a school that feeds into this consortia. Many of the 5th graders do not like being forced to choose a program. They do not like leaving their friends. And when I drive to school it is absolutely ridiculous that one intersection has 3 bus stops- one for each school. The kids are told to wait on opposite corners for their bus. What a waste of transportation money.

Any child in the county can apply to the MSMC middle schools. Its a lottery.

I’m so tired of all the lotteries. I think it’s a way for MCPS to give the appearance of having both quality programming and equality but it actually works against that. They ration opportunities. They split kids up, and yes, I can’t imagine what they must be spending on wasteful transportation costs. Why can’t they just provide the same programs at all schools?

This exactly. They really need to focus on ensuring that home schools have good programming -- kids shouldn't have to lottery into another school to get a good basic education. But that is happening in way too much of the county.

These schools have the same academic curriculum as every other middle school. They add speciality focus classes to pull out of boundary students so the schools arent so poverty concentrated. If you did this in every school, it would not help balance FARMS rates because the rich kids would stay at their rich schools.

Right, that isn’t equal to other schools. Also, they pull wealthier students out of less wealthy schools, so it works both ways. I’ve seen this with the criteria magnets as well. It’s a shell game. MCPS could provide an equal education at local schools but chooses not to for some reason. Maybe because the small number of people who benefit from these programs are louder, I don’t know.

When you have populations with significantly higher needs but the same amount of funding at lower income schools, the education is not going to be "equal"

I’m not sure what your point is. My point is that I object to the false sense that MCPS provides equal opportunity for programming (criteria or choice programs) via lotteries, instead of providing the same programs at all schools. It’s an out for them, and it results in unequal access for students. Why can’t each elementary school have the CES curriculum? Why can’t each middle school have a STEM class? And put on a school play?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they SHOULD end this program. Why would only a small area of the county have middle school choice? And why are we paying for bussing to multiple schools for one area.

I am an elementary school teacher at a school that feeds into this consortia. Many of the 5th graders do not like being forced to choose a program. They do not like leaving their friends. And when I drive to school it is absolutely ridiculous that one intersection has 3 bus stops- one for each school. The kids are told to wait on opposite corners for their bus. What a waste of transportation money.

Any child in the county can apply to the MSMC middle schools. Its a lottery.

I’m so tired of all the lotteries. I think it’s a way for MCPS to give the appearance of having both quality programming and equality but it actually works against that. They ration opportunities. They split kids up, and yes, I can’t imagine what they must be spending on wasteful transportation costs. Why can’t they just provide the same programs at all schools?

This exactly. They really need to focus on ensuring that home schools have good programming -- kids shouldn't have to lottery into another school to get a good basic education. But that is happening in way too much of the county.

These schools have the same academic curriculum as every other middle school. They add speciality focus classes to pull out of boundary students so the schools arent so poverty concentrated. If you did this in every school, it would not help balance FARMS rates because the rich kids would stay at their rich schools.

Right, that isn’t equal to other schools. Also, they pull wealthier students out of less wealthy schools, so it works both ways. I’ve seen this with the criteria magnets as well. It’s a shell game. MCPS could provide an equal education at local schools but chooses not to for some reason. Maybe because the small number of people who benefit from these programs are louder, I don’t know.

When you have populations with significantly higher needs but the same amount of funding at lower income schools, the education is not going to be "equal"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they SHOULD end this program. Why would only a small area of the county have middle school choice? And why are we paying for bussing to multiple schools for one area.

I am an elementary school teacher at a school that feeds into this consortia. Many of the 5th graders do not like being forced to choose a program. They do not like leaving their friends. And when I drive to school it is absolutely ridiculous that one intersection has 3 bus stops- one for each school. The kids are told to wait on opposite corners for their bus. What a waste of transportation money.

Any child in the county can apply to the MSMC middle schools. Its a lottery.

I’m so tired of all the lotteries. I think it’s a way for MCPS to give the appearance of having both quality programming and equality but it actually works against that. They ration opportunities. They split kids up, and yes, I can’t imagine what they must be spending on wasteful transportation costs. Why can’t they just provide the same programs at all schools?

This exactly. They really need to focus on ensuring that home schools have good programming -- kids shouldn't have to lottery into another school to get a good basic education. But that is happening in way too much of the county.

These schools have the same academic curriculum as every other middle school. They add speciality focus classes to pull out of boundary students so the schools arent so poverty concentrated. If you did this in every school, it would not help balance FARMS rates because the rich kids would stay at their rich schools.

Why should parts of the county be receiving focused instruction when not everyone is? They need to make sure every middle school in Montgomery County is providing a sound education rather than focusing on making just a few superior. It is time for these programs to go.