The problem with rankings, and low-ranked schools, is that there are so many factors. Our low-ranked school is also one of a handful of magnet schools for kids with learning disabilities. So, people look at the FARMS rate and assume the issue is a high needs student population (and part of it is), but the whole picture isn't seen.

Similarly, a higher-ranked school might have a language immersion magnet (which draws motivated students with involved parents) or HGCs that bring up the overall "ranking" of the school without really impacting the education for kids not in those magnets.

So...yeah. I've talked about how we like our "low ranked" school before on DCUM and have been flat-out told I'm either lying or don't care enough about my kids. So I've stopped talking about it, and I doubt I'm the only one. I'll just enjoy our small class sizes, involved parent community, and excellent education, and let it remain a secret.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love Viers Mill. Two kids, finishing up K and 2nd grade. Great PTA, lots of activities, caring, committed teachers, small classes (but I know that changes in grades 3-5). It used to be Title I but is now just a Focus school.

wasn't this school blue ribbon winner in md? Not sure what the gs rating is, but I think it's got a good rep in the county.

First Title I school in the county to win Blue Ribbon (in 2005, I believe). At one point, it had a GS rating of 9, but obviously has slipped a bit. It's a 5, now I think. But whatever, we love it.

Anonymous wrote:We loved Twinbrook ES. The teachers are wonderful, class sizes are small (K-2), and my kids felt like they were part of a close knit community.

Our experience also. The school itself does need renovation, but my experiences with the staff there have been so positive. Our DC is very happy and has never had more than 17 kids in a class (K-2).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love Viers Mill. Two kids, finishing up K and 2nd grade. Great PTA, lots of activities, caring, committed teachers, small classes (but I know that changes in grades 3-5). It used to be Title I but is now just a Focus school.

wasn't this school blue ribbon winner in md? Not sure what the gs rating is, but I think it's got a good rep in the county.

Not on the western side. Only the W cluster schools have a good rep (but only among the W parents... lol).

Anonymous wrote:Love Viers Mill. Two kids, finishing up K and 2nd grade. Great PTA, lots of activities, caring, committed teachers, small classes (but I know that changes in grades 3-5). It used to be Title I but is now just a Focus school.

wasn't this school blue ribbon winner in md? Not sure what the gs rating is, but I think it's got a good rep in the county.

Well, OP, start namin' names. What's this abysmal 6 rated school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am a teacher and work at a school that is rated a 6. I am not at all impressed with the education the students are getting (outside of my classroom of course).

But I know that rating doesn't tell the whole story which is why I asked. I would feel comfortable sending my child to a 9 or a 10 as I am sure most of you would too. The schools under that really are a crapshoot. Could be great or not which is why I asked.

so let's just be clear--it was actually you, the OP, that suggested anything 8 or below was "low ranked" ? Do you not understand what "low" means?

Apparently not, but that's what you get from the self proclaimed best teacher in a 6 rated school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jackson Road Elementary. My child was originally supposed to go to school in Rockville, but I got divorced and moved and couldn't afford to live there. I was skeptical about sending her to Jackson Road because I've heard bad things about the school and the principal, but she's a really sweet lady and has been very helpful. My child is getting a great education and she's had great teachers the past two years. I don't regret my decision at all.

My friend teaches there! She doesn't love the principal, but stays because the rest of the staff is great, and she loves the families.

My friend teachers there too!

What does she think about the school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am a teacher and work at a school that is rated a 6. I am not at all impressed with the education the students are getting (outside of my classroom of course).

But I know that rating doesn't tell the whole story which is why I asked. I would feel comfortable sending my child to a 9 or a 10 as I am sure most of you would too. The schools under that really are a crapshoot. Could be great or not which is why I asked.

so let's just be clear--it was actually you, the OP, that suggested anything 8 or below was "low ranked" ? Do you not understand what "low" means?

OP thinks that "In Lake Wobegon, all of the children are above average" is a factual statement.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am a teacher and work at a school that is rated a 6. I am not at all impressed with the education the students are getting (outside of my classroom of course).

But I know that rating doesn't tell the whole story which is why I asked. I would feel comfortable sending my child to a 9 or a 10 as I am sure most of you would too. The schools under that really are a crapshoot. Could be great or not which is why I asked.

so let's just be clear--it was actually you, the OP, that suggested anything 8 or below was "low ranked" ? Do you not understand what "low" means?

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am a teacher and work at a school that is rated a 6. I am not at all impressed with the education the students are getting (outside of my classroom of course).

But I know that rating doesn't tell the whole story which is why I asked. I would feel comfortable sending my child to a 9 or a 10 as I am sure most of you would too. The schools under that really are a crapshoot. Could be great or not which is why I asked.

Of course. Troll? Do all your students test really high? Probably not. If we put a spotlight on your class, what would your class' GS rating be? If it is below 9, then you know that the issue can't be the quality of the teaching, right? More likely, you have maybe some ELL, kids with SN, kids from low income families whose parents don't/can't help them with HW, etc.. who are dragging down the score. You don't think that this is most likely the reason for the low scores?

So, what you are saying is that in *your* class, you know the kids are getting the best education possible even if your class is rated a 7, let's say, but in other schools rated a 7, they must not be getting the same high quality teaching as you.

My oh my. For a teacher you are very dumb. I hope you don't teach in my DC's school, which is rated a 6. My kids are getting a fine education, thank you. One even managed to get into HGC from our lowly rated 6 school.

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you for real? You know GS ratings are almost entirely based on standardized test scores. I've never heard a teacher who thinks test scores are the be all and end all of a school's quality.

It does seem unlikely to me that OP is for real, here.