Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our MoCo elementary has 27-28 kids per class with 1 teachers and an aide that rotates between several classes. This is the #1 reason we have opted for private school. While some kids can handle big classes, we don't think ours can. One of our kids would spend his day goofing off and needs extra coaxing to do his work; the other is shy and gets lost in a crowd. I'm sure both kids would manage to get by in the bigger classes, but I don't think either would do his/her best or shine.

To the PP pointing out the high number of kids per class in Catholic school- yes, most Catholic schools have student/teacher ratios similar to, or even worse than, public school. Independent private schools usually have much smaller classes.

The limit for K in MoCo is 26, so I doubt these numbers are accurate.

My daughters class had 28 in K.

If I had a choice, I probably wouldn't do it. But the vast majority of Americans don't have the money to make such choices.

Anonymous wrote:Our MoCo elementary has 27-28 kids per class with 1 teachers and an aide that rotates between several classes. This is the #1 reason we have opted for private school. While some kids can handle big classes, we don't think ours can. One of our kids would spend his day goofing off and needs extra coaxing to do his work; the other is shy and gets lost in a crowd. I'm sure both kids would manage to get by in the bigger classes, but I don't think either would do his/her best or shine.

To the PP pointing out the high number of kids per class in Catholic school- yes, most Catholic schools have student/teacher ratios similar to, or even worse than, public school. Independent private schools usually have much smaller classes.

The limit for K in MoCo is 26, so I doubt these numbers are accurate.

Holy Trinity

8:34 Which catholic school in the DC area only has 15 children? All the ones around us have 20 plus.

Anonymous wrote:I have seen magical teachers in rooms of 28 flying solo and complete disasters in rooms of 12. You can't make generalizations..

Absolutely. And the mix of kids can be a big part of it too. Sometimes a larger group can work seamlessly while a smaller group with some personalities that just clash can be a nightmare all year. God bless our teachers!

Going to a Catholic school next year. 15 children in each K class with 1 teacher and an aide.

Yes. We did and were very happy with the results. The world involves some degree of chaos. Learning to make sense of it is part of an education.

Our MoCo elementary has 27-28 kids per class with 1 teachers and an aide that rotates between several classes. This is the #1 reason we have opted for private school. While some kids can handle big classes, we don't think ours can. One of our kids would spend his day goofing off and needs extra coaxing to do his work; the other is shy and gets lost in a crowd. I'm sure both kids would manage to get by in the bigger classes, but I don't think either would do his/her best or shine.

To the PP pointing out the high number of kids per class in Catholic school- yes, most Catholic schools have student/teacher ratios similar to, or even worse than, public school. Independent private schools usually have much smaller classes.

I have seen magical teachers in rooms of 28 flying solo and complete disasters in rooms of 12. You can't make generalizations..

My son's fcps has 25 with and aide and the sped teacher coming in for the language arts piece. It's Bren a fabulous year, but I really have to give kudos to the teachers, assistant and sped teacher. They can run that classroom

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:28 is not "outrageous". Good lord, what decade was it when you were in school???

Oh, wow. Your standards are so low it's frightening. 28 children in an elementary class is both outrageous and unacceptable!

Please count your blessings in life if you truly find this 28 number "outrageous," "unacceptable," and "frightening." My kindergartener is thriving in this environment, reading everything he can find, and has about 27 new friends. I'm sure his teacher is tired at the end of the day, but this education is working for him.

Anonymous wrote:I worry that my quieter child gets lost in a group. Your outgoing and social child will require more of the teacher's energy to keep in line so he's not the one to worry about.

That said, my child's K was 30 with a teacher and an aide (more like 2 teachers because they were a great team) and it was one of the best years we've had. My second child will have them next year!

I have that outgoing social child in 2nd grade and yes the teacher did spend lots of energy "keeping my child in line" and that seemed to not only put so much attention on behavior at the expense IMO of figuring out what things were not clicking academically but also started to sour my child on school. So I will say that in our public school with 25-26 kids and no aids it all depends on the teacher and how that teacher's style works with your kids personality. I have a kindergarten child doing brilliantly in the same big class size but that child has a very different personality.

27-30 is standard in my kids' FCPS. There is an assistant in the kinder. class, but the 2nd grade class has 30 with no assistant.

Was I worried about it when we were looking at starting kinder.? Absolutely. Most preschools have a lot of personal attention. The reality is that personal attention isn't gonna happen in public schools. I know that's not what anyone wants to hear. But, it's reality.

Would I like my kids to have smaller classes and more personal relationships with their teachers. Absolutely. However, what are the options? Am I willing to pay $50,000 to $60,000 per year (two kids) for smaller classes and personal attention? I have really pondered this. It would be possible, but in the end while the class sizes bother me, they don't bother me enough to part with that kind of cash EVERY year for the next 10 years.

I know some aspects of public school are kind of shocking, (certainly different than what you are used to with most preschool programs), but it is what it is. We take it for what it offers and try to add to it at home where we can.

Would love to have a better situation, but not for that kind of cash. Public school will do.

I worry that my quieter child gets lost in a group. Your outgoing and social child will require more of the teacher's energy to keep in line so he's not the one to worry about.

That said, my child's K was 30 with a teacher and an aide (more like 2 teachers because they were a great team) and it was one of the best years we've had. My second child will have them next year!