OP, if you are still reading through this wildly unhelpful thread, you might want to take another look at the Great Schools website. A PP characterized it as meaningless, but as I recall from house-shopping two years ago, its rating is actually based on a formula that summarizes standardized testing results. So the numerical rating is objective and can be used for an easy comparison of test results (to the extent you find those useful). Then there is a comment section, which of course is subjective.

Anonymous wrote:What is "the test" being taught to? With Curriculum 2.0 they don't even have "the test" (i.e standardized assessments like the MSA) developed yet. This is why MD has an exemption from NCLB requirements--the new curriculum doesn't map to the old tests.

MCPS kids will still take MSA this year and next year. After that, there will be a new test that is being developed now. Testing is not going away.

What is "the test" being taught to? With Curriculum 2.0 they don't even have "the test" (i.e standardized assessments like the MSA) developed yet. This is why MD has an exemption from NCLB requirements--the new curriculum doesn't map to the old tests.

Anonymous wrote:Chvy Chase ES is not great. They teach to the test like nobody's business and pressure the kids to represent for the school. It's a ridiculous place.

I don't know what this means either and it doesn't sound like our experience, although I admit that generally MCPS teach to the test.

Anonymous wrote:Chvy Chase ES is not great. They teach to the test like nobody's business and pressure the kids to represent for the school. It's a ridiculous place.

Represent for the school? Do you mean participate in county-wide competitions and the like?

Chvy Chase ES is not great. They teach to the test like nobody's business and pressure the kids to represent for the school. It's a ridiculous place.