Moving a 12 yr old from public to private school

[InsanelyBusy]

Having so many issues with Calvert county school, middle school to be exact.
Our child is average. No learning disabilities, nor bad attitude, and has good ability to succeed. My issues are mostly with the lack of communication, with every avenue I try , with this middle school. I'm not going to name the middle school, I'm trying not to put blame on any certain school curriculum. And I am not able to homeschool.

Am thinking our child may have a better chance at soaking up an education via private school, maybe the one on Solomons.

If you've been in this situation, and would like to comment or offer any positive experience regarding my post, im interested in reading what you have to say here.

I'm looking for postives or any negatives regarding this situation. I'm not looking for jokes, as this isnt a "johnny can't learn" situation. My child is doing ok in school. I just have alot of concerns, and no matter how I try to address them, they get swept under the carpet, so to speak, by the school.

Have your kids done better in a private school setting?
I know kids will be kids, and nothing is guaranteed. However, I really need to do something here. The public school system here and their lack of communication, no matter what my effort ( and it has been a dilligent effort over the whole school year) has taken its toll on my childs education.

Thanks In advance

 

[citysherry]

You're going to have to be much more specific with regard to "communication" problems....so far, I've had absolutely no problems with the Calvert school system.

edited to add - What type of concerns do you have that are not being addressed by the school administration? You don't have to be specific but give us a general idea of what you're eluding to.

 

[kwillia]

When my kids hit middle school. I found it was my responsibility to initiate a line of communication for most every case where I wanted more information. I found the easiest way to open the line was via email directly to the teacher or staff member involved. (St. Mary's has a public school website that list the email address of all staff members.) Just expressing interest in following my kid's progress wasn't enough to stay on top of something if my son was struggling in a particular area. I found I was responsible for inquiring as to his progress if I wanted updates.

Have you tried communication via email?

 

[aps45819]

Did you bring up your concerns at the PTA meetings?

 

[MysticalMom]

If you can afford private school then why not?

My kids don't go to school in Calvert, we're in St. Mary's, but I have had the same issues on more than one occassion.

Private school wasn't an option for us so I had to spend as much time At the schools as I could, staying involved and doing whatever it took.

When my oldest was a junior in HS and was skipping entire days and the school wasn't working with me, I went to school with her everyday for almost 2 weeks. She never skipped again. (some here remember that ordeal! ) When another of my daughters' grades were falling I volunteered at her middle school everyday and stayed involved unitl I got her back on track.

Sometimes the schools worked with me, sometimes they didn't. I just did what I had to do. IF private school is what you have to do and you can afford it..I say go for it. :shrug:

 

[bresamil]

As others here are saying, parental involvement daily with the school leads to good communication with the teachers. That is one advantage of the private school in Solomons in that it is small, it needs volunteers for many efforts, the more you volunteer and are seen in the school the more open the communication becomes.
It is a little harder in public schools because, frankly, they just don't need us there - they have employees to provide lunch, work in the library, do office work, cover for the secretary that's out sick, etc. So you really have to make an effort to keep lines of commication open.
My son's graduation from private school and entry to public high school has taught me that lesson.

 

[cattitude]

You're going to have to be much more specific with regard to "communication" problems....so far, I've had absolutely no problems with the Calvert school system.

edited to add - What type of concerns do you have that are not being addressed by the school administration? You don't have to be specific but give us a general idea of what you're eluding to.

My children did well in the Calvert County school system. My brother's children did well and my sister's kids have excelled.

There is a HUGE difference in elementary and middle school..the teachers are dealing with 6 times the number of students that one elementary teacher deals with...not to mention that brain damage and hormonal issues start to kick in in middle school..even with the most pefect child.

 

[crabcake]

Why do people always think a private school is going to solve their problems? In some cases, it might be a better option as far as quality of education. But if the problem is simply 'communication', it seems to me you're already paying for that via your taxes. Go to the school, put your foot down, and open the dialogue yourself. If the school isn't responsive, you can bet your sweet ass the school board will be ... especially when it's election time.

I've only ever had one instance with a school where I had to elevate my concerns, and my issue was resolved the day I contacted the school board.

 

[itsbob]

My children did well in the Calvert County school system. My brother's children did well and my sister's kids have excelled.

I've had two kids in the Calvert Middle Schools (one still there) and both did very well, the older of the two REALLY came out in High School and is doing exceptionally well.

I think all the schools over there deserve a lot of praise, they've done very well by my children.

I know many people over there that can afford private school, but their kids attend public because they are the better schools.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

Why do people always think a private school is going to solve their problems?

I remember that when I was in high school, some of my friends had gone to Ryken for at least a year because they were kicked out of the public school system. While I think school systems have some play in an education, the parents and child have more influence.

 

[crabcake]

I remember that when I was in high school, some of my friends had gone to Ryken for at least a year because they were kicked out of the public school system. While I think school systems have some play in an education, the parents and child have more influence.

If DQ EVER gets herself kicked outta school, she'll get a foot in her ass before I foot the bill for any private school. I have a thing about wasting good money ... the best lessons in life are learned through living.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

If DQ EVER gets herself kicked outta school, she'll get a foot in her ass before I foot the bill for any private school. I have a thing about wasting good money ... the best lessons in life are learned through living.

These kids were children of business owners locally in La Plata. Their parents could afford to send my entire graduating class to Ryken.

 

[crabcake]

These kids were children of business owners locally in La Plata. Their parents could afford to send my entire graduating class to Ryken.

Yea, I've read about kids like those ... e.g., the Menendez brothers. I'm a firm believer in the theory that giving kids the world simply because you can doesn't teach them a darn thing except that they can walk all over you whenever they please.

 

[Sharon]

InsanelyBusy...

For whatever reason you're considering an alternative to public school shows me that you ARE actively concerned with your child's education. No one here knows your situation and don't feel pressed to explain it if you don't want to.

My neighbors 3 children went to OLSS. They've all graduated and moved on by now. If you can afford private school, go for it. Just be sure you're getting what you paid for.

http://www.olss.org/images/OLSSschool.pdf

I was disappointed in Calvert's public schools (staff and curriculum) starting from when my kids were in elementary school. (Granted, they were better than St. Mary's.) It started with little things. I remember one open house where my son showed me a paper of his. As I was reading it I noticed he spelled a word wrong, so I mentioned it to him that the teacher hadn't called him on it when she graded his paper. I didn't know the teacher was behind me at the time but she turned and told me they don't correct spelling. WTH? I replied, "But you teach spelling, I know because you give out spelling lists weekly." Little disappointments like this went on over the years until I'd had enough.

One child came home and told me about some biased comments from his teacher who didn't like different opinions than her own. She was a Spanish (language) teacher but she was also teaching one history class and my son was unfortunately stuck in it. Once when we spoke she told me she had zero control over her class. The class was so noisy with disruptions that my son would quietly draw. He didn't cause any trouble, but he'd lost interest in his work. There was one lesson where she expressed her opinion that communism was a great idea.

There are plenty of other instances that slowly turned me off from public school. I home schooled my sons from ninth grade until graduation. At first my kids begged to go back because I wasn't the push-over public school teacher that they'd gotten used to. Before the end of the 1st semester I asked them if they still wanted to go back. They said no. It wasn't easy or fun but they got so much more than they were able to from their former classrooms. I bought everything from microscopes to chemistry supplies and they always had their own books.

 

[Nanny Pam]

Make them wear uniforms!

 

[Chasey_Lane]

Make them wear uniforms!

You're in trouble now, Miss Coach lady!

 

[Nanny Pam]

You're in trouble now, Miss Coach lady!

:shrug:

 

[crabcake]

Make them wear uniforms!

I'm surprised more public schools don't push this. I'm all for it.

Can you imagine DQ having to wear the little plaid skirt and white shirt to school, and her coming home with mud stains on the shirt and holes in the skirt from catching it on a tree limb?

 

[FastCarsSpeed]

My Children go to OLSS. I think the school is great. But I can tell you communication with teachers will be and issue as every teacher is different. Whether it be public or private. My daughters teacher provides tons of communication while my sons not as much as I would like. The school is definitely challenging. BTW Middle schools are bigger new kids more teachers and getting kids used to switching classes and such. Its really about the parents being involved in the end. If you feel that avenue is not working then yeah maybe a change is good but Its all your own opinion as others have said.


Not quite sure but I thought 6th grade was full at OLSS??? Not quite sure though.

 

[Nanny Pam]

I'm surprised more public schools don't push this. I'm all for it.

Can you imagine DQ having to wear the little plaid skirt and white shirt to school, and her coming home with mud stains on the shirt and holes in the skirt from catching it on a tree limb?

You forgot the blood! From "wooping somebody's butt."