Public Elem Schools including Charter (Baltimore, Hampstead: neighborhoods, school district, live)

[cyntg]

Which are the good public elem schools in Baltimore? I searched the forum and could not find any recent responses to this issue - and most of the responses end up speaking to neighborhoods and politics or generalities about all charter schools. I was wondering if anyone can specifically list good schools and explain why. I was looking at Medfield Heights, Mt. Washingotn, RPEM and as for charter schools, City Neighbors, both locations, Midtown Academy, Baltimore Montessori, The Green School or any new ones like Monarch and Roots and Branches. Any insights about the schools, teachers, facilities, test results, etc would be greatly appreciated. All opinions welcome.

[End-User]

Sorry I can't help much, but I feel like rambling a little on the topic right now.

There isn't much you can say about specific public schools that will hold true from one year to the next. The quality largely depends on the temperment of the current student body and the willingness of parents to cooperate with the faculty and engage the education system. The biggest problem with the public schools in this city is that teachers are often unable to complete the day's lesson because they are busy being disciplinarians. Any one school can be a place where children flourish when parents are engaged and can coordinate discplinary action with teachers, encourage the completion of assignments, and supplement school instruction with help at hometo prevent the "summer slide" that affects many students.

The schools have recently had trouble with teacher retention. Individual teachers rarely stay at one school for more than a few years, and that doesn't foster a sense of continuity in the school's community. Many teachers go to other schools in the city, but some leave the school system altogether. The same is true of students, few parents want their child attending public school beyond the elementary level.

[ltong1009]

For test scores go to 2010 Maryland Report Card. Test scores are the be all and end all, but one component. There is no substitute to a on site visit and talking with the principal. We'll be sending our daughter to Hampstead Hill Academy in Canton.

[jonjj]

Originally Posted by cyntg

Which are the good public elem schools in Baltimore? I searched the forum and could not find any recent responses to this issue - and most of the responses end up speaking to neighborhoods and politics or generalities about all charter schools. I was wondering if anyone can specifically list good schools and explain why. I was looking at Medfield Heights, Mt. Washingotn, RPEM and as for charter schools, City Neighbors, both locations, Midtown Academy, Baltimore Montessori, The Green School or any new ones like Monarch and Roots and Branches. Any insights about the schools, teachers, facilities, test results, etc would be greatly appreciated. All opinions welcome.

Patterson Park Public Charter School is well worth checking into:
Patterson Park Public Charter School (PPPCS)

[Be More]

Originally Posted by End-User

Sorry I can't help much, but I feel like rambling a little on the topic right now.

There isn't much you can say about specific public schools that will hold true from one year to the next. The quality largely depends on the temperment of the current student body and the willingness of parents to cooperate with the faculty and engage the education system. The biggest problem with the public schools in this city is that teachers are often unable to complete the day's lesson because they are busy being disciplinarians. Any one school can be a place where children flourish when parents are engaged and can coordinate discplinary action with teachers, encourage the completion of assignments, and supplement school instruction with help at hometo prevent the "summer slide" that affects many students.

The schools have recently had trouble with teacher retention. Individual teachers rarely stay at one school for more than a few years, and that doesn't foster a sense of continuity in the school's community. Many teachers go to other schools in the city, but some leave the school system altogether. The same is true of students, few parents want their child attending public school beyond the elementary level.

Man...I feel like I should have my response to these types of comments saved somewhere..so i can just paste it here.

Yes, many teachers in the city waste time on discipline. Without going into pages on specifics... these teachers tend to start the first day with threats, yelling...and follow it up with a boring, non hands-on type of curriculum. Often they don't even know the basics of what they are teaching. Can't stress enough that all kids want to learn..and if you are friendly..make them feel welcome, build relationships with them...and follow it up with a dynamic curriculum that excites them..you will have almost no problems. I can think of MAYBE 1 or 2 days this entire year so far where I was very frustrated with a student for acting out. They are usually so engaged and excited about what we will be doing next that you don't have to worry about discipline.

[End-User]

Originally Posted by Be More

Man...I feel like I should have my response to these types of comments saved somewhere..so i can just paste it here.

Yes, many teachers in the city waste time on discipline. Without going into pages on specifics... these teachers tend to start the first day with threats, yelling...and follow it up with a boring, non hands-on type of curriculum. Often they don't even know the basics of what they are teaching. Can't stress enough that all kids want to learn..and if you are friendly..make them feel welcome, build relationships with them...and follow it up with a dynamic curriculum that excites them..you will have almost no problems. I can think of MAYBE 1 or 2 days this entire year so far where I was very frustrated with a student for acting out. They are usually so engaged and excited about what we will be doing next that you don't have to worry about discipline.

I agree all kids want to learn, so long as they still think of themselves as kids. At the elementary level that works out fine, but once hormones kick in they start to tune out things they feel aren't relevant to their immediate lives. That means pretty much everything in school, since NCLB has narrowed the focus of education. And of course the curricula are the problem, they allow so little flexibility that it is difficult to go off on tangents and explore topics that truly excite students. But none of this is restricted to a specific school district.

Sorry I seem to have upset you, Be More. I'm not as familiar with elementary school classroom dynamics as you seem to be. I suppose my previous post didn't make it clear I was referring to older students. But I stand by my statement that there aren't many generalizations you can make about an individual school that will still be true one or two years later.

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by Be More

Man...I feel like I should have my response to these types of comments saved somewhere..so i can just paste it here.

Yes, many teachers in the city waste time on discipline. Without going into pages on specifics... these teachers tend to start the first day with threats, yelling...and follow it up with a boring, non hands-on type of curriculum. Often they don't even know the basics of what they are teaching. Can't stress enough that all kids want to learn..and if you are friendly..make them feel welcome, build relationships with them...and follow it up with a dynamic curriculum that excites them..you will have almost no problems. I can think of MAYBE 1 or 2 days this entire year so far where I was very frustrated with a student for acting out. They are usually so engaged and excited about what we will be doing next that you don't have to worry about discipline.

How old are we talking? Maybe the 1st through 5th grade what you say is applicable but beyond that my experience as a student was different.

[OldBayCrabs]

Originally Posted by cyntg

Which are the good public elem schools in Baltimore? I searched the forum and could not find any recent responses to this issue - and most of the responses end up speaking to neighborhoods and politics or generalities about all charter schools. I was wondering if anyone can specifically list good schools and explain why. I was looking at Medfield Heights, Mt. Washingotn, RPEM and as for charter schools, City Neighbors, both locations, Midtown Academy, Baltimore Montessori, The Green School or any new ones like Monarch and Roots and Branches. Any insights about the schools, teachers, facilities, test results, etc would be greatly appreciated. All opinions welcome.

Mt. Washington, Cross Country, and Roland Park are good bets for elementary schools. They are in good neighborhoods, and they have more socio-economic diversity amonst students. They also have several activities and programs after school for the children. Midtown Academy and Baltimore Montessori are nice too, but I don't know much about them.

[Be More]

Originally Posted by EdwardA

How old are we talking? Maybe the 1st through 5th grade what you say is applicable but beyond that my experience as a student was different.

I teach 5th. Our school is K-8...we do a lot with the middle school students..its the same story as it is in 5th. Make it exciting...don't start the year with vague threats instead of building relationships. All will be well.