Suburban MD schools -question about public vs private?

[Mrs. 14th & You]

You're right, says right in my link -- Newsweek.

[garine]

When I am researching the schools, I am looking at much more than test scores. There are websites (schoolmatters, greatschools.net, schooldigger) that have plenty of other stats like the dropout rate (which I think say A LOT about a school community), the percentage of college bound grads, economic and racial demographics, etc. The thing I am missing from all of this research is safety and --bear with me-- friendliness.

If a school has great test scores, enough diversity for understanding but there is gang activity or a high level of drug use among the kids (which is a big problem in many private schools, too). The high school where we live currently has great test scores, all grads going to college -many Ivyleaguers, etc, Everything on paper looks great, but the pressureto excel is immense, the cliques are mean, and the kids are all out for themselves. My oldest daughter has been the victim of "girl bullying" -- which is underhanded and very hurtful. There is a lot of drug use, cyber antics, and even suicides.

Are there any websites or other resources to give you an idea of how schools attend the EMOTIONAL needs of kids? How they deal with safety issues? How they are with special needs populations? I don't know people to ask these questions who have kids in the Montgomery County area.

None of these stats tell us the whole story and you won't know about any of it, until you are already immersed in the school. That's part of why I'm going a little overboard with my research.

[garine]

Originally Posted by dkf747

Quince Orchard is a pretty good school. I know this as a parent of a child in that school. I've never seen the stats and don't need to to know that.

dkf747,
Do you know if there is any gang activity at Quince Orchard?

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by garine

dkf747,
Do you know if there is any gang activity at Quince Orchard?

I have seen no hint of it. I asked my daughter and she says she hasn't heard of any there. Most of thed kids are good kids.