Anyone know what the Middle School Magnet Process will be like this year?

[Anonymous]

Just curious if anyone has heard what the process for selection will be like for the middle school magnets this year. Will they be giving COGAT this year, or doing it like last year and using MAP cutoffs and lottery type selection. The parent meeting will be in early November, but was wondering if anyone had heard yet about this year's process.

[Anonymous]

Alas, my crystal ball's still in the shop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious if anyone has heard what the process for selection will be like for the middle school magnets this year. Will they be giving COGAT this year, or doing it like last year and using MAP cutoffs and lottery type selection. The parent meeting will be in early November, but was wondering if anyone had heard yet about this year's process.

MCPS is really poor with parent communication, particularly around placement in CES and MS magnet programs. Based on my experience, I will bet that you will be in the dark even after the November parent meeting and they never will truly explain their methodology.

However, if I were to guess I would presume that they would keep using the same lottery process they used last year. Random chance lotteries for quality public services seems to be the new national trend in liberal enclaves, whether it’s for housing, education, you name it.

[Anonymous]

There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

[Anonymous]

Can a child apply to moco magnet for 7th grade from private?

[Anonymous]

IDK but since this is an anonymous forum I am here to say I am SO GLAD my child made it in during the last normal process year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

Makes it more equitable and still draws in the most high performing kids. I like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

Makes it more equitable and still draws in the most high performing kids. I like it.

It’s not really equitable if a 99 percentiler doesn’t get a spot but an 85th percentiler does, now is it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can a child apply to moco magnet for 7th grade from private?

Not for 7th. Kids start MS magnet programs in 6th (applying in 5th), and HS programs in 9th (applying in 8th). You can apply from private, but only in the appropriate grades.

Because the content of the programs typically builds on the previous years, kids can’t start in the middle of a program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

Makes it more equitable and still draws in the most high performing kids. I like it.

I'd be okay with it if it were top 5% or higher but if they want 15% they should simply offer this stuff at every school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

Makes it more equitable and still draws in the most high performing kids. I like it.

It’s not really equitable if a 99 percentiler doesn’t get a spot but an 85th percentiler does, now is it.

Doesn't the state have some legal obligation to teach kids at an appropriate level both gifted and disabled? How is it equitable when the most gifted routinely get passed over?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

You are replying to me. I don't really understand your statement. I don't have an issue with a lottery process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

You are replying to me. I don't really understand your statement. I don't have an issue with a lottery process.

So students who are mostly just above average at STEM get slots in a magnet while outliers are ignored by the program designed to provide them an appropriate education?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

Makes it more equitable and still draws in the most high performing kids. I like it.

It’s not really equitable if a 99 percentiler doesn’t get a spot but an 85th percentiler does, now is it.

Exactly!