Overwhelmed with DCC options

[Anonymous]

My daughter is switching from private school to a DCC school next year for 9th grade. I'm totally overwhelmed by the DCC system and all the options it offers. What is the deal with all the programs at each school? Do you have to be in one of them or is there general population school, too? Which ones are good? If I want my smart kid to get a really good education, what programs and schools should I be looking at? I just can't figure out which schools/programs are good versus which are low-performing. Thanks for the help.

[Anonymous]

It really depends on your child. Blair has a great STEM (math/science) magnet and a very good humanities magnet while also being a good all-around school - but it is 3500 kids and your child needs to be able to navigate that. Kennedy has a local IB program that could provide your child rigorous study, and Northwood is smaller with academies, although I've not heard much about the rigor of its program. Bottom line is to attend the evening parent meetings that are put on by MCPS in the fall for DCC that can help delineate the differences.

[Anonymous]

I have one kid at regular Blair and one kid in MC2 at Northwood. Last year, they were freshman and the differences were not really evident. This year, I already notice a difference and Northwood is the right program for the kid there. However, there are good opportunities at all of the schools depending on what your kid needs and is willing to do.

My son came from private school as well and we made the switch too late to participate in the choice process. Blair is ok for him, but I think he would have been happier at Einstein. I suggest you go to the open houses to learn more about each school, feel the atmosphere, and ask questions.

DD got into 2 magnets and was waitlisted for a third. We did not consider programs at Kennedy or Einstein based on her interests, but she has friends who are happy there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is switching from private school to a DCC school next year for 9th grade. I'm totally overwhelmed by the DCC system and all the options it offers. What is the deal with all the programs at each school? Do you have to be in one of them or is there general population school, too? Which ones are good? If I want my smart kid to get a really good education, what programs and schools should I be looking at? I just can't figure out which schools/programs are good versus which are low-performing. Thanks for the help.

Apply for the magnet programs at Richard Montgomery IB or Blair. Those are great programs for smart kids. RMIB is probably the best all-around high school education in the area, but competitive to get into.

[Anonymous]

So you don't have to be in one of the special programs? Are they better than general population? What if I think IB is way too rigorous? Are there other special programs that are particularly good? Also, are an of these schools unsafe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you don't have to be in one of the special programs? Are they better than general population? What if I think IB is way too rigorous? Are there other special programs that are particularly good? Also, are an of these schools unsafe?

No that is definitely not a requirement. There are only 100 ish spots for the Blair magnet each year and it pulls from 16 HS clusters. Almost no one gets a spot. You could look in to the CAP program at Blair. It is only open to the DCC and less competitive (though you still have to get a spot) but still a rigorous program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you don't have to be in one of the special programs? Are they better than general population? What if I think IB is way too rigorous? Are there other special programs that are particularly good? Also, are an of these schools unsafe?

No that is definitely not a requirement. There are only 100 ish spots for the Blair magnet each year and it pulls from 16 HS clusters. Almost no one gets a spot. You could look in to the CAP program at Blair. It is only open to the DCC and less competitive (though you still have to get a spot) but still a rigorous program.

The Global Ecology program at Poolesville is beloved and not too rigorous - serious, but not overwhelming work. That is open to the whole county, but may be too far for you. Probably the “safest” high school in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you don't have to be in one of the special programs? Are they better than general population? What if I think IB is way too rigorous? Are there other special programs that are particularly good? Also, are an of these schools unsafe?

There is a difference between the special programs/application programs/magnet programs at several DCC schools and the DCC academy programs. Each school has 4 or 5 academy programs which are available to all students at that school. Essentially these academy programs are elective tracks, often culminating in a capstone project or internship senior year. Some schools require every student to join an academy in 9th grade; others put all 9th graders in a 9th grade academy and ask them to choose another for 10th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is switching from private school to a DCC school next year for 9th grade. I'm totally overwhelmed by the DCC system and all the options it offers. What is the deal with all the programs at each school? Do you have to be in one of them or is there general population school, too? Which ones are good? If I want my smart kid to get a really good education, what programs and schools should I be looking at? I just can't figure out which schools/programs are good versus which are low-performing. Thanks for the help.

A lot will depend on your address. Which DCC school is your home zoned for? That is the only one where you are guaranteed a spot, assuming you rank it #1 or #2 on your choice form.

[Anonymous]

We're zoned for Einstein. When you say "special programs/application programs/magnet programs at several DCC schools and the DCC academy programs" are you talking things like the International Studies & Law vs. CAP and Magnet vs. doing an automotive track as an academy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you don't have to be in one of the special programs? Are they better than general population? What if I think IB is way too rigorous? Are there other special programs that are particularly good? Also, are an of these schools unsafe?

DCUM is going to claim they are all unsafe. It’s going to say all MCPS high schools except the Ws are unsafe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you don't have to be in one of the special programs? Are they better than general population? What if I think IB is way too rigorous? Are there other special programs that are particularly good? Also, are an of these schools unsafe?

DCUM is going to claim they are all unsafe. It’s going to say all MCPS high schools except the Ws are unsafe.

You forgot that DCUM is going to claim the W's are full of bigoted, racist, misogynistic bullies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're zoned for Einstein. When you say "special programs/application programs/magnet programs at several DCC schools and the DCC academy programs" are you talking things like the International Studies & Law vs. CAP and Magnet vs. doing an automotive track as an academy?

Yes. International Studies and Law (at Blair) is an academy program. Anyone who is enrolled at Blair can be part of it. CAP is an application program; you have to apply to it in advance and get accepted to it, and if you enroll in it, you'll be assigned to Blair as your HS, regardless of the DCC choice process.

Automotive is at Edison, and that's a whole separate process from the DCC choice or application programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're zoned for Einstein. When you say "special programs/application programs/magnet programs at several DCC schools and the DCC academy programs" are you talking things like the International Studies & Law vs. CAP and Magnet vs. doing an automotive track as an academy?

If you're zoned for Einstein, and your child enrolls there, the academy programs they will choose from are: Visual and Performing Arts, Teacher Academy, Academy of Finance and Technology, Renaissance Academy, and the IB Academy. Renaissance and IB are more generalized; Renaissance entails taking a bunch of AP classes.

[Anonymous]

Okay, that explains things a little more. There just seem to be so many options. As for safety, let's put away the bias for the W schools right now. How are the DCC schools individually? Is there gang activity at them?