Magnet high schools

[Anonymous]

In the past couple of years For criteria-based magnet high schools, have the decisions been made based on cohorts, like they have done for elementary and middle schools?

[Anonymous]

I don’t think so. At least not that they told us.

[Anonymous]

My understanding is they haven't yet done this however it is just a matter of time. With the old system the majority of seats went to people who spent money on outside enrichment. It doesn't seem right that they should be a requirement for a publicly funded program. These opportunities should be available to all children regardless of whether they're from a wealthy or poor neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

My kid goes to one of the magnets and the only money we spent on outside enrichment was that she ordered herself a $7 cogat test off of Amazon so that she could do a sample test before the test day.
Maybe Blairs is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to one of the magnets and the only money we spent on outside enrichment was that she ordered herself a $7 cogat test off of Amazon so that she could do a sample test before the test day.
Maybe Blairs is different.

There was recently an uproar in VA when one of several well-known prep centers listed the names of 30% of the students admitted to TJ as its alumni. It's a safe bet that over half those who are being admitted to the MCPS magnets also use these places and most of those are from more affluent areas. This makes it so that those who don't ante up have a slim chance. Further, those same areas also have higher-rated schools which also confers an advantage. This isn't about ability. It's all about opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Yes OP. But that's no surprising. That is the current direction of MCPS - equity over scores.

[Anonymous]

I have/ had kids in magnets. My kids attended these cram schools and we aren’t Asian. They aren’t very good. My kids always told me they learned nothing and they were wastes of time. I think it’s more the population that sends their kids to cram schools rather than the cram schools themselves. Could it make a difference for a kid who REALLY wants magnet and is willing to put in a lot of effort- maybe. However they could probably do equally as well as picking up an SAT book and Cogat book from library.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have/ had kids in magnets. My kids attended these cram schools and we aren’t Asian. They aren’t very good. My kids always told me they learned nothing and they were wastes of time. I think it’s more the population that sends their kids to cram schools rather than the cram schools themselves. Could it make a difference for a kid who REALLY wants magnet and is willing to put in a lot of effort- maybe. However they could probably do equally as well as picking up an SAT book and Cogat book from library.

Why don't they pick up the book and study?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have/ had kids in magnets. My kids attended these cram schools and we aren’t Asian. They aren’t very good. My kids always told me they learned nothing and they were wastes of time. I think it’s more the population that sends their kids to cram schools rather than the cram schools themselves. Could it make a difference for a kid who REALLY wants magnet and is willing to put in a lot of effort- maybe. However they could probably do equally as well as picking up an SAT book and Cogat book from library.

If you believed that you wouldn't have shelled out the $$$ for your kids. Safe bet that your kids wouldn't have made the cut without the prep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to one of the magnets and the only money we spent on outside enrichment was that she ordered herself a $7 cogat test off of Amazon so that she could do a sample test before the test day.
Maybe Blairs is different.

There was recently an uproar in VA when one of several well-known prep centers listed the names of 30% of the students admitted to TJ as its alumni. It's a safe bet that over half those who are being admitted to the MCPS magnets also use these places and most of those are from more affluent areas. This makes it so that those who don't ante up have a slim chance. Further, those same areas also have higher-rated schools which also confers an advantage. This isn't about ability. It's all about opportunity.

Everyone knows that if you want a shot at these programs you need to take these classes. In all but a few rare cases it's the only way to access these opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes OP. But that's no surprising. That is the current direction of MCPS - equity over scores.

Not really, when they are using scores like grades and MAP rather than Cogat. That is the opposite of equity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have/ had kids in magnets. My kids attended these cram schools and we aren’t Asian. They aren’t very good. My kids always told me they learned nothing and they were wastes of time. I think it’s more the population that sends their kids to cram schools rather than the cram schools themselves. Could it make a difference for a kid who REALLY wants magnet and is willing to put in a lot of effort- maybe. However they could probably do equally as well as picking up an SAT book and Cogat book from library.

If you believed that you wouldn't have shelled out the $$$ for your kids. Safe bet that your kids wouldn't have made the cut without the prep.

I stopped years ago after my older kid insisted they were worthless. My younger one got in with higher MAP scores without cramming to HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have/ had kids in magnets. My kids attended these cram schools and we aren’t Asian. They aren’t very good. My kids always told me they learned nothing and they were wastes of time. I think it’s more the population that sends their kids to cram schools rather than the cram schools themselves. Could it make a difference for a kid who REALLY wants magnet and is willing to put in a lot of effort- maybe. However they could probably do equally as well as picking up an SAT book and Cogat book from library.

If you believed that you wouldn't have shelled out the $$$ for your kids. Safe bet that your kids wouldn't have made the cut without the prep.

Lessons learned. How many parents shell put money and only realize in retrospect it was worthless.

[Anonymous]

I’m the Amazon book poster above. My kid is at RMIB. Of their two best friends there, I am sure neither took a prep course. Of the other 2 families I know, I’m not sure but I really doubt one of them did, as I know them decently and they are pretty chill and their kid does a lot of sports so it would be hard to fit in. Most of us were truly ambivalent about our kids going to a magnet so weren’t pushing it.

I think Blair is more amenable to cram courses because it seems they rely on map m a lot and it’s really easy to juice that score with prep. But I think you could get the same results with the free prep on Khan Academy. So I think it’s less a money thing and more a knowledge and motivation thing. I’m not sure all the bribes in the world would be enough to get my MS son to spend his spare time on Khan Acadrmy…. But maybe McPS should do a better job advertising to under-represented communities that these resources are there, free, and can be accessed on county chrome books and will give a significant edge in applying for magnets like Blair. The math teachers are these MS should at least be counseling their top students about this.

[Anonymous]

A coworker told me that no one gets in without prep. Well my kid did. From his circle of Blair friends, there was one child who was prepped. While there are families who prep, I also think people use that idea to justify why their kid did not get in. In reality it is like very competitive colleges. Lots of very talented kids just don't get in.

I don't think it is appropriate to use the cohort method for HS students since in HS there are many levels of classes available. In middle school there is much less differentiation (or none).