MCPS level of academic rigor

[Anonymous]

intel is almost of business, blair may have contributed to intel downfall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP. Prior to Blair Magnet, DC was in a private school with emphasis in critical thinking and writing. Enormous amount of reading and writing were the norm, and the school consistently has the highest average ACT scores in the nation. The STEM courses were pretty robust (especially math), but nothing compared to the breadth and depth of advanced courses offered at Blair Magnet, which consistently has the highest average SAT scores in the nation. The English courses at Blair is excellent (especially the AP Lang and AP Lit path), but DC's reading and writing skills would be better served at the previous private school. At the end it doesn't matter, PSAT/SAT scores qualify for National Merit Finalist.

Are you saying Blair Magnet's average SAT is higher than 1520, which is TJ's?

As a parent who had 2 kids attend the Blair magnet, I think the Blair vs. TJ debate is ridiculous. While I think the Blair program is outstanding, from everything I’ve heard, the TJ program is as well.

Within each program, there is some variation, with specific classes/teachers that are particularly notable, and that can change from year to year. Moreover, the individual student is a variable. What is the best program for a student interested in pure mathematics, may or may not be the best program for a student interested in computer programming, biology, mechanical engineering, etc.



You seem very satisfied with this misguided analogy. There is no choice here unless people are willing to move to a different state. So, very different from Gala vs McIntosh apples. You are treating this as a college decision (teachers, experience, fit), but it's not.

PP here
My point is that they’re roughly equivalent. I think IF students got to choose (which they can’t), Student A might find Blair to be a slightly better choice for themself while Student B might prefer TJ, but both could have a wonderful education and fantastic overall experience at either school. The two schools are so similar that neither emerges as a superior choice for all students, with each school having individual weaknesses and strengths that balance themselves out.

Or to stretch my misguided analogy, if your favorite apple is unavailable, you can still enjoy another apple that’s also delicious, and that debating which apple is better is pointless because the basis for comparison is too subjective.

I think comparing the two programs is less a comparison of apples to oranges than one of Gala to McIntosh apples - both are wonderful and it just comes down to personal preference.

Again, there is no choice here, you keep talking about hypothetical student considering these two programs but there are no such students. The fact that some program in some other state is "better for a student in pure mathematics" is completely immaterial. It's not an option.

People rarely compare these programs for that reason, but when they do, they are wondering about caliber of students, quality of curriculum/instruction and college preparedness and placement.

Blair is a much smaller program but also drawing from a smaller area. If you make a back of the envelope calculation I think it's something like 1.5-2 times more selective than TJ. On the other hand, TJ has national recognition - it is often seen as top 5 and even #1 magnet in the US. Blair's doesn't have comparable reputation outside of DMV so people are trying see where is it, comparably.

This is where you're wrong. Blair is known nationally.

Seriously, no one outside DMV area knows about Blair.

Maybe you should tell that to Intel, Regeneron, NY times or the society for sciences, just to name a few.

"intel" is not one thing. a lot of people who work at intel who have heard of e.g. stuyvesant have never heard of blair. it's not on any list of magnets and educated people in other states don't know about it, even if they have kids in other magnets or selective privates. it's not the fault of the program, it's the setup.

people who i believe have heard of blair outside of DMV are parents who have extremely high achieving kids e.g. kids going to national competitions, selective summer programs etc, and yes, judges at those competitions. but that doesn't make it "nationally known".

Are y'all really that dumb and clueless??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP. Prior to Blair Magnet, DC was in a private school with emphasis in critical thinking and writing. Enormous amount of reading and writing were the norm, and the school consistently has the highest average ACT scores in the nation. The STEM courses were pretty robust (especially math), but nothing compared to the breadth and depth of advanced courses offered at Blair Magnet, which consistently has the highest average SAT scores in the nation. The English courses at Blair is excellent (especially the AP Lang and AP Lit path), but DC's reading and writing skills would be better served at the previous private school. At the end it doesn't matter, PSAT/SAT scores qualify for National Merit Finalist.

Are you saying Blair Magnet's average SAT is higher than 1520, which is TJ's?

As a parent who had 2 kids attend the Blair magnet, I think the Blair vs. TJ debate is ridiculous. While I think the Blair program is outstanding, from everything I’ve heard, the TJ program is as well.

Within each program, there is some variation, with specific classes/teachers that are particularly notable, and that can change from year to year. Moreover, the individual student is a variable. What is the best program for a student interested in pure mathematics, may or may not be the best program for a student interested in computer programming, biology, mechanical engineering, etc.



You seem very satisfied with this misguided analogy. There is no choice here unless people are willing to move to a different state. So, very different from Gala vs McIntosh apples. You are treating this as a college decision (teachers, experience, fit), but it's not.

PP here
My point is that they’re roughly equivalent. I think IF students got to choose (which they can’t), Student A might find Blair to be a slightly better choice for themself while Student B might prefer TJ, but both could have a wonderful education and fantastic overall experience at either school. The two schools are so similar that neither emerges as a superior choice for all students, with each school having individual weaknesses and strengths that balance themselves out.

Or to stretch my misguided analogy, if your favorite apple is unavailable, you can still enjoy another apple that’s also delicious, and that debating which apple is better is pointless because the basis for comparison is too subjective.

I think comparing the two programs is less a comparison of apples to oranges than one of Gala to McIntosh apples - both are wonderful and it just comes down to personal preference.

Again, there is no choice here, you keep talking about hypothetical student considering these two programs but there are no such students. The fact that some program in some other state is "better for a student in pure mathematics" is completely immaterial. It's not an option.

People rarely compare these programs for that reason, but when they do, they are wondering about caliber of students, quality of curriculum/instruction and college preparedness and placement.

Blair is a much smaller program but also drawing from a smaller area. If you make a back of the envelope calculation I think it's something like 1.5-2 times more selective than TJ. On the other hand, TJ has national recognition - it is often seen as top 5 and even #1 magnet in the US. Blair's doesn't have comparable reputation outside of DMV so people are trying see where is it, comparably.

This is where you're wrong. Blair is known nationally.

Seriously, no one outside DMV area knows about Blair.

Maybe you should tell that to Intel, Regeneron, NY times or the society for sciences, just to name a few.

Are you really suggesting companies like Intel and Regeneron actually care and give shit about what high school their employees attended? Seriously? Blair magnet is a great program, but it doesn’t have the same level of fame nationwide that TJ does. It just doesn’t, okay?

LOL.
Now I see I'm dealing with a bunch of clueless people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP. Prior to Blair Magnet, DC was in a private school with emphasis in critical thinking and writing. Enormous amount of reading and writing were the norm, and the school consistently has the highest average ACT scores in the nation. The STEM courses were pretty robust (especially math), but nothing compared to the breadth and depth of advanced courses offered at Blair Magnet, which consistently has the highest average SAT scores in the nation. The English courses at Blair is excellent (especially the AP Lang and AP Lit path), but DC's reading and writing skills would be better served at the previous private school. At the end it doesn't matter, PSAT/SAT scores qualify for National Merit Finalist.

Are you saying Blair Magnet's average SAT is higher than 1520, which is TJ's?

As a parent who had 2 kids attend the Blair magnet, I think the Blair vs. TJ debate is ridiculous. While I think the Blair program is outstanding, from everything I’ve heard, the TJ program is as well.

Within each program, there is some variation, with specific classes/teachers that are particularly notable, and that can change from year to year. Moreover, the individual student is a variable. What is the best program for a student interested in pure mathematics, may or may not be the best program for a student interested in computer programming, biology, mechanical engineering, etc.



You seem very satisfied with this misguided analogy. There is no choice here unless people are willing to move to a different state. So, very different from Gala vs McIntosh apples. You are treating this as a college decision (teachers, experience, fit), but it's not.

PP here
My point is that they’re roughly equivalent. I think IF students got to choose (which they can’t), Student A might find Blair to be a slightly better choice for themself while Student B might prefer TJ, but both could have a wonderful education and fantastic overall experience at either school. The two schools are so similar that neither emerges as a superior choice for all students, with each school having individual weaknesses and strengths that balance themselves out.

Or to stretch my misguided analogy, if your favorite apple is unavailable, you can still enjoy another apple that’s also delicious, and that debating which apple is better is pointless because the basis for comparison is too subjective.

I think comparing the two programs is less a comparison of apples to oranges than one of Gala to McIntosh apples - both are wonderful and it just comes down to personal preference.

Again, there is no choice here, you keep talking about hypothetical student considering these two programs but there are no such students. The fact that some program in some other state is "better for a student in pure mathematics" is completely immaterial. It's not an option.

People rarely compare these programs for that reason, but when they do, they are wondering about caliber of students, quality of curriculum/instruction and college preparedness and placement.

Blair is a much smaller program but also drawing from a smaller area. If you make a back of the envelope calculation I think it's something like 1.5-2 times more selective than TJ. On the other hand, TJ has national recognition - it is often seen as top 5 and even #1 magnet in the US. Blair's doesn't have comparable reputation outside of DMV so people are trying see where is it, comparably.

This is where you're wrong. Blair is known nationally.

Seriously, no one outside DMV area knows about Blair.

Maybe you should tell that to Intel, Regeneron, NY times or the society for sciences, just to name a few.

Are you really suggesting companies like Intel and Regeneron actually care and give shit about what high school their employees attended? Seriously? Blair magnet is a great program, but it doesn’t have the same level of fame nationwide that TJ does. It just doesn’t, okay?

LOL.
Now I see I'm dealing with a bunch of clueless people.

Is it really that hard to understand for you that world doesn't revolve around Blair magnet?