Looking to move for a better public school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

That would not be as easy to calculate as you think. Only 75% of the students at RM actually took the SAT. Only median numbers are reported for SAT scores among magnets, whereas the aggregate school data is reported as "average"--I could not find out whether this is median or mean. Very little data is given about the standard deviation or the distribution. You can create whatever array of possible scenarios that would fit these data.

Good data point - that 75% includes magnet kids. Assuming 100% magnet kids took the SAT, that means only about 50% of non magnet kids took the SAT, right?

478 seniors. The 2016 class had 114 enrolled students, though perhaps some left the program. Lets round it to 110. Then we have

0.75 * 478 = 359 students took the SAT
110 magnet students took the exam
359 - 110 = 249 non-magnets took the exam
478 - 110 = 368 total non-magnets in the 2016 class
249 / 368 = 67.7% of non-magnet students took the exam.

interesting analysis... it made me look up. according to the report below, the number is 387 (pretty close to your 359 number, page 8 of the report), page 10 shows mean score of 1779.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/pdf/160929%20SAT%20Exam%20Participation%20Perform.pdf

also according to the IB profile (as pp suggested), RMIB mean SAT score is 2240 (http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/rmhs/ib/IB%202015-16%20Profile.pdf)

which means non-IB kids' mean score is 1596, which according to page 10 of the report, slightly below MCPS avg but not by far. I think almost 650 difference between magnet and non-magnet is crazy.

And this is where MCPS data goes wrong. I got the 359 number by taking 75% of the 2016 class size of 478. I got the 75% from the "at at glance" report from the MCPS web site for Richard Montgomery. The numbers conflict with what MCPS publishes there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

That would not be as easy to calculate as you think. Only 75% of the students at RM actually took the SAT. Only median numbers are reported for SAT scores among magnets, whereas the aggregate school data is reported as "average"--I could not find out whether this is median or mean. Very little data is given about the standard deviation or the distribution. You can create whatever array of possible scenarios that would fit these data.

Good data point - that 75% includes magnet kids. Assuming 100% magnet kids took the SAT, that means only about 50% of non magnet kids took the SAT, right?

478 seniors. The 2016 class had 114 enrolled students, though perhaps some left the program. Lets round it to 110. Then we have

0.75 * 478 = 359 students took the SAT
110 magnet students took the exam
359 - 110 = 249 non-magnets took the exam
478 - 110 = 368 total non-magnets in the 2016 class
249 / 368 = 67.7% of non-magnet students took the exam.

interesting analysis... it made me look up. according to the report below, the number is 387 (pretty close to your 359 number, page 8 of the report), page 10 shows mean score of 1779.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/pdf/160929%20SAT%20Exam%20Participation%20Perform.pdf

also according to the IB profile (as pp suggested), RMIB mean SAT score is 2240 (http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/rmhs/ib/IB%202015-16%20Profile.pdf)

which means non-IB kids' mean score is 1596, which according to page 10 of the report, slightly below MCPS avg but not by far. I think almost 650 difference between magnet and non-magnet is crazy.

But you are also forgetting that a significant number of the RMIB magnet kids are inbound RM cluster kids. So, if RM didn't have the IB, the mean SAT score for that student body would be higher than MCPS average.

SAT scores are actually more a function of affluence than quality education. If you added back in the 25 local students scores who are part of the RMIB magnet, the school would likely be about average for the county, which makes sense because it is the school whose demographics most closely match that of the overall county--in both race and affluence!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

That would not be as easy to calculate as you think. Only 75% of the students at RM actually took the SAT. Only median numbers are reported for SAT scores among magnets, whereas the aggregate school data is reported as "average"--I could not find out whether this is median or mean. Very little data is given about the standard deviation or the distribution. You can create whatever array of possible scenarios that would fit these data.

Good data point - that 75% includes magnet kids. Assuming 100% magnet kids took the SAT, that means only about 50% of non magnet kids took the SAT, right?

478 seniors. The 2016 class had 114 enrolled students, though perhaps some left the program. Lets round it to 110. Then we have

0.75 * 478 = 359 students took the SAT
110 magnet students took the exam
359 - 110 = 249 non-magnets took the exam
478 - 110 = 368 total non-magnets in the 2016 class
249 / 368 = 67.7% of non-magnet students took the exam.

interesting analysis... it made me look up. according to the report below, the number is 387 (pretty close to your 359 number, page 8 of the report), page 10 shows mean score of 1779.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/pdf/160929%20SAT%20Exam%20Participation%20Perform.pdf

also according to the IB profile (as pp suggested), RMIB mean SAT score is 2240 (http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/rmhs/ib/IB%202015-16%20Profile.pdf)

which means non-IB kids' mean score is 1596, which according to page 10 of the report, slightly below MCPS avg but not by far. I think almost 650 difference between magnet and non-magnet is crazy.

But you are also forgetting that a significant number of the RMIB magnet kids are inbound RM cluster kids. So, if RM didn't have the IB, the mean SAT score for that student body would be higher than MCPS average.

If no RMIB, the families of these so called "25kids" would have either moved deeper into W-school areas or attend privates. These mostly white/Asian upper middle class families have money to do that. Also, if you take out RMIB program, you are opening up 100 slots. I don't think MCPS would allow a HS in Rockville area to run 100 slots under capacity. They would have reconfigured MS feeder configuration to bring in more "average" kids. I don't think even w/o RMIB, you will see an upper movement of avg SAT scores.

[Anonymous]

That is so not true. My child is one of those kids. We know many others. They are not all Asian or white and I don't know any that had private applications as backup. A couple declined RMIB for Blair this year though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is so not true. My child is one of those kids. We know many others. They are not all Asian or white and I don't know any that had private applications as backup. A couple declined RMIB for Blair this year though.

I think you misread... I think PPs are discussing what if RMIB "never" existed at RM case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Olney/Brookeville.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is so not true. My child is one of those kids. We know many others. They are not all Asian or white and I don't know any that had private applications as backup. A couple declined RMIB for Blair this year though.

I think you misread... I think PPs are discussing what if RMIB "never" existed at RM case.

You are right I did..but I still hold that these families (at least the ones that I know) did not hold their breath for K-8 for multiple kids only hoping it would all be worth while if they happened to get a IB slot. They are committed and happy (generally) with the neighborhood and schools. I can't imagine choosing to live here/attend public only because you child might get a spot in IB 9 years into their education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is so not true. My child is one of those kids. We know many others. They are not all Asian or white and I don't know any that had private applications as backup. A couple declined RMIB for Blair this year though.

I think you misread... I think PPs are discussing what if RMIB "never" existed at RM case.

You are right I did..but I still hold that these families (at least the ones that I know) did not hold their breath for K-8 for multiple kids only hoping it would all be worth while if they happened to get a IB slot. They are committed and happy (generally) with the neighborhood and schools. I can't imagine choosing to live here/attend public only because you child might get a spot in IB 9 years into their education.

+1 When parents buy into that cluster, they have NO idea if their kids will make it into RMIB. They like that there is the option, but they know there's no guarantee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

That would not be as easy to calculate as you think. Only 75% of the students at RM actually took the SAT. Only median numbers are reported for SAT scores among magnets, whereas the aggregate school data is reported as "average"--I could not find out whether this is median or mean. Very little data is given about the standard deviation or the distribution. You can create whatever array of possible scenarios that would fit these data.

Good data point - that 75% includes magnet kids. Assuming 100% magnet kids took the SAT, that means only about 50% of non magnet kids took the SAT, right?

478 seniors. The 2016 class had 114 enrolled students, though perhaps some left the program. Lets round it to 110. Then we have

0.75 * 478 = 359 students took the SAT
110 magnet students took the exam
359 - 110 = 249 non-magnets took the exam
478 - 110 = 368 total non-magnets in the 2016 class
249 / 368 = 67.7% of non-magnet students took the exam.

interesting analysis... it made me look up. according to the report below, the number is 387 (pretty close to your 359 number, page 8 of the report), page 10 shows mean score of 1779.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/pdf/160929%20SAT%20Exam%20Participation%20Perform.pdf

also according to the IB profile (as pp suggested), RMIB mean SAT score is 2240 (http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/rmhs/ib/IB%202015-16%20Profile.pdf)

which means non-IB kids' mean score is 1596, which according to page 10 of the report, slightly below MCPS avg but not by far. I think almost 650 difference between magnet and non-magnet is crazy.

But you are also forgetting that a significant number of the RMIB magnet kids are inbound RM cluster kids. So, if RM didn't have the IB, the mean SAT score for that student body would be higher than MCPS average.

If no RMIB, the families of these so called "25kids" would have either moved deeper into W-school areas or attend privates. These mostly white/Asian upper middle class families have money to do that. Also, if you take out RMIB program, you are opening up 100 slots. I don't think MCPS would allow a HS in Rockville area to run 100 slots under capacity. They would have reconfigured MS feeder configuration to bring in more "average" kids. I don't think even w/o RMIB, you will see an upper movement of avg SAT scores.

LOL... you are basically saying if every affluent white/asian families moved out of any school cluster, like W clusters, scores would go down. So, that tells me that you think RM is "bad" because it doesn't have enough affluent white/asian families. That's hilarious. BTW, we are a white/asian family at RM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is so not true. My child is one of those kids. We know many others. They are not all Asian or white and I don't know any that had private applications as backup. A couple declined RMIB for Blair this year though.

I think you misread... I think PPs are discussing what if RMIB "never" existed at RM case.

You are right I did..but I still hold that these families (at least the ones that I know) did not hold their breath for K-8 for multiple kids only hoping it would all be worth while if they happened to get a IB slot. They are committed and happy (generally) with the neighborhood and schools. I can't imagine choosing to live here/attend public only because you child might get a spot in IB 9 years into their education.

+1 When parents buy into that cluster, they have NO idea if their kids will make it into RMIB. They like that there is the option, but they know there's no guarantee.

The point is, without RMIB, the school will look completely different. Would people still buy into that cluster is the question b/c it will look something like GHS. Would you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is so not true. My child is one of those kids. We know many others. They are not all Asian or white and I don't know any that had private applications as backup. A couple declined RMIB for Blair this year though.

I think you misread... I think PPs are discussing what if RMIB "never" existed at RM case.

You are right I did..but I still hold that these families (at least the ones that I know) did not hold their breath for K-8 for multiple kids only hoping it would all be worth while if they happened to get a IB slot. They are committed and happy (generally) with the neighborhood and schools. I can't imagine choosing to live here/attend public only because you child might get a spot in IB 9 years into their education.

+1 When parents buy into that cluster, they have NO idea if their kids will make it into RMIB. They like that there is the option, but they know there's no guarantee.

The point is, without RMIB, the school will look completely different. Would people still buy into that cluster is the question b/c it will look something like GHS. Would you?

JW the only feeder middle school rates a 9 on great schools. I don't think it would look like Gaithersburg which has two middle schools that both rate a 5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is so not true. My child is one of those kids. We know many others. They are not all Asian or white and I don't know any that had private applications as backup. A couple declined RMIB for Blair this year though.

I think you misread... I think PPs are discussing what if RMIB "never" existed at RM case.

You are right I did..but I still hold that these families (at least the ones that I know) did not hold their breath for K-8 for multiple kids only hoping it would all be worth while if they happened to get a IB slot. They are committed and happy (generally) with the neighborhood and schools. I can't imagine choosing to live here/attend public only because you child might get a spot in IB 9 years into their education.

+1 When parents buy into that cluster, they have NO idea if their kids will make it into RMIB. They like that there is the option, but they know there's no guarantee.

The point is, without RMIB, the school will look completely different. Would people still buy into that cluster is the question b/c it will look something like GHS. Would you?

JW the only feeder middle school rates a 9 on great schools. I don't think it would look like Gaithersburg which has two middle schools that both rate a 5.

+1
In addition, if greatschools is merely an indicator of the SES status of the school, then all signs show that the RM cluster is actually trending UP, meaning more and more higher SES families are buying into the area. All of RM cluster's ES greatschools ratings went up this year: College Gardens went from 8 to 9, Beall went from 7 to 8, Ritchie Park went from 6 to 8, and even the lowest ranked school, Twinbrook, went from 2 to 4. This cluster is looking like a great investment for one's kids AND one's pocketbook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is so not true. My child is one of those kids. We know many others. They are not all Asian or white and I don't know any that had private applications as backup. A couple declined RMIB for Blair this year though.

I think you misread... I think PPs are discussing what if RMIB "never" existed at RM case.

You are right I did..but I still hold that these families (at least the ones that I know) did not hold their breath for K-8 for multiple kids only hoping it would all be worth while if they happened to get a IB slot. They are committed and happy (generally) with the neighborhood and schools. I can't imagine choosing to live here/attend public only because you child might get a spot in IB 9 years into their education.

+1 When parents buy into that cluster, they have NO idea if their kids will make it into RMIB. They like that there is the option, but they know there's no guarantee.

The point is, without RMIB, the school will look completely different. Would people still buy into that cluster is the question b/c it will look something like GHS. Would you?

JW the only feeder middle school rates a 9 on great schools. I don't think it would look like Gaithersburg which has two middle schools that both rate a 5.

+1
In addition, if greatschools is merely an indicator of the SES status of the school, then all signs show that the RM cluster is actually trending UP, meaning more and more higher SES families are buying into the area. All of RM cluster's ES greatschools ratings went up this year: College Gardens went from 8 to 9, Beall went from 7 to 8, Ritchie Park went from 6 to 8, and even the lowest ranked school, Twinbrook, went from 2 to 4. This cluster is looking like a great investment for one's kids AND one's pocketbook.

Also, Twinbrook, being a smaller ES, is only 20% of the students in the cluster. That means that 80% of the cluster is coming from elementary schools ranked 8,8,9, and 100% are coming from a middle school ranked 9. It's time to stop the claim that RM is only "good" because of the magnet IB. That may have been true in the past, but the feeder schools are telling a different story today.

[Anonymous]

I know people that live in the RM area and I personally would not choose to live there even if the school is "good". The area is too overcrowded and the house are tiny. I think you can find a decent high school that's not RM.

[Anonymous]

What about Quince Orchard or Sherwood?