DCC high school options

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to better understand the options and process. We are located in DCC but not zoned for Blair. I understand that Blair has the CAP and SMCS program. Other than those,

- Is there the option to enter a lottery for non-magnet spots at Blair?
- Any comments about the non-magnet education at Blair (as compared to the IB at Einstein or Academy/Montgomery College program at Northwood)? (Skip the snark about the W schools vs DCC. I read DCUM enough that I'm well aware of your feelings of superiority.)
- Northwood seems to have a number of academy programs other than Montgomery College. What are these?
- DC seems to think that Blair or some other DCC school has a pre-law oriented program (pre-law, not pre-law enforcement). Where is that and comments?
- Any other comments about the DCC options?

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

You apply to the Blair SMAC or CAP magnets separately and those are awarded based on merit.

Then for the DCC you rank your top choices: if you do nothing, you'll be assigned t your zoned school. If you rank a different school higher, you may be assigned to it. So that's how you'd get into Blair, possibly, without getting into a magnet.

I don't know what happens if you get into a non-zoned school in the DCC and say "screw it I'm heading back to my home school." I don't think they could prevent you from doing that, but I may be wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You apply to the Blair SMAC or CAP magnets separately and those are awarded based on merit.

Then for the DCC you rank your top choices: if you do nothing, you'll be assigned t your zoned school. If you rank a different school higher, you may be assigned to it. So that's how you'd get into Blair, possibly, without getting into a magnet.

I don't know what happens if you get into a non-zoned school in the DCC and say "screw it I'm heading back to my home school." I don't think they could prevent you from doing that, but I may be wrong.

I don’t think you have a right to return to your home school

[Anonymous]

One of Blair's academy programs is International Studies and Law. Academy programs are open to all Blair students; there is no application.

https://sites.google.com/a/mcpsmd.net/mbhs-academies/isl

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of Blair's academy programs is International Studies and Law. Academy programs are open to all Blair students; there is no application.

https://sites.google.com/a/mcpsmd.net/mbhs-academies/isl

Can you apply to this program if you are not a Blair student (e.g., zoned for Einstein or Northwood)?

And any comments about the program would also be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

The "lottery for non-magnet spots at Blair" is just the DCC Choice Process that happens in 8th grade. If you live in the DCC but aren't zoned for Blair, you can rank Blair as your #1 choice, and hope you get a spot. It's not likely, since Blair is a popular choice, but it is possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of Blair's academy programs is International Studies and Law. Academy programs are open to all Blair students; there is no application.

https://sites.google.com/a/mcpsmd.net/mbhs-academies/isl

Can you apply to this program if you are not a Blair student (e.g., zoned for Einstein or Northwood)?

And any comments about the program would also be appreciated.

You don't apply. Once you are assigned to Blair via the choice process, or after you're enrolled at Blair, you indicate which academy you want to join when you register for classes.

[Anonymous]

If you look at the Open House slideshow here, I think it will help explain things a lot:

https://sites.google.com/a/mcpsmd.net/mbhs-academies/home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of Blair's academy programs is International Studies and Law. Academy programs are open to all Blair students; there is no application.

https://sites.google.com/a/mcpsmd.net/mbhs-academies/isl

Can you apply to this program if you are not a Blair student (e.g., zoned for Einstein or Northwood)?

And any comments about the program would also be appreciated.

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of Blair's academy programs is International Studies and Law. Academy programs are open to all Blair students; there is no application.

https://sites.google.com/a/mcpsmd.net/mbhs-academies/isl

Why sign up for these academies? It seems like they impose a bunch of requirements and if you avoid it you have greater flexibility to pick what interests you.

[Anonymous]

Is there any advantage in going to Blair over other schools if you are not in the magnet program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of Blair's academy programs is International Studies and Law. Academy programs are open to all Blair students; there is no application.

https://sites.google.com/a/mcpsmd.net/mbhs-academies/isl

Why sign up for these academies? It seems like they impose a bunch of requirements and if you avoid it you have greater flexibility to pick what interests you.

"Since Magnet students have a number of extra academic requirements, magnet students have an eight-period day, instead of the normal seven-period day of most county high school students. Magnet students can (and do!) take full advantage of Blair's other extracurriculars such as athletics, student clubs, the school's bands and plays, and other activities."

More advanced classes, more rigor, first pick of related classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there any advantage in going to Blair over other schools if you are not in the magnet program?

w
You can take magnet classes for which you meet the prereqs for 11th and 12th grade. However, some of these classes may also be available in a non-magnet form at a regular school like Linear Algebra or Origins of Science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of Blair's academy programs is International Studies and Law. Academy programs are open to all Blair students; there is no application.

https://sites.google.com/a/mcpsmd.net/mbhs-academies/isl

Why sign up for these academies? It seems like they impose a bunch of requirements and if you avoid it you have greater flexibility to pick what interests you.

"Since Magnet students have a number of extra academic requirements, magnet students have an eight-period day, instead of the normal seven-period day of most county high school students. Magnet students can (and do!) take full advantage of Blair's other extracurriculars such as athletics, student clubs, the school's bands and plays, and other activities."

More advanced classes, more rigor, first pick of related classes.

No, academies and magnet programs are not the same thing. I believe at Blair every 9th grader is in the Ninth Grade Academy, and then when registering for 10th, everyone selects which academy they will join. All five DCC schools have academies, but the others don't have one for 9th graders specifically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of Blair's academy programs is International Studies and Law. Academy programs are open to all Blair students; there is no application.

https://sites.google.com/a/mcpsmd.net/mbhs-academies/isl

Can you apply to this program if you are not a Blair student (e.g., zoned for Einstein or Northwood)?

And any comments about the program would also be appreciated.

No

If you're zoned for Einstein or Northwood, you'll need to assigned to Blair in the choice process first.