Cabin John MS vs Takoma Park Magnet?
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Anonymous
| Son just got offered a spot at Takoma Park (probably some other kid just moved or gave it up.) Leaning strongly towards our home school of Cabin John, mostly because of distance. Son said he's not interested in a long commute either. Just want a bit more feedback before saying no (deadline to decide on Tuesday). Background: he's great at math (MAP 99th), good at reading (MAP 90-93rd), generally nerdy (super into history and geography, watches YouTube videos on science/history/geography etc.) He also gets some enrichment via RSM, summer camps etc, so just wondering what the Magnet program would add (I know the CS courses would not really be offered at his regular MS, but wondering how much that would be worth.) |
Anonymous
| I can't speak to the Takoma Park magnet program, but my son went to Cabin John and it was wonderful. A lot of class offerings, and enrichment after school if your child wants that. |
Anonymous
I can't speak for Pyle, but my kids went to the TPMS magnet. It has enriched math. They go into subjects that regular advanced math doesn't cover. The science classes are more in-depth and lay the groundwork for understanding scientific method and analysis. There's also introductory programming for three years. This provides a strong foundation for entering the high-school STEM magnet. My kids enjoyed many non-magnet classes too and participated on the school math team, which is well renowned. |
Anonymous
| My 99 percentile kid was very bored at CJMS, with the only enrichment being in social studies. He couldn’t wait to return to a magnet for hs. You know your own kid best, and whether they’d thrive with a more challenge curriculum though. |
Anonymous
| I have a kid in his final year at TPMS. It’s an excellent school. It was our inbound so he would have gone there regardless. He’s my oldest so I don’t know exactly how it compares to the non magnet offerings, but I have been surprised at how “regular” it seems. It’s certainly not boring but he’s breezed through without having to put in much effort at all. There isn’t much homework. The group projects that they raved about to us at the open house back when he was first accepted, seem routine. I think it’s been great for him but if we were not inbound and if he already had another excellent option without a long commute, I’m not certain that it would seem sufficiently different from the regular curriculum to make the switch. |
Anonymous
| Did the offer come by email? |
Anonymous
| Others have posted kids who go through TPMS are more well prepared for Blair SMCS, whereas kids from other schools who are also very bright seem to struggle that first semester. |
Anonymous
Yep. |
Anonymous
What about Math? Son will be in AMP7+ in 6th grade, as it seems they got rid of AIM. So that should count as some enrichment, right? (Or would that just be considered acceleration?) |
Anonymous
6th-grade magnet math has the same base curriculum as AIM but adds a few additional topics like Set Theory. It's a bit more challenging and the pace is faster. |
Anonymous
|
If the kid doesn't want to commute I don't know why this is even a question.
But could try it for a quarter or a semester and drop back to Cabin John if it doesn't work. I think that's the obvious answer. |
Anonymous
Well, in the end, if he really doesn't want to do it, we won't make him, but if we think it brings a lot of value we could tell him that and try to convince him of the benefits. |
Anonymous
Should be an improvement--that was not available to my kid. |
Anonymous
There's no more AIM at Cabin John, but he does get enrichment via RSM, which will probably cover many of those topics. How are the non-magnet classes at Takoma Park? |
Anonymous
| That is a long-ass commute. He’s very better off doing some online cs and/or switching over to AOPS if he wants to up his math game. |