Middle School options and thoughts (DCC)

[Anonymous]

Coming up on all these meetings for 5th grade families regarding the different types of magnet programs in the DCC and feeling a little overwhelmed. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the MSMC programs and/or the criteria-based programs. Any you love? Thoughts on the extra travel and impact on your child's afternoon and ability to participate in other activities? Would love to hear your thoughts on any pros and cons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Coming up on all these meetings for 5th grade families regarding the different types of magnet programs in the DCC and feeling a little overwhelmed. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the MSMC programs and/or the criteria-based programs. Any you love? Thoughts on the extra travel and impact on your child's afternoon and ability to participate in other activities? Would love to hear your thoughts on any pros and cons.

whats MSMC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Coming up on all these meetings for 5th grade families regarding the different types of magnet programs in the DCC and feeling a little overwhelmed. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the MSMC programs and/or the criteria-based programs. Any you love? Thoughts on the extra travel and impact on your child's afternoon and ability to participate in other activities? Would love to hear your thoughts on any pros and cons.

whats MSMC?

Middle School Magnet Consortium

[Anonymous]

The teacher said my kid would likely not be a good fit at any of the good magnets they had their hopes up for. My kid loves to learn and do well in school so I thought it would be good to step it up in academic rigor. I had been managing their expectations more than my own but we'll both have to come back down.

[Anonymous]

We're in-bounds for NMMS, about which I've heard great things both from parents of kids there and also from a friend who works there. Apparently, the new principal is terrific.

MSMC is a hard pass mostly because they don't provide transportation. My rising sixth grader isn't passionate about any of the magnet offerings there, either, which is another strike against them. I've heard from friends who sent their kids there that it can be a tough mix of enthusiastic kids who applied to the lottery and in-bounds kids who couldn't care less about performing arts, etc.

We'll see if DS gets into Eastern or TPMS. He's already a perfectionist, so I'm not sure whether being surrounded by peers who also push hard is the best fit, but it may be moot. He's plenty smart, but I know the chances of getting into either are slim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teacher said my kid would likely not be a good fit at any of the good magnets they had their hopes up for. My kid loves to learn and do well in school so I thought it would be good to step it up in academic rigor. I had been managing their expectations more than my own but we'll both have to come back down.

Have you considered the bad magnets? I heard they're pretty good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teacher said my kid would likely not be a good fit at any of the good magnets they had their hopes up for. My kid loves to learn and do well in school so I thought it would be good to step it up in academic rigor. I had been managing their expectations more than my own but we'll both have to come back down.

If your child is interested, apply anyways. The teacher is just one person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teacher said my kid would likely not be a good fit at any of the good magnets they had their hopes up for. My kid loves to learn and do well in school so I thought it would be good to step it up in academic rigor. I had been managing their expectations more than my own but we'll both have to come back down.

Have you considered the bad magnets? I heard they're pretty good.

+1
If the PP already wrote off Argyle and Parkland for not having enough academic rigor, clearly they are more about perception than reality. Others aren’t missing theses two gems and will happy for one less kid in the lottery.

[Anonymous]

We weren't impressed with LMS, especially for the music program. We transferred back to our home school. Academics were strong for math but they really aren't strong at any of the regular middle schools. The music program is not a rigorous program and very weak.

[Anonymous]

Eastern and TPMS hit rates from the lottery are extremely low (last year it was under 2% in each program, from the stats that were recently circulated by MCPS; I didn't see anything in the last several years higher than 3%). DC will probably qualify for the lottery but odds are they will end up at their assigned feeder middle school. All things being equal the program at Eastern would be a great fit for DC's skills and interests, but our family probably won't even have a conversation about it because the chances are so minute.

If anyone knows a fair way to advocate in this context I'd love to hear about it (is there an appeals / request for reconsideration process, for example?). DC has a 504, but isn't in a 2e program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teacher said my kid would likely not be a good fit at any of the good magnets they had their hopes up for. My kid loves to learn and do well in school so I thought it would be good to step it up in academic rigor. I had been managing their expectations more than my own but we'll both have to come back down.

MS magnets are a lottery and what the teacher thinks doesn't matter, so, go to the information meetings and see which programs you think you kid would be interested in.