Anyone's child regret heading to a magnet HS? What is the return rate to their local HS?

[Anonymous]

With so many new topics discussing the HS magnet applications, I'm curious if anyone's child (who is in a magnet program) decided they did not like the curriculum or the environment of the magnet schools? We hear RM's 11th and 12th grade years are difficult because 11th grade is when the actual IB component truly start. How are your kids finding it so far in junior and senior year? What about the kids at Blair with the crazy work load in 9th and 10th?

We hear so many parents gunning for their child to make it into one of these programs, but I am curious how it's been going?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With so many new topics discussing the HS magnet applications, I'm curious if anyone's child (who is in a magnet program) decided they did not like the curriculum or the environment of the magnet schools? We hear RM's 11th and 12th grade years are difficult because 11th grade is when the actual IB component truly start. How are your kids finding it so far in junior and senior year? What about the kids at Blair with the crazy work load in 9th and 10th?

We hear so many parents gunning for their child to make it into one of these programs, but I am curious how it's been going?

My child is attending poolesville smacs prgm, and we are thinking of returning to our home school after this freshman year. The program is not what we thought it would be, we knew it would be hard but we had no idea the teachers. Would. Not. Be teaching. At all. A good majority of the teachers don’t teach in class and it seems like they either “lecture to the masses” or talk about random not related to the topics at hand to waste time. Out of my child’s eight classes, about three teachers are reasonably good, while the rest of the teachers are just present in class taking up oxygen. One of the teachers is notoriously bad and doesn’t give two hoots about his students. My child went and spoken to him about how they are struggling, he said some words to make my child leave and said come back tomorrow, the next day when my child came back for help, he prentended the initial conversation never took place. It’s disgusting and when I approached admin about this they turn a blind eye to his actions. Apparently he’s been teaching there for more than 15 years, so they know his behavior and just don’t give a crap.
the students are left struggling and having to self learn from you tube videos. We didn’t expect it to be like this at all. Students are sleeping at 1 am and waking up at 6 am to catch the bus. Many of my child friends are chronically tired, and frustrated, but they won’t go back to their homeschool bc it is either Seneca valley/ Damascus/ northwest/ or quince orchard. In their minds these schools are far worse than poolesville so they drudge on at poolesville, it’s crazy.

[Anonymous]

I have a 10th grader at Blair Magnet. Socially, 9th grade was rough, but 10th grade has been much better so far. Academically, it has been a good fit. The workload (outside of Functions, which DC eventually dropped) has been totally manageable. DC is very much looking forward to the magnet electives in 11th and 12th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 10th grader at Blair Magnet. Socially, 9th grade was rough, but 10th grade has been much better so far. Academically, it has been a good fit. The workload (outside of Functions, which DC eventually dropped) has been totally manageable. DC is very much looking forward to the magnet electives in 11th and 12th grade.

Sounds like a good trajectory. May I ask why 9th was rough socially?

[Anonymous]

DC's friend left after 10th. They liked the classes, but it was a tough commute and they said they did not really make friends so it made sense not to stick it out.

[Anonymous]

This was Blair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With so many new topics discussing the HS magnet applications, I'm curious if anyone's child (who is in a magnet program) decided they did not like the curriculum or the environment of the magnet schools? We hear RM's 11th and 12th grade years are difficult because 11th grade is when the actual IB component truly start. How are your kids finding it so far in junior and senior year? What about the kids at Blair with the crazy work load in 9th and 10th?

We hear so many parents gunning for their child to make it into one of these programs, but I am curious how it's been going?

My child is attending poolesville smacs prgm, and we are thinking of returning to our home school after this freshman year. The program is not what we thought it would be, we knew it would be hard but we had no idea the teachers. Would. Not. Be teaching. At all. A good majority of the teachers don’t teach in class and it seems like they either “lecture to the masses” or talk about random not related to the topics at hand to waste time. Out of my child’s eight classes, about three teachers are reasonably good, while the rest of the teachers are just present in class taking up oxygen. One of the teachers is notoriously bad and doesn’t give two hoots about his students. My child went and spoken to him about how they are struggling, he said some words to make my child leave and said come back tomorrow, the next day when my child came back for help, he prentended the initial conversation never took place. It’s disgusting and when I approached admin about this they turn a blind eye to his actions. Apparently he’s been teaching there for more than 15 years, so they know his behavior and just don’t give a crap.
the students are left struggling and having to self learn from you tube videos. We didn’t expect it to be like this at all. Students are sleeping at 1 am and waking up at 6 am to catch the bus. Many of my child friends are chronically tired, and frustrated, but they won’t go back to their homeschool bc it is either Seneca valley/ Damascus/ northwest/ or quince orchard. In their minds these schools are far worse than poolesville so they drudge on at poolesville, it’s crazy.

They should contact their home schools and ask if they could attend the same math class there for a day or two so they can make informed decisions about whether to stay at PHS. I have a 9th grader at one of the schools you’ve mentioned and have been impressed with her teachers.

[Anonymous]

I've heard some unflattering things about the poor academics at Poolesville. But my friend's daughter is at Blair and absolutely loves it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've heard some unflattering things about the poor academics at Poolesville. But my friend's daughter is at Blair and absolutely loves it.

Not sure about Blair. A majority of poolesville graduates go on to college park, so not that much different than other mcps high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard some unflattering things about the poor academics at Poolesville. But my friend's daughter is at Blair and absolutely loves it.

Not sure about Blair. A majority of poolesville graduates go on to college park, so not that much different than other mcps high schools.

That is typical of all magnets anywhere in the US.

Magnets have no better trajectory to any college than a home school. That said they still are great for some kids. Each school and experience is your child no one else. Stop comparing people. Just because your kid is failing or hates it does not mean another is not thriving.

As for Poolesville, yes I would agree the teachers are not great. The program has some great points however if it can not be executed well what is the point of shelping all the way there?


People seem to have forgotten how and why magnets were established. You were sold a bill of goods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard some unflattering things about the poor academics at Poolesville. But my friend's daughter is at Blair and absolutely loves it.

Not sure about Blair. A majority of poolesville graduates go on to college park, so not that much different than other mcps high schools.

That is typical of all magnets anywhere in the US.

Magnets have no better trajectory to any college than a home school. That said they still are great for some kids. Each school and experience is your child no one else. Stop comparing people. Just because your kid is failing or hates it does not mean another is not thriving.

As for Poolesville, yes I would agree the teachers are not great. The program has some great points however if it can not be executed well what is the point of shelping all the way there?


People seem to have forgotten how and why magnets were established. You were sold a bill of goods.

NP here. I think what the PP is trying to say is that poolesville graduates go on to college park, but Blair graduates go on to better colleges/more IVYs, for a variety of reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 10th grader at Blair Magnet. Socially, 9th grade was rough, but 10th grade has been much better so far. Academically, it has been a good fit. The workload (outside of Functions, which DC eventually dropped) has been totally manageable. DC is very much looking forward to the magnet electives in 11th and 12th grade.

Sounds like a good trajectory. May I ask why 9th was rough socially?

Blair is a huge school and DC didn’t know anyone going in. And DC is … nit the most socially adept kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard some unflattering things about the poor academics at Poolesville. But my friend's daughter is at Blair and absolutely loves it.

Not sure about Blair. A majority of poolesville graduates go on to college park, so not that much different than other mcps high schools.

That is typical of all magnets anywhere in the US.

Magnets have no better trajectory to any college than a home school. That said they still are great for some kids. Each school and experience is your child no one else. Stop comparing people. Just because your kid is failing or hates it does not mean another is not thriving.

As for Poolesville, yes I would agree the teachers are not great. The program has some great points however if it can not be executed well what is the point of shelping all the way there?


People seem to have forgotten how and why magnets were established. You were sold a bill of goods.

I am not sure this is true. While I believe that kids from magnets get into Top 20s and kids not in magnets get into Top 20s, I would think that the amount of kids opting out of college, or not graduating at all, from gen pop is significantly higher. So could you make a similar list? Yes. If you graphed every single child? I doubt it. This is why magnets are just as much about cohort as content, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Returned from Blair after 1 year to a W.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Returned from Blair after 1 year to a W.

One of those Wealthy Potomac Schools we hear so much about here?