Takoma Park Middle School quality?

[Anonymous]

We are moving from the Boston area to Takoma Park in July. Currently our child is in 7th grade at a secular private school but he really wants to start in public once we move and we've heard very encouraging things about Montgomery Blair, which we'd feed into. Can anyone who has direct experience comment or direct us to an existing thread on the academic and social quality of Takoma Park Middle School? Are the teachers pretty solid? Curriculum decent? Have there been any major issues with discipline, bullying, violence? Thanks for any insight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are moving from the Boston area to Takoma Park in July. Currently our child is in 7th grade at a secular private school but he really wants to start in public once we move and we've heard very encouraging things about Montgomery Blair, which we'd feed into. Can anyone who has direct experience comment or direct us to an existing thread on the academic and social quality of Takoma Park Middle School? Are the teachers pretty solid? Curriculum decent? Have there been any major issues with discipline, bullying, violence? Thanks for any insight.

TPMS is a great MS. It also hosts the county's MS STEM magnet. The magnet involves 3 classes, and there are 8 total periods, so a lot of mixing with the general population.

It has electives in programming, robotics, and engineering that aren't available at every school. It also has a well-regarded music and theater program.

Most subjects are taught every other day except math which is every day. I know this isn't true at all MCPS MS, but they take this seriously. The TPMS math team is popular, for example, is the strongest in the county and consistently wins many awards each year.

They offer HIGH, advanced social studies, which is fairly challenging. Every student takes advanced English, and although the teachers are fine, the curriculum is probably the biggest disappointment, but I think this is true at every MS in the county.

It's also a diverse and accepting school. My kids were really happy there which is saying something because MS is usually not a great experience.

[Anonymous]

My child attended and it was great. Lots of extracurriculars — Wonderful instrumental music teacher!!

[Anonymous]

I have a 6th and 8th grader there now. Neither are in the magnet but are in advanced math classes. Both are having a very good experience. One boy is sporty; the other more artsy and quirky and both have found people they connect with and don't have any issues with bullying at all. There are some typical shenanigans that go along with a large middle school (reports of the occasional fights in the halls, reports of some kids vaping after school) but both report that it's easy to steer clear of those kids. Teachers have been great, extra curriculars have been great. Strong instrumental music program, the new art teacher is wonderful, kids love the TV Studio teacher, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are moving from the Boston area to Takoma Park in July. Currently our child is in 7th grade at a secular private school but he really wants to start in public once we move and we've heard very encouraging things about Montgomery Blair, which we'd feed into. Can anyone who has direct experience comment or direct us to an existing thread on the academic and social quality of Takoma Park Middle School? Are the teachers pretty solid? Curriculum decent? Have there been any major issues with discipline, bullying, violence? Thanks for any insight.

TPMS is a great MS. It also hosts the county's MS STEM magnet. The magnet involves 3 classes, and there are 8 total periods, so a lot of mixing with the general population.

It has electives in programming, robotics, and engineering that aren't available at every school. It also has a well-regarded music and theater program.

Most subjects are taught every other day except math which is every day. I know this isn't true at all MCPS MS, but they take this seriously. The TPMS math team is popular, for example, is the strongest in the county and consistently wins many awards each year.

They offer HIGH, advanced social studies, which is fairly challenging. Every student takes advanced English, and although the teachers are fine, the curriculum is probably the biggest disappointment, but I think this is true at every MS in the county.

It's also a diverse and accepting school. My kids were really happy there which is saying something because MS is usually not a great experience.

What are the 3 classes in the magnet? It's not an all-day program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are moving from the Boston area to Takoma Park in July. Currently our child is in 7th grade at a secular private school but he really wants to start in public once we move and we've heard very encouraging things about Montgomery Blair, which we'd feed into. Can anyone who has direct experience comment or direct us to an existing thread on the academic and social quality of Takoma Park Middle School? Are the teachers pretty solid? Curriculum decent? Have there been any major issues with discipline, bullying, violence? Thanks for any insight.

TPMS is a great MS. It also hosts the county's MS STEM magnet. The magnet involves 3 classes, and there are 8 total periods, so a lot of mixing with the general population.

It has electives in programming, robotics, and engineering that aren't available at every school. It also has a well-regarded music and theater program.

Most subjects are taught every other day except math which is every day. I know this isn't true at all MCPS MS, but they take this seriously. The TPMS math team is popular, for example, is the strongest in the county and consistently wins many awards each year.

They offer HIGH, advanced social studies, which is fairly challenging. Every student takes advanced English, and although the teachers are fine, the curriculum is probably the biggest disappointment, but I think this is true at every MS in the county.

It's also a diverse and accepting school. My kids were really happy there which is saying something because MS is usually not a great experience.

What are the 3 classes in the magnet? It's not an all-day program?

No, it's just a STEM magnet. The classes are math, science, and computer science.

[Anonymous]

If you didn't think public schools were good enough for your kid in the Boston area, you will likely hate MCPS. I'd probably look at some privates as a backup. Takoma Park isn't really convenient to the secular privates, but, they likely have shuttles.

[Anonymous]

Your child won’t be able to enter the magnet as an 8th grader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you didn't think public schools were good enough for your kid in the Boston area, you will likely hate MCPS. I'd probably look at some privates as a backup. Takoma Park isn't really convenient to the secular privates, but, they likely have shuttles.

This.

Have alternatives ready.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you didn't think public schools were good enough for your kid in the Boston area, you will likely hate MCPS. I'd probably look at some privates as a backup. Takoma Park isn't really convenient to the secular privates, but, they likely have shuttles.

This.

Have alternatives ready.

ugh more private recruiting...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you didn't think public schools were good enough for your kid in the Boston area, you will likely hate MCPS. I'd probably look at some privates as a backup. Takoma Park isn't really convenient to the secular privates, but, they likely have shuttles.

This.

Have alternatives ready.

ugh more private recruiting...

Have you lived in the Boston area? They have town-based public school systems. It is a lot different than the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you didn't think public schools were good enough for your kid in the Boston area, you will likely hate MCPS. I'd probably look at some privates as a backup. Takoma Park isn't really convenient to the secular privates, but, they likely have shuttles.

I think actually having him start at TPMS in eighth when they move is the best decision. He can see if he likes it, maybe make some neighborhood friends. Then you can decide if you want him to apply to privates for ninth. It’s not like eighth is a good entry year for privates.

I have two kids. One went through the TPMS magnet. We really liked both his magnet and non magnets. It’s a nice school. My other kid went to another DCC middle school and it was fine but we didn’t particularly like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you didn't think public schools were good enough for your kid in the Boston area, you will likely hate MCPS. I'd probably look at some privates as a backup. Takoma Park isn't really convenient to the secular privates, but, they likely have shuttles.

This.

Have alternatives ready.

ugh more private recruiting...

Have you lived in the Boston area? They have town-based public school systems. It is a lot different than the DMV.

I grew up in Newton, and my kids go to TPMS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are moving from the Boston area to Takoma Park in July. Currently our child is in 7th grade at a secular private school but he really wants to start in public once we move and we've heard very encouraging things about Montgomery Blair, which we'd feed into. Can anyone who has direct experience comment or direct us to an existing thread on the academic and social quality of Takoma Park Middle School? Are the teachers pretty solid? Curriculum decent? Have there been any major issues with discipline, bullying, violence? Thanks for any insight.

TPMS is a great MS. It also hosts the county's MS STEM magnet. The magnet involves 3 classes, and there are 8 total periods, so a lot of mixing with the general population.

It has electives in programming, robotics, and engineering that aren't available at every school. It also has a well-regarded music and theater program.

Most subjects are taught every other day except math which is every day. I know this isn't true at all MCPS MS, but they take this seriously. The TPMS math team is popular, for example, is the strongest in the county and consistently wins many awards each year.

They offer HIGH, advanced social studies, which is fairly challenging. Every student takes advanced English, and although the teachers are fine, the curriculum is probably the biggest disappointment, but I think this is true at every MS in the county.

It's also a diverse and accepting school. My kids were really happy there which is saying something because MS is usually not a great experience.

What are the 3 classes in the magnet? It's not an all-day program?

No, it's just a STEM magnet. The classes are math, science, and computer science.

Thanks. Do they also take HIGH for enriched social studies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are moving from the Boston area to Takoma Park in July. Currently our child is in 7th grade at a secular private school but he really wants to start in public once we move and we've heard very encouraging things about Montgomery Blair, which we'd feed into. Can anyone who has direct experience comment or direct us to an existing thread on the academic and social quality of Takoma Park Middle School? Are the teachers pretty solid? Curriculum decent? Have there been any major issues with discipline, bullying, violence? Thanks for any insight.

TPMS is a great MS. It also hosts the county's MS STEM magnet. The magnet involves 3 classes, and there are 8 total periods, so a lot of mixing with the general population.

It has electives in programming, robotics, and engineering that aren't available at every school. It also has a well-regarded music and theater program.

Most subjects are taught every other day except math which is every day. I know this isn't true at all MCPS MS, but they take this seriously. The TPMS math team is popular, for example, is the strongest in the county and consistently wins many awards each year.

They offer HIGH, advanced social studies, which is fairly challenging. Every student takes advanced English, and although the teachers are fine, the curriculum is probably the biggest disappointment, but I think this is true at every MS in the county.

It's also a diverse and accepting school. My kids were really happy there which is saying something because MS is usually not a great experience.

What are the 3 classes in the magnet? It's not an all-day program?

No, it's just a STEM magnet. The classes are math, science, and computer science.

Thanks. Do they also take HIGH for enriched social studies?

Some do, some don’t. Also lots of non magnet kids in HIGH