Anyone with experience at Argyle MS?

[Anonymous]

It's a tech magnet with all courses available to all students. Our choice to turn down another is due in a couple days. I have yet to talk to ANYBODY through friends and acquaintances who has had a child actually go to Arglye. Anyone on DCUM have kids that go there?

Of note is that it's not a merit-based magnet. I am worried it's a rough area/school with the challenges that come along with that. Atleast at merit-based magnet, the peer group in a handful of classes is driven and attentive more than the regular classes.
Desperate to hear any feedback at all.

[Anonymous]

Mine was interested, but without a magnet bus, it wasn’t even worth applying. We’re so far down-county, with both parents’ offices in the opposite direction, there was no way we could make it work, even with carpooling. So be aware of that element.

That said, I wouldn’t assume the magnet kids aren’t serious students. No family signs up for a commute without a bus option unless their kid is at least moderately interested in the subject, and demonstrates a certain aptitude. As you say, Argyle as a school isn’t likely to be worth the effort on its own merits for most kids, so they must be fairly serious about the magnet classes.

[Anonymous]

I like the principal if it’s still James Allrich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine was interested, but without a magnet bus, it wasn’t even worth applying. We’re so far down-county, with both parents’ offices in the opposite direction, there was no way we could make it work, even with carpooling. So be aware of that element.

That said, I wouldn’t assume the magnet kids aren’t serious students. No family signs up for a commute without a bus option unless their kid is at least moderately interested in the subject, and demonstrates a certain aptitude. As you say, Argyle as a school isn’t likely to be worth the effort on its own merits for most kids, so they must be fairly serious about the magnet classes.

I believe most students who attend live in the boundary of the MSMC and are bussed--it's only out-of-boundary spots that don't have a bus.

OP, what is your alterantive and how far of a drive would it be for you to take kid to/from school each day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine was interested, but without a magnet bus, it wasn’t even worth applying. We’re so far down-county, with both parents’ offices in the opposite direction, there was no way we could make it work, even with carpooling. So be aware of that element.

That said, I wouldn’t assume the magnet kids aren’t serious students. No family signs up for a commute without a bus option unless their kid is at least moderately interested in the subject, and demonstrates a certain aptitude. As you say, Argyle as a school isn’t likely to be worth the effort on its own merits for most kids, so they must be fairly serious about the magnet classes.

I believe most students who attend live in the boundary of the MSMC and are bussed--it's only out-of-boundary spots that don't have a bus.

OP, what is your alterantive and how far of a drive would it be for you to take kid to/from school each day?

They are starting bussing for out of consortium students next year. From a central hub. But notwithstanding- it's the same commute between Argyle and the Humanities magnet my DC was accepted to, so it's about the same either way. We have a local bus to the humanities magnet but it takes a long time. Still haven't met a soul who has been to Argyle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a tech magnet with all courses available to all students. Our choice to turn down another is due in a couple days. I have yet to talk to ANYBODY through friends and acquaintances who has had a child actually go to Arglye. Anyone on DCUM have kids that go there?

Of note is that it's not a merit-based magnet. I am worried it's a rough area/school with the challenges that come along with that. Atleast at merit-based magnet, the peer group in a handful of classes is driven and attentive more than the regular classes.
Desperate to hear any feedback at all.

I find it frustrating and honestly insulting that you refer to it as a "rough" area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a tech magnet with all courses available to all students. Our choice to turn down another is due in a couple days. I have yet to talk to ANYBODY through friends and acquaintances who has had a child actually go to Arglye. Anyone on DCUM have kids that go there?

Of note is that it's not a merit-based magnet. I am worried it's a rough area/school with the challenges that come along with that. Atleast at merit-based magnet, the peer group in a handful of classes is driven and attentive more than the regular classes.
Desperate to hear any feedback at all.

I find it frustrating and honestly insulting that you refer to it as a "rough" area.

Please head over to the Paint Branch High Fights topic to see if "rough" is an appropriate word for those who are involved

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine was interested, but without a magnet bus, it wasn’t even worth applying. We’re so far down-county, with both parents’ offices in the opposite direction, there was no way we could make it work, even with carpooling. So be aware of that element.

That said, I wouldn’t assume the magnet kids aren’t serious students. No family signs up for a commute without a bus option unless their kid is at least moderately interested in the subject, and demonstrates a certain aptitude. As you say, Argyle as a school isn’t likely to be worth the effort on its own merits for most kids, so they must be fairly serious about the magnet classes.

I believe most students who attend live in the boundary of the MSMC and are bussed--it's only out-of-boundary spots that don't have a bus.

OP, what is your alterantive and how far of a drive would it be for you to take kid to/from school each day?

They are starting bussing for out of consortium students next year. From a central hub. But notwithstanding- it's the same commute between Argyle and the Humanities magnet my DC was accepted to, so it's about the same either way. We have a local bus to the humanities magnet but it takes a long time. Still haven't met a soul who has been to Argyle.

Is the alternative a test-in humanities magnet? If so, your DC will probably find more challenge there.

[Anonymous]

The building is old and poorly designed. We kept having to make u-turns during Open House. I would not send our DC there based on student population from nearby very high density housing. The local McDonald’s closes its doors for 90 minutes after school dismissal time because of the rowdiness of the students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a tech magnet with all courses available to all students. Our choice to turn down another is due in a couple days. I have yet to talk to ANYBODY through friends and acquaintances who has had a child actually go to Arglye. Anyone on DCUM have kids that go there?

Of note is that it's not a merit-based magnet. I am worried it's a rough area/school with the challenges that come along with that. Atleast at merit-based magnet, the peer group in a handful of classes is driven and attentive more than the regular classes.
Desperate to hear any feedback at all.

I find it frustrating and honestly insulting that you refer to it as a "rough" area.

Please head over to the Paint Branch High Fights topic to see if "rough" is an appropriate word for those who are involved

Argyle and Paint Branch are not even in the same neighborhood, or cluster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The building is old and poorly designed. We kept having to make u-turns during Open House. I would not send our DC there based on student population from nearby very high density housing. The local McDonald’s closes its doors for 90 minutes after school dismissal time because of the rowdiness of the students.

The barely veiled racism here is just so frustrating. I am so sick of people on this board immediately attacking this area just because there is a higher latino/immigrant population.

[Anonymous]

I know a few kids who attended and all were happy there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a tech magnet with all courses available to all students. Our choice to turn down another is due in a couple days. I have yet to talk to ANYBODY through friends and acquaintances who has had a child actually go to Arglye. Anyone on DCUM have kids that go there?

Of note is that it's not a merit-based magnet. I am worried it's a rough area/school with the challenges that come along with that. Atleast at merit-based magnet, the peer group in a handful of classes is driven and attentive more than the regular classes.
Desperate to hear any feedback at all.

I find it frustrating and honestly insulting that you refer to it as a "rough" area.

Go walk around the school after school, and the neighborhood. Then describe it how you wish. I've done both and feel qualified to label my own assessment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a tech magnet with all courses available to all students. Our choice to turn down another is due in a couple days. I have yet to talk to ANYBODY through friends and acquaintances who has had a child actually go to Arglye. Anyone on DCUM have kids that go there?

Of note is that it's not a merit-based magnet. I am worried it's a rough area/school with the challenges that come along with that. Atleast at merit-based magnet, the peer group in a handful of classes is driven and attentive more than the regular classes.
Desperate to hear any feedback at all.

I find it frustrating and honestly insulting that you refer to it as a "rough" area.

Go walk around the school after school, and the neighborhood. Then describe it how you wish. I've done both and feel qualified to label my own assessment.

Yeah, I don't know about that. It's pretty much the same as any other MCPS school. Your advice is sound. They'll pay should walk around the area and get a sense of whether the community feels like a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a tech magnet with all courses available to all students. Our choice to turn down another is due in a couple days. I have yet to talk to ANYBODY through friends and acquaintances who has had a child actually go to Arglye. Anyone on DCUM have kids that go there?

Of note is that it's not a merit-based magnet. I am worried it's a rough area/school with the challenges that come along with that. Atleast at merit-based magnet, the peer group in a handful of classes is driven and attentive more than the regular classes.
Desperate to hear any feedback at all.

I find it frustrating and honestly insulting that you refer to it as a "rough" area.

Go walk around the school after school, and the neighborhood. Then describe it how you wish. I've done both and feel qualified to label my own assessment.

I've spent plenty of time walking around that area, across the street at the Plaza Del Mercado, and the surrounding neighborhoods. I do not feel unsafe. Your assessment is probably hindered by your own unconscious bias.