| I see a lot of posts about the magnet program, but as our DD didn’t attend a public MS then she wouldn’t qualify for the magnet program at Blair. What is the regular non magnet program like? What about safety? Teacher quality? College admissions from non magnet students? Any snd all feedback please. |
| She would be part of the DCC so she has school choice and can lottery into other schools if it's not a good fit. It's the larger school in MCPS. Colleges only take so many students from each school so something to consider if she's not a top student. Safety is mixed as it is with most schools. Teacher quality is mixed too, just like all schools. |
Blair offers many of the same opportunities offered by all MCPS high schools. In fact, it is the largest HS in MoCo and has an incredibly rich and deep catalog as well as access to advanced magnet courses in the 11th and 12th grades for those who are inclined and meets the prereqs. |
| Blair is a big school but the administration is so organized. The principal communicates on social media platforms and emails and I just feel like I always know what is happening at the school. We have one child at Blair and another at Wheaton and I definitely feel like Blair communicates more. There are lots of activities at lunch, so many different clubs and there’s something for everyone. |
If your child is currently an 8th grader, you’ve missed the deadline, but kids can and do apply to the magnet from private MS. |
| What is it like? I mean seriously OP? Find a way to keep her in private. |
You don’t have to attend a public middle school to be eligible for the magnet. |
The regular non magnet program is great. Once your child is a junior or senior they can take magnet electives even while not being in the program. Teachers are mixed as in any large public school. Some are great and some are checked out. DC has not experienced any safety issues that are out of the ordinary. There are fights like any other school and drug use like any other school. I don't know about college admissions about non magnet students but there are a lot of high performers who are not in the magnet programs and I would be surprised if they didn't do just as well as the magnet kids. |
Agree with tjis and also have one at each. Only exception is, I think Wheaton principal is equally effective and possibly communicates more. But, Blair is very well organized with great leadership and lots of terrific classes. |
| Blair also has an application-only Communication Arts Program for kids who are inclined more to writing and literature. My kids did the CAP program and both also took math/science magnet classes. |
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Such a well run school. Administration matters, and Blair’s works well.
Teachers are mixed. Clubs are good. Kids feel as safe as they would at any MCPS HS. |
Private school kids who live in the magnet attendance area can apply to the magnet. Also, non-magnet kids can take magnet classes if they have the prerequisites. Usually, that's an AP class. Teacher quality varies just like every other HS, but there are some very good non-magnet teachers at Blair. |
| Have had a pretty bad experience with Blair outside of magnet. Surprisingly so. Just seems so big that it’s hard for kids to be known or have a personalized learning experience. |
That's a DCC only program that largely consists of in-boundary kids anyways. |
+1 |