Entry parameters / standards for Blair CAP?

[Anonymous]

DC was invited to the communications magnet at Eastern but chose another MS program (with which we are very happy, btw, so no immediate regrets). What impact might _not_ attending Eastern have on DC's admissions chances for the CAP program at Blair? It's not so much about turning down the Eastern slot, but rather about DC not having the educational background in communications arts that Eastern necessarily provides. Will good grades in the humanities in general be enough for DC to compete for a spot? What else might the CAP program be looking for, and what do folks know about the odds for admission? (The information from MCPS and on the CAP website is pretty limited.) TIA!

[Anonymous]

There are a fair number of CAP students from Eastern but more than half are from other schools. They like to have a diversity of middle schools represented so having strong humanities skills and not coming from eastern may help in some ways. DC is a CAP sophomore not from Eastern and is totally fine. There are many students from SSIMS and TPMS in particular.

[Anonymous]

Almost everyone we know who applied got in but these are all good students who presumably have As in their English class.

[Anonymous]

My kid got into CAP from the TPMS stem magnet and so did a number of their friends. In fact, we knew so many kids who got into CAP that it's hard to believe there are only 100ish freshmen. That said, we also know of kids who should have gotten in and did not, so the whole formula is a mystery. I do think a lot of CAP kids decline for other magnets (STEM, Wheaton, RMIB, or just to say no) so the waitlist moves a lot. We declined.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a fair number of CAP students from Eastern but more than half are from other schools. They like to have a diversity of middle schools represented so having strong humanities skills and not coming from eastern may help in some ways. DC is a CAP sophomore not from Eastern and is totally fine. There are many students from SSIMS and TPMS in particular.

That makes sense because aren’t all 3 of those middle schools zoned for Blair anyway? We are not in the Blair cluster, and even though I think CAP would be a good fit of my child were to get in, I don’t think he even wants to apply because it’s far and not where most of his friends would be going. It would be a totally different story if we were already zoned for Blair, or if he were coming from a magnet zoned for Blair.

To OP’s question, I don’t see how they could hold it against kids that they didn’t attend the magnet especially since the current 8th graders were under the lottery system.

[Anonymous]

SSIMS is not zoned to Blair

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SSIMS is not zoned to Blair

Part of it is, and the larger point about proximity stands.

For what it's worth, I have a CAP junior who turned down other (more DCUM prestigious) programs for the program, as it was closer to home and/or a better fit.

Absolutely no regrets. It's a great program with a rigorous approach to writing, analytical reading, and history. It's also just a nice group of kids, which I think has to count for something when choosing a high school experience.

This isn't to say that the other magnets don't also have nice kids, as my child's friends at RMIB and Blair magnet all seem to be enjoying themselves as well. Just that the CAP kids seem bright and socially aware and inclusive of kids who came from all different middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SSIMS is not zoned to Blair

Part of it is, and the larger point about proximity stands.

For what it's worth, I have a CAP junior who turned down other (more DCUM prestigious) programs for the program, as it was closer to home and/or a better fit.

Absolutely no regrets. It's a great program with a rigorous approach to writing, analytical reading, and history. It's also just a nice group of kids, which I think has to count for something when choosing a high school experience.

This isn't to say that the other magnets don't also have nice kids, as my child's friends at RMIB and Blair magnet all seem to be enjoying themselves as well. Just that the CAP kids seem bright and socially aware and inclusive of kids who came from all different middle schools.

Thanks, that’s good to hear!

[Anonymous]

PP here. The one thing I'd add is that the workload at non-magnet MCPS middle schools does leave something to be desired. So, there's a learning curve for kids coming into the magnet high schools, when it comes to time management, pacing out long assignments, etc. That's of course on top of the normal "transition to high school" process.

My only advice for kids coming from a mainstream MS into a magnet HS program is that you (parents) keep a close eye on how many activities they are signing up for. It is tempting to join every club, try out for every sport, and some kids end up getting over-loaded quickly when they add magnet program homework on top. Just help your child manage their time for the first few months, if they are a "joiner" but not used to the larger workload of HS.

[Anonymous]

One obvious issue is that if you aren’t in the DCC you aren’t eligible for CAP, unless you attend a middle school that is a CAP feeder (like Eastern).

Other than that it’s easy to get in to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here. The one thing I'd add is that the workload at non-magnet MCPS middle schools does leave something to be desired. So, there's a learning curve for kids coming into the magnet high schools, when it comes to time management, pacing out long assignments, etc. That's of course on top of the normal "transition to high school" process.

My only advice for kids coming from a mainstream MS into a magnet HS program is that you (parents) keep a close eye on how many activities they are signing up for. It is tempting to join every club, try out for every sport, and some kids end up getting over-loaded quickly when they add magnet program homework on top. Just help your child manage their time for the first few months, if they are a "joiner" but not used to the larger workload of HS.

CAP has very little homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SSIMS is not zoned to Blair

Part of it is, and the larger point about proximity stands.

For what it's worth, I have a CAP junior who turned down other (more DCUM prestigious) programs for the program, as it was closer to home and/or a better fit.

Absolutely no regrets. It's a great program with a rigorous approach to writing, analytical reading, and history. It's also just a nice group of kids, which I think has to count for something when choosing a high school experience.

This isn't to say that the other magnets don't also have nice kids, as my child's friends at RMIB and Blair magnet all seem to be enjoying themselves as well. Just that the CAP kids seem bright and socially aware and inclusive of kids who came from all different middle schools.

We get it. You think the CAP kids are "socially aware" but the kids in other magnets are not. Give it a rest will you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into CAP from the TPMS stem magnet and so did a number of their friends. In fact, we knew so many kids who got into CAP that it's hard to believe there are only 100ish freshmen. That said, we also know of kids who should have gotten in and did not, so the whole formula is a mystery. I do think a lot of CAP kids decline for other magnets (STEM, Wheaton, RMIB, or just to say no) so the waitlist moves a lot. We declined.

The waitlist does move a lot. But don't let this thread deter you from applying and then attending. It is a wonderful program!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SSIMS is not zoned to Blair

Part of it is, and the larger point about proximity stands.

For what it's worth, I have a CAP junior who turned down other (more DCUM prestigious) programs for the program, as it was closer to home and/or a better fit.

Absolutely no regrets. It's a great program with a rigorous approach to writing, analytical reading, and history. It's also just a nice group of kids, which I think has to count for something when choosing a high school experience.

This isn't to say that the other magnets don't also have nice kids, as my child's friends at RMIB and Blair magnet all seem to be enjoying themselves as well. Just that the CAP kids seem bright and socially aware and inclusive of kids who came from all different middle schools.

Thanks, that’s good to hear!

This is very helpful information! Thanks. Trying to decide between some great programs but Blair is closer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into CAP from the TPMS stem magnet and so did a number of their friends. In fact, we knew so many kids who got into CAP that it's hard to believe there are only 100ish freshmen. That said, we also know of kids who should have gotten in and did not, so the whole formula is a mystery. I do think a lot of CAP kids decline for other magnets (STEM, Wheaton, RMIB, or just to say no) so the waitlist moves a lot. We declined.

The CAP program is mostly made up of upper middle class over confident white kids from Takoma Park. If that’s your family, then you’ll know a lot of kids that got in. They are a definite “type”.