Science and engineering magnets questions

[Anonymous]

DC is in 8th and starting to look at all the application magnets but is confused about some things. We are renting in Germantown and could stay there but are actively looking at homes closer to DC in Wheaton and Silver Spring to help with the commute for work. DC is our only child so part of our decision would come down to the best schooling for DC.

Can anyone help?

I think that based on where we are now DC is only eligible for the Poolesville SMCS program. If we get a home in our desired location DC would have more choices, the two Wheaton programs and Blair Stem. I’m having some trouble comparing all the programs.

Which are easier to get admission?
Which offers the most flexibility in terms of electives?
How different are Wheaton biomed and engineering in terms of requirement?
What are the differences in the required courses between Poolesville and Blair? We heard Poolesville’s research component is not required. Is this true and what percentage of kids opt out of research? If you opt out of research can you skip the extra period at the end of the day?
Is Analysis required at Poolesville as it is at Blair? The course sequence seemed to suggest a significant number of kids take regular AP Calc instead. Does this happen in reality?
Regarding Blair, I saw that some classes specify that they are a double period. What does that mean?

[Anonymous]

I don't know the stats but I think Wheaton engineering got really competitive in recent years. I think bio is a little less.

[Anonymous]

Unless you move in November, you cannot apply to Blair or Wheaton right now. From Germantown I think your STEM related options are Poolesville SMCS or Global, Seneca Valley PLTW, Clarksburg PTECH (I think?), Gaithersburg PLTW Biotech, & Watkins Mill regional IB. Your kid could also apply to the Early College program for 11th and 12th grades at MC Germantown - the AS Bioengineering is pretty cool.

Folks on this board will say all those schools are terrible because they focus on averages. But the reality is that each of those schools have a high performing cohort concentrated in this specialty programs.

Rather than gambling on admission to something specific downcounty by moving, just choose all of the upcounty STEM programs that might be interesting. Wait to see what your kid is invited to and attend the info sessions in February to choose. Your 8th grader’s interests/focus will change a lot in the next few months, so don’t overthink this now.

[Anonymous]

NP. I had no idea all these programs were available. Thanks pp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I had no idea all these programs were available. Thanks pp

MCPS info page https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/high/

Programs available by home HS
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EMSIiUPXlX4WzrKHGcfQId2JyF5_keN5-gc6IgwbBv0/preview

Descriptions of all programs with links to open house slides/videos

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iOZqNQ1ug40Z4HAaaoCIxxL4vx-22PukRl44-XBo5qw/preview

🙂

[Anonymous]

Easiest to hardest to get admission

Watkins Mill IB - everyone basically
Gaithersburg/Seneca Valley - everyone basically
Poolesville stem
Wheaton engineering
Blair

Early College also basically accepts everyone

[Anonymous]

If your dc gets in poolesville stem and you move to down county later, MCPS might let kid transfer to Blair stem. P is also easier to get in.

[Anonymous]

My kid is a sophomore in the SMaCS program at Poolesville and is enjoying it quite a bit. We are also in Germantown, and I thought....geeze.... Poolesville is so far. But it's actually a nice drive and I've never hit traffic. The SMaCS program is an extended schedule day, meaning 8 periods instead of 7. There can be long days, but if you kid is really self-motivated, they should be able to handle it just fine. You asked about required courses, these are what my kid took in 9th and 10th (minus the electives):

Adv Sci2 Chemistry DP (SCI2011)
AP GovPolitics US NSL AB (SOC2021B)
Fnd Computer Sci AB (ITC2013B)
Hon English 9B (ENG2001B)
Mag Precalculus AB (MAT2029B) A
Research Exp ProbSolv (TEC2009B)
Adv Sci1 Physics DP (SCI2010)


Algorithm Data A (ITC2014A)
Adv Sci4 Biology A (SCI2013A)
Adv Sci3 Earth SpSys A (SCI2012A)
Found Of Tech A (TEC2000A)
Hon English 10A (ENG2003A)
AP US History A (SOC2022A)

[Anonymous]

Oops, forgot Mag Precalculus CD (MAT2030C)

[Anonymous]

I have kids at Blair and Wheaton. They are both fantastic programs, and you can apply for both at once.
I would say Blair is the typically harder admit. It has more flexibility in class choices because of the extra period and breadth of program. But that makes for a long day and extra work. It can get pretty stressful if kid has ECs
My kid did not do the research project, and it was fine.

Wheaton is more hands on and focused on the discipline. The cohort is more racially diverse less gender diverse (though that may have changed in recent years) and more collaborative than Blair's (though Blair experience was several years ago, so things may have improved there). There was almost no flexibility curriculum-wise first 2 years, but better in last 2. But, shorter day was good for my Wheaton kid who needed more down time than my Blair kid.

[Anonymous]

You can skip the research project at Blair or at Wheaton?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can skip the research project at Blair or at Wheaton?

It's not required to graduate, but most kids do it.

[Anonymous]

It's not part of the grade for the senior research class? Or are you saying students can just not take that class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not part of the grade for the senior research class? Or are you saying students can just not take that class?

Mine took the first semester, but not the 2nd where they actually worked on a project.

[Anonymous]

Is this at Wheaton or Blair?