Does MCPS MS curriculum alone prepare students for the math/science magnets?

[Anonymous]

As my 8th grader has been working on high school applications and choices, I've been thinking about the math/science magnet programs and wondering about who exactly they serve. I'll say up front that I don't mean this to be whining or complaining about my kid's chances; I'll be happy (and somewhat relieved and not at all surprised) if they end up at our home high school. But I'm curious about whether the MCPS middle school curriculum, on its own and without outside enrichment/activities, are enough to prepare a "highly able learner" for admission to and success in the magnet. If so, that's great. If not, is this reasonable for a taxpayer-funded, public school program?

As an example, my kid goes to an MCPS middle school. Their school has no math team, no science fair, no robotics club, no computer science classes, and no real math/science enrichment opportunities beyond the regular accelerated curriculum (getting through geometry in 8th grade). However, my kid and some of their friends are straight-A students with 99%+ test scores; they are bright, curious, "highly capable", and were in the lottery pool for the MS magnets but didn't get spots. Do kids like this have any chance at admission without having some kind of (privately funded, parent-enabled) extracurricular math or science focused activity? And if they get in, would the standard MCPS curriculum have prepared them enough to be successful, with hard work but with access only to the school-provided resources?

I understand that there are far more qualified students than spaces in the magnet, and the argument that access should be increased. I feel like my question is a little different, though. Are these programs only for those who have gone beyond the standard MCPS curriculum? If so, is that appropriate and fair? I'd love to hear experiences or opinions.

[Anonymous]

My child didn’t have any of the extra things you mentioned and is doing well at Blair.

They are a child who has been exceptionally quick to learn, self motivated and organized since they were very young. Precociously academic from an extremely young age. I think the speed of learning and organizational skills are key to success and they are lucky that those things come easily to them.

[Anonymous]

This is such a loaded question. Your attitude is really off-putting.

Of course the regular MCPS curriculum is fine preparation for admission and success. Only a small percentage are coming from the MS stem magnets. The rest are from regular middle schools and many of them don't have STEM activities and they all do fine.

The ones who have enrichment will find it easier initially as you might expect but things will equalize quickly as more opportunities are opened up to the other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child didn’t have any of the extra things you mentioned and is doing well at Blair.

They are a child who has been exceptionally quick to learn, self motivated and organized since they were very young. Precociously academic from an extremely young age. I think the speed of learning and organizational skills are key to success and they are lucky that those things come easily to them.

+1 There are a lots of classmates who are the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child didn’t have any of the extra things you mentioned and is doing well at Blair.

They are a child who has been exceptionally quick to learn, self motivated and organized since they were very young. Precociously academic from an extremely young age. I think the speed of learning and organizational skills are key to success and they are lucky that those things come easily to them.

That's awesome! Makes sense that successful students need motivation, organization, and ability to be successful, but it's also great to hear that outside enrichment/activities aren't a requirement to be able to take advantage of the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As my 8th grader has been working on high school applications and choices, I've been thinking about the math/science magnet programs and wondering about who exactly they serve. I'll say up front that I don't mean this to be whining or complaining about my kid's chances; I'll be happy (and somewhat relieved and not at all surprised) if they end up at our home high school. But I'm curious about whether the MCPS middle school curriculum, on its own and without outside enrichment/activities, are enough to prepare a "highly able learner" for admission to and success in the magnet. If so, that's great. If not, is this reasonable for a taxpayer-funded, public school program?

As an example, my kid goes to an MCPS middle school. Their school has no math team, no science fair, no robotics club, no computer science classes, and no real math/science enrichment opportunities beyond the regular accelerated curriculum (getting through geometry in 8th grade). However, my kid and some of their friends are straight-A students with 99%+ test scores; they are bright, curious, "highly capable", and were in the lottery pool for the MS magnets but didn't get spots. Do kids like this have any chance at admission without having some kind of (privately funded, parent-enabled) extracurricular math or science focused activity? And if they get in, would the standard MCPS curriculum have prepared them enough to be successful, with hard work but with access only to the school-provided resources?

I understand that there are far more qualified students than spaces in the magnet, and the argument that access should be increased. I feel like my question is a little different, though. Are these programs only for those who have gone beyond the standard MCPS curriculum? If so, is that appropriate and fair? I'd love to hear experiences or opinions.

It's kind of like saying is MCPS curriculum without ever doing homework or taking an interest in a subject area related to a program is adequate to prepare a kid. The answer is unsurprisingly no. If you want to get into the STEM magnet, it would probably help if a child is genuinely passionate about math or science and spends their own time outside of school on this because they're interested in learning. Yes, many parents also pay for tutors and outside enrichment. Just stop by your local RSM or AoPS and you discover there are several hundred kids doing exactly that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is such a loaded question. Your attitude is really off-putting.

Of course the regular MCPS curriculum is fine preparation for admission and success. Only a small percentage are coming from the MS stem magnets. The rest are from regular middle schools and many of them don't have STEM activities and they all do fine.

The ones who have enrichment will find it easier initially as you might expect but things will equalize quickly as more opportunities are opened up to the other kids.

Sorry, I honestly didn't mean to be off-putting or obnoxious. I think I spend too much time reading DCUM and hearing about the clubs/activities/opportunities that some students have and was wondering how necessary those are. Also thinking about my kid having nothing in particular to put in the high school application prompt about awards/honors/relevant activities. I'm happy to hear that I was overthinking it.

[Anonymous]

DC is at a high poverty middle school with none of the clubs you listed but we get emails all the time about FREE enrichment activities. Free after school coding camps, free weekend math opportunities, free science activities.

Some of these are sponsored by MCPS and many take place at the school or are virtual.

Kids who are interested can take advantage of these opportunities.

Why would your child even want to go to a STEM magnet if your child has shown no interest? You sound like someone who can afford to enrich but you are just trying to stir up trouble and use this opportunity to bash "certain ethnic groups."

[Anonymous]

OP are you aware that there are kids out there with 99% MAP-M several grades up? Yes there are kids doing this with outside enrichment, but there are those truly bright kids that can do without.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP are you aware that there are kids out there with 99% MAP-M several grades up? Yes there are kids doing this with outside enrichment, but there are those truly bright kids that can do without.

Yes, I'm aware, and I really didn't mean for this to be about my individual child's chances. Perhaps I wrote my original post poorly. I was mostly curious about whether a highly capable, "truly bright" kid (not necessarily my kid) that attends a "regular" middle school that doesn't have math or science-oriented clubs or teams has a reasonable chance at admission and success, especially compared to students from schools that do provide those opportunities. It sounds like the answer is yes, and that's good. I've definitely spent too much time reading DCUM threads about things like math team competitions and robotics clubs at some schools, and I'm glad to get this reality check.

[Anonymous]

FYI MoCo Science Fair is open to everyone, including private and homeschoolers. It is not sponsored by your school - even TPMS magnet doesn't have a science fair. Many schools do a terrible job advertising these things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is at a high poverty middle school with none of the clubs you listed but we get emails all the time about FREE enrichment activities. Free after school coding camps, free weekend math opportunities, free science activities.

Some of these are sponsored by MCPS and many take place at the school or are virtual.

Kids who are interested can take advantage of these opportunities.

Why would your child even want to go to a STEM magnet if your child has shown no interest? You sound like someone who can afford to enrich but you are just trying to stir up trouble and use this opportunity to bash "certain ethnic groups."

DP, but what are you talking about? The OP never mentioned any ethnic groups at all. This discussion is not about ethnicity. I’m also confused where you inferred that OP “can afford to enrich.”

I will respond to what you said in your post, though. Those of us with students who are NOT in high poverty schools do not get emails all the time about free enrichment opportunities. Many of these programs are very specifically directed toward schools, such as yours, and not toward other schools. OP sounds like they are part of the “missing middle” in that high poverty schools get programs directed at their students, low poverty schools have families that enrich privately, and those in between sort of come up feeling ignored or lacking the ability to compete. I think that was the OP’s entire point. Kind of how elite universities end up with lots of 1 percenters and also recruit 1st gen students (first in their family to go to college), and a strong suburban student with neither hook gets passed over based on aspects of parent income/background they have no power to change in spite of having demonstrated ability and interest in every way they actually can control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP are you aware that there are kids out there with 99% MAP-M several grades up? Yes there are kids doing this with outside enrichment, but there are those truly bright kids that can do without.

Yes, I'm aware, and I really didn't mean for this to be about my individual child's chances. Perhaps I wrote my original post poorly. I was mostly curious about whether a highly capable, "truly bright" kid (not necessarily my kid) that attends a "regular" middle school that doesn't have math or science-oriented clubs or teams has a reasonable chance at admission and success, especially compared to students from schools that do provide those opportunities. It sounds like the answer is yes, and that's good. I've definitely spent too much time reading DCUM threads about things like math team competitions and robotics clubs at some schools, and I'm glad to get this reality check.

I think it helps the application if they have interests and hobbies that show they are hard working and curious or creative in STEM or not. Reading, writing, building things, a sport, some volunteering. I initially thought my kid wouldn’t have anything to put down but then he brainstormed and mentioned some volunteering, some sports awards (for team work not athleticism), some less common hobbies including some that touch on engineering. No stem awards or even participation in stem competitions. Btw, got into Blair, RMIB, CAP, both Wheaton programs etc, so seems STEM awards really aren’t necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP are you aware that there are kids out there with 99% MAP-M several grades up? Yes there are kids doing this with outside enrichment, but there are those truly bright kids that can do without.

True maybe 1 out of 30 of the kids in these programs got there without outside enrichment. They inevitably have highly educated parents who were able to provide the enrichment necessary to make the cut. Kids aren't born magically knowing advanced math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP are you aware that there are kids out there with 99% MAP-M several grades up? Yes there are kids doing this with outside enrichment, but there are those truly bright kids that can do without.

True maybe 1 out of 30 of the kids in these programs got there without outside enrichment. They inevitably have highly educated parents who were able to provide the enrichment necessary to make the cut. Kids aren't born magically knowing advanced math.

No they learn it at school. At least mine did.