Recent Experiences at Loiderman?

[Anonymous]

We found out yesterday that my kid just got selected in the Loiderman lottery. I was wondering what people have experienced there, especially this year. I searched the boards and saw mixed reviews, so I'm wondering how things have been going in the 23/24 SY. Our home MS is SSIMS, so if we decline the invitation, that's where he would end up.

[Anonymous]

I just came on here to ask the same thing, except that our home MS is Banneker. My kid is so excited, me a little less so after what I read here. WWYD?

[Anonymous]

Anybody?

[Anonymous]

Multiple kids left last year. Lots of staff turn over. Band/Orchestra teachers are not great.

[Anonymous]

I've heard good things recently from friends (my kid is going there next year)

[Anonymous]

My SIL pulled my niece out of Loiderman last year for 8th grade. She said there were concerns about fighting, kids vaping in bathrooms, she wasn't impressed with the dance program, and my niece was falling behind academically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My SIL pulled my niece out of Loiderman last year for 8th grade. She said there were concerns about fighting, kids vaping in bathrooms, she wasn't impressed with the dance program, and my niece was falling behind academically.

For a magnet school that specializes in fine arts, the dance program is embarrassingly bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My SIL pulled my niece out of Loiderman last year for 8th grade. She said there were concerns about fighting, kids vaping in bathrooms, she wasn't impressed with the dance program, and my niece was falling behind academically.

For a magnet school that specializes in fine arts, the dance program is embarrassingly bad.

It's not audition-based, just kids who like/love the arts.

[Anonymous]

Magnets are purposefully based in not wealthy neighborhoods, to revive the community and bring some diversity.

If you want to have your kid bused to a non-academic magnet like Loiderman, they'd better be really enthusiastic and come from worse schools. Because the kids in those magnets won't be smarter, and the systemic causes of behavioral and academic issues won't disappear.

Academically-selective magnets are something else entirely, even since Covid helped MCPS do away with a selection based purely on academic achievement. Now a broad swathe of top students are selected to be in-pool, then kids are chosen out of that hat, which sadly means that truly gifted students can be shut out and relegated to their home school. Aside from that unfairness, those magnet schools usually have fewer behavioral problems, and the cohort is relatively tight-knit.

Honestly, traffic being so bad, I'd rather my kid stay in their home school and pay for enrichment (private music lessons and MCYO youth orchestra in my child's case). But that's because I can pay for that, and the home school is good. Your calculus will vary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Magnets are purposefully based in not wealthy neighborhoods, to revive the community and bring some diversity.

If you want to have your kid bused to a non-academic magnet like Loiderman, they'd better be really enthusiastic and come from worse schools. Because the kids in those magnets won't be smarter, and the systemic causes of behavioral and academic issues won't disappear.

Academically-selective magnets are something else entirely, even since Covid helped MCPS do away with a selection based purely on academic achievement. Now a broad swathe of top students are selected to be in-pool, then kids are chosen out of that hat, which sadly means that truly gifted students can be shut out and relegated to their home school. Aside from that unfairness, those magnet schools usually have fewer behavioral problems, and the cohort is relatively tight-knit.

Honestly, traffic being so bad, I'd rather my kid stay in their home school and pay for enrichment (private music lessons and MCYO youth orchestra in my child's case). But that's because I can pay for that, and the home school is good. Your calculus will vary.

Sadly, this is a much better plan and for music MCYO, PVYO and other groups are a far better plan for music. Some have financial aid, if money is an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Multiple kids left last year. Lots of staff turn over. Band/Orchestra teachers are not great.

Another new orch teacher this year. Great teachers at the elem feeders but not sure what’s going on in MS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Multiple kids left last year. Lots of staff turn over. Band/Orchestra teachers are not great.

Another new orch teacher this year. Great teachers at the elem feeders but not sure what’s going on in MS

I suspect it's the leadership. They got a new principal who everyone had high hopes for as she had been there for many years and very likable. But, several VPs and multiple staff left. Another orchestra teacher... thats a bad sign that the last one lasted a year.

Part of the music problem is the teachers. The other part is what another poster said about it not being test in so anyone can do the band or orchestra. They don't really do teaching with multiple instruments all in one class period in MS or HS so either a child has to be naturally talented and teach themselves or be in private lessons and/with private orchestra or other groups to really get good. The bands/orchestras that are good have kids from private lessons and the orchestras vs. a school being that good just because. We are another family who moved to the private music groups and the difference in quality is night and day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Multiple kids left last year. Lots of staff turn over. Band/Orchestra teachers are not great.

Another new orch teacher this year. Great teachers at the elem feeders but not sure what’s going on in MS

I suspect it's the leadership. They got a new principal who everyone had high hopes for as she had been there for many years and very likable. But, several VPs and multiple staff left. Another orchestra teacher... thats a bad sign that the last one lasted a year.

Part of the music problem is the teachers. The other part is what another poster said about it not being test in so anyone can do the band or orchestra. They don't really do teaching with multiple instruments all in one class period in MS or HS so either a child has to be naturally talented and teach themselves or be in private lessons and/with private orchestra or other groups to really get good. The bands/orchestras that are good have kids from private lessons and the orchestras vs. a school being that good just because. We are another family who moved to the private music groups and the difference in quality is night and day.

Playing an instrument is a serious endeavor. It's not possible, at all, to be "good" at it if you do not have individual lessons. It's not like a sport or dance where you can mostly learn as a group and only need private coaching occasionally. Most music groups in schools absolutely suck because hardly any kid has private lessons. The wealthy neighborhoods have music groups that suck less because parents can afford to pay for private (individual) lessons.

My middle schooler plays the violin. Weekly private lessons at a school of music for a few years then $100/hr twice a week at a studio. She's been concertmaster of her youth orchestra. She's played every day, except a few days off for sickness and travel, for years. You can't replicate that in any school setting apart from a music conservatory.

So this idea of public magnets for certain skill sets definitely has its limits, especially when there is no talent selection and no requirement to train with professionals outside of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Multiple kids left last year. Lots of staff turn over. Band/Orchestra teachers are not great.

Another new orch teacher this year. Great teachers at the elem feeders but not sure what’s going on in MS

I suspect it's the leadership. They got a new principal who everyone had high hopes for as she had been there for many years and very likable. But, several VPs and multiple staff left. Another orchestra teacher... thats a bad sign that the last one lasted a year.

Part of the music problem is the teachers. The other part is what another poster said about it not being test in so anyone can do the band or orchestra. They don't really do teaching with multiple instruments all in one class period in MS or HS so either a child has to be naturally talented and teach themselves or be in private lessons and/with private orchestra or other groups to really get good. The bands/orchestras that are good have kids from private lessons and the orchestras vs. a school being that good just because. We are another family who moved to the private music groups and the difference in quality is night and day.

Playing an instrument is a serious endeavor. It's not possible, at all, to be "good" at it if you do not have individual lessons. It's not like a sport or dance where you can mostly learn as a group and only need private coaching occasionally. Most music groups in schools absolutely suck because hardly any kid has private lessons. The wealthy neighborhoods have music groups that suck less because parents can afford to pay for private (individual) lessons.

My middle schooler plays the violin. Weekly private lessons at a school of music for a few years then $100/hr twice a week at a studio. She's been concertmaster of her youth orchestra. She's played every day, except a few days off for sickness and travel, for years. You can't replicate that in any school setting apart from a music conservatory.

So this idea of public magnets for certain skill sets definitely has its limits, especially when there is no talent selection and no requirement to train with professionals outside of school.

Oh my…us poor parents who have kids attending what you consider bad have our kids in private lessons and the same private orchestra as you do. You could replicate it with the right teacher and students. For sports and dance, many kids also do outside or have private lessons too. Don’t let your ego get in the way. Your child is in middle school. For as good as she is there is always someone better.

The former orchestra teacher is part of mcyo. She left for another school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just came on here to ask the same thing, except that our home MS is Banneker. My kid is so excited, me a little less so after what I read here. WWYD?

What specifically is your child excited about? I have a kid at Banneker now, and while it’s been fine in many ways, the instrumental music and performing arts opportunities aren’t great. There isn’t a school play or drama club, for example. The band program is okay, but the orchestra is small and this year had to combine all levels into one class, which is frustrating for more advanced students. I hear good things about the choir. I’d suggest comparing class offerings and extracurriculars at the two schools to help make your decision,