Blair magnet

[Anonymous]

DC was accepted to Blair magnet. Our home school is Churchill and have also applied to some privates for 9th grade. Will be attending the Blair open house to get more information. For those that have experience with the program, can you speak to how challenging it is and how your child handled it? Have heard horror stories from one parent we know through sports that her son who is at Blair now is constantly doing homework, all the kids in the magnet are 3-4 years ahead in math, and it is a pressure cooker, competitive and cut throat environment. Looking to challenge my DC but don't want to crush them or ruin their mental health. TIA !

[Anonymous]

DC is a current junior and that has not been her experience at all.

[Anonymous]

All true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a current junior and that has not been her experience at all.

+1

My DC graduated last year. He loved it.

[Anonymous]

I have a freshman. Start of the year was tough. Lots of work but has settled in now and actually says they are not pushed (I disagree). Does not find it cut throat or overly competitive.

The kids seem to all be driven and self motivated, hard working and fast learners. If your kid is organized and self motivated as well as strong in STEM they will do well.

[Anonymous]

You won’t find anything comparable in private.

[Anonymous]

I graduated many years ago. Does your kid genuinely love math and science? Like a passion? If so, go. Otherwise you have an excellent home school. It’s just not worth it otherwise.

I have an 8th grader who just got into smcs - i told her the same.

Please please if you just want to get into a good college and go to med school or work in Silicon Valley there are many schools that can get you there.

[Anonymous]

What does your kid say? If they really want to go then they should take the place. If they don’t they should decline it.

[Anonymous]

Some classes are more intense than others. Functions has always had more homework, so unless kid loves math, the regular track would be better. My kid's year, they had a student comp sci teacher who was relentless-- gave them problems he couldn't always solve. Hopefully, he mellowed. He's at Poolesville now, I think. That experience was crazy and turned her off from compsci, but it was a one-off. Lots of classes are not intense, and many of the teachers are unparalleled.
Some kids are hyper competitive, and there is def some bias (gender and race) from some of these "mag bros." But, teachers are largely great. And Blair added a class on bias in stem that was very interesting. I think the biggest contribution to burnout might be the 8 period day. In some ways, it was great, but it did take a toll. An occasional study hall can be a great thing for moderating the intensity, and it doesn't show up on the transcript, so no worries for college apps. I also think Ostrander encourages realism and moderation and dissuades hyper competition amongst students and families.

[Anonymous]

Can someone tell me what a freshman schedule looks like?

I have seen the document with the chart but I am confused by the classes that offer weird credit amounts.

Also, can someone explain the tracking in computer science and how kids get assigned to different tracks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell me what a freshman schedule looks like?

I have seen the document with the chart but I am confused by the classes that offer weird credit amounts.

Also, can someone explain the tracking in computer science and how kids get assigned to different tracks?

8 periods on a block schedule. Two electives plus hon magnet physics (a full year class condensed to one semester), precalculus or functions, research and experimentation, hon English, hon history or AP USH, computer science. For the second semester they switch to magnets chemistry (again a full year class condensed into one semester) and have the option to accelerate into ADSA for comp sci. That is an opt in decision at at the end of first semester (though kids with more grades may be counseled out). For functions there is a test over the summer for those who are interested.

[Anonymous]

So, physics is one period for one semester but it’s a whole credit, but research, which is also one period for one semester but it’s 0.25 credits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, physics is one period for one semester but it’s a whole credit, but research, which is also one period for one semester but it’s 0.25 credits?

Correct about physics. I don’t know about r&e. Id not heard that before but it’s possible. R&E is a great class and definitely challenging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell me what a freshman schedule looks like?

I have seen the document with the chart but I am confused by the classes that offer weird credit amounts.

Also, can someone explain the tracking in computer science and how kids get assigned to different tracks?

8 periods on a block schedule. Two electives plus hon magnet physics (a full year class condensed to one semester), precalculus or functions, research and experimentation, hon English, hon history or AP USH, computer science. For the second semester they switch to magnets chemistry (again a full year class condensed into one semester) and have the option to accelerate into ADSA for comp sci. That is an opt in decision at at the end of first semester (though kids with more grades may be counseled out). For functions there is a test over the summer for those who are interested.

Nearly everyone takes language for one elective and most kids do take PE freshman year or an arts elective for the other to balance the schedule out and get those over with.

[Anonymous]

I don’t recognize the program that you’re describing. My son’s experience has been positive , graduating this year. Great teachers, good options, has made good friends. I would definitely recommend it - privates can’t give you the level of math and science instruction that the magnet can.