Eastern MS Magnet vs Westland MS

[Anonymous]

Hi - I know most people probably won't have the experience of both Eastern and Westland, but I'd like to get try to get feedback since I'm somewhat newer to MCPS. I'm wondering if the pros of the magnet program for my kid who loves reading outweigh the benefits of a neighborhood school since my kid is shy, but has made a pretty solid group of friends going into Westland. Any perspective would be great. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

That's a heck of a commute. My family passed up continued language immersion that would have basically been the same commute, but in the reverse!

I think this comes down to your child's passion. Would they like a program that is organized around big group assignments? Do they really really like to read, including dense novels like The Good Earth?

If that sounds appealing, I'd absolutely say give it a shot. It's a really unique program, and there's nothing like it outside the other Humanities magnet!

[Anonymous]

I know a couple of kids living in Bethesda who went to Eastern/Takoma then Blair. The commute is brutal, and there have been problems with behavioral problems on the bus. The parents organized a carpool because it got so bad. My youngest goes to Westland, and despite a much shorter commute, I pick her up as well, because the afternoon bus is always full of fights and screams, and it's stressing out my kid. Imagine what it's like with a longer commute (and a change of buses!).

So even though attending families have always had great things to say about the magnet content in the Eastern/Takoma/Blair middle and high school, there are some operational downsides.

Also, since the kids I know have either already graduated or are in their senior year, the parents have realized that it makes college admissions harder, or at least, doesn't make them easier. Kids compete with their cohort, and it's really hard to stand out among magnet peers. Just FYI...

[Anonymous]

12:02 again. We like Westland well enough. The Principal is great. Some teachers are good, some less so. Regular middle schools are easy, academically. If your kid is advanced, they'll definitely be a little bored, but on the other hand, it's also important to socialize, so if all their friends are there...

If you decide to stay at Westland, please make sure your kid is in all the most advanced tracks. For 6th grade, world language A and B instead of just A, IM or Algebra 1 (the latter is test-in), Global Humanities for history. It's the only way they can prepare for a rigorous high school experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a couple of kids living in Bethesda who went to Eastern/Takoma then Blair. The commute is brutal, and there have been problems with behavioral problems on the bus. The parents organized a carpool because it got so bad. My youngest goes to Westland, and despite a much shorter commute, I pick her up as well, because the afternoon bus is always full of fights and screams, and it's stressing out my kid. Imagine what it's like with a longer commute (and a change of buses!).

So even though attending families have always had great things to say about the magnet content in the Eastern/Takoma/Blair middle and high school, there are some operational downsides.

Also, since the kids I know have either already graduated or are in their senior year, the parents have realized that it makes college admissions harder, or at least, doesn't make them easier. Kids compete with their cohort, and it's really hard to stand out among magnet peers. Just FYI...

That reminds me of a real life horror story where the UMC family spent $$$$ for an elite prep school, their kid was class president with 1560 SAT and got rejected from everywhere except the type of schools anyone can get into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a couple of kids living in Bethesda who went to Eastern/Takoma then Blair. The commute is brutal, and there have been problems with behavioral problems on the bus. The parents organized a carpool because it got so bad. My youngest goes to Westland, and despite a much shorter commute, I pick her up as well, because the afternoon bus is always full of fights and screams, and it's stressing out my kid. Imagine what it's like with a longer commute (and a change of buses!).

So even though attending families have always had great things to say about the magnet content in the Eastern/Takoma/Blair middle and high school, there are some operational downsides.

Also, since the kids I know have either already graduated or are in their senior year, the parents have realized that it makes college admissions harder, or at least, doesn't make them easier. Kids compete with their cohort, and it's really hard to stand out among magnet peers. Just FYI...

That reminds me of a real life horror story where the UMC family spent $$$$ for an elite prep school, their kid was class president with 1560 SAT and got rejected from everywhere except the type of schools anyone can get into.

"a" real life story? It happens to thousands of hot-housed kids across the country every year. It is well known that you don't pay for an elite private to get into Ivies unless you have a hook (parents are alumni, star athlete, etc). This is because half of your wealthy peer cohort in that school has hooks already, that no amount of academic differentiation can erase, and since each Ivy only takes so many kids from each high school... it's over before you've even run the race. Public school magnets are a far better choice for the non-billionaire, in that you get a great education and excellent time management skills; your peer cohort might not be as "hooked" as the private school cohort, but it's still going to be very hard to differentiate from classmates; and it's free with taxes instead of setting the family back 60K a year.

Sorry for the side-track.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for the feedback, commute is actually not a concern since they're about the same distance for us - just a tough decision and seems like it's a question of big fish in little pond or little fish in big pond re: college admission - though I think I'd value the critical thinking skills of Eastern over the college ranking. I'm just more worried of the social aspect I guess...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the feedback, commute is actually not a concern since they're about the same distance for us - just a tough decision and seems like it's a question of big fish in little pond or little fish in big pond re: college admission - though I think I'd value the critical thinking skills of Eastern over the college ranking. I'm just more worried of the social aspect I guess...

College admission shouldn't be in the mix. If you are that concerned, just pull your child back to the home school for high school. Lots of kids do Eastern or TPMS then go back to their home school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the feedback, commute is actually not a concern since they're about the same distance for us - just a tough decision and seems like it's a question of big fish in little pond or little fish in big pond re: college admission - though I think I'd value the critical thinking skills of Eastern over the college ranking. I'm just more worried of the social aspect I guess...

We had the same choice and chose Eastern twice. Kids really learn to write there, which doesn’t happen in a regular MCPS class, unfortunately. You can go back to your home school for HS if you want after. MS is such a weird time I really wouldn’t choose a school based on a current cohort bc things change so, so much. I am convinced that it’s in MS that kids kind of decide what kind of a student they’re going to be, and I wanted my kids to see all their peers trying to do well. There’s a definite too cool for school thing going on in MS ( I am a 9th grade teacher) that Eastern sidesteps. Don't worry about college yet, please. Does your child want to go?

[Anonymous]

Where do you live that you are IB for Westland but the commute to Eastern is equidistant? We are closer than any of the Westland boundary to Eastern and the commute is why we didn’t consider it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the feedback, commute is actually not a concern since they're about the same distance for us - just a tough decision and seems like it's a question of big fish in little pond or little fish in big pond re: college admission - though I think I'd value the critical thinking skills of Eastern over the college ranking. I'm just more worried of the social aspect I guess...

We had the same choice and chose Eastern twice. Kids really learn to write there, which doesn’t happen in a regular MCPS class, unfortunately. You can go back to your home school for HS if you want after. MS is such a weird time I really wouldn’t choose a school based on a current cohort bc things change so, so much. I am convinced that it’s in MS that kids kind of decide what kind of a student they’re going to be, and I wanted my kids to see all their peers trying to do well. There’s a definite too cool for school thing going on in MS ( I am a 9th grade teacher) that Eastern sidesteps. Don't worry about college yet, please. Does your child want to go?

100% agree with PP, particularly the part about deciding what kind of learner they will be. The writing instruction at Eastern is without comparison in MoCo (well except for the other Humanities magnet for North MoCo). Educationally, EMS set our kid up for college by encouraging them to have academic interests, pursue deep knowledge and be able to write well & critically.

We also live in bounds for Westland and chose to send 1 kid to Eastern Magnet and 1 kid to TP Magnet.

The commute is not bad - we did organize a 3 person carpool in the AMs, but kids took the bus home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where do you live that you are IB for Westland but the commute to Eastern is equidistant? We are closer than any of the Westland boundary to Eastern and the commute is why we didn’t consider it.

It's a 25 minute from many parts of the BCC cluster that are east of BCC or Wisconsin Ave generally. That drive was far shorter than walking to the bus stop, waiting, and then riding the bus to Westland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a couple of kids living in Bethesda who went to Eastern/Takoma then Blair. The commute is brutal, and there have been problems with behavioral problems on the bus. The parents organized a carpool because it got so bad. My youngest goes to Westland, and despite a much shorter commute, I pick her up as well, because the afternoon bus is always full of fights and screams, and it's stressing out my kid. Imagine what it's like with a longer commute (and a change of buses!).

So even though attending families have always had great things to say about the magnet content in the Eastern/Takoma/Blair middle and high school, there are some operational downsides.

Also, since the kids I know have either already graduated or are in their senior year, the parents have realized that it makes college admissions harder, or at least, doesn't make them easier. Kids compete with their cohort, and it's really hard to stand out among magnet peers. Just FYI...

That reminds me of a real life horror story where the UMC family spent $$$$ for an elite prep school, their kid was class president with 1560 SAT and got rejected from everywhere except the type of schools anyone can get into.

"a" real life story? It happens to thousands of hot-housed kids across the country every year.

No it doesn't. Kids like the PP describes often end up going to schools that weren't as selective when their parents applied, but that have strong programs, and strong cohorts of students. After all, they are full of kids like the PP describes.

Those kids are no longer going to the Ivies, but they are doing just fine. They are not ending up in a "horror story" or going somewhere that "anyone can get into".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the feedback, commute is actually not a concern since they're about the same distance for us - just a tough decision and seems like it's a question of big fish in little pond or little fish in big pond re: college admission - though I think I'd value the critical thinking skills of Eastern over the college ranking. I'm just more worried of the social aspect I guess...

Please don't make decisions about your child's middle school based on potential college admissions prospects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the feedback, commute is actually not a concern since they're about the same distance for us - just a tough decision and seems like it's a question of big fish in little pond or little fish in big pond re: college admission - though I think I'd value the critical thinking skills of Eastern over the college ranking. I'm just more worried of the social aspect I guess...

Please don't make decisions about your child's middle school based on potential college admissions prospects.

IKR? It's too late. It's all about getting the right start in preschool.