Middle school magnet lottery cutoffs finally revealed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Responding to MPIAs from MCCPTA's Gifted Education Committee, MCPS finally revealed middle school magnet lottery cutoffs.

(1) MCPS divides all elementary schools into 5 groups based on FARMS:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/120BRtShXf9_kQcNvKSxHKG4nJhnyTjL7/view?fbclid=IwAR1hrS0Ar1xsi_W8Ew3ow3Zz6aE84gkeAVZTu08rz_33TCvXCfTSRLDtX_w

low
low moderate
moderate
moderate high
high

(2) MCPS uses different cutoffs for these 5 groups:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e0Szg2jJ8F1rL2BZSqCV1fb_R1gLwaRl/view?fbclid=IwAR36sMGZsbuKGYKnvEj9f5B2o0ioaZeiaZ7YQJLJVxPxP_m-Jr9-tUG5wq8

The cutoffs are national normed percentile (= 85% locally normed)

Math
low 93%
low moderate 92%
moderate 84%
moderate high 65%
high 60%

Humanites
low 92%
low moderate 92%
moderate 88%
moderate high 76%
high 70%


This means in a low-FARMS school, one needs 93%/92% to enter lottery.
In a high-FARMS school, one needs 60%/70% to enter lottery.

You can score 60% in math and 70% in reading to go to Takoma Park and Eastern magnets.

This is just one part of the puzzle. Kids with 99th percentile did not get in. So you know 60% has made it to Magnet. This is done to drag down the high performing kids and make them feel defeated. That is why, many are just leaving MCPS to neighboring school districts where they treat all students fairly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responding to MPIAs from MCCPTA's Gifted Education Committee, MCPS finally revealed middle school magnet lottery cutoffs.

(1) MCPS divides all elementary schools into 5 groups based on FARMS:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/120BRtShXf9_kQcNvKSxHKG4nJhnyTjL7/view?fbclid=IwAR1hrS0Ar1xsi_W8Ew3ow3Zz6aE84gkeAVZTu08rz_33TCvXCfTSRLDtX_w

low
low moderate
moderate
moderate high
high

(2) MCPS uses different cutoffs for these 5 groups:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e0Szg2jJ8F1rL2BZSqCV1fb_R1gLwaRl/view?fbclid=IwAR36sMGZsbuKGYKnvEj9f5B2o0ioaZeiaZ7YQJLJVxPxP_m-Jr9-tUG5wq8

The cutoffs are national normed percentile (= 85% locally normed)

Math
low 93%
low moderate 92%
moderate 84%
moderate high 65%
high 60%

Humanites
low 92%
low moderate 92%
moderate 88%
moderate high 76%
high 70%


This means in a low-FARMS school, one needs 93%/92% to enter lottery.
In a high-FARMS school, one needs 60%/70% to enter lottery.

You can score 60% in math and 70% in reading to go to Takoma Park and Eastern magnets.

What percentage of the kids at a high-farms school have 70%+?

At least 60-70% of the students in high farms would have the scores to make the cut off

No. It's saying kids who attend high farms schools and score at least 70%ile on the test are in-pool.

It's not the same as scoring 99%ile, but at a lot of high farms schools the barriers to learning and achievement are greater, so what MCPS is saying is that a kid who scores 70%ile at a high farms schools, at age 8, demonstrates the same potential academically as a kid who scores a 95%ile at a W feeder. Which having been at both, I do think sounds fair.

If you hate this I can see that. But it's equitable. Equitable measures being introduced may mean that certain people's odds change. I don't take issues with this, but I do think a blind lottery post-cutoff is a mistake. It is meaningful to have teachers weigh in on things, and the outcomes for equity can be increased without resorting to straight up lottery. In the end though, what MCPS needs is increased access to enrichment for way more children, and perhaps they should consider re-adding a selective process for these more selective cohorts of highly capable kids (and yes, my kid was admitted to two of those in the past, so I can speak to the quality - they were/are excellent).

What barriers are you talking about? MCPS just created unfair barrier for hardworking high performing students by denying them opportunities to excel in academics which they are good at. So your theory is just political nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the point? It's so watered down at this point that there is basically no GT programming. And they are doing an awful job of meeting gifted kids' needs at their home schools.

This is one of the main reason teachers are quitting. They have undue burden with kids at 60% sitting with kids in 95%. how do they teach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just because a kid scores over 99% does not mean they are necessarily gifted. The parents providing outside supplementation are driving these numbers up in the wealthy areas. It makes sense to have a lower cutoff in these other areas where kids may not receive extra math outside of school.

How do you know? Have you met any of those students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lotteries don't serve equity either. They're just too random.

+1
I don't understand the point of including kids from wealthier, high performing schools at this point.
Why not just reimagine the magnets for kids who are in higher poverty schools?

Are you suggesting that the high performing kids should not be supported so that they can reach their potential just because you want to support poor performing kids?

[Anonymous]

The best part of all this is that while MCPS is rolling dice with 'equity' Magnet programs with all the mediocre kids just doing meh, the kids with parents funding specialized tutors and programs will look great on their college applications.

In the end, all AEI ended up doing is watering down the program and making their 'equity' kids look worse. Terrible strategy, but it's what I've come to expect from MCPS Central Office nowadays. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Anonymous]

This is a scam that need to be investigated by the Feds

[Anonymous]

Sometimes I have to wonder why did this come out now? Is this the PR firm diverting and distracting the parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best part of all this is that while MCPS is rolling dice with 'equity' Magnet programs with all the mediocre kids just doing meh, the kids with parents funding specialized tutors and programs will look great on their college applications.

In the end, all AEI ended up doing is watering down the program and making their 'equity' kids look worse. Terrible strategy, but it's what I've come to expect from MCPS Central Office nowadays. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Mcps is offering free tutoring. We use it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best part of all this is that while MCPS is rolling dice with 'equity' Magnet programs with all the mediocre kids just doing meh, the kids with parents funding specialized tutors and programs will look great on their college applications.

In the end, all AEI ended up doing is watering down the program and making their 'equity' kids look worse. Terrible strategy, but it's what I've come to expect from MCPS Central Office nowadays. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

In some alternate reality, perhaps, but in MCPS, none of this is true. The programs remain unchanged. They weren't watered down since it turns out a lot more kids were capable of doing the work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responding to MPIAs from MCCPTA's Gifted Education Committee, MCPS finally revealed middle school magnet lottery cutoffs.

(1) MCPS divides all elementary schools into 5 groups based on FARMS:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/120BRtShXf9_kQcNvKSxHKG4nJhnyTjL7/view?fbclid=IwAR1hrS0Ar1xsi_W8Ew3ow3Zz6aE84gkeAVZTu08rz_33TCvXCfTSRLDtX_w

low
low moderate
moderate
moderate high
high

(2) MCPS uses different cutoffs for these 5 groups:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e0Szg2jJ8F1rL2BZSqCV1fb_R1gLwaRl/view?fbclid=IwAR36sMGZsbuKGYKnvEj9f5B2o0ioaZeiaZ7YQJLJVxPxP_m-Jr9-tUG5wq8

The cutoffs are national normed percentile (= 85% locally normed)

Math
low 93%
low moderate 92%
moderate 84%
moderate high 65%
high 60%

Humanites
low 92%
low moderate 92%
moderate 88%
moderate high 76%
high 70%


This means in a low-FARMS school, one needs 93%/92% to enter lottery.
In a high-FARMS school, one needs 60%/70% to enter lottery.

You can score 60% in math and 70% in reading to go to Takoma Park and Eastern magnets.

This is just one part of the puzzle. Kids with 99th percentile did not get in. So you know 60% has made it to Magnet. This is done to drag down the high performing kids and make them feel defeated. That is why, many are just leaving MCPS to neighboring school districts where they treat all students fairly.

Since these brakets are curves, we know there are a lot more kids at the median 70% than there are at the top 99% so guess what? Most of the kids that get selected are at the low end of their bracket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I have to wonder why did this come out now? Is this the PR firm diverting and distracting the parents?

The gifted education committee of the MCCPTA submitted a MPIA (Maryland Public Information Act) request for the information and just received and shared this information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best part of all this is that while MCPS is rolling dice with 'equity' Magnet programs with all the mediocre kids just doing meh, the kids with parents funding specialized tutors and programs will look great on their college applications.

In the end, all AEI ended up doing is watering down the program and making their 'equity' kids look worse. Terrible strategy, but it's what I've come to expect from MCPS Central Office nowadays. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

In some alternate reality, perhaps, but in MCPS, none of this is true. The programs remain unchanged. They weren't watered down since it turns out a lot more kids were capable of doing the work.

If kids at the 60% percentile can do magnet work, it means that the magnet needs to up its game, not that somehow the students have transformed into academic giants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best part of all this is that while MCPS is rolling dice with 'equity' Magnet programs with all the mediocre kids just doing meh, the kids with parents funding specialized tutors and programs will look great on their college applications.

In the end, all AEI ended up doing is watering down the program and making their 'equity' kids look worse. Terrible strategy, but it's what I've come to expect from MCPS Central Office nowadays. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

In some alternate reality, perhaps, but in MCPS, none of this is true. The programs remain unchanged. They weren't watered down since it turns out a lot more kids were capable of doing the work.

If kids at the 60% percentile can do magnet work, it means that the magnet needs to up its game, not that somehow the students have transformed into academic giants.

The kids at 60%. Are the top 5% in their home school. Now, they are bottom 30% in the magnet. Can some of the 60% move up after being in the magnet? A few may, but most may not. Their self esteem will disappear soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best part of all this is that while MCPS is rolling dice with 'equity' Magnet programs with all the mediocre kids just doing meh, the kids with parents funding specialized tutors and programs will look great on their college applications.

In the end, all AEI ended up doing is watering down the program and making their 'equity' kids look worse. Terrible strategy, but it's what I've come to expect from MCPS Central Office nowadays. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

In some alternate reality, perhaps, but in MCPS, none of this is true. The programs remain unchanged. They weren't watered down since it turns out a lot more kids were capable of doing the work.

If kids at the 60% percentile can do magnet work, it means that the magnet needs to up its game, not that somehow the students have transformed into academic giants.

The kids at 60%. Are the top 5% in their home school. Now, they are bottom 30% in the magnet. Can some of the 60% move up after being in the magnet? A few may, but most may not. Their self esteem will disappear soon.

I think you are looking at this all wrong. You are assuming talent is fixed, and can't be nurtured. A child who has managed to do well in an elementary school with fewer resources, with less teacher attention, and against systemic odds, is exactly the kind of child that deserves a chance to have their talents nurtured in a magnet.

Also, as someone with kids who have been through the mangets (one a rising 8th grader), it's not the URM kids who are struggling and giving up. It's the kids who never had to try before and don't like this new feeling. Typically, those are MC/UMC white boys, to be honest. My magnet kid did most of 6th grade at home so I saw who was paying attention and who was playing video games during class. It wasn't the Black/Latino kids, or the kids clearly working in apartment buildings, that were goofing off.