Proposed New Regions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the goal of this? I’m not in the loop.

Save money while also making sure kids across the system have access to the same programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

This is an insane list, IMO. Most of these are professional programs that don’t belong in high school. How will they be spread across the 6 regions? What if the one you want isn’t in your region? They’re certainly not proposing putting each of these 15(?) programs in all 6 regions, are they?

I agree that the focus on choosing a narrow career/high school focus for 13 year olds is bizarre. I was undecided as a college freshman!

Yeah and many people change careers and majors several times.

I didn't appreciate it back then and probably wanted more of the technical school type of training they're offering. And didn't want to waste my time or money on things that wouldn't directly help me get a job.

But now appreciate how teaching someone to press a button is different then having someone fully understand what the button does and how it works.

Part of education is to gain critical thinking skills and general awareness.

It's the trend now to make students career ready. And it's kind of crazy to me to see the professional certs that some high school students are working towards or the type of questions they'd ask adults, like really gearing towards a specific path in a career.

Most people go into the family business or into careers with low education requirements (AA degree). Those students need a cheap, quick college education to get ready to work, and to redo it if they need to switch career paths.

Some families are in the elite SES business.

Like I said, I've been there and done that. Kind of have regrets about it in some ways and is why I want my kids to focus on quality of education overall instead of just getting a paycheck.

My main issue is that it may pigeonhole some students or let them take the quick way out. When they don't really have a broader view of what the options are. And unless the overall market changes, people taking this path will hit a wall in their career due to not having a four year degree or grad degree. Where I've seen some people who have been at some more old fashioned/traditional places for 20 or 30 years straight out of high school not be considered for management opportunities due to not having a degree. Doesn't matter how much people like them there, they can't even get their application past HR due to not having the qualifications necessary. So they'll always just be a worker or a button pusher.

The board members also touched upon another concern, where you don't know if some of these paths may eventually become obsolete.

But see some benefits of it as well. It's great to be able to get a well paying job at such a young age. And they'll still be taking the other regular courses for a well rounded curriculum.

I think these programs are like take 2-3 course in your interest and rest of course courses like everyone else. If you change your interest, you do specialization in undergrad/grad level. Taking 2-3 extra courses is not going to pigeonhold anyone, Anyione will still needs to do specialization later if they want that field. HS should be still about getting a well rounded education.

If it’s only 2-3 courses, then why bus kids around for 4 years? Is it worth so much investment?
This regional plan still sounds like a glorified busing plan to me.

Big Bus has a stranglehold on MCPS! It's all a plot to sell more electric buses!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

This is an insane list, IMO. Most of these are professional programs that don’t belong in high school. How will they be spread across the 6 regions? What if the one you want isn’t in your region? They’re certainly not proposing putting each of these 15(?) programs in all 6 regions, are they?

I agree that the focus on choosing a narrow career/high school focus for 13 year olds is bizarre. I was undecided as a college freshman!

Yeah and many people change careers and majors several times.

I didn't appreciate it back then and probably wanted more of the technical school type of training they're offering. And didn't want to waste my time or money on things that wouldn't directly help me get a job.

But now appreciate how teaching someone to press a button is different then having someone fully understand what the button does and how it works.

Part of education is to gain critical thinking skills and general awareness.

It's the trend now to make students career ready. And it's kind of crazy to me to see the professional certs that some high school students are working towards or the type of questions they'd ask adults, like really gearing towards a specific path in a career.

Most people go into the family business or into careers with low education requirements (AA degree). Those students need a cheap, quick college education to get ready to work, and to redo it if they need to switch career paths.

Some families are in the elite SES business.

Like I said, I've been there and done that. Kind of have regrets about it in some ways and is why I want my kids to focus on quality of education overall instead of just getting a paycheck.

My main issue is that it may pigeonhole some students or let them take the quick way out. When they don't really have a broader view of what the options are. And unless the overall market changes, people taking this path will hit a wall in their career due to not having a four year degree or grad degree. Where I've seen some people who have been at some more old fashioned/traditional places for 20 or 30 years straight out of high school not be considered for management opportunities due to not having a degree. Doesn't matter how much people like them there, they can't even get their application past HR due to not having the qualifications necessary. So they'll always just be a worker or a button pusher.

The board members also touched upon another concern, where you don't know if some of these paths may eventually become obsolete.

But see some benefits of it as well. It's great to be able to get a well paying job at such a young age. And they'll still be taking the other regular courses for a well rounded curriculum.

I think these programs are like take 2-3 course in your interest and rest of course courses like everyone else. If you change your interest, you do specialization in undergrad/grad level. Taking 2-3 extra courses is not going to pigeonhold anyone, Anyione will still needs to do specialization later if they want that field. HS should be still about getting a well rounded education.

If it’s only 2-3 courses, then why bus kids around for 4 years? Is it worth so much investment?
This regional plan still sounds like a glorified busing plan to me.

Big Bus has a stranglehold on MCPS! It's all a plot to sell more electric buses!

They’ve already been doing it for years at the MS and HS level in the NEC and DCC. Kids legit say they are going to such and such school because it’s less “hood” than the others or other types of racist phrases. These specific electives help cover up the overt racism, classism and xenophobia of many MCPS families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

This is an insane list, IMO. Most of these are professional programs that don’t belong in high school. How will they be spread across the 6 regions? What if the one you want isn’t in your region? They’re certainly not proposing putting each of these 15(?) programs in all 6 regions, are they?

No, this PP is completely wrong, ignore their post. There is a list of 7 categories, and the idea is to have 6 regional versions of each of these 7: Science, Math, and Technology;
Information Technology, Engineering, & Robotics;
Global Humanities and Leadership; Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Marketing;
Arts, Entertainment, and Design;
Health and Human Services; and
Education and Public Service.

People can view the BOE meeting on 6.24.25, 6:55 pm, and see the original list posted again below is directly from MCPS' staff' presentation to the board.

Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

[Anonymous]

Link to presentation: https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DHZRGB6A7E13/$file/Program%20Analysis%20Boundary%20Studies%20Update%20250624%20PPT%20REV.pdf

[Anonymous]

Which region for Watkins Mill HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

This is an insane list, IMO. Most of these are professional programs that don’t belong in high school. How will they be spread across the 6 regions? What if the one you want isn’t in your region? They’re certainly not proposing putting each of these 15(?) programs in all 6 regions, are they?

No, this PP is completely wrong, ignore their post. There is a list of 7 categories, and the idea is to have 6 regional versions of each of these 7: Science, Math, and Technology;
Information Technology, Engineering, & Robotics;
Global Humanities and Leadership; Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Marketing;
Arts, Entertainment, and Design;
Health and Human Services; and
Education and Public Service.

People can view the BOE meeting on 6.24.25, 6:55 pm, and see the original list posted again below is directly from MCPS' staff' presentation to the board.

Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

What you are quoting are examples of possible "pathways" within the 7 regional programs. Each of them is nested under one actual program. For example, in the healthcare program, some students may choose to focus on Medical Science and others on Clinical Healthcare. They also said the pathways are examples and may differ from region to region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which region for Watkins Mill HS?

Region 5

[Anonymous]

Looks like they put the worst schools specifically to punish Whitman

[Anonymous]

Region 1 doesn't look too bad to me.

BCC is supposed to be kind of decent right? And there have often been positive posts about Einstein.

I think the main questions would be how Blair looks if they removed the county wide magnet program. And I'm not entirely sure of Northwood (as in I don't think I've heard too much about it. Know some people with siblings that graduated from there but that's it.)

Based on test scores/FARMs rates, I would say region 5 looks the most questionable. Northwest is an average/above average school. The rest of the schools are projected to have at least 35% FARMS, including the new Crown HS. With Watkins Mill over 60% FARMS and Gaithersburg HS hovering close to there. Option 3 has Seneca Valley hovering around it's current 35% FARMS but the rest of the options has it around 45%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Region 1 doesn't look too bad to me.

BCC is supposed to be kind of decent right? And there have often been positive posts about Einstein.

I think the main questions would be how Blair looks if they removed the county wide magnet program. And I'm not entirely sure of Northwood (as in I don't think I've heard too much about it. Know some people with siblings that graduated from there but that's it.)

Based on test scores/FARMs rates, I would say region 5 looks the most questionable. Northwest is an average/above average school. The rest of the schools are projected to have at least 35% FARMS, including the new Crown HS. With Watkins Mill over 60% FARMS and Gaithersburg HS hovering close to there. Option 3 has Seneca Valley hovering around it's current 35% FARMS but the rest of the options has it around 45%.

Actually disregard what I said about Seneca Valley's numbers under option 3. I think I was looking at Northwest's numbers under option 1. Seneca Valley is around 45% to 50% FARMS too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like they put the worst schools specifically to punish Whitman

????

1) How are the region 1 schools the worst schools?
2) Even if they were, how would that punish Whitman?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like they put the worst schools specifically to punish Whitman

lol and I’m over here thinking I’m happy for my kids to go to any of those schools but Whitman

🙄

[Anonymous]

Region 4 is basically the IB school region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Region 4 is basically the IB school region.

and 3/5 of the schools in that region are literally IB's.