Any feedback on Loiderman, Argyle or Parkland Magnet Programs?

[Anonymous]

We applied to all 3 MSMC choice programs as we really liked the idea of the focus areas + the all school magnet for middle school.

Any feedback on strengths and challenges in these programs (strength of magnet classes, learning environment, leadership at the school)?
Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Think this subject has been covered many times—do a search.

[Anonymous]

The idea is better than the reality.

[Anonymous]

No first-hand knowledge, but a friend whose child graduated from Argyle a few years back was not challenged by the classes at all, and had a rough entry, academically speaking, into high school.

[Anonymous]

These are not real magnets. They are lotteries. MCPs is too cheap to staff interesting electives at every MA so they pick and choose what ends up in each of the DCC middle schools under the guise of a “magnet”. A true magnet would involve an application, and in the case of the performing arts, an audition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These are not real magnets. They are lotteries. MCPs is too cheap to staff interesting electives at every MA so they pick and choose what ends up in each of the DCC middle schools under the guise of a “magnet”. A true magnet would involve an application, and in the case of the performing arts, an audition.

A magnet is a school with offerings which attract students from outside its attendance area.

[Anonymous]

Loving Parkland! Check out the other threads too. I'm so glad we decided on Parkland vs our local MS. Even compared to friends in the Eastern and Takoma Park magnets, our kid seems to be having a great experience.

[Anonymous]

We live in-bounds for the MSMC. Here's what I know:

-DCUM claims they're not real magnets because they are lottery-based, rather than merit-based admission. There, that's been covered, now we can move on.
-All three schools have an 8-period block schedule (4 long classes per day). This means the students have the 5 core classes and 3 electives, rather than just 2 electives. It also lends to a more balanced workload, imo.
-Loiederman is girl-heavy and has a good vibe not just for artsy/theatre kids, but also kids who are a little quirky or have trouble fitting in.
-Loiederman is the arts magnet, but the focus is really on performing arts. If your child loves drawing but is not interested in singing/theatre, they might be disappointed.
-Parkland has a STEM focus, but it also has a decent variety of art classes. One of DD's friends was so sure she wanted Loiederman, but after going to all three open houses, she realized she could still get the art classes she liked (all visual) at Parkland and have more options for other subjects.
-Argyle has a reputation for being a bit of a dumping ground, possibly because the focus is vague and narrow at the same time. In-boundary students who are placed late often end up there because it's the only one with space. However, another of DD's friends is adamant about being a video game designer and loves it.
-Parkland and Loiederman have the stronger school spirit and seem to have more students who are specifically chose the school for its magnet focus. Argyle has some like that too, but it's just not as obvious. Every kid I know at Loiederman loves art.
-Loiederman is also pretty LGBTQ-friendly. That isn't to say the others aren't, I just know that Loiederman has a big culture of it.
-somewhat random, but because a handful of ESes feed into three different middle schools, there might be only 25 6th graders from any given ES. That means that there are likely few friendship cliques already established, so a student from an out-of-boundary school is not facing a group of kids who have all been together their whole lives. Most kids are new to each other.

I'm least familiar with Argyle because it is the furthest away from our home ES (Viers Mill), but friends and neighbors with kids at Parkland and Loiederman all seem happy with their choice. The complaints about school I hear from them, from my kids, and have myself are not unique to MSMC, but are general middle school problems that you'd find anywhere.

DCUM likes to dump on MSMC and generally any school with many ESL and/or FARMs students. My kids are not in those two categories, but I am glad they attend schools that have a chunk of that population. They are learning how to socially maneuver around people who have different backgrounds and perspectives, and their friendship circles are diverse.

Anyway, that's my MSMC spiel for the 2024 selection season. Good luck! If you're out of boundary, you can always give it a try and go back to the home school if it's not a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are not real magnets. They are lotteries. MCPs is too cheap to staff interesting electives at every MA so they pick and choose what ends up in each of the DCC middle schools under the guise of a “magnet”. A true magnet would involve an application, and in the case of the performing arts, an audition.

A magnet is a school with offerings which attract students from outside its attendance area.

They are using it to entice students to go from other schools that are brighter and have higher test scores. It's not a magnet and just offering specialty classes. Past few years multiple students have gone back to their home schools from Loiederman. The arts program is meh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are not real magnets. They are lotteries. MCPs is too cheap to staff interesting electives at every MA so they pick and choose what ends up in each of the DCC middle schools under the guise of a “magnet”. A true magnet would involve an application, and in the case of the performing arts, an audition.

A magnet is a school with offerings which attract students from outside its attendance area.

They are using it to entice students to go from other schools that are brighter and have higher test scores. It's not a magnet and just offering specialty classes. Past few years multiple students have gone back to their home schools from Loiederman. The arts program is meh.

Which is what magnets often do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are not real magnets. They are lotteries. MCPs is too cheap to staff interesting electives at every MA so they pick and choose what ends up in each of the DCC middle schools under the guise of a “magnet”. A true magnet would involve an application, and in the case of the performing arts, an audition.

A magnet is a school with offerings which attract students from outside its attendance area.

They are using it to entice students to go from other schools that are brighter and have higher test scores. It's not a magnet and just offering specialty classes. Past few years multiple students have gone back to their home schools from Loiederman. The arts program is meh.

Which is what magnets often do.

Yes, but the programs are not for smart or gifted and very basic. Its not a real magnet. Its a fancy name for specializing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are not real magnets. They are lotteries. MCPs is too cheap to staff interesting electives at every MA so they pick and choose what ends up in each of the DCC middle schools under the guise of a “magnet”. A true magnet would involve an application, and in the case of the performing arts, an audition.

A magnet is a school with offerings which attract students from outside its attendance area.

They are using it to entice students to go from other schools that are brighter and have higher test scores. It's not a magnet and just offering specialty classes. Past few years multiple students have gone back to their home schools from Loiederman. The arts program is meh.

Which is what magnets often do.

Yes, but the programs are not for smart or gifted and very basic. Its not a real magnet. Its a fancy name for specializing.

Magnets aren't necessarily "fancy." All it means is a school that draws students from other areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are not real magnets. They are lotteries. MCPs is too cheap to staff interesting electives at every MA so they pick and choose what ends up in each of the DCC middle schools under the guise of a “magnet”. A true magnet would involve an application, and in the case of the performing arts, an audition.

A magnet is a school with offerings which attract students from outside its attendance area.

They are using it to entice students to go from other schools that are brighter and have higher test scores. It's not a magnet and just offering specialty classes. Past few years multiple students have gone back to their home schools from Loiederman. The arts program is meh.

Which is what magnets often do.

Yes, but the programs are not for smart or gifted and very basic. Its not a real magnet. Its a fancy name for specializing.

Do you or did you have a kid at one of these schools? Because I know some pretty smart, gifted, and talented kids at Loiederman. And the arts program there is manifestly not meh or basic. The problem is rather the reverse: the standards are high and so it can be harder to get into the shows for theater (whether spoken or musical), which _are_ auditioned through a rigorous process. Theater classes, however, are available to all students. Dance company is also auditioned, although dance classes are open to everyone. Kids ascend through levels in band, orchestra, and chorus, and each higher one is obviously a great deal better than the last. So the program is really for kids who want to work quite hard at something they love and improve at it year over year. Just because it's not math doesn't mean it's not difficult or worthwhile, and just because it's not auditioned for entrance into the school doesn't mean there are no expectations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Loving Parkland! Check out the other threads too. I'm so glad we decided on Parkland vs our local MS. Even compared to friends in the Eastern and Takoma Park magnets, our kid seems to be having a great experience.

Another vote for Parkland! They have returned to the cart model for Chromebooks and I wish every school would do this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are not real magnets. They are lotteries. MCPs is too cheap to staff interesting electives at every MA so they pick and choose what ends up in each of the DCC middle schools under the guise of a “magnet”. A true magnet would involve an application, and in the case of the performing arts, an audition.

A magnet is a school with offerings which attract students from outside its attendance area.

They are using it to entice students to go from other schools that are brighter and have higher test scores. It's not a magnet and just offering specialty classes. Past few years multiple students have gone back to their home schools from Loiederman. The arts program is meh.

Which is what magnets often do.

Yes, but the programs are not for smart or gifted and very basic. Its not a real magnet. Its a fancy name for specializing.

Do you or did you have a kid at one of these schools? Because I know some pretty smart, gifted, and talented kids at Loiederman. And the arts program there is manifestly not meh or basic. The problem is rather the reverse: the standards are high and so it can be harder to get into the shows for theater (whether spoken or musical), which _are_ auditioned through a rigorous process. Theater classes, however, are available to all students. Dance company is also auditioned, although dance classes are open to everyone. Kids ascend through levels in band, orchestra, and chorus, and each higher one is obviously a great deal better than the last. So the program is really for kids who want to work quite hard at something they love and improve at it year over year. Just because it's not math doesn't mean it's not difficult or worthwhile, and just because it's not auditioned for entrance into the school doesn't mean there are no expectations.

This is a long post about theatre, but the performing arts include band, orchestra and chorus. I think they are considerably less impressive. Where are all the Loiederman kids in All State and Honors ensembles?