Loiderman vs North Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Just got a letter today that DC accepted to Loiderman magnet but home school NB.
Is the education at Loiderman and learning environment good? From what we understand you can do more advanced arts and music and dance electives?

[Anonymous]

I would recommend staying North Bethesda MS. Loiderman is a better option than most DCC middle schools, but not better than North Bethesda or other middle schools in Bethesda, Rockville or Potomac.

[Anonymous]

North Bethesda hands down. The lottery, non-selective magnets were created to try and bring more enthusiasm to lower-income schools with lower achievement scores. It doesn't mean that the special programs they house are particularly high level, BUT... they can be life-saving for those students who are not that interested in academic subjects and who are also passionate about these special topics.

For ex: I have a violinist kid who started playing at 3. She's in a private youth orchestra and All State. No school orchestra would ever be at her level, magnet or no. She's not the target audience for such a program. But someone with a passion for music with less experience might be very happy there.

In short, the 3 non-selective middle school magnets are to motivate students with specializations that are right up their alley, but not to bring them to pre-professional levels of achievement. And they're purposefully embedded in schools that do not have high test scores.

If you want straight-up academic excellence in core subjects, stick with the Walter Johnson cluster, OP. It's one of the best in Montgomery County. And then supplement the arts outside of school. That's what we did.

[Anonymous]

Loiderman was not worth it. We transferred out. The music program was not very strong. It's for kids who like music but not at a high level. The better orchestra teacher transferred out. Better off at home school, save the commute and do private lessons and groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:North Bethesda hands down. The lottery, non-selective magnets were created to try and bring more enthusiasm to lower-income schools with lower achievement scores. It doesn't mean that the special programs they house are particularly high level, BUT... they can be life-saving for those students who are not that interested in academic subjects and who are also passionate about these special topics.

For ex: I have a violinist kid who started playing at 3. She's in a private youth orchestra and All State. No school orchestra would ever be at her level, magnet or no. She's not the target audience for such a program. But someone with a passion for music with less experience might be very happy there.

In short, the 3 non-selective middle school magnets are to motivate students with specializations that are right up their alley, but not to bring them to pre-professional levels of achievement. And they're purposefully embedded in schools that do not have high test scores.

If you want straight-up academic excellence in core subjects, stick with the Walter Johnson cluster, OP. It's one of the best in Montgomery County. And then supplement the arts outside of school. That's what we did.

Lots of kids are in private orchestra's and at her level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:North Bethesda hands down. The lottery, non-selective magnets were created to try and bring more enthusiasm to lower-income schools with lower achievement scores. It doesn't mean that the special programs they house are particularly high level, BUT... they can be life-saving for those students who are not that interested in academic subjects and who are also passionate about these special topics.

For ex: I have a violinist kid who started playing at 3. She's in a private youth orchestra and All State. No school orchestra would ever be at her level, magnet or no. She's not the target audience for such a program. But someone with a passion for music with less experience might be very happy there.

In short, the 3 non-selective middle school magnets are to motivate students with specializations that are right up their alley, but not to bring them to pre-professional levels of achievement. And they're purposefully embedded in schools that do not have high test scores.

If you want straight-up academic excellence in core subjects, stick with the Walter Johnson cluster, OP. It's one of the best in Montgomery County. And then supplement the arts outside of school. That's what we did.

Lots of kids are in private orchestra's and at her level.

I know. She's friends with them. There aren't a lot of her level exactly, but in that general range, yes. We've been at this for a long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:North Bethesda hands down. The lottery, non-selective magnets were created to try and bring more enthusiasm to lower-income schools with lower achievement scores. It doesn't mean that the special programs they house are particularly high level, BUT... they can be life-saving for those students who are not that interested in academic subjects and who are also passionate about these special topics.

For ex: I have a violinist kid who started playing at 3. She's in a private youth orchestra and All State. No school orchestra would ever be at her level, magnet or no. She's not the target audience for such a program. But someone with a passion for music with less experience might be very happy there.

In short, the 3 non-selective middle school magnets are to motivate students with specializations that are right up their alley, but not to bring them to pre-professional levels of achievement. And they're purposefully embedded in schools that do not have high test scores.

If you want straight-up academic excellence in core subjects, stick with the Walter Johnson cluster, OP. It's one of the best in Montgomery County. And then supplement the arts outside of school. That's what we did.

Lots of kids are in private orchestra's and at her level.

I know. She's friends with them. There aren't a lot of her level exactly, but in that general range, yes. We've been at this for a long time.

Are you talking about Loiderman PP? That the arts really aren’t that strong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend staying North Bethesda MS. Loiderman is a better option than most DCC middle schools, but not better than North Bethesda or other middle schools in Bethesda, Rockville or Potomac.

How do you know? You have kids at both?

[Anonymous]

I have a kid who went to Loiederman as an out of bounds student. The main pros were the ability to take three electives a year and the option to go to a DCC high school. My kid took theatre and studio art classes so I can't speak to the music offerings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:North Bethesda hands down. The lottery, non-selective magnets were created to try and bring more enthusiasm to lower-income schools with lower achievement scores. It doesn't mean that the special programs they house are particularly high level, BUT... they can be life-saving for those students who are not that interested in academic subjects and who are also passionate about these special topics.

For ex: I have a violinist kid who started playing at 3. She's in a private youth orchestra and All State. No school orchestra would ever be at her level, magnet or no. She's not the target audience for such a program. But someone with a passion for music with less experience might be very happy there.

In short, the 3 non-selective middle school magnets are to motivate students with specializations that are right up their alley, but not to bring them to pre-professional levels of achievement. And they're purposefully embedded in schools that do not have high test scores.

If you want straight-up academic excellence in core subjects, stick with the Walter Johnson cluster, OP. It's one of the best in Montgomery County. And then supplement the arts outside of school. That's what we did.

Lots of kids are in private orchestra's and at her level.

I know. She's friends with them. There aren't a lot of her level exactly, but in that general range, yes. We've been at this for a long time.

Are you talking about Loiderman PP? That the arts really aren’t that strong?

It’s not strong at all. Most of the kids are just starting and no private lessons, even with the families who can afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend staying North Bethesda MS. Loiderman is a better option than most DCC middle schools, but not better than North Bethesda or other middle schools in Bethesda, Rockville or Potomac.

How do you know? You have kids at both?

It’s not better than the other DCC schools, they all suck.

[Anonymous]

Which schools are DCC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which schools are DCC?

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/clusteradmin/clusters/downcounty/

[Anonymous]

If your child has a good friend group going to NB, stick with your home school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend staying North Bethesda MS. Loiderman is a better option than most DCC middle schools, but not better than North Bethesda or other middle schools in Bethesda, Rockville or Potomac.

How do you know? You have kids at both?

You can look at the MSDE Report Card for both schools and compare and contrast. The evidence is pretty clear.