MLK Magnet vs Local MS

[Anonymous]

My child was selected for the MLK magnet program, but we are quite disappointed as his interest lies in math, and we were hoping for Clemente. We were never particularly interested in MLK’s program. He excels in both English and Math, with high MAP (99%) scores in both, and we strongly believe he would have been admitted to Clemente if the selection process were purely merit-based.

We are now deciding between MLK and our local middle school, where he would be placed in accelerated math. How does MLK’s math program compare to regular middle schools? Is it significantly stronger?

Additionally, are there any unique benefits MLK offers that might make it a worthwhile choice despite our initial reservations? For example, does it provide a more rigorous academic environment, stronger peer group, advanced coursework, or better preparation for high school and beyond? Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Our DC got into both Clemente and MLK. The home school is great as well. I would like to know more about MLK. Specifically, is the program still good enough as it was few years ago? Are the chances better to get selected to high school magnet if they are in MLK magnet vs home school?

[Anonymous]

I would not send my kid to either MLK or clemente these days.

[Anonymous]

Okay folks this happens every year. The magnets are the magnets are the magnets. They emphasize different things. That’s it. Each has cohorts of really bright students and provides a good foundation for HS. Many home MS’ also provide a good foundation.

Going to the magnet at one level does not guarantee you access to a magnet at the next level. The process starts completely over. And to be frank that is fair.

Every MS has the accelerated math options and your kid will be placed in the appropriate class for them based on their current class, scores, and teacher recommendation.

This merit that most of ya’ll talk about is a false idea. Contrary to belief, no one is guaranteed acceptance to any of the magnets and there are plenty of smart kids in MCPS. Most are not Gifted, just born into families who care about education and have the means to start early and push their kid along. Choose to go to the magnet or choose not. But please stop coming on here acting like your kid is some genius who will be forever harmed by not getting into the magnet program or the magnet of their choice. Or worse irreparably harmed by going to a different school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not send my kid to either MLK or clemente these days.

Thanks for your feedback. Can you please explain more on the reasoning behind this?

[Anonymous]

Never claimed my kid was a genius. Yes, we have the means and yes we help our kids with work. The purpose of the magnets is to provide a challenging curriculum to kids who can handle it and how thrive in it. It is also to have a cohort of kids who are similar. And yes, the system right now fails these kids because of the lottery. I never claimed my kid was irreparably harmed. I said we were disappointed, which is true. If you want to read too much into it, that's on you.

Anonymous wrote:Okay folks this happens every year. The magnets are the magnets are the magnets. They emphasize different things. That’s it. Each has cohorts of really bright students and provides a good foundation for HS. Many home MS’ also provide a good foundation.

Going to the magnet at one level does not guarantee you access to a magnet at the next level. The process starts completely over. And to be frank that is fair.

Every MS has the accelerated math options and your kid will be placed in the appropriate class for them based on their current class, scores, and teacher recommendation.

This merit that most of ya’ll talk about is a false idea. Contrary to belief, no one is guaranteed acceptance to any of the magnets and there are plenty of smart kids in MCPS. Most are not Gifted, just born into families who care about education and have the means to start early and push their kid along. Choose to go to the magnet or choose not. But please stop coming on here acting like your kid is some genius who will be forever harmed by not getting into the magnet program or the magnet of their choice. Or worse irreparably harmed by going to a different school.

[Anonymous]

That really is a tough choice. A parent I know whose child isn’t in the magnet said her child hates it there because it is too (synonym for rough/urban). Cue the people who claim otherwise. Befriend parents of students there yourself if you want firsthand testimony.

This is what gives me a lot of reservation about those two upcounty magnets if your home school has a likeminded cohort. At MLK, the general classes are PE, science, second language, and the elective. That’s the majority of the classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not send my kid to either MLK or clemente these days.

Why?

[Anonymous]

OP, my kid got into MLK last year and we declined but we regret declining. We learned later that a lot of kids in MLK end up in Poolesville in Global Ecology or Humanities and some in SMACS.

The IB Middle Years program is offered only in 2 middle schools in the county and if your kid does not get into Clemente, your kid should probably try it first. If it is not a good fit, you can always come back to your home school.

There may be many who say you wasted a slot but the spot will be offered to others who are interested so don't feel guilty if your kid goes in and later withdraws.

[Anonymous]

MLK can keep your child on the same advanced math track that your home school can. The humanities classes will be more advanced than your home school offers. A unique curriculum is woven throughout English, Social Studies and media. Media takes up an elective spot all 3 years. There are big projects. There’s more reading and writing. MLK is a middle years IB school, so the world language program moves more quickly than at some home schools. Students who go there can be in Spanish or French 4 by freshman year of high school. MLK magnet students are only segregated by cohort for their 3 humanities classes, but often have quite a few magnet kids in their advanced math classes. There are usually fewer boys than girls in humanities magnets.

Lots of MLK humanities kids end up at Poolesville, even if they choose the Global Ecology or SMCS program instead of humanities for high school. My MLK alum is at Poolesville with many kids from MLK and home middle school. My kid, who is a junior now, used to think going to MLK wasn’t worthwhile because there was a very strong cohort at home middle school, but now says they are really glad they went to MLK because it made them the student they are today — but my kid is a humanities student at heart.

[Anonymous]

Go private if you have means, if you can’t swing it you’re just middle class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, my kid got into MLK last year and we declined but we regret declining. We learned later that a lot of kids in MLK end up in Poolesville in Global Ecology or Humanities and some in SMACS.

The IB Middle Years program is offered only in 2 middle schools in the county and if your kid does not get into Clemente, your kid should probably try it first. If it is not a good fit, you can always come back to your home school.

There may be many who say you wasted a slot but the spot will be offered to others who are interested so don't feel guilty if your kid goes in and later withdraws.

Do you mean 2 MS upcounty? Because it’s offered at 10 MCPS middle schools including Montgomery Village MS.

[Anonymous]

My kid went to Fox Chapel CES and ended up at Clemente. A friend from Fox Chapel ended up at MLK and they both ended up at Poolesville. Different houses, but it's not a bad path either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay folks this happens every year. The magnets are the magnets are the magnets. They emphasize different things. That’s it. Each has cohorts of really bright students and provides a good foundation for HS. Many home MS’ also provide a good foundation.

Going to the magnet at one level does not guarantee you access to a magnet at the next level. The process starts completely over. And to be frank that is fair.

Every MS has the accelerated math options and your kid will be placed in the appropriate class for them based on their current class, scores, and teacher recommendation.

This merit that most of ya’ll talk about is a false idea. Contrary to belief, no one is guaranteed acceptance to any of the magnets and there are plenty of smart kids in MCPS. Most are not Gifted, just born into families who care about education and have the means to start early and push their kid along. Choose to go to the magnet or choose not. But please stop coming on here acting like your kid is some genius who will be forever harmed by not getting into the magnet program or the magnet of their choice. Or worse irreparably harmed by going to a different school.

Not helpful.

[Anonymous]

The Humanities magnet programs give kids a solid grounding in research, writing, and critical analysis, in ways that regular MCPS middle schools—and even the “honors” classes in most high schools—don’t anymore.

Math is much easier to accelerate in MCPS, even outside of the STEM magnets, and you can always continue to foster their interest on the side with outside clubs, camps, and classes.

Even if they’re primarily interested in STEM, they’ll still need the humanities AP or IB classes to be competitive for top colleges. The Humanities magnet will set them up for success in those classes, rather than struggling to learn all those skills on the fly in high school (alongside their advanced STEM classes).

And if there’s any chance they might be interested in an IB magnet program in high school, the MS Humanities magnet will help them in both applying, and in the actual work involved.