Tell me about your child's social transition to Wheaton Engineering from non-MCPS school

[Anonymous]

We're super excited that our kid will join the Wheaton Engineering Magnet in the Fall after graduating from a small private. At the recent magnet Welcome Meeting it looked like most of the invited students seemed to know each other. How typical is it for a student to arrive in this program from a non-magnet, private, etc.? We're hoping he'll be able to find his people despite not knowing anyone. Please tell me how your kid managed the transition to Wheaton socially.

[Anonymous]

You may not get a lot of responses here but l switched to an MCPS HS in 9th grade from private a few decades ago and it was fine. My HS friends actually forgot I didn't go to middle school with them lol. It did help that I got to know some kids through an activity I did outside of school, but I made friends at school too. I am and have always been a bit of an awkward introvert fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Amazing. This is super helpful and I'm so glad you had a good experience. We'll try to steer him to a few activities as well. What a nice suggestion. Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

There will be kids from different schools. There is also an HS Orientation Day specifically for 9th graders/new students so you child will get the opportunity meet people. Best advice is to get involved. Tryout for a sport or join a club/activity.

[Anonymous]

I wasn’t in a private MS but I went to a magnet and came back to my home school which had kids from 5 other ESs than the one I had attended. Within a week I had a couple of good friends in school and by homecoming I felt like I’d been with them forever.

One of the other ESs had a talent show that people often joked about participating in and just a few years ago at a reunion, one of my classmates insisted I had sung a duet with another classmate —I hadn’t even gone there!

[Anonymous]

My freshman DS there this year only knew one other student from his MCPS middle school. And he had loosely met a few other kids before through other friends, (probably via MSI soccer teams). He seems to have lots of friends now, so I wouldn’t worry about it! Def encourage them to join sports or other after school activities. We’ve been super happy with the program and teachers. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My kid went to the admitted students open house a couple of years ago. There were two other kids from his middle school magnet that he knew there. No others and that’s coming from a magnet. He ended up taking a place elsewhere. Telling you this as your impression may have been skewed by kids who knew one or two people and kids who may not accept the place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to the admitted students open house a couple of years ago. There were two other kids from his middle school magnet that he knew there. No others and that’s coming from a magnet. He ended up taking a place elsewhere. Telling you this as your impression may have been skewed by kids who knew one or two people and kids who may not accept the place.

OP here—Ah! Good point. It’s totally possible I’m making assumptions based on the energy in the room. It was quite crowded. In any case, we still can’t wait for him to dig in and get started. The program seems exciting and the kids and community seem really nice and down to earth.