What needs to change for MS for gifted/advanced students?

[Anonymous]

When MCPS moves into the program analysis for middle school, what do folks think is most important to advocate for? Expansion of middle school magnets (with a reformed selection process) or genuinely advanced classes in all subjects at all middle schools? (I think many folks likely believe both are needed, but if you had to prioritize one over the other which would you pick? I think there is a chance that focusing on one would undermine the case for the other in MCPS's eyes, and vice versa.). And/or are there other changes folks would argue for, or nuances/details you would add?

(And yes, I know and share everyone's frustrations with MCPS and that it's not as easy as just advocating for things and getting them-- but I'm still curious what folks think makes most sense to fight for, especially as a parent of ES kids who has only heard about the MS experience secondhand but hopes for a better one by the time my kids get there.)

[Anonymous]

As someone who taught at a non-magnet middle school here in the county I would like to see them create accelerated or challenging classes at all the middle schools. There are plenty of students at are not being challenged or are having their learning disrupted by integrated classes. I understand you can argue that those students should apply to Magnet programs but sometimes those don't work logistically for all families.

At my school there was an accelerated math class but that was pretty much the only option for kids who wanted a challenge. There were no accelerated science, history, or english classes. There was a medical based science elective but more often than not it was used as a dumping ground by counseling to make schedules work.

[Anonymous]

I’d like to see kids staying in their home school. There shoujd be classes at all the schools for all the kids varying levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who taught at a non-magnet middle school here in the county I would like to see them create accelerated or challenging classes at all the middle schools. There are plenty of students at are not being challenged or are having their learning disrupted by integrated classes. I understand you can argue that those students should apply to Magnet programs but sometimes those don't work logistically for all families.

At my school there was an accelerated math class but that was pretty much the only option for kids who wanted a challenge. There were no accelerated science, history, or english classes. There was a medical based science elective but more often than not it was used as a dumping ground by counseling to make schedules work.

Was there no HIGH or are you saying you don't consider HIGH challenging?

[Anonymous]

Was there no HIGH or are you saying you don't consider HIGH challenging?

In my child’s school, every seventh grader took HIGH. It was similar to how all students take honors English. It was not a challenging class.

[Anonymous]

Expanding the current SMCS (TP/RC), humanity (Eastern/MLK), Parkland, Argyle, Loiederman programs to every six region. Problem solved. Easy. everyone is happy.

Anonymous wrote:When MCPS moves into the program analysis for middle school, what do folks think is most important to advocate for? Expansion of middle school magnets (with a reformed selection process) or genuinely advanced classes in all subjects at all middle schools? (I think many folks likely believe both are needed, but if you had to prioritize one over the other which would you pick? I think there is a chance that focusing on one would undermine the case for the other in MCPS's eyes, and vice versa.). And/or are there other changes folks would argue for, or nuances/details you would add?

(And yes, I know and share everyone's frustrations with MCPS and that it's not as easy as just advocating for things and getting them-- but I'm still curious what folks think makes most sense to fight for, especially as a parent of ES kids who has only heard about the MS experience secondhand but hopes for a better one by the time my kids get there.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who taught at a non-magnet middle school here in the county I would like to see them create accelerated or challenging classes at all the middle schools. There are plenty of students at are not being challenged or are having their learning disrupted by integrated classes. I understand you can argue that those students should apply to Magnet programs but sometimes those don't work logistically for all families.

At my school there was an accelerated math class but that was pretty much the only option for kids who wanted a challenge. There were no accelerated science, history, or english classes. There was a medical based science elective but more often than not it was used as a dumping ground by counseling to make schedules work.

Was there no HIGH or are you saying you don't consider HIGH challenging?

I have no idea what HIGH stands for but there were no honors or on level differentiation in any classes other than this advanced Math course. Everyone was placed in the same classes together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d like to see kids staying in their home school. There shoujd be classes at all the schools for all the kids varying levels.

+1 would like to see this at the HS level too...our schools are all big enough to make differentiation valuable

[Anonymous]

Improving the selection criteria to select students for these programs so that they actually use measures of cognitive ability.

As a parent of a August birthday kid (youngest kid in their class) with a 99% COGAT, 93% MAP-R and 98% MAP-M who somehow wasn't in the lottery pool for CES, I'm frustrated that selection criteria aren't age normed (the kids I know in her school who were selected for CES all have fall birthdays and clearly being months early helps with reading ability) and only are based on a single instance of MAP-R.
If I had known that everything centered around the MAP-R, I would have enrolled them in a prep course like other parents did to game the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who taught at a non-magnet middle school here in the county I would like to see them create accelerated or challenging classes at all the middle schools. There are plenty of students at are not being challenged or are having their learning disrupted by integrated classes. I understand you can argue that those students should apply to Magnet programs but sometimes those don't work logistically for all families.

At my school there was an accelerated math class but that was pretty much the only option for kids who wanted a challenge. There were no accelerated science, history, or english classes. There was a medical based science elective but more often than not it was used as a dumping ground by counseling to make schedules work.

Was there no HIGH or are you saying you don't consider HIGH challenging?

I have no idea what HIGH stands for but there were no honors or on level differentiation in any classes other than this advanced Math course. Everyone was placed in the same classes together.

HIGH is the accelerated social studies class. In my kid's middle school, there's differentiation only for Math and social studies. Maybe all schools don't have HIGH or PP's kid didn't wasn't selected (not sure what the selection criteria are-my kid was assigned to it).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who taught at a non-magnet middle school here in the county I would like to see them create accelerated or challenging classes at all the middle schools. There are plenty of students at are not being challenged or are having their learning disrupted by integrated classes. I understand you can argue that those students should apply to Magnet programs but sometimes those don't work logistically for all families.

At my school there was an accelerated math class but that was pretty much the only option for kids who wanted a challenge. There were no accelerated science, history, or english classes. There was a medical based science elective but more often than not it was used as a dumping ground by counseling to make schedules work.

Was there no HIGH or are you saying you don't consider HIGH challenging?

I have no idea what HIGH stands for but there were no honors or on level differentiation in any classes other than this advanced Math course. Everyone was placed in the same classes together.

HIGH is the accelerated social studies class. In my kid's middle school, there's differentiation only for Math and social studies. Maybe all schools don't have HIGH or PP's kid didn't wasn't selected (not sure what the selection criteria are-my kid was assigned to it).

Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities. Several schools just assign all students to this social studies class in 6th and 7th, even though it was originally intended to be an "enriched" class for students identified by central office as magnet-eligible but who weren't able to get a spot.

[Anonymous]

I think more advanced coursework at every school is a lot more important than magnets in middle school. In fact, I'm not even sure I really like the idea of magnet middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who taught at a non-magnet middle school here in the county I would like to see them create accelerated or challenging classes at all the middle schools. There are plenty of students at are not being challenged or are having their learning disrupted by integrated classes. I understand you can argue that those students should apply to Magnet programs but sometimes those don't work logistically for all families.

At my school there was an accelerated math class but that was pretty much the only option for kids who wanted a challenge. There were no accelerated science, history, or english classes. There was a medical based science elective but more often than not it was used as a dumping ground by counseling to make schedules work.

Was there no HIGH or are you saying you don't consider HIGH challenging?

I have no idea what HIGH stands for but there were no honors or on level differentiation in any classes other than this advanced Math course. Everyone was placed in the same classes together.

HIGH is the accelerated social studies class. In my kid's middle school, there's differentiation only for Math and social studies. Maybe all schools don't have HIGH or PP's kid didn't wasn't selected (not sure what the selection criteria are-my kid was assigned to it).

Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities. Several schools just assign all students to this social studies class in 6th and 7th, even though it was originally intended to be an "enriched" class for students identified by central office as magnet-eligible but who weren't able to get a spot.

As long as this keeps happening, we still need the magnets. If we could have actual advanced classes in every school for kids who want to do the work, I’d be happy to say goodbye to the magnets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think more advanced coursework at every school is a lot more important than magnets in middle school. In fact, I'm not even sure I really like the idea of magnet middle schools.

Every time some differentiation is introduced, it quickly becomes a honor for all within a few years, which always ended in watering down and reduction or elimination of challenges. This has been happening over and over again in MCPS in the past 15 years or so.

[Anonymous]

More support for high performing kids.