What’s Blair like for a non-magnet/special program kid

[Anonymous]

Recognizing that programs are in flux, we’re considering a move into the Blair catchment. Our kid is unlikely to be interested (or to have the grades for) special programs - interests are theatre and art, average grades. What is Blair like for this kind of a kid?

[Anonymous]

Good choice as they have a huge variety of courses, clubs and theater/arts. They have a very good music teacher.

[Anonymous]

Thank you! That was my hope.

I think the other question is whether kids not in these programs still have the opportunity to take advantage of (relatively) rigorous academics. Our kid really benefits from positive peer pressure / having friends and classmates taking academics seriously. Blair obviously has some very academically advanced kids, but I’m wondering if kids not in the magnet etc still get academically challenged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! That was my hope.

I think the other question is whether kids not in these programs still have the opportunity to take advantage of (relatively) rigorous academics. Our kid really benefits from positive peer pressure / having friends and classmates taking academics seriously. Blair obviously has some very academically advanced kids, but I’m wondering if kids not in the magnet etc still get academically challenged.

I asked this on another thread and was told that there isn’t enough space in the magnet classes for the non-magnet kids, which doesn’t seem like there would be access to the peer group.

Also, frankly, I would be concerned about my kid hanging around the kids deemed so super special when my kid is not deemed so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! That was my hope.

I think the other question is whether kids not in these programs still have the opportunity to take advantage of (relatively) rigorous academics. Our kid really benefits from positive peer pressure / having friends and classmates taking academics seriously. Blair obviously has some very academically advanced kids, but I’m wondering if kids not in the magnet etc still get academically challenged.

I asked this on another thread and was told that there isn’t enough space in the magnet classes for the non-magnet kids, which doesn’t seem like there would be access to the peer group.

Also, frankly, I would be concerned about my kid hanging around the kids deemed so super special when my kid is not deemed so.

OP isn't asking about magnet classes. There is a huge range of kids and some really nice kids there. MCPS doesn't take academics seriously and that's the bigger issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! That was my hope.

I think the other question is whether kids not in these programs still have the opportunity to take advantage of (relatively) rigorous academics. Our kid really benefits from positive peer pressure / having friends and classmates taking academics seriously. Blair obviously has some very academically advanced kids, but I’m wondering if kids not in the magnet etc still get academically challenged.

I asked this on another thread and was told that there isn’t enough space in the magnet classes for the non-magnet kids, which doesn’t seem like there would be access to the peer group.

Also, frankly, I would be concerned about my kid hanging around the kids deemed so super special when my kid is not deemed so.

OP isn't asking about magnet classes. There is a huge range of kids and some really nice kids there. MCPS doesn't take academics seriously and that's the bigger issue.

What did OP mean by “these programs” and “advanced coursework” then?


“I think the other question is whether kids not in these programs still have the opportunity to take advantage of (relatively) rigorous academics. Our kid really benefits from positive peer pressure / having friends and classmates taking academics seriously. Blair obviously has some very academically advanced kids, but I’m wondering if kids not in the magnet etc still get academically challenged.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! That was my hope.

I think the other question is whether kids not in these programs still have the opportunity to take advantage of (relatively) rigorous academics. Our kid really benefits from positive peer pressure / having friends and classmates taking academics seriously. Blair obviously has some very academically advanced kids, but I’m wondering if kids not in the magnet etc still get academically challenged.

I asked this on another thread and was told that there isn’t enough space in the magnet classes for the non-magnet kids, which doesn’t seem like there would be access to the peer group.

Also, frankly, I would be concerned about my kid hanging around the kids deemed so super special when my kid is not deemed so.

Only like half the classes magnet kids take are magnet classes, I believe. So the other half (including English and social studies) they'd be mixed in with the general population.

And are non-magnet kids really not allowed to take any of the magnet electives?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! That was my hope.

I think the other question is whether kids not in these programs still have the opportunity to take advantage of (relatively) rigorous academics. Our kid really benefits from positive peer pressure / having friends and classmates taking academics seriously. Blair obviously has some very academically advanced kids, but I’m wondering if kids not in the magnet etc still get academically challenged.

I asked this on another thread and was told that there isn’t enough space in the magnet classes for the non-magnet kids, which doesn’t seem like there would be access to the peer group.

Also, frankly, I would be concerned about my kid hanging around the kids deemed so super special when my kid is not deemed so.

Only like half the classes magnet kids take are magnet classes, I believe. So the other half (including English and social studies) they'd be mixed in with the general population.

And are non-magnet kids really not allowed to take any of the magnet electives?

I think non-magnet kids CAN take the magnet classes if there is space and the kid has the appropriate prerequisites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! That was my hope.

I think the other question is whether kids not in these programs still have the opportunity to take advantage of (relatively) rigorous academics. Our kid really benefits from positive peer pressure / having friends and classmates taking academics seriously. Blair obviously has some very academically advanced kids, but I’m wondering if kids not in the magnet etc still get academically challenged.

I asked this on another thread and was told that there isn’t enough space in the magnet classes for the non-magnet kids, which doesn’t seem like there would be access to the peer group.

Also, frankly, I would be concerned about my kid hanging around the kids deemed so super special when my kid is not deemed so.

Only like half the classes magnet kids take are magnet classes, I believe. So the other half (including English and social studies) they'd be mixed in with the general population.

And are non-magnet kids really not allowed to take any of the magnet electives?

I think non-magnet kids CAN take the magnet classes if there is space and the kid has the appropriate prerequisites.

Yes, this is what we were told at the Blair SMCS open house. Outside of the 9th grade core classes, there are a ton of electives and non-magnet students can take them (with the caveats above).

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks, this is great to know! I went to a school with a magnet program of sorts and the academic level (and level of focus and dedication) between students in the program and out of it was night and day. We had thought maybe Blair wasn’t the best choice because of a fear it would be like that, and the fact that based on our kid’s interests, she wouldn’t want to go into the magnet or CAP. I maybe wish she was more of a STEM kid but she’s just not. Fortunately, it sounds like there are plenty of positive peers at Blair, both in and out of these programs.

[Anonymous]

There's a big high achieving cohort outside CAP and the magnet but the CAP and magnet kids take so many classes together that it can sometimes be hard to break into those cliques in DD's experience.

[Anonymous]

I would find it disheartening to send a non-magnet but bright kid to a Magen school where they would always be treated as second tier. They get access to advanced classes but only if the magnet kids don’t fill up the class. Resources are poured on the magnets but not gen pop.

[Anonymous]

^^ magnet not Magen.

Why would autocorrect choose Magen? I don’t even know anyone named Magen.

[Anonymous]

I don't think that's true at Blair. They go out of their way to try to make sure non-magnet kids can access those classes too and the resources are spread throughout the school.

[Anonymous]

I have an 11th grader in CAP and a 9th grader in general pop. The 9th grader’s experience is very good so far - he has CAP kids in his math class (Algebra 2) and science (honors bio). Other non CAP, non magnet kids are taking the accelerated bio/chem for extra rigor. Some are in APUSH. My only complaint is that honors English 9 is so easy and my CAP kid really benefitted from all of the reading, writing and analysis in the CAP classes.