Choosing between Roberto Clemente, Hallie Wells, Parkland, and MLK MS – looking for real parent experiences
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Anonymous
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My current fifth grader is selected into Roberto Clement magnet program for Math and Martin Luther king magnet program for english. He is also selected for Parkland middle school from magnet consortium. Hallie wells is our home middle school , which also is good from what I’ve heard. We are not able to decide on what would be better choice for him. He is interested STEM and math.
We are yet to attend the orientations and would love to know more about these schools from the experience of current student’s parents. How are these schools in academics, school culture, teachers, extracurricular etc. Any further information on these schools will help us in the decision process. TIA |
Anonymous
| Wow buy a lottery ticket! Consider bus time and if they want to play a sport. |
Anonymous
I live in Clarksburg area and keep hear good things about HWMS. They have strong STEM cohorts and keep winning state and even national level STEM competitions. Two of my neighbor's kids went to Roberto recently but both of them switched back to HWMS after just a quarter. After switching to lottery, these programs become MINO (magbet in name only). The schools are all at high FARM rate area (higher than 60%).
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Anonymous
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My 8th grader is in HWMS.
He got accepted to MLK MS. Switched to HWMS after a year, citing constant fighting, long bus ride, and lack of STEM opportunity. His friend goes to RCMS. Though the magnet programs are good, it has many of the same problems as MLK. Parkland has an absurd commute. Honestly, I would recommend HWMS. Ironically, their students have higher MAP scores than many Clemente students, and better instruction to boot. Peer cohort extremely strong. No lack of enrichment opportunities. |
Anonymous
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Bussing transportation will be extremely challenged for countywide middle school magnets once the new regional HS programming, with its new bussing system, is instituted in August 2027. Save yourself this headache.
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Anonymous
| I would go with home school. Commute not worth it. |
Anonymous
| The Parkland commute would be ridiculous. Cross that one off for sure. |
Anonymous
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I had kids go to Parkland and each of the magnets at RCMS when the Humanities was there. Loved Parkland, but the commute is definitely not worth it. Between the two magnets, I would pick the Humanities for a STEM kid because they still get the math level they need and the writing instruction was strong and did a great job preparing DC for the RMIB program.
However, since your home school is Hallie Wells, I would just stay there. Not commuting and being with neighborhood friends and having better access to school activities is very important. You really aren't losing out on much academically because there is still a strong peer group at HWMS. Put the time in at HWMS to support clubs and activities that bring the enrichment that advanced students want and need. |
Anonymous
| DC got into MLK Humanities, debating between Kingsview and MLK magnet, apart from the Humanities class, how are the other Math and science classes at MLK? Commute is not as bad as other for us between Kingsview and MLK. |
Anonymous
| Does the MLK media classes count for fine arts credit requirement for highschool graduation? |
Anonymous
No it’s takes over one of the MS elective spaces. You can get the Tech and FL credits though. Honestly I’d suggest picking one of the magnets. You can always go back to your home school if it doesn’t work out. Treat the magnet school like your school and not just some magnet program. |
Anonymous
| Thank you, how do they get tech credit? |