New middle school enriched and accelerated classes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I was told is that you believe if AEI made an error, you can contact them. They have 5 objective criteria for each class.[/quot

Thanks for this info. Do you mind expanding on it? Who told you (AEI, principal?) and were you told any of the criteria?

NP: I am curious too about the criteria. I imagine there is a floor or baseline to be considered. However, I wonder if it is the same for each middle school given that some schools have more 99 type kids vs 90+ type kids after the top performers were admitted to the magnets. That is why I think the original announcement mentions "student enrollment" and scheduling as factors in the decision. Some schools may have 2 sections of a course, others 1.

NP: I am curious too about the criteria. I imagine there is a floor or baseline to be considered. However, I wonder if it is the same for each middle school given that some schools have more 99 type kids vs 90+ type kids after the top performers were admitted to the magnets. That is why I think the original announcement mentions "student enrollment" and scheduling as factors in the decision. Some schools may have 2 sections of a course, others 1.

It's not a good day to call AEI on Monday, see the CES thread, but if you believe there has been a mistake with respect to your child, they will talk through the criteria with you - I don't know all 5 - Cogat and MAP cut-offs are 2 of the 5. (2nd hand info)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I was told is that you believe if AEI made an error, you can contact them. They have 5 objective criteria for each class.[/quot

Thanks for this info. Do you mind expanding on it? Who told you (AEI, principal?) and were you told any of the criteria?

NP: I am curious too about the criteria. I imagine there is a floor or baseline to be considered. However, I wonder if it is the same for each middle school given that some schools have more 99 type kids vs 90+ type kids after the top performers were admitted to the magnets. That is why I think the original announcement mentions "student enrollment" and scheduling as factors in the decision. Some schools may have 2 sections of a course, others 1.

NP: I am curious too about the criteria. I imagine there is a floor or baseline to be considered. However, I wonder if it is the same for each middle school given that some schools have more 99 type kids vs 90+ type kids after the top performers were admitted to the magnets. That is why I think the original announcement mentions "student enrollment" and scheduling as factors in the decision. Some schools may have 2 sections of a course, others 1.

It's not a good day to call AEI on Monday, see the CES thread, but if you believe there has been a mistake with respect to your child, they will talk through the criteria with you - I don't know all 5 - Cogat and MAP cut-offs are 2 of the 5. (2nd hand info)

Also PARCC scores. When I called the intimated that grades were not one of the criteria. Not sure what the other two are though...

[Anonymous]

Maybe reading level and/or if enrolled in compacted math is another one of the criteria?

[Anonymous]

I just want to thank the PPs for sharing information. The last communication from MCPS was "you'll hear from us in April, don't call before then." Obviously some people have been calling, anyway, and I appreciate that you are sharing your info.

[Anonymous]

I support this classes with more integrated curricula, but the key is getting better trained teachers who are motivated to engage students. Now I am going to be very controversial. I think these classes should be available to all students who want to take them. I do not believe having "average" students in a class will slow down gifted students if the teacher is good. We moved from a rural community in another state where my older child went to a K-8 school which had only one class of about 25 kids in each grade. My son is quite gifted. In both 7th and 8th grade he had excellent science and math teachers who kept him busy and challenged. He prepared special reports, help develop some of the curriculum, helped his teachers program their computers, etc. We moved here and he is doing well at the Blair magnet. I also believe that the tests used to separate students are culturally biased. Why not let any interested student take these more interesting classes. If they don't do well they can always go into regular classes.

[Anonymous]

Now I am going to be very controversial. I think these classes should be available to all students who want to take them. I do not believe having "average" students in a class will slow down gifted students if the teacher is good. We moved from a rural community in another state where my older child went to a K-8 school which had only one class of about 25 kids in each grade

Above average yes -if the teacher is good, well trained, materials are clear and expectations are clear so the kid can do extra work at home. This is the private school model. Not every kid in private school is a rocket scientist. Private schools make sure that parents know what the kids needs to practice at home and is quick to recommend tutors. Average kids end up getting the most out of private schools. I agree that giving this chance to the bright but not gifted should be the norm in public school but MCPS doesn't work that way. They are too disorganized to have clear materials together. They don't train the poor teachers. They actually dislike parents getting their kids outside help to keep up.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like about 20% of the incoming kids in our middle school are eligible to take one or both of the new classes. Add in the kids who are going to a magnet and you’ve 21% or so who are receiving advanced classes which is about equivalent to Fairfax County.

The reality is that not everyone can learn at an accelerated level and the classes do slow down when they are more widely available. I saw this happen firsthand when compacted math became available to most of the kids in DCs class. It became much slower and less challenging.

[Anonymous]

Have the placement results been sent just to Pyle students or have other schools received these as well? Asking for Hoover Middle School.

[Anonymous]

They have been sent to all the 20 MS with enriched classes. Not sure whether they are responsible for communicating the placement or if the elementary schools are or the central office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They have been sent to all the 20 MS with enriched classes. Not sure whether they are responsible for communicating the placement or if the elementary schools are or the central office.

I just phoned the AEI office to ask. Notifications will come from the MS.

[Anonymous]

Nothing from Cabin John yet, frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing from Cabin John yet, frustrating.

Does Cabin John feed i to Pyle? If so, double check with your elementary school because Pyle gave them the letters for all the accepted students. Our elementary school sent them out with the report cards. For whatever reason no one seems to be talking about it at school although some parents must be asking questions because we received a note yesterday to direct all questions to Pyle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing from Cabin John yet, frustrating.

Does Cabin John feed i to Pyle? If so, double check with your elementary school because Pyle gave them the letters for all the accepted students. Our elementary school sent them out with the report cards. For whatever reason no one seems to be talking about it at school although some parents must be asking questions because we received a note yesterday to direct all questions to Pyle.

Thanks, but Cabin John is also a MS. Pyle is clearly more organized though!

[Anonymous]

I don’t think anyone works harder than Scott gitchell at Pyle, the AP who does the scheduling. He’s there late every night—later than anyone else. My guess is that cabin John is working on it but it takes time. Making all the scheduling pieces fit together takes a lot of strategizing....

[Anonymous]

Would a student wait-listed for a magnet likely be admitted into these enriched classes?