Anyone know what the Middle School Magnet Process will be like this year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

You are replying to me. I don't really understand your statement. I don't have an issue with a lottery process.

So students who are mostly just above average at STEM get slots in a magnet while outliers are ignored by the program designed to provide them an appropriate education?

It's like I'm having multiple conversations with Mr. Magoo and friends. The reality is that the MS magnet program was never designed to give all gifted "outliers" an appropriate education (and this is still not the mission of the program). Show me evidence that over time the MS magnet program has been reducing access to spots to gifted learners. COGAT can't even measure outliers for giftedness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

You are replying to me. I don't really understand your statement. I don't have an issue with a lottery process.

So students who are mostly just above average at STEM get slots in a magnet while outliers are ignored by the program designed to provide them an appropriate education?

It's like I'm having multiple conversations with Mr. Magoo and friends. The reality is that the MS magnet program was never designed to give all gifted "outliers" an appropriate education (and this is still not the mission of the program). Show me evidence that over time the MS magnet program has been reducing access to spots to gifted learners. COGAT can't even measure outliers for giftedness.

Let me guess...your kid is not that smart but you want him to go to the magnet program despite there being many kids who are more qualified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

Makes it more equitable and still draws in the most high performing kids. I like it.

It’s not really equitable if a 99 percentiler doesn’t get a spot but an 85th percentiler does, now is it.

I agree. The spots should be filled with the highest test score kids and then be lottery for those 85 or above for ONLY the remaining slots, if there are any. Otherwise it defeats the original intent of a magnet for gifted students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

You are replying to me. I don't really understand your statement. I don't have an issue with a lottery process.

So students who are mostly just above average at STEM get slots in a magnet while outliers are ignored by the program designed to provide them an appropriate education?

It's like I'm having multiple conversations with Mr. Magoo and friends. The reality is that the MS magnet program was never designed to give all gifted "outliers" an appropriate education (and this is still not the mission of the program). Show me evidence that over time the MS magnet program has been reducing access to spots to gifted learners. COGAT can't even measure outliers for giftedness.

Explain why it doesn’t

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can a child apply to moco magnet for 7th grade from private?

Not for 7th. Kids start MS magnet programs in 6th (applying in 5th), and HS programs in 9th (applying in 8th). You can apply from private, but only in the appropriate grades.

Because the content of the programs typically builds on the previous years, kids can’t start in the middle of a program.

Bummer
Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

Makes it more equitable and still draws in the most high performing kids. I like it.

It’s not really equitable if a 99 percentiler doesn’t get a spot but an 85th percentiler does, now is it.

I agree. The spots should be filled with the highest test score kids and then be lottery for those 85 or above for ONLY the remaining slots, if there are any. Otherwise it defeats the original intent of a magnet for gifted students.

Explain to me why kids who are taught ahead by their parents should fill up the magnet programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

Makes it more equitable and still draws in the most high performing kids. I like it.

It’s not really equitable if a 99 percentiler doesn’t get a spot but an 85th percentiler does, now is it.

I agree. The spots should be filled with the highest test score kids and then be lottery for those 85 or above for ONLY the remaining slots, if there are any. Otherwise it defeats the original intent of a magnet for gifted students.

Explain to me why kids who are taught ahead by their parents should fill up the magnet programs.

Because
1. Magnets schools don’t teach the kids, the teachers rely on parents/after school classes to do the the heavy lifting and teaching so the teachers can take credit for the high scores of the magnet kids.
2. If those kids didn’t fill up the magnet program The scores would be abysmal and then mcps would have to tell the world their secret....they barely are teaching at a average level let alone a magnet level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

Makes it more equitable and still draws in the most high performing kids. I like it.

It’s not really equitable if a 99 percentiler doesn’t get a spot but an 85th percentiler does, now is it.

I agree. The spots should be filled with the highest test score kids and then be lottery for those 85 or above for ONLY the remaining slots, if there are any. Otherwise it defeats the original intent of a magnet for gifted students.

Because tests always identify the kids most likely to benefit from a magnet program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

Makes it more equitable and still draws in the most high performing kids. I like it.

It’s not really equitable if a 99 percentiler doesn’t get a spot but an 85th percentiler does, now is it.

I agree. The spots should be filled with the highest test score kids and then be lottery for those 85 or above for ONLY the remaining slots, if there are any. Otherwise it defeats the original intent of a magnet for gifted students.

Explain to me why kids who are taught ahead by their parents should fill up the magnet programs.

Because
1. Magnets schools don’t teach the kids, the teachers rely on parents/after school classes to do the the heavy lifting and teaching so the teachers can take credit for the high scores of the magnet kids.
2. If those kids didn’t fill up the magnet program The scores would be abysmal and then mcps would have to tell the world their secret....they barely are teaching at a average level let alone a magnet level.

Hmm this isn't our experience at all. Our kid is in the TPMS magnet and got very good test scores, but not tip top, so we were genuinely surprised he was selected. The teachers we've had so far as truly extraordinary, and we've been incredibly grateful to have access to their expertise and energy. Our kid isn't a superstar scholar but returning to the building this year even he can articulate that he appreciates their teaching and the curriculum -- something I never thought I'd hear him say. It's far above average material, it's robust, and it's interesting. Do we have to help? Yeah, DH spent 45 minutes on math this weekend, and I nag about the agenda and studying, but that's it so far. We've had to intervene far more in our kid's language study habits. He got 99%ile on his MAP-M test today (I have a norms chart, go ahead, ridicule me, don't care). That's absolutely 50% his teachers, 45% him, 5% us, which is to say, his teachers are putting the work in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

Makes it more equitable and still draws in the most high performing kids. I like it.

It’s not really equitable if a 99 percentiler doesn’t get a spot but an 85th percentiler does, now is it.

I agree. The spots should be filled with the highest test score kids and then be lottery for those 85 or above for ONLY the remaining slots, if there are any. Otherwise it defeats the original intent of a magnet for gifted students.

Explain to me why kids who are taught ahead by their parents should fill up the magnet programs.

Because
1. Magnets schools don’t teach the kids, the teachers rely on parents/after school classes to do the the heavy lifting and teaching so the teachers can take credit for the high scores of the magnet kids.
2. If those kids didn’t fill up the magnet program The scores would be abysmal and then mcps would have to tell the world their secret....they barely are teaching at a average level let alone a magnet level.

Hmm this isn't our experience at all. Our kid is in the TPMS magnet and got very good test scores, but not tip top, so we were genuinely surprised he was selected. The teachers we've had so far as truly extraordinary, and we've been incredibly grateful to have access to their expertise and energy. Our kid isn't a superstar scholar but returning to the building this year even he can articulate that he appreciates their teaching and the curriculum -- something I never thought I'd hear him say. It's far above average material, it's robust, and it's interesting. Do we have to help? Yeah, DH spent 45 minutes on math this weekend, and I nag about the agenda and studying, but that's it so far. We've had to intervene far more in our kid's language study habits. He got 99%ile on his MAP-M test today (I have a norms chart, go ahead, ridicule me, don't care). That's absolutely 50% his teachers, 45% him, 5% us, which is to say, his teachers are putting the work in.

Can I ask Where is this norms chart?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

Makes it more equitable and still draws in the most high performing kids. I like it.

It’s not really equitable if a 99 percentiler doesn’t get a spot but an 85th percentiler does, now is it.

I agree. The spots should be filled with the highest test score kids and then be lottery for those 85 or above for ONLY the remaining slots, if there are any. Otherwise it defeats the original intent of a magnet for gifted students.

Because tests always identify the kids most likely to benefit from a magnet program?

Cogat is a test of cognitive ability, not achievement. So yes, it does identify the kids best placed to benefit from enriched instruction.

My personal feeling is that they should just do the Texas thing. Locally norm it for every school and take the top 10% from every school. Add more centers if need be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

Makes it more equitable and still draws in the most high performing kids. I like it.

It’s not really equitable if a 99 percentiler doesn’t get a spot but an 85th percentiler does, now is it.

I agree. The spots should be filled with the highest test score kids and then be lottery for those 85 or above for ONLY the remaining slots, if there are any. Otherwise it defeats the original intent of a magnet for gifted students.

Because tests always identify the kids most likely to benefit from a magnet program?

Cogat is a test of cognitive ability, not achievement. So yes, it does identify the kids best placed to benefit from enriched instruction.

My personal feeling is that they should just do the Texas thing. Locally norm it for every school and take the top 10% from every school. Add more centers if need be.

Sorry, I disagree. Some kids test better than others. Some kids do better in classroom settings than testing settings.

[Anonymous]

For those who weren't aware, pretty sure that MCPS changed the magnet admissions process into a lottery to dismiss the discrimination against asians lawsuit. It was one of the many things quietly handled during the covid crisis in 2020. The judge dismissed the suit since since admissions are now "lottery based." This means that no one will be able to prove racial discrimination in future magnet admissions. MCPS really has good attorneys (and for $11M outside their budget, they should).

In the process, the magnet program was trashed. Now the top performers go to their home schools while magnet slots are filled with "lottery winners". Now Equity Initiatives are bigger in the Org Chart than AEI.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/globalContent/MCPS-Organization-FY2020.pdf

It would be interesting to see who the "lottery winner" parents are, and who they know, but that's private info.

If this type of program change fills you with pride, be sure to know who all the incumbents are in the next boe election.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who weren't aware, pretty sure that MCPS changed the magnet admissions process into a lottery to dismiss the discrimination against asians lawsuit. It was one of the many things quietly handled during the covid crisis in 2020. The judge dismissed the suit since since admissions are now "lottery based." This means that no one will be able to prove racial discrimination in future magnet admissions. MCPS really has good attorneys (and for $11M outside their budget, they should).

In the process, the magnet program was trashed. Now the top performers go to their home schools while magnet slots are filled with "lottery winners". Now Equity Initiatives are bigger in the Org Chart than AEI.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/globalContent/MCPS-Organization-FY2020.pdf

It would be interesting to see who the "lottery winner" parents are, and who they know, but that's private info.

If this type of program change fills you with pride, be sure to know who all the incumbents are in the next boe election.

Did they change admission process into a lottery at the elementary, middle and high school level?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be an announcement coming out soon. They are going to have to announce information sessions soon.

They switched to COGAT which doesn't really tease out your outliers anyway, so why not have it be a lottery among your high performers?

There are lots and lots of kids in MCPS that can benefit from an enriched curriculum and MCPS has chosen not to increase the number of spots in these magnets programs. My guess is that they are on the road to being done away with completely.

Like the 15% lottery last year? Are they trying to kill the magnets?

You are replying to me. I don't really understand your statement. I don't have an issue with a lottery process.

So students who are mostly just above average at STEM get slots in a magnet while outliers are ignored by the program designed to provide them an appropriate education?

With the lottery yes that's been the case. Whether they intend to continue this or not it's unknown.