Blair Magnet - geographical differences in acceptance rates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from other parents that kids that come from Whitman/Churchill/ BCC/Wooten are less likely to get into the magnet program than kids from less privileged areas. I’m not sure if this is just rumor or an actual policy meant to help diversity. Just wondering if there had been any public discussions if this by MoCo school administrators. Thanks.

Funny many W parents claim that they're the most represented at the Magnets so both can't be true.

Yes, I've heard this too, but half of Blair comes from TPMS and the TPMS magnet directory pre-lottery showed similar numbers of kids from most schools.

Mostly the TPMS magnet and those kids come from all over. Local kids had such a hard time getting in they had to create a set aside of 25 seats for the TPMS program to ensure that the local kids didn't have to compete at the higer cut offs.

No, you're a clueless hater and an idiot. They set aside 25 seats for TPMS so they could keep the program at TPMS when the school was floating the idea of not keeping the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from other parents that kids that come from Whitman/Churchill/ BCC/Wooten are less likely to get into the magnet program than kids from less privileged areas. I’m not sure if this is just rumor or an actual policy meant to help diversity. Just wondering if there had been any public discussions if this by MoCo school administrators. Thanks.

Funny many W parents claim that they're the most represented at the Magnets so both can't be true.

There was a data that MCPS published a while back showing that the W schools lost few kids to the magnets. Wootton lost the most while Whitman the least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from other parents that kids that come from Whitman/Churchill/ BCC/Wooten are less likely to get into the magnet program than kids from less privileged areas. I’m not sure if this is just rumor or an actual policy meant to help diversity. Just wondering if there had been any public discussions if this by MoCo school administrators. Thanks.

Funny many W parents claim that they're the most represented at the Magnets so both can't be true.

Yes, I've heard this too, but half of Blair comes from TPMS and the TPMS magnet directory pre-lottery showed similar numbers of kids from most schools.

Mostly the TPMS magnet and those kids come from all over. Local kids had such a hard time getting in they had to create a set aside of 25 seats for the TPMS program to ensure that the local kids didn't have to compete at the higer cut offs.

No, you're a clueless hater and an idiot. They set aside 25 seats for TPMS so they could keep the program at TPMS when the school was floating the idea of not keeping the program.

They are both true. If there were 25 or more kids getting in under the broader criteria they would not have had to have the set asides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No blair bus takes 90 minutes. The bus is fine, its a half hour tops.

No it's not a half hour tops.

Many of the magnet buses take over 70 minutes driving time so if you add in walking to the bus stop or driving there plus waiting it's a long commute. I think the person who thought it was 90 minutes was probably think of the MS magnets because they take the Blair buses and then from there transfer or wait and then go to their middle schools. It does take 90 minutes and sometimes more. When DC's friend takes the bus they are not home for almost 2 hours after their school ends. DC lives close to our local school and it takes DC 20 to 30 minutes including walking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No blair bus takes 90 minutes. The bus is fine, its a half hour tops.

No it's not a half hour tops.

Many of the magnet buses take over 70 minutes driving time so if you add in walking to the bus stop or driving there plus waiting it's a long commute. I think the person who thought it was 90 minutes was probably think of the MS magnets because they take the Blair buses and then from there transfer or wait and then go to their middle schools. It does take 90 minutes and sometimes more. When DC's friend takes the bus they are not home for almost 2 hours after their school ends. DC lives close to our local school and it takes DC 20 to 30 minutes including walking.

As I said the bus from my kid's ES to their daycare is under 1 mile and although school gets out at 3:50 the bus doesn't arrive at the daycare until around 4:30 each day. Busses aren't very fast because of all the stops. Anyway, you don't h ave to attend the Blair magnet. It's completely a choice.

[Anonymous]

Is your teen in daycare? Not following.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your teen in daycare? Not following.

busses are slow...

[Anonymous]

I am not sure the original admits and actual cohorts are the same.

I have a kid who is at TPMS magnet. We are walking distance. If they get into Blair that's great. But if we lived in Potomac and getting into and attending TPMS or Blair meant a 60-90 minute bus ride 2x a day, as much as we love the education, I don't think we'd do that. We'd either decline or move (and I this RE climate that ain't happening for most people).

I would guess a lot of east/down county kids accept initially, and a lot of close to the river kids decline when faced with what the days actually look like. Unless they've been attending TPMS already with success (and as someone who literally has parents picking up kids parking in front of my house, there a lot of kids whose parents pick them up at 3pm daily to drive them in their own very nice cars back to wherever). Good for them. But what I am saying is, the long bus ride would be a real quality of life crusher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from other parents that kids that come from Whitman/Churchill/ BCC/Wooten are less likely to get into the magnet program than kids from less privileged areas. I’m not sure if this is just rumor or an actual policy meant to help diversity. Just wondering if there had been any public discussions if this by MoCo school administrators. Thanks.

Funny many W parents claim that they're the most represented at the Magnets so both can't be true.

Yes, I've heard this too, but half of Blair comes from TPMS and the TPMS magnet directory pre-lottery showed similar numbers of kids from most schools.

Mostly the TPMS magnet and those kids come from all over. Local kids had such a hard time getting in they had to create a set aside of 25 seats for the TPMS program to ensure that the local kids didn't have to compete at the higer cut offs.

Nah, this set aside was created for politically connected children of liberal democratic pols in Moco who vote the right way. It should be called the MCPS-Takoma Park-County Council Industrial Complex. Blair Magnet is a political reward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from other parents that kids that come from Whitman/Churchill/ BCC/Wooten are less likely to get into the magnet program than kids from less privileged areas. I’m not sure if this is just rumor or an actual policy meant to help diversity. Just wondering if there had been any public discussions if this by MoCo school administrators. Thanks.

Funny many W parents claim that they're the most represented at the Magnets so both can't be true.

Yes, I've heard this too, but half of Blair comes from TPMS and the TPMS magnet directory pre-lottery showed similar numbers of kids from most schools.

Mostly the TPMS magnet and those kids come from all over. Local kids had such a hard time getting in they had to create a set aside of 25 seats for the TPMS program to ensure that the local kids didn't have to compete at the higer cut offs.

Nah, this set aside was created for politically connected children of liberal democratic pols in Moco who vote the right way. It should be called the MCPS-Takoma Park-County Council Industrial Complex. Blair Magnet is a political reward.

LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure the original admits and actual cohorts are the same.

I have a kid who is at TPMS magnet. We are walking distance. If they get into Blair that's great. But if we lived in Potomac and getting into and attending TPMS or Blair meant a 60-90 minute bus ride 2x a day, as much as we love the education, I don't think we'd do that. We'd either decline or move (and I this RE climate that ain't happening for most people).

I would guess a lot of east/down county kids accept initially, and a lot of close to the river kids decline when faced with what the days actually look like. Unless they've been attending TPMS already with success (and as someone who literally has parents picking up kids parking in front of my house, there a lot of kids whose parents pick them up at 3pm daily to drive them in their own very nice cars back to wherever). Good for them. But what I am saying is, the long bus ride would be a real quality of life crusher.

Not at all. Many kids make the best of the bus ride. They use that time to do homework or even chat with friends. It's not that bad. Really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from other parents that kids that come from Whitman/Churchill/ BCC/Wooten are less likely to get into the magnet program than kids from less privileged areas. I’m not sure if this is just rumor or an actual policy meant to help diversity. Just wondering if there had been any public discussions if this by MoCo school administrators. Thanks.

Funny many W parents claim that they're the most represented at the Magnets so both can't be true.

Yes, I've heard this too, but half of Blair comes from TPMS and the TPMS magnet directory pre-lottery showed similar numbers of kids from most schools.

Mostly the TPMS magnet and those kids come from all over. Local kids had such a hard time getting in they had to create a set aside of 25 seats for the TPMS program to ensure that the local kids didn't have to compete at the higer cut offs.

No, you're a clueless hater and an idiot. They set aside 25 seats for TPMS so they could keep the program at TPMS when the school was floating the idea of not keeping the program.

They are both true. If there were 25 or more kids getting in under the broader criteria they would not have had to have the set asides.

You think one area or school has or should have 25 or more kids admitted to a magnet class of about 100 students? None did. Having 25 set-aside seats for them for a good bargaining chip and a win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from other parents that kids that come from Whitman/Churchill/ BCC/Wooten are less likely to get into the magnet program than kids from less privileged areas. I’m not sure if this is just rumor or an actual policy meant to help diversity. Just wondering if there had been any public discussions if this by MoCo school administrators. Thanks.

Funny many W parents claim that they're the most represented at the Magnets so both can't be true.

Yes, I've heard this too, but half of Blair comes from TPMS and the TPMS magnet directory pre-lottery showed similar numbers of kids from most schools.

Mostly the TPMS magnet and those kids come from all over. Local kids had such a hard time getting in they had to create a set aside of 25 seats for the TPMS program to ensure that the local kids didn't have to compete at the higer cut offs.

No, you're a clueless hater and an idiot. They set aside 25 seats for TPMS so they could keep the program at TPMS when the school was floating the idea of not keeping the program.

They are both true. If there were 25 or more kids getting in under the broader criteria they would not have had to have the set asides.

You think one area or school has or should have 25 or more kids admitted to a magnet class of about 100 students? None did. Having 25 set-aside seats for them for a good bargaining chip and a win.

1) That is at TPMS and this thread is about Blair.

2) The 25 in-bounds seats at TPMS are in addition to the 100 seats.

3) If you’re going to place a magnet in a school to attract UMC families to a school they might not otherwise attend, isn’t it reasonable to also allow the inbounds school community to benefit? Otherwise aren’t you just using busing to artificially inflate scores at the school with no real benefit to the local community? If anything, all magnets should do this.

4) Why do people only complain about set asides for TPMS and not RMIB, where not only do in bounds kids have an admission advantage in 9th & 10th, but non-admitted students can just opt in for 10th & 11th grades anyway?

[Anonymous]

NP. I'm not complaining. I think the set asides make sense. If I had anything to grumble about it's these likely white UMC posters in Silver Spring who keep posting about how kids in that area are smarter than those in the Ws and then grab onto debates about anything related to magnets to bash on Ws.

I don't know if it's true in terms of test scores or other measures because I've never looked in to it and it's not a competition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure the original admits and actual cohorts are the same.

I have a kid who is at TPMS magnet. We are walking distance. If they get into Blair that's great. But if we lived in Potomac and getting into and attending TPMS or Blair meant a 60-90 minute bus ride 2x a day, as much as we love the education, I don't think we'd do that. We'd either decline or move (and I this RE climate that ain't happening for most people).

I would guess a lot of east/down county kids accept initially, and a lot of close to the river kids decline when faced with what the days actually look like. Unless they've been attending TPMS already with success (and as someone who literally has parents picking up kids parking in front of my house, there a lot of kids whose parents pick them up at 3pm daily to drive them in their own very nice cars back to wherever). Good for them. But what I am saying is, the long bus ride would be a real quality of life crusher.

Not at all. Many kids make the best of the bus ride. They use that time to do homework or even chat with friends. It's not that bad. Really.

DD does homework and catches up with friends on the bus ride. Still despises it and it's exhausting but her situation is different because we moved when she started so she was expecting a shorter ride. Should have pulled her out but we kept thinking she'd get used to it.