No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

[Anonymous]

We moved from a dc charter. Middle school here seems similar to the charter. Very little homework, no advanced english. Now my kid is in 9th and was hoping to have a chance to take advanced english. No such luck. She's bored. Its so frustrating. Why are there different math options but everyone takes the same english class? Makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just went to the SSIMS parent night last night and heard that there is no enrichment or honors-level instruction for grade 6 in anything related to words: language, history, humanities. Everyone now takes the same Global Humanities and English courses, and they don't even group the sections by aptitude/interest. They "enrich in the classroom," which as we can all appreciate asks an unrealistic amount of the teachers when the sections are capped at 35 students.

At rhe risk of blowing up this board, DC doesn't give a darn about STEM. But math is the only subject that's tracked now, apparently. So why did ELC prepare kids for more rigorous writing and analysis if MS isn't going to exercise that? DC really loves to read and write. We had heard good things about the deeper version of HIGH and had hopes it might be an outlet if DC got in. Now apparently...no.

Anyone else's MS operating this way?

This is very confusing given that posted right on their website is the SSIMS 23-24 course bulletin, which lists both the on-level and enriched world studies courses in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. The enriched courses have the prerequisite of "special placement by MCPS."

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e1ys9uirBOj4iXRovP1trjIyqhvCEVuaeTqtrOvPB6Y/edit?usp=sharing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just went to the SSIMS parent night last night and heard that there is no enrichment or honors-level instruction for grade 6 in anything related to words: language, history, humanities. Everyone now takes the same Global Humanities and English courses, and they don't even group the sections by aptitude/interest. They "enrich in the classroom," which as we can all appreciate asks an unrealistic amount of the teachers when the sections are capped at 35 students.

At rhe risk of blowing up this board, DC doesn't give a darn about STEM. But math is the only subject that's tracked now, apparently. So why did ELC prepare kids for more rigorous writing and analysis if MS isn't going to exercise that? DC really loves to read and write. We had heard good things about the deeper version of HIGH and had hopes it might be an outlet if DC got in. Now apparently...no.

Anyone else's MS operating this way?

Did they say anything about how they think they will achieve this?

This is just a meaningless buzzword to placate parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved from a dc charter. Middle school here seems similar to the charter. Very little homework, no advanced english. Now my kid is in 9th and was hoping to have a chance to take advanced english. No such luck. She's bored. Its so frustrating. Why are there different math options but everyone takes the same english class? Makes no sense.

Are you considering other schools for her? Why keep her in a situation where she’s bored?

[Anonymous]

Pyle has only offered HIGH to all students since the course was instituted.

[Anonymous]

What does HIGH stand for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved from a dc charter. Middle school here seems similar to the charter. Very little homework, no advanced english. Now my kid is in 9th and was hoping to have a chance to take advanced english. No such luck. She's bored. Its so frustrating. Why are there different math options but everyone takes the same english class? Makes no sense.

Are you considering other schools for her? Why keep her in a situation where she’s bored?

At the end of 8th we were told she would be in pre-ib english. Then they stopped offering it. In 9th we were told she would be in pre-ib next year. Now it seems it isn't an option. Can't afford private so I guess she has to wait until 11th for a more challenging course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved from a dc charter. Middle school here seems similar to the charter. Very little homework, no advanced english. Now my kid is in 9th and was hoping to have a chance to take advanced english. No such luck. She's bored. Its so frustrating. Why are there different math options but everyone takes the same english class? Makes no sense.

Are you considering other schools for her? Why keep her in a situation where she’s bored?

At the end of 8th we were told she would be in pre-ib english. Then they stopped offering it. In 9th we were told she would be in pre-ib next year. Now it seems it isn't an option. Can't afford private so I guess she has to wait until 11th for a more challenging course.

You could apply to private school and see if you get FA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And yet people claim the MCPS magnet programs are so great? What a joke.

the true magnet programs are better.

+1, but this means that the magnets are now the ONLY option for kids in MCPS who need differentiated instruction. This creates an unhealthy environment, and absolutely undercuts the promises MCPS made to parents back when they realigned admissions to the magnet MS programs. At that time, they claimed that kids who had a "peer cohort" of highly able learners would be educated together, essentially creating mini-magnets within schools with a significant number of highly able students.

Now they are rolling that back.

I've been pretty positive on MCPS but this feels like an enormous slap in the face to parents who took them at their word when those admissions changes were made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does HIGH stand for?

Historical Inquiry into Global Humanities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved from a dc charter. Middle school here seems similar to the charter. Very little homework, no advanced english. Now my kid is in 9th and was hoping to have a chance to take advanced english. No such luck. She's bored. Its so frustrating. Why are there different math options but everyone takes the same english class? Makes no sense.

Are you considering other schools for her? Why keep her in a situation where she’s bored?

At the end of 8th we were told she would be in pre-ib english. Then they stopped offering it. In 9th we were told she would be in pre-ib next year. Now it seems it isn't an option. Can't afford private so I guess she has to wait until 11th for a more challenging course.

You could do outside enrichment. Johns Hopkins cty program, or there are literature and writing virtual classes through various companies as well. The institute of reading development and Great Books summer program are two that come to mind, and both offer school-year options.

[Anonymous]

OP, Historical Inquiry into Global Humanities 6 is listed in the SSIMS bulletin for next year. It is offered at all MCPS middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And yet people claim the MCPS magnet programs are so great? What a joke.

the true magnet programs are better.

+1, but this means that the magnets are now the ONLY option for kids in MCPS who need differentiated instruction. This creates an unhealthy environment, and absolutely undercuts the promises MCPS made to parents back when they realigned admissions to the magnet MS programs. At that time, they claimed that kids who had a "peer cohort" of highly able learners would be educated together, essentially creating mini-magnets within schools with a significant number of highly able students.

Now they are rolling that back.

I've been pretty positive on MCPS but this feels like an enormous slap in the face to parents who took them at their word when those admissions changes were made.

Right. I don’t see how MCPS can be considered an acceptable school district if you can only get differentiated instruction in a couple of small programs that can’t even accommodate all the kids who are qualified and want the extra instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, Historical Inquiry into Global Humanities 6 is listed in the SSIMS bulletin for next year. It is offered at all MCPS middle schools.

Sorry meant to include the link to the course bulletin: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e1ys9uirBOj4iXRovP1trjIyqhvCEVuaeTqtrOvPB6Y/edit
See page 18

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, Historical Inquiry into Global Humanities 6 is listed in the SSIMS bulletin for next year. It is offered at all MCPS middle schools.

That’s not what OP is saying. OP is saying that SSIMS said that would no longer be truly an enhanced course because everyone will take it.