CS and Math Curriculum at Takoma Park Magnet Program

[Anonymous]

Ok? Just because your child with a higher MAP got in has no bearing on the average score and achievements of the rest of the class which by MCPS's own accounts has to be lower due to the lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pre lottery, everyone in TPMS did their accelerated math at home and in after-school team.

Post lottery, they have many more kids for whom the curriculum is at their level.

CJMS parents, TPMS magnet isn't for you. TPMS magnet is for kids in poor schools with no cohort and no parental enrichment.

This is total BS.

- parent of one pre lottery kid and one post lottery

While I think it's silly to say that the TPMS magnet is now for "kids in poor schools" there's some logic to the idea that the cohort has changed dramatically and coming from a school like Cabin John it may no longer be worth the commute. Kids used to go to be with the top 1-3% and now it's the top 15-30% since they do weight eligibility standards.

Sigh. What I can tell you is that my lottery kid had a significantly higher MAP score than their older sibling who got in before the lottery and excelled and is now at the Blair magnet with all As. I can also tell you that both children found it challenging and that neither did “accelerated math at home or in the team” as was claimed that “everyone” did pre lottery (complete BS). The math curriculum is very fast paced which is what my kids have needed. It also doesn’t seem to have changed and certainly isn’t easier now.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We didn't do the magnets for MS or HS because we didn't like the curriculum. It's basically a take it or leave it curriculum and you can get acceleration and the classes you want/more choice outside the magnet. Some MS allow Algebra in 6th, from posts here Takoma does not. It all depends on what is important to your child. Our regular MS had two CS classes.

Mind sharing any specifics for what in particular you did not like about the curriculum? Too much math/science? Too little focus on humanities/arts? Something else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pre lottery, everyone in TPMS did their accelerated math at home and in after-school team.

Post lottery, they have many more kids for whom the curriculum is at their level.

CJMS parents, TPMS magnet isn't for you. TPMS magnet is for kids in poor schools with no cohort and no parental enrichment.

This is total BS.

- parent of one pre lottery kid and one post lottery

While I think it's silly to say that the TPMS magnet is now for "kids in poor schools" there's some logic to the idea that the cohort has changed dramatically and coming from a school like Cabin John it may no longer be worth the commute. Kids used to go to be with the top 1-3% and now it's the top 15-30% since they do weight eligibility standards.

Sigh. What I can tell you is that my lottery kid had a significantly higher MAP score than their older sibling who got in before the lottery and excelled and is now at the Blair magnet with all As. I can also tell you that both children found it challenging and that neither did “accelerated math at home or in the team” as was claimed that “everyone” did pre lottery (complete BS). The math curriculum is very fast paced which is what my kids have needed. It also doesn’t seem to have changed and certainly isn’t easier now.

BS. First cohort of lottery kids are in 8th grade now. Impossible for your lottery kid to be in Blair now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We didn't do the magnets for MS or HS because we didn't like the curriculum. It's basically a take it or leave it curriculum and you can get acceleration and the classes you want/more choice outside the magnet. Some MS allow Algebra in 6th, from posts here Takoma does not. It all depends on what is important to your child. Our regular MS had two CS classes.

My current TPMS magnet 8th grader had several 6th graders in his magnet Algebra I class last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We didn't do the magnets for MS or HS because we didn't like the curriculum. It's basically a take it or leave it curriculum and you can get acceleration and the classes you want/more choice outside the magnet. Some MS allow Algebra in 6th, from posts here Takoma does not. It all depends on what is important to your child. Our regular MS had two CS classes.

My current TPMS magnet 8th grader had several 6th graders in his magnet Algebra I class last year.

That’s good they are allowing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pre lottery, everyone in TPMS did their accelerated math at home and in after-school team.

Post lottery, they have many more kids for whom the curriculum is at their level.

CJMS parents, TPMS magnet isn't for you. TPMS magnet is for kids in poor schools with no cohort and no parental enrichment.

This is total BS.

- parent of one pre lottery kid and one post lottery

While I think it's silly to say that the TPMS magnet is now for "kids in poor schools" there's some logic to the idea that the cohort has changed dramatically and coming from a school like Cabin John it may no longer be worth the commute. Kids used to go to be with the top 1-3% and now it's the top 15-30% since they do weight eligibility standards.

Sigh. What I can tell you is that my lottery kid had a significantly higher MAP score than their older sibling who got in before the lottery and excelled and is now at the Blair magnet with all As. I can also tell you that both children found it challenging and that neither did “accelerated math at home or in the team” as was claimed that “everyone” did pre lottery (complete BS). The math curriculum is very fast paced which is what my kids have needed. It also doesn’t seem to have changed and certainly isn’t easier now.

BS. First cohort of lottery kids are in 8th grade now. Impossible for your lottery kid to be in Blair now.

That isn't what they were saying. Please learn to read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We didn't do the magnets for MS or HS because we didn't like the curriculum. It's basically a take it or leave it curriculum and you can get acceleration and the classes you want/more choice outside the magnet. Some MS allow Algebra in 6th, from posts here Takoma does not. It all depends on what is important to your child. Our regular MS had two CS classes.

My current TPMS magnet 8th grader had several 6th graders in his magnet Algebra I class last year.

That’s good they are allowing it.

My magnet 8th grader in Honors Geometry even has a 6th grader in their class this year. Apparently, the school let them skip Algebra because they had started off in Algebra initially but got bumped up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We didn't do the magnets for MS or HS because we didn't like the curriculum. It's basically a take it or leave it curriculum and you can get acceleration and the classes you want/more choice outside the magnet. Some MS allow Algebra in 6th, from posts here Takoma does not. It all depends on what is important to your child. Our regular MS had two CS classes.

My current TPMS magnet 8th grader had several 6th graders in his magnet Algebra I class last year.

That’s good they are allowing it.

My magnet 8th grader in Honors Geometry even has a 6th grader in their class this year. Apparently, the school let them skip Algebra because they had started off in Algebra initially but got bumped up.

So they went on video and lied about the policy to all the parents who asked?
They claimed that only students who already took a class in 5th grade could skip the same class in middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pre lottery, everyone in TPMS did their accelerated math at home and in after-school team.

Post lottery, they have many more kids for whom the curriculum is at their level.

CJMS parents, TPMS magnet isn't for you. TPMS magnet is for kids in poor schools with no cohort and no parental enrichment.

This is total BS.

- parent of one pre lottery kid and one post lottery

While I think it's silly to say that the TPMS magnet is now for "kids in poor schools" there's some logic to the idea that the cohort has changed dramatically and coming from a school like Cabin John it may no longer be worth the commute. Kids used to go to be with the top 1-3% and now it's the top 15-30% since they do weight eligibility standards.

Sigh. What I can tell you is that my lottery kid had a significantly higher MAP score than their older sibling who got in before the lottery and excelled and is now at the Blair magnet with all As. I can also tell you that both children found it challenging and that neither did “accelerated math at home or in the team” as was claimed that “everyone” did pre lottery (complete BS). The math curriculum is very fast paced which is what my kids have needed. It also doesn’t seem to have changed and certainly isn’t easier now.

Ask your kid with the high MAP score how a "lottery" works. They learned about randomness in there magnet class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 6th grader that just started at TPMS, coming from CJMS cluster. So far disappointed and troubled by the magnet curriculum:

1. Lack of rigorous approach in computer science (apparently no CS background required of teachers, no curriculum standards only "guidelines", implementation of guidelines teacher-dependent). Through grapevine have heard an older grade parents wrote a letter to school with concerns about the program as well. My child reports being bored and finds 6th grade CS way too easy--he finds material 3-4th grade level (done through outside supplementation.)
2. Investigation into mathematics--Program much slower pace than expected and no sufficiently challenging. If children were selected into magnet based on advanced math scores they should be exposed to more accelerated pace/material?
3. Science curriculum appears on target so far
4. Non-magnet humanities program has been a pleasant surprise

Anyone else facing similar issues? Is anyone aware of changes to the CS program? Since we are faced with a long commute for the sake of the magnet program, wondering if it makes sense to stick with it given the areas of concern. Prior forums mentioned lack of after-school clubs at CJMS compared to TPMS, but that has certainly expanded.

Both my kids had good curriculum experiences at TPMS. But, they had not had previous cs experience because it was not a part of any elementary curriculum, and the ms magnet is designed with that expectation.
If your kid is doing outside supplementation beyond magnet curriculum, then why are they at an mcps magnet? Stay at home school and supplement, go private or home school entirely. This is a public school district , not a private education caterer. Good grief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We didn't do the magnets for MS or HS because we didn't like the curriculum. It's basically a take it or leave it curriculum and you can get acceleration and the classes you want/more choice outside the magnet. Some MS allow Algebra in 6th, from posts here Takoma does not. It all depends on what is important to your child. Our regular MS had two CS classes.

TPMS did allow this if kid came in tracked that way, but it and its feeders would not allow anyone to bump up, so the only kids that were in it came from other areas. Perhaps things have changed from parents pushing to make sure their kid beats out tge competition. It is insane the posturing here. (Lookin' at you lamenting-high-map mom).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pre lottery, everyone in TPMS did their accelerated math at home and in after-school team.

Post lottery, they have many more kids for whom the curriculum is at their level.

CJMS parents, TPMS magnet isn't for you. TPMS magnet is for kids in poor schools with no cohort and no parental enrichment.

This is total BS.

- parent of one pre lottery kid and one post lottery

While I think it's silly to say that the TPMS magnet is now for "kids in poor schools" there's some logic to the idea that the cohort has changed dramatically and coming from a school like Cabin John it may no longer be worth the commute. Kids used to go to be with the top 1-3% and now it's the top 15-30% since they do weight eligibility standards.

Sigh. What I can tell you is that my lottery kid had a significantly higher MAP score than their older sibling who got in before the lottery and excelled and is now at the Blair magnet with all As. I can also tell you that both children found it challenging and that neither did “accelerated math at home or in the team” as was claimed that “everyone” did pre lottery (complete BS). The math curriculum is very fast paced which is what my kids have needed. It also doesn’t seem to have changed and certainly isn’t easier now.

BS. First cohort of lottery kids are in 8th grade now. Impossible for your lottery kid to be in Blair now.

Read it again, slowly, my lottery kid is currently at TPMS. I accept your apology.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We didn't do the magnets for MS or HS because we didn't like the curriculum. It's basically a take it or leave it curriculum and you can get acceleration and the classes you want/more choice outside the magnet. Some MS allow Algebra in 6th, from posts here Takoma does not. It all depends on what is important to your child. Our regular MS had two CS classes.

My current TPMS magnet 8th grader had several 6th graders in his magnet Algebra I class last year.

That’s good they are allowing it.

My magnet 8th grader in Honors Geometry even has a 6th grader in their class this year. Apparently, the school let them skip Algebra because they had started off in Algebra initially but got bumped up.

They must have completed algebra elsewhere as it’s a graduation requirement. You can’t just skip it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pre lottery, everyone in TPMS did their accelerated math at home and in after-school team.

Post lottery, they have many more kids for whom the curriculum is at their level.

CJMS parents, TPMS magnet isn't for you. TPMS magnet is for kids in poor schools with no cohort and no parental enrichment.

This is total BS.

- parent of one pre lottery kid and one post lottery

While I think it's silly to say that the TPMS magnet is now for "kids in poor schools" there's some logic to the idea that the cohort has changed dramatically and coming from a school like Cabin John it may no longer be worth the commute. Kids used to go to be with the top 1-3% and now it's the top 15-30% since they do weight eligibility standards.

Sigh. What I can tell you is that my lottery kid had a significantly higher MAP score than their older sibling who got in before the lottery and excelled and is now at the Blair magnet with all As. I can also tell you that both children found it challenging and that neither did “accelerated math at home or in the team” as was claimed that “everyone” did pre lottery (complete BS). The math curriculum is very fast paced which is what my kids have needed. It also doesn’t seem to have changed and certainly isn’t easier now.

Ask your kid with the high MAP score how a "lottery" works. They learned about randomness in there magnet class.

You are missing the point. The caliber of students hasn’t changed. The curriculum hasn’t changed. “Even” kids with “low” MAP scores in past years got in and did very well and ended up In the Blair magnet where they continued to do very well.