What are the most - and least - competitive MCPS high school programs (not in bounds, test in or lottery)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand your question. There are no special programs that are neither in bounds, test in, or lottery. They are all one or the other.

Several application-only merit-based HS programs are not a restricted lottery like CES etc.

And they all require tests, except possibly the Visual Arts Center at Einstein.

There are no specific tests for these programs. They rely on grades derived from tests and standardized tests the county already uses. Studens also have to submit a personal statement of sorts.

tests are tests

I agree. Also, I think a one-time high-stakes test isn't the best way to identify kids who will be successful in these programs. Especially ones like CoGat, which some families hire outside test prep for, and just spending time understanding the question format can significantly improve scores. At least all kids become familiar with tests like MAP.

[Anonymous]

I think OP worded the title in a confusing way. I think they meant "not inbounds, but rather test-in or lottery."

If that's the question, I think the conventional wisdom for someone zoned for WJ is that Blair SCMS is the most competitive if measured by how many accepted kids attend, then RMIB, then it's basically a wash between a bunch of good programs (Poolesville, CAP, the two Wheaton magnets).

[Anonymous]

So, what does a kid need to get into a magnet program like the programs at Richard Montgomery or Poolesville high schools? what types of MAP scores or grades?

[Anonymous]

How can I figure out how competitive the programs are or what kind of scores are needed to get in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can I figure out how competitive the programs are or what kind of scores are needed to get in?

I can't remember if they said this formally, but conventional wisdom is that the STEM programs will look at your MAP-M and grades in math, while Humanities programs look at MAP-R and grades in English and Social Studies, and RMIB looks at all of the above.

There's no formal cut-off, and only 7th and 8th grade marking periods are considered.

There are places to share information about awards and extracurriculars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live inbounds for Walter Johnson. Any advice on what to look at?

We loved WJ for our family. Kids learned a lot and had excellent teachers!

Same for us. Kids decided against applying out to magnets. They were happy taking the APs of their choice and both ended up at great colleges where they are happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think OP worded the title in a confusing way. I think they meant "not inbounds, but rather test-in or lottery."

If that's the question, I think the conventional wisdom for someone zoned for WJ is that Blair SCMS is the most competitive if measured by how many accepted kids attend, then RMIB, then it's basically a wash between a bunch of good programs (Poolesville, CAP, the two Wheaton magnets).

I think that's an older view. The CW now is Blair is the most competitive with RMIB next, Poolesville a very close third to RMIB and the others lower.

WJ kids are not eligible for CAP and Wheaton magnets although IMO they are great. I think they get a bad rap among WJ and other W families because they draw from a much smaller catchment area that does not include places like Bethesda, Potomac and CC.

[Anonymous]

Blair most competitive, need very high scores in math and math grades or something else to distinguish child. Little wait list movement.
RMIB - need high scores in both math and reading but more variability as much more waitlist movement as a lot of Blair kids also get into RMIB and mostly choose Blair.
Poolesville - need high scores in both math and reading but again more variability. more waitlist movement than RMIB.

Lottery programs not very competitive but can be good if it's the right match for a child's interests.

[Anonymous]

The lottery programs are getting more competitive. I teach in one, and we had almost 600 8th graders apply. Of course it doesn’t mean most are serious, but they are at least curious. They got nothing to lose by applying, and there is minimal effort to do so. We are getting to the point of having more and more disappointed students, though. The number applying seems to increase every year by 50-100 over the previous year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand your question. There are no special programs that are neither in bounds, test in, or lottery. They are all one or the other.

Several application-only merit-based HS programs are not a restricted lottery like CES etc.

And those therefore are test-in/selective programs which OP specifically excluded in the title of this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think OP worded the title in a confusing way. I think they meant "not inbounds, but rather test-in or lottery."

If that's the question, I think the conventional wisdom for someone zoned for WJ is that Blair SCMS is the most competitive if measured by how many accepted kids attend, then RMIB, then it's basically a wash between a bunch of good programs (Poolesville, CAP, the two Wheaton magnets).

I think that's an older view. The CW now is Blair is the most competitive with RMIB next, Poolesville a very close third to RMIB and the others lower.

WJ kids are not eligible for CAP and Wheaton magnets although IMO they are great. I think they get a bad rap among WJ and other W families because they draw from a much smaller catchment area that does not include places like Bethesda, Potomac and CC.

I'm the PP and you're right. I think I forgot since so many kids go from TPMS and Eastern to those programs that my Wheaton Engineering kid has a ton of friends from Potomac and Bethesda, but presumably those are kids who were in the DCC for middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think OP worded the title in a confusing way. I think they meant "not inbounds, but rather test-in or lottery."

If that's the question, I think the conventional wisdom for someone zoned for WJ is that Blair SCMS is the most competitive if measured by how many accepted kids attend, then RMIB, then it's basically a wash between a bunch of good programs (Poolesville, CAP, the two Wheaton magnets).

CAP, and Wheaton aren’t options for kids in WJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think OP worded the title in a confusing way. I think they meant "not inbounds, but rather test-in or lottery."

If that's the question, I think the conventional wisdom for someone zoned for WJ is that Blair SCMS is the most competitive if measured by how many accepted kids attend, then RMIB, then it's basically a wash between a bunch of good programs (Poolesville, CAP, the two Wheaton magnets).

I think that's an older view. The CW now is Blair is the most competitive with RMIB next, Poolesville a very close third to RMIB and the others lower.

WJ kids are not eligible for CAP and Wheaton magnets although IMO they are great. I think they get a bad rap among WJ and other W families because they draw from a much smaller catchment area that does not include places like Bethesda, Potomac and CC.

I'm the PP and you're right. I think I forgot since so many kids go from TPMS and Eastern to those programs that my Wheaton Engineering kid has a ton of friends from Potomac and Bethesda, but presumably those are kids who were in the DCC for middle school.

Yes, there are definitely TPMS kids from non DCC schools at Wheaton and non DCC Eastern kids at CAP.

[Anonymous]

I hope OP’s kids communicate better than OP does.

[Anonymous]

Blair SMCS is the most competitive program in MCPS, mostly because it has the most applicants of any. Poolesville's program is similar in content but only half the size and has fewer applicants from less competitive pyramids.