TPMS is killing the arts, the magnet program, and the autism program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised MCPS would gut TPMS. I thought it was considered one of the golden schools in the system? But the rest of the stuff you described in terms of lack of transparency, disregarding community input, etc. is very much textbook MCPS.

I just didn't think they'd do that to Takoma Park!

It only has a small group of kids so no surprise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised MCPS would gut TPMS. I thought it was considered one of the golden schools in the system? But the rest of the stuff you described in terms of lack of transparency, disregarding community input, etc. is very much textbook MCPS.

I just didn't think they'd do that to Takoma Park!

The teachers voted to go from teaching 6 classes to 5. They voted to keep class size at current level. Said a few more per class was absolutely not doable.

Translates to one less elective for everyone. And for any special program student, magnet or otherwise, means they only have one. Most of the magnet students were pushed in to taking a language as an elective and so now must choose between an actual elective and language. The majority will choose language. The school openly acknowledges that the number of electives teachers will decrease- the majority of which are music and art teachers. The majority of magnet kids (1/3 of the school) had their “2nd elective” in the arts- many in band/orchestra.

As for the autism program and other programs where kids need enrichments, they will loose those enrichments or have zero electives.


The administration “promises” to review “mitigation strategies” at some point. Fat chance.

That’s normal for most ms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised MCPS would gut TPMS. I thought it was considered one of the golden schools in the system? But the rest of the stuff you described in terms of lack of transparency, disregarding community input, etc. is very much textbook MCPS.

I just didn't think they'd do that to Takoma Park!

The teachers voted to go from teaching 6 classes to 5. They voted to keep class size at current level. Said a few more per class was absolutely not doable.

Translates to one less elective for everyone. And for any special program student, magnet or otherwise, means they only have one. Most of the magnet students were pushed in to taking a language as an elective and so now must choose between an actual elective and language. The majority will choose language. The school openly acknowledges that the number of electives teachers will decrease- the majority of which are music and art teachers. The majority of magnet kids (1/3 of the school) had their “2nd elective” in the arts- many in band/orchestra.

As for the autism program and other programs where kids need enrichments, they will loose those enrichments or have zero electives.


The administration “promises” to review “mitigation strategies” at some point. Fat chance.

That’s normal for most ms.

Most MS are local schools. Who wants a long commute where you don’t get anything more than you’d get locally? Turns out, there are many who don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please cite your sources.

Ask anyone with a current magnet student there

No. Rumor mongering is tacky.

It’s not a rumor.

Then you can cite your sources.

[Anonymous]

Wait, so they're getting rid of the magnet program for next year?

[Anonymous]

This is great. The less opportunity MCPS offers students, the easier it is for them to get that most rigorous schedule checkbox on college apps and more kids get into harvard

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, so they're getting rid of the magnet program for next year?

The rumor is that they are removing the extra course period per day compared to other schools, and some autism thing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, so they're getting rid of the magnet program for next year?

No, it sounds like they are going from a 6 class schedule to a 5 so kids lose an elective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised MCPS would gut TPMS. I thought it was considered one of the golden schools in the system? But the rest of the stuff you described in terms of lack of transparency, disregarding community input, etc. is very much textbook MCPS.

I just didn't think they'd do that to Takoma Park!

The teachers voted to go from teaching 6 classes to 5. They voted to keep class size at current level. Said a few more per class was absolutely not doable.

Translates to one less elective for everyone. And for any special program student, magnet or otherwise, means they only have one. Most of the magnet students were pushed in to taking a language as an elective and so now must choose between an actual elective and language. The majority will choose language. The school openly acknowledges that the number of electives teachers will decrease- the majority of which are music and art teachers. The majority of magnet kids (1/3 of the school) had their “2nd elective” in the arts- many in band/orchestra.

As for the autism program and other programs where kids need enrichments, they will loose those enrichments or have zero electives.


The administration “promises” to review “mitigation strategies” at some point. Fat chance.

That’s normal for most ms.

Most MS are local schools. Who wants a long commute where you don’t get anything more than you’d get locally? Turns out, there are many who don’t.

So only kids whose home school is crappy will choose the magnet. Win for equity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, so they're getting rid of the magnet program for next year?

No, it sounds like they are going from a 6 class schedule to a 5 so kids lose an elective.

7 to 6

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please cite your sources.

Ask anyone with a current magnet student there

No. Rumor mongering is tacky.

It’s not a rumor.

Then you can cite your sources.

You have them
It’s an anonymous forum so next time choose the forum in line with the sources you seek

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please cite your sources.

Ask anyone with a current magnet student there

No. Rumor mongering is tacky.

I’m a current TPMS parent and the OP summed it up pretty well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised MCPS would gut TPMS. I thought it was considered one of the golden schools in the system? But the rest of the stuff you described in terms of lack of transparency, disregarding community input, etc. is very much textbook MCPS.

I just didn't think they'd do that to Takoma Park!

It only has a small group of kids so no surprise.

There are 1200 kids at TPMS. Hardly a “small group”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, so they're getting rid of the magnet program for next year?

The rumor is that they are removing the extra course period per day compared to other schools, and some autism thing

Not a rumor. Teachers voted. Faked some community engagement scheme. All that needs to be done is approval from central office where they will no doubt put forth some bullshit data none of us are allowed to see to prove the community supports them. It was very clear from tonight’s meeting, it doesn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please cite your sources.

Ask anyone with a current magnet student there

No. Rumor mongering is tacky.

It’s not a rumor.

Then you can cite your sources.

DP, the sources are our experience with the school. A meeting this evening held by the school. A meeting held in early December for magnet families. Another in mid November. The principal’s newsletters.