Impact of CAP/Poolesville Humanities/etc not being criteria-based anymore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Can anyone with experience with these programs, or with the difference between criteria-based and interest-based programs more generally, speak to the potential impact of this and whether you think it is concerning or would work out fine? How competitive/selective are these programs, and how much does the cohort makeup affect the experience? Are the classes currently challenging enough that an interest-based cohort would be unlikely to be able to handle them and hence they would likely be watered down moving forward? Would this be a modest change or a "these programs will no longer exist as we know them" kind of change?

I have a rising senior in the Poolesville Humanities program and I thought you should hear directly from a student in one of these programs. Here's what my DD had to say.

While the program is challenging and competitive (60 seats per grade for the entirety of the upcounty region), the rigor alone is not what makes PHS Humanities so special. The experience depends on students who are fast-paced learners, strong readers/writers and researchers, and motivated to form a tight-knit community with peers at their level. The cohort is the foundation of the experience. Being in classes with the same group of people throughout high school builds community, and that has been one of the best parts of going to PHS. I can't imagine myself anywhere else, and that's because of the people.

If you take away the cohort, Humanities is just a list of a bunch of AP classes that can be replicated at any school. 9th grade, AP Gov; 10th grade, AP Seminar and APUSH; 11th grade, AP Lang, AP World, and AP Art History; 12th grade, AP Research and AP Lit. Aside from two classes that were designed only for Humanities, you can get the full program experience anywhere....right? Except the cohort informs class discussions, the interdisciplinary projects, group work, field trips, etc. It just wouldn't be the same.

If it became interest-based, the rigor would definitely be reduced to accommodate the students who wouldn't previously have been accepted. I went to the middle school Humanities magnet at MLK, which became lottery-based during the pandemic starting with the class two years behind me. When I was in 8th grade, one of the program teachers confided that there was a noticeable difference in the abilities of the 6th graders and that the speed and rigor of the class were affected.

Ultimately, I haven't heard anything about this change from selective criteria-based to interest-based, but I hope it doesn't happen. Humanities would go from a program to a list of classes.

Your DC would do everyone a favor by testifying at BOE. Keep the humanities magnet criteria based when it goes regional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Can anyone with experience with these programs, or with the difference between criteria-based and interest-based programs more generally, speak to the potential impact of this and whether you think it is concerning or would work out fine? How competitive/selective are these programs, and how much does the cohort makeup affect the experience? Are the classes currently challenging enough that an interest-based cohort would be unlikely to be able to handle them and hence they would likely be watered down moving forward? Would this be a modest change or a "these programs will no longer exist as we know them" kind of change?

I have a rising senior in the Poolesville Humanities program and I thought you should hear directly from a student in one of these programs. Here's what my DD had to say.

While the program is challenging and competitive (60 seats per grade for the entirety of the upcounty region), the rigor alone is not what makes PHS Humanities so special. The experience depends on students who are fast-paced learners, strong readers/writers and researchers, and motivated to form a tight-knit community with peers at their level. The cohort is the foundation of the experience. Being in classes with the same group of people throughout high school builds community, and that has been one of the best parts of going to PHS. I can't imagine myself anywhere else, and that's because of the people.

If you take away the cohort, Humanities is just a list of a bunch of AP classes that can be replicated at any school. 9th grade, AP Gov; 10th grade, AP Seminar and APUSH; 11th grade, AP Lang, AP World, and AP Art History; 12th grade, AP Research and AP Lit. Aside from two classes that were designed only for Humanities, you can get the full program experience anywhere....right? Except the cohort informs class discussions, the interdisciplinary projects, group work, field trips, etc. It just wouldn't be the same.

If it became interest-based, the rigor would definitely be reduced to accommodate the students who wouldn't previously have been accepted. I went to the middle school Humanities magnet at MLK, which became lottery-based during the pandemic starting with the class two years behind me. When I was in 8th grade, one of the program teachers confided that there was a noticeable difference in the abilities of the 6th graders and that the speed and rigor of the class were affected.

Ultimately, I haven't heard anything about this change from selective criteria-based to interest-based, but I hope it doesn't happen. Humanities would go from a program to a list of classes.

Send your concern to BOE and cc Taylor and Nicky Porter. They have no idea about these.

Of course Niki (Hazel) Porter knows (I imagine Taylor does, as well, but he's only been around a year vs. Porter's many, and this is within/very proximate to her sphere of influence, whereas Taylor has the whole kit and caboodle conpeting for his attention).

Support for it simply isn't her interest.

Her job title is chief academy officer. Why does she hate rigor so much? And who gives her power to always move nonsense forward to drag down the entire system? I don’t think she is a villain but just incompetent. At what point can she be hold accountable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Can anyone with experience with these programs, or with the difference between criteria-based and interest-based programs more generally, speak to the potential impact of this and whether you think it is concerning or would work out fine? How competitive/selective are these programs, and how much does the cohort makeup affect the experience? Are the classes currently challenging enough that an interest-based cohort would be unlikely to be able to handle them and hence they would likely be watered down moving forward? Would this be a modest change or a "these programs will no longer exist as we know them" kind of change?

I have a rising senior in the Poolesville Humanities program and I thought you should hear directly from a student in one of these programs. Here's what my DD had to say.

While the program is challenging and competitive (60 seats per grade for the entirety of the upcounty region), the rigor alone is not what makes PHS Humanities so special. The experience depends on students who are fast-paced learners, strong readers/writers and researchers, and motivated to form a tight-knit community with peers at their level. The cohort is the foundation of the experience. Being in classes with the same group of people throughout high school builds community, and that has been one of the best parts of going to PHS. I can't imagine myself anywhere else, and that's because of the people.

If you take away the cohort, Humanities is just a list of a bunch of AP classes that can be replicated at any school. 9th grade, AP Gov; 10th grade, AP Seminar and APUSH; 11th grade, AP Lang, AP World, and AP Art History; 12th grade, AP Research and AP Lit. Aside from two classes that were designed only for Humanities, you can get the full program experience anywhere....right? Except the cohort informs class discussions, the interdisciplinary projects, group work, field trips, etc. It just wouldn't be the same.

If it became interest-based, the rigor would definitely be reduced to accommodate the students who wouldn't previously have been accepted. I went to the middle school Humanities magnet at MLK, which became lottery-based during the pandemic starting with the class two years behind me. When I was in 8th grade, one of the program teachers confided that there was a noticeable difference in the abilities of the 6th graders and that the speed and rigor of the class were affected.

Ultimately, I haven't heard anything about this change from selective criteria-based to interest-based, but I hope it doesn't happen. Humanities would go from a program to a list of classes.

Send your concern to BOE and cc Taylor and Nicky Porter. They have no idea about these.

Of course Niki (Hazel) Porter knows (I imagine Taylor does, as well, but he's only been around a year vs. Porter's many, and this is within/very proximate to her sphere of influence, whereas Taylor has the whole kit and caboodle conpeting for his attention).

Support for it simply isn't her interest.

Her job title is chief academy officer. Why does she hate rigor so much? And who gives her power to always move nonsense forward to drag down the entire system? I don’t think she is a villain but just incompetent. At what point can she be hold accountable?

Watching the BOE meetings, Taylor seems very definite about his belief in the regional programming plan. I believe we need to hold him accountable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Can anyone with experience with these programs, or with the difference between criteria-based and interest-based programs more generally, speak to the potential impact of this and whether you think it is concerning or would work out fine? How competitive/selective are these programs, and how much does the cohort makeup affect the experience? Are the classes currently challenging enough that an interest-based cohort would be unlikely to be able to handle them and hence they would likely be watered down moving forward? Would this be a modest change or a "these programs will no longer exist as we know them" kind of change?

I have a rising senior in the Poolesville Humanities program and I thought you should hear directly from a student in one of these programs. Here's what my DD had to say.

While the program is challenging and competitive (60 seats per grade for the entirety of the upcounty region), the rigor alone is not what makes PHS Humanities so special. The experience depends on students who are fast-paced learners, strong readers/writers and researchers, and motivated to form a tight-knit community with peers at their level. The cohort is the foundation of the experience. Being in classes with the same group of people throughout high school builds community, and that has been one of the best parts of going to PHS. I can't imagine myself anywhere else, and that's because of the people.

If you take away the cohort, Humanities is just a list of a bunch of AP classes that can be replicated at any school. 9th grade, AP Gov; 10th grade, AP Seminar and APUSH; 11th grade, AP Lang, AP World, and AP Art History; 12th grade, AP Research and AP Lit. Aside from two classes that were designed only for Humanities, you can get the full program experience anywhere....right? Except the cohort informs class discussions, the interdisciplinary projects, group work, field trips, etc. It just wouldn't be the same.

If it became interest-based, the rigor would definitely be reduced to accommodate the students who wouldn't previously have been accepted. I went to the middle school Humanities magnet at MLK, which became lottery-based during the pandemic starting with the class two years behind me. When I was in 8th grade, one of the program teachers confided that there was a noticeable difference in the abilities of the 6th graders and that the speed and rigor of the class were affected.

Ultimately, I haven't heard anything about this change from selective criteria-based to interest-based, but I hope it doesn't happen. Humanities would go from a program to a list of classes.

Send your concern to BOE and cc Taylor and Nicky Porter. They have no idea about these.

They have every idea. I bet PP's kid is white or maybe Asian. She is
problem that the new system is trying to solve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah I noticed that for CAP and am concerned about how that will work (speaking as a parent who does have experience with the program). It’s pretty rigorous even though it’s not extremely selective but I am not sure what will happen if it’s lottery based. Maybe kids will self select if they understand what the program entails but I could see many students leaving if they do not. It’s also more of an interdisciplinary humanities program with some communications classes, not exactly a “communications” program. The English/Social studies classes are cohosted and involve a lot of group projects that are pretty involved.

I don’t imagine that students from across the region will be interested in CAP if it’s less rigorous. Not good news for Blair.

Does Blair get to keep CAP in the new plan? I thought it was moving to BCC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah I noticed that for CAP and am concerned about how that will work (speaking as a parent who does have experience with the program). It’s pretty rigorous even though it’s not extremely selective but I am not sure what will happen if it’s lottery based. Maybe kids will self select if they understand what the program entails but I could see many students leaving if they do not. It’s also more of an interdisciplinary humanities program with some communications classes, not exactly a “communications” program. The English/Social studies classes are cohosted and involve a lot of group projects that are pretty involved.

I don’t imagine that students from across the region will be interested in CAP if it’s less rigorous. Not good news for Blair.

Does Blair get to keep CAP in the new plan? I thought it was moving to BCC.

They have "communication" (presumably CAP) at Blair and "humanities" at BCC. Both interest-based.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Can anyone with experience with these programs, or with the difference between criteria-based and interest-based programs more generally, speak to the potential impact of this and whether you think it is concerning or would work out fine? How competitive/selective are these programs, and how much does the cohort makeup affect the experience? Are the classes currently challenging enough that an interest-based cohort would be unlikely to be able to handle them and hence they would likely be watered down moving forward? Would this be a modest change or a "these programs will no longer exist as we know them" kind of change?

I have a rising senior in the Poolesville Humanities program and I thought you should hear directly from a student in one of these programs. Here's what my DD had to say.

While the program is challenging and competitive (60 seats per grade for the entirety of the upcounty region), the rigor alone is not what makes PHS Humanities so special. The experience depends on students who are fast-paced learners, strong readers/writers and researchers, and motivated to form a tight-knit community with peers at their level. The cohort is the foundation of the experience. Being in classes with the same group of people throughout high school builds community, and that has been one of the best parts of going to PHS. I can't imagine myself anywhere else, and that's because of the people.

If you take away the cohort, Humanities is just a list of a bunch of AP classes that can be replicated at any school. 9th grade, AP Gov; 10th grade, AP Seminar and APUSH; 11th grade, AP Lang, AP World, and AP Art History; 12th grade, AP Research and AP Lit. Aside from two classes that were designed only for Humanities, you can get the full program experience anywhere....right? Except the cohort informs class discussions, the interdisciplinary projects, group work, field trips, etc. It just wouldn't be the same.

If it became interest-based, the rigor would definitely be reduced to accommodate the students who wouldn't previously have been accepted. I went to the middle school Humanities magnet at MLK, which became lottery-based during the pandemic starting with the class two years behind me. When I was in 8th grade, one of the program teachers confided that there was a noticeable difference in the abilities of the 6th graders and that the speed and rigor of the class were affected.

Ultimately, I haven't heard anything about this change from selective criteria-based to interest-based, but I hope it doesn't happen. Humanities would go from a program to a list of classes.

Send your concern to BOE and cc Taylor and Nicky Porter. They have no idea about these.

Of course Niki (Hazel) Porter knows (I imagine Taylor does, as well, but he's only been around a year vs. Porter's many, and this is within/very proximate to her sphere of influence, whereas Taylor has the whole kit and caboodle conpeting for his attention).

Support for it simply isn't her interest.

Her job title is chief academy officer. Why does she hate rigor so much? And who gives her power to always move nonsense forward to drag down the entire system? I don’t think she is a villain but just incompetent. At what point can she be hold accountable?

Watching the BOE meetings, Taylor seems very definite about his belief in the regional programming plan. I believe we need to hold him accountable.

Maybe by having the BOE say, "You may do this, but only if you do it such that the breadth and depth of the more rigorous existing programs (e.g., bi-regional SMCS, countywide IB, Poolesville Humanities, etc.) are maintained and replicated to each region."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah I noticed that for CAP and am concerned about how that will work (speaking as a parent who does have experience with the program). It’s pretty rigorous even though it’s not extremely selective but I am not sure what will happen if it’s lottery based. Maybe kids will self select if they understand what the program entails but I could see many students leaving if they do not. It’s also more of an interdisciplinary humanities program with some communications classes, not exactly a “communications” program. The English/Social studies classes are cohosted and involve a lot of group projects that are pretty involved.

I don’t imagine that students from across the region will be interested in CAP if it’s less rigorous. Not good news for Blair.

Does Blair get to keep CAP in the new plan? I thought it was moving to BCC.

They have "communication" (presumably CAP) at Blair and "humanities" at BCC. Both interest-based.

Can you post a link to where this information is located? I know what our proposed new region is but not which school is supposed to have which programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah I noticed that for CAP and am concerned about how that will work (speaking as a parent who does have experience with the program). It’s pretty rigorous even though it’s not extremely selective but I am not sure what will happen if it’s lottery based. Maybe kids will self select if they understand what the program entails but I could see many students leaving if they do not. It’s also more of an interdisciplinary humanities program with some communications classes, not exactly a “communications” program. The English/Social studies classes are cohosted and involve a lot of group projects that are pretty involved.

I don’t imagine that students from across the region will be interested in CAP if it’s less rigorous. Not good news for Blair.

Does Blair get to keep CAP in the new plan? I thought it was moving to BCC.

They have "communication" (presumably CAP) at Blair and "humanities" at BCC. Both interest-based.

Can you post a link to where this information is located? I know what our proposed new region is but not which school is supposed to have which programs.

It's at this link, slides 40-42 (if anyone can grab the images to post in-thread that would be appreciated!): https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DKRJWU4F383C/$file/10.01%20Program%20Analysis%20Boundary%20Studies%20Comm%20Engage%20Plan%20Update%20250821%20PPT%20REV.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Can anyone with experience with these programs, or with the difference between criteria-based and interest-based programs more generally, speak to the potential impact of this and whether you think it is concerning or would work out fine? How competitive/selective are these programs, and how much does the cohort makeup affect the experience? Are the classes currently challenging enough that an interest-based cohort would be unlikely to be able to handle them and hence they would likely be watered down moving forward? Would this be a modest change or a "these programs will no longer exist as we know them" kind of change?

I have a rising senior in the Poolesville Humanities program and I thought you should hear directly from a student in one of these programs. Here's what my DD had to say.

While the program is challenging and competitive (60 seats per grade for the entirety of the upcounty region), the rigor alone is not what makes PHS Humanities so special. The experience depends on students who are fast-paced learners, strong readers/writers and researchers, and motivated to form a tight-knit community with peers at their level. The cohort is the foundation of the experience. Being in classes with the same group of people throughout high school builds community, and that has been one of the best parts of going to PHS. I can't imagine myself anywhere else, and that's because of the people.

If you take away the cohort, Humanities is just a list of a bunch of AP classes that can be replicated at any school. 9th grade, AP Gov; 10th grade, AP Seminar and APUSH; 11th grade, AP Lang, AP World, and AP Art History; 12th grade, AP Research and AP Lit. Aside from two classes that were designed only for Humanities, you can get the full program experience anywhere....right? Except the cohort informs class discussions, the interdisciplinary projects, group work, field trips, etc. It just wouldn't be the same.

If it became interest-based, the rigor would definitely be reduced to accommodate the students who wouldn't previously have been accepted. I went to the middle school Humanities magnet at MLK, which became lottery-based during the pandemic starting with the class two years behind me. When I was in 8th grade, one of the program teachers confided that there was a noticeable difference in the abilities of the 6th graders and that the speed and rigor of the class were affected.

Ultimately, I haven't heard anything about this change from selective criteria-based to interest-based, but I hope it doesn't happen. Humanities would go from a program to a list of classes.

Send your concern to BOE and cc Taylor and Nicky Porter. They have no idea about these.

Of course Niki (Hazel) Porter knows (I imagine Taylor does, as well, but he's only been around a year vs. Porter's many, and this is within/very proximate to her sphere of influence, whereas Taylor has the whole kit and caboodle conpeting for his attention).

Support for it simply isn't her interest.

Her job title is chief academy officer. Why does she hate rigor so much? And who gives her power to always move nonsense forward to drag down the entire system? I don’t think she is a villain but just incompetent. At what point can she be hold accountable?

Watching the BOE meetings, Taylor seems very definite about his belief in the regional programming plan. I believe we need to hold him accountable.

I think regional programming is a good idea, but the skew that makes the STEM programs criteria-based, but the Humanities program interest-based, demonstrates a lack of respect for Humanities and what they offer students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Can anyone with experience with these programs, or with the difference between criteria-based and interest-based programs more generally, speak to the potential impact of this and whether you think it is concerning or would work out fine? How competitive/selective are these programs, and how much does the cohort makeup affect the experience? Are the classes currently challenging enough that an interest-based cohort would be unlikely to be able to handle them and hence they would likely be watered down moving forward? Would this be a modest change or a "these programs will no longer exist as we know them" kind of change?

I have a rising senior in the Poolesville Humanities program and I thought you should hear directly from a student in one of these programs. Here's what my DD had to say.

While the program is challenging and competitive (60 seats per grade for the entirety of the upcounty region), the rigor alone is not what makes PHS Humanities so special. The experience depends on students who are fast-paced learners, strong readers/writers and researchers, and motivated to form a tight-knit community with peers at their level. The cohort is the foundation of the experience. Being in classes with the same group of people throughout high school builds community, and that has been one of the best parts of going to PHS. I can't imagine myself anywhere else, and that's because of the people.

If you take away the cohort, Humanities is just a list of a bunch of AP classes that can be replicated at any school. 9th grade, AP Gov; 10th grade, AP Seminar and APUSH; 11th grade, AP Lang, AP World, and AP Art History; 12th grade, AP Research and AP Lit. Aside from two classes that were designed only for Humanities, you can get the full program experience anywhere....right? Except the cohort informs class discussions, the interdisciplinary projects, group work, field trips, etc. It just wouldn't be the same.

If it became interest-based, the rigor would definitely be reduced to accommodate the students who wouldn't previously have been accepted. I went to the middle school Humanities magnet at MLK, which became lottery-based during the pandemic starting with the class two years behind me. When I was in 8th grade, one of the program teachers confided that there was a noticeable difference in the abilities of the 6th graders and that the speed and rigor of the class were affected.

Ultimately, I haven't heard anything about this change from selective criteria-based to interest-based, but I hope it doesn't happen. Humanities would go from a program to a list of classes.

If having a cohort that you stay with is a good thing, then the goal needs to be to make that available to a lot more people. Make cohorts a part of high school.

And if it's not a good idea for everyone else, then "a list of APs" should be good enough for the CAP kids too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Can anyone with experience with these programs, or with the difference between criteria-based and interest-based programs more generally, speak to the potential impact of this and whether you think it is concerning or would work out fine? How competitive/selective are these programs, and how much does the cohort makeup affect the experience? Are the classes currently challenging enough that an interest-based cohort would be unlikely to be able to handle them and hence they would likely be watered down moving forward? Would this be a modest change or a "these programs will no longer exist as we know them" kind of change?

I have a rising senior in the Poolesville Humanities program and I thought you should hear directly from a student in one of these programs. Here's what my DD had to say.

While the program is challenging and competitive (60 seats per grade for the entirety of the upcounty region), the rigor alone is not what makes PHS Humanities so special. The experience depends on students who are fast-paced learners, strong readers/writers and researchers, and motivated to form a tight-knit community with peers at their level. The cohort is the foundation of the experience. Being in classes with the same group of people throughout high school builds community, and that has been one of the best parts of going to PHS. I can't imagine myself anywhere else, and that's because of the people.

If you take away the cohort, Humanities is just a list of a bunch of AP classes that can be replicated at any school. 9th grade, AP Gov; 10th grade, AP Seminar and APUSH; 11th grade, AP Lang, AP World, and AP Art History; 12th grade, AP Research and AP Lit. Aside from two classes that were designed only for Humanities, you can get the full program experience anywhere....right? Except the cohort informs class discussions, the interdisciplinary projects, group work, field trips, etc. It just wouldn't be the same.

If it became interest-based, the rigor would definitely be reduced to accommodate the students who wouldn't previously have been accepted. I went to the middle school Humanities magnet at MLK, which became lottery-based during the pandemic starting with the class two years behind me. When I was in 8th grade, one of the program teachers confided that there was a noticeable difference in the abilities of the 6th graders and that the speed and rigor of the class were affected.

Ultimately, I haven't heard anything about this change from selective criteria-based to interest-based, but I hope it doesn't happen. Humanities would go from a program to a list of classes.

Send your concern to BOE and cc Taylor and Nicky Porter. They have no idea about these.

Of course Niki (Hazel) Porter knows (I imagine Taylor does, as well, but he's only been around a year vs. Porter's many, and this is within/very proximate to her sphere of influence, whereas Taylor has the whole kit and caboodle conpeting for his attention).

Support for it simply isn't her interest.

Her job title is chief academy officer. Why does she hate rigor so much? And who gives her power to always move nonsense forward to drag down the entire system? I don’t think she is a villain but just incompetent. At what point can she be hold accountable?

Watching the BOE meetings, Taylor seems very definite about his belief in the regional programming plan. I believe we need to hold him accountable.

I think regional programming is a good idea, but the skew that makes the STEM programs criteria-based, but the Humanities program interest-based, demonstrates a lack of respect for Humanities and what they offer students.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Can anyone with experience with these programs, or with the difference between criteria-based and interest-based programs more generally, speak to the potential impact of this and whether you think it is concerning or would work out fine? How competitive/selective are these programs, and how much does the cohort makeup affect the experience? Are the classes currently challenging enough that an interest-based cohort would be unlikely to be able to handle them and hence they would likely be watered down moving forward? Would this be a modest change or a "these programs will no longer exist as we know them" kind of change?

I have a rising senior in the Poolesville Humanities program and I thought you should hear directly from a student in one of these programs. Here's what my DD had to say.

While the program is challenging and competitive (60 seats per grade for the entirety of the upcounty region), the rigor alone is not what makes PHS Humanities so special. The experience depends on students who are fast-paced learners, strong readers/writers and researchers, and motivated to form a tight-knit community with peers at their level. The cohort is the foundation of the experience. Being in classes with the same group of people throughout high school builds community, and that has been one of the best parts of going to PHS. I can't imagine myself anywhere else, and that's because of the people.

If you take away the cohort, Humanities is just a list of a bunch of AP classes that can be replicated at any school. 9th grade, AP Gov; 10th grade, AP Seminar and APUSH; 11th grade, AP Lang, AP World, and AP Art History; 12th grade, AP Research and AP Lit. Aside from two classes that were designed only for Humanities, you can get the full program experience anywhere....right? Except the cohort informs class discussions, the interdisciplinary projects, group work, field trips, etc. It just wouldn't be the same.

If it became interest-based, the rigor would definitely be reduced to accommodate the students who wouldn't previously have been accepted. I went to the middle school Humanities magnet at MLK, which became lottery-based during the pandemic starting with the class two years behind me. When I was in 8th grade, one of the program teachers confided that there was a noticeable difference in the abilities of the 6th graders and that the speed and rigor of the class were affected.

Ultimately, I haven't heard anything about this change from selective criteria-based to interest-based, but I hope it doesn't happen. Humanities would go from a program to a list of classes.

If having a cohort that you stay with is a good thing, then the goal needs to be to make that available to a lot more people. Make cohorts a part of high school.

And if it's not a good idea for everyone else, then "a list of APs" should be good enough for the CAP kids too.

What does this even mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Can anyone with experience with these programs, or with the difference between criteria-based and interest-based programs more generally, speak to the potential impact of this and whether you think it is concerning or would work out fine? How competitive/selective are these programs, and how much does the cohort makeup affect the experience? Are the classes currently challenging enough that an interest-based cohort would be unlikely to be able to handle them and hence they would likely be watered down moving forward? Would this be a modest change or a "these programs will no longer exist as we know them" kind of change?

I have a rising senior in the Poolesville Humanities program and I thought you should hear directly from a student in one of these programs. Here's what my DD had to say.

While the program is challenging and competitive (60 seats per grade for the entirety of the upcounty region), the rigor alone is not what makes PHS Humanities so special. The experience depends on students who are fast-paced learners, strong readers/writers and researchers, and motivated to form a tight-knit community with peers at their level. The cohort is the foundation of the experience. Being in classes with the same group of people throughout high school builds community, and that has been one of the best parts of going to PHS. I can't imagine myself anywhere else, and that's because of the people.

If you take away the cohort, Humanities is just a list of a bunch of AP classes that can be replicated at any school. 9th grade, AP Gov; 10th grade, AP Seminar and APUSH; 11th grade, AP Lang, AP World, and AP Art History; 12th grade, AP Research and AP Lit. Aside from two classes that were designed only for Humanities, you can get the full program experience anywhere....right? Except the cohort informs class discussions, the interdisciplinary projects, group work, field trips, etc. It just wouldn't be the same.

If it became interest-based, the rigor would definitely be reduced to accommodate the students who wouldn't previously have been accepted. I went to the middle school Humanities magnet at MLK, which became lottery-based during the pandemic starting with the class two years behind me. When I was in 8th grade, one of the program teachers confided that there was a noticeable difference in the abilities of the 6th graders and that the speed and rigor of the class were affected.

Ultimately, I haven't heard anything about this change from selective criteria-based to interest-based, but I hope it doesn't happen. Humanities would go from a program to a list of classes.

If having a cohort that you stay with is a good thing, then the goal needs to be to make that available to a lot more people. Make cohorts a part of high school.

And if it's not a good idea for everyone else, then "a list of APs" should be good enough for the CAP kids too.

I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I understand your comment, but in terms of the tight knit community among the Poolesville Humanities students, it’s not just that you have a cohort of high performing students who take classes together; the program has the flexibility to use a block schedule sometimes so all 60 kids in a grade are together for the 3 consecutive Humanities periods when they’re working on a major project, like the National History Day competition. Multiple teachers are overseeing their work and collaborating on integrated lessons.

[Anonymous]

The interest based middle school programs are not known to be academically rigorous and I know several families that have left those programs because of the lack of rigor. Staff at CES programs and the criteria based magnets have spoken about needing to water down/simplify their teaching since the lottery started. So yes, rigor is likely to be significantly impacted if the humanities programs become interested based.