Is Einstein getting totally screwed in the boundary and program study proposals?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like it. Thoughts? What should we do about this?

What’s gonna happen to Einstein?

Boundary study options all pull lower FARMS schools out of Einstein/higher FARMS schools into it and the regional magnet program will pull higher achieving kids into magnets placed at other schools within the region leaving existing programs at Einstein without students and therefore without funding. MCPS is taking a school with a diverse socioeconomic population and good programs, which has been a relative success story, and cutting it off at the knees (and uniquely so among all the rest of the schools at issue). Parents in boundary need to speak up!

Einstein gets no regional program? What about IB, VAPA, or VAC?

Einstein's regional programs:

● Visual Art Center* and
DESIGN
● Education

VAPA and IB could remain as local programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And note, there aren't a lot of special programs in Whitman and BCC so they are just gaining resources they don't need while Einstein's resources will be reduced (their programs rely on interested students choosing Einstein through the choice process - without the DCC they will be weakened if not totally eliminated).

I get why MCPS no longer wants to advertise equity as a deciding factor but they didn’t have to go the opposite way! Seems like the county would be interested maximizing the number of schools that have broad appeal even if just for property values - these proposals, particularly in combo, do the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like it. Thoughts? What should we do about this?

What’s gonna happen to Einstein?

Boundary study options all pull lower FARMS schools out of Einstein/higher FARMS schools into it and the regional magnet program will pull higher achieving kids into magnets placed at other schools within the region leaving existing programs at Einstein without students and therefore without funding. MCPS is taking a school with a diverse socioeconomic population and good programs, which has been a relative success story, and cutting it off at the knees (and uniquely so among all the rest of the schools at issue). Parents in boundary need to speak up!

Einstein gets no regional program? What about IB, VAPA, or VAC?

VAPA will only be available for students zoned to Einstein. If there isn't enough interest, they will take it away. Same with IB which is currently quite small - with the reduction in the student body and lack of DCC choice process, who knows if they will still offer it.

They are proposing Einstein keep VAC though most of the students that attend VAC currently are from West county schools so makes no sense

That’s ridiculous. VAPA and VAC are Einstein identities. Why not make VAPA a regional program?

Because they’re splitting the performing arts piece off and putting at Northwood.

The criteria based magnets should be at higher FARMS schools. Move regional IB or humanities to Einstein. BCC doesn’t need both!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like it. Thoughts? What should we do about this?

What’s gonna happen to Einstein?

Boundary study options all pull lower FARMS schools out of Einstein/higher FARMS schools into it and the regional magnet program will pull higher achieving kids into magnets placed at other schools within the region leaving existing programs at Einstein without students and therefore without funding. MCPS is taking a school with a diverse socioeconomic population and good programs, which has been a relative success story, and cutting it off at the knees (and uniquely so among all the rest of the schools at issue). Parents in boundary need to speak up!

Einstein gets no regional program? What about IB, VAPA, or VAC?

Regional IB goes to BCC. Regional performing arts go to Northwood. Einstein keeps regional visual arts only plus education which as I understand it is low interest. BCC also gets humanities magnet. Someone on another thread suggested as a minimum advocating for humanities magnet at Einstein and education at BCC since they have some sort of preschool training piece.

Why would Northwood get a regional performing arts program over Einstein? That would kill VAPA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like it. Thoughts? What should we do about this?

What’s gonna happen to Einstein?

Boundary study options all pull lower FARMS schools out of Einstein/higher FARMS schools into it and the regional magnet program will pull higher achieving kids into magnets placed at other schools within the region leaving existing programs at Einstein without students and therefore without funding. MCPS is taking a school with a diverse socioeconomic population and good programs, which has been a relative success story, and cutting it off at the knees (and uniquely so among all the rest of the schools at issue). Parents in boundary need to speak up!

Einstein gets no regional program? What about IB, VAPA, or VAC?

Regional IB goes to BCC. Regional performing arts go to Northwood. Einstein keeps regional visual arts only plus education which as I understand it is low interest. BCC also gets humanities magnet. Someone on another thread suggested as a minimum advocating for humanities magnet at Einstein and education at BCC since they have some sort of preschool training piece.

Why would Northwood get a regional performing arts program over Einstein? That would kill VAPA.

The claim is because they have a shinny new building. MCPS refuses to invest any money in Einstein.

VAC is very small. VAPA is larger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And note, there aren't a lot of special programs in Whitman and BCC so they are just gaining resources they don't need while Einstein's resources will be reduced (their programs rely on interested students choosing Einstein through the choice process - without the DCC they will be weakened if not totally eliminated).

I get why MCPS no longer wants to advertise equity as a deciding factor but they didn’t have to go the opposite way! Seems like the county would be interested maximizing the number of schools that have broad appeal even if just for property values - these proposals, particularly in combo, do the opposite.

Not only that but they are ramming it though extremely quickly. No budget, no staffing plans, just a "we're doing this". And it will all be managed centrally. We all know how well Central Office does doing pretty much anything.

[Anonymous]

Also it’s my understanding regional magnets have significant set asides for kids in the host school. So if both criteria based magnets are at BCC it makes it easier for BCC kids to get in (since ~30% spots reserved for them whereas remaining 70% spots have to be split among the other schools in the region).

[Anonymous]

We have the resources to pay for private school and will be watching this closely. The DCC was a draw for us because it meant our kid could pursue her interests by choosing a specialized program. Now her options at Einstein may be very limited and apparently if something like precalc or calculus doesn't have enough interest she'll have to do it virtually. Those are just basic college prep courses and if MCPS can't offer basic college prep courses in person of course we'll look at other options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also it’s my understanding regional magnets have significant set asides for kids in the host school. So if both criteria based magnets are at BCC it makes it easier for BCC kids to get in (since ~30% spots reserved for them whereas remaining 70% spots have to be split among the other schools in the region).

Specialized magnets for the rich kids, virtual precalc for middle class kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And note, there aren't a lot of special programs in Whitman and BCC so they are just gaining resources they don't need while Einstein's resources will be reduced (their programs rely on interested students choosing Einstein through the choice process - without the DCC they will be weakened if not totally eliminated).

What resources are they going to gain if they aren’t hosting special programs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like it. Thoughts? What should we do about this?

What’s gonna happen to Einstein?

Boundary study options all pull lower FARMS schools out of Einstein/higher FARMS schools into it and the regional magnet program will pull higher achieving kids into magnets placed at other schools within the region leaving existing programs at Einstein without students and therefore without funding. MCPS is taking a school with a diverse socioeconomic population and good programs, which has been a relative success story, and cutting it off at the knees (and uniquely so among all the rest of the schools at issue). Parents in boundary need to speak up!

Einstein gets no regional program? What about IB, VAPA, or VAC?

Regional IB goes to BCC. Regional performing arts go to Northwood. Einstein keeps regional visual arts only plus education which as I understand it is low interest. BCC also gets humanities magnet. Someone on another thread suggested as a minimum advocating for humanities magnet at Einstein and education at BCC since they have some sort of preschool training piece.

Why would Northwood get a regional performing arts program over Einstein? That would kill VAPA.

The claim is because they have a shinny new building. MCPS refuses to invest any money in Einstein.

VAC is very small. VAPA is larger.

Einstein already has the reputation and the staff. It makes no sense to create a new performing arts program from scratch when you can strengthen an existing one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have the resources to pay for private school and will be watching this closely. The DCC was a draw for us because it meant our kid could pursue her interests by choosing a specialized program. Now her options at Einstein may be very limited and apparently if something like precalc or calculus doesn't have enough interest she'll have to do it virtually. Those are just basic college prep courses and if MCPS can't offer basic college prep courses in person of course we'll look at other options.

Einstein has both Precalc and Calculus every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have the resources to pay for private school and will be watching this closely. The DCC was a draw for us because it meant our kid could pursue her interests by choosing a specialized program. Now her options at Einstein may be very limited and apparently if something like precalc or calculus doesn't have enough interest she'll have to do it virtually. Those are just basic college prep courses and if MCPS can't offer basic college prep courses in person of course we'll look at other options.

Einstein has both Precalc and Calculus every year.

And it's losing 25% of its student body

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like it. Thoughts? What should we do about this?

What’s gonna happen to Einstein?

Boundary study options all pull lower FARMS schools out of Einstein/higher FARMS schools into it and the regional magnet program will pull higher achieving kids into magnets placed at other schools within the region leaving existing programs at Einstein without students and therefore without funding. MCPS is taking a school with a diverse socioeconomic population and good programs, which has been a relative success story, and cutting it off at the knees (and uniquely so among all the rest of the schools at issue). Parents in boundary need to speak up!

Einstein gets no regional program? What about IB, VAPA, or VAC?

Regional IB goes to BCC. Regional performing arts go to Northwood. Einstein keeps regional visual arts only plus education which as I understand it is low interest. BCC also gets humanities magnet. Someone on another thread suggested as a minimum advocating for humanities magnet at Einstein and education at BCC since they have some sort of preschool training piece.

Why would Northwood get a regional performing arts program over Einstein? That would kill VAPA.

The claim is because they have a shinny new building. MCPS refuses to invest any money in Einstein.

VAC is very small. VAPA is larger.

Einstein already has the reputation and the staff. It makes no sense to create a new performing arts program from scratch when you can strengthen an existing one.

Einstein doesn't have the space for a large, popular magnet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have the resources to pay for private school and will be watching this closely. The DCC was a draw for us because it meant our kid could pursue her interests by choosing a specialized program. Now her options at Einstein may be very limited and apparently if something like precalc or calculus doesn't have enough interest she'll have to do it virtually. Those are just basic college prep courses and if MCPS can't offer basic college prep courses in person of course we'll look at other options.

Einstein has both Precalc and Calculus every year.

And it's losing 25% of its student body

The 25% that can't fit inside the building.