Blair SMCS Open House

[Anonymous]

My current sophomore came from a middle school with only one other student accepted to SMCS that year. They have plenty of people they are friendly with at school, but haven't formed any close friend groups. I think they think that other kids who came in with a larger group from their middle school have had it easier in that respect, although my kid isn't super outgoing, which probably plays into it as well.

Also, our home middle school was not very good, and they definitely came in with a less solid math foundation than students from some other schools. This made Precalc pretty challenging and they had a lot of catching up to do, but we expected that. My kid loves the science classes, though, and thinks every one of their science teachers has been outstanding. Overall, my kid is happy with the choice to attend SMCS and looking forward to some interesting electives next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My current sophomore came from a middle school with only one other student accepted to SMCS that year. They have plenty of people they are friendly with at school, but haven't formed any close friend groups. I think they think that other kids who came in with a larger group from their middle school have had it easier in that respect, although my kid isn't super outgoing, which probably plays into it as well.

Also, our home middle school was not very good, and they definitely came in with a less solid math foundation than students from some other schools. This made Precalc pretty challenging and they had a lot of catching up to do, but we expected that. My kid loves the science classes, though, and thinks every one of their science teachers has been outstanding. Overall, my kid is happy with the choice to attend SMCS and looking forward to some interesting electives next year.

Similar experience here. The lack of close friends is hard and the work is a grind. It’s a great program if you’re prepared for your family to rearrange your lives to accommodate the intense level of homework (don’t let the kids at the open house mislead you - it’s consistently more than two hours every single night) and for your kid to be permanently sleep deprived! (I guess that sounds like we have regrets…. I’m not sure)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My current sophomore came from a middle school with only one other student accepted to SMCS that year. They have plenty of people they are friendly with at school, but haven't formed any close friend groups. I think they think that other kids who came in with a larger group from their middle school have had it easier in that respect, although my kid isn't super outgoing, which probably plays into it as well.

Also, our home middle school was not very good, and they definitely came in with a less solid math foundation than students from some other schools. This made Precalc pretty challenging and they had a lot of catching up to do, but we expected that. My kid loves the science classes, though, and thinks every one of their science teachers has been outstanding. Overall, my kid is happy with the choice to attend SMCS and looking forward to some interesting electives next year.

Similar experience here. The lack of close friends is hard and the work is a grind. It’s a great program if you’re prepared for your family to rearrange your lives to accommodate the intense level of homework (don’t let the kids at the open house mislead you - it’s consistently more than two hours every single night) and for your kid to be permanently sleep deprived! (I guess that sounds like we have regrets…. I’m not sure)

The students at the open house said they get about eight hours of sleep each night. They seemed genuinely happy and spoke positively about the program. The overall atmosphere felt welcoming and supportive. But they also said if you do sports, then expect less sleep.

[Anonymous]

My current 10th grader came from a cluster that sends very few students (in the “leftover” and outside of MCPS group in the admit open house night, assuming they still group rotations by school cluster). Kid was very worried about attending bc of the commute and not knowing anyone — after the transition day, discovered that there were a couple of other people they did know from CES years (did not do a magnet middle school program), found clubs of interest, and would now never consider going back to home school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the last year of the magnet in its current form and it can be expected that your kids experience will not be as rigorous as in the past. The big benefit is the electives, many of which won’t have enough students to continue. You have to balance whether that’s worth the significant disruption in your lives that comes with going to a different school vs their local school. They also may have better college chances at their home school.

Sounds like a family in the wpool or wlist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re going to decline. It’s just not worth it given the uncertainty about the program and transportation and leaving friends. The extensive electives were what made the program stand apart from home school but now they are at risk. Seems others feel the same way.

Thanks in advance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoping to connect with parents who were at the Blair open house last night to compare observations. We really loved the teachers. The students were very bright. Everyone seemed happy and engaged. Though it was clear that there are a few schools that send a large number of students and they were all together. Our child is the only one from their school so making us wonder how easy it would be to break into those established groups. Also, the program is what it is because of the teachers so concerned what if the teachers leave. Would love to hear others' thoughts so we can make an informed decision by the 13th.

What are the few schools that send a large number of students?

A question was raised on the future regional model. Though they tried to say all will be well, clearly noone knows at this point.

Also, I noticed the majority of accepted students was of certain race.

What "skin color"? Pasty white? Almond white? Brown? Dark brown? Black? Purple? Other?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My current sophomore came from a middle school with only one other student accepted to SMCS that year. They have plenty of people they are friendly with at school, but haven't formed any close friend groups. I think they think that other kids who came in with a larger group from their middle school have had it easier in that respect, although my kid isn't super outgoing, which probably plays into it as well.

Also, our home middle school was not very good, and they definitely came in with a less solid math foundation than students from some other schools. This made Precalc pretty challenging and they had a lot of catching up to do, but we expected that. My kid loves the science classes, though, and thinks every one of their science teachers has been outstanding. Overall, my kid is happy with the choice to attend SMCS and looking forward to some interesting electives next year.

Similar experience here. The lack of close friends is hard and the work is a grind. It’s a great program if you’re prepared for your family to rearrange your lives to accommodate the intense level of homework (don’t let the kids at the open house mislead you - it’s consistently more than two hours every single night) and for your kid to be permanently sleep deprived! (I guess that sounds like we have regrets…. I’m not sure)

The students at the open house said they get about eight hours of sleep each night. They seemed genuinely happy and spoke positively about the program. The overall atmosphere felt welcoming and supportive. But they also said if you do sports, then expect less sleep.

Students who showed up in the open house are likely signing up not only because they have time but also because they likely feel positive about the program. So the view is biased. I have a kid with very strong math foundation and genuine interest in that. They never spent more than 2 hours per night on STEM course works. Magnet course load was the lightest for them overall. Most of their homework time were actually spending on ELA and social science courses. They spent a ton of free time on exploring deeper and self-study topics they are interested in or on competitions and ECs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoping to connect with parents who were at the Blair open house last night to compare observations. We really loved the teachers. The students were very bright. Everyone seemed happy and engaged. Though it was clear that there are a few schools that send a large number of students and they were all together. Our child is the only one from their school so making us wonder how easy it would be to break into those established groups. Also, the program is what it is because of the teachers so concerned what if the teachers leave. Would love to hear others' thoughts so we can make an informed decision by the 13th.

What are the few schools that send a large number of students?

A question was raised on the future regional model. Though they tried to say all will be well, clearly noone knows at this point.

Also, I noticed the majority of accepted students was of certain race.

Don't worry. Next year the demography will be completely shifted and you won't see certain race in dominancy anymore if this is annoyance to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hoping to connect with parents who were at the Blair open house last night to compare observations. We really loved the teachers. The students were very bright. Everyone seemed happy and engaged. Though it was clear that there are a few schools that send a large number of students and they were all together. Our child is the only one from their school so making us wonder how easy it would be to break into those established groups. Also, the program is what it is because of the teachers so concerned what if the teachers leave. Would love to hear others' thoughts so we can make an informed decision by the 13th.

If your kid is in the top half of the magnet group in academic intensity, or from a home school that doesn't support advanced academics, there's no alternative to going (advanced/intensive courses, peer group for academics, academic clubs), even if the program itself is at some risk due to launch of the regional model.

If your kid in the bottom half of the magnet group in academic intensity and from a W home school, there's not a lot difference between magnet and something like APEX or Science Capstone and clubs or non-school ECs like the robotics teams.

[Anonymous]

I would be more worried that the program goes downhill with the regional magnet changes. But you might as well send your kid and try it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoping to connect with parents who were at the Blair open house last night to compare observations. We really loved the teachers. The students were very bright. Everyone seemed happy and engaged. Though it was clear that there are a few schools that send a large number of students and they were all together. Our child is the only one from their school so making us wonder how easy it would be to break into those established groups. Also, the program is what it is because of the teachers so concerned what if the teachers leave. Would love to hear others' thoughts so we can make an informed decision by the 13th.

What are the few schools that send a large number of students?

A question was raised on the future regional model. Though they tried to say all will be well, clearly noone knows at this point.

Also, I noticed the majority of accepted students was of certain race.

What "skin color"? Pasty white? Almond white? Brown? Dark brown? Black? Purple? Other?

That was an observation. Why are you so offended? I am white, majority accepted are Asians. Acceptance is merit based. No lottery. I am all for that. Let the best be the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoping to connect with parents who were at the Blair open house last night to compare observations. We really loved the teachers. The students were very bright. Everyone seemed happy and engaged. Though it was clear that there are a few schools that send a large number of students and they were all together. Our child is the only one from their school so making us wonder how easy it would be to break into those established groups. Also, the program is what it is because of the teachers so concerned what if the teachers leave. Would love to hear others' thoughts so we can make an informed decision by the 13th.

What are the few schools that send a large number of students?

A question was raised on the future regional model. Though they tried to say all will be well, clearly noone knows at this point.

Also, I noticed the majority of accepted students was of certain race.

What "skin color"? Pasty white? Almond white? Brown? Dark brown? Black? Purple? Other?

That was an observation. Why are you so offended? I am white, majority accepted are Asians. Acceptance is merit based. No lottery. I am all for that. Let the best be the best.

Yet some poster from Blair in-bound in the other thread still insists that the program wouldn't head downhill starting from next year. Look at MIT: when the "racial preference" is forced to be removed from the enrollment metrics since two years ago, 47% of MIT new undergrads are Asian now, compared to 41% previously. MIT is probably the one that most strictly enforces merit-based criteria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoping to connect with parents who were at the Blair open house last night to compare observations. We really loved the teachers. The students were very bright. Everyone seemed happy and engaged. Though it was clear that there are a few schools that send a large number of students and they were all together. Our child is the only one from their school so making us wonder how easy it would be to break into those established groups. Also, the program is what it is because of the teachers so concerned what if the teachers leave. Would love to hear others' thoughts so we can make an informed decision by the 13th.

What are the few schools that send a large number of students?

A question was raised on the future regional model. Though they tried to say all will be well, clearly noone knows at this point.

Also, I noticed the majority of accepted students was of certain race.

What "skin color"? Pasty white? Almond white? Brown? Dark brown? Black? Purple? Other?

That was an observation. Why are you so offended? I am white, majority accepted are Asians. Acceptance is merit based. No lottery. I am all for that. Let the best be the best.

Yet some poster from Blair in-bound in the other thread still insists that the program wouldn't head downhill starting from next year. Look at MIT: when the "racial preference" is forced to be removed from the enrollment metrics since two years ago, 47% of MIT new undergrads are Asian now, compared to 41% previously. MIT is probably the one that most strictly enforces merit-based criteria.

I am not sure who that other poster is.
At this ponint nobody knows what will happen 4 years from now. I am from W cluster, I could transfer my kid back at any time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My current sophomore came from a middle school with only one other student accepted to SMCS that year. They have plenty of people they are friendly with at school, but haven't formed any close friend groups. I think they think that other kids who came in with a larger group from their middle school have had it easier in that respect, although my kid isn't super outgoing, which probably plays into it as well.

Also, our home middle school was not very good, and they definitely came in with a less solid math foundation than students from some other schools. This made Precalc pretty challenging and they had a lot of catching up to do, but we expected that. My kid loves the science classes, though, and thinks every one of their science teachers has been outstanding. Overall, my kid is happy with the choice to attend SMCS and looking forward to some interesting electives next year.

Similar experience here. The lack of close friends is hard and the work is a grind. It’s a great program if you’re prepared for your family to rearrange your lives to accommodate the intense level of homework (don’t let the kids at the open house mislead you - it’s consistently more than two hours every single night) and for your kid to be permanently sleep deprived! (I guess that sounds like we have regrets…. I’m not sure)

The students at the open house said they get about eight hours of sleep each night. They seemed genuinely happy and spoke positively about the program. The overall atmosphere felt welcoming and supportive. But they also said if you do sports, then expect less sleep.

Yeah, current magnet parent here, that’s not been our experience at all, nor of any of my kid’s friends. As a whole magnet kids are chronically sleep deprived. I remember when we went to the open house they said the same thing and downplayed the homework. I don’t know why - a badge of honor perhaps? The homework load is intense if you plan to do well in the program.