SSIMS vs. TPMS for 6th grade next year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the hs instead.

OP here - I think in either case we would be at Blair (again more concerns about the special programs and how it feels to be not special / what the peer groups are like in general classes).

Assuming the Superintendent's proposed boundaries pass on 3/26, I don't think there's anywhere within the SSIMS boundaries that will go to Blair? (Maps here: https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/superintendentrecwoodwardnorth?usp=sharing)

[Anonymous]

Sorry to pile on about the boundaries!

Another thing to keep in mind about SSIMS is that I believe they are required to take a foreign language every year. Which is no big deal now because they have a block schedule with 3 electives, but starting in 2027-2028 all middle schools in Maryland need to extend their math minutes, so middle schools will be able to offer 2 elective periods per year tops, possibly less. If your child would want to take a foreign language every year that doesn't matter, but if they are into band/orchestra or other arts, they would have to choose between those.

[Anonymous]

The latest boundary rec has SSIMS getting much smaller and TPMS getting much larger, if school size is a factor for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The latest boundary rec has SSIMS getting much smaller and TPMS getting much larger, if school size is a factor for you.

SSIMS will be closing. That is Taylor’s plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The latest boundary rec has SSIMS getting much smaller and TPMS getting much larger, if school size is a factor for you.

SSIMS will be closing. That is Taylor’s plan.

She’s talking about a 6th grader next year and the proposed closure has been openly discussed this whole thread. What’s your point? No one disagrees that that’s Taylor’s plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are zoned for TPMS but my kids are in French immersion so we will attend SSIMS if it is open then. My sense is that TPMS is a better school generally. I think a lot of the good community you’re talking about for SSIMS is part of a language program — they are a very vocal and involved bunch. But that’s for kids who started in elementary. There is Spanish as well (for now) but again only if your kid is already fluent.

Does this mean there are no introductory world language classes at SSIMS? Also appreciate the insights re immersion community. This was my concern with TPMS--if everything is "about the magnet" and how that makes non-magnet kids feel. We've also been privileged to have a really excellent peer group in elementary in terms of being academically focused and positive about school, so that's something we want to preserve and it's hard to parse whether that exists for kids outside "special programs" in MCPS.

I have a kid at TPMS who qualified for the Magnet but didnt get a spot (there is a lottery component). And it is not a problem at all. I say that as someone who was originally disappointed. The language classes seem strong and challenging in both Spanish and French. There are several differentiated levels of enrichment for math so that kids can stay challenged (compacted math options, Algebra 1 in 7th grade etc..). The magnet and non-magnet kids are in the same classes outside of the science and computer classes.

I don't know enough about SIMS myself, will just repeat what i heard from another family who ended up transfering back from SIMS to TPMS. The kid ended up putting a higher value on being with his neighborhood friends than continuing in the French immersion track they had started in ES as the kid was already a native speaker. So not an overall diss on SIMS BUT they felt that at SIMS the difference between the French immersion kids and the general SIMS pop was starker (than the TPMS magnet/non magnet) and that there was a difference in level and atmosphere between the 2 MS.

If it was just choosing non magnet TPMS versus non- French immersion SIMS, i understand the choice would be easy. But i hear you on the difference in house prices, that is a tough choice. Not sure where SIMS feeds into for the future high schools and regions. But I would add that Region 1 seems like one of the best options.

[Anonymous]

If your kid loves art and theatre, buy a house that feed to Loiederman and Einstein. They have the strongest art program in the county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid loves art and theatre, buy a house that feed to Loiederman and Einstein. They have the strongest art program in the county.

There will be no house that feeds to both, because Loiederman is in region 3 and Einstein is in region 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're looking to move out of DC and considering both of these catchments. I'm trying to catch up on the rezoning and closure of SSIMS issues but it's difficult to see how this cashes out for someone (perhaps stupidly) trying to make a decision now. My kid is going into 6th next year so would be done with MS by June 2029. She's creative - loves art, theatre, music, community activism, and we want her to take French as a second language (but it would be completely new to her). Good grade level student in ELA and math; she's a hard worker but isn't going to be the type to be pulled out into an advanced program. I wonder how much boundary/closure issues will take away what my reading suggests are the good parts of SSIMS (particularly community). I also worry about how it feels to attend TPMS as a non-magnet kid. Also trying to understand the differences in the academic schedules and electives offered but the websites are terrible and basically useless. Any thoughts on how you'd handle this choice?

The superintendent has been temporarily stopped from quickly closing SSIMS but I'll bet he will still make his deadline of 2030. He is stripping the student population down to less than 600 students. Teachers will be leaving in search of a more secure position. Great principal at SSIMS - a school that deserves much better than Taylor is giving it.

If you go with TPMS, get a house outside the city of Takoma Park to save yourself thousands in annual municipal property taxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the hs instead.

OP here - I think in either case we would be at Blair (again more concerns about the special programs and how it feels to be not special / what the peer groups are like in general classes).

There is just a little slice of DTSS within the SSIMS catchment zone that articulates to Blair. Maybe this is where you are looking to move, but if your preference is Blair then you're better off in the TPMS catchment. We live near SSIMS, we have a kid there and we are big SSIMS boosters, but all things being equal, we'd probably send our kid to TPMS over SSIMS. It's not just that the building sucks, but the possible closure and related issues are just so uncertain. It would be nice to not worry about those things!

Also, we have lots of friends in Takoma Park who are not in the magnet, and I honestly haven't heard any feedback about the non-magnet kids being looked down upon. But I think you need to hear from non-magnet families themselves about their experience.

That little slice is reassigned from Blair to Northwood in the superintendent's boundary recommendation.

Part of SSIMS is reassigned to Eastern, which I thought went entirely to Blair - Isn't that why Taylor is bumping up the population at Eastern, from just under 1100 to 1500?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the hs instead.

OP here - I think in either case we would be at Blair (again more concerns about the special programs and how it feels to be not special / what the peer groups are like in general classes).

There is just a little slice of DTSS within the SSIMS catchment zone that articulates to Blair. Maybe this is where you are looking to move, but if your preference is Blair then you're better off in the TPMS catchment. We live near SSIMS, we have a kid there and we are big SSIMS boosters, but all things being equal, we'd probably send our kid to TPMS over SSIMS. It's not just that the building sucks, but the possible closure and related issues are just so uncertain. It would be nice to not worry about those things!

Also, we have lots of friends in Takoma Park who are not in the magnet, and I honestly haven't heard any feedback about the non-magnet kids being looked down upon. But I think you need to hear from non-magnet families themselves about their experience.

That little slice is reassigned from Blair to Northwood in the superintendent's boundary recommendation.

Part of SSIMS is reassigned to Eastern, which I thought went entirely to Blair - Isn't that why Taylor is bumping up the population at Eastern, from just under 1100 to 1500?

The 1500 number was from when Eastern was supposed to be greatly expanded to allow half of SSIMS to be zoned there if it closed. Now that's been delayed, so Eastern will not be expanded to that capacity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the hs instead.

OP here - I think in either case we would be at Blair (again more concerns about the special programs and how it feels to be not special / what the peer groups are like in general classes).

There is just a little slice of DTSS within the SSIMS catchment zone that articulates to Blair. Maybe this is where you are looking to move, but if your preference is Blair then you're better off in the TPMS catchment. We live near SSIMS, we have a kid there and we are big SSIMS boosters, but all things being equal, we'd probably send our kid to TPMS over SSIMS. It's not just that the building sucks, but the possible closure and related issues are just so uncertain. It would be nice to not worry about those things!

Also, we have lots of friends in Takoma Park who are not in the magnet, and I honestly haven't heard any feedback about the non-magnet kids being looked down upon. But I think you need to hear from non-magnet families themselves about their experience.

That little slice is reassigned from Blair to Northwood in the superintendent's boundary recommendation.

Part of SSIMS is reassigned to Eastern, which I thought went entirely to Blair - Isn't that why Taylor is bumping up the population at Eastern, from just under 1100 to 1500?

The 1500 number was from when Eastern was supposed to be greatly expanded to allow half of SSIMS to be zoned there if it closed. Now that's been delayed, so Eastern will not be expanded to that capacity.

Has that been officially announced? I would have thought they were holding off on the Eastern size decision until the SSIMS closure gets decided on. Taylor clearly wants to do it and I doubt he'd agree to something that would get in the way of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the hs instead.

OP here - I think in either case we would be at Blair (again more concerns about the special programs and how it feels to be not special / what the peer groups are like in general classes).

There is just a little slice of DTSS within the SSIMS catchment zone that articulates to Blair. Maybe this is where you are looking to move, but if your preference is Blair then you're better off in the TPMS catchment. We live near SSIMS, we have a kid there and we are big SSIMS boosters, but all things being equal, we'd probably send our kid to TPMS over SSIMS. It's not just that the building sucks, but the possible closure and related issues are just so uncertain. It would be nice to not worry about those things!

Also, we have lots of friends in Takoma Park who are not in the magnet, and I honestly haven't heard any feedback about the non-magnet kids being looked down upon. But I think you need to hear from non-magnet families themselves about their experience.

That little slice is reassigned from Blair to Northwood in the superintendent's boundary recommendation.

Part of SSIMS is reassigned to Eastern, which I thought went entirely to Blair - Isn't that why Taylor is bumping up the population at Eastern, from just under 1100 to 1500?

The 1500 number was from when Eastern was supposed to be greatly expanded to allow half of SSIMS to be zoned there if it closed. Now that's been delayed, so Eastern will not be expanded to that capacity.

Has that been officially announced? I would have thought they were holding off on the Eastern size decision until the SSIMS closure gets decided on. Taylor clearly wants to do it and I doubt he'd agree to something that would get in the way of that.

Elrich removed the extra funding from his budget. Still need to go through the council.

[Anonymous]

I've had kids at both in recent years, and it is honestly kind of a wash.

TPMS has a much nicer facility, but is going to get a lot bigger in two years, when the student population is also going to become much higher needs, demographically.

SSIMS has a much stronger principal, but I've been around MCPS long enough to know that a principal that strong is almost never allowed to just....stay and be good at their job. He'll be pulled to the Central Office or the high school level.

The magnet/non-magnet vibe at TPMS is less of an issue than it used to be, now that everyone knows there is a lottery component.

The music comment is a toss-up. TPMS is in a rebuilding year for its orchestra/band programs because the magnet kids went down to one elective and a lot of them prioritized language over music, which makes sense since many of them play outside of school and school orchestra was just a bonus

Both schools have active parent communities, but I did find the SSIMS PTA pretty hard to break into socially because it's mostly French Immersion families who have been working together for 7 years already. It's fine - I don't need to be best friends with the PTA, but it was a little insular which led me to stop trying to get involved.

You don't have a bad choice. I'd prioritize the house that works for you, with a light eye to high school although both Northwood and Blair are going to be perfectly fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids at both in recent years, and it is honestly kind of a wash.

TPMS has a much nicer facility, but is going to get a lot bigger in two years, when the student population is also going to become much higher needs, demographically.

SSIMS has a much stronger principal, but I've been around MCPS long enough to know that a principal that strong is almost never allowed to just....stay and be good at their job. He'll be pulled to the Central Office or the high school level.

The magnet/non-magnet vibe at TPMS is less of an issue than it used to be, now that everyone knows there is a lottery component.

The music comment is a toss-up. TPMS is in a rebuilding year for its orchestra/band programs because the magnet kids went down to one elective and a lot of them prioritized language over music, which makes sense since many of them play outside of school and school orchestra was just a bonus

Both schools have active parent communities, but I did find the SSIMS PTA pretty hard to break into socially because it's mostly French Immersion families who have been working together for 7 years already. It's fine - I don't need to be best friends with the PTA, but it was a little insular which led me to stop trying to get involved.

You don't have a bad choice. I'd prioritize the house that works for you, with a light eye to high school although both Northwood and Blair are going to be perfectly fine.

Chunks of SSIMS catchment will now be Einstein. All the Woodlin kids coming with the redistricting and not to French immersion. We are one of those families and really active in PTA so we will see how that works out.