HS magnet/IB programs - mailing today

[Anonymous]

I don't see why it's useful for kids to get rejected from high-stakes programs starting in 5th grade. College, yeah, they're a little older then. The private school process is a bit like this, although the pre-K kid applicants don't have a clue, and for the older kids, if the parents manage the application process right, the kid will get into at least one private even if it's not one of the elites.

I've thought for a while that MoCo should offer more specialized programs. They do this to some extent at the MS level, for example Loiederman and Argyle. But at high school, there 3 magnets (well, 2 magnets and CAP). The downcounty consortium offers some choice, but it's not quite the same.

MoCo basically dangles these magnets out there to try to keep downcounty kids in the system. But the odds really aren't good, and the cost to the kids involved is really high.

This isn't sour grapes - my kids are both in magnets.

[Anonymous]

Em, OP here. Maybe my question wasn't clear. When are the letters being mailed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see why it's useful for kids to get rejected from high-stakes programs starting in 5th grade. College, yeah, they're a little older then. The private school process is a bit like this, although the pre-K kid applicants don't have a clue, and for the older kids, if the parents manage the application process right, the kid will get into at least one private even if it's not one of the elites.

I've thought for a while that MoCo should offer more specialized programs. They do this to some extent at the MS level, for example Loiederman and Argyle. But at high school, there 3 magnets (well, 2 magnets and CAP). The downcounty consortium offers some choice, but it's not quite the same.

MoCo basically dangles these magnets out there to try to keep downcounty kids in the system. But the odds really aren't good, and the cost to the kids involved is really high.

This isn't sour grapes - my kids are both in magnets.

I agree with this. Choice for a few kids doesn't equal great education for the majority. My kids aren't old enough for magnets but I'd rather see MCPS focused on making every school strong, not putting resources into magnets. Particularly if there's no diversity benefit. And with some of the language magnets and definitely with the HGC centers, there isn't.

[Anonymous]

Letters for the CAP program at Blair mailed on Friday.

[Anonymous]

I don't know what you mean by snarky but the poster's remarks are factual and reality based. Stress is part of living day to day, and we all try deal with this and accommodate this. A stress free environment is incompatible with life of the species

You are so wrong. The type of pressure and stress that people in DC put on their very young children is nothing like the "living day to day" in the real world. Most of the country doesn't live like that. And when you live in DC for a while you forget that. In the "real world", most kids go to their neighborhood schools. In in good areas, those schools are very good. There are no auditions for preschool. You don't apply for IB or Magnet schools. Most kids don't know the stress of competing for slots in an exclusive private school.

We've lived in the DC area a couple of times...luckily never for more than about 18 months at a time. I have to constantly remind myself not to get sucked into that type of thinking. That's one reason we chose to live in Fairfax. My kids went to very good schools. But not schools they could have been rejected from. No way would I put that kind of pressure on my kids. Yes. The college admission process is stressful. I have one in college. And a senior getting ready to leave for college. But there is a HUGE difference between a 12 year old and an 18 year old.

...And people wonder why half the kids in DC are in therapy and on medication.

[Anonymous]

And blair is acceptable in terms of academics, but MANY of the kids in the magnet are miserable, bullied and hate the program. Good thing this is what we help our kids aspire to achieve.

[Anonymous]

You are so wrong. The type of pressure and stress that people in DC put on their very young children is nothing like the "living day to day" in the real world. Most of the country doesn't live like that. And when you live in DC for a while you forget that. In the "real world", most kids go to their neighborhood schools. In in good areas, those schools are very good. There are no auditions for preschool. You don't apply for IB or Magnet schools. Most kids don't know the stress of competing for slots in an exclusive private school.

We've lived in the DC area a couple of times...luckily never for more than about 18 months at a time. I have to constantly remind myself not to get sucked into that type of thinking. That's one reason we chose to live in Fairfax. My kids went to very good schools. But not schools they could have been rejected from. No way would I put that kind of pressure on my kids. Yes. The college admission process is stressful. I have one in college. And a senior getting ready to leave for college. But there is a HUGE difference between a 12 year old and an 18 year old.

...And people wonder why half the kids in DC are in therapy and on medication.

You have no clue or inkling what stress is. The majority of the kids in the world, if they go to school, go after 2 hours of labor bare foot and hungry. By comparison, anything in the D.C. private school arena is a walk in the park that 1000 other kids would gladly trade for in a heart beat.

[Anonymous]

And blair is acceptable in terms of academics, but MANY of the kids in the magnet are miserable, bullied and hate the program. Good thing this is what we help our kids aspire to achieve.

Have you ever had a child in this program? If not, where do get material for your story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You are so wrong. The type of pressure and stress that people in DC put on their very young children is nothing like the "living day to day" in the real world. Most of the country doesn't live like that. And when you live in DC for a while you forget that. In the "real world", most kids go to their neighborhood schools. In in good areas, those schools are very good. There are no auditions for preschool. You don't apply for IB or Magnet schools. Most kids don't know the stress of competing for slots in an exclusive private school.

We've lived in the DC area a couple of times...luckily never for more than about 18 months at a time. I have to constantly remind myself not to get sucked into that type of thinking. That's one reason we chose to live in Fairfax. My kids went to very good schools. But not schools they could have been rejected from. No way would I put that kind of pressure on my kids. Yes. The college admission process is stressful. I have one in college. And a senior getting ready to leave for college. But there is a HUGE difference between a 12 year old and an 18 year old.

...And people wonder why half the kids in DC are in therapy and on medication.

You have no clue or inkling what stress is. The majority of the kids in the world, if they go to school, go after 2 hours of labor bare foot and hungry. By comparison, anything in the D.C. private school arena is a walk in the park that 1000 other kids would gladly trade for in a heart beat.

Keep telling yourself that sweetie. That's a whole different kind of "stress" and I think you know that.

I am talking from experience. We've lived all over this country...hell, all over the world! Including twice in the DC area.

No where that I have ever lived...including most of the major cities in this country, even come close to DC in terms of pressuring kids. No where.

[Anonymous]

...We've lived in the DC area a couple of times...luckily never for more than about 18 months at a time. I have to constantly remind myself not to get sucked into that type of thinking. That's one reason we chose to live in Fairfax. My kids went to very good schools. But not schools they could have been rejected from. No way would I put that kind of pressure on my kids. Yes. The college admission process is stressful. I have one in college. And a senior getting ready to leave for college. But there is a HUGE difference between a 12 year old and an 18 year old.

...And people wonder why half the kids in DC are in therapy and on medication.

Different strokes for different folk. My kids love sports and competition (yesterday's Super Bowl with hundreds of millions of viewers betting on an eventual winner). I don't put pressure on my kids, however, I would never stir them away from applying to magnet programs or shooting for the moon (in favor "of safer" and no pressure territory) because of fear of pressure or failure. My children drink gallons of milk and have no medical problems. They are not in therapy and have never been medicated.

I understand pressure, anxiety and fear of failure on the part of parents and their children may stir them away from arenas to safe havens where all can better cope. These are family decisions. My children have had to deal with rejection in some form or fashion. While rejection is not pleasant we are pleased they are developing thick skin and learning to cope and move on. These are valuable early life lessons. I do not want them to first learn this skill when they are adult teenagers--at 18.

[Anonymous]

I'll tell you what stress and pressure is: going to a school where you are bullied for being too smart/different, trying to dumb down to fit in, feeling misunderstood and bored and depressed.

For some kids, these programs are a lifesaver.

Every year, many qualified kids who could really benefit are turned away from these programs. Does this mean they shouldn't apply, or should the county create more programs?

Look at Fairfax County and the opportunities they offer in this area. Puts us to shame.

[Anonymous]

Keep telling yourself that sweetie. That's a whole different kind of "stress" and I think you know that.

I am talking from experience. We've lived all over this country...hell, all over the world! Including twice in the DC area.

No where that I have ever lived...including most of the major cities in this country, even come close to DC in terms of pressuring kids. No where.

Some can't take the heat in the kitchen. My advice. Get out. You have never lived amongst children with real stress ... not the "designer stress" you allude to. D.C. is a walk in the park. The next thing you will tell us is that kids in NW D.C. are under more stress than kids in SE D.C.?

[Anonymous]

I'll tell you what stress and pressure is: going to a school where you are bullied for being too smart/different, trying to dumb down to fit in, feeling misunderstood and bored and depressed.

For some kids, these programs are a lifesaver.

Every year, many qualified kids who could really benefit are turned away from these programs. Does this mean they shouldn't apply, or should the county create more programs?

Look at Fairfax County and the opportunities they offer in this area. Puts us to shame.

Are you prepared to double your real estate tax payments and/or direct 75% of the county budget to schools? If so, you might be able to convince the county to create more programs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'll tell you what stress and pressure is: going to a school where you are bullied for being too smart/different, trying to dumb down to fit in, feeling misunderstood and bored and depressed.

For some kids, these programs are a lifesaver.

Every year, many qualified kids who could really benefit are turned away from these programs. Does this mean they shouldn't apply, or should the county create more programs?

Look at Fairfax County and the opportunities they offer in this area. Puts us to shame.

Are you prepared to double your real estate tax payments and/or direct 75% of the county budget to schools? If so, you might be able to convince the county to create more programs?

You don't have to spend a lot of money to have a better variety of choice programs. These magnets don't cost more than regular programs, except for the transportation. I would gladly pay transportation to keep my kids in the magnet programs.

[Anonymous]

The County should hire you immediately if what you claim is true and you can back it up with a sound valuation.