Non-magnet Blair

[Anonymous]

11:20 - what you heard is untrue. As long as a student has the prerequisites they can enroll for a magnet class (see content below from the Blair science dept. page). In the math dept. there are kids who take magnet statistics instead of AP statistics; they just have to beup to completing two semesters of work in one semester. At Blair and throughout MCPS, access to honors/AP classes is open to all students interested in the challenge.

The application programs are highly demanding and designed for kids who are passionate about math/science in the case of magnet, or writing in the case of CAP. They are not golden tickets to or from anywhere but are great options for kids who want to work hard.

From the Blair science page at http://mbhs.edu/departments/science/:

There are also several science courses offered by the Magnet Program that are available to any 11th and 12th grade Blair student who has completed the appropriate prerequisites. Students who have completed Honors Physics and are taking/have completed A.P. Calculus may take Quantum Physics or Thermodynamics. Students who are taking/have completed just A.P. Calculus can take Optics. Those who have completed Honors Chemistry can take Materials Science or Plate Tectonics and Oceanography. Honors Chemistry and Honors Physics are the prerequisites for Astronomy. Students who have completed Honors Chemistry and Algebra II with Analysis can take Analytical Chemistry. Those completing Honors Chemistry, Honors Physics, and Precalculus with Analysis can take Physical Chemistry. Those who complete Honors Biology and Honors Chemistry may take Genetics, Cell Physiology, or Marine Biology. Students who have taken Honors Physics and are taking/have completed Magnet Analysis II (AKA Multivariable Calculus and Differential Equations) can take Mathematical Physics. Finally, there are no prerequisites for 11th and 12th graders who wish to take the very popular Origins of Science. Some of these courses may have additional prerequisites or other requirements; please see the Magnet Program's webpages and/or your guidance counselor for more information.

[Anonymous]

OK I'm the OP and all I can say is, *I* want to go to Blair. What an amazing array of classes. Is this a typical array of courses in MoCo or is this the magnet program's influence on course offerings? Thanks to everyone for your insights!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK I'm the OP and all I can say is, *I* want to go to Blair. What an amazing array of classes. Is this a typical array of courses in MoCo or is this the magnet program's influence on course offerings? Thanks to everyone for your insights!

No, it's not typical....you are lucky to have this as your home school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As long as a student has the prerequisites they can enroll for a magnet class (see content below from the Blair science dept. page) .... At Blair and throughout MCPS, access to honors/AP classes is open to all students interested in the challenge.

NP here. If this is accurate, then why even apply to the magnet? If Blair is your home school, you can just take the exact identical courses as all the magnet students. Is there any additional benefit to being in the magnet?

[Anonymous]

The magnet courses are open to non-magnet students in grades 11 and 12 only. Magnet students take a unique set of courses and sequence in 9th and 10th grades, and have an extra period in their day for that purpose.

[Anonymous]

So are you saying that while the classes are in theory open to everyone, there is little way a non-magnet student would have the required prereqs?

[Anonymous]

no - per 12:19 above the prerquisites are based on standard mcps classes (e.g. AP calc. honors chem and physics). if you are not familiar with mcps high school classes, see the course guide at: http://apps.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/coursebulletin/

[Anonymous]

can a student attending a private middle school apply for and be accepted to the blair magnet program(s)? (assuming they live in the associated mcps feeder areas)

[Anonymous]

Yes, of course 8th-grade private school students can apply to the magnets. The MCPS site must have information on which programs they are eligible based on the MCPS boundaries for each and application and testing dates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So are you saying that while the classes are in theory open to everyone, there is little way a non-magnet student would have the required prereqs?

When I look at the course guides and prerequisites, that's sure how it appears to me. As just one example, it seems all magnet students get to complete their physics and chemistry requirements as 9th graders, even though may not have met the prerequisites of geometry and precalc for those courses that other non-magnet students must satisfy. And then it cascades from there.

Also, it appears magnet students are permitted to double-up on physics and chemistry (one per semester) in 9th grade. By contrast, other non-magnet students are forced to take those as year-long courses. As a result, the magnet students again get an opportunity to complete prerequisites for advanced courses that other non-magnet students might not have.

Here are relevant course docs for science and math:
http://mbhs.edu/departments/magnet/courses.php
http://www.mbhs.edu/departments/math/
http://www.mbhs.edu/departments/science/Pathways%20for%20recommendations%205.pdf

I know people tend to get very defensive around here, so I want to make clear that I am not criticizing the magnet. I just think it's inaccurate to say non-magnet students are given the same opportunities. Many of the most interesting science and math courses at upper levels seem to be in walled gardens that non-magnet students cannot effectively enter.

[Anonymous]

I haven't seen anyone suggest that non-magnet students have the same opportunities as magnet students. Or that they should. The wording on Blair's own science page is pretty clear: "There are also several science courses offered by the Magnet Program that are available to any 11th and 12th grade Blair student who has completed the appropriate prerequisites." Not all classes, some classes.

And 9th- and 10th-grade magnet classes are not available to non-magnet students. And why would they be? Unless a student is uniquely qualified and for some reason did not apply through the usual process (it happens, but it is rare), chances are they should not be taking full years of content in a single semester. And magnet teachers do not expect to teach to students who are unprepared academically or intellectually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't seen anyone suggest that non-magnet students have the same opportunities as magnet students. Or that they should. The wording on Blair's own science page is pretty clear: "There are also several science courses offered by the Magnet Program that are available to any 11th and 12th grade Blair student who has completed the appropriate prerequisites." Not all classes, some classes.

And 9th- and 10th-grade magnet classes are not available to non-magnet students. And why would they be? Unless a student is uniquely qualified and for some reason did not apply through the usual process (it happens, but it is rare), chances are they should not be taking full years of content in a single semester. And magnet teachers do not expect to teach to students who are unprepared academically or intellectually.

In the past - on this forum - not necessarily on this specific thread - people ask - so what is Blair like. Should I move to the Blair district? Many times the advice is Blair is great if you are in the magnet program but otherwise not so much. Then people get defensive.

Even on this post it is stated that if you are smart enough you can take magnet classes and the magnet kids are with all the other kids and there are no cliques. Which is misinformation.

I have a family member that moved to Blair district and was surprised her kids could not take the classes and yes they are exceptional students. Why shouldn't they take any class that is in the school. But they could not take certain classes and then eventually did not have the qualifications or prereqs for other classes and in the end never took a magnet class.

So yes, Blair has a great magnet program. But don't move there and expect to get that type of education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't seen anyone suggest that non-magnet students have the same opportunities as magnet students. Or that they should. The wording on Blair's own science page is pretty clear: "There are also several science courses offered by the Magnet Program that are available to any 11th and 12th grade Blair student who has completed the appropriate prerequisites." Not all classes, some classes.

And 9th- and 10th-grade magnet classes are not available to non-magnet students. And why would they be? Unless a student is uniquely qualified and for some reason did not apply through the usual process (it happens, but it is rare), chances are they should not be taking full years of content in a single semester. And magnet teachers do not expect to teach to students who are unprepared academically or intellectually.

In the past - on this forum - not necessarily on this specific thread - people ask - so what is Blair like. Should I move to the Blair district? Many times the advice is Blair is great if you are in the magnet program but otherwise not so much. Then people get defensive.

Even on this post it is stated that if you are smart enough you can take magnet classes and the magnet kids are with all the other kids and there are no cliques. Which is misinformation.

I have a family member that moved to Blair district and was surprised her kids could not take the classes and yes they are exceptional students. Why shouldn't they take any class that is in the school. But they could not take certain classes and then eventually did not have the qualifications or prereqs for other classes and in the end never took a magnet class.

So yes, Blair has a great magnet program. But don't move there and expect to get that type of education.

If all of the magnet classes were open to everyone, it wouldn't be a competitive-admission magnet, would it? Much less a nationally-recognized one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't seen anyone suggest that non-magnet students have the same opportunities as magnet students. Or that they should. The wording on Blair's own science page is pretty clear: "There are also several science courses offered by the Magnet Program that are available to any 11th and 12th grade Blair student who has completed the appropriate prerequisites." Not all classes, some classes.

And 9th- and 10th-grade magnet classes are not available to non-magnet students. And why would they be? Unless a student is uniquely qualified and for some reason did not apply through the usual process (it happens, but it is rare), chances are they should not be taking full years of content in a single semester. And magnet teachers do not expect to teach to students who are unprepared academically or intellectually.

In the past - on this forum - not necessarily on this specific thread - people ask - so what is Blair like. Should I move to the Blair district? Many times the advice is Blair is great if you are in the magnet program but otherwise not so much. Then people get defensive.

Even on this post it is stated that if you are smart enough you can take magnet classes and the magnet kids are with all the other kids and there are no cliques. Which is misinformation.

I have a family member that moved to Blair district and was surprised her kids could not take the classes and yes they are exceptional students. Why shouldn't they take any class that is in the school. But they could not take certain classes and then eventually did not have the qualifications or prereqs for other classes and in the end never took a magnet class.

So yes, Blair has a great magnet program. But don't move there and expect to get that type of education.

If all of the magnet classes were open to everyone, it wouldn't be a competitive-admission magnet, would it? Much less a nationally-recognized one.

I don't mind that it is not inclusive - but don't say it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If all of the magnet classes were open to everyone, it wouldn't be a competitive-admission magnet, would it? Much less a nationally-recognized one.

I don't mind that it is not inclusive - but don't say it is.
Yes, I agree with this. If you want an exclusive program, don't pretend it's inclusive when the mood strikes you.

Also, I don't really agree with the suggestion that magnet students would somehow be contaminated and harmed by opening up their classes to non-magnet students. I suspect that only a very few non-magnet students would be interested in taking the classes anyway, and only a subset of those would be able to keep up with the work. But if they can keep up, what's the harm in letting them take the classes? And more significantly, it doesn't seem right to me that a school could block access to certain classes. Perhaps that open enrollment is the price the magnet must pay for being housed within a larger school.