The magnet talk is beginning and it's going to drive me nuts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Anonymous wrote:
There ARE programs for avoiding your middle school (immersion being a big one but that you had to know about and jump on by winter before K)

Big? Really? I would say its miniscule. No one is dying to go to SSIMS and the # of kids in Immersion that COSA to Westland is tiny..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your 4th grader at the HGC?

No not at HGC. So actually I was hoping that meant there wouldn't be as much intensity about it. We'll see, maybe this early talk will subside.

My kid's HGC has some chatter - but only in 5th grade because that's when we apply. There was very little talk about it in 4th. There is some chatter at the home school as well, but that's only because people are curious whether their DCs friends are going to be with them come next year. It's not a competitive thing. Maybe you are making it competitive, when it's simple curiosity?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Child entering 4th. Discussion beginning about who is going to have their kid apply to which magnet middle school. I'm just frustrated that there aren't enough resources to go around in the county so that only 1 kid in 10 can be accepted and get the opportunity to go to the magnets. Public services in MoCo always leave me feeling like there are too many people fighting for too few scraps.

There are 3 magnets that are not test in but interest focused. Its lottery based. I think this poster is referring to them. And for these magnets I know people applied that were trying to avoid there home middle school. When we purchased our home we reviewed the schools that our children would eventually attend before buying. If you think that your child is too special to attend the home middle school, why did you purchase there if you were not happy with the schools. We bought a smaller home in a better school district specifically for the schools.

Also, tons of children in the W school districts apply for the test in gifted magnet programs. Those are highly selective regardless of where a family lives.

[Anonymous]

My children have gone to hgc, magnet middle (TPMS), and to magnet HS (1 Blair, 1 RM). We are not W- but All my kids friends at TPMS/Blair are W kids. RM is more mixed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Child entering 4th. Discussion beginning about who is going to have their kid apply to which magnet middle school. I'm just frustrated that there aren't enough resources to go around in the county so that only 1 kid in 10 can be accepted and get the opportunity to go to the magnets. Public services in MoCo always leave me feeling like there are too many people fighting for too few scraps.

1in 10? Try 1 in 100

Do you know the actual statistics for kids why *attempt* to get into a magnet program vs. those accepted?

Okay fair enough. Applied verses total is probably closer to 1/10 at real magnets not lottery.

[Anonymous]

Unless you have really bad school district, do not push kids where they do not belong.
We live in W cluster and my two oldest goes to TPMS. I would not consider it for youngster - not good fit, different interests.
For high school my oldest is not interested in Blair or RM. Child wants to participate in after school activities and do sports. Plus I think it is easier to get strong GPA at W then at Blair. At the end we will not be able to pay for out of state, so kids will have to go to UMD for at least couple years.
So think what you are doing before pushing your kids.

[Anonymous]

"If you think that your child is too special to attend the home middle school, why did you purchase there if you were not happy with the schools. "

hmm, your for part re: "too special" is pretty interesting given that you avoided the neighborhood altogether by buying elsewhere, PP. When we bought 10 years ago pre kids we certainly did not think we'd still be in the same spot come MS. Maybe we don't be by the time we are there in a few years, but it's hard to tell right now given a shift in job situation since then. Great for you that you were able to buy in a better school district. Our 1980s TH in a crappy MS/HS zone is hardly living large.

[Anonymous]

^ "first" part, not "for" part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Child entering 4th. Discussion beginning about who is going to have their kid apply to which magnet middle school. I'm just frustrated that there aren't enough resources to go around in the county so that only 1 kid in 10 can be accepted and get the opportunity to go to the magnets. Public services in MoCo always leave me feeling like there are too many people fighting for too few scraps.

There are 3 magnets that are not test in but interest focused. Its lottery based. I think this poster is referring to them. And for these magnets I know people applied that were trying to avoid there home middle school. When we purchased our home we reviewed the schools that our children would eventually attend before buying. If you think that your child is too special to attend the home middle school, why did you purchase there if you were not happy with the schools. We bought a smaller home in a better school district specifically for the schools.

Also, tons of children in the W school districts apply for the test in gifted magnet programs. Those are highly selective regardless of where a family lives.

Lottery based schools are not really "magnets". Only the test-in schools are true magnets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Child entering 4th. Discussion beginning about who is going to have their kid apply to which magnet middle school. I'm just frustrated that there aren't enough resources to go around in the county so that only 1 kid in 10 can be accepted and get the opportunity to go to the magnets. Public services in MoCo always leave me feeling like there are too many people fighting for too few scraps.

1in 10? Try 1 in 100

Do you know the actual statistics for kids why *attempt* to get into a magnet program vs. those accepted?

NP - I don't have it but it's more likely 1 in 10 or less. Even HS ratio is less than 1 in 10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Child entering 4th. Discussion beginning about who is going to have their kid apply to which magnet middle school. I'm just frustrated that there aren't enough resources to go around in the county so that only 1 kid in 10 can be accepted and get the opportunity to go to the magnets. Public services in MoCo always leave me feeling like there are too many people fighting for too few scraps.

1in 10? Try 1 in 100

Do you know the actual statistics for kids why *attempt* to get into a magnet program vs. those accepted?

NP - I don't have it but it's more likely 1 in 10 or less. Even HS ratio is less than 1 in 10.

Yes. When DS was testing for the TPMS math/science magnet a few years ago, there were roughly 500-600 kids (we were told) applying for 100 spots. And, no, he was not one of those 100 selected.

[Anonymous]

To be clear I am OP and I am not interested in the magnets for my kid and that's why I fear the discussion is going to drive me nuts. I don't like the feeling of group panic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be clear I am OP and I am not interested in the magnets for my kid and that's why I fear the discussion is going to drive me nuts. I don't like the feeling of group panic.

there are going to be a lot of disappointed parents.

[Anonymous]

The magnet MS application will include the 4th grade transcript, instead of the 5th grade one. So, I am assuming that there is some pressure to well in 4th grade for those kids who are trying to get into magnet ms.

Our ES, MS and HS is amongst the lowest ranked in MCPS, so, for my reasonably bright kids magnet school was a good option. They did everything that they could to get a competitive edge - good grades, EC activities, community service, good behaviour in school, leadership etc.

If parents and students are interested in magnet schools - they will eventually end up meeting others like them, and will hear the magnet talk. If they are not interested, they will not hear the talk. It if but natural.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be clear I am OP and I am not interested in the magnets for my kid and that's why I fear the discussion is going to drive me nuts. I don't like the feeling of group panic.

Then tune it out. Make your own plan for your child and ignore the chatter.