Interesting approach to increasing a child's chance at Takoma Park Middle School Magnet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The OP's question becomes less and less relevant the more social engineering is applied to the Magnet schools. As more unprepared kids are admitted, either the curriculum will need to be slowed down or changed in a way that will support the changing student population.

When you say "social engineering", what do you mean, specifically? Could you please provide some examples?

Could you please also provide the source of your information supporting your statement that unprepared kids are being admitted?

From a post in an earlier thread (https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/180/757740.page)

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/...de%205%20Parent%20FAQ's%20.pdf

And here is the excerpt:

Has the program itself changed as a result of the new screening process for the Science, math, computer science program?

We still have many top math students in our new sixth grade class, and we are seeing a greater diversity in ability. This is an important opportunity for highly-able students to be able to step up into a more rigorous curriculum. What has changed is not the rigor of the program or our expectations of students. What has changed is instruction and what the teachers need to do. Our teachers are expected to provide supports and scaffolding to help all magnet students attain the level of mastery of students working at a high level in mathematics.

Also, since MCPS changed the admissions criteria for CES along the same lines, what happened there is also very instructive. In DCUM someone had posted a link to a report (from the post?) which described summer prep classes that MCPS conducted for those admitted but not ready for the CES program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The OP's question becomes less and less relevant the more social engineering is applied to the Magnet schools. As more unprepared kids are admitted, either the curriculum will need to be slowed down or changed in a way that will support the changing student population.

When you say "social engineering", what do you mean, specifically? Could you please provide some examples?

Could you please also provide the source of your information supporting your statement that unprepared kids are being admitted?

From a post in an earlier thread (https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/180/757740.page)

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/...de%205%20Parent%20FAQ's%20.pdf

And here is the excerpt:

Has the program itself changed as a result of the new screening process for the Science, math, computer science program?

We still have many top math students in our new sixth grade class, and we are seeing a greater diversity in ability. This is an important opportunity for highly-able students to be able to step up into a more rigorous curriculum. What has changed is not the rigor of the program or our expectations of students. What has changed is instruction and what the teachers need to do. Our teachers are expected to provide supports and scaffolding to help all magnet students attain the level of mastery of students working at a high level in mathematics.

Also, since MCPS changed the admissions criteria for CES along the same lines, what happened there is also very instructive. In DCUM someone had posted a link to a report (from the post?) which described summer prep classes that MCPS conducted for those admitted but not ready for the CES program.

I don't think anyone has demonstrated that the admissions criteria for the CES program has changed. Rather, more spots have opened up (which was needed) and that might mean that the "top" 10 percent at a given school gets the chance to participate rather than the "top" 3 percent.

I found the article you reference, and a quick skim did not turn up a program for kids "admitted but not ready." Rather, it seemed there were programs for kids who might be competitive, but who didn't have access to the kind of enrichment that middle class and upper middle class kids participate in.

The article is also a little sloppy in conflating CES programs with middle school magnets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is something that might be of interest to those who are thinking about trying for Takoma Park Middle Magnet Program.
Not everyone is aware of the fact that kids living within the boundaries have greater chance to get to the program and many
plan ahead.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/779576.page

This makes me wonder.. Are people really willing to uproot and move to an objectively not-so-great neighborhood so that their self-proclaimed 'gifted children' had 'greater chance' of attending a three-year-program in middle school?
Are you serious?

Whether a neighborhood is "great" is entirely subjective. Many people love Takoma Park.

Indeed, if only fewer people loved Takoma Park, then I could afford to live there.

Yes! And I actually do live here, but I can't really afford it. I have definitely seen a change in income levels and expectations from people moving in. I hope it doesn't get more expensive/popular!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The OP's question becomes less and less relevant the more social engineering is applied to the Magnet schools. As more unprepared kids are admitted, either the curriculum will need to be slowed down or changed in a way that will support the changing student population.

When you say "social engineering", what do you mean, specifically? Could you please provide some examples?

Could you please also provide the source of your information supporting your statement that unprepared kids are being admitted?

From a post in an earlier thread (https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/180/757740.page)

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/...de%205%20Parent%20FAQ's%20.pdf

And here is the excerpt:

Has the program itself changed as a result of the new screening process for the Science, math, computer science program?

We still have many top math students in our new sixth grade class, and we are seeing a greater diversity in ability. This is an important opportunity for highly-able students to be able to step up into a more rigorous curriculum. What has changed is not the rigor of the program or our expectations of students. What has changed is instruction and what the teachers need to do. Our teachers are expected to provide supports and scaffolding to help all magnet students attain the level of mastery of students working at a high level in mathematics.

Also, since MCPS changed the admissions criteria for CES along the same lines, what happened there is also very instructive. In DCUM someone had posted a link to a report (from the post?) which described summer prep classes that MCPS conducted for those admitted but not ready for the CES program.

I don't think anyone has demonstrated that the admissions criteria for the CES program has changed. Rather, more spots have opened up (which was needed) and that might mean that the "top" 10 percent at a given school gets the chance to participate rather than the "top" 3 percent.

I found the article you reference, and a quick skim did not turn up a program for kids "admitted but not ready." Rather, it seemed there were programs for kids who might be competitive, but who didn't have access to the kind of enrichment that middle class and upper middle class kids participate in.

The article is also a little sloppy in conflating CES programs with middle school magnets.

Could you please post the link? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The OP's question becomes less and less relevant the more social engineering is applied to the Magnet schools. As more unprepared kids are admitted, either the curriculum will need to be slowed down or changed in a way that will support the changing student population.

When you say "social engineering", what do you mean, specifically? Could you please provide some examples?

Could you please also provide the source of your information supporting your statement that unprepared kids are being admitted?

From a post in an earlier thread (https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/180/757740.page)

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/...de%205%20Parent%20FAQ's%20.pdf

And here is the excerpt:

Has the program itself changed as a result of the new screening process for the Science, math, computer science program?

We still have many top math students in our new sixth grade class, and we are seeing a greater diversity in ability. This is an important opportunity for highly-able students to be able to step up into a more rigorous curriculum. What has changed is not the rigor of the program or our expectations of students. What has changed is instruction and what the teachers need to do. Our teachers are expected to provide supports and scaffolding to help all magnet students attain the level of mastery of students working at a high level in mathematics.

Wtf does “diversity” mean here?

Diversity of performance scores?!? Hilarious.

Sad the program is being throttles down in quality. Private schools will ratchet up their tuitions with these such MCPS developments

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The OP's question becomes less and less relevant the more social engineering is applied to the Magnet schools. As more unprepared kids are admitted, either the curriculum will need to be slowed down or changed in a way that will support the changing student population.

Agree with this completely. Parents of young kids should definitely be prepared for a very different magnet program in 5-6 years as the admission process continues to (d)evolve. Parents who buy in Takoma Park just for the TPMS magnet program should be ready for 2 possible negative outcomes:

1. Their kid isn't really as academically gifted as they were hoping.
2. The TPMS Magnet program isn't any better than the honors classes at other home schools.

[Anonymous]

If this is a serious post, I would not risk it unless this is an area that you would want to live in. No one has paid attention to the set aside spots for in boundary kids that don't score as high as the rest of the county until now. Now that they are getting more attention, its likely that they will go away or they will need to be given to URM in boundary kids who honestly deserve a spot more than lower scoring white kids who happen to live in boundary.

[Anonymous]

I literally just (like 10mins ago) drove by the school on the way to an open house and there is a homeless man sleeping on a bench in front of the school. We drove a block further down the road to piney branch and flower to get gas and the number of homeless there was eye opening. I read all the love for the area as an out of towner but sort of question it after visiting as simple propaganda. Readers beware the overall area is quite run down, I wouldn’t feel comfortable with my kids running around unsupervised. I am not sure I would go out there at night without a group.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Please do not move to TKPK. We have a lot of homeless people here. All our intellectually overrated kids are terrified to leave home and walk to school. May I recommend that people only buy homes in Potomac, Cabin John and Great Falls? That’s where there are no homeless people and all kids are Harvard bound.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I literally just (like 10mins ago) drove by the school on the way to an open house and there is a homeless man sleeping on a bench in front of the school. We drove a block further down the road to piney branch and flower to get gas and the number of homeless there was eye opening. I read all the love for the area as an out of towner but sort of question it after visiting as simple propaganda. Readers beware the overall area is quite run down, I wouldn’t feel comfortable with my kids running around unsupervised. I am not sure I would go out there at night without a group.

What? Both my kids went/go to TPMS, & I have never seen a homeless person "hanging around." Weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If this is a serious post, I would not risk it unless this is an area that you would want to live in. No one has paid attention to the set aside spots for in boundary kids that don't score as high as the rest of the county until now. Now that they are getting more attention, its likely that they will go away or they will need to be given to URM in boundary kids who honestly deserve a spot more than lower scoring white kids who happen to live in boundary.

Ah, the people who think the in-boundary kids score lower. This is really not the case. My kids were well above avg on multiple areas of the test (old test). They were also in HGCs and admitted to all major county wide/DCC HS magnets. Their TP cohort have similar accounts. In fact, I know several extremely bright in-boundary kids who didn't get in. But, keep believing the in-bound kids are the "low scores." Whatever.

[Anonymous]

It makes me chuckle to imagine that parents selecting Takoma Park over a W feeder, and although, there is some truth to it, people who think like this, to begin with, are misguided. Your kid will do more or less the same no matter which MCPS school they attend. It's not about the school but about you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I literally just (like 10mins ago) drove by the school on the way to an open house and there is a homeless man sleeping on a bench in front of the school. We drove a block further down the road to piney branch and flower to get gas and the number of homeless there was eye opening. I read all the love for the area as an out of towner but sort of question it after visiting as simple propaganda. Readers beware the overall area is quite run down, I wouldn’t feel comfortable with my kids running around unsupervised. I am not sure I would go out there at night without a group.

There are homeless people in Bethesda and near Bethesda ES.

When people say they enjoy diversity in Takoma Park, they mean they love racial diversity and and SES diversity, including homeless people.

[Anonymous]

Or you could just be a URM family or have an URM family foster your child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I literally just (like 10mins ago) drove by the school on the way to an open house and there is a homeless man sleeping on a bench in front of the school. We drove a block further down the road to piney branch and flower to get gas and the number of homeless there was eye opening. I read all the love for the area as an out of towner but sort of question it after visiting as simple propaganda. Readers beware the overall area is quite run down, I wouldn’t feel comfortable with my kids running around unsupervised. I am not sure I would go out there at night without a group.

Which bench in front of the school was the man sleeping on? The one at the bus stop, with the dividers that make it impossible to lie down on?

And then you drove one block from Takoma Park Middle School to the intersection of Piney Branch Rd and Flower Avenue?

How about that.