Instead of Changing Boundaries Add New Programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't the board add new programs to attract the right type of students to underperforming schools? The magnet programs have done a fabulous job.

Are members of the board jealous of those us that live in good clusters? Are they doing this to punish us- seriously?

So you just ignore the masses, hoping they'll be covered up by students being bused into a magnet?

How does that solve anything, genius?

You punish yourself simply by being you.

Some underperforming schools are also underenrolled. If people voluntarily move from their high performing school to a low performing school because of a magnet program offering it does a few things. First, it solves a capacity issue. Secondly, it helps bring a better peer group into the schools. Third, it helps balance schools with out ripping communities apart. Forth- if structured correctly high performing students in a low performing school with have access to some of the programming benefits. Of course, it's easier just to call me names.

Or MCPS can just change the school boundaries to move some areas from over-capacity schools to under-enrolled schools. Which is one of the two main purposes of the boundary analysis.

[Anonymous]

^^^to clarify - assessing the possibility of doing that is one of the two main purposes of the boundary analysis.

Actually doing that will require a separate boundary study.

[Anonymous]

The programs are great for student engagement though. Student engagement is the number 1 predictor of success - at least that’s what they told us at our school. Kids are proud when their school has some sort of center of excellence. Don’t undervalue that and don’t forget that this is about the kids.

And yes, boundaries will need readjustment too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The programs are great for student engagement though. Student engagement is the number 1 predictor of success - at least that’s what they told us at our school. Kids are proud when their school has some sort of center of excellence. Don’t undervalue that and don’t forget that this is about the kids.

And yes, boundaries will need readjustment too.

There is overcrowding at every level, and MCPS would have to create a ton of programs at every level to alleviate the overcrowding.

So agreed..more programs aren't going to address all the overcrowding.

[Anonymous]

The programs are part of what makes MCPS special and add to diversity - it’s a differentiator. I hope BOE doesn’t lose sight of that in dealing with overcrowding etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The programs are great for student engagement though. Student engagement is the number 1 predictor of success - at least that’s what they told us at our school. Kids are proud when their school has some sort of center of excellence. Don’t undervalue that and don’t forget that this is about the kids.

And yes, boundaries will need readjustment too.

There is overcrowding at every level, and MCPS would have to create a ton of programs at every level to alleviate the overcrowding.

So agreed..more programs aren't going to address all the overcrowding.

Why not both?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The programs are great for student engagement though. Student engagement is the number 1 predictor of success - at least that’s what they told us at our school. Kids are proud when their school has some sort of center of excellence. Don’t undervalue that and don’t forget that this is about the kids.

And yes, boundaries will need readjustment too.

There is overcrowding at every level, and MCPS would have to create a ton of programs at every level to alleviate the overcrowding.

So agreed..more programs aren't going to address all the overcrowding.

Why not both?

Yes, why not both?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't the board add new programs to attract the right type of students to underperforming schools? The magnet programs have done a fabulous job.

Are members of the board jealous of those us that live in good clusters? Are they doing this to punish us- seriously?

So you just ignore the masses, hoping they'll be covered up by students being bused into a magnet?

How does that solve anything, genius?

You punish yourself simply by being you.

Some underperforming schools are also underenrolled. If people voluntarily move from their high performing school to a low performing school because of a magnet program offering it does a few things. First, it solves a capacity issue. Secondly, it helps bring a better peer group into the schools. Third, it helps balance schools with out ripping communities apart. Forth- if structured correctly high performing students in a low performing school with have access to some of the programming benefits. Of course, it's easier just to call me names.

It might have an impact on the surrounding area over time but magnet programs are anything but diverse and the kids rarely mix with the locals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't the board add new programs to attract the right type of students to underperforming schools? The magnet programs have done a fabulous job.

Are members of the board jealous of those us that live in good clusters? Are they doing this to punish us- seriously?

What are "the right type" of students? And do you think the board should ignore "the wrong type"?

"Balancing demographics" is the term that is thrown around. If you put in a program that would attract the right "demographics" families to underperforming schools (i.e. another) that would be something most would support.

A school system can't say this program is designed to attract "the right demographics" and this program is equitable at the same time. It's been done in the past, but that doesn't make it correct. Special programs need to be accessible to everyone in the district, if at the same time the school system is exploiting disparities in the program to balance demographics, their commitment to equity is suspect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The programs are great for student engagement though. Student engagement is the number 1 predictor of success - at least that’s what they told us at our school. Kids are proud when their school has some sort of center of excellence. Don’t undervalue that and don’t forget that this is about the kids.

And yes, boundaries will need readjustment too.

There is overcrowding at every level, and MCPS would have to create a ton of programs at every level to alleviate the overcrowding.

So agreed..more programs aren't going to address all the overcrowding.

Why not both?

Yes, why not both?

did anyone say you can't have both?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't the board add new programs to attract the right type of students to underperforming schools? The magnet programs have done a fabulous job.

Are members of the board jealous of those us that live in good clusters? Are they doing this to punish us- seriously?

So you just ignore the masses, hoping they'll be covered up by students being bused into a magnet?

How does that solve anything, genius?

You punish yourself simply by being you.

Some underperforming schools are also underenrolled. If people voluntarily move from their high performing school to a low performing school because of a magnet program offering it does a few things. First, it solves a capacity issue. Secondly, it helps bring a better peer group into the schools. Third, it helps balance schools with out ripping communities apart. Forth- if structured correctly high performing students in a low performing school with have access to some of the programming benefits. Of course, it's easier just to call me names.

It might have an impact on the surrounding area over time but magnet programs are anything but diverse and the kids rarely mix with the locals.

That's not true. My DD is in a magnet and has both magnet and non-magnet friends. I have a friend who has a DD who is a non magnet student in a magnet school. Her best friend is a magnet student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a new high school opening. How do you propose that high school be populated, if not with a boundary study?

It's a former school re-opening. It had feeders. All those feeders are huge and over crowded. There will be more housing coming on the radio towers site, Twinbrook, and White Flite sites. Should not be hard to find students to fill a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The programs are great for student engagement though. Student engagement is the number 1 predictor of success - at least that’s what they told us at our school. Kids are proud when their school has some sort of center of excellence. Don’t undervalue that and don’t forget that this is about the kids.

And yes, boundaries will need readjustment too.

There is overcrowding at every level, and MCPS would have to create a ton of programs at every level to alleviate the overcrowding.

So agreed..more programs aren't going to address all the overcrowding.

Why not both?

Yes, why not both?

did anyone say you can't have both?

See title of thread. It implies either/or. Of course, this is just an anonymous board and light on facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't the board add new programs to attract the right type of students to underperforming schools? The magnet programs have done a fabulous job.

Are members of the board jealous of those us that live in good clusters? Are they doing this to punish us- seriously?

So you just ignore the masses, hoping they'll be covered up by students being bused into a magnet?

How does that solve anything, genius?

You punish yourself simply by being you.

Some underperforming schools are also underenrolled. If people voluntarily move from their high performing school to a low performing school because of a magnet program offering it does a few things. First, it solves a capacity issue. Secondly, it helps bring a better peer group into the schools. Third, it helps balance schools with out ripping communities apart. Forth- if structured correctly high performing students in a low performing school with have access to some of the programming benefits. Of course, it's easier just to call me names.

It might have an impact on the surrounding area over time but magnet programs are anything but diverse and the kids rarely mix with the locals.

That's not true. My DD is in a magnet and has both magnet and non-magnet friends. I have a friend who has a DD who is a non magnet student in a magnet school. Her best friend is a magnet student.

If you say so, it must be true for everyone! Thanks for clearing that up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't the board add new programs to attract the right type of students to underperforming schools? The magnet programs have done a fabulous job.

Are members of the board jealous of those us that live in good clusters? Are they doing this to punish us- seriously?

Seeing as no one has proposed anything yet that "harms" you in any way -- I say no the board is not trying to "punish" you. Good God.