DC wants to withdraw from magnet program

[Anonymous]

My daughter's middle school had at least two magnet students return. Both took leadership roles on academic teams and, under the old system that was fully merit-based, easily made their way back to HS magnets. That, of course, is more dependent on where OP lives. On the whole, though, magnet high schools don't hold it against kids who returned to home middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter's middle school had at least two magnet students return. Both took leadership roles on academic teams and, under the old system that was fully merit-based, easily made their way back to HS magnets. That, of course, is more dependent on where OP lives. On the whole, though, magnet high schools don't hold it against kids who returned to home middle schools.

Oh good grief.

[Anonymous]

If it’s Clemente- I totally get it. We looked at applying to that program and didn’t because the school was too rough. I’ve heard that it’s rougher now with the split between MLK/Clemente. I’ve also heard the current English teacher at Clemente is terrible and the mixed ability classes are even more frustrating for the magnet kids. If your DC feels unsafe or bullied and you feel like home middle is a better place switch after first marking period.

[Anonymous]

The “mixed ability classes” - yes, DS just finished in the magnet at Clemente and had classes with, gasp, the neighborhood children! Being able to learn and communicate with people whose strengths are different from yours is an essential part of success in life. DS also learned some things about life with fewer advantages through friendships with the non-magnet kids. Clemente was a great experience.

[Anonymous]

PP I’m glad your DC had a great experience. Talking to my DCs friends there were kids in magnet middle who were on the receiving side of physical bullying by rough kids. My DC who is in a magnet HS has both magnet and nonmagnet friends. Totally different experience. If OP leaves magnet all friends will be nonmagnet. It’s about who’s in your classes.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is not in a MS magnet but I remember her first semester of 6th grade. Her biggest complaints were the tough kids, screaming, cursing, etc. By 7th grade, she was used to it and now it doesn't phase her in 8th grade.

It's too early to drop out of the magnet. Give it more time - all MS have this problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a sixth grader in a magnet too. If she were unhappy, there’s no way I would let her withdraw before the end of the first semester, and I would try to get her to finish sixth grade before making a final decision. I agree that your dc should see if he/she can visit classes in your home middle school before withdrawing from the magnet school, to see how it’s different. Lots of sixth graders are trying to sort out a whole new social hierarchy, and in the meantime, they’re making mean comments, cursing like crazy to feel more grown up, no longer friendly to former classmates, etc., while they figure out where they fit in. FWIW, I have twins and the one who attends our home school has been subjected to more mean behavior than my magnet kid has.

Wow talk about some bad parenting. Ring bullied and physically attacked in MS and you wouldn’t let your kid change schools? No wonder we have a suicide problem in this country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it’s Clemente- I totally get it. We looked at applying to that program and didn’t because the school was too rough. I’ve heard that it’s rougher now with the split between MLK/Clemente. I’ve also heard the current English teacher at Clemente is terrible and the mixed ability classes are even more frustrating for the magnet kids. If your DC feels unsafe or bullied and you feel like home middle is a better place switch after first marking period.

Your kid isn't even at Clemente, you have no first-hand experience with Clemente, and yet you "totally get it"?

On the up side, the administrators as well as the home-school kids at Clemente are probably better off if they don't have to deal with parents who are scared of black and Hispanic 12-year-olds.

-parent of Clemente magnet kid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a sixth grader in a magnet too. If she were unhappy, there’s no way I would let her withdraw before the end of the first semester, and I would try to get her to finish sixth grade before making a final decision. I agree that your dc should see if he/she can visit classes in your home middle school before withdrawing from the magnet school, to see how it’s different. Lots of sixth graders are trying to sort out a whole new social hierarchy, and in the meantime, they’re making mean comments, cursing like crazy to feel more grown up, no longer friendly to former classmates, etc., while they figure out where they fit in. FWIW, I have twins and the one who attends our home school has been subjected to more mean behavior than my magnet kid has.

Wow talk about some bad parenting. Ring bullied and physically attacked in MS and you wouldn’t let your kid change schools? No wonder we have a suicide problem in this country.

Yes, because home schools are magical places where bullying never happens, so OP can guarantee her child a bully-free zone for the next 3 years by dropping out of the magnet.

OP didn’t say describe the physical and verbal attacks, let alone say that they were committed by the same student/students, so we don’t even know for sure that her kid is being bullied. If your first reaction is to switch schools without even having a complete picture of what’s going on, then I don’t think much of your parenting either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it’s Clemente- I totally get it. We looked at applying to that program and didn’t because the school was too rough. I’ve heard that it’s rougher now with the split between MLK/Clemente. I’ve also heard the current English teacher at Clemente is terrible and the mixed ability classes are even more frustrating for the magnet kids. If your DC feels unsafe or bullied and you feel like home middle is a better place switch after first marking period.

Your kid isn't even at Clemente, you have no first-hand experience with Clemente, and yet you "totally get it"?

On the up side, the administrators as well as the home-school kids at Clemente are probably better off if they don't have to deal with parents who are scared of black and Hispanic 12-year-olds.

-parent of Clemente magnet kid

My kid is in a magnet HS program and we've heard the horror stories.

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry your kid is going through this.

This is one of the many reasons MCPS should just have proper differentiation at the home schools. Kids shouldn't be commuting to new schools at such young ages, where it can be very difficult to adjust to a new school environment and be away from friends and familiarity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it’s Clemente- I totally get it. We looked at applying to that program and didn’t because the school was too rough. I’ve heard that it’s rougher now with the split between MLK/Clemente. I’ve also heard the current English teacher at Clemente is terrible and the mixed ability classes are even more frustrating for the magnet kids. If your DC feels unsafe or bullied and you feel like home middle is a better place switch after first marking period.

Your kid isn't even at Clemente, you have no first-hand experience with Clemente, and yet you "totally get it"?

On the up side, the administrators as well as the home-school kids at Clemente are probably better off if they don't have to deal with parents who are scared of black and Hispanic 12-year-olds.

-parent of Clemente magnet kid

My kid is in a magnet HS program and we've heard the horror stories.

Uh huh. And have you heard that horror stories about the home middle schools, or do bad things only happen at Clemente?

[Anonymous]

Sigh! My kids went from Clemente MSCS magnet, before the Clemente/MLK split, but at no point my Asian-American nerdy kid ever felt threatened at Clemente from the Hispanic, Black or White kids that were non-magnet.

If your kid is feeling threatened and upset in ANY school, you have to do what is best for them. Most middle schools in MCPS is shit anyways and the students are middle schoolers and obnoxious. It is what it is. The same students become pleasant once the terrible middle school years are over.

[Anonymous]

Do it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it’s Clemente- I totally get it. We looked at applying to that program and didn’t because the school was too rough. I’ve heard that it’s rougher now with the split between MLK/Clemente. I’ve also heard the current English teacher at Clemente is terrible and the mixed ability classes are even more frustrating for the magnet kids. If your DC feels unsafe or bullied and you feel like home middle is a better place switch after first marking period.

Your kid isn't even at Clemente, you have no first-hand experience with Clemente, and yet you "totally get it"?

On the up side, the administrators as well as the home-school kids at Clemente are probably better off if they don't have to deal with parents who are scared of black and Hispanic 12-year-olds.

-parent of Clemente magnet kid

My kid is in a magnet HS program and we've heard the horror stories.

When my DD attended Clemente, this was not a problem. Non-magnet kids and magnet kids didn't mix much. She never had an issue in 3 years. Maybe that has changed.