PARCC scores and magnet admissions?

[Anonymous]

PARCC scores aren't a primary criterion. As I understand it, they're used as a kind of tie-breaker, to provide more information in cases where MAP and COGAT scores don't seem to show the same thing. So if one skews high and one runs lower, they'll look at the PARCC score to see which one better represents the kid's ability.

So if they had a bad day on one test but other metrics show higher ability, the PARCC can help show that it was an aberration. If the other two scores generally agree, they won't need to look at PARCC.

Basically, they know it's a crap test, and are only using it as a secondary metric. My kid has gotten 5s most years in their strong subject, but if I remember correctly, they somehow barely scraped a 3 the year they were considered for the MS magnet (but a mid-5 in their weaker area!); but had 99% MAP and COGAT, and was accepted.

We're not zoned for one of the strongest-cohort schools, but it still demonstrates that 5s aren't a necessity—it just tends to be the case. I think if a kid is a good test-taker, they can usually adapt to whatever format is thrown at them. But apparently mine can't!

[Anonymous]

Is PARCC used at all for High School admissions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PARCC scores aren't a primary criterion. As I understand it, they're used as a kind of tie-breaker, to provide more information in cases where MAP and COGAT scores don't seem to show the same thing. So if one skews high and one runs lower, they'll look at the PARCC score to see which one better represents the kid's ability.

So if they had a bad day on one test but other metrics show higher ability, the PARCC can help show that it was an aberration. If the other two scores generally agree, they won't need to look at PARCC.

Basically, they know it's a crap test, and are only using it as a secondary metric. My kid has gotten 5s most years in their strong subject, but if I remember correctly, they somehow barely scraped a 3 the year they were considered for the MS magnet (but a mid-5 in their weaker area!); but had 99% MAP and COGAT, and was accepted.

We're not zoned for one of the strongest-cohort schools, but it still demonstrates that 5s aren't a necessity—it just tends to be the case. I think if a kid is a good test-taker, they can usually adapt to whatever format is thrown at them. But apparently mine can't!

Is this before or after the universal testing/cohort criteria was implemented? Things changed dramatically last year in the admissions process.

[Anonymous]

I hope they add an Asian person to the selection committee for TPMS. Last year, despite such a huge number and percentage of Asian-Americans being identified as "highly abled" and being considered not a single member of the committee was Asian out of 15.

They keep talking about the gap by race and fair representation of minorities but... really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope they add an Asian person to the selection committee for TPMS. Last year, despite such a huge number and percentage of Asian-Americans being identified as "highly abled" and being considered not a single member of the committee was Asian out of 15.

They keep talking about the gap by race and fair representation of minorities but... really?

Why does it matter? The students' names and race, supposedly, are not disclosed during admissions. It's not that an Asian selection committee member could lobby for Asian geniuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they add an Asian person to the selection committee for TPMS. Last year, despite such a huge number and percentage of Asian-Americans being identified as "highly abled" and being considered not a single member of the committee was Asian out of 15.

They keep talking about the gap by race and fair representation of minorities but... really?

Why does it matter? The students' names and race, supposedly, are not disclosed during admissions. It's not that an Asian selection committee member could lobby for Asian geniuses.

+1 The process is name and race/ethnicity blind. It has to be, by law. Extracurriculars are not included, so it isn't as if someone on the committee could recommend the kid who lists Korean Language Saturday School. There's no essay anymore, so no way to signal race/ethnicity there by talking about how your parents lived on a boat for five years and it helped you understand how lucky you are to be born in Montgomery County.

None of that is known. I do think unconscious bias plays a role in many selection processes, which is why I support things like blind orchestra auditions, and stripping race/name from magnet admissions. But the idea that simply having an Asian person on the committee would change the process in this case doesn't hold water. The committee knows: home school + scores, and then how those scores compare to other kids in the receiving school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they add an Asian person to the selection committee for TPMS. Last year, despite such a huge number and percentage of Asian-Americans being identified as "highly abled" and being considered not a single member of the committee was Asian out of 15.

They keep talking about the gap by race and fair representation of minorities but... really?

Why does it matter? The students' names and race, supposedly, are not disclosed during admissions. It's not that an Asian selection committee member could lobby for Asian geniuses.

+1 The process is name and race/ethnicity blind. It has to be, by law. Extracurriculars are not included, so it isn't as if someone on the committee could recommend the kid who lists Korean Language Saturday School. There's no essay anymore, so no way to signal race/ethnicity there by talking about how your parents lived on a boat for five years and it helped you understand how lucky you are to be born in Montgomery County.

None of that is known. I do think unconscious bias plays a role in many selection processes, which is why I support things like blind orchestra auditions, and stripping race/name from magnet admissions. But the idea that simply having an Asian person on the committee would change the process in this case doesn't hold water. The committee knows: home school + scores, and then how those scores compare to other kids in the receiving school.

+1 And the committee capped the number of kids coming from each MS cluster to more evenly distribute representation from each MS cluster across the catchment area for each magnet. An Asian on the committee will not be able to tip the scales to allow 60-70% of the admitted kids come from 1 or 2 clusters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they add an Asian person to the selection committee for TPMS. Last year, despite such a huge number and percentage of Asian-Americans being identified as "highly abled" and being considered not a single member of the committee was Asian out of 15.

They keep talking about the gap by race and fair representation of minorities but... really?

Why does it matter? The students' names and race, supposedly, are not disclosed during admissions. It's not that an Asian selection committee member could lobby for Asian geniuses.

+1 The process is name and race/ethnicity blind. It has to be, by law. Extracurriculars are not included, so it isn't as if someone on the committee could recommend the kid who lists Korean Language Saturday School. There's no essay anymore, so no way to signal race/ethnicity there by talking about how your parents lived on a boat for five years and it helped you understand how lucky you are to be born in Montgomery County.

None of that is known. I do think unconscious bias plays a role in many selection processes, which is why I support things like blind orchestra auditions, and stripping race/name from magnet admissions. But the idea that simply having an Asian person on the committee would change the process in this case doesn't hold water. The committee knows: home school + scores, and then how those scores compare to other kids in the receiving school.

If you say so but then WHY DO THEY TRACK IT? Why have they made such a big deal about the fact that there were many selection committee members who are black or Hispanic?

[Anonymous]

I guess the question is what role did the selection committee have in formulating the criteria in the first place. Are these the same people who decided to make "peer cohort" the major basis for admission? Did they run spreadsheets and figure out that this was the best way to maximize black and Hispanic participation in the magnets because that was their goal? Rather than creating an equitable process that would benefit the very top students?

[Anonymous]

If you stay at home middle school MCAP is one of the criteria that can put you in enriched programming

[Anonymous]

MY AMAZING DEAR CHILD GOT A PERFECT READING SCHOOL YOU ALL SUCK AND HAHAAHAH MY CHILD'S THE BEST CHILD IN THE ENTIRE WORLD BECAUSE SHE GOT A PERFECT SCORE!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MY AMAZING DEAR CHILD GOT A PERFECT READING SCHOOL YOU ALL SUCK AND HAHAAHAH MY CHILD'S THE BEST CHILD IN THE ENTIRE WORLD BECAUSE SHE GOT A PERFECT SCORE!

WTF