Does Maryland have equivalent of TJ?

[Anonymous]

Eleanor Roosevelt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did MCPS not have a facility that it could dedicate to a magnet STEM school, as FCPS did with TJ, or was there a conscious decision to create “schools within a school” to boost the average test scores at those schools and/or promote some degree of interaction between the magnet and non-magnet students. They seem like very different environments.

It was on purpose, in order to create more integrated schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eleanor Roosevelt

fwiw, I have a friend with a kid at ERHS/Tech. It is definitely NOT the same as TJ. I know that kids have to apply and they select those with high grades and PSAT 8/9. But, content-wise, it is akin to a standard FCPS HS. They have to go to community college if they want math beyond AP Calc BC. They do encourage them to do an internship during their senior year (1/2 time). Or they can go to community college 1/2 time. And they do have to do some sort of research project. But, substantively, it is not at all as rigorous as TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Their STEM magnet high school is Blair at Takoma Park. Some would claim that Blair is more selective since it is a much smaller program and only takes in the top 1% kids. Consistently sends kids to MIT.

Isnt Blair at 4 corners? Silver Spring

[Anonymous]

Yes of course MD has the equivalent. It's the Blair SMCS magnet program which is probably even more difficult to get in to than TJ and is completely on par with TJ but only 100 kids, so about a quarter scale smaller. They also have the Poolesville magnet which is in the same category and I believe larger program than the Blair program. It also obviously has some incredibly talented kids too, but I believe that overall (in terms of competitions, awards, etc) it may not be perceived exactly on level as the Blair SMCS and TJ (but I think it's probably almost there).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes of course MD has the equivalent. It's the Blair SMCS magnet program which is probably even more difficult to get in to than TJ and is completely on par with TJ but only 100 kids, so about a quarter scale smaller. They also have the Poolesville magnet which is in the same category and I believe larger program than the Blair program. It also obviously has some incredibly talented kids too, but I believe that overall (in terms of competitions, awards, etc) it may not be perceived exactly on level as the Blair SMCS and TJ (but I think it's probably almost there).

So basically, no.

[Anonymous]

“Equivalent” in what way?

Quality? Yes. Size? No. Obnoxiously parents? Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did MCPS not have a facility that it could dedicate to a magnet STEM school, as FCPS did with TJ, or was there a conscious decision to create “schools within a school” to boost the average test scores at those schools and/or promote some degree of interaction between the magnet and non-magnet students. They seem like very different environments.

I'll never understand why you weirdos are so obsessed with school average test scores. It's not a team sport.

[Anonymous]

Equivalent of TJ in competitiveness and name-recognition, no. But lots of Maryland districts (because, surprise surprise, MoCo isn't the only district in MD) have STEM magnets that are great programs.

The MoCo magnets, and Eleanor Roosevelt in PGCo have been mentioned. Anne Arundel has 3 STEM magnets with the school-within-a-school model, but AACo magnets are lotteries among all the qualified kids, so you don't have the crazy competitiveness of trying to differentiate among a lot of very smart kids.
I'm not sure what program Howard County has.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did MCPS not have a facility that it could dedicate to a magnet STEM school, as FCPS did with TJ, or was there a conscious decision to create “schools within a school” to boost the average test scores at those schools and/or promote some degree of interaction between the magnet and non-magnet students. They seem like very different environments.

I'll never understand why you weirdos are so obsessed with school average test scores. It's not a team sport.

But it’s a metric for determining equivalency.

And the answer is still no.

[Anonymous]

No. unfortunately

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Equivalent of TJ in competitiveness and name-recognition, no. But lots of Maryland districts (because, surprise surprise, MoCo isn't the only district in MD) have STEM magnets that are great programs.

The MoCo magnets, and Eleanor Roosevelt in PGCo have been mentioned. Anne Arundel has 3 STEM magnets with the school-within-a-school model, but AACo magnets are lotteries among all the qualified kids, so you don't have the crazy competitiveness of trying to differentiate among a lot of very smart kids.
I'm not sure what program Howard County has.

Blair SMACS is smaller than TJ but it outperforms TJ.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regeneron_Science_Talent_Search

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at the USNWR rankings for high schools. TJ is at the peak nationally. No MD has nothing close.

Yes, look at the rankings because that's where TJ really shines: on paper.
Now in real life competitions and performances, that's another story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the USNWR rankings for high schools. TJ is at the peak nationally. No MD has nothing close.

Yes, look at the rankings because that's where TJ really shines: on paper.
Now in real life competitions and performances, that's another story.

Agreed. While TJ is no slouch, Blair SMCS tends to outperform TJ, (as of recent years anyway). For example, check out the results of this year's International Math Olympiad. A Blair student not only earned a gold medal, he achieved a perfect score of 42! So we're talking about Blair having one of the best in the world here, on what is regarded as the toughest competition in the world for pre-college students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Their STEM magnet high school is Blair at Takoma Park. Some would claim that Blair is more selective since it is a much smaller program and only takes in the top 1% kids. Consistently sends kids to MIT.

Isnt Blair at 4 corners? Silver Spring

Yes. (Takoma Park MS also has a math/sci magnet program and many of those students go on to Blair.)