This is just for fun... The most rigorous HS program in DC area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ They do. Award winners are usually printed on principal's monthly newsletters along with other school news items but they do not send out "magnet accomplishments" of anything like that. Schools admin tries to be sensitive to 4/5 of student population who are not in the programs to maintain coexistence of all kids.

Are there any issues between the magnet program kids and non-magnet program kids at Blair or RM? Do they take any classes together? Just curious since there seems to be some friction between Fairfax's AAP kids and non-AAP kids in middle schools.

My kids went thru different MCPS magnet programs at different schools (MCPS has three magnet - Blair, RM, and PHS) and, as far as I know, they never had an issue with non-magnet kids. Some classes are mixed (like AP classes) and some are not. Kids of all races coexist peacefully - one of the reasons I like MCPS magnet model. Then again, magnet kids don't go around saying "I'm in magnet and I'm smarter than you" kinda thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ They do. Award winners are usually printed on principal's monthly newsletters along with other school news items but they do not send out "magnet accomplishments" of anything like that. Schools admin tries to be sensitive to 4/5 of student population who are not in the programs to maintain coexistence of all kids.

Are there any issues between the magnet program kids and non-magnet program kids at Blair or RM? Do they take any classes together? Just curious since there seems to be some friction between Fairfax's AAP kids and non-AAP kids in middle schools.

My kids went thru different MCPS magnet programs at different schools (MCPS has three magnet - Blair, RM, and PHS) and, as far as I know, they never had an issue with non-magnet kids. Some classes are mixed (like AP classes) and some are not. Kids of all races coexist peacefully - one of the reasons I like MCPS magnet model. Then again, magnet kids don't go around saying "I'm in magnet and I'm smarter than you" kinda thing.

Non-magnet jocks or aggressive kids don't push around/bully perceived weak/easy target/nerdy magnet kids? There may be some
pushing-around/joking around" at regular high schools and the contrast between some of the magnet kids and some of the non-magnet kids may be even greater.

My kid went to a magnet school (all the kids were in the program) and I sometimes felt that my son would definitely be subject to some bullying due to his attitude, interests, putting down not "smart" kids etc. if he had attended non-magnet school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ They do. Award winners are usually printed on principal's monthly newsletters along with other school news items but they do not send out "magnet accomplishments" of anything like that. Schools admin tries to be sensitive to 4/5 of student population who are not in the programs to maintain coexistence of all kids.

Are there any issues between the magnet program kids and non-magnet program kids at Blair or RM? Do they take any classes together? Just curious since there seems to be some friction between Fairfax's AAP kids and non-AAP kids in middle schools.

My kids went thru different MCPS magnet programs at different schools (MCPS has three magnet - Blair, RM, and PHS) and, as far as I know, they never had an issue with non-magnet kids. Some classes are mixed (like AP classes) and some are not. Kids of all races coexist peacefully - one of the reasons I like MCPS magnet model. Then again, magnet kids don't go around saying "I'm in magnet and I'm smarter than you" kinda thing.

Non-magnet jocks or aggressive kids don't push around/bully perceived weak/easy target/nerdy magnet kids? There may be some
pushing-around/joking around" at regular high schools and the contrast between some of the magnet kids and some of the non-magnet kids may be even greater.

My kid went to a magnet school (all the kids were in the program) and I sometimes felt that my son would definitely be subject to some bullying due to his attitude, interests, putting down not "smart" kids etc. if he had attended non-magnet school.

You might think that but actually no. At least based on our experiences. My kids used to say "non-magnet kids don't bother magnet kids because they think magnet kids to too dorky/nerdy." Now, I am not saying it never happens but 12 years my kids spent in different magnet programs, it never happened to us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair does more with 100 kids than TJ does with 500 kids. I mean, if TJ is as good as Blair, shouldn't they do 5x more?

TJ is one of a small group of high schools that consistently sends students to the highest level of national Olympiad competition and frequently sees some of those students go on to represent their country in international competition. This year, Janice Ong, TJ ’15, flew to Baku, Azerbaijan, to take part in the 47th International Chemistry Olympiad (ICHO) as a member of the US team. She came home exhilarated from her “once-in-a-lifetime experience,” excited about “how much more there is to learn.” To top it off, she received a silver medal and earned the second-highest score on the US team.

Last year, William Long, TJ ’15, traveled to Bali, Indonesia for the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) as a member of the US Biology Olympiad (USABO) team, where he was awarded 5th place in individual competition. It was his second time as a national finalist. This year, Neeraj Prasad, TJ ’17, made it to the study-camp national finals.

The TJ Physics Team, which proudly states on its website that TJ has produced “more members of the US Physics Team than any other high school in the nation,” administers the preliminary (F=ma) and semifinal exams each spring. In 2015, approximately 4,400 students from around the country participated in the F=ma exam, with the top 360 scorers — including eight from TJ — invited to take the semifinal exam. The top 20 scorers on the semifinal exam were then invited to attend the US Physics Olympiad (USAPhO) study camp at the University of Maryland, where the US team that competes at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) is chosen. Three study camp participants were from TJ: Shankar Balasubramanian, TJ ’15, Allen Cheng, TJ ’16, and Charles Wang, TJ ’18.

A US Computing Olympiad (USACO) season typically consists of five online preliminary contests, followed by the US Open national championships. Contests are offered in bronze, silver, and gold divisions. All participants start in the bronze division, and those who score particularly well are promoted to the next division. TJ students typically hear about the US Computing Olympiad (USACO) online contests through Senior Computer Team, which tracks students’ progress in these and other contests on their website. Based on their performance in online training pages and preliminary contests, and in particular on their performance at the US Open, approximately 20 students are invited to a camp for finalists at Clemson University. After competing in six more contests at Clemson, the top performers are selected to represent their country at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI). This year, Corwin de Boor, TJ ’15, and Shwetark Patel, TJ ’18, were among the two dozen USACO finalists.

Students scoring in the top twelve on the USAMO are automatically invited to attend the Mathematical Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP) study camp. Top-scoring non-seniors are also invited. The intensive program prepares students in areas of mathematics that are traditionally emphasized more in other countries than in the US, and results in the selection of the six-member team that represents the country at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). Four TJ students were invited to participate in MOSP this year: Sam Hsiang, TJ ’16, Akshaj Kadaveru, TJ ’18, Katherine Cheng, TJ ’18, and Lilian Wang, TJ ’18.

Were there Blair or Richard Montgomery kids (I know the program is IB but they take science/math courses) participating in these events too?

No Blair or RM kids participated at any of the National/International Olympiads? None?

[Anonymous]

Blair is only good at science fairs since they even have a course specifically designed to help and prepare students enter science fairs. Talk about teaching to the test, I mean teaching to the activity.

[Anonymous]

^ oh, no, tj crazies showing up again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ oh, no, tj crazies showing up again.

Are you a Blair crazy?

[Anonymous]

Best High Schools USNWR

1. School for the Talented and Gifted
2. BASIS Scottsdale
3. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
.....

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/national-rankings

[Anonymous]

You TJ supporters are too predictable. I find your posts lacking originality and creativity. First you post ranking (e.g., see 1235), followed by some "cut-and-paste" texts from magazines followed by "we are the best" made up stories. Then, repeat it again... and again... and again...

You bore me. Yawn...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You TJ supporters are too predictable. I find your posts lacking originality and creativity. First you post ranking (e.g., see 1235), followed by some "cut-and-paste" texts from magazines followed by "we are the best" made up stories. Then, repeat it again... and again... and again...

You bore me. Yawn...

Why are you so hostile to academic excellence?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You TJ supporters are too predictable. I find your posts lacking originality and creativity. First you post ranking (e.g., see 1235), followed by some "cut-and-paste" texts from magazines followed by "we are the best" made up stories. Then, repeat it again... and again... and again...

You bore me. Yawn...

Why are you so hostile to academic excellence?

academic excellence? where?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You TJ supporters are too predictable. I find your posts lacking originality and creativity. First you post ranking (e.g., see 1235), followed by some "cut-and-paste" texts from magazines followed by "we are the best" made up stories. Then, repeat it again... and again... and again...

You bore me. Yawn...

Why are you so hostile to academic excellence?

academic excellence? where?

39.78373, -100.445882
N39° 47.0238', W100° 26.7529'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You TJ supporters are too predictable. I find your posts lacking originality and creativity. First you post ranking (e.g., see 1235), followed by some "cut-and-paste" texts from magazines followed by "we are the best" made up stories. Then, repeat it again... and again... and again...

You bore me. Yawn...

Why are you so hostile to academic excellence?

academic excellence? where?

39.78373, -100.445882
N39° 47.0238', W100° 26.7529'

Seriously?

You looked that up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RM most difficult, Blair = TJ. My two cents.

RMIB most difficult.

Blair = Poolesville = TJ.

Blair most useful for building an impressive resume because they do the BEST JOB of entering into science competitions. They should be emulated by other schools.

IMHO.

Even though RM IB program is supposed to focus on humanities, reading/writing, TJ students seem to perform better in annual DC area Scholastic Writing Competition, newspaper/yearbook recognition/awards, speech/debate/MUN awards etc. even accounting for the different class size. Why is that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RM most difficult, Blair = TJ. My two cents.

RMIB most difficult.

Blair = Poolesville = TJ.

Blair most useful for building an impressive resume because they do the BEST JOB of entering into science competitions. They should be emulated by other schools.

IMHO.

Even though RM IB program is supposed to focus on humanities, reading/writing, TJ students seem to perform better in annual DC area Scholastic Writing Competition, newspaper/yearbook recognition/awards, speech/debate/MUN awards etc. even accounting for the different class size. Why is that?

"I teach HL IB English at an International School; I also teach AP English. AP English is significantly more intense, difficult, and content-dense. In the International School world in Europe, students and parents believe (no matter how I explain otherwise) that IB is "better" and "harder", and this is disastrous for the students who take AP English believing it is easier. Plus, students who love literature really miss out by taking IB English rather than AP.

The Math teachers at our school who teach both IB and AP also agree that AP is more rigorous.

IB is the Emperor's new clothes of education, and the philosophical component sounds great, but is largely worthless and is executed at the expense of subject matter content, in my opinion. My own son did the AP Diploma; I strongly discouraged him from doing IB. I am a bit sad to see some very intelligent kids who love literature in my HL IB classes this year, as opposed to my AP class, because I know they would get so much more out of AP.

IB was developed for the International School world and that is where I am teaching; I don't even see how it is fully implemented/applicable to schools in America. And yet, even in overseas International Schools, I think AP is vastly superior."