mcps. sounds about right. (GT admissions changes)

[Anonymous]

On the other thread they’re saying that everyone at Pyle in the sixth grade gets the advanced humanities course. That’s one big peer cohort!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Surprised to see the article said that outside testing was used to qualify. I did not think this was true.

It was just one of the many ways wealthier parents could game the system in past years.

the prior system sounds ridiculous. parent recommendations and teacher recommendations needed to qualify instead of universal screening.

There was also a test.

They changed the test last year. Messed up some of the prep program success rates.

You have no idea what you are talking about. They didn't change' the test, they shortened it! Instead of a full-battery CogAt, they only administered a screener. Same text, only 1/3 in length. Didn't mess up any of the prep programs, kids who attended those had all the advantages.

That was for the CES--they did the screener. The MS magnet test was the full CogAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

A thought experiment: MCPS could have first tried universal testing along with a new test but without the peer group criterion. Why do you think they included the peer group factor on top of the other two?

Probably because the importance of peer group is talked about on this forum ad nauseam: W feeder schools, or you don't give a damn about your child's education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember seeing this in a previous thread and found it both funny and probably closer to the truth than people want to believe....

Administrator #1: "Wow, look at those SAT scores over there at Blair. It's really amazing isn't it? We need to send out a press release!"
Administrator #2: "Definitely! Hold on a second, all these names of Intel Scholars sound Asian. Let me see the full list of Magnet students. All these names sound Asian and White."
Administrator #1: "Yea, they've been gaming the system for years. Sending their kids to tutors, supplementing education, and actually filling out the application"
Administrator #2: "Oh no, we can't have that! That isn't fair"
Administrator #1: "I know. We send parents information and leave phone mail message constantly in both English and Spanish but Hispanics and African Americans don't apply"
Administrator #2: "It sounds like we need try and make the application easier."
Administrator #1: "I've got a better idea! Lets get rid of the application all together. Test everyone."
Administrator #2: "Brilliant! But what about the fact that Black and Hispanics test lower across the board on all standardized tests, how do we overcome that?"
Administrator #1: "We should just set up quotas by race."
Administrator #2: "I wish. They passed a stupid law against quotas."
Administrator #1: "Let's think, how can we get around the law. Most Whites and Asians like to live in the same snobby rich areas, right?"
Administrator #2: "Right... God I hate those Whites and Asians!"
Administrator #1: "Then lets say that if you live in an area where your home school has other really smart kids then you get penalized in the admissions process."
Administrator #2: "Great Idea! That way, we can say that we aren't giving preference to race, we can disguise it as preference by opportunity."
Administrator #1: "Wait, but won't that make the SAT scores at Blair go down? Won't that make us look bad?"
Administrator #2: "Of course it will but we are doing it for the greater good. Plus, we work for the Government. What are they going to do fire us?
Administrator #1: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Administrator #2: "Ha ha ha ha he he ha ha!"

OMG.

That is spot on! I could definitely see that happening.

yep. bottom quartile of the CES and magnet programs will truly be bottom nowadays. nice feel-good experiment. except that the kids failing to keep up will probably give up in some pretty big ways. or stick to the [xyz] studies majors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On the other thread they’re saying that everyone at Pyle in the sixth grade gets the advanced humanities course. That’s one big peer cohort!

Western Civ was also one big clusterFck class, waste of time. even with the 35 kids per class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No it was the difference between competing with 800 vs 4000. But you don't want to believe that.

MCPS isn't even saying this. They've been really clear that they had to use the outlier and cohort to achieve the diversity they wanted.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Surprised to see the article said that outside testing was used to qualify. I did not think this was true.

It was just one of the many ways wealthier parents could game the system in past years.

the prior system sounds ridiculous. parent recommendations and teacher recommendations needed to qualify instead of universal screening.

There was also a test.

They changed the test last year. Messed up some of the prep program success rates.

This is positively Trumpian!

FYI: *even MCPS* is not claiming what you believe. If what you believe is true, MCPS could just shrug and say, "tough luck, the test changed, and your kids did not do well." But they don't, because we are talking about kids who had no problem acing the new test, and aced PARCC/MAP/etc. They were not admitted to TPMS/Eastern this year solely because of the peer group criterion. These are kids for whom the test did not make any difference.



A thought experiment: MCPS could have first tried universal testing along with a new test but without the peer group criterion. Why do you think they included the peer group factor on top of the other two?

Because there is very limited space in the magnets.They have to ration spots and give them to students who need them most. Kids with little to no peer group!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No it was the difference between competing with 800 vs 4000. But you don't want to believe that.

MCPS isn't even saying this. They've been really clear that they had to use the outlier and cohort to achieve the diversity they wanted.

+1

+1

[Anonymous]

moral of the story, rent a house for 2 mos, move your kid to the krappiest school possible the year of magnet testing (3rd or 5th grade). Get in to magnet program, then move back to your real house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:moral of the story, rent a house for 2 mos, move your kid to the krappiest school possible the year of magnet testing (3rd or 5th grade). Get in to magnet program, then move back to your real house.

Or buy in a cluster that you can be satisfied with, irrespective of whether your kid is magnet material

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Surprised to see the article said that outside testing was used to qualify. I did not think this was true.

It was just one of the many ways wealthier parents could game the system in past years.

the prior system sounds ridiculous. parent recommendations and teacher recommendations needed to qualify instead of universal screening.

There was also a test.

They changed the test last year. Messed up some of the prep program success rates.

This is positively Trumpian!

FYI: *even MCPS* is not claiming what you believe. If what you believe is true, MCPS could just shrug and say, "tough luck, the test changed, and your kids did not do well." But they don't, because we are talking about kids who had no problem acing the new test, and aced PARCC/MAP/etc. They were not admitted to TPMS/Eastern this year solely because of the peer group criterion. These are kids for whom the test did not make any difference.



A thought experiment: MCPS could have first tried universal testing along with a new test but without the peer group criterion. Why do you think they included the peer group factor on top of the other two?

Because MCPS policy, supported by decades of respected research, is that the best learning environment is one with academic peers. Hence the existence of HGCs etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Because MCPS policy, supported by decades of respected research, is that the best learning environment is one with academic peers. Hence the existence of HGCs etc.

*this*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember seeing this in a previous thread and found it both funny and probably closer to the truth than people want to believe....

Administrator #1: "Wow, look at those SAT scores over there at Blair. It's really amazing isn't it? We need to send out a press release!"
Administrator #2: "Definitely! Hold on a second, all these names of Intel Scholars sound Asian. Let me see the full list of Magnet students. All these names sound Asian and White."
Administrator #1: "Yea, they've been gaming the system for years. Sending their kids to tutors, supplementing education, and actually filling out the application"
Administrator #2: "Oh no, we can't have that! That isn't fair"
Administrator #1: "I know. We send parents information and leave phone mail message constantly in both English and Spanish but Hispanics and African Americans don't apply"
Administrator #2: "It sounds like we need try and make the application easier."
Administrator #1: "I've got a better idea! Lets get rid of the application all together. Test everyone."
Administrator #2: "Brilliant! But what about the fact that Black and Hispanics test lower across the board on all standardized tests, how do we overcome that?"
Administrator #1: "We should just set up quotas by race."
Administrator #2: "I wish. They passed a stupid law against quotas."
Administrator #1: "Let's think, how can we get around the law. Most Whites and Asians like to live in the same snobby rich areas, right?"
Administrator #2: "Right... God I hate those Whites and Asians!"
Administrator #1: "Then lets say that if you live in an area where your home school has other really smart kids then you get penalized in the admissions process."
Administrator #2: "Great Idea! That way, we can say that we aren't giving preference to race, we can disguise it as preference by opportunity."
Administrator #1: "Wait, but won't that make the SAT scores at Blair go down? Won't that make us look bad?"
Administrator #2: "Of course it will but we are doing it for the greater good. Plus, we work for the Government. What are they going to do fire us?
Administrator #1: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Administrator #2: "Ha ha ha ha he he ha ha!"

OMG.

That is spot on! I could definitely see that happening.

yep. bottom quartile of the CES and magnet programs will truly be bottom nowadays. nice feel-good experiment. except that the kids failing to keep up will probably give up in some pretty big ways. or stick to the [xyz] studies majors.

MCPS won't let that happen. Remember, it's never the kids fault, it's the system's fault - the kids are victims of a rigged system. If they aren't ready for 3hrs of homework a night, the problem is the homework. Just watch, they will eventually require magnet teachers to slow down and teach to the bottom. Then the great teachers will leave. It's a death spiral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember seeing this in a previous thread and found it both funny and probably closer to the truth than people want to believe....

Administrator #1: "Wow, look at those SAT scores over there at Blair. It's really amazing isn't it? We need to send out a press release!"
Administrator #2: "Definitely! Hold on a second, all these names of Intel Scholars sound Asian. Let me see the full list of Magnet students. All these names sound Asian and White."
Administrator #1: "Yea, they've been gaming the system for years. Sending their kids to tutors, supplementing education, and actually filling out the application"
Administrator #2: "Oh no, we can't have that! That isn't fair"
Administrator #1: "I know. We send parents information and leave phone mail message constantly in both English and Spanish but Hispanics and African Americans don't apply"
Administrator #2: "It sounds like we need try and make the application easier."
Administrator #1: "I've got a better idea! Lets get rid of the application all together. Test everyone."
Administrator #2: "Brilliant! But what about the fact that Black and Hispanics test lower across the board on all standardized tests, how do we overcome that?"
Administrator #1: "We should just set up quotas by race."
Administrator #2: "I wish. They passed a stupid law against quotas."
Administrator #1: "Let's think, how can we get around the law. Most Whites and Asians like to live in the same snobby rich areas, right?"
Administrator #2: "Right... God I hate those Whites and Asians!"
Administrator #1: "Then lets say that if you live in an area where your home school has other really smart kids then you get penalized in the admissions process."
Administrator #2: "Great Idea! That way, we can say that we aren't giving preference to race, we can disguise it as preference by opportunity."
Administrator #1: "Wait, but won't that make the SAT scores at Blair go down? Won't that make us look bad?"
Administrator #2: "Of course it will but we are doing it for the greater good. Plus, we work for the Government. What are they going to do fire us?
Administrator #1: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Administrator #2: "Ha ha ha ha he he ha ha!"

OMG.

That is spot on! I could definitely see that happening.

This is so obnoxious. There is no evidence provided that the kids accepted this year through the universal screening process are somehow inferior to prior cohorts. The quality should go up since McPS is screening a much larger pool rather than just kids nominated by their parents/teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember seeing this in a previous thread and found it both funny and probably closer to the truth than people want to believe....

Administrator #1: "Wow, look at those SAT scores over there at Blair. It's really amazing isn't it? We need to send out a press release!"
Administrator #2: "Definitely! Hold on a second, all these names of Intel Scholars sound Asian. Let me see the full list of Magnet students. All these names sound Asian and White."
Administrator #1: "Yea, they've been gaming the system for years. Sending their kids to tutors, supplementing education, and actually filling out the application"
Administrator #2: "Oh no, we can't have that! That isn't fair"
Administrator #1: "I know. We send parents information and leave phone mail message constantly in both English and Spanish but Hispanics and African Americans don't apply"
Administrator #2: "It sounds like we need try and make the application easier."
Administrator #1: "I've got a better idea! Lets get rid of the application all together. Test everyone."
Administrator #2: "Brilliant! But what about the fact that Black and Hispanics test lower across the board on all standardized tests, how do we overcome that?"
Administrator #1: "We should just set up quotas by race."
Administrator #2: "I wish. They passed a stupid law against quotas."
Administrator #1: "Let's think, how can we get around the law. Most Whites and Asians like to live in the same snobby rich areas, right?"
Administrator #2: "Right... God I hate those Whites and Asians!"
Administrator #1: "Then lets say that if you live in an area where your home school has other really smart kids then you get penalized in the admissions process."
Administrator #2: "Great Idea! That way, we can say that we aren't giving preference to race, we can disguise it as preference by opportunity."
Administrator #1: "Wait, but won't that make the SAT scores at Blair go down? Won't that make us look bad?"
Administrator #2: "Of course it will but we are doing it for the greater good. Plus, we work for the Government. What are they going to do fire us?
Administrator #1: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Administrator #2: "Ha ha ha ha he he ha ha!"

OMG.

That is spot on! I could definitely see that happening.

This is so obnoxious. There is no evidence provided that the kids accepted this year through the universal screening process are somehow inferior to prior cohorts. The quality should go up since McPS is screening a much larger pool rather than just kids nominated by their parents/teachers.

Ugh for the last time they are taking less people from qualified areas
so the people they are taking aren't as high performing

Three categories

1. People from high performing areas. Truly gifted individuals are screwed because they are in classrooms with smart but not gifted students now.
2. People from middle performing areas. Those that are qualified are in a magnet program that is less rigorous. There might be a few students who are getting in with the lower standards
3. People from lower areas are benefiting due to universal screening and the overall cutoffs lowering because candidates from high performing areas are at their base school instead of taking spots

So overall the gifted program is less rigorous and the truly gifted in high performing areas are in a less rigorous program too. Another fail by MCPS