Middle school magnet testing for Takoma/ Eastern: have you received 'invite'?

[Anonymous]

February 9 is the date that has been identified all along, so I would guess the date applies to Clemente/MLK (if not the actual tweet).

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/specialprograms/middle/Attachment%20A%20ES%20FAQ%20and%20Timeline%20MS%20FINAL(1).pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I hear you saying that it boils down to the top 10% of test takers?

It always has.

+1 and much to my surprise there was no essay, further simplifying the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I hear you saying that it boils down to the top 10% of test takers?

It always has.

+1 and much to my surprise there was no essay, further simplifying the process.

Huh? I thought there was an essay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I hear you saying that it boils down to the top 10% of test takers?

It always has.

+1 and much to my surprise there was no essay, further simplifying the process.

Huh? I thought there was an essay.

There were multiple choice questions- 15 or so- that students were to answer. If answered intelligently, and responses put together from each student, would make an essay. The essay would be titled what Is a magnet program and who should be selected to such program. My fifth grader told me so and I believe my DC who loves to create online quizzes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I hear you saying that it boils down to the top 10% of test takers?

It always has.

+1 and much to my surprise there was no essay, further simplifying the process.

Huh? I thought there was an essay.

Nope.

[Anonymous]

My 5th grader, testing for Eastern/TKPK, said there was no essay. Analogies, quantitative comparisons, logic (paper folding, patterns, etc.), but all multiple choice—no essay-type questions. Took it at school, with the rest of the CES group.

[Anonymous]

DD said there was no essay and she is one of the top students in her class at Wayside. I believe her, not the PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD said there was no essay and she is one of the top students in her class at Wayside. I believe her, not the PP.

Ask your DD if there were multiple choice questions in the beginning of the test asking about how they thought magnet school program is and who they think should go to such a program and bunch of questions on their capabilities on problem solving- all multiple choice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD said there was no essay and she is one of the top students in her class at Wayside. I believe her, not the PP.

Ask your DD if there were multiple choice questions in the beginning of the test asking about how they thought magnet school program is and who they think should go to such a program and bunch of questions on their capabilities on problem solving- all multiple choice

+1. Not the Wayside poster. My DD reported having to write paragraphs about the purpose of magnets/ who would benefit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD said there was no essay and she is one of the top students in her class at Wayside. I believe her, not the PP.

Ask your DD if there were multiple choice questions in the beginning of the test asking about how they thought magnet school program is and who they think should go to such a program and bunch of questions on their capabilities on problem solving- all multiple choice

+1. Not the Wayside poster. My DD reported having to write paragraphs about the purpose of magnets/ who would benefit.

This is what my DS reported as well. Not at Wayside either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD said there was no essay and she is one of the top students in her class at Wayside. I believe her, not the PP.

Ask your DD if there were multiple choice questions in the beginning of the test asking about how they thought magnet school program is and who they think should go to such a program and bunch of questions on their capabilities on problem solving- all multiple choice

+1. Not the Wayside poster. My DD reported having to write paragraphs about the purpose of magnets/ who would benefit.

My son also reported that he had to answer similar questions--what makes a good magnet student and why magnets? He said he had to write the answer. I asked another family at another school and they said the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD said there was no essay and she is one of the top students in her class at Wayside. I believe her, not the PP.

Ask your DD if there were multiple choice questions in the beginning of the test asking about how they thought magnet school program is and who they think should go to such a program and bunch of questions on their capabilities on problem solving- all multiple choice

+1. Not the Wayside poster. My DD reported having to write paragraphs about the purpose of magnets/ who would benefit.

My son also reported that he had to answer similar questions--what makes a good magnet student and why magnets? He said he had to write the answer. I asked another family at another school and they said the same thing.

I hope they don't use that information for admission decisions. This new process for Takoma/Eastern was meant to make the process more equitable and to remove barriers. If you're worried about underrepresented kids having a fair shot, you'd have to know that parents in certain demographics (e.g., native english speaking) might be much more familiar with the ins and outs of magnet programs. I've been really surprised at the amount that parents seem to be talking about the magnets and magnet testing with their kids in my school (and some doing lots of preparation). I think that it's likely that all of the buzz about magnets doesn't happen equitably across demographics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD said there was no essay and she is one of the top students in her class at Wayside. I believe her, not the PP.

Ask your DD if there were multiple choice questions in the beginning of the test asking about how they thought magnet school program is and who they think should go to such a program and bunch of questions on their capabilities on problem solving- all multiple choice

+1. Not the Wayside poster. My DD reported having to write paragraphs about the purpose of magnets/ who would benefit.

My son also reported that he had to answer similar questions--what makes a good magnet student and why magnets? He said he had to write the answer. I asked another family at another school and they said the same thing.

I hope they don't use that information for admission decisions. This new process for Takoma/Eastern was meant to make the process more equitable and to remove barriers. If you're worried about underrepresented kids having a fair shot, you'd have to know that parents in certain demographics (e.g., native english speaking) might be much more familiar with the ins and outs of magnet programs. I've been really surprised at the amount that parents seem to be talking about the magnets and magnet testing with their kids in my school (and some doing lots of preparation). I think that it's likely that all of the buzz about magnets doesn't happen equitably across demographics.

Well MCPS clearly decided to use two different formats to get the information they wanted. Why is the question? The rep at the magnet info session said the question/prompt would not be scored but would be used as a way to determine student interest.

[Anonymous]

My DS said that there was a survey at the beginning of the test asking them to write out what makes a good student for a magnet program. He skipped the Blair testing date and took it at his home school instead.

[Anonymous]

This in interesting. I plan to tell my 4th grader to simply skip the survey. Its baloney.