When do they notify about HS magnet school acceptances?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Geographic Diversity is the way that MCPS is getting around the the illegality of race based quotas. If you remember, the BOE held private meetings last year to determine how they can do this without breaking federal law. They already eliminated the application for the MS Magnet Programs which many consider a barrier for magnet diversity. I'm sure that the HS Magnet application is next. Then, they added one magic line to the admissions criteria. They said that the Magnet programs are designed for students who "May lack an academic peer group in their home school". This subtle change allows them to pull more kids from the "lower performing" schools which they can contend don't have an academic peer group. What characteristic do most of these lower performing schools have in common? Majority Hispanic and/or AA students. As for all you W school parents, your kids already have an academic peer group at your home school so, in theory, your kid doesn't need to go to Magnet. This is why you will find less motivated kids with much lower test scores getting accepted over high scoring highly motivated kids. You will see this play out more and more over the next few years. Many at MCPS (and many on DCUM) hate the fact that the Magnet programs are mostly Asian, some White, and a speckling of AA/Hispanic and consider it a horrible black eye to the school system.

I don't remember that.

This mainly sounds like a story parents at the few majority-white schools in MCPS tell themselves about why their kid didn't get in.

Nope. I'm a DCC parent who's DD was accepted to both programs she applied for - Blair SMACS and Wheaton BIO. I just appreciate a merit based system where the best of the best are provided an appropriately challenging curriculum. I'm just happy that my child has made it through before the acceptance criteria is changed.

And *you* are extolling the virtues of a merit based system?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Geographic Diversity is the way that MCPS is getting around the the illegality of race based quotas. If you remember, the BOE held private meetings last year to determine how they can do this without breaking federal law. They already eliminated the application for the MS Magnet Programs which many consider a barrier for magnet diversity. I'm sure that the HS Magnet application is next. Then, they added one magic line to the admissions criteria. They said that the Magnet programs are designed for students who "May lack an academic peer group in their home school". This subtle change allows them to pull more kids from the "lower performing" schools which they can contend don't have an academic peer group. What characteristic do most of these lower performing schools have in common? Majority Hispanic and/or AA students. As for all you W school parents, your kids already have an academic peer group at your home school so, in theory, your kid doesn't need to go to Magnet. This is why you will find less motivated kids with much lower test scores getting accepted over high scoring highly motivated kids. You will see this play out more and more over the next few years. Many at MCPS (and many on DCUM) hate the fact that the Magnet programs are mostly Asian, some White, and a speckling of AA/Hispanic and consider it a horrible black eye to the school system.

I don't remember that.

This mainly sounds like a story parents at the few majority-white schools in MCPS tell themselves about why their kid didn't get in.

Nope. I'm a DCC parent who's DD was accepted to both programs she applied for - Blair SMACS and Wheaton BIO. I just appreciate a merit based system where the best of the best are provided an appropriately challenging curriculum. I'm just happy that my child has made it through before the acceptance criteria is changed.

And *you* are extolling the virtues of a merit based system?!

Not sure I understand. Wheaton Biomed is a test-in merit based magnet program. Do I think it should be opened up to the whole county? Absolutely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Nope. I'm a DCC parent who's DD was accepted to both programs she applied for - Blair SMACS and Wheaton BIO. I just appreciate a merit based system where the best of the best are provided an appropriately challenging curriculum. I'm just happy that my child has made it through before the acceptance criteria is changed.

And you seem to think that "the best of the best" does not include Hispanic and African-American students. Right. I'm glad your child is out too, for the sake of your child's Hispanic and African-American classmates.

I don't care one bit what skin color, race, religion, gender, these kids are. You are the one who sees children through this prism. I hope at some point you catch up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Nope. I'm a DCC parent who's DD was accepted to both programs she applied for - Blair SMACS and Wheaton BIO. I just appreciate a merit based system where the best of the best are provided an appropriately challenging curriculum. I'm just happy that my child has made it through before the acceptance criteria is changed.

And you seem to think that "the best of the best" does not include Hispanic and African-American students. Right. I'm glad your child is out too, for the sake of your child's Hispanic and African-American classmates.

I don't care one bit what skin color, race, religion, gender, these kids are. You are the one who sees children through this prism. I hope at some point you catch up.

Evidently you do care, though. Otherwise you wouldn't be complaining about efforts to increase participation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Nope. I'm a DCC parent who's DD was accepted to both programs she applied for - Blair SMACS and Wheaton BIO. I just appreciate a merit based system where the best of the best are provided an appropriately challenging curriculum. I'm just happy that my child has made it through before the acceptance criteria is changed.

And you seem to think that "the best of the best" does not include Hispanic and African-American students. Right. I'm glad your child is out too, for the sake of your child's Hispanic and African-American classmates.

I don't care one bit what skin color, race, religion, gender, these kids are. You are the one who sees children through this prism. I hope at some point you catch up.

Evidently you do care, though. Otherwise you wouldn't be complaining about efforts to increase participation.

np - i think you are twisting pp's words. pp cares about merit driven process. don't play dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Nope. I'm a DCC parent who's DD was accepted to both programs she applied for - Blair SMACS and Wheaton BIO. I just appreciate a merit based system where the best of the best are provided an appropriately challenging curriculum. I'm just happy that my child has made it through before the acceptance criteria is changed.

And you seem to think that "the best of the best" does not include Hispanic and African-American students. Right. I'm glad your child is out too, for the sake of your child's Hispanic and African-American classmates.

I don't care one bit what skin color, race, religion, gender, these kids are. You are the one who sees children through this prism. I hope at some point you catch up.

Evidently you do care, though. Otherwise you wouldn't be complaining about efforts to increase participation.

np - i think you are twisting pp's words. pp cares about merit driven process. don't play dumb.

PP thinks that you can only increase participation by admitting unworthy people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Nope. I'm a DCC parent who's DD was accepted to both programs she applied for - Blair SMACS and Wheaton BIO. I just appreciate a merit based system where the best of the best are provided an appropriately challenging curriculum. I'm just happy that my child has made it through before the acceptance criteria is changed.

And you seem to think that "the best of the best" does not include Hispanic and African-American students. Right. I'm glad your child is out too, for the sake of your child's Hispanic and African-American classmates.

I don't care one bit what skin color, race, religion, gender, these kids are. You are the one who sees children through this prism. I hope at some point you catch up.

Evidently you do care, though. Otherwise you wouldn't be complaining about efforts to increase participation.

np - i think you are twisting pp's words. pp cares about merit driven process. don't play dumb.

PP thinks that you can only increase participation by admitting unworthy people.

maybe you weren't "playing" dumb

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know the median scores for accepted CAP students?

[Anonymous]

Why are the programs no longer providing scores?

[Anonymous]

DC accepted to Poolsville Global Ecology, wait pool in RMIB (nothing yet). Home school is Wootton. DC is more of a science, social science type. Good in Math but not a CS, Math person. Any suggestions on whether to go Poolsville Global or stay in Wootton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC accepted to Poolsville Global Ecology, wait pool in RMIB (nothing yet). Home school is Wootton. DC is more of a science, social science type. Good in Math but not a CS, Math person. Any suggestions on whether to go Poolsville Global or stay in Wootton.

Depending what you want. Aren't decisions supposed to be mailed long time ago? I guess your child was waitlisted for Poolesville.
Child in Poolesville can take Magnet Math (if interested.)
They have a lot of field trips in Ecology.
Ecology has their own track with required subjects. It is kind of mixture of science with social studies. Go look online at required classes.
Roughly 1/3 of Ecology are local kids.
My child has a lot of friends from Ecology.
They can participate in many school technical clubs with SMCS kids (Robotics etc.)
Your child will need to get up early and be dropped at Duffied at 6:55 for next four years, are you committed?
Wootton is great too.
Does your child want to go? Will he/she miss her friends from Frost/Cabin John?
Very few Wootton kids will be there. After school activities would require a lot of coordination. (There is a Ride-on bus to Kentlands from PHS, and I guess you will need another one to get to your place)
My child loves PHS, but child is in different program.
We like PHS, since it is small, friendly and supportive. Not that crazy competitive.
We do not like that school is so far away.

[Anonymous]

My DC is a freshman in GE and loves it. I would agree that very few kids from W schools attend PHS as they are also very good and much closer for W kids.

As you may know AP CS is a freshman requirement for Global. I was concerned as DC has never had a CS class before. It's not that bad.

My DC was accepted into SMCs, Humanities and GE. Chose GE over SMCs for a better quality of life and I think that was a good thing.

Going into the program I was concerned about the 40 or so FT's they take 10 per year- but it's really been a blessing and I think an unforgettable experience for my DC. DC have a ton of things to write about for college essays.

Expect non-traditional teaching. I joke that my DC is learning to cook. DC has had to bring in 4-5 dishes from scratch this year (mostly history, but also bio and language).

Other examples of non-traditional teaching is that for Earth Day they were responsible for cleaning up the school. They've planned seeds in the greenhouse too.

In history, they are competing against each other in an NCAA tournament style debate on what the most important post WWII "concept" was the most important. They had to create PPT presentations and they will be facing off soon.

[Anonymous]

My kid got into all 4 programs easily (RMIB and PHS). Looking at all his classmates who opted for GE or SMACS, he made a comment that everyone who should be in SMACS are infact in SMACS. I thought it was a very mature comment from him. Which magnet he chose? You will be surprised.

[Anonymous]

Did your notification about acceptance to global ecology come today in regular mail or email?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into all 4 programs easily (RMIB and PHS). Looking at all his classmates who opted for GE or SMACS, he made a comment that everyone who should be in SMACS are infact in SMACS. I thought it was a very mature comment from him. Which magnet he chose? You will be surprised.

Sorry, but the comment sounds snobbish, not mature. the idea that he knows what other kids should be doing? And the whole assertion that he "got into all 4 programs easily" suggests your attitude isn't the best either. Yikes.

Glad we are Down County. Enjoy the "surprise," Poolesville friends.

Signed,
Mom of kid who got into 5 application programs (SMACS, CAP, both Wheatons, RMIB), for which they worked very hard and for which we were very grateful.