Waitlist for the Takoma Park Primary Magnet

[Anonymous]

My DC was wait listed for the Takoma Park Primary Magnet program. Due to the highly competitive nature of the selection process, I am wondering if there is ever any movement on the wait list. Has anyone had a child enter the program from the wait list?

[Anonymous]

I do know someone who got in off the waitlist this year.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your encouraging response.

[Anonymous]

What is the appeal of the program? Is it just a way to get out of a home school that you don't like? DD is fairly advanced in both reading and math, but I find that she and the few others on her level are able to be challenged in our school. It is only 1st and 2nd grade, right? Are we talking kids who are more than a grade or two ahead? Are they taught something different, or is the same curriculum in more depth?

[Anonymous]

It is for children who are advanced enough that their needs can not be met at their home school. There is only 1 for the whole county. Probably only kids that ahead enough that they do not have peers at their school.

[Anonymous]

But whether or not a child has peers at his or her level can vary by school. DD has several kindergarten peers reading at 2nd grade level, but a friend whose daughter is at an underperforming school says very few kindergarteners there are even reading at a first grade level. From my perspective, a kindergartener reading at a second grade level is not so advanced that her needs cannot be met at her home school, but my friend might disagree. so, thre must be some objective criteria, right? Like 3 grade levels ahead or something?

[Anonymous]

Isn't the TPES magnet essentially just one hour a week of homogeneous grouping?

[Anonymous]

The magnet really isn't much of one anymore. The school doesn't even do the one hour of homogenous grouping b/c of budget cuts.

BUT it is so worth it for us to have our son in this program at this school. His needs could not be met by his home school -- He is reading, writing and spelling 2 full years ahead. He's doing math between 1 and 2 years ahead. The home school had no one to pair him with, hence no reason to teach him. K was truly a nightmare.

At home, he reads even farther ahead. He's finishing first grade and has been devouring every Rick Riordan book he can get his hands on.

At the home school, he knew he was ahead of the other kids, and it was a problem. At TPES, there are other kids doing what he is doing. Not being an anomaly is HUGE. So, he gets appropriate leveling and gets taught something. AT TPES, it's okay to be learning at whatever level you are, even if you're out of the box of what most schools (at least our red zone school) are equipped to handle.

TPES magnet kids feed into Piney Branch Elem. for 3rd grade. There's no official program there, but b/c they get a large group of advanced children, they have geared their program to meet these children's needs.

[Anonymous]

We too were waitlisted for the magnet program and my husband and I just aren't sure if we are going to make it or not. My daughter is doing 3rd grade level math and on a 3rd - 4th grade reading level. We are zoned for an under performing elementary school and ended up choosing to homeschool her this year because her needs could not be met at our local school. At this rate, the Takoma Park Elem. Magnet Program was our only real shot at public schooling. I am guessing the list won't move enough for us to make it, but we are holding out! Good luck to the OP!

[Anonymous]

Has anyone seen any movement with this list? I am also curious about the odds of being called.

[Anonymous]

Apply to Feynman and apply for FA?