Takoma Park Middle School and Montgomery Blair High School question

[Anonymous]

I know the magnet programs are supposed to be excellent there but how are these schools for kids who do not attend the magnet part? What is the education like and do those kids do well in terms of achievement/college entrance, etc? And do the magnet and non-magnet kids interact with one another? TIA!

[Anonymous]

At both TPMS and Blair, magnet kids only take magnet courses with each other, and they take non-magnet classes with other kids in the school, generally at the honors level at TPMS and Blair, and also at the AP level at Blair. So in the math/science magnets at TPMS and Blair, the kids take magnet science, math and computer science. And they take non-magnet (honors, usually) classes with other kids in the school, i.e. english, foreign languages, social studies, gym, art, music and, at Blair, the required health and tech courses and various electives.

Parents with kids in non-magnet TPMS seem really happy. The honors classes seem good. FWIW, I believe kids who live in Takoma get a slight bump in the admissions process for TPMS, although I don't know how generous the bump is, and I also would count on it still being there if your plan is to move now with your infant to Takoma.

I have to be honest and say that I'm not sure I'd want my kid to do the non-magnet program at Blair, mainly because the school is huge, and some kids might get lost there. The magnets (science and math, and communication arts) provide a small home, with a cohort of friends, within what's a very large school. My magnet kid has had mixed experiences with honors classes there, although most have been very good. I think it's a bit what your kid makes of it. If he or she is susceptible to getting lost, then perhaps there's a risk. But if he or she takes all honors and AP classes, then s/he will probably do fine.

I don't know about college admissions for magnet vs. non-magnet.

One additional thing - TPMS' principal has just been moved up to Blair. People at TPMS loved her, which is a good thing for Blair. It's not clear what it means for TPMS because a new principal hasn't been assigned yet.

[Anonymous]

From the perspective of my kids who have been in CAP and Blair's comprehensive program, but not the magnet, magnet kids will have little overlap with CAP students in class since their courses are mutually exclusive until 12th grade. Unless they are in sports or go out of their way to mix with other students, the magnets tend to hang together in and out of class and rightly or wrongly appear to other students to be elite, socially inept, or both. Unlike CAP and the rest of Blair, they tend to come from outside the DCC which may explain why magnet parents tend to be less involved in the school community. It would be refreshing to have more magnet involvement to benefit the rest of Blair.

As far as the experience of Blair for kids outside CAP/magnet, it offers many opportunities for high-achieving students including a stellar school newspaper, tv studio, and magnet math and science for 11th and 12th graders who have the prerequisites. Likewise, students outside CAP/magnet who take challenging classes have excellent college options.

[Anonymous]

is CAP open to the whole county or only the downcounty consortium?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:is CAP open to the whole county or only the downcounty consortium?

CAP is open to the whole county but it's highly competitive like the math/science magnet.

The MS program is at Eastern MS and then on to Blair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:is CAP open to the whole county or only the downcounty consortium?

CAP is open to the whole county but it's highly competitive like the math/science magnet.
The MS program is at Eastern MS and then on to Blair.

Actually, I don't think that's correct. I think you can apply to CAP if you are in one of the DCC middle schools (e.g., in the TPMS or Eastern magnet program), but otherwise, you cannot. From the MCPS website:

The Communication Arts Program (CAP) at Montgomery Blair HS is an application-only program. Current Grade 8 students living in the Downcounty Consortium (DCC) attendance area as well as those students who attend a DCC feeder middle school on approved change of school assignment (transfer) may apply. For further information, contact Montgomery Blair HS.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure how to tackfully address my concern without sounding/being offensive and apologize if I am. I would appreciate hearing from students, parents, teachers, etc. familar with these schools. I have noticed that many of the magnet students seem socially awkward and am concerned that this will have a negative impact on DC. DC will be starting the magnet this year and it appears, at least for now, that DC's interests, outside of academics, and demeanor is different than that of most of the magnet students we have met. DC is very excited about the magnet classes, but I have concerns about the social aspects of the the environment. Are my concerns valid?

[Anonymous]

PP, I'm going to just answer your question straight on. My DC just finished an elementary gifted center and will continue on to the magnet program at Eastern, so I think I have a pretty good picture.

Most of the kids in the program are well-behaved, polite, articulate and engaged kids with a wide variety of interests, including sports, music, movies, reading, etc. etc. My own DC loves to play sports and plays year-round on teams with many non-magnet kids and gets along well with them, fits in well, etc.

Sure, there are a few quirky or immature kids in the program -- probably not more than in a typical classroom. The most important thing that I've observed is that this group of kids feels protective and supportive of each other, and there's not a lot of bullying or clique-ish behavior. I am hoping that this continues into middle school -- if DC is in a social environment that's similar to the ES magnet program, we will be very lucky.

I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

[Anonymous]

I would worry about it. I pulled my kid out for that reason.

[Anonymous]

Can you give more details, PP? I know so many kids who've really loved both programs. Why worry or upset someone without giving concrete information?

[Anonymous]

21:35 could you provide some details about why you withdrew your DC from the magnet program? Questions I have include: (1) what grade (elementary, middle school, high school)?; (2) How did the social akwardness of the other students affect DC?; (3) How was DC different than the other students?; (4) How long did DC stay in the magnet program? Thank you for any insight.

[Anonymous]

21:35 here. I pulled mine out in 7th grade. Mine was somewhat socially awkward to begin with- the quirky kids AND the added stress made the situation worse. Every situation and class is different, but my daughter felt lonely/isolated in that magnet, and has thrived academically and socially in the return to her home school. My DD is into drama, music and graphic art. Eastern may have been a better fit for us, but she got into Takoma and I pushed her. I regret that and would do it differently if I could.

[Anonymous]

Part of education is learning about people. I can understand if there were some bad incidents with quirky kids that required someone to withdraw their child, but in general, avoiding a school because some kids have awkward social skills? Sometimes social skills are in deficit when children are extremely bright, and to not want to have your child with kids with bright creative minds, I don't get it. If a classroom had 3 Albert Einsteins in it, you would choose a different school??

[Anonymous]

Will you pull your adult kid out of a job liked because of a few quirky adults?

[Anonymous]

I pulled my kid out of a haven of jocks and jock (all sports) mentality. I prefer a few quirky kids any day of the week to dumb jocks for an educational environment for children.