Middle School Magnet Test

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how much the application essays count? Are they considere or is really just about the test?

I think the test qualifies you to get your application essays read. I am assuming that based on how kids did in the test - they would cull the pool to 200 applicants. And then take a look at everything - test scores and application essays and teacher's recommendation.

I doubt that they get it down to 200 just on test scores.

Yes they do. Then the rest is weeding out the poor applications, other tests/grades, recommendations. The final review is a comparison but that is just a small number of borderline. This is from reliable source.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how much the application essays count? Are they considere or is really just about the test?

I think the test qualifies you to get your application essays read. I am assuming that based on how kids did in the test - they would cull the pool to 200 applicants. And then take a look at everything - test scores and application essays and teacher's recommendation.

I doubt that they get it down to 200 just on test scores.

Yes they do. Then the rest is weeding out the poor applications, other tests/grades, recommendations. The final review is a comparison but that is just a small number of borderline. This is from reliable source.

200 per school?

[Anonymous]

I heard the test is really the most important. You have to make the cut there to get your application considered. Wish they had more seats. My top 3% child is probably not going to make the cut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard the test is really the most important. You have to make the cut there to get your application considered. Wish they had more seats. My top 3% child is probably not going to make the cut.

For TPMS? How many applicants do they have? At Eastern we were told there are usually 800 applicants for 100 seats. That's a 12.5% acceptance rate, so your top 3% child would get accepted.

[Anonymous]

At Eastern they shared they had roughly 600 applicants for 100 spots; for Takoma 875 for 100 spots (an additional 25 for TPMS boundary students). Just an unfortunate system that many, many gifted students don't gain acceptance and must endure the regular system aimed at the average student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Eastern they shared they had roughly 600 applicants for 100 spots; for Takoma 875 for 100 spots (an additional 25 for TPMS boundary students). Just an unfortunate system that many, many gifted students don't gain acceptance and must endure the regular system aimed at the average student.

Whoa. Clemente has 50 seats in each program, and an additional 20 per program. So total Humanities = 50 outside applicants + 20 RC kids = 70 seats for humanities. And the same for SMACS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Eastern they shared they had roughly 600 applicants for 100 spots; for Takoma 875 for 100 spots (an additional 25 for TPMS boundary students). Just an unfortunate system that many, many gifted students don't gain acceptance and must endure the regular system aimed at the average student.

What?! 1/5 of the spots in the most elite program in the county are reserved for Takoma Park families?? That's crazy! Why? That means that while 800+ kids are competing for 100 spots, you've got maybe 50-75 kids competing for the final 25. MUCH better odds, no? It surely means there are some less qualified kids getting in every year. I don't understand why in-boundary families should be granted such a home field advantage for a program that's supposed to be for the very best students in the county?

That has to be the most valuable geographic advantage in the entire MCPS system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Eastern they shared they had roughly 600 applicants for 100 spots; for Takoma 875 for 100 spots (an additional 25 for TPMS boundary students). Just an unfortunate system that many, many gifted students don't gain acceptance and must endure the regular system aimed at the average student.

What?! 1/5 of the spots in the most elite program in the county are reserved for Takoma Park families?? That's crazy! Why? That means that while 800+ kids are competing for 100 spots, you've got maybe 50-75 kids competing for the final 25. MUCH better odds, no? It surely means there are some less qualified kids getting in every year. I don't understand why in-boundary families should be granted such a home field advantage for a program that's supposed to be for the very best students in the county?

That has to be the most valuable geographic advantage in the entire MCPS system.

It is. And so, we urge all to move in that area so that Takoma Park MS is your home MS. It is meant to attract home buyers too. I think it is a good strategy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Eastern they shared they had roughly 600 applicants for 100 spots; for Takoma 875 for 100 spots (an additional 25 for TPMS boundary students). Just an unfortunate system that many, many gifted students don't gain acceptance and must endure the regular system aimed at the average student.

What?! 1/5 of the spots in the most elite program in the county are reserved for Takoma Park families?? That's crazy! Why? That means that while 800+ kids are competing for 100 spots, you've got maybe 50-75 kids competing for the final 25. MUCH better odds, no? It surely means there are some less qualified kids getting in every year. I don't understand why in-boundary families should be granted such a home field advantage for a program that's supposed to be for the very best students in the county?

That has to be the most valuable geographic advantage in the entire MCPS system.

It is. And so, we urge all to move in that area so that Takoma Park MS is your home MS. It is meant to attract home buyers too. I think it is a good strategy.

Not the PP, but here for your reference are the service area maps for Takoma Park MS and for Roberto Clemente MS. Since Roberto Clemente MS is home to both programs, you can increase your child's chances even further by moving there.

http://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/TakomaParkMS.pdf
http://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/ClementeMS.pdf

[Anonymous]

600 applicants for Eastern was this year or last year?

[Anonymous]

For entrance in fall, 2014. I wrote down that they had 575 applicants. Much better odds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Eastern they shared they had roughly 600 applicants for 100 spots; for Takoma 875 for 100 spots (an additional 25 for TPMS boundary students). Just an unfortunate system that many, many gifted students don't gain acceptance and must endure the regular system aimed at the average student.

What?! 1/5 of the spots in the most elite program in the county are reserved for Takoma Park families?? That's crazy! Why? That means that while 800+ kids are competing for 100 spots, you've got maybe 50-75 kids competing for the final 25. MUCH better odds, no? It surely means there are some less qualified kids getting in every year. I don't understand why in-boundary families should be granted such a home field advantage for a program that's supposed to be for the very best students in the county?

That has to be the most valuable geographic advantage in the entire MCPS system.

I agree and have never understood why this is.

[Anonymous]

I think that was the only way TPMS would agree to host.

[Anonymous]

How any students are wait listed? It seems that the 200 number is low bc I would think that most students in that group would be accepted or wait listed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that was the only way TPMS would agree to host.

I doubt this. The presence of the magnet at TPMS surely boosts the school's overall scores significantly, which is hugely important to the administration. Any Red Zone school would kill for a program like that.

Perhaps that was the PTA's official position. If so, well played.