considering moving to MD for middle schools

[Anonymous]

Are there any specific middle schools you recommend for a very friendly child with an extreme love for math? He is 10 and loves doing geometry proofs in his spare time. We are currently in DC and do not really want to move, but if the schooling really is better in MD, maybe we should? this would be for 5th grade next year. Is there a magnet school that you test into if the child is exceptional in math? (Maybe he isn't all that exceptional, but he far surpassed my abilities and interests three years ago!)

[Anonymous]

There is a test-in magnet middle school for math and science -- Takoma Park MS. You must be a resident of MoCo to apply, and the application process occurs in fifth grade only (no late admissions).

Be aware that it's extremely competitive to get in -- about 700 applicants for 125 spots. 25 of those spots are for in boundary kids.

Beyond that, I think MoCo has good options for kids to accelerate in math. My kid didn't get into Takoma but he is at the humanities magnet at Eastern MS. He is able to take math two years ahead and is challenged. I believe there are similar possibilities at all MCPS middle schools.

[Anonymous]

thanks for the info! Too bad they don't let non residents take the test. Heck, I'd pay the costs to see the results-- and if they were great, I'd be willing to move into MD! But I'm not going to move to MD with the hope that my kid may do well on the exam. And as good as the teaching is in MD, it sounds like there is overcrowding. I'm thinking we'll just stick with DC and make the best of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:thanks for the info! Too bad they don't let non residents take the test. Heck, I'd pay the costs to see the results-- and if they were great, I'd be willing to move into MD! But I'm not going to move to MD with the hope that my kid may do well on the exam. And as good as the teaching is in MD, it sounds like there is overcrowding. I'm thinking we'll just stick with DC and make the best of it.

OP again-- the "overcrowded" comment is based on what I've seen glancing through this forum. If that is wrong, feel free to correct me. I don't know anyone with kids in MD, so I am open to suggestions!

[Anonymous]

PP here. The schools are big -- DS' school is 850 kids. However, I haven't observed overcrowding in the classroom. Most classes seem to be 25 - 30 kids, which doesn't seem unreasonable for middle school.

My advice to you is to have an outside eval done for your son. If he's truly very advanced, you will have different decisions to make than if he's "just" really good in math. (No disrespect to your DS! But so-called math geniuses have different needs than strong math students.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here. The schools are big -- DS' school is 850 kids. However, I haven't observed overcrowding in the classroom. Most classes seem to be 25 - 30 kids, which doesn't seem unreasonable for middle school.

My advice to you is to have an outside eval done for your son. If he's truly very advanced, you will have different decisions to make than if he's "just" really good in math. (No disrespect to your DS! But so-called math geniuses have different needs than strong math students.)

who performs these outside evaluations? I don't think he is a genius, just that math makes him really happy and I'd like to have him in a middle school that will make him happy. thanks!

[Anonymous]

There's also Blair, which is a math and science magnet for high school-- I've heard about half the class comes from TP magnet and half the class doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Even if he doesn't get into the magnet, he can still be in a very advanced class at his local middle school (if you move). I know Hoover has GT level classes. I assume other middle schools do too.

[Anonymous]

Just to clarify - 5th grade is in the elementary schools. The middle schools are 6th-8th (although there are a couple of elem schools that go through 6th). So you would be looking at elementary school for next year, and MS after that.

I dont think there is too much overcrowding at the middle schools right now. But they are very large. Pyle is about 1300 kids. Westland is slightly smaller. I don't think either is at capacity. Much larger than the DCPS middle schools, even Deal. Both are worth looking at as they are both good schools and feed into strong high schools.

While MCPS is dialing back the math acceleration I think it will still be allowed/encouraged for kids who are truly accelerated. They just won't be pushing as many kids ahead. In our cluster kids working 2 years ahead is pretty normal (algebra 1 in 7th grade) and there are some who are 3 years ahead (algebra 1 in 6th grade, and taking math at the high school in 8th grade).

[Anonymous]

Pyle is a little over capacity and Westland is right at capacity, projected to be increasingly over in the next few year.