Thursday Nov 20 BOE Discussion on Boundaries and Regional Program Model

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have this same thought. Why not make one more SMCS program over in Bethesda/Potomac and keep the other two as-is. It’s a much more reasonable, doable idea and would add more seats and reduce commutes while hopefully not stripping away the benefits that the east county currently has.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

I would propose putting it at Woodward actually based on geography and getting a new school off to a strong start.

Yes, we are in Churchill. Current bus ride for STEM magnet is too much from our house. If one is at Woodward, more Churchill kids can certainly go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

And the 14-25 percent who are will have a good program to apply to.

Of which fewer than half will be able to swing the commute, the majority will be stuck at a school where the high performing cohort has been hollowed out.

It happens now to many kids. You either go without or go to MC.

They are putting it at schools that have the classes and resources so they don’t have to give extra funding. Einstein and Northwood kids barely get any advanced classes. The kids left behind are still there. The schools make promises but come junior and senior year that response is go to MC or take what we have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have this same thought. Why not make one more SMCS program over in Bethesda/Potomac and keep the other two as-is. It’s a much more reasonable, doable idea and would add more seats and reduce commutes while hopefully not stripping away the benefits that the east county currently has.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

I would propose putting it at Woodward actually based on geography and getting a new school off to a strong start.

Yes, we are in Churchill. Current bus ride for STEM magnet is too much from our house. If one is at Woodward, more Churchill kids can certainly go for it.

Churchill has stem classes and you aren’t far from MC. The bigger issue is for schools lacking stem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

And the 14-25 percent who are will have a good program to apply to.

Of which fewer than half will be able to swing the commute, the majority will be stuck at a school where the high performing cohort has been hollowed out.

I think people are overestimating how many high performing students will even be interested in leaving their home schools to attend these half-formed, questionably staffed, unfunded, regional programs which don't even provide neighborhood bus routes.

It’s hard to say. Our school has little stem and other offerings so any kid that can bail, probably will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

And the 14-25 percent who are will have a good program to apply to.

Of which fewer than half will be able to swing the commute, the majority will be stuck at a school where the high performing cohort has been hollowed out.

I think people are overestimating how many high performing students will even be interested in leaving their home schools to attend these half-formed, questionably staffed, unfunded, regional programs which don't even provide neighborhood bus routes.

They'll do it to access AP science courses that their home school doesn't offer.

All high schools will have AP science classes.

They don’t now. It’s doubtful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have this same thought. Why not make one more SMCS program over in Bethesda/Potomac and keep the other two as-is. It’s a much more reasonable, doable idea and would add more seats and reduce commutes while hopefully not stripping away the benefits that the east county currently has.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

I would propose putting it at Woodward actually based on geography and getting a new school off to a strong start.

Yes, we are in Churchill. Current bus ride for STEM magnet is too much from our house. If one is at Woodward, more Churchill kids can certainly go for it.

They're proposing putting the STEM magnet for Churchill's region at Wootton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

Central office is pulling programs out of the air; doesn't seem there is much rhyme or reason to many of them.

Central office doesn’t even understand their own graduation requirements. N talked to the equity office and they told me to have my child take economics for math as a graduation requirement. I asked them to show me where that was on the allowed math list and they said I had to look it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

Central office is pulling programs out of the air; doesn't seem there is much rhyme or reason to many of them.

Central office doesn’t even understand their own graduation requirements. N talked to the equity office and they told me to have my child take economics for math as a graduation requirement. I asked them to show me where that was on the allowed math list and they said I had to look it up.

I talked. Autocorrect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was just added--sample pathways doc.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DNLRYN704ACA/$file/WORKING%20DRAFT%20Sample%20Regional%20Programs%20Pathways%20251120.pdf

Wow, they are really leaning into putting the most rigorous academic programs at White Wealthy schools..what a message to send. Damn.

Look, I get your point but just a reminder that BCC is majority non white and 45% non white/Asian. And there is a quarter of the population who can't afford school lunch. There is a robust food pantry at BCC that was decimated when SNAP was cut off. I get that it's not the same as the DCC, and I don't oppose moving academic programs to DCC schools, but please don't lose sight of the facts.

It's ok, the foundation has plenty of money to replenish the pantry and give gift cards to families. Isn't that the point of a food pantry? BCC has some lower income but not nearly as much as other schools, which is the point. 1/4 is very different than 1/2 or 3/4.

Yeah, as I mentioned, not the same. Replenishment came from the community, just as it does in the DCC community when the need is there (yeah, I know that too). And yes, 1/4 is different from 47% (Einstein). Don't inflate numbers.

The foundation was not tapped to replenish the food pantry. And it can be replicated at DCC schools too. It is a nonprofit that can raise funds from the MC community just as others can.

It’s very hard to raise money when parents down own businesses or have connections.

You mean there are difference to quality of neighborhoods and people who pay a premium to avoid poor people aren’t just making it up? ……Shocked

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

And the 14-25 percent who are will have a good program to apply to.

Of which fewer than half will be able to swing the commute, the majority will be stuck at a school where the high performing cohort has been hollowed out.

I think people are overestimating how many high performing students will even be interested in leaving their home schools to attend these half-formed, questionably staffed, unfunded, regional programs which don't even provide neighborhood bus routes.

They'll do it to access AP science courses that their home school doesn't offer.

All high schools will have AP science classes.

They don’t now. It’s doubtful.

which is why changes are underway

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

And the 14-25 percent who are will have a good program to apply to.

Of which fewer than half will be able to swing the commute, the majority will be stuck at a school where the high performing cohort has been hollowed out.

I think people are overestimating how many high performing students will even be interested in leaving their home schools to attend these half-formed, questionably staffed, unfunded, regional programs which don't even provide neighborhood bus routes.

They'll do it to access AP science courses that their home school doesn't offer.

All high schools will have AP science classes.

They don’t now. It’s doubtful.

Wealthy schools have three different AP physics classes. Many other schools have none. Having these on your transcript makes you more competitive for engineering programs so you bet some families that can will make the commute work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

And the 14-25 percent who are will have a good program to apply to.

Of which fewer than half will be able to swing the commute, the majority will be stuck at a school where the high performing cohort has been hollowed out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with you PP. The idea is nice but they have gone too far. I went to one of the engagement sessions and specifically asked Essie and Nicky why did they choose six regions, rather than five or four or three. Essie’s answer was that six seemed to make the most sense, given transportation, logistics, and the general size of the county. That was it. My prediction is they will do this, and then within five years realize that it’s too much - not enough programs are fully enrolled, there are major downsides, and they will scale it back and perhaps combine some of the regions.

They should have started by figuring out demand. But they were somewhere that they went straight a complicated solution without figuring out the fundamentals needed to create that solution.

They should have started by figuring out which local programs are generally the same but named different and would benefit from standardization of the program across schools/regions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

And the 14-25 percent who are will have a good program to apply to.

Of which fewer than half will be able to swing the commute, the majority will be stuck at a school where the high performing cohort has been hollowed out.

I think people are overestimating how many high performing students will even be interested in leaving their home schools to attend these half-formed, questionably staffed, unfunded, regional programs which don't even provide neighborhood bus routes.

They'll do it to access AP science courses that their home school doesn't offer.

All high schools will have AP science classes.

They don’t now. It’s doubtful.

which is why changes are underway

These changes aren’t fixing things for many of us and that’s the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

And the 14-25 percent who are will have a good program to apply to.

Of which fewer than half will be able to swing the commute, the majority will be stuck at a school where the high performing cohort has been hollowed out.

I think people are overestimating how many high performing students will even be interested in leaving their home schools to attend these half-formed, questionably staffed, unfunded, regional programs which don't even provide neighborhood bus routes.

They'll do it to access AP science courses that their home school doesn't offer.

All high schools will have AP science classes.

They don’t now. It’s doubtful.

which is why changes are underway

CO always caveats their statements about what every school will offer with "if there is interest". That is just a roundabout way of saying no, not every school will offer an AP physics class (much less three different types of AP physics). Just like right now.