Takoma Park Elementary-What does it take to get in?

[Anonymous]

How do they determine who gets in? What reading/math level are the children at when they apply in K? Does anyone have experience with this school and are you happy with it?

[Anonymous]

Not sure what you are referring to? TPES is public.

[Anonymous]

I think the school looks at the scores from the test that is administered in the spring along with the assessments that are done regularly in K.

My son who got in was assessed at a Level P or Q at the end of K and had high math scores. I can't recall how he did on the test that they gave him at the time. This was a couple of years ago.

[Anonymous]

No doubt OP is asking about TPES's Primary Magnet:

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/elementary/primary-magnet.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the school looks at the scores from the test that is administered in the spring along with the assessments that are done regularly in K.

My son who got in was assessed at a Level P or Q at the end of K and had high math scores. I can't recall how he did on the test that they gave him at the time. This was a couple of years ago.

Test is given in the spring so level at that time would be most relevant. They also state student expressed desire and teacher recommendation.

However as open asked it would be helpful if those who have been through the process can give more specific feedback. It's clear that a test is given but op is seeking more info.

[Anonymous]

I'm also interested in hearing more about this. Is this Takoma Park primary magnet intended more for kids from all over the county or from the area near it? If you are from the Cold Spring area, for instance, would it make sense to apply for this or just wait until 3rd or 4th grade for the highly gifted centers?

[Anonymous]

Earlier parent of former TPES student. Some folks do come from around the county. My 2 cents: Program is worth it ONLY if your child does not have a peer group at your home school. We live close, so switching schools wasn't a big deal for us. Curriculum is exactly the same and the kids are still in heterogenous classrooms. We know people who have come far distances, and I think that feel that they have a hard time justifying the commute, particularly over time.

We don't at all regret our decision to send our child. He absolutely couldn't stay at our home school, which was providing nothing for him at his level and considered the thought of doing so a problem.

Re: person who said "student expressed desire" is part of consideration. I don't think that's the case. It is for middle school, but I don't know of a single kindergartner who expresses desire to move to a different school for grade 1!

When my child did the testing, we were told to make sure that the kids thought they were going to play games. They wanted to make sure there wasn't pressure on the kids. My son did leave the test and say, "Those weren't games, mom." So, I don't advise that you follow that strategy, but I also didn't tell him anything about why he was taking the test other than that it was something we wanted him to do.

[Anonymous]

Bump. Wondering if anyone else has feedback on the admission process and the value. We are pretty close by, so the travel isn't all that different, but of course DD would miss the friends she's made in K.

When people talk about peer groups, what does that mean? DD has made friends but doesn't have an academic peer group. She's reading at a second grade level already and could certainly learn more math if she were allowed to accelerate like she is in reading.

My plan is to attend the open house and then talk with her home school to find out whether they could accommodate her going forward. But I'm curious from any BTDT moms out there what factored into your decision re TPES.