Cabin John MS vs Takoma Park Magnet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 99 percentile straight A kid was kept out of the ms magnets due to the "peer cohort" rationale. The problem was they made no effort to group the these peer cohorts at CJMS, even in the enriched social studies classes, which were very large. Even more than curriculum, this was a big negative for DC. The only positive I can say is that it was three years of easy As and no stress. So, a break before returning to a magnet in hs. Even though bored and disengaged in most classes, DC now says didn't mind having that break, and did not have much trouble readjusting to a more rigorous course load in hs.

They didn’t group kids together in social studies at TPMS either. My kid at TPMS has had easy As too. It’s not that different.

I had kids at TPMS and a different W feeder MS, which seemed night and day. TPMS went into so much more depth. Even the non-magnet classes were excellent.

[Anonymous]

We loved the TPMS stem magnet, both the magnet classes and the regular classes. It’s a really nice community and the STEM options were much better than what our other daughter got at Newport Mills. But we are much closer than CJ.

I would check out what the bus route would be

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We loved the TPMS stem magnet, both the magnet classes and the regular classes. It’s a really nice community and the STEM options were much better than what our other daughter got at Newport Mills. But we are much closer than CJ.

I would check out what the bus route would be

It would be great if they'd open up more programs like this in the county.

1) The demand for MS STEM mangets far exceeds the supply of able students
2) Busing cross county is also expensive. Adding more programs throughout the county would reduce transportation costs.

[Anonymous]

Well, we officially chose Cabin John. Made me a bit sad, but it just didn't seem worth it, mostly due to the distance. Thanks to everyone for their feedback here! I do agree there should be more magnet programs, since both Eastern and Takoma part are very close to each other and Montgomery County is so huge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Son just got offered a spot at Takoma Park (probably some other kid just moved or gave it up.) Leaning strongly towards our home school of Cabin John, mostly because of distance. Son said he's not interested in a long commute either. Just want a bit more feedback before saying no (deadline to decide on Tuesday). Background: he's great at math (MAP 99th), good at reading (MAP 90-93rd), generally nerdy (super into history and geography, watches YouTube videos on science/history/geography etc.) He also gets some enrichment via RSM, summer camps etc, so just wondering what the Magnet program would add (I know the CS courses would not really be offered at his regular MS, but wondering how much that would be worth.)

I can't speak for Pyle, but my kids went to the TPMS magnet. It has enriched math. They go into subjects that regular advanced math doesn't cover. The science classes are more in-depth and lay the groundwork for understanding scientific method and analysis. There's also introductory programming for three years. This provides a strong foundation for entering the high-school STEM magnet. My kids enjoyed many non-magnet classes too and participated on the school math team, which is well renowned.

+1

My son loved TPMS (and Blair).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, we officially chose Cabin John. Made me a bit sad, but it just didn't seem worth it, mostly due to the distance. Thanks to everyone for their feedback here! I do agree there should be more magnet programs, since both Eastern and Takoma part are very close to each other and Montgomery County is so huge.

Don't feel bad. We are walking distance to the TPMS magnet and our kid is in it and we like it a lot, but we have considered moving to your side of the county more than a few times, and both parents and kid would have been fine with Cabin John or Pyle or Hoover (these are the houses we looked at). The commute for our family wouldn't have made the magnet worth it (and this is after being part of it). The bonus for you is you're in a good school with (hopefully) a good commute and won't know the difference to compare them.

Your child will be fine. Congrats on your decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 99 percentile straight A kid was kept out of the ms magnets due to the "peer cohort" rationale. The problem was they made no effort to group the these peer cohorts at CJMS, even in the enriched social studies classes, which were very large. Even more than curriculum, this was a big negative for DC. The only positive I can say is that it was three years of easy As and no stress. So, a break before returning to a magnet in hs. Even though bored and disengaged in most classes, DC now says didn't mind having that break, and did not have much trouble readjusting to a more rigorous course load in hs.

The peer cohort criteria selected top students from each school to ensure a level playing field with the less affluent schools where students typically aren't enrolled in math enrichment. It ensured the very top students from all schools were admitted.

Sure, but keeping a bunch of 99 percentile kids out was also based on the premise that they would receive enrichment in peer cohorts at their home schools. That did not happen.

It sounds like PP's child was in the very first class with the "cohort" rationale, since that cadre just finished 9th grade. I'd be interested to hear from someone with more recent experience at Cabin John because apparently AEI later issued a reminder to principals that they were supposed to be cohorting the kids who would have made it into the magnet. Whether Cabin John did or not is unclear, but we know that first year was weird in a number of ways.

We were told that this was done at the school's discretion and that CJMS admin did not believe in cohorting.

MCPS drives me crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, we officially chose Cabin John. Made me a bit sad, but it just didn't seem worth it, mostly due to the distance. Thanks to everyone for their feedback here! I do agree there should be more magnet programs, since both Eastern and Takoma part are very close to each other and Montgomery County is so huge.

Don't feel bad. We are walking distance to the TPMS magnet and our kid is in it and we like it a lot, but we have considered moving to your side of the county more than a few times, and both parents and kid would have been fine with Cabin John or Pyle or Hoover (these are the houses we looked at). The commute for our family wouldn't have made the magnet worth it (and this is after being part of it). The bonus for you is you're in a good school with (hopefully) a good commute and won't know the difference to compare them.

Your child will be fine. Congrats on your decision.

The funny thing is we did the opposite. We left that side of the county for Takoma because of the many enrichment opportunities like the boundary set aside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, we officially chose Cabin John. Made me a bit sad, but it just didn't seem worth it, mostly due to the distance. Thanks to everyone for their feedback here! I do agree there should be more magnet programs, since both Eastern and Takoma part are very close to each other and Montgomery County is so huge.

Rest easy knowing you've made some other family very happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, we officially chose Cabin John. Made me a bit sad, but it just didn't seem worth it, mostly due to the distance. Thanks to everyone for their feedback here! I do agree there should be more magnet programs, since both Eastern and Takoma part are very close to each other and Montgomery County is so huge.

Rest easy knowing you've made some other family very happy.

Now if just a few more people give up their spots ( It's a long drive folks)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, we officially chose Cabin John. Made me a bit sad, but it just didn't seem worth it, mostly due to the distance. Thanks to everyone for their feedback here! I do agree there should be more magnet programs, since both Eastern and Takoma part are very close to each other and Montgomery County is so huge.

Glad you made your decision OP! I don't think you could have gone wrong either way. Cabin John has one of the strongest cohorts in Montgomery County and I think that based on data we've seen released changes are good that it's even stronger than TPMS due to how the lottery process works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, we officially chose Cabin John. Made me a bit sad, but it just didn't seem worth it, mostly due to the distance. Thanks to everyone for their feedback here! I do agree there should be more magnet programs, since both Eastern and Takoma part are very close to each other and Montgomery County is so huge.

Glad you made your decision OP! I don't think you could have gone wrong either way. Cabin John has one of the strongest cohorts in Montgomery County and I think that based on data we've seen released changes are good that it's even stronger than TPMS due to how the lottery process works.

That's why CJ beats TPMS at so many math and science contests! Oh, wait they don't...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, we officially chose Cabin John. Made me a bit sad, but it just didn't seem worth it, mostly due to the distance. Thanks to everyone for their feedback here! I do agree there should be more magnet programs, since both Eastern and Takoma part are very close to each other and Montgomery County is so huge.

Glad you made your decision OP! I don't think you could have gone wrong either way. Cabin John has one of the strongest cohorts in Montgomery County and I think that based on data we've seen released changes are good that it's even stronger than TPMS due to how the lottery process works.

That's why CJ beats TPMS at so many math and science contests! Oh, wait they don't...

Given changes in admission policies, I would not let past performance influence your prediction of future results.

[Anonymous]

I would look at the kid holistically. Does he/she have a strong outside intetest not offered at TPMS, or is the kid fully STEM oriented? Then decide accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, we officially chose Cabin John. Made me a bit sad, but it just didn't seem worth it, mostly due to the distance. Thanks to everyone for their feedback here! I do agree there should be more magnet programs, since both Eastern and Takoma part are very close to each other and Montgomery County is so huge.

I posted that we love TPMS magnet. I think your decision is fine! There are a lot of pros to choosing your home school. Good luck!