Anyone's child regret heading to a magnet HS? What is the return rate to their local HS?

[Anonymous]

I don't think the return rate is very high in HS but each year every program has several that leave in 9th and 10th. It's more unusual in 11th.

Have heard the return rate is much higher for the MS and ES magnets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With so many new topics discussing the HS magnet applications, I'm curious if anyone's child (who is in a magnet program) decided they did not like the curriculum or the environment of the magnet schools? We hear RM's 11th and 12th grade years are difficult because 11th grade is when the actual IB component truly start. How are your kids finding it so far in junior and senior year? What about the kids at Blair with the crazy work load in 9th and 10th?

We hear so many parents gunning for their child to make it into one of these programs, but I am curious how it's been going?

My child is attending poolesville smacs prgm, and we are thinking of returning to our home school after this freshman year. The program is not what we thought it would be, we knew it would be hard but we had no idea the teachers. Would. Not. Be teaching. At all. A good majority of the teachers don’t teach in class and it seems like they either “lecture to the masses” or talk about random not related to the topics at hand to waste time. Out of my child’s eight classes, about three teachers are reasonably good, while the rest of the teachers are just present in class taking up oxygen. One of the teachers is notoriously bad and doesn’t give two hoots about his students. My child went and spoken to him about how they are struggling, he said some words to make my child leave and said come back tomorrow, the next day when my child came back for help, he prentended the initial conversation never took place. It’s disgusting and when I approached admin about this they turn a blind eye to his actions. Apparently he’s been teaching there for more than 15 years, so they know his behavior and just don’t give a crap.
the students are left struggling and having to self learn from you tube videos. We didn’t expect it to be like this at all. Students are sleeping at 1 am and waking up at 6 am to catch the bus. Many of my child friends are chronically tired, and frustrated, but they won’t go back to their homeschool bc it is either Seneca valley/ Damascus/ northwest/ or quince orchard. In their minds these schools are far worse than poolesville so they drudge on at poolesville, it’s crazy.

My 12th grader had a similar experience (and a few neighbors with 2018 and 2020 graduates also). A few great teachers, most okay but reliant on the kids teaching each other in groups, and a couple really bad teachers. The switch to online and virtual instruction really showed how bad. For 11th grade my kid switched to MC’s early college program and loves it. No more 6:30a bus rides. Classes start at 9am. 4 classes per semester at a college pace (instead of 8 spread out over the whole year, half filled with busy work. Just overall a better academic and interest fit than SMCS was (and no, SMCS wasn’t too hard).

https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/high-school-students/dual-enrollment/degree-and-pathway-programs/early-college-program.html
10th grade students indicate interest end of 1st Qtr (this year by Nov. 4). They hear in January preliminary selection and then have to do the math placement test. Final selection mid-spring. If it looks interesting, I would switch back to home school by 10th, because the student is still associated with their HS of record for clubs, sports, events, graduation, etc. My kid had no way to commute to Poolesville for clubs and sports (not that they wanted to), so they basically dropped all other typical HS things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With so many new topics discussing the HS magnet applications, I'm curious if anyone's child (who is in a magnet program) decided they did not like the curriculum or the environment of the magnet schools? We hear RM's 11th and 12th grade years are difficult because 11th grade is when the actual IB component truly start. How are your kids finding it so far in junior and senior year? What about the kids at Blair with the crazy work load in 9th and 10th?

We hear so many parents gunning for their child to make it into one of these programs, but I am curious how it's been going?

My child is attending poolesville smacs prgm, and we are thinking of returning to our home school after this freshman year. The program is not what we thought it would be, we knew it would be hard but we had no idea the teachers. Would. Not. Be teaching. At all. A good majority of the teachers don’t teach in class and it seems like they either “lecture to the masses” or talk about random not related to the topics at hand to waste time. Out of my child’s eight classes, about three teachers are reasonably good, while the rest of the teachers are just present in class taking up oxygen. One of the teachers is notoriously bad and doesn’t give two hoots about his students. My child went and spoken to him about how they are struggling, he said some words to make my child leave and said come back tomorrow, the next day when my child came back for help, he prentended the initial conversation never took place. It’s disgusting and when I approached admin about this they turn a blind eye to his actions. Apparently he’s been teaching there for more than 15 years, so they know his behavior and just don’t give a crap.
the students are left struggling and having to self learn from you tube videos. We didn’t expect it to be like this at all. Students are sleeping at 1 am and waking up at 6 am to catch the bus. Many of my child friends are chronically tired, and frustrated, but they won’t go back to their homeschool bc it is either Seneca valley/ Damascus/ northwest/ or quince orchard. In their minds these schools are far worse than poolesville so they drudge on at poolesville, it’s crazy.

My 12th grader had a similar experience (and a few neighbors with 2018 and 2020 graduates also). A few great teachers, most okay but reliant on the kids teaching each other in groups, and a couple really bad teachers. The switch to online and virtual instruction really showed how bad. For 11th grade my kid switched to MC’s early college program and loves it. No more 6:30a bus rides. Classes start at 9am. 4 classes per semester at a college pace (instead of 8 spread out over the whole year, half filled with busy work. Just overall a better academic and interest fit than SMCS was (and no, SMCS wasn’t too hard).

https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/high-school-students/dual-enrollment/degree-and-pathway-programs/early-college-program.html
10th grade students indicate interest end of 1st Qtr (this year by Nov. 4). They hear in January preliminary selection and then have to do the math placement test. Final selection mid-spring. If it looks interesting, I would switch back to home school by 10th, because the student is still associated with their HS of record for clubs, sports, events, graduation, etc. My kid had no way to commute to Poolesville for clubs and sports (not that they wanted to), so they basically dropped all other typical HS things.

I am so glad you child is happy in this new program. If you don’t mind me asking, what area of study did your child pick in early college and what are his plans (if he knows) after graduation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With so many new topics discussing the HS magnet applications, I'm curious if anyone's child (who is in a magnet program) decided they did not like the curriculum or the environment of the magnet schools? We hear RM's 11th and 12th grade years are difficult because 11th grade is when the actual IB component truly start. How are your kids finding it so far in junior and senior year? What about the kids at Blair with the crazy work load in 9th and 10th?

We hear so many parents gunning for their child to make it into one of these programs, but I am curious how it's been going?

My child is attending poolesville smacs prgm, and we are thinking of returning to our home school after this freshman year. The program is not what we thought it would be, we knew it would be hard but we had no idea the teachers. Would. Not. Be teaching. At all. A good majority of the teachers don’t teach in class and it seems like they either “lecture to the masses” or talk about random not related to the topics at hand to waste time. Out of my child’s eight classes, about three teachers are reasonably good, while the rest of the teachers are just present in class taking up oxygen. One of the teachers is notoriously bad and doesn’t give two hoots about his students. My child went and spoken to him about how they are struggling, he said some words to make my child leave and said come back tomorrow, the next day when my child came back for help, he prentended the initial conversation never took place. It’s disgusting and when I approached admin about this they turn a blind eye to his actions. Apparently he’s been teaching there for more than 15 years, so they know his behavior and just don’t give a crap.
the students are left struggling and having to self learn from you tube videos. We didn’t expect it to be like this at all. Students are sleeping at 1 am and waking up at 6 am to catch the bus. Many of my child friends are chronically tired, and frustrated, but they won’t go back to their homeschool bc it is either Seneca valley/ Damascus/ northwest/ or quince orchard. In their minds these schools are far worse than poolesville so they drudge on at poolesville, it’s crazy.

My 12th grader had a similar experience (and a few neighbors with 2018 and 2020 graduates also). A few great teachers, most okay but reliant on the kids teaching each other in groups, and a couple really bad teachers. The switch to online and virtual instruction really showed how bad. For 11th grade my kid switched to MC’s early college program and loves it. No more 6:30a bus rides. Classes start at 9am. 4 classes per semester at a college pace (instead of 8 spread out over the whole year, half filled with busy work. Just overall a better academic and interest fit than SMCS was (and no, SMCS wasn’t too hard).

https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/high-school-students/dual-enrollment/degree-and-pathway-programs/early-college-program.html
10th grade students indicate interest end of 1st Qtr (this year by Nov. 4). They hear in January preliminary selection and then have to do the math placement test. Final selection mid-spring. If it looks interesting, I would switch back to home school by 10th, because the student is still associated with their HS of record for clubs, sports, events, graduation, etc. My kid had no way to commute to Poolesville for clubs and sports (not that they wanted to), so they basically dropped all other typical HS things.

I am so glad you child is happy in this new program. If you don’t mind me asking, what area of study did your child pick in early college and what are his plans (if he knows) after graduation?

Doing Engineering AS at Rockville MC. Interested in robotics and somewhere with coop programs. Applied EA to UMD, Northeastern, and Georgia Tech. In at Pitt already. Georgia Tech has a transfer agreement with MC, so the AS won't be confusing to them. Personally, I'm intrigued by the Biotech program at MC Germantown. I've been in that facility and it is really nice. Seems like a great opportunity for upcounty kids to get involved with real biotech equipment early on.

[Anonymous]

At one of the regional IBs and 11th grade actually seems easier than 9th or 10th MYP program. Might be the maturity level of my child, but I think it's the kind of work. A lot more analysis and writing, which play to their strengths.

[Anonymous]

My kid is in 11th at RMIB. They don’t regret it and like the peer group a lot—a lot of smart, quirky kids who are generally supportive of each other and inclusive. Seems like less social drama than most HS. But they are pretty often stressed out and the IB program has some weird bureaucratic hitches. I definitely would not push a kid into applying. I was totally checked out of the process and mine applied without my really even knowing (maybe I signed something?). I do remember driving them to the test.
I am a little concerned that they’ve now made the application much easier and kids who aren’t as committed will apply on a whim. I don’t recommend it unless they are really looking to swim in the deep end. You also have to consider that the I.B system is very different—much more metacogniton stuff (theory of knowledge being a required class) and much more process of learning, deep dives, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in 11th at RMIB. They don’t regret it and like the peer group a lot—a lot of smart, quirky kids who are generally supportive of each other and inclusive. Seems like less social drama than most HS. But they are pretty often stressed out and the IB program has some weird bureaucratic hitches. I definitely would not push a kid into applying. I was totally checked out of the process and mine applied without my really even knowing (maybe I signed something?). I do remember driving them to the test.
I am a little concerned that they’ve now made the application much easier and kids who aren’t as committed will apply on a whim. I don’t recommend it unless they are really looking to swim in the deep end. You also have to consider that the I.B system is very different—much more metacogniton stuff (theory of knowledge being a required class) and much more process of learning, deep dives, etc.

How many AP tests (self-study) do most kids take by the time they finish 12th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate all the parents who have been giving constructive responses.

Are there any RM parents who can chime in on their child's experience so far, especially in the 11th or 12th grade?

Would like to hear more as well. My child is in 10th, has earned straight As so far but is unhappy with the workload and lack of good sleep on top of a moderate load of extracurriculars. Even though academically it's a great fit, the workload is not reasonable imo and the teachers are more hit and miss than anticipated. Advising is nonexistent. If it's true it gets that much worse in 11th/12th we will strongly consider moving back to the home school.

Mine is also in SMCS 11th grade. They've brought home mostly A's but never seem to have any homework. Sure, an hour here and there but I would say they're working all that hard.

I think you replied to the wrong post. Poolesville is very different from RMIB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 10th grader at Blair Magnet. Socially, 9th grade was rough, but 10th grade has been much better so far. Academically, it has been a good fit. The workload (outside of Functions, which DC eventually dropped) has been totally manageable. DC is very much looking forward to the magnet electives in 11th and 12th grade.

We had a similar experience, but our child didn't drop functions even though it was a huge amount of work. Our child had been in an elementary magnet but we didn't apply to the MS magnets. MS was difficult socially because our child didn't really fit in anymore. It didn't help that they were taking math and science classes with older kids. They had no problem socially in 9th grade because they still had friends from the elementary magnet that they had kept up with. However, the bulk of the HS magnet comes from the MS magnet, so I can see how it could be difficult for a student who didn't attend the MS magnet socially.

My impression is that the magnet is for a certain type of kid whose needs socially and academically aren't well met at the home school. There are plenty of very smart kids who are able to find their path at their home school. one of our children did fine at the home HS. The other needed to be at the magnet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in 11th at RMIB. They don’t regret it and like the peer group a lot—a lot of smart, quirky kids who are generally supportive of each other and inclusive. Seems like less social drama than most HS. But they are pretty often stressed out and the IB program has some weird bureaucratic hitches. I definitely would not push a kid into applying. I was totally checked out of the process and mine applied without my really even knowing (maybe I signed something?). I do remember driving them to the test.
I am a little concerned that they’ve now made the application much easier and kids who aren’t as committed will apply on a whim. I don’t recommend it unless they are really looking to swim in the deep end. You also have to consider that the I.B system is very different—much more metacogniton stuff (theory of knowledge being a required class) and much more process of learning, deep dives, etc.

How many AP tests (self-study) do most kids take by the time they finish 12th grade?

Magnet classes aren't necessarily aligned with the AP curriculum. This isn't like AP classes that are taught to the test. Most take AP NSL, World History, English Lang, Calculus BC, Statistics, and Computer Science. Some take additional AP tests, but unless the student is taking the AP classes (such as econ), they may need to do a lot of self-study to do well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With so many new topics discussing the HS magnet applications, I'm curious if anyone's child (who is in a magnet program) decided they did not like the curriculum or the environment of the magnet schools? We hear RM's 11th and 12th grade years are difficult because 11th grade is when the actual IB component truly start. How are your kids finding it so far in junior and senior year? What about the kids at Blair with the crazy work load in 9th and 10th?

We hear so many parents gunning for their child to make it into one of these programs, but I am curious how it's been going?

My child is attending poolesville smacs prgm, and we are thinking of returning to our home school after this freshman year. The program is not what we thought it would be, we knew it would be hard but we had no idea the teachers. Would. Not. Be teaching. At all. A good majority of the teachers don’t teach in class and it seems like they either “lecture to the masses” or talk about random not related to the topics at hand to waste time. Out of my child’s eight classes, about three teachers are reasonably good, while the rest of the teachers are just present in class taking up oxygen. One of the teachers is notoriously bad and doesn’t give two hoots about his students. My child went and spoken to him about how they are struggling, he said some words to make my child leave and said come back tomorrow, the next day when my child came back for help, he prentended the initial conversation never took place. It’s disgusting and when I approached admin about this they turn a blind eye to his actions. Apparently he’s been teaching there for more than 15 years, so they know his behavior and just don’t give a crap.
the students are left struggling and having to self learn from you tube videos. We didn’t expect it to be like this at all. Students are sleeping at 1 am and waking up at 6 am to catch the bus. Many of my child friends are chronically tired, and frustrated, but they won’t go back to their homeschool bc it is either Seneca valley/ Damascus/ northwest/ or quince orchard. In their minds these schools are far worse than poolesville so they drudge on at poolesville, it’s crazy.

Welcome to MCPS, where direct instruction is a dirty word - and not just in magnets. If a school district chooses to basically close shop in a pandemic they don’t really care much for junior’s future, now do they? We left. So thankful now.

Gov Hogan closed the schools state wide. Many many states did the same.

MCPS chose to keep school buildings closed way longer than necessary. MCPS had one of the longest closures in the country. Many other areas re-opened (either full-time or as a hybrid model) much earlier than MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in 11th at RMIB. They don’t regret it and like the peer group a lot—a lot of smart, quirky kids who are generally supportive of each other and inclusive. Seems like less social drama than most HS. But they are pretty often stressed out and the IB program has some weird bureaucratic hitches. I definitely would not push a kid into applying. I was totally checked out of the process and mine applied without my really even knowing (maybe I signed something?). I do remember driving them to the test.
I am a little concerned that they’ve now made the application much easier and kids who aren’t as committed will apply on a whim. I don’t recommend it unless they are really looking to swim in the deep end. You also have to consider that the I.B system is very different—much more metacogniton stuff (theory of knowledge being a required class) and much more process of learning, deep dives, etc.

How many AP tests (self-study) do most kids take by the time they finish 12th grade?

Magnet classes aren't necessarily aligned with the AP curriculum. This isn't like AP classes that are taught to the test. Most take AP NSL, World History, English Lang, Calculus BC, Statistics, and Computer Science. Some take additional AP tests, but unless the student is taking the AP classes (such as econ), they may need to do a lot of self-study to do well.

So about 6? No APUSH? Why do they feel a need to take the AP tests when they already take the IB?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in 11th at RMIB. They don’t regret it and like the peer group a lot—a lot of smart, quirky kids who are generally supportive of each other and inclusive. Seems like less social drama than most HS. But they are pretty often stressed out and the IB program has some weird bureaucratic hitches. I definitely would not push a kid into applying. I was totally checked out of the process and mine applied without my really even knowing (maybe I signed something?). I do remember driving them to the test.
I am a little concerned that they’ve now made the application much easier and kids who aren’t as committed will apply on a whim. I don’t recommend it unless they are really looking to swim in the deep end. You also have to consider that the I.B system is very different—much more metacogniton stuff (theory of knowledge being a required class) and much more process of learning, deep dives, etc.

How many AP tests (self-study) do most kids take by the time they finish 12th grade?

Magnet classes aren't necessarily aligned with the AP curriculum. This isn't like AP classes that are taught to the test. Most take AP NSL, World History, English Lang, Calculus BC, Statistics, and Computer Science. Some take additional AP tests, but unless the student is taking the AP classes (such as econ), they may need to do a lot of self-study to do well.

So about 6? No APUSH? Why do they feel a need to take the AP tests when they already take the IB?

Mine took apush and AP gov. They do those as regular AP classes before the real Ib program starts. I think most take those. Some of the IB programs are more aligned with the AP curriculum than others. I’m surprised to hear PP say world history—that’s an example of one I didn’t think was well aligned. I think mine will end up taking 6 APs by end of junior year — that seems fairly typical. So o would guess more like 8-10 by end of program but I’m not sure yet what they will take senior year. Depending on where they go to college, it may not end up being worth it. They often take AP classes like Java or Econ as their electives.

[Anonymous]

My youngest is at Blair SMCS and in 11th grade. They love the program. Many engaging classes and dedicated teachers. They also click with the other magnet kids and feel they've found their tribe.

[Anonymous]

18:33, thanks for responding. It sounds like your child is doing really well!