What are the most - and least - competitive MCPS high school programs (not in bounds, test in or lottery)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blair SMCS is the most competitive program in MCPS, mostly because it has the most applicants of any. Poolesville's program is similar in content but only half the size and has fewer applicants from less competitive pyramids.

How do you know there are fewer applicants in Poolesville SMCS, and less competitive pyramids? You must be a Blair parent tooting your own horn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair SMCS is the most competitive program in MCPS, mostly because it has the most applicants of any. Poolesville's program is similar in content but only half the size and has fewer applicants from less competitive pyramids.

How do you know there are fewer applicants in Poolesville SMCS, and less competitive pyramids? You must be a Blair parent tooting your own horn.

Demographic data on applications for these programs was published last year. I found the link here even.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair SMCS is the most competitive program in MCPS, mostly because it has the most applicants of any. Poolesville's program is similar in content but only half the size and has fewer applicants from less competitive pyramids.

How do you know there are fewer applicants in Poolesville SMCS, and less competitive pyramids? You must be a Blair parent tooting your own horn.

Demographic data on applications for these programs was published last year. I found the link here even.

There were 2X more applicants for Blair SMCS, according to the data MCPS has published. It also draws from the county's top-ranked HS like the W's.

[Anonymous]

What are good MAP scores in math and reading in this context? Is there a percentile cutoff more or less?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are good MAP scores in math and reading in this context? Is there a percentile cutoff more or less?

No specific cutoff but in the whole you’ll need to be above the 99th percentile.

For Blair if you have a MAP M above 285 for example you have a decent shot at getting in. If above 270 (99th percentile) you might get in, but chances higher if in the 280s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair SMCS is the most competitive program in MCPS, mostly because it has the most applicants of any. Poolesville's program is similar in content but only half the size and has fewer applicants from less competitive pyramids.

How do you know there are fewer applicants in Poolesville SMCS, and less competitive pyramids? You must be a Blair parent tooting your own horn.

Don't worry pp. Just let them keep on assuming that. It's actually better for us, because it keeps our school smaller, people not wanting to move upcounty. These are folks that think every one point difference in MAP-M means their kids are smarter than ours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blair SMCS is the most competitive program in MCPS, mostly because it has the most applicants of any. Poolesville's program is similar in content but only half the size and has fewer applicants from less competitive pyramids.

What is a "less competitive pyramid"? Please explain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair SMCS is the most competitive program in MCPS, mostly because it has the most applicants of any. Poolesville's program is similar in content but only half the size and has fewer applicants from less competitive pyramids.

What is a "less competitive pyramid"? Please explain.

One that doesn't peak at Blair, Poolesville, or a W. Obvs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair SMCS is the most competitive program in MCPS, mostly because it has the most applicants of any. Poolesville's program is similar in content but only half the size and has fewer applicants from less competitive pyramids.

How do you know there are fewer applicants in Poolesville SMCS, and less competitive pyramids? You must be a Blair parent tooting your own horn.

Demographic data on applications for these programs was published last year. I found the link here even.

There were 2X more applicants for Blair SMCS, according to the data MCPS has published. It also draws from the county's top-ranked HS like the W's.

And yet, Poolesville is the top ranked HS in MD.

[Anonymous]

I never ceased to be amazed at how coveted the “special” programs in MCPS are. I feel like we are fighting over crumbs. I’ve learned that the most competitive schools are the ones that receive the most applications and have the least spots to offer. It isn’t even a discussion about quality of teachers or facilities. Makes me sad for all the high achieving students who don’t make the cut because there are only 100 seats and not 125, or even larger. How is it that outside the US kids get higher levels of instruction than our kids without all these special programs? Just venting I guess!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair SMCS is the most competitive program in MCPS, mostly because it has the most applicants of any. Poolesville's program is similar in content but only half the size and has fewer applicants from less competitive pyramids.

How do you know there are fewer applicants in Poolesville SMCS, and less competitive pyramids? You must be a Blair parent tooting your own horn.

Don't worry pp. Just let them keep on assuming that. It's actually better for us, because it keeps our school smaller, people not wanting to move upcounty. These are folks that think every one point difference in MAP-M means their kids are smarter than ours.

It's not an assumption. MCPS has released this data in the past. Further, PHS STEM program has 50 slots whereas Blair has 100.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never ceased to be amazed at how coveted the “special” programs in MCPS are. I feel like we are fighting over crumbs. I’ve learned that the most competitive schools are the ones that receive the most applications and have the least spots to offer. It isn’t even a discussion about quality of teachers or facilities. Makes me sad for all the high achieving students who don’t make the cut because there are only 100 seats and not 125, or even larger. How is it that outside the US kids get higher levels of instruction than our kids without all these special programs? Just venting I guess!

I agree, these are popular programs, and there are far more students who could benefit than there are seats. You'd think they'd expand them to meet demand but the equity crowd is against anything like this and prefers honors for all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never ceased to be amazed at how coveted the “special” programs in MCPS are. I feel like we are fighting over crumbs. I’ve learned that the most competitive schools are the ones that receive the most applications and have the least spots to offer. It isn’t even a discussion about quality of teachers or facilities. Makes me sad for all the high achieving students who don’t make the cut because there are only 100 seats and not 125, or even larger. How is it that outside the US kids get higher levels of instruction than our kids without all these special programs? Just venting I guess!

They are most competitive and have the most applicants because of the teachers and courses offered. They are excellent programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair SMCS is the most competitive program in MCPS, mostly because it has the most applicants of any. Poolesville's program is similar in content but only half the size and has fewer applicants from less competitive pyramids.

How do you know there are fewer applicants in Poolesville SMCS, and less competitive pyramids? You must be a Blair parent tooting your own horn.

Don't worry pp. Just let them keep on assuming that. It's actually better for us, because it keeps our school smaller, people not wanting to move upcounty. These are folks that think every one point difference in MAP-M means their kids are smarter than ours.

It's not an assumption. MCPS has released this data in the past. Further, PHS STEM program has 50 slots whereas Blair has 100.

That makes sense because Poolesville's catchment area has about 17K HS students and Blair's has 34K.

[Anonymous]

Every high school in the US should be a high achieving school is all I'm saying.

There are countries that have far fewer resources than we have and their kids graduate knowing more (i.e. math, sciences, languages, current affairs, history) than our kids. Meanwhile we are splitting hairs about a handful of "good" schools and which overpriced homes we should mortgage to try to give our kids a leg up.