feedback on Argyle Middle School Magnet Program for digital design and development

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have friends who have sent children to Argyle for the magnet. The magnet classes are great. The student population, however, is not great. Getting the wrong teacher for a class can mean that your child is in a group that is completely out of control. Phones out, videos being watched, even chairs being thrown instead of learning. Kids are physically harmed and threatened with worse if they report it in the locker room after gym class (where there is no adult supervision). This is not an exaggeration.

I think that’s the problem with these lottery programs. My son was sent to Parkland and he was miserable not because the teachers (The magnet classes were great) but because he wasn’t a STEM student. He wanted to go to Loiderman. He hated science class and unfortunately you have to take 2 at Parkland. There’s a lot of kids in these magnet schools who are put into schools that they’re not interested in and a group of them do disrupt those who want to learn. My son experience at Parkland was very lonely.

You should have tried to do a second round of lottery or for 7th grade transfer. This is a huge issue where the kids are forced into the interests and its very limiting if those aren't your interests. They don't have real "honors" classes and the kids are all lumped together so for smart kids, they are waiting for the others to do catch up or even do their work and are held back. It would be nice if they had real honors classes, but that can be said for many of the MS in the area for kids locked out of the magnet programs.

[Anonymous]

Reviving this thread. Is argyle with going to if you don’t live nearby? Is the program worth driving to if you don’t live in-bounds?

[Anonymous]

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/03823.pdf

Nearly 70% FARMs.

ICYMI: the “magnets” were created in an effort to attract more affluent white kids to schools where the demographics had shifted quickly and dramatically.

As posters have explained, the school doesn’t separate magnet kids…rather, your magnet kid is there to help add positive diversity and model good behavior. Add the rush hour commute and not having school friends in your neighborhood and then ask yourself why this sounds like a good idea.

I know parents who tried it and left.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback. Maybe we will have to hope for a true magnet spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the person who spent an hour there and said the lunchroom “seemed tough” to the person who heard from a friend of a friend that mean things happened in the locker room, what I’m hearing is “Hispanic kids are trouble.” How many of these behaviors would be “boys will be boys” if they were white? Middle school kids misbehave everywhere.

More on point: a friend’s son went there and liked it but didn’t find it too challenging. Much like most of the middle schools in the county.

Spend time in any middle school lunchroom in MCPS and you will characterize the school as tough.

Living in garden apartments or rental doesn’t mean that children won’t be good classmates for your child academically or behaviorally. Most of the truly problematic students I’ve had the past two decades have come from solidly middle class households in Potomac, CC, and Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the feedback. Maybe we will have to hope for a true magnet spot.

No dog in this fight, but there is nothing un-"true" about the MSMC magnets. A magnet school is a school that draws students from outside its boundaries, which they all do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the feedback. Maybe we will have to hope for a true magnet spot.

No dog in this fight, but there is nothing un-"true" about the MSMC magnets. A magnet school is a school that draws students from outside its boundaries, which they all do.

Mcps magnets were sited in certain areas specifically to attract affluent whites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the feedback. Maybe we will have to hope for a true magnet spot.

No dog in this fight, but there is nothing un-"true" about the MSMC magnets. A magnet school is a school that draws students from outside its boundaries, which they all do.

Mcps magnets were sited in certain areas specifically to attract affluent whites.

So what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the feedback. Maybe we will have to hope for a true magnet spot.

No dog in this fight, but there is nothing un-"true" about the MSMC magnets. A magnet school is a school that draws students from outside its boundaries, which they all do.

Mcps magnets were sited in certain areas specifically to attract affluent whites.

So what?

Apparently, Larla got into a "real" magnet.

[Anonymous]

Chiming in as a white mom that sent her kid to Parkland this year for the magnet and couldn't be happier. I think for any of the three MSMC schools, it depends on how well the programming options and block schedule align with your kid's interests and strengths. How much do the benefits of the electives and block schedule outweigh the logistical and social factors? In my son's case, all his favorite classes are the science electives and he is engaged in a way that he never would have been in a more traditional program. There are huge advantages and no disadvantages other than the long bus ride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chiming in as a white mom that sent her kid to Parkland this year for the magnet and couldn't be happier. I think for any of the three MSMC schools, it depends on how well the programming options and block schedule align with your kid's interests and strengths. How much do the benefits of the electives and block schedule outweigh the logistical and social factors? In my son's case, all his favorite classes are the science electives and he is engaged in a way that he never would have been in a more traditional program. There are huge advantages and no disadvantages other than the long bus ride.

I didn't think that there was a MCPS bus to Parkland for those who don't live in the Parkland MS catchment area? What long bus ride are you referring to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chiming in as a white mom that sent her kid to Parkland this year for the magnet and couldn't be happier. I think for any of the three MSMC schools, it depends on how well the programming options and block schedule align with your kid's interests and strengths. How much do the benefits of the electives and block schedule outweigh the logistical and social factors? In my son's case, all his favorite classes are the science electives and he is engaged in a way that he never would have been in a more traditional program. There are huge advantages and no disadvantages other than the long bus ride.

I didn't think that there was a MCPS bus to Parkland for those who don't live in the Parkland MS catchment area? What long bus ride are you referring to?

They started a few bus routes this year! My kid rides a bus from our local ES that stops at Loiderman and then Parkland. Not sure what the situation is with Argyle, though. Hopefully they will keep this in place next year!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chiming in as a white mom that sent her kid to Parkland this year for the magnet and couldn't be happier. I think for any of the three MSMC schools, it depends on how well the programming options and block schedule align with your kid's interests and strengths. How much do the benefits of the electives and block schedule outweigh the logistical and social factors? In my son's case, all his favorite classes are the science electives and he is engaged in a way that he never would have been in a more traditional program. There are huge advantages and no disadvantages other than the long bus ride.

I didn't think that there was a MCPS bus to Parkland for those who don't live in the Parkland MS catchment area? What long bus ride are you referring to?

Here is the magnet bus routes. No activity bus though. But this saves me two hours each day.

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/departments/transportation/busroutes/03787mbus.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chiming in as a white mom that sent her kid to Parkland this year for the magnet and couldn't be happier. I think for any of the three MSMC schools, it depends on how well the programming options and block schedule align with your kid's interests and strengths. How much do the benefits of the electives and block schedule outweigh the logistical and social factors? In my son's case, all his favorite classes are the science electives and he is engaged in a way that he never would have been in a more traditional program. There are huge advantages and no disadvantages other than the long bus ride.

I didn't think that there was a MCPS bus to Parkland for those who don't live in the Parkland MS catchment area? What long bus ride are you referring to?

Here is the magnet bus routes. No activity bus though. But this saves me two hours each day.

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/departments/transportation/busroutes/03787mbus.pdf

Oh, that’s a great addition finally! When my kid was there Pre-pandemic by 8th grade he learned how to take the public bus home to Montgomery Village.

+1 to the current parent discussing comparing the MSMC programming and its match to your child’s interest, compared to the experience they would have in their home middle school. The 8 period day alone is a real benefit for students interested in music, language, AND a content elective.

[Anonymous]

Reviving this thread regarding Argyle. DC slated to go in the fall. He was interested in the magnet program and got a spot.

The program itself seems good but the school itself seems to have a mixed record of academic performance. Have also heard through the grapevine that student behavior is not great, though these accounts are all third-hand.

Any recent experiences from parents with kids either in or very recently promoted from Argyle?