Robert Frost beats Takoma Park in Mathcounts

[Anonymous]

As some other posters have said, this is not the year where anything comes home to roost, for those who think of it like that. This year still has the 8th graders from before the change in selection process. Sometimes Takoma wins, sometimes Frost wins. I have a kid in 7th grade Takoma magnet. Yes, it's true, the 7th grade doesn't have the same number of math superstars as prior years. The selection process changed a bit again for the current 6th graders, it seems, and there are a number of superstars there. To be great at Mathcounts in middle school, you need natural brains plus a lot of exposure to advanced material. The new selection procedure did in fact change the makeup of the Takoma class. Not that the people there aren't deserving, but at least for 7th grade, it doesn't have the large number of really advanced, mostly East Asian, kids that it had in prior years. That's just a fact, and it's noticeable to anyone going to the math competitions. I'm not sure where those kids are -- perhaps Cabin John?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As some other posters have said, this is not the year where anything comes home to roost, for those who think of it like that. This year still has the 8th graders from before the change in selection process. Sometimes Takoma wins, sometimes Frost wins. I have a kid in 7th grade Takoma magnet. Yes, it's true, the 7th grade doesn't have the same number of math superstars as prior years. The selection process changed a bit again for the current 6th graders, it seems, and there are a number of superstars there. To be great at Mathcounts in middle school, you need natural brains plus a lot of exposure to advanced material. The new selection procedure did in fact change the makeup of the Takoma class. Not that the people there aren't deserving, but at least for 7th grade, it doesn't have the large number of really advanced, mostly East Asian, kids that it had in prior years. That's just a fact, and it's noticeable to anyone going to the math competitions. I'm not sure where those kids are -- perhaps Cabin John?

They are at their home schools - West, Cabin John, Frost, Tilden and Wood.

My kid is at one of this schools, FWIW and she has friends from her CES who attend the others. Only two of her high scoring, super academically talented friends went to the MS magnets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t this what people wanted? To have enriched opportunities at their home school so they didn’t have to ride a bus all the way to a neighborhood they were afraid of?

Except that there are no ‘enriched’ options at the home schools. It’s just the same old classes.

Most parents would be thrilled if there were actual enriched courses in MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL

One time Frost beats TPMS and all the W parents come glowing and singing.
Even Leicester won the BPL too.

But I understand. When you beat the big dog, you gotta glow

^^ the only truthful post in this thread

I think you're right. Frost had a good day but I doubt this will happen again or is even repeatable. In fact, let's follow up on this in a couple of months and see how it pans out. Most the nonsense posted here is by bitter parents whose kids weren't able to make the cut for TPMS so they delight in trash-talking and spreading debunked conspiracy theories.

You mean MCPS admitting high performers only based on peer cohort is a conspiracy theory?

Sure, Fost had a good day, but will likely be creamed by TPMS in the state competition next month. The bitter parents whose kids failed to make the cut at TPMS will gloss over this since it doesn't support their bogus narrative.

My kid didn't bother applying (too far) and is now in RMIB. I'm not bitter. I'm disappointed that MCPS has gone this route for magnet programs. I think we will continue to see TP not do as well in math competitions in the future. I'm sorry, but even MCPS stated that they are not admitting the highest test scorers across the county. That will obviously have an impact on the class in TP. Again, it doesn't take a math genius to figure that out.

Agree with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL

One time Frost beats TPMS and all the W parents come glowing and singing.
Even Leicester won the BPL too.

But I understand. When you beat the big dog, you gotta glow

^^ the only truthful post in this thread

I would have said that it’s the most bizarre post on the thread. Did the poster mean “crow” and “crowing” instead of “glow” and “glowing?”

Maybe the poster meant gloating? Who knows what the PP was trying to say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t this what people wanted? To have enriched opportunities at their home school so they didn’t have to ride a bus all the way to a neighborhood they were afraid of?

Except that there are no ‘enriched’ options at the home schools. It’s just the same old classes.

Most parents would be thrilled if there were actual enriched courses in MS.

The after-school math club functions as one type of enrichment. At least wt our school, it’s by competitive admission so only the top 5% (maybe less) of the school gets in. My kid is not a math genius but got a 99% on the quant cogat and is on math team, so definitely advanced, and does not seem to find the standard advanced math track to be a cakewalk. It moves pretty fast in MS. (Unlike k through 3, which was pretty painfully slow.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL

One time Frost beats TPMS and all the W parents come glowing and singing.
Even Leicester won the BPL too.

But I understand. When you beat the big dog, you gotta glow

^^ the only truthful post in this thread

I think you're right. Frost had a good day but I doubt this will happen again or is even repeatable. In fact, let's follow up on this in a couple of months and see how it pans out. Most the nonsense posted here is by bitter parents whose kids weren't able to make the cut for TPMS so they delight in trash-talking and spreading debunked conspiracy theories.

You mean MCPS admitting high performers only based on peer cohort is a conspiracy theory?

Admitting high-performers based on FARMS rate makes perfect sense. The same parents who complain about this are also the ones who talks about the "good" and "bad" schools. It makes sense to account for the differences in opportunities available at these schools when identifying the highest performers.

Ok but policy effectively concentrates highly able students (aka "cohorts") in schools where they already exist in large numbers while removing the few highly able students from schools where they are fewer in number. This is insanity. The only solution is appropriately advanced classes at every school, even if it means some small classes in some schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t this what people wanted? To have enriched opportunities at their home school so they didn’t have to ride a bus all the way to a neighborhood they were afraid of?

Why would you be afraid of the TPMS neighborhood? It is a walkable neighborhood with a ton of expensive large homes with upper middle class smart kids with academic/activist-type parents, and a few apartment buildings with hardworking nice people. Are you afraid of the adorable housewares shop or the hipster coffee spots?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t this what people wanted? To have enriched opportunities at their home school so they didn’t have to ride a bus all the way to a neighborhood they were afraid of?

Except that there are no ‘enriched’ options at the home schools. It’s just the same old classes.

Most parents would be thrilled if there were actual enriched courses in MS.

Yes it is what people wanted but in typical DCUM fashion people complain even when they get what they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As some other posters have said, this is not the year where anything comes home to roost, for those who think of it like that. This year still has the 8th graders from before the change in selection process. Sometimes Takoma wins, sometimes Frost wins. I have a kid in 7th grade Takoma magnet. Yes, it's true, the 7th grade doesn't have the same number of math superstars as prior years. The selection process changed a bit again for the current 6th graders, it seems, and there are a number of superstars there. To be great at Mathcounts in middle school, you need natural brains plus a lot of exposure to advanced material. The new selection procedure did in fact change the makeup of the Takoma class. Not that the people there aren't deserving, but at least for 7th grade, it doesn't have the large number of really advanced, mostly East Asian, kids that it had in prior years. That's just a fact, and it's noticeable to anyone going to the math competitions. I'm not sure where those kids are -- perhaps Cabin John?

They are at their home schools - West, Cabin John, Frost, Tilden and Wood.

My kid is at one of this schools, FWIW and she has friends from her CES who attend the others. Only two of her high scoring, super academically talented friends went to the MS magnets.

The admissions changes had a negligible impact on Takoma at best and has improved the cohorts at other schools. Seems like more kids are doing great than ever thanks to MCPS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t this what people wanted? To have enriched opportunities at their home school so they didn’t have to ride a bus all the way to a neighborhood they were afraid of?

Why would you be afraid of the TPMS neighborhood? It is a walkable neighborhood with a ton of expensive large homes with upper middle class smart kids with academic/activist-type parents, and a few apartment buildings with hardworking nice people. Are you afraid of the adorable housewares shop or the hipster coffee spots?

Well it's nice to live on your block, but there's more to the story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL

One time Frost beats TPMS and all the W parents come glowing and singing.
Even Leicester won the BPL too.

But I understand. When you beat the big dog, you gotta glow

^^ the only truthful post in this thread

Yes, Frost did great, but it's just one extracurricular competition. We'll see how they do against TPMS next month at the state competition.

Ok. The bet is on. It is not just Mathcounts. If mathkangaroo?AMC8, mathleague over the past year are of any predictive value TPMS does not have a chance next month although they have MCPS’s best middle school math teacher to help them.

That is right. TPMS Magnet is no longer equivalent to "the best of the best". The reputation of TPMS can and will only go down-hill....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL

One time Frost beats TPMS and all the W parents come glowing and singing.
Even Leicester won the BPL too.

But I understand. When you beat the big dog, you gotta glow

^^ the only truthful post in this thread

I think you're right. Frost had a good day but I doubt this will happen again or is even repeatable. In fact, let's follow up on this in a couple of months and see how it pans out. Most the nonsense posted here is by bitter parents whose kids weren't able to make the cut for TPMS so they delight in trash-talking and spreading debunked conspiracy theories.

You mean MCPS admitting high performers only based on peer cohort is a conspiracy theory?

Admitting high-performers based on FARMS rate makes perfect sense. The same parents who complain about this are also the ones who talks about the "good" and "bad" schools. It makes sense to account for the differences in opportunities available at these schools when identifying the highest performers.

Sure.. but then you get a program full of not the highest performing students, and then you see them not doing as well in math competitions. We're not arguing whether "peer cohort" admission "makes sense" or not. People are stating that doing so would impact the caliber of the class, and we are seeing that play out.

Or possibly the new cohort rules are working as intended since Frost apparently has a strong cohort too and even more kids are benefitting from this change.

Oh come on. Only the current sixth graders are impacted by this new selection process so these theories mean nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t this what people wanted? To have enriched opportunities at their home school so they didn’t have to ride a bus all the way to a neighborhood they were afraid of?

Why would you be afraid of the TPMS neighborhood? It is a walkable neighborhood with a ton of expensive large homes with upper middle class smart kids with academic/activist-type parents, and a few apartment buildings with hardworking nice people. Are you afraid of the adorable housewares shop or the hipster coffee spots?

Well it's nice to live on your block, but there's more to the story.

Woah. I’m guessing pp has never been to Takoma Park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL

One time Frost beats TPMS and all the W parents come glowing and singing.
Even Leicester won the BPL too.

But I understand. When you beat the big dog, you gotta glow

^^ the only truthful post in this thread

Yes, Frost did great, but it's just one extracurricular competition. We'll see how they do against TPMS next month at the state competition.

Ok. The bet is on. It is not just Mathcounts. If mathkangaroo?AMC8, mathleague over the past year are of any predictive value TPMS does not have a chance next month although they have MCPS’s best middle school math teacher to help them.

That is right. TPMS Magnet is no longer equivalent to "the best of the best". The reputation of TPMS can and will only go down-hill....

Yes, and those people will not no longer look down on us from the up-county Magnet at MLK and Clemente!