How do you think this year's high school magnet selection process ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This and the fact they took most of the application away.

Yes, I think this and centralized review were issues. There wasn't as much of a chance to see the full candidate with this app w/ the sparse awards/activities section. Also, students couldn't tailor the essay to the various programs. I also think the people running the programs should be selecting the students (blindly of course). I do believe Blair magnet was able to retain control here but not sure about other programs. In the end, it worked out for my kid.

I think the universal app is great but would like to have seen more options to add info and tailor to various programs.

Old version was definitely not more complicated than a college app.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why exactly does anyone think that the teacher and local magnet school selection committee was not doing a good a job and their duties needed to be taken over by the central office?

In our experience, the magnet teachers and local administrators know their programs and are very dedicated while the central office of filled with failed administrators whose only skill is being able to kiss up to other central office staff. The central office is filled with people who failed in the classroom, failed in local school administrators and who contribute very little if anything to the actual success of students or programs. Yet here they are once again stripping teachers of any decisioning making authority and supplementing their own.

Its wrong to strip excellent teachers of a decision making role that they had excelled at in the past. Instead lets significantly lesson the duties of the central office. let them go and hire people that work in the local schools to work with students

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS applied last year and DD this year. Last year he had to fill out different applications for the different programs. This year there was only one application. There was still a place to list awards and extracurriculars. That did not change between last year and this year. What struck me as odd was how some kids DD knew applied to 10+ programs. That’s kind of nuts. Is the application process too easy? Now there are loads of waitlists to delve into. One kid got into 7 programs. There will now be 6 (or up to 7 if he decides to just go to home school) spots that will jump down to waitlist. Seems like a lot of work for MCPS but oh well!

There was some change -- they abbreviated the awards and activities sections. I do think there should be some tailoring to the various programs in the essay section. I agree about the kids applying to sheer numbers of programs. They should have to demonstrate some interest/effort I would think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This and the fact they took most of the application away.

Yes, I think this and centralized review were issues. There wasn't as much of a chance to see the full candidate with this app w/ the sparse awards/activities section. Also, students couldn't tailor the essay to the various programs. I also think the people running the programs should be selecting the students (blindly of course). I do believe Blair magnet was able to retain control here but not sure about other programs. In the end, it worked out for my kid.

I think the universal app is great but would like to have seen more options to add info and tailor to various programs.

Old version was definitely not more complicated than a college app.

The new process is trying to be as fair as it can be. For example, the recommendations were only solicited from teachers of classes that are common to all middle schools. TPMS/RCMS magnets have learned three years of computer sciences already --but no recommendation from 8th grade computer science teachers. MCPS can only compare students on the data that are equally available from all applicants such as CogAT, MAP and grades and recommendations from the same courses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This and the fact they took most of the application away.

Yes, I think this and centralized review were issues. There wasn't as much of a chance to see the full candidate with this app w/ the sparse awards/activities section. Also, students couldn't tailor the essay to the various programs. I also think the people running the programs should be selecting the students (blindly of course). I do believe Blair magnet was able to retain control here but not sure about other programs. In the end, it worked out for my kid.

I think the universal app is great but would like to have seen more options to add info and tailor to various programs.

Old version was definitely not more complicated than a college app.

The new process is trying to be as fair as it can be. For example, the recommendations were only solicited from teachers of classes that are common to all middle schools. TPMS/RCMS magnets have learned three years of computer sciences already --but no recommendation from 8th grade computer science teachers. MCPS can only compare students on the data that are equally available from all applicants such as CogAT, MAP and grades and recommendations from the same courses

CS teachers weren't a part of the old system either. That has not changed. I was referring to the essay, awards and activities sections, all of which were abbreviated. That is all equal opportunity stuff. It doesn't hinder EOE to allow kids to add info and tailor info to programs. I think it would point to interest and commitment.

[Anonymous]

Then Dr, Li and AOPS campus participants may have advantages on awards like math competitions. The process still lets applicants to list awards though --but I am not sure they are heavily weighted.

[Anonymous]

The test score is and has been the deciding factor for admission at least for the first cut. Then, other factors (essays, awards, activities, etc.) come in for decisions on wait-listed students.

[Anonymous]

First time going through this process and am curious if selections were heavily based on CogAT scores. Seems like the application didn't allow for much differentiation. I think you should be able to tailor your application to the programs you are applying for. DC is waitlisted at several programs so hoping there is some movement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First time going through this process and am curious if selections were heavily based on CogAT scores. Seems like the application didn't allow for much differentiation. I think you should be able to tailor your application to the programs you are applying for. DC is waitlisted at several programs so hoping there is some movement.

many have received multiple invitation. we only allied for RMIB and Blair and got both. we will make our decision after RM open house (next Tuesday), movement will start next week for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the central office did a really good job. For application based magnets, there is no cohort criteria like middle school.

Just wonder why no cohort criteria for high school magnet ? because high schools have AP courses while middle schools courses choice limited ?

Yes, I think.

DD is an exceptionally strong student with years of well documented interested and aptitude in a specific field. She tests well and teachers love her. She is also an URM and we live in a low income area. We were generally pleased with the outcomes of the application process. However, we’re also aware that magnets aren’t the only way to have a rigorous high school experience. Non-magnet IB for example. Or starting APs in Grade 9. We’re turning down two wonderful programs. Just not sure yet, which two. But we know she and most bright, hardworking students will be fine anywhere in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the central office did a really good job. For application based magnets, there is no cohort criteria like middle school.

Just wonder why no cohort criteria for high school magnet ? because high schools have AP courses while middle schools courses choice limited ?

I think this is true. The HS already have way more enrichment options for anyone who wants to take advantage.

But now the MS supposedly have "enrichment courses" but they still have peer cohort criteria.

There are a lot more HS magnet seats than MS magnet seats.

So this paucity of MS Application Seats seems to be a major problem. When my older DC went to Eastern HUM from the then HGC (Highly Gifted Center) in 2015, about a third the kids at that HGC went to Humanities, maybe 20% went to Takoma Magnet and then rest went back to home schools or Lottery Schools. This year, when younger DC is going to Eastern HUM from CES (Center for Enriched Studies, new name for same program), only about 5 kids from program are going to Humanities and we know of only 2 or 3 going to Takoma Magnet.

I think the new system is spreading the kids who go to Middle School Magnets around schools more, and this could be a good thing. But I see a lot of these kids could benefit from the Magnet Schools, and I wonder why we can't just have more programs. Why not have a Magnet IB Middle Years programme applicataion based and have a Magnet that emphasizes both Humanities and Science/Math at the same time? Why not have an application based arts or engineering program? Giving more options at MS would be good all around, since these are the years that kids are likely to either find a passion in or lose interest in school.

What I told both my kids during the application processes they have gone through over the years is that there are far more kids that would benefit from these programs than there is room in these programs. I believe that whole-heartedly. The answer is to make the programs bigger or to multiply them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First time going through this process and am curious if selections were heavily based on CogAT scores. Seems like the application didn't allow for much differentiation. I think you should be able to tailor your application to the programs you are applying for. DC is waitlisted at several programs so hoping there is some movement.

My DC's scores were not that high, but essay for the test was very good and teacher recs were very strong; straight A's on report card as well. DC was accepted to CAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the central office did a really good job. For application based magnets, there is no cohort criteria like middle school.

Just wonder why no cohort criteria for high school magnet ? because high schools have AP courses while middle schools courses choice limited ?

Because they know that once that stack the middle school that the high schools will take care of them selves. Problem is the magnet wasn’t 100% providing high classes to highend students. It was also about getting white kids to schools that they wouldn’t otherwise consider. That problem hasn’t gone away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the central office did a really good job. For application based magnets, there is no cohort criteria like middle school.

Just wonder why no cohort criteria for high school magnet ? because high schools have AP courses while middle schools courses choice limited ?

I think this is true. The HS already have way more enrichment options for anyone who wants to take advantage.

But now the MS supposedly have "enrichment courses" but they still have peer cohort criteria.

There are a lot more HS magnet seats than MS magnet seats.

So this paucity of MS Application Seats seems to be a major problem. When my older DC went to Eastern HUM from the then HGC (Highly Gifted Center) in 2015, about a third the kids at that HGC went to Humanities, maybe 20% went to Takoma Magnet and then rest went back to home schools or Lottery Schools. This year, when younger DC is going to Eastern HUM from CES (Center for Enriched Studies, new name for same program), only about 5 kids from program are going to Humanities and we know of only 2 or 3 going to Takoma Magnet.

I think the new system is spreading the kids who go to Middle School Magnets around schools more, and this could be a good thing. But I see a lot of these kids could benefit from the Magnet Schools, and I wonder why we can't just have more programs. Why not have a Magnet IB Middle Years programme applicataion based and have a Magnet that emphasizes both Humanities and Science/Math at the same time? Why not have an application based arts or engineering program? Giving more options at MS would be good all around, since these are the years that kids are likely to either find a passion in or lose interest in school.

What I told both my kids during the application processes they have gone through over the years is that there are far more kids that would benefit from these programs than there is room in these programs. I believe that whole-heartedly. The answer is to make the programs bigger or to multiply them.

Hard to argue for an application-only engineering program for MS when students are not opting to COSA into the existing aerospace science/engineering program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the central office did a really good job. For application based magnets, there is no cohort criteria like middle school.

Just wonder why no cohort criteria for high school magnet ? because high schools have AP courses while middle schools courses choice limited ?

I think this is true. The HS already have way more enrichment options for anyone who wants to take advantage.

But now the MS supposedly have "enrichment courses" but they still have peer cohort criteria.

There are a lot more HS magnet seats than MS magnet seats.

So this paucity of MS Application Seats seems to be a major problem. When my older DC went to Eastern HUM from the then HGC (Highly Gifted Center) in 2015, about a third the kids at that HGC went to Humanities, maybe 20% went to Takoma Magnet and then rest went back to home schools or Lottery Schools. This year, when younger DC is going to Eastern HUM from CES (Center for Enriched Studies, new name for same program), only about 5 kids from program are going to Humanities and we know of only 2 or 3 going to Takoma Magnet.

I think the new system is spreading the kids who go to Middle School Magnets around schools more, and this could be a good thing. But I see a lot of these kids could benefit from the Magnet Schools, and I wonder why we can't just have more programs. Why not have a Magnet IB Middle Years programme applicataion based and have a Magnet that emphasizes both Humanities and Science/Math at the same time? Why not have an application based arts or engineering program? Giving more options at MS would be good all around, since these are the years that kids are likely to either find a passion in or lose interest in school.

What I told both my kids during the application processes they have gone through over the years is that there are far more kids that would benefit from these programs than there is room in these programs. I believe that whole-heartedly. The answer is to make the programs bigger or to multiply them.

Hard to argue for an application-only engineering program for MS when students are not opting to COSA into the existing aerospace science/engineering program.

?? I know kids who applied but did not get admitted to the MSMC programs. MCPS has no problem filling the seats available for OOB kids in the MS magnet consortium.