High school magnet test
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Anonymous
| On the other thread says no MS magnet testing, so no HS either. |
Anonymous
So holistic review? I don't see how a holistic review would work when there are so many students with all A's and 99% MAP scores. I think most teacher recs will be similar and not add much given that it is a form, not a letter. So will they actually read the short essay and answers? I imagine that most 8th graders are not much different in activities/interests. Approximately 1000 students applied RMIB, 700 to Blair STEM, 400/500 to Poolesville, 500 to CAP, 500 to Wheaton... that is a lot of students for a holistic review without test scores. What about humanities programs? No separate essay? I would prefer a lottery amongst the most highly qualified applicants (e.g., MAP scores, GPA) similar to what FCPS and PGCPS plan to do this year. Link to MCPS Criteria-Based programs report: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/specialprograms/admissions/applications/CES%20and%20Secondary%20Regional%20Countywide%20Admission%20Memo.pdf |
Anonymous
I think it's likely true that there will be no HS testing, but it's not impossible that there would be testing for HS and not MS. The biggest factor would be number of students considered for each program. HS programs require students to submit an application, while admission to MS programs is considered for all students who pass an initial screening, so the numbers of applicants are vastly different. We can guess all we want, but MCPS will tell us in the next 10 days. |
Anonymous
That report is dated August 2020, so the 2020 applicants must refer to students who would be freshmen in fall 2020. So, applications were all pre-Covid. Who knows if there will be similar numbers this year. As someone else mentioned, the fact that they extended the due date suggests lower numbers of applicants than in previous years. |
Anonymous
Yes, I forgot to add last year's applicants. I am surprised that there would be less applicants. Why would students not apply? |
Anonymous
Likely the case, especially in the less affluent schools where maybe some outreach needed to happen. |
Anonymous
| ^^ This. Plus They do pay some attention to student application answers. Please don't assume they're all going to be the same. Really this is a very diverse community and those differences are going to be highlighted in some of the answers that students write. |
Anonymous
| Please remember that while they are name and home school blind, they DO look at whether kids are in ESOL and if they have reduced price lunches - that tells them a great deal about the kids. |
Anonymous
| I'm very curious about the number of applicants this year. Someone above mentioned that the deadline was extended. I thought it was always November 6th. Remember, it was this class that endured the new selection process for middle school. Something wacky is bound to happen this year, given the year we have had! |
Anonymous
Well this year could work to their favor, if the focus is primarily on test scores and grades. |
Anonymous
| Where does it say the deadline was extended beyond 11/6. We got many many reminders through various channels about the due date and submitted on time. I didn’t see any communications about an extension. |
Anonymous
I never saw it either-- however, my kid's friend submitted after November 6th. At the time I thought he was given an extension for health reasons. Didn't realize that the deadline was extended universally to 11/13. Still can't find any reference to it online. Maybe MCPS sent targeted reminders? |
Anonymous
I thought that too, but MCPS doesn’t seem very good at targeting their communications. |
Anonymous
It was an e-mail from noreply@mcpsmd.org, Nov. 7 or 8 I believe. Agree, don't think they target their communications. |
Anonymous
Hmm...I didn’t receive an email-- checked spam and trash. My child submitted before the original deadline so maybe that is why we didn't receive an email. |