Moving in January -- need advice!

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone,

I am moving from Atlanta in January/February and my son is in the 5th grade and in the magnet program here. I plan to leave him in Atlanta with my parents to finish the year while I get settled so I am not looking at the elementary schools. I have been looking at the middle schools on greatschools.org and reading this forum. I was wondering if you all could answer a few questions. I am told testing for Takoma Park Middle school is done and that there will not be another test until the summer. So if he is not in the magnet program there, what is the quality of education he would get? How does TPMS compare to Parkland Middle? Is it easier to get into Parkland Middle as it is lottery-based? Does anyone know the stats on how many applied vs how many were admitted? Last, how does TPMS compare to Silver Spring International?

I would appreciate any assistance you can provide. Also, if it helps my son is extremely interested in math and science which is why I am interested in TPMS and Parkland.

Happy Holidays!

[Anonymous]

Is there any way for you to move into the Westland or Pyle clusters? He'd be going to Bethesda Chevy Chase HS or Whitman HS instead of being in Silver Spring post-middle school. If you were going to be in MoCo, I'd have my kid feed into one of those two schools or the following: Walter Johnson, Wootton, or Churchill.

[Anonymous]

I toured Parkland when they had their open house - looks like an exciting and great school. It looks like it could be rigorous one you're there.

There's a consortium of 3 schools - parkland, argyle and loiderman, where if you live in the consortium you get to rank them and you'll get to go to one of them. if you're outside (we are) you can put your name in for a lottery. living in consortium might be a good bet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello everyone,

I am moving from Atlanta in January/February and my son is in the 5th grade and in the magnet program here. I plan to leave him in Atlanta with my parents to finish the year while I get settled so I am not looking at the elementary schools. I have been looking at the middle schools on greatschools.org and reading this forum. I was wondering if you all could answer a few questions. I am told testing for Takoma Park Middle school is done and that there will not be another test until the summer. So if he is not in the magnet program there, what is the quality of education he would get? How does TPMS compare to Parkland Middle? Is it easier to get into Parkland Middle as it is lottery-based? Does anyone know the stats on how many applied vs how many were admitted? Last, how does TPMS compare to Silver Spring International?

I would appreciate any assistance you can provide. Also, if it helps my son is extremely interested in math and science which is why I am interested in TPMS and Parkland.

Happy Holidays!

I know someone whose child applied to TPMS and took the magnet test when they moved here the summer before sixth grade. Did well and got in.

Call and ask about that option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there any way for you to move into the Westland or Pyle clusters? He'd be going to Bethesda Chevy Chase HS or Whitman HS instead of being in Silver Spring post-middle school. If you were going to be in MoCo, I'd have my kid feed into one of those two schools or the following: Walter Johnson, Wootton, or Churchill.

We love our Silver Spring HS as do our neighbors.

[Anonymous]

Surprising that they offer a second round of testing given the waitlists from the first session. Good luck OP. There are many great schools in MoCo each with their own "personality".

[Anonymous]

Can you move to either Takoma Park or the SS neighborhood right near Takoma? Easier to get into the magnet if you're in the neighborhood.

We live in the SSI neighborhood with child in Takoma magnet. Son LOVES Takoma; we have plenty of friends who are really happy with SSI, including kids who are strong in math/science.

In general, strong math kids at SSI are in Algebra, whereas son who was 2 yrs ahead is actually technically behind them, in magnet IM, which goes deeper into math. In science, son has been doing a unit on chemistry; at SSI, friends have been doing Chesapeake Bay ecology unit. -- The kids have been comparing this stuff during carpools

Both seem like good options, they're just different curriculums. Kid at SSI really likes the 6th grade science teacher.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for your responses. I will be touring Parkland when I take a house hunting trip in January but it is further out. Sounds like all have great programs. I was inquiring about more about SSI and TPMS for proximity as I will be working in downtown DC. I am a single mom now so I don't want to be too far away from him in case of emergency (and to avoid a long commute). I did call TPMS and last year there was a test during the summer but no one got in because it was full. So its a risk to try to test during the summer in the hopes he will get in. The administrator said it does happen some years but there are only 125 slots which fill up fast.

So can anyone comment on if the non-magnet TPMS program is okay or is the SSI the best option if he does not get into a magnet program. Also, can someone please verify that to get into SSI all I have to do is move into an apartment within its boundaries. Seems to be the case but I haven't had a chance to call them yet. I can move anywhere. I am going to rent for at least two years.

Thanks again!!!

[Anonymous]

Yes all you have to do to be at SSI or Takoma Park (non-magnet) as to live in the right area.