HS Magnet decisions

[Anonymous]

Don’t bash CAP. Last year no Blair kids went to Harvard, only 2 to Stanford (RMIB had 6 going to Stanford!). 2 years ago the only Blair kid who went to powerhouse UChicago was a CAP kid who was Captain of ‘It’s Academic’. And the only male to Stanford was also CAP. All programs are good, but I will tell you that most magnets from every program go to UMD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve know a number of people who got into all programs and still choose CAP. It’s more fun, they don’t have to kill themselves, they still can take what magnet classes they want, and some got into better colleges than the magnets.

DC is recommended to take AP Physics and Algebra 2 in CAP. Not a cake walk by any means!

I thought you can't take APs in freshman year @ Blair? My DS's science teacher recommended everyone for AP physics, and anyone who took geo in 8th is going into alg2. Though if your DC is going to CAP they can definitely take magnet classes. congrats!

Different 8th grader here! I'm a student TPMS, so a lot of my classmates are going to Blair next year. My history teacher confirmed that, yes, AP classes are not available for freshmen there. If you're going to CAP, you can probably take magnet precalc if you've been recommended for algebra 2, but I'm not entirely sure, because Blair is not my home school and I don't know much about the system regarding neighborhood kids taking magnet classes. I also thought History/NSL were CAP classes, but again, not familiar with the system since I didn't apply for CAP. Good luck everyone!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t bash CAP. Last year no Blair kids went to Harvard, only 2 to Stanford (RMIB had 6 going to Stanford!). 2 years ago the only Blair kid who went to powerhouse UChicago was a CAP kid who was Captain of ‘It’s Academic’. And the only male to Stanford was also CAP. All programs are good, but I will tell you that most magnets from every program go to UMD.

PP here- the 8th grader from TPMS!
Yeah, CAP is a great program! However, I will say that it seems to have become the Eastern of high school- typically the second choice for kids who don't get into SMACS or RMIB. Though I know a lot of people who only applied for CAP/Eastern despite the "stigma" and enjoyed both programs. I myself got into both TPMS and Eastern but chose TPMS at the time because it was the "better" school. I fared pretty well because I consider myself strong in both STEM and the humanities, but I will say that from what my Eastern friends have said, Eastern does sound really fun! I did not apply to CAP because I figured that I have more experience with STEM since I already went to Takoma, but I honestly think that CAP is just as good as SMACS, and probably your best choice if you're going there after Eastern. RMIB is great for people who are good at both, but since I'm already gearing myself up for a career in computer systems, I thought Blair would help prepare me for college!
Please don't listen to any CAP-bashers, SMACS-bashers, or RM-bashers. They're most likely jealous that their kid did not get in. I frequent this site(though I know I shouldn't!) to check for info about the magnets, so I know that there are a lot of trolls on here and you really shouldn't bother listening to them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many acceptances!

Yes!!! It makes you feel like your child's a failure especially when they went to a magnet and didn't get in and everyone whose kids go to normal schools seem to be getting in.

Please don't say that! I have so many friends who share this mindset and consider themselves failures because they didn't get in. Unfortunately, I think that they are this way because this is something their parents have ingrained in them- that they can only be 'the best', or they will disappoint their parents. That is crazy- do you know how many people applied to all the magnets this year? If your child is already in a magnet, they are successful enough and will fare really well at a regular high school! I know that we live in a culture where success is prioritized, but you have to remember, getting rejected from a magnet is does not equate to failure- they will have plenty of other chances to prove themselves in life, and magnets are a terrible way to gauge success/failure as they're incredibly corrupt and very had to get into. You only get one chance to apply to a magnet, and the test is designed so that only "naturally talented" students get in. In a word, it's BS. Totally not a good metric for failure/success. Since your kid already mage it through a magnet and was planning on attending one for high school, remember that they can always take honors/AP classes! They should do really well in them!

To other parents who are like this- please don't put your child through the wringer. It's tough enough for us already, and magnets add a whole lot more stress into our lives, too. When you don't get in, you lose some, but you also win some- for example, shorter bus rides, easier schoolwork, a better social life, and probably better grades as a result of that, too. I'm sure your kids will be fine, successful people in life, whether they get in or not. And if they do get in- well, congrats! But if they don't, that's fine, too.

Good luck, everyone!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve know a number of people who got into all programs and still choose CAP. It’s more fun, they don’t have to kill themselves, they still can take what magnet classes they want, and some got into better colleges than the magnets.

DC is recommended to take AP Physics and Algebra 2 in CAP. Not a cake walk by any means!

I thought you can't take APs in freshman year @ Blair? My DS's science teacher recommended everyone for AP physics, and anyone who took geo in 8th is going into alg2. Though if your DC is going to CAP they can definitely take magnet classes. congrats!

CAP PP here. Sorry for any confusion. The sheet that came with CAP acceptance listed AP physics, but I see that the SMCS registration sheet doesn’t even list AP Physics. It’s called Advanced Science-1 Physics. So I don’t know. Maybe there’s a typo on the CAP sheet?

[Anonymous]

Elementary parent here - does anyone know if there are any spots at Blair magnet set aside for local kids?

[Anonymous]

Unlike TPMS, Blair does not set aside spots for locals. Also, no SMAC take AP in 9th. The Coordinator even said that at the meeting, and i know from my own kids in program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elementary parent here - does anyone know if there are any spots at Blair magnet set aside for local kids?

As far as I'm concerned, no. However, TPMS does, and a lot of kids from the TPMS magnet get into the SMACS program, so keep that in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unlike TPMS, Blair does not set aside spots for locals. Also, no SMAC take AP in 9th. The Coordinator even said that at the meeting, and i know from my own kids in program.

It's not just SMACS, though, right? because that wouldn't be fair for SMACS kids if CAP kids can take APs. However, I guess it's not fair for neighborhood kids the other way.
If neighborhood kids can take SMACS/CAP classes, does anyone know if SMACS kids can take CAP classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many acceptances!

From what I've heard the standards at RMIB are relatively lower than they are at Blair/Poolesville, so that explains that. Maybe there's just a lot of current magnet parents on right now? I know most TPMS/Eastern kids go onto Blair SMACS/CAP.

[Anonymous]

For those who have not yet got USPS mails, the magnet applications results are available on mcps portal now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t bash CAP. Last year no Blair kids went to Harvard, only 2 to Stanford (RMIB had 6 going to Stanford!). 2 years ago the only Blair kid who went to powerhouse UChicago was a CAP kid who was Captain of ‘It’s Academic’. And the only male to Stanford was also CAP. All programs are good, but I will tell you that most magnets from every program go to UMD.

Say what now? Blair had 5 kids going to Harvard and 5 going to Stanford.
Your numbers are incorrect

[Anonymous]

I would love a different system. DD got her first choice, but was also accepted to another equally amazing program. It would be nice to be able to cross-enroll and take courses at both. It would work nicely to blend the philosophy of her first choice with the real world applications of the second.

I never thought I’d support a single all-magnet high school for the County, but I am tempted now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t bash CAP. Last year no Blair kids went to Harvard, only 2 to Stanford (RMIB had 6 going to Stanford!). 2 years ago the only Blair kid who went to powerhouse UChicago was a CAP kid who was Captain of ‘It’s Academic’. And the only male to Stanford was also CAP. All programs are good, but I will tell you that most magnets from every program go to UMD.

Say what now? Blair had 5 kids going to Harvard and 5 going to Stanford.
Your numbers are incorrect

NP here. What does it matter? Just because 5 Blair kids went to Harvard doesn't mean your kid will get in if they go to Blair. I am pretty sure they would have been equally high achievers even if they went to a regular program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t bash CAP. Last year no Blair kids went to Harvard, only 2 to Stanford (RMIB had 6 going to Stanford!). 2 years ago the only Blair kid who went to powerhouse UChicago was a CAP kid who was Captain of ‘It’s Academic’. And the only male to Stanford was also CAP. All programs are good, but I will tell you that most magnets from every program go to UMD.

Say what now? Blair had 5 kids going to Harvard and 5 going to Stanford.
Your numbers are incorrect

NP here. What does it matter? Just because 5 Blair kids went to Harvard doesn't mean your kid will get in if they go to Blair. I am pretty sure they would have been equally high achievers even if they went to a regular program.

Because it matters to state FACTS. I guess facts don't matter to you.
My kid went to MIT, that's why he went to Blair for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t bash CAP. Last year no Blair kids went to Harvard, only 2 to Stanford (RMIB had 6 going to Stanford!). 2 years ago the only Blair kid who went to powerhouse UChicago was a CAP kid who was Captain of ‘It’s Academic’. And the only male to Stanford was also CAP. All programs are good, but I will tell you that most magnets from every program go to UMD.

Say what now? Blair had 5 kids going to Harvard and 5 going to Stanford.
Your numbers are incorrect

NP here. What does it matter? Just because 5 Blair kids went to Harvard doesn't mean your kid will get in if they go to Blair. I am pretty sure they would have been equally high achievers even if they went to a regular program.

Because it matters to state FACTS. I guess facts don't matter to you.
My kid went to MIT, that's why he went to Blair for.

I was asking why it would matter how many kids go to Ivy schools from each of the magnets. I would assume your kid got into MIT and he could have done that regardless of Blair. Blair did not make him. If he didn't get into Blair and he would have been upset because he would not have been able to focus as much on math and science, that is one thing. To imply that Blair is better because kids get into good colleges because of Blair is just not right.

Facts are important. I wasn't the PP who quoted the earlier statistic. I was a NP commenting on the fact that neither stat should matter.