Magnet Middle School Thread: MAP scores and results

[Anonymous]

As with everything there are multiple perspectives. A random lottery should take care of the gender imbalance so I would say it's unnecessary but not good or bad.

[Anonymous]

Anyone get off wait list yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here with an update. I'm the one whose child has a 255 MAP-M (and a history of As and 99% MAP scores) who wasn't in the lottery pool. I was able to connect with Jeannie Franklin at the Division of Consortia, Choice, and Application Programs, who was able to tell me that my child was not in the pool because of an "M" in science for the third marking period last year. Super frustrating, since the school told us they were giving Ms in many classes due to "the extended school closure and significant interruptions to the marking period", and the school told us it would have no impact going forward.

At least I now have concrete information to use in an appeal. I'm sharing it here in case it helps others who may be in the same situation. And it does make me think that there weren't school-specific cutoffs to be placed in the pool, but that the discrepancies we're seeing are the results of individual errors like this.

PP back again with an update -- just got an email that the appeal was successful and my kid is now in the pool. I know the odds are low of getting a spot at this point, but I'm still glad to be in the pool, both for the slim chance at the magnet and for the guaranteed placement in the enriched class at the local middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here with an update. I'm the one whose child has a 255 MAP-M (and a history of As and 99% MAP scores) who wasn't in the lottery pool. I was able to connect with Jeannie Franklin at the Division of Consortia, Choice, and Application Programs, who was able to tell me that my child was not in the pool because of an "M" in science for the third marking period last year. Super frustrating, since the school told us they were giving Ms in many classes due to "the extended school closure and significant interruptions to the marking period", and the school told us it would have no impact going forward.

At least I now have concrete information to use in an appeal. I'm sharing it here in case it helps others who may be in the same situation. And it does make me think that there weren't school-specific cutoffs to be placed in the pool, but that the discrepancies we're seeing are the results of individual errors like this.

PP back again with an update -- just got an email that the appeal was successful and my kid is now in the pool. I know the odds are low of getting a spot at this point, but I'm still glad to be in the pool, both for the slim chance at the magnet and for the guaranteed placement in the enriched class at the local middle school.

The other PP with the MAP of 240 for math, appeal was not successful. Im really frustrated with the whole selection process as it was never explained why with a score in the 98 percentile, he did even get considered, and yes his math grades were As and his third grade cogat was in 99 percentile for national and MCPS. And now if they take away AIM as rumors are spreading, we’ll have to figure out some sort of supplement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here with an update. I'm the one whose child has a 255 MAP-M (and a history of As and 99% MAP scores) who wasn't in the lottery pool. I was able to connect with Jeannie Franklin at the Division of Consortia, Choice, and Application Programs, who was able to tell me that my child was not in the pool because of an "M" in science for the third marking period last year. Super frustrating, since the school told us they were giving Ms in many classes due to "the extended school closure and significant interruptions to the marking period", and the school told us it would have no impact going forward.

At least I now have concrete information to use in an appeal. I'm sharing it here in case it helps others who may be in the same situation. And it does make me think that there weren't school-specific cutoffs to be placed in the pool, but that the discrepancies we're seeing are the results of individual errors like this.

PP back again with an update -- just got an email that the appeal was successful and my kid is now in the pool. I know the odds are low of getting a spot at this point, but I'm still glad to be in the pool, both for the slim chance at the magnet and for the guaranteed placement in the enriched class at the local middle school.

The other PP with the MAP of 240 for math, appeal was not successful. Im really frustrated with the whole selection process as it was never explained why with a score in the 98 percentile, he did even get considered, and yes his math grades were As and his third grade cogat was in 99 percentile for national and MCPS. And now if they take away AIM as rumors are spreading, we’ll have to figure out some sort of supplement.

I'm sorry -- that's disappointing and so frustrating not to have any explanation. They had so few data points (MAP, math grades, science grades) that you'd think it wouldn't be so hard to be clear with what the requirements were. I hope the AIM rumors are not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here with an update. I'm the one whose child has a 255 MAP-M (and a history of As and 99% MAP scores) who wasn't in the lottery pool. I was able to connect with Jeannie Franklin at the Division of Consortia, Choice, and Application Programs, who was able to tell me that my child was not in the pool because of an "M" in science for the third marking period last year. Super frustrating, since the school told us they were giving Ms in many classes due to "the extended school closure and significant interruptions to the marking period", and the school told us it would have no impact going forward.

At least I now have concrete information to use in an appeal. I'm sharing it here in case it helps others who may be in the same situation. And it does make me think that there weren't school-specific cutoffs to be placed in the pool, but that the discrepancies we're seeing are the results of individual errors like this.

PP back again with an update -- just got an email that the appeal was successful and my kid is now in the pool. I know the odds are low of getting a spot at this point, but I'm still glad to be in the pool, both for the slim chance at the magnet and for the guaranteed placement in the enriched class at the local middle school.

The other PP with the MAP of 240 for math, appeal was not successful. Im really frustrated with the whole selection process as it was never explained why with a score in the 98 percentile, he did even get considered, and yes his math grades were As and his third grade cogat was in 99 percentile for national and MCPS. And now if they take away AIM as rumors are spreading, we’ll have to figure out some sort of supplement.

I thought they looked at all grades, not just math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here with an update. I'm the one whose child has a 255 MAP-M (and a history of As and 99% MAP scores) who wasn't in the lottery pool. I was able to connect with Jeannie Franklin at the Division of Consortia, Choice, and Application Programs, who was able to tell me that my child was not in the pool because of an "M" in science for the third marking period last year. Super frustrating, since the school told us they were giving Ms in many classes due to "the extended school closure and significant interruptions to the marking period", and the school told us it would have no impact going forward.

At least I now have concrete information to use in an appeal. I'm sharing it here in case it helps others who may be in the same situation. And it does make me think that there weren't school-specific cutoffs to be placed in the pool, but that the discrepancies we're seeing are the results of individual errors like this.

PP back again with an update -- just got an email that the appeal was successful and my kid is now in the pool. I know the odds are low of getting a spot at this point, but I'm still glad to be in the pool, both for the slim chance at the magnet and for the guaranteed placement in the enriched class at the local middle school.

Thanks for the update PP, and glad the appeal worked out at least. I think Art of Problem Solving Online is fantastic for math classes, if you find the need to supplement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here with an update. I'm the one whose child has a 255 MAP-M (and a history of As and 99% MAP scores) who wasn't in the lottery pool. I was able to connect with Jeannie Franklin at the Division of Consortia, Choice, and Application Programs, who was able to tell me that my child was not in the pool because of an "M" in science for the third marking period last year. Super frustrating, since the school told us they were giving Ms in many classes due to "the extended school closure and significant interruptions to the marking period", and the school told us it would have no impact going forward.

At least I now have concrete information to use in an appeal. I'm sharing it here in case it helps others who may be in the same situation. And it does make me think that there weren't school-specific cutoffs to be placed in the pool, but that the discrepancies we're seeing are the results of individual errors like this.

PP back again with an update -- just got an email that the appeal was successful and my kid is now in the pool. I know the odds are low of getting a spot at this point, but I'm still glad to be in the pool, both for the slim chance at the magnet and for the guaranteed placement in the enriched class at the local middle school.

The other PP with the MAP of 240 for math, appeal was not successful. Im really frustrated with the whole selection process as it was never explained why with a score in the 98 percentile, he did even get considered, and yes his math grades were As and his third grade cogat was in 99 percentile for national and MCPS. And now if they take away AIM as rumors are spreading, we’ll have to figure out some sort of supplement.

I thought they looked at all grades, not just math.

He had all As except for music which was M for a missing assignment. It still doesn’t make sense not me.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry PP. They should have provided you with an explanation. FWIW I have a child who was in 5th last year with a 250 and change MAP-M, all As for everything, and 99th Cogat math who was in the wait pool for TPMS. It's possible that if this were not a pandemic year your child would not have even made the wait pool so at least with the lottery he has some kind of chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry PP. They should have provided you with an explanation. FWIW I have a child who was in 5th last year with a 250 and change MAP-M, all As for everything, and 99th Cogat math who was in the wait pool for TPMS. It's possible that if this were not a pandemic year your child would not have even made the wait pool so at least with the lottery he has some kind of chance.

Yes, I completely understand, a 240 is not an amazing score by any means, and I honestly didn’t expect him to get in prepandemic. But, by hearing about others who had much lower scores make the cut, it makes it frustrating because I can’t understand MCPS’s logic. What was so overwhelming in those kids that they were considered, despite lower scores that my DS wasn’t? I just wish we knew what was hurting our chances. I mean, he’ll have to go through this again for high school so it would be good to know, that’s all. Congrats to the other PP who was able to successfully appeal, its well deserved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here with an update. I'm the one whose child has a 255 MAP-M (and a history of As and 99% MAP scores) who wasn't in the lottery pool. I was able to connect with Jeannie Franklin at the Division of Consortia, Choice, and Application Programs, who was able to tell me that my child was not in the pool because of an "M" in science for the third marking period last year. Super frustrating, since the school told us they were giving Ms in many classes due to "the extended school closure and significant interruptions to the marking period", and the school told us it would have no impact going forward.

At least I now have concrete information to use in an appeal. I'm sharing it here in case it helps others who may be in the same situation. And it does make me think that there weren't school-specific cutoffs to be placed in the pool, but that the discrepancies we're seeing are the results of individual errors like this.

PP back again with an update -- just got an email that the appeal was successful and my kid is now in the pool. I know the odds are low of getting a spot at this point, but I'm still glad to be in the pool, both for the slim chance at the magnet and for the guaranteed placement in the enriched class at the local middle school.

The other PP with the MAP of 240 for math, appeal was not successful. Im really frustrated with the whole selection process as it was never explained why with a score in the 98 percentile, he did even get considered, and yes his math grades were As and his third grade cogat was in 99 percentile for national and MCPS. And now if they take away AIM as rumors are spreading, we’ll have to figure out some sort of supplement.

I'm the other PP with child with fall MAP-R of 240, third grade COGAT 99th percentile - appeal also denied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here with an update. I'm the one whose child has a 255 MAP-M (and a history of As and 99% MAP scores) who wasn't in the lottery pool. I was able to connect with Jeannie Franklin at the Division of Consortia, Choice, and Application Programs, who was able to tell me that my child was not in the pool because of an "M" in science for the third marking period last year. Super frustrating, since the school told us they were giving Ms in many classes due to "the extended school closure and significant interruptions to the marking period", and the school told us it would have no impact going forward.

At least I now have concrete information to use in an appeal. I'm sharing it here in case it helps others who may be in the same situation. And it does make me think that there weren't school-specific cutoffs to be placed in the pool, but that the discrepancies we're seeing are the results of individual errors like this.

PP back again with an update -- just got an email that the appeal was successful and my kid is now in the pool. I know the odds are low of getting a spot at this point, but I'm still glad to be in the pool, both for the slim chance at the magnet and for the guaranteed placement in the enriched class at the local middle school.

Glad it worked out! Your story revealed true unfairness in pool selections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry PP. They should have provided you with an explanation. FWIW I have a child who was in 5th last year with a 250 and change MAP-M, all As for everything, and 99th Cogat math who was in the wait pool for TPMS. It's possible that if this were not a pandemic year your child would not have even made the wait pool so at least with the lottery he has some kind of chance.

Yes, I completely understand, a 240 is not an amazing score by any means, and I honestly didn’t expect him to get in prepandemic. But, by hearing about others who had much lower scores make the cut, it makes it frustrating because I can’t understand MCPS’s logic. What was so overwhelming in those kids that they were considered, despite lower scores that my DS wasn’t? I just wish we knew what was hurting our chances. I mean, he’ll have to go through this again for high school so it would be good to know, that’s all. Congrats to the other PP who was able to successfully appeal, its well deserved.

Will your child be in the enriched classes? Sorry PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry PP. They should have provided you with an explanation. FWIW I have a child who was in 5th last year with a 250 and change MAP-M, all As for everything, and 99th Cogat math who was in the wait pool for TPMS. It's possible that if this were not a pandemic year your child would not have even made the wait pool so at least with the lottery he has some kind of chance.

Yes, I completely understand, a 240 is not an amazing score by any means, and I honestly didn’t expect him to get in prepandemic. But, by hearing about others who had much lower scores make the cut, it makes it frustrating because I can’t understand MCPS’s logic. What was so overwhelming in those kids that they were considered, despite lower scores that my DS wasn’t? I just wish we knew what was hurting our chances. I mean, he’ll have to go through this again for high school so it would be good to know, that’s all. Congrats to the other PP who was able to successfully appeal, its well deserved.

Will your child be in the enriched classes? Sorry PP!

Not the PP, but math was based on current teacher rec. I guess we're waiting to see if there is a shakeup on the curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think some parents with kids who had higher scores are justifiably upset about the lack of transparency and the fact it obviously wasn't a straight lottery.

MCPS will never release the recipe for the secret sauce. If they did, too many parents would try to game it.

You know you can file a Maryland Public Information request and MCPS would have to release information such as:

Number of kids considered county wide and by school
Number of kids placed in lottery pool countywide and by school
whether 1 lottery pool was run or several and if several what criteria (sex or other statuses?)
breakdown of number of kids considered with IEPs, 504 plans, FARMS status and by race
Range, mean and median of MAP scores and GPAs of considered students, pooled students and lottery winner students
number of waitlisted students
number of acceptance/declines of admissions offers

I’d also want to know how the admitted cohort of students broke out by sex, race, ethnicity, ESOL, FARMS and IEP and 504 status compared to the same categories of admitted students last year and the year before to see how the pandemic affected the process.