Downsides of Blair SMAC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if it's true but someone was saying over 40 admitted from TPMS and most likely to go. We'll see at the open house.

That would make sense - definitely could see the need for 15 more scions of Moco liberal elite to find solace at Blair Magnet - esp as taxes head north to fix MCPS under the Blueprint for Maryland. No one is tracking on the serious increase in taxes that’s headed Moco’s way but it’s coming Bethesda and Potomac property owners, it’s coming.

As the now deceased senate president Mike Miller - likely one of the best purveyors of legally corrupt tactics in the history of state government said of Moco: their riches are the golden goose egg in Maryland politics.

Oh, FFS, you sure didn't attend any magnet programs yourself, did ya?

Moco 'liberal elite' doesn't send their 'scions' to Blair magnet, their children are all in elite privates. Kids attending Blair magnet are mostly scions of Asan immigrants with advanced degrees.

Ha! Truth. The liberal elite avoid public school. Hypocrites all of them.

I have a kid at Blair, none of her friends are kids of liberal politicians.

So true. Liberal elite only talk about public schools. Send their kids to private. Blair SMAC is full of people who are derogatively called strivers by the liberals. Jokes and politics aside - it can be a really tough place for a kid who doesn't enough math and a super competitive environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if it's true but someone was saying over 40 admitted from TPMS and most likely to go. We'll see at the open house.

That would make sense - definitely could see the need for 15 more scions of Moco liberal elite to find solace at Blair Magnet - esp as taxes head north to fix MCPS under the Blueprint for Maryland. No one is tracking on the serious increase in taxes that’s headed Moco’s way but it’s coming Bethesda and Potomac property owners, it’s coming.

As the now deceased senate president Mike Miller - likely one of the best purveyors of legally corrupt tactics in the history of state government said of Moco: their riches are the golden goose egg in Maryland politics.

Oh, FFS, you sure didn't attend any magnet programs yourself, did ya?

Moco 'liberal elite' doesn't send their 'scions' to Blair magnet, their children are all in elite privates. Kids attending Blair magnet are mostly scions of Asan immigrants with advanced degrees.

Ha! Truth. The liberal elite avoid public school. Hypocrites all of them.

I have a kid at Blair, none of her friends are kids of liberal politicians.

So true. Liberal elite only talk about public schools. Send their kids to private. Blair SMAC is full of people who are derogatively called strivers by the liberals. Jokes and politics aside - it can be a really tough place for a kid who doesn't enough math and a super competitive environment.

*Doesn't love math

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:#1 downside is going to a super large school with a large low achieving cohort. Sure the kids who get selected are high achieving but many of them are in shock to some of the types of kids and their attitudes that they have never had to deal with before. Even TP middle was better compared to the sheer quaintly of kids my daughter encountered who had noooo interest in academics and simply attend to socialize. Many of them resent better off magnet kids too. We sent our less focused, younger son to private as we heard BCC and (to a lesser degree) Westland aren't much better.

This is a weird comment in that, by high school, the classes are going to be pretty compartmentalized. So, for next year's SMCS class, they would take the 4 core magnet classes, AP US History, Language 3 or 4 depending on when they started, Honors English, and an elective.

Honors English will not be cohorted next year, but every other class would be. It might not include only magnet kids, but it would include a pretty high-achieving group of kids that are zoned to Blair.

I'm not doubting that Blair is a more heteorgenous school than whatever you are zoned to, but the actual experience of a SMCS kid can be pretty rarified if they want it to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#1 downside is going to a super large school with a large low achieving cohort. Sure the kids who get selected are high achieving but many of them are in shock to some of the types of kids and their attitudes that they have never had to deal with before. Even TP middle was better compared to the sheer quaintly of kids my daughter encountered who had noooo interest in academics and simply attend to socialize. Many of them resent better off magnet kids too. We sent our less focused, younger son to private as we heard BCC and (to a lesser degree) Westland aren't much better.

This is a weird comment in that, by high school, the classes are going to be pretty compartmentalized. So, for next year's SMCS class, they would take the 4 core magnet classes, AP US History, Language 3 or 4 depending on when they started, Honors English, and an elective.

Honors English will not be cohorted next year, but every other class would be. It might not include only magnet kids, but it would include a pretty high-achieving group of kids that are zoned to Blair.

I'm not doubting that Blair is a more heteorgenous school than whatever you are zoned to, but the actual experience of a SMCS kid can be pretty rarified if they want it to be.

Most magnet kid won’t be taking AP US history. They are strongly advised against it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#1 downside is going to a super large school with a large low achieving cohort. Sure the kids who get selected are high achieving but many of them are in shock to some of the types of kids and their attitudes that they have never had to deal with before. Even TP middle was better compared to the sheer quaintly of kids my daughter encountered who had noooo interest in academics and simply attend to socialize. Many of them resent better off magnet kids too. We sent our less focused, younger son to private as we heard BCC and (to a lesser degree) Westland aren't much better.

This is a weird comment in that, by high school, the classes are going to be pretty compartmentalized. So, for next year's SMCS class, they would take the 4 core magnet classes, AP US History, Language 3 or 4 depending on when they started, Honors English, and an elective.

Honors English will not be cohorted next year, but every other class would be. It might not include only magnet kids, but it would include a pretty high-achieving group of kids that are zoned to Blair.

I'm not doubting that Blair is a more heteorgenous school than whatever you are zoned to, but the actual experience of a SMCS kid can be pretty rarified if they want it to be.

Most magnet kid won’t be taking AP US history. They are strongly advised against it.

Honors us history was excellent for my Blair mag kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#1 downside is going to a super large school with a large low achieving cohort. Sure the kids who get selected are high achieving but many of them are in shock to some of the types of kids and their attitudes that they have never had to deal with before. Even TP middle was better compared to the sheer quaintly of kids my daughter encountered who had noooo interest in academics and simply attend to socialize. Many of them resent better off magnet kids too. We sent our less focused, younger son to private as we heard BCC and (to a lesser degree) Westland aren't much better.

This is a weird comment in that, by high school, the classes are going to be pretty compartmentalized. So, for next year's SMCS class, they would take the 4 core magnet classes, AP US History, Language 3 or 4 depending on when they started, Honors English, and an elective.

Honors English will not be cohorted next year, but every other class would be. It might not include only magnet kids, but it would include a pretty high-achieving group of kids that are zoned to Blair.

I'm not doubting that Blair is a more heteorgenous school than whatever you are zoned to, but the actual experience of a SMCS kid can be pretty rarified if they want it to be.

Most magnet kid won’t be taking AP US history. They are strongly advised against it.

Honors us history was excellent for my Blair mag kid.

Next year is the first year that AP US history has been an option but they are discouraging magnet kids from taking it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#1 downside is going to a super large school with a large low achieving cohort. Sure the kids who get selected are high achieving but many of them are in shock to some of the types of kids and their attitudes that they have never had to deal with before. Even TP middle was better compared to the sheer quaintly of kids my daughter encountered who had noooo interest in academics and simply attend to socialize. Many of them resent better off magnet kids too. We sent our less focused, younger son to private as we heard BCC and (to a lesser degree) Westland aren't much better.

This is a weird comment in that, by high school, the classes are going to be pretty compartmentalized. So, for next year's SMCS class, they would take the 4 core magnet classes, AP US History, Language 3 or 4 depending on when they started, Honors English, and an elective.

Honors English will not be cohorted next year, but every other class would be. It might not include only magnet kids, but it would include a pretty high-achieving group of kids that are zoned to Blair.

I'm not doubting that Blair is a more heteorgenous school than whatever you are zoned to, but the actual experience of a SMCS kid can be pretty rarified if they want it to be.

Most magnet kid won’t be taking AP US history. [b]They are strongly advised against it[b].

Why are they advising this? DC loves history and is a strong writer. What specifically will be so hard that a magnet 9th grader is advised against taking it? Is it their schedule, workload, etc.??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#1 downside is going to a super large school with a large low achieving cohort. Sure the kids who get selected are high achieving but many of them are in shock to some of the types of kids and their attitudes that they have never had to deal with before. Even TP middle was better compared to the sheer quaintly of kids my daughter encountered who had noooo interest in academics and simply attend to socialize. Many of them resent better off magnet kids too. We sent our less focused, younger son to private as we heard BCC and (to a lesser degree) Westland aren't much better.

This is a weird comment in that, by high school, the classes are going to be pretty compartmentalized. So, for next year's SMCS class, they would take the 4 core magnet classes, AP US History, Language 3 or 4 depending on when they started, Honors English, and an elective.

Honors English will not be cohorted next year, but every other class would be. It might not include only magnet kids, but it would include a pretty high-achieving group of kids that are zoned to Blair.

I'm not doubting that Blair is a more heteorgenous school than whatever you are zoned to, but the actual experience of a SMCS kid can be pretty rarified if they want it to be.

Most magnet kid won’t be taking AP US history. [b]They are strongly advised against it[b].

Why are they advising this? DC loves history and is a strong writer. What specifically will be so hard that a magnet 9th grader is advised against taking it? Is it their schedule, workload, etc.??

Strongly advised against it unless your kid truly loves history and is comfortable with a significant additional workload.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#1 downside is going to a super large school with a large low achieving cohort. Sure the kids who get selected are high achieving but many of them are in shock to some of the types of kids and their attitudes that they have never had to deal with before. Even TP middle was better compared to the sheer quaintly of kids my daughter encountered who had noooo interest in academics and simply attend to socialize. Many of them resent better off magnet kids too. We sent our less focused, younger son to private as we heard BCC and (to a lesser degree) Westland aren't much better.

This is a weird comment in that, by high school, the classes are going to be pretty compartmentalized. So, for next year's SMCS class, they would take the 4 core magnet classes, AP US History, Language 3 or 4 depending on when they started, Honors English, and an elective.

Honors English will not be cohorted next year, but every other class would be. It might not include only magnet kids, but it would include a pretty high-achieving group of kids that are zoned to Blair.

I'm not doubting that Blair is a more heteorgenous school than whatever you are zoned to, but the actual experience of a SMCS kid can be pretty rarified if they want it to be.

Most magnet kid won’t be taking AP US history. [b]They are strongly advised against it[b].

Why are they advising this? DC loves history and is a strong writer. What specifically will be so hard that a magnet 9th grader is advised against taking it? Is it their schedule, workload, etc.??

Strongly advised against it unless your kid truly loves history and is comfortable with a significant additional workload.

Thanks! Does the additional workload involve more papers, more reading, more long-term projects?

[Anonymous]

Our DD is a strong writer and enjoys history too. That said, because so many people say the first year of Magnet life is a hard adjustment in terms of work load for many, we are encouraging her to take Honors not AP US history, to give her a better chance of enjoying this first year and not being too overwhelmed. If she ends up being a kid that gets homework done in 2 instead of 4 hours, then all she has lost is one AP class. On the other hand, if the year is really hard and she is overwhelmed, I think it could make her miserable an entire year of high school. Not worth it for our family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#1 downside is going to a super large school with a large low achieving cohort. Sure the kids who get selected are high achieving but many of them are in shock to some of the types of kids and their attitudes that they have never had to deal with before. Even TP middle was better compared to the sheer quaintly of kids my daughter encountered who had noooo interest in academics and simply attend to socialize. Many of them resent better off magnet kids too. We sent our less focused, younger son to private as we heard BCC and (to a lesser degree) Westland aren't much better.

This is a weird comment in that, by high school, the classes are going to be pretty compartmentalized. So, for next year's SMCS class, they would take the 4 core magnet classes, AP US History, Language 3 or 4 depending on when they started, Honors English, and an elective.

Honors English will not be cohorted next year, but every other class would be. It might not include only magnet kids, but it would include a pretty high-achieving group of kids that are zoned to Blair.

I'm not doubting that Blair is a more heteorgenous school than whatever you are zoned to, but the actual experience of a SMCS kid can be pretty rarified if they want it to be.

Most magnet kid won’t be taking AP US history. [b]They are strongly advised against it[b].

Why are they advising this? DC loves history and is a strong writer. What specifically will be so hard that a magnet 9th grader is advised against taking it? Is it their schedule, workload, etc.??

Strongly advised against it unless your kid truly loves history and is comfortable with a significant additional workload.

Thanks! Does the additional workload involve more papers, more reading, more long-term projects?

Is the APUSH teacher good? Is it a new hire or an existing Blair history teacher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#1 downside is going to a super large school with a large low achieving cohort. Sure the kids who get selected are high achieving but many of them are in shock to some of the types of kids and their attitudes that they have never had to deal with before. Even TP middle was better compared to the sheer quaintly of kids my daughter encountered who had noooo interest in academics and simply attend to socialize. Many of them resent better off magnet kids too. We sent our less focused, younger son to private as we heard BCC and (to a lesser degree) Westland aren't much better.

This is a weird comment in that, by high school, the classes are going to be pretty compartmentalized. So, for next year's SMCS class, they would take the 4 core magnet classes, AP US History, Language 3 or 4 depending on when they started, Honors English, and an elective.

Honors English will not be cohorted next year, but every other class would be. It might not include only magnet kids, but it would include a pretty high-achieving group of kids that are zoned to Blair.

I'm not doubting that Blair is a more heteorgenous school than whatever you are zoned to, but the actual experience of a SMCS kid can be pretty rarified if they want it to be.

Most magnet kid won’t be taking AP US history. [b]They are strongly advised against it[b].

Why are they advising this? DC loves history and is a strong writer. What specifically will be so hard that a magnet 9th grader is advised against taking it? Is it their schedule, workload, etc.??

Strongly advised against it unless your kid truly loves history and is comfortable with a significant additional workload.

Thanks! Does the additional workload involve more papers, more reading, more long-term projects?

All of the above. Lots of reading, lots of analyzing historical documents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DD is a strong writer and enjoys history too. That said, because so many people say the first year of Magnet life is a hard adjustment in terms of work load for many, we are encouraging her to take Honors not AP US history, to give her a better chance of enjoying this first year and not being too overwhelmed. If she ends up being a kid that gets homework done in 2 instead of 4 hours, then all she has lost is one AP class. On the other hand, if the year is really hard and she is overwhelmed, I think it could make her miserable an entire year of high school. Not worth it for our family.

Agree. We’re in the same boat. My child originally was set on taking it but we talked about the workload and they decided to go for the honors course instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if it's true but someone was saying over 40 admitted from TPMS and most likely to go. We'll see at the open house.

That would make sense - definitely could see the need for 15 more scions of Moco liberal elite to find solace at Blair Magnet - esp as taxes head north to fix MCPS under the Blueprint for Maryland. No one is tracking on the serious increase in taxes that’s headed Moco’s way but it’s coming Bethesda and Potomac property owners, it’s coming.

As the now deceased senate president Mike Miller - likely one of the best purveyors of legally corrupt tactics in the history of state government said of Moco: their riches are the golden goose egg in Maryland politics.

Oh, FFS, you sure didn't attend any magnet programs yourself, did ya?

Moco 'liberal elite' doesn't send their 'scions' to Blair magnet, their children are all in elite privates. Kids attending Blair magnet are mostly scions of Asan immigrants with advanced degrees.

Ha! Truth. The liberal elite avoid public school. Hypocrites all of them.

I have a kid at Blair, none of her friends are kids of liberal politicians.

So true. Liberal elite only talk about public schools. Send their kids to private. Blair SMAC is full of people who are derogatively called strivers by the liberals. Jokes and politics aside - it can be a really tough place for a kid who doesn't enough math and a super competitive environment.

Anyone who uses the phrase "liberal elites", opinion is disqualified from serious consideration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if it's true but someone was saying over 40 admitted from TPMS and most likely to go. We'll see at the open house.

That would make sense - definitely could see the need for 15 more scions of Moco liberal elite to find solace at Blair Magnet - esp as taxes head north to fix MCPS under the Blueprint for Maryland. No one is tracking on the serious increase in taxes that’s headed Moco’s way but it’s coming Bethesda and Potomac property owners, it’s coming.

As the now deceased senate president Mike Miller - likely one of the best purveyors of legally corrupt tactics in the history of state government said of Moco: their riches are the golden goose egg in Maryland politics.

Oh, FFS, you sure didn't attend any magnet programs yourself, did ya?

Moco 'liberal elite' doesn't send their 'scions' to Blair magnet, their children are all in elite privates. Kids attending Blair magnet are mostly scions of Asan immigrants with advanced degrees.

Ha! Truth. The liberal elite avoid public school. Hypocrites all of them.

I have a kid at Blair, none of her friends are kids of liberal politicians.

So true. Liberal elite only talk about public schools. Send their kids to private. Blair SMAC is full of people who are derogatively called strivers by the liberals. Jokes and politics aside - it can be a really tough place for a kid who doesn't enough math and a super competitive environment.

I am pretty sure those who made these comments are private schools parents and probably don't even live in MoCo.