MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How sad... "If my kid can't have it, you can't have it either" families won the day.

Wow that is an unhinged take.

Maybe... but not wrong.

It is wrong. I understand the concerns that expanding programming isn’t practical. But this is not at all a conspiracy to undermine the educational opportunities available to top students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need a critical mass of highly able students in the same classroom, a good program, and good teachers for this to be successful. Montgomery county benefited from the national awards won by Blair, Poolesville, and RM students, by increased tax revenue for instance. It is simply not possible to achieve the same level of success with regional programs. There won't be enough interested and capable students to justify the same level of classes at the same number of classes. There won't be enough teachers capable of teaching these classes at the same level they are taught today. For all practical purposes, this is the end of a very successful program. Sad.

Totally agree. It’s just impossible to duplicate those highly successful programs across all six regions. Eventually, the so-called magnet programs in each region will become just regular programs with a few advanced classes.

But I guess no one cares.

Please explain what you mean by "highly successful" and why they need to stay at their current locations and not be expanded. Will the current students not do well at other locations?

Different person by the way.

Blair SMCS has courses that are "more advanced," but are actually unique and taught by very skilled teachers. Spreading the program thin into 5 regions would kill it. It would just be an illusion of "expanding opportunity." The program would just end up being like honors for all.

Also, these magnets are successful because they have many highly motivated and high achieving students in 1 program. That is why Blair has consistently been at the top of the nation in terms of academics and competitions. It is also why Blair's students are able to organize clubs and tournaments for the community, like their math tournament, which gets a few hundred participants every year.

.


The program as it existed at Blair 10-20 years ago is dead now as well. With the lottery. It won't exist anymore now. Sad to see losing it but it will be something else, maybe lesser and not just for the 200 kids across the county that got seats. There are 160,000 kids in MCPS, 55k high schoolers. Split into the 6 regions that's just under 10k high schoolers per region. Enough to get a good number of high achieving kids for a regional program with 100 seats. The super super exceptional kids can dual enroll at MC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How sad... "If my kid can't have it, you can't have it either" families won the day.

Wow that is an unhinged take.

Maybe... but not wrong.

dp. I had one kid go through a magnet and one not. I would rather keep the magnets for super high achieving kids than water it down. These magnets are one of the few shining stars in MCPS. Watering it down, and yes, it will get watered down if you try to create six regional programs, will effectively kill that shining star.

Such a shame.

I'm all for creating additional programs, but not getting rid of the county wide magnets that attract the very top achieving students.

OK but where did your other DC go to high school?

Not all high schools currently offer a viable path for the top students; they’re also scrapping the consortia. I think the extent to which top students “need” magnet opportunities varies by home school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How sad... "If my kid can't have it, you can't have it either" families won the day.

Wow that is an unhinged take.

Maybe... but not wrong.

dp. I had one kid go through a magnet and one not. I would rather keep the magnets for super high achieving kids than water it down. These magnets are one of the few shining stars in MCPS. Watering it down, and yes, it will get watered down if you try to create six regional programs, will effectively kill that shining star.

Such a shame.

I'm all for creating additional programs, but not getting rid of the county wide magnets that attract the very top achieving students.

+1. I fully support offering more advanced programs in home schools for high-achieving students, but I also believe we should preserve magnet programs for exceptionally high-performing students—their needs matter too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need a critical mass of highly able students in the same classroom, a good program, and good teachers for this to be successful. Montgomery county benefited from the national awards won by Blair, Poolesville, and RM students, by increased tax revenue for instance. It is simply not possible to achieve the same level of success with regional programs. There won't be enough interested and capable students to justify the same level of classes at the same number of classes. There won't be enough teachers capable of teaching these classes at the same level they are taught today. For all practical purposes, this is the end of a very successful program. Sad.

Totally agree. It’s just impossible to duplicate those highly successful programs across all six regions. Eventually, the so-called magnet programs in each region will become just regular programs with a few advanced classes.

But I guess no one cares.

Please explain what you mean by "highly successful" and why they need to stay at their current locations and not be expanded. Will the current students not do well at other locations?

Different person by the way.

Blair SMCS has courses that are "more advanced," but are actually unique and taught by very skilled teachers. Spreading the program thin into 5 regions would kill it. It would just be an illusion of "expanding opportunity." The program would just end up being like honors for all.

Also, these magnets are successful because they have many highly motivated and high achieving students in 1 program. That is why Blair has consistently been at the top of the nation in terms of academics and competitions. It is also why Blair's students are able to organize clubs and tournaments for the community, like their math tournament, which gets a few hundred participants every year.

.


The program as it existed at Blair 10-20 years ago is dead now as well. With the lottery. It won't exist anymore now. Sad to see losing it but it will be something else, maybe lesser and not just for the 200 kids across the county that got seats. There are 160,000 kids in MCPS, 55k high schoolers. Split into the 6 regions that's just under 10k high schoolers per region. Enough to get a good number of high achieving kids for a regional program with 100 seats. The super super exceptional kids can dual enroll at MC.

Oh, please, if you disagree, please at least get your fact correct. Blair is not by lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How sad... "If my kid can't have it, you can't have it either" families won the day.

Wow that is an unhinged take.

Maybe... but not wrong.

dp. I had one kid go through a magnet and one not. I would rather keep the magnets for super high achieving kids than water it down. These magnets are one of the few shining stars in MCPS. Watering it down, and yes, it will get watered down if you try to create six regional programs, will effectively kill that shining star.

Such a shame.

I'm all for creating additional programs, but not getting rid of the county wide magnets that attract the very top achieving students.

+1. I fully support offering more advanced programs in home schools for high-achieving students, but I also believe we should preserve magnet programs for exceptionally high-performing students—their needs matter too.

I think the school district could offer regional programs AND keep the Blair and {Poolesville magnets and RM's IB programs as ones that can recruit across several regions. If there are so many highly able students, as the school district claims, this shouldn't be a problem.

[Anonymous]

You all can still make a pitch to the BOE to go against the recommendation. New member Laura Stewart is a former RMIB parent so you may want to connect with her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need a critical mass of highly able students in the same classroom, a good program, and good teachers for this to be successful. Montgomery county benefited from the national awards won by Blair, Poolesville, and RM students, by increased tax revenue for instance. It is simply not possible to achieve the same level of success with regional programs. There won't be enough interested and capable students to justify the same level of classes at the same number of classes. There won't be enough teachers capable of teaching these classes at the same level they are taught today. For all practical purposes, this is the end of a very successful program. Sad.

Spot on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is good news for rising 8th graders, assuming it’s true.

“ Beginning with the class of 2031, students would attend programs available in their specific regions.”

It’s good for rising 7th graders not 8th graders.

No it’s good for rising 8th graders as they get the opportunity to attend the existing excellent programs rather than being the first cohort in untested programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need a critical mass of highly able students in the same classroom, a good program, and good teachers for this to be successful. Montgomery county benefited from the national awards won by Blair, Poolesville, and RM students, by increased tax revenue for instance. It is simply not possible to achieve the same level of success with regional programs. There won't be enough interested and capable students to justify the same level of classes at the same number of classes. There won't be enough teachers capable of teaching these classes at the same level they are taught today. For all practical purposes, this is the end of a very successful program. Sad.

Agreed. Taylor will be known as the guy who threw away the most renowned MCPS programs.

Absolutely. What a legacy to have. Does he not understand what he’s throwing out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need a critical mass of highly able students in the same classroom, a good program, and good teachers for this to be successful. Montgomery county benefited from the national awards won by Blair, Poolesville, and RM students, by increased tax revenue for instance. It is simply not possible to achieve the same level of success with regional programs. There won't be enough interested and capable students to justify the same level of classes at the same number of classes. There won't be enough teachers capable of teaching these classes at the same level they are taught today. For all practical purposes, this is the end of a very successful program. Sad.

There is a 1000 students apply for 125 slots at RM, and 800+ for 90 at Poolesville Ecology. It seems we have the students.

Just because you put in an application doesn’t mean you are highly able. Also many of those applicants apply to multiple programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need a critical mass of highly able students in the same classroom, a good program, and good teachers for this to be successful. Montgomery county benefited from the national awards won by Blair, Poolesville, and RM students, by increased tax revenue for instance. It is simply not possible to achieve the same level of success with regional programs. There won't be enough interested and capable students to justify the same level of classes at the same number of classes. There won't be enough teachers capable of teaching these classes at the same level they are taught today. For all practical purposes, this is the end of a very successful program. Sad.

Totally agree. It’s just impossible to duplicate those highly successful programs across all six regions. Eventually, the so-called magnet programs in each region will become just regular programs with a few advanced classes.

But I guess no one cares.

Please explain what you mean by "highly successful" and why they need to stay at their current locations and not be expanded. Will the current students not do well at other locations?

Different person by the way.

Blair SMCS has courses that are "more advanced," but are actually unique and taught by very skilled teachers. Spreading the program thin into 5 regions would kill it. It would just be an illusion of "expanding opportunity." The program would just end up being like honors for all.

Also, these magnets are successful because they have many highly motivated and high achieving students in 1 program. That is why Blair has consistently been at the top of the nation in terms of academics and competitions. It is also why Blair's students are able to organize clubs and tournaments for the community, like their math tournament, which gets a few hundred participants every year.

.


The program as it existed at Blair 10-20 years ago is dead now as well. With the lottery. It won't exist anymore now. Sad to see losing it but it will be something else, maybe lesser and not just for the 200 kids across the county that got seats. There are 160,000 kids in MCPS, 55k high schoolers. Split into the 6 regions that's just under 10k high schoolers per region. Enough to get a good number of high achieving kids for a regional program with 100 seats. The super super exceptional kids can dual enroll at MC.

FFS! What is it with this persistent fallacy? It gets repeated here again and again. THERE IS NO LOTTERY FOR BLAIR MAGNET. Do you get that this time? The Blair magnet (currently) is just as rigorous as it’s ever been.

[Anonymous]

Well the racial divide is going to get way worse this was going to
Happen anyway

History of magnets tell white suburban parents their kids are gifted send them to
Inner city schools with some extra federal funds

Yep Jerry Weast remember him he came from
Charlotte NC he did some great talks on this subject.

[Anonymous]

How about each school has advanced (gifted, whatever you want to call it, but truly advanced) classes so kids at all schools can access rigorous courses if they are ready for the material? Beginning in elementary school so there’s no more of this lottery nonsense where some people get a golden ticket to go to special snowflake magnet programs and other equally eligible students get nothing. I hate all the gate keeping this county does. If anyone is so convinced that their kid needs to go to Blair or Richard Montgomery to access the most advanced classes, and that the only way their kid’s advanced educational abilities and needs can be adequately served is by the county making so few spots available that those few people can feel so special that they got in, those people are delusional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about each school has advanced (gifted, whatever you want to call it, but truly advanced) classes so kids at all schools can access rigorous courses if they are ready for the material? Beginning in elementary school so there’s no more of this lottery nonsense where some people get a golden ticket to go to special snowflake magnet programs and other equally eligible students get nothing. I hate all the gate keeping this county does. If anyone is so convinced that their kid needs to go to Blair or Richard Montgomery to access the most advanced classes, and that the only way their kid’s advanced educational abilities and needs can be adequately served is by the county making so few spots available that those few people can feel so special that they got in, those people are delusional.

The delusional ones are those that claim that “gifted” programs at every school can truly be advanced. Or that there are enough specialized teachers to provide the breadth of advanced classes available at Blair at every school.