Tell me about Poolesville magnet

[Anonymous]

Poolesville college placement should be similar to Blair, since the educational programming is largely the same (with the exception of Poolesville having GE and Blair having CAP).

[Anonymous]

We have a freshman in the SMACS program. After one week of school here are my impressions.

Teachers are very well organized and the communication from each subject teacher is on point. We are getting daily communication via MyMCPS and Canvas with complete details of assignments etc. Teachers and student body are great and we are thrilled about that.

Commute is long but goes through bucolic meandering roads and against traffic so that is good. It is a looong day for SMACS students who live far from the school. We are around 35 minutes away. Student leaves home at 6:50 am and is back home at 5:20 pm. Study hall or 9th period helps the students in getting some homework done at the school.

Underwhelmed with the school administration and PTA - severely lacking in communication. Boosters seem ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Poolesville college placement should be similar to Blair, since the educational programming is largely the same (with the exception of Poolesville having GE and Blair having CAP).

There are more affluent parents in Blair magnet. Lots of people who are zoned for "W" schools. It shows in the college placements (legacy, connections, affordability). PHS has more donut families in the magnet programs. The vibe at PHS is less pressure cooker though. A supportive and inclusive atmosphere may be an important factor for some.

[Anonymous]

Apply first and wait to see if your child gets in. Competition to get in is fierce and seats are limited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apply first and wait to see if your child gets in. Competition to get in is fierce and seats are limited.

yup

"Sometimes good isn't good enough."

- Suits

Competition is fierce. If you encourage your child to apply, thinking she will get in like that, you'll disappoint her and yourself. Don't put emphasis on it and don't put all of your eggs in one basket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Poolesville college placement should be similar to Blair, since the educational programming is largely the same (with the exception of Poolesville having GE and Blair having CAP).

There are more affluent parents in Blair magnet. Lots of people who are zoned for "W" schools. It shows in the college placements (legacy, connections, affordability). PHS has more donut families in the magnet programs. The vibe at PHS is less pressure cooker though. A supportive and inclusive atmosphere may be an important factor for some.

I am wondering what a doughnut family is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:reviving this thread. We are in DC and looking for where to move for middle and high school outside the city and are totally daunted. Poolesville seems like a great educational opportunity, but am curious about the comments that it's not worth the mega-commute. I haven't been able to find any info about where PHS students go to college. That is of course NOT the only measure of success but I am wondering if it's worth the significant inconvenience to increase kids' chances of getting into some of these magnet programs and also just being a little more removed from the hectic competitiveness of closer in MoCo suburbs.

As far as I know, kids in Poolesville do not have a higher chance of getting into the Poolesville HS magnet programs.

[Anonymous]

Yes they do! If GE is used as an example, about 1/3 come from Clemente magnet, 1/3 from Poolesville Middle School, and then about 1/3 from all other middle schools. My daughter has graduated from GE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:reviving this thread. We are in DC and looking for where to move for middle and high school outside the city and are totally daunted. Poolesville seems like a great educational opportunity, but am curious about the comments that it's not worth the mega-commute. I haven't been able to find any info about where PHS students go to college. That is of course NOT the only measure of success but I am wondering if it's worth the significant inconvenience to increase kids' chances of getting into some of these magnet programs and also just being a little more removed from the hectic competitiveness of closer in MoCo suburbs.

As far as I know, kids in Poolesville do not have a higher chance of getting into the Poolesville HS magnet programs.

Preference is given to those in the immediate community.

I know . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Poolesville college placement should be similar to Blair, since the educational programming is largely the same (with the exception of Poolesville having GE and Blair having CAP).

There are more affluent parents in Blair magnet. Lots of people who are zoned for "W" schools. It shows in the college placements (legacy, connections, affordability). PHS has more donut families in the magnet programs. The vibe at PHS is less pressure cooker though. A supportive and inclusive atmosphere may be an important factor for some.

I am wondering what a doughnut family is.

Donut-hole families. Not poor enough to get need based scholarship, not rich enough to pay for college easily.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/677665.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes they do! If GE is used as an example, about 1/3 come from Clemente magnet, 1/3 from Poolesville Middle School, and then about 1/3 from all other middle schools. My daughter has graduated from GE.

It is true that many students from Poolesville are in the magnet programs. In many instance the parents of highly gifted children have moved to this area for the schools. GE especially has many area residents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes they do! If GE is used as an example, about 1/3 come from Clemente magnet, 1/3 from Poolesville Middle School, and then about 1/3 from all other middle schools. My daughter has graduated from GE.

It is true that many students from Poolesville are in the magnet programs. In many instance the parents of highly gifted children have moved to this area for the schools. GE especially has many area residents.

"For the schools", meaning Poolesville HS, which houses the upcounty high school test-in magnet programs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes they do! If GE is used as an example, about 1/3 come from Clemente magnet, 1/3 from Poolesville Middle School, and then about 1/3 from all other middle schools. My daughter has graduated from GE.

It is true that many students from Poolesville are in the magnet programs. In many instance the parents of highly gifted children have moved to this area for the schools. GE especially has many area residents.

"For the schools", meaning Poolesville HS, which houses the upcounty high school test-in magnet programs?

Yes. I stand corrected. For the three magnet programs in PHS.

I am sure some people also like the rural setting/farms etc. It is an extremely small and rural town with very limited infrastructure. If the magnet program in MCPS continues, it has the scope of becoming another MoCo suburban neighborhood. However, the way MCPS is handling the magnet programs, I think it will be a disaster for anyone to move there based on MCPS performance or the hope that the magnet programs will continue. Go there if you find a ridiculously inexpensive house, or you like to farm, or you like the rural setting.

There was a time when real estate in Poolesville was cheap. It was not a financial burden to move there. Now real estate prices have gone up, driven by PHS magnet programs. Bethesda it ain't. Looking at the shape MCPS and magnet programs are, it will be foolish to sink your money there. MoCo needs to do more to develop that area while retaining the natural and historical elements of that community. That's not going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes. I stand corrected. For the three magnet programs in PHS.

I am sure some people also like the rural setting/farms etc. It is an extremely small and rural town with very limited infrastructure. If the magnet program in MCPS continues, it has the scope of becoming another MoCo suburban neighborhood. However, the way MCPS is handling the magnet programs, I think it will be a disaster for anyone to move there based on MCPS performance or the hope that the magnet programs will continue. Go there if you find a ridiculously inexpensive house, or you like to farm, or you like the rural setting.

There was a time when real estate in Poolesville was cheap. It was not a financial burden to move there. Now real estate prices have gone up, driven by PHS magnet programs. Bethesda it ain't. Looking at the shape MCPS and magnet programs are, it will be foolish to sink your money there. MoCo needs to do more to develop that area while retaining the natural and historical elements of that community. That's not going to happen.

Poolesville is an incorporated municipality. They make their own planning and land use decisions.

Real estate prices in Poolesville have gone up because the builders are building McMansions -- which, since they're in Poolesville, may cost somewhat less than McMansions closer to DC.

https://www.kettlerforlineshomes.com/the-reserve-at-brightwell-crossing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes. I stand corrected. For the three magnet programs in PHS.

I am sure some people also like the rural setting/farms etc. It is an extremely small and rural town with very limited infrastructure. If the magnet program in MCPS continues, it has the scope of becoming another MoCo suburban neighborhood. However, the way MCPS is handling the magnet programs, I think it will be a disaster for anyone to move there based on MCPS performance or the hope that the magnet programs will continue. Go there if you find a ridiculously inexpensive house, or you like to farm, or you like the rural setting.

There was a time when real estate in Poolesville was cheap. It was not a financial burden to move there. Now real estate prices have gone up, driven by PHS magnet programs. Bethesda it ain't. Looking at the shape MCPS and magnet programs are, it will be foolish to sink your money there. MoCo needs to do more to develop that area while retaining the natural and historical elements of that community. That's not going to happen.

Poolesville is an incorporated municipality. They make their own planning and land use decisions.

Real estate prices in Poolesville have gone up because the builders are building McMansions -- which, since they're in Poolesville, may cost somewhat less than McMansions closer to DC.

https://www.kettlerforlineshomes.com/the-reserve-at-brightwell-crossing

Research cancer issue from a few years back. YOu should be able to google...