If not all the kids are magnet how is it a whole school magnet? |
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PP are you sure it’s magnet they can take or other advanced classes? My DD who is in magnet has been told that core classes will only have magnet kids in them. |
Huh? ?? No, Poolesville is not a whole magnet school. In-bound kids not in Magnet go there. Where do you think these kids go? |
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They go to their local high school, Poolesville HS, which is a whole-school magnet school. |
Yes, Poolsville is whole magnet school. It tells you in their website. “Whole magnet school “ doesn’t mean exclusive magnet students. There will be a lot of classes where magnet students and non-magnet students can be mixed. |
That makes no sense |
I'm a parent with a Poolesville High School program magnet student and I sort of get why they call it a Whole Magnet School as ~2/3 of the entire student body is magnet. Magnet program kids do mix with local non-magnet students in their non magnet designated classes. For example, SMCs/GE kids do not have a specific English class house requirement and they are mixed with local students who take honors/AP. As a non-magnet kid on the highest non program track- a majority of your classmates will be magnet programs which makes it a little murky. I suppose PHS realizes that colleges will be able to figure this all out. |
Why doesn't it? |
There are quite a few people on this board that don't understand that magnet doesn't equal test-in only. If they would google/educate themselves, they would see that magnet means specialized curriculum not offered at typical public schools. http://magnet.edu/about/what-are-magnet-schools https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnet_school https://www.niche.com/blog/what-is-a-magnet-school/ |
I am Poolesville parent.
For people who do not know how it work. Poolesville has 3 Magnets: Humanites, Sience Math CS (similar to Blair), Ecology. Then there is Independence Study. Humanities - 50 kids admitted by test from out of boundary (upper county), 10 top Poolesville local kids admitted to program based on test - total 60 kids (2 blocks) SMCS - 50 kids admitted by test from out of boundary (upper county), 10 top Poolesville local kids admitted to program based on test - total 60 kids (2 blocks) Ecology - 50 kids admitted by test from out of boundary (upper county), 30-40 top Poolesville local kids admitted to program based on test - total 90 kids (3 blocks) So you have about 60 local kids in real magnets (out of may be 150 local kids per grade) First two years only magnet kids can take magnet classes for a magnet that they enrolled in, except Magnet Math that is open to all capable kids from school. Each Magnet has it's own magnet core classes and block schedule. The rest local kids are in so called Independence Study track (approximately 90 kids per grade). They still can get some certificates. There is also Engineering program (PLY - something like project lead the way.) Starting 11th grade - all students can take all classes as long as they are ready for them. No more block schedule. This is possible, since most Magnet required courses are only in 9-10 grades. The last two years are flexible. Also some students prefer to take AP courses, verses advanced courses if they want to get credit for college. (Student can take advanced classes and take AP exam, but that would require significant self study, since programs are a bit different.) I think opportunity to take all classes in 11-12 and advanced Math is reason they call school total magnet. In reality: less than 5 kids per class are taking Magnet Math. (Usually 2-3 Ecology kid at most.) I know 1-2 Ecology kid takes R&E per class. Probably similar numbers if not less in truly advanced Chemistry, Physics or CS. You can't be successful in them without adequate preparation. If you are interested in details, go to Poolesville website.
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PP - Magnet mom with a high school freshman at Poolesville. Thank You. My DC is not in SMCs but this info his helpful. However- I would make one correction- the acceptance rate from John Poole is 25 percent not 40 percent per the website so fewer students must be local. |