Middle school magnet consortium - any good?

[Anonymous]

Information sessions are going on now for 5th grade parents and kids interested in going to Argyle, Loiderman or Parkland MS. I'd like some inside info though: does anyone know what the social atmosphere is like, and whether the standards are good at these middle schools?
Since they are not selective, I assume the level isn't as high as Eastern and Takoma Park magnet schools. Very confusing!

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Well, kids may not have to test in but at least they do have to apply, which demonstrates motivation, which is important.

Our policy in these matters is apply for everything, and then if your name should be called, do your due diligence in deciding if the program is for you.

[Anonymous]

The kids in those three schools all apply to one of them so that is not really true. Additional kids from outside the area apply as a choice from their neighborhood schools.

[Anonymous]

Some anecdotal true evidence:
3 separate kids out of bounds (two from different Ws, one from RM clusters) applied for aerospace program.
All 3 were accepted... Only one from RM cluster went there.

If you are interested and out of bound, you have very high probability to be accepted.

[Anonymous]

We are in the BCC cluster and I know one family who sent all three of their kids to the Aerospace magnet at Parkland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids in those three schools all apply to one of them so that is not really true. Additional kids from outside the area apply as a choice from their neighborhood schools.

I believe "application" involves indicating which schools you prefer. Also, unless within boundary, you have to provide own transportation.

[Anonymous]

Yes you do have to provide transportation..

[Anonymous]

It actually is hard to be accepted but it is a lottery.

My child didn't get in and the letter talked about how great the principal at my child's home MS was (by name). Then said principal was promoted to front office. (My child wound up going to one of the test in magnets).

[Anonymous]

Test in magnets are better academically AND provide transportation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Test in magnets are better academically AND provide transportation.

Yes, and so? Most students don't have the option of going to a test-in magnet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Test in magnets are better academically AND provide transportation.

Yes, and so? Most students don't have the option of going to a test-in magnet.

NP here, but I think PP is providing valuable information. If the test-in magnets are better academically and logistically, that's good information to have because then a family can decide how to allocate their resources (prepping, not prepping, etc.)

[Anonymous]

What is your home ES? The lottery magnets are not a pure lottery. They are specifically trying to diversify the low SES schools they are located at. If you are at a high SES school then you have a much better shot at getting into one of these magnets. I know families at Parkland and Loidermann and both like the programs. I didn't think they were worth the hassle of providing transportation for my kids. They are nothing like the test-in magnets. Really two completely different animals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some anecdotal true evidence:
3 separate kids out of bounds (two from different Ws, one from RM clusters) applied for aerospace program.
All 3 were accepted... Only one from RM cluster went there.

If you are interested and out of bound, you have very high probability to be accepted.

Sorry, but the anecdotal evidence is not helpful in this case.

All in-bound students are accepted to one of the magnets (they "apply" by designating their first, second, and third choices). There is some room left over for out of bound students. They are most likely to go to students from higher income areas in the county.

If you go to the information session they will explain how the "lottery" works. It is not a blind lottery, there are certain factors - such as SES that are taken into account when accepting out-of-bound students. SES is determined by your homeschool demographics, not by your individual family income.

[Anonymous]

I've heard that they stare at the meeting that the leftover spots are more likely to go to students in lower income schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've heard that they stare at the meeting that the leftover spots are more likely to go to students in lower income schools.

You are mistaken. The lottery process for out of bounds students actually favors applicants from more affluent clusters in order to achieve a balance the socioeconomic status of students.

I was really impressed with the student presentations for Parkland and Argyle. Argyle students get to learn the same programming languages as TPMS magnet.