Can someone tell me about MSMC - these middle school magnets?

[Anonymous]

My 4th grader received a letter about an info session on Argyle/Loiederman/Parkland today. Naturally, the electives sounds very interesting. She's an arts girl and Loiederman sounded lovely.

We are currently in a W pyramid, and I don't love the high pressure/entitlement I see.

Any knowledge or experience?

[Anonymous]

Yes, there was a sex scandal at Loiederman recently.

I don't recommend any of these, except perhaps the Parkland one, where the administration at least seems on top of things. The other two seem incompetent, based on their presentations in the fall for 5th grade families. You'll see at the presentation - the level of discourse compared to presentations made in our W school cluster is much lower.

Please don't mistake these schools for real selective magnets (Takoma Park and Eastern), ie with an above-average cohort of students. Entrance to MSMC is by lottery, and like all such MCPS special programs, have been embedded in low-income areas to try to trigger some interest there and reinvigorate the neighborhood.

I'm not saying some individual teachers aren't great. The former head of chorus at Loiederman left a few years ago to found the Strathmore Children's Chorus - he is excellent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 4th grader received a letter about an info session on Argyle/Loiederman/Parkland today. Naturally, the electives sounds very interesting. She's an arts girl and Loiederman sounded lovely.

We are currently in a W pyramid, and I don't love the high pressure/entitlement I see.

Any knowledge or experience?

If your child is in W cluster, she will definitely win "lottery". "Lottery" is not real lottery. Basically any kid from good cluster will be accepted to dilute "weak" cluster.
We had anecdotal lottery to Parkland a year ago, when all kids of our friends from different well -to-do clusters who applied "won" the lottery. That were 3 different families! What a coincidence! We all laughed and did not go.

[Anonymous]

I know kids who are happy at both Loiderman and Parkland...several at Parkland actually. And two of the most DS came from HGCs. Most of the spaces are filled by kids who live there (guaranteed a spot in one of them). Also know several kids who did not get a spot in Parkland. Definitely research beyond DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Most DS should say kids

[Anonymous]

Please do research beyond DCUM. Contrary to popular belief, all of us who live in the MSMC zone aren't low income families with children who are performing below grade level.

[Anonymous]

There was a post a few days ago about performing arts schools in MCPS and people generally had good things to say about Loidierman. Some of this will depend on what your child's artistic interest is and how good your home school is with that interest.

My child's interest is orchestra, and our local middle school has a strong orchestra program, so the drive to Loidierman makes it kind of a wash for us. But if your child's interest is drama or something else, or if your commute would be more reasonable than ours, it might make sense to try the lottery.

[Anonymous]

I know a drama teacher there who enjoys the job and gets to teach much more intensive drama classes there than middle schools usually offer. I also know a child from a W cluster there. And it is also true that the schools have more kids on free lunch and have generally lower standardized test scores than in Bethesda. I would continue to look into it if your child would like it.

[Anonymous]

I would be extremely cautious about Loiderman. I know at least two families who pulled their kids out because of the social environment there - lots of discipline issues. I got the sense that the main problem is the way the school is run. I know lots of families who are very happy with Parkland MS but she might not be as interested in science.
There is a lottery to get in so while the kids who attend are highly motivated and interested in these subjects there is generally a lot of variation in ability. A lot of kids who go to Parkland for example are kids who love science but were unable to get into the Takoma Park magnet.
Have you considered Eastern middle school - the humanities magnet? It is hard to get in and the workload is academically challenging but there are a lot of artistic children in the program. Our child attends and is very happy. The curriculum is excellent and the kids are wonderful. We are also zoned for a "W" school and I prefer the socioeconomic diversity at Eastern.

[Anonymous]

DD is at Loiederman and loves the dance, theater, and chorus opportunities. They do two shows a year, one of which is a musical, two dance performances (more if they get a spot in the dance company), and numerous chorus performances. There are several a capella groups, and one recently performed that national anthem at a Wizards game. I do not have a child in the instrumental music program, so I can't speak to that. If your child loves the arts, they will very likely enjoy the program at Loiederman. DD is not always thrilled with the behavior of some of the other kids, but she has a great group of friends, and the behavior is the same as you would find at any other middle school. She really likes the teachers, and many of the students are truly talented. Some have gotten into Duke Ellington and audition-only dance programs after Loiederman. DD said she would thoroughly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the arts.

[Anonymous]

I teach in one if the feeder elementary schools. They are real magnet programs, they're just open to the whole school. I know that's a crazy concept for "real" magnet program parents to grasp.

According to my students, Loiederman is for girls, Parkland is for nerds, and Argyle is for the cool kids. I think the MSMC is a great concept that allows students to explore their interests and gifts without high pressure. The students are down-to-earth, and no, they're not all FARMs. Although FARMs kids have talents as well. Again, crazy, isnt it?