Montgomery County Middle School Magnet Testing

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have information on how testing for the MCPS middle school magnet programs work? I've been combing the MCPS website, but find just general information. My child is currently in a MCPS HGC program and we're zoned for the Eastern and Takoma Park magnets. Specifically:

- When is the test (looks like applications are due in November and test is in December)?
- What kind of test is it? Is it similar to the CogAT like they used for HGC testing?
- Where is the test administered? At the child's home school? At a central location?
- Are there separte tests for the Humanities and STEM magnets? If so, how does that work if you want your child to take both tests?

Also, if your child has attended either the Eastern or Takoma Park magnet and you feel strongly about it (good or bad), I'd love to hear from you. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have information on how testing for the MCPS middle school magnet programs work? I've been combing the MCPS website, but find just general information. My child is currently in a MCPS HGC program and we're zoned for the Eastern and Takoma Park magnets. Specifically:

- When is the test (looks like applications are due in November and test is in December)?
- What kind of test is it? Is it similar to the CogAT like they used for HGC testing?
- Where is the test administered? At the child's home school? At a central location?
- Are there separte tests for the Humanities and STEM magnets? If so, how does that work if you want your child to take both tests?

Also, if your child has attended either the Eastern or Takoma Park magnet and you feel strongly about it (good or bad), I'd love to hear from you. Thanks.

The testing is usually at Takoma MS on a Saturday early in December everything is one day but not all tests are required for each program. Here's an old book, probably nothing will change: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/specialprograms/middle/MSMagnets-TestPrepBooklet.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have information on how testing for the MCPS middle school magnet programs work? I've been combing the MCPS website, but find just general information. My child is currently in a MCPS HGC program and we're zoned for the Eastern and Takoma Park magnets. Specifically:

- When is the test (looks like applications are due in November and test is in December)?
- What kind of test is it? Is it similar to the CogAT like they used for HGC testing?
- Where is the test administered? At the child's home school? At a central location?
- Are there separte tests for the Humanities and STEM magnets? If so, how does that work if you want your child to take both tests?

Also, if your child has attended either the Eastern or Takoma Park magnet and you feel strongly about it (good or bad), I'd love to hear from you. Thanks.

The testing is usually at Takoma MS on a Saturday early in December everything is one day but not all tests are required for each program. Here's an old book, probably nothing will change: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/specialprograms/middle/MSMagnets-TestPrepBooklet.pdf

I heard that the real exam is nothing like the practice exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have information on how testing for the MCPS middle school magnet programs work? I've been combing the MCPS website, but find just general information. My child is currently in a MCPS HGC program and we're zoned for the Eastern and Takoma Park magnets. Specifically:

- When is the test (looks like applications are due in November and test is in December)?
- What kind of test is it? Is it similar to the CogAT like they used for HGC testing?
- Where is the test administered? At the child's home school? At a central location?
- Are there separte tests for the Humanities and STEM magnets? If so, how does that work if you want your child to take both tests?

Also, if your child has attended either the Eastern or Takoma Park magnet and you feel strongly about it (good or bad), I'd love to hear from you. Thanks.

The testing is usually at Takoma MS on a Saturday early in December everything is one day but not all tests are required for each program. Here's an old book, probably nothing will change: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/specialprograms/middle/MSMagnets-TestPrepBooklet.pdf

I heard that the real exam is nothing like the practice exam.

It really isn't a practice exam, just a couple questions to indicate format. But the booklet at least answers a couple of questions about how testing works for the two programs. Everything is also explained at the open houses.

[Anonymous]

My kid went to Eastern. Four years ago and it was a wonderful program, especially the integration of English and social studies. I don't understand why the county doesn't do this all Middle Schools. At middle school age, kids need to get out of the classroom, and learn about the real world. I also liked that Eastern teaches how to write a research paper in grade 7, and how to do research at a the Library of Congress. They also have the kids use and study in the UMCP library and in NYC. My kid became a great researcher during middle school.The only problems were that the math education was not very good and the magnet students were not very diverse. Maybe this has changed? Although my kid got As in math, when she went to private high school, she had to repeat classes because her math education was superficial and lacked rigor. For this reason, and because we wanted more AA kids in the class, we decided to do private middle school for number 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to Eastern. Four years ago and it was a wonderful program, especially the integration of English and social studies. I don't understand why the county doesn't do this all Middle Schools. At middle school age, kids need to get out of the classroom, and learn about the real world. I also liked that Eastern teaches how to write a research paper in grade 7, and how to do research at a the Library of Congress. They also have the kids use and study in the UMCP library and in NYC. My kid became a great researcher during middle school.The only problems were that the math education was not very good and the magnet students were not very diverse. Maybe this has changed? Although my kid got As in math, when she went to private high school, she had to repeat classes because her math education was superficial and lacked rigor. For this reason, and because we wanted more AA kids in the class, we decided to do private middle school for number 2.

Was the math education at the Eastern Magnet different from what your child would have received at her home middle school? I'm trying to figure out if the problem is Eastern-specific or systemic to MoCo middle schools.

[Anonymous]

My dc is about to start at Eastern. We are concerned about the math education, but figured the benefits of the magnet program outweigh any deficits in math (and dh is an engineer so can tutor on math and science at home).

As with every school -- it's not that the curriculum is different from school to school, but teacher ability certainly varies. If the math teachers at Eastern are not great (and I have no way to judge yet) that would be concerning but not surprising.

[Anonymous]

The book is helpful. It says the spacial reasoning section is similar to the Raven test given in second grade, but more advanced. Was that replaced by InView? I'm trying to get a sense of what the questions are like. Are there sample tests to review?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to Eastern. Four years ago and it was a wonderful program, especially the integration of English and social studies. I don't understand why the county doesn't do this all Middle Schools. At middle school age, kids need to get out of the classroom, and learn about the real world. I also liked that Eastern teaches how to write a research paper in grade 7, and how to do research at a the Library of Congress. They also have the kids use and study in the UMCP library and in NYC. My kid became a great researcher during middle school.The only problems were that the math education was not very good and the magnet students were not very diverse. Maybe this has changed? Although my kid got As in math, when she went to private high school, she had to repeat classes because her math education was superficial and lacked rigor. For this reason, and because we wanted more AA kids in the class, we decided to do private middle school for number 2.

The math education is the same as other middle schools, but my child's 6th grade math and science teachers were horrible. I'm not making that statement lightly. She loved her magnet classes, but we are really hoping for better math and science teachers this year.

As for diversity, eastern is much more diverse than the takoma magnet. I have a child who attends that program and the difference in diversity is significant.

Was the math education at the Eastern Magnet different from what your child would have received at her home middle school? I'm trying to figure out if the problem is Eastern-specific or systemic to MoCo middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid went to Eastern. Four years ago and it was a wonderful program, especially the integration of English and social studies. I don't understand why the county doesn't do this all Middle Schools. At middle school age, kids need to get out of the classroom, and learn about the real world. I also liked that Eastern teaches how to write a research paper in grade 7, and how to do research at a the Library of Congress. They also have the kids use and study in the UMCP library and in NYC. My kid became a great researcher during middle school.The only problems were that the math education was not very good and the magnet students were not very diverse. Maybe this has changed? Although my kid got As in math, when she went to private high school, she had to repeat classes because her math education was superficial and lacked rigor. For this reason, and because we wanted more AA kids in the class, we decided to do private middle school for number 2.

The math education is the same as other middle schools, but my child's 6th grade math and science teachers were horrible. I'm not making that statement lightly. She loved her magnet classes, but we are really hoping for better math and science teachers this year.

As for diversity, eastern is much more diverse than the takoma magnet. I have a child who attends that program and the difference in diversity is significant.

Was the math education at the Eastern Magnet different from what your child would have received at her home middle school? I'm trying to figure out if the problem is Eastern-specific or systemic to MoCo middle schools.

My child is going into 7th and also had horrible math and science teachers last year (maybe the same ones as PP's child). I have heard that the Algebra teachers for next year are much better. I don't know about science.

[Anonymous]

Takoma is opposite.
Great technical teachers (Math, science, CS) and TERRIBLE (English, Social Studies.)
There is some improvement in 8th grade...
So If you need well rounded kid, there is no win, win, unless you are willing to spend money and time outside of school.

P.S. Nobody knows what would happen next year due to Study that BOE is going to use...
Magnets may become downgraded with lower or "holistic" approach to provide more diverse kids.
You may be better off to stay in your cluster, if it is strong one and supplement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Takoma is opposite.
Great technical teachers (Math, science, CS) and TERRIBLE (English, Social Studies.)
There is some improvement in 8th grade...
So If you need well rounded kid, there is no win, win, unless you are willing to spend money and time outside of school.

P.S. Nobody knows what would happen next year due to Study that BOE is going to use...
Magnets may become downgraded with lower or "holistic" approach to provide more diverse kids.
You may be better off to stay in your cluster, if it is strong one and supplement.

The death of magnets. It will be a sad day in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

I think the death will come slowly. Initially there will still be lots of interest from high performing kids with a passion for the program. But if the challenge dissipates, families will start to realize the sacrifice for leaving the neighbor is not really worth it. The foundation that support the programs will have less to offer. The teachers will fade away. Till they are just focus programs..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dc is about to start at Eastern. We are concerned about the math education, but figured the benefits of the magnet program outweigh any deficits in math (and dh is an engineer so can tutor on math and science at home).

As with every school -- it's not that the curriculum is different from school to school, but teacher ability certainly varies. If the math teachers at Eastern are not great (and I have no way to judge yet) that would be concerning but not surprising.

No. Same math at Eastern that you would get anywhere. Same range of math teachers - some ok, some so-so. None that I would complain about. You need to make sure your child is slotted into the right 6th grade math (IM) to get to algebra and geometry.

My children went to Eastern's humanities magnet and one went to the Blair Math magnet afterwards. It's no worse than anywhere else. It won't make or break your math 'career'. Just don't use a calculator!

I've never heard of someone complaining that Eastern had a lack of diversity, but there is always a first!

[Anonymous]

Eastern is very diverse, but my son's year there were only two AA boys in the magnet. That is the issue. But that was awhile ago. Has the magnet become more diverse in recent years?