No more enrichment-level HIGH at our MS?

[Anonymous]

It's the same deal at my son's (different) MS. Everyone is in HIGH and Advanced English. Those are essentially his 2 easiest classes, though the advanced math class he's in (not AIM, they don't have that anymore at our school) is also quite easy. He was selected for the TPMS magnet but we chose not to go (and was in the lottery for both). That being said, he gets some outside enrichment and starting a foreign language this year has been a challenge, so it's OK to not have everything be over the top. Still disappointed with MCPS (for instance if it was better in math, we might have stopped doing RSM for math enrichment.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the same deal at my son's (different) MS. Everyone is in HIGH and Advanced English. Those are essentially his 2 easiest classes, though the advanced math class he's in (not AIM, they don't have that anymore at our school) is also quite easy. He was selected for the TPMS magnet but we chose not to go (and was in the lottery for both). That being said, he gets some outside enrichment and starting a foreign language this year has been a challenge, so it's OK to not have everything be over the top. Still disappointed with MCPS (for instance if it was better in math, we might have stopped doing RSM for math enrichment.)

Which MCPS does your son go to?

For next year, schools are saying the new rule is that kids can only take HIGH when identified by central office, so that should be changing for 6th grade.

It's a huge problem IMO that all students take advanced English. What a joke, especially for kids coming from CES/ELC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at the SSIMS meeting too and what I understood was that they have the advanced placement for Global Humanities, but you have to be placed into it by the county's central office. It's like the very highest math class -- the kids are only assigned to that one by the county. So, maybe these are the magnet eligible students who don't get selected in the lottery?

On Parentvue, my son was recommended for a math class by his current teacher, but nothing else.

This is correct. My son qualified for the MS Magnet lottery both for Math and Language Arts (he was at the Centers for Enriched Studies in 4th and 5th grade), but he was not lucky enough to get the lottery win. He was placed in AIM and HIGH in his home school. He’s in 7th grade now, and I do think that the curriculum for AIM and HIGH is challenging enough for bright kids. Just the past two semesters, they’ve been working on a project for National History Day that teaches them rigorous writing tasks/themes like creating annotated bibliography, Cornell Notes, etc. The project is due on Monday, but my son and his project partner are still working on the final product *sigh*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Historical Inquiry into Global Humanities 6 is listed in the SSIMS bulletin for next year. It is offered at all MCPS middle schools.

Yes, but this used to be an honors/in-depth course for a designated cohort. Now it is an everybody course, which is good in one sense but not great for the kids who really have the curiosity and want more. It is kind of like declaring that everyone would be in the same math course: everyone understands why that doesn't serve students well.

Historical Inquiry into World Studies - non-cohort/not magnet level course

Global Humanities/Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities - cohort (can only be taken if assigned by mcps)/magnet level

Global Humanities is NOT everybody’s course in my son’s MS. I think there is either just one or two classes of Global Humanities.

[Anonymous]

People seem confused because they both start with “historical inquiry.” But they are different classes. By default, everyone is placed in historical inquiry into world studies. This is on-level
social studies. However, central office identifies those who need enrichment and moves them to historical inquiry into global humanities (HIGH). This is a cohorted enriched course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the same deal at my son's (different) MS. Everyone is in HIGH and Advanced English. Those are essentially his 2 easiest classes, though the advanced math class he's in (not AIM, they don't have that anymore at our school) is also quite easy. He was selected for the TPMS magnet but we chose not to go (and was in the lottery for both). That being said, he gets some outside enrichment and starting a foreign language this year has been a challenge, so it's OK to not have everything be over the top. Still disappointed with MCPS (for instance if it was better in math, we might have stopped doing RSM for math enrichment.)

Which MCPS does your son go to?

For next year, schools are saying the new rule is that kids can only take HIGH when identified by central office, so that should be changing for 6th grade.

It's a huge problem IMO that all students take advanced English. What a joke, especially for kids coming from CES/ELC.

My kid went from a regional CES to her home MS and Advanced English was a huge joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People seem confused because they both start with “historical inquiry.” But they are different classes. By default, everyone is placed in historical inquiry into world studies. This is on-level
social studies. However, central office identifies those who need enrichment and moves them to historical inquiry into global humanities (HIGH). This is a cohorted enriched course.

Not at some middle schools, where they only offer HIGH...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People seem confused because they both start with “historical inquiry.” But they are different classes. By default, everyone is placed in historical inquiry into world studies. This is on-level
social studies. However, central office identifies those who need enrichment and moves them to historical inquiry into global humanities (HIGH). This is a cohorted enriched course.

Not at some middle schools, where they only offer HIGH...

And, others don't offer it at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People seem confused because they both start with “historical inquiry.” But they are different classes. By default, everyone is placed in historical inquiry into world studies. This is on-level
social studies. However, central office identifies those who need enrichment and moves them to historical inquiry into global humanities (HIGH). This is a cohorted enriched course.

Not at some middle schools, where they only offer HIGH...

And, others don't offer it at all.

Who doesn't offer HIGH?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People seem confused because they both start with “historical inquiry.” But they are different classes. By default, everyone is placed in historical inquiry into world studies. This is on-level
social studies. However, central office identifies those who need enrichment and moves them to historical inquiry into global humanities (HIGH). This is a cohorted enriched course.

Not at some middle schools, where they only offer HIGH...

And, others don't offer it at all.

Who doesn't offer HIGH?

No one. It took a while, but it has now been rolled out to all schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People seem confused because they both start with “historical inquiry.” But they are different classes. By default, everyone is placed in historical inquiry into world studies. This is on-level
social studies. However, central office identifies those who need enrichment and moves them to historical inquiry into global humanities (HIGH). This is a cohorted enriched course.

Not at some middle schools, where they only offer HIGH...

That is incorrect. Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities (HIGH) is only for students identified by central office as needing enrichment. Historical Inquiry in Global Studies is offered for those who are on-level in all schools. Earlier, people said that SSIMS was offering everyone HIGH, and then that was corrected--everyone there is offered Historical Inquiry in Global Studies unless identified for HIGH by central office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People seem confused because they both start with “historical inquiry.” But they are different classes. By default, everyone is placed in historical inquiry into world studies. This is on-level
social studies. However, central office identifies those who need enrichment and moves them to historical inquiry into global humanities (HIGH). This is a cohorted enriched course.

Not at some middle schools, where they only offer HIGH...

That is incorrect. Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities (HIGH) is only for students identified by central office as needing enrichment. Historical Inquiry in Global Studies is offered for those who are on-level in all schools. Earlier, people said that SSIMS was offering everyone HIGH, and then that was corrected--everyone there is offered Historical Inquiry in Global Studies unless identified for HIGH by central office.

I believe Pyle has every 6th grader take HIGH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the same deal at my son's (different) MS. Everyone is in HIGH and Advanced English. Those are essentially his 2 easiest classes, though the advanced math class he's in (not AIM, they don't have that anymore at our school) is also quite easy. He was selected for the TPMS magnet but we chose not to go (and was in the lottery for both). That being said, he gets some outside enrichment and starting a foreign language this year has been a challenge, so it's OK to not have everything be over the top. Still disappointed with MCPS (for instance if it was better in math, we might have stopped doing RSM for math enrichment.)

Which MCPS does your son go to?

For next year, schools are saying the new rule is that kids can only take HIGH when identified by central office, so that should be changing for 6th grade.

It's a huge problem IMO that all students take advanced English. What a joke, especially for kids coming from CES/ELC.

My kid went from a regional CES to her home MS and Advanced English was a huge joke.

This is currently true at all MCPS MS. They really need to rethink Advanced English. Otherwise, I'm fairly happy with their MS curriculum. FL, HIGH and even AIM were all great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the same deal at my son's (different) MS. Everyone is in HIGH and Advanced English. Those are essentially his 2 easiest classes, though the advanced math class he's in (not AIM, they don't have that anymore at our school) is also quite easy. He was selected for the TPMS magnet but we chose not to go (and was in the lottery for both). That being said, he gets some outside enrichment and starting a foreign language this year has been a challenge, so it's OK to not have everything be over the top. Still disappointed with MCPS (for instance if it was better in math, we might have stopped doing RSM for math enrichment.)

Which MCPS does your son go to?

For next year, schools are saying the new rule is that kids can only take HIGH when identified by central office, so that should be changing for 6th grade.

It's a huge problem IMO that all students take advanced English. What a joke, especially for kids coming from CES/ELC.

My kid went from a regional CES to her home MS and Advanced English was a huge joke.

This is currently true at all MCPS MS. They really need to rethink Advanced English. Otherwise, I'm fairly happy with their MS curriculum. FL, HIGH and even AIM were all great.

My kid started 9th grade this year and definitely was NOT ready for it, as far as Writing goes. The MS English is simply terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the same deal at my son's (different) MS. Everyone is in HIGH and Advanced English. Those are essentially his 2 easiest classes, though the advanced math class he's in (not AIM, they don't have that anymore at our school) is also quite easy. He was selected for the TPMS magnet but we chose not to go (and was in the lottery for both). That being said, he gets some outside enrichment and starting a foreign language this year has been a challenge, so it's OK to not have everything be over the top. Still disappointed with MCPS (for instance if it was better in math, we might have stopped doing RSM for math enrichment.)

Which MCPS does your son go to?

For next year, schools are saying the new rule is that kids can only take HIGH when identified by central office, so that should be changing for 6th grade.

It's a huge problem IMO that all students take advanced English. What a joke, especially for kids coming from CES/ELC.

My kid went from a regional CES to her home MS and Advanced English was a huge joke.

This is currently true at all MCPS MS. They really need to rethink Advanced English. Otherwise, I'm fairly happy with their MS curriculum. FL, HIGH and even AIM were all great.

My kid started 9th grade this year and definitely was NOT ready for it, as far as Writing goes. The MS English is simply terrible.

+1 I've stated it before... MS does nothing to prepare kids for more challenging HS courses. They focus too much on social/emotional learning in MS even as the kids don't give a fig about it. No one pays attention to it.