Does MCPS MS curriculum alone prepare students for the math/science magnets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think admission is largely based on test scores or else all those kids at Hoover and Cabin John would be getting in but they are not. Based on DC's knowledge - but it's not like kids have surveyed every other kid - it does seem like the minimum of 99th percentile is mostly accurate. But there are many more 99th percentile kids not getting in including half of TPMS magnet.

The test score level varies by school/cluster. Many kids at TPMS magnet presumably score higher than some of the kids who got in from other schools, but MCPS realizes that magnet seats are a scarce resource which many kids can benefit from and so they are distributed approximately by highest test scores per school/cluster.

Other factors come into play like - if a kid is not accepted to a magnet HS, will they have a peer group and access to accelerated instruction at their home school

I hate to break it to you but the non-TPMS kids who got in were also scoring as high or higher than the top echelon of TPMS kids who got in. Many of the top Functions kids are not from TPMS. Kids change a lot from ES to MS to high school. Some probably turned down TPMS for middle school but wanted to go to a magnet for high school. Sorry this does not fit your story.

It amazes me that parents on this board think that they have enough information to make statements like this. If it’s true and they do have that level of detailed info it’s freaking weird that they or their kid has surveyed all their peers on their MAP scores prior to going on to Blair as well as their prior middle school. This also ignores the kids who decided that on reflection there was no reason or benefit in taking functions so they decided against it.

What are you even talking about? Kids talk and are often comparing scores. If your child is coming from Cabin John or Hoover you know who scored high. The class just took map a few weeks ago and kids were comparing at school and many mentioned their previous scores and how much they improved. You sound really put out your kid is not in Functions. This is not to say kids who are not in Functions are stupid. The point was that there are many smart kids in the magnet and they did not all go to TPMS and the kids who did not go to TPMS are not some charity case there for equity. There are also some of them who are Asian!

I get that kids might share scores at their middle school, though the idea that every kid knows every one else’s score is bunk especially at middle schools with hundreds of kids per grade. But the suggestion that any kid knows the MAP scores of most of the kids in their grade at Blair and the school they went to is ludicrous. And btw, my kid is in functions and not only do they not know anyone’s score they don’t share it either. Several of kids friends decided not to take the test for functions because they just weren’t interested, regardless of whether they could have got in. As a parent you are ridiculously over involved to post those claims which at impossible for you to verify.

Magnet parents like you are so rigid in nitpicking at things and missing the point of posts. The point of the post was that there are smart kids with really high scores coming from schools other than TPMS and the idea that TPMS kids who did not get in are better than non-TPMS kids who did get in is just silly.

You and your arrogance are one of the aspects of the magnet that people hate. The admin has been working really hard for as long as my child has been there to put a stop to this superiority complex that TPMS kids start out with and it's clear it's being driven by parents like you. My child is in an older grade and the kids do eventually realize that the top students are a mix of TPMS and non-TPMS kids. FWIW, my child was accepted at TPMS but stayed at their private until HS when they switched to Blair.

You are making a lot of assumptions. I made no statement about which middle school my child attended. Nor did I comment on the larger point you are making. What I commented on was your BS claims about scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think admission is largely based on test scores or else all those kids at Hoover and Cabin John would be getting in but they are not. Based on DC's knowledge - but it's not like kids have surveyed every other kid - it does seem like the minimum of 99th percentile is mostly accurate. But there are many more 99th percentile kids not getting in including half of TPMS magnet.

The test score level varies by school/cluster. Many kids at TPMS magnet presumably score higher than some of the kids who got in from other schools, but MCPS realizes that magnet seats are a scarce resource which many kids can benefit from and so they are distributed approximately by highest test scores per school/cluster.

Other factors come into play like - if a kid is not accepted to a magnet HS, will they have a peer group and access to accelerated instruction at their home school

This was done for racial equity. MCPS didn't like the fact that the HT/Magnet programs were populated mostly by Asians with a handful of white kids. So they decided a scheme that would discriminate against Asian kids but maxing out the number of them that could get into these programs. It was a genius move. It is racist and terrible because tmit doesn't help the best and brightest. But progressives don't care about that. They care about equity which requires discrimination.

Your tinfoil hat is too tight; loosening it up a little bit.

The numbers don't lie. There was a 20% drop in Asian acceptance rates the first year and another 20% the next year. But leftists don't like facts. You prefer lived experience which can be made up to suit your needs.

Of course because more non-Asian students applied, while previously it was mostly prepped Asians.

I know you believe preparation is an aspect of white supremacy but most people appreciate preparation.

+1 nothing wrong with prepping for a test. More students should prep for tests. They might do better.

I guess the ^PP does not believe their kid should prep for any test in school, for SATs, in college. Good luck with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - the main data points that the SMCS selection committee gets nowadays is just MAP-M and courses+grades. They are just looking for students very accelerated in math. You don’t need all the extras to get accepted or to be successful.

20 years ago, the magnets were intended to serve students who didn’t have access to enough advanced programming at their home school. Today, all HS have advanced courses and there are a variety of special programs at many high schools that students from other clusters can attend. For many, the focus of getting into SMCS is misplaced because there are other opportunities that will serve kids equally well.

The median admitted Blair SMACS student MAP is not “very accelerated”. It’s approximately the level of “got an A in Algebra” (fall 8th grade). And half are below median.

Agree my kids were scoring above the median SMACS before ever taking Algebra when they were in 6th grade AIM. I often wonder how they would've done if they had the option to take AIM in 5th like the WPES students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think admission is largely based on test scores or else all those kids at Hoover and Cabin John would be getting in but they are not. Based on DC's knowledge - but it's not like kids have surveyed every other kid - it does seem like the minimum of 99th percentile is mostly accurate. But there are many more 99th percentile kids not getting in including half of TPMS magnet.

The test score level varies by school/cluster. Many kids at TPMS magnet presumably score higher than some of the kids who got in from other schools, but MCPS realizes that magnet seats are a scarce resource which many kids can benefit from and so they are distributed approximately by highest test scores per school/cluster.

Other factors come into play like - if a kid is not accepted to a magnet HS, will they have a peer group and access to accelerated instruction at their home school

I hate to break it to you but the non-TPMS kids who got in were also scoring as high or higher than the top echelon of TPMS kids who got in. Many of the top Functions kids are not from TPMS. Kids change a lot from ES to MS to high school. Some probably turned down TPMS for middle school but wanted to go to a magnet for high school. Sorry this does not fit your story.

It amazes me that parents on this board think that they have enough information to make statements like this. If it’s true and they do have that level of detailed info it’s freaking weird that they or their kid has surveyed all their peers on their MAP scores prior to going on to Blair as well as their prior middle school. This also ignores the kids who decided that on reflection there was no reason or benefit in taking functions so they decided against it.

What are you even talking about? Kids talk and are often comparing scores. If your child is coming from Cabin John or Hoover you know who scored high. The class just took map a few weeks ago and kids were comparing at school and many mentioned their previous scores and how much they improved. You sound really put out your kid is not in Functions. This is not to say kids who are not in Functions are stupid. The point was that there are many smart kids in the magnet and they did not all go to TPMS and the kids who did not go to TPMS are not some charity case there for equity. There are also some of them who are Asian!

I get that kids might share scores at their middle school, though the idea that every kid knows every one else’s score is bunk especially at middle schools with hundreds of kids per grade. But the suggestion that any kid knows the MAP scores of most of the kids in their grade at Blair and the school they went to is ludicrous. And btw, my kid is in functions and not only do they not know anyone’s score they don’t share it either. Several of kids friends decided not to take the test for functions because they just weren’t interested, regardless of whether they could have got in. As a parent you are ridiculously over involved to post those claims which at impossible for you to verify.

Magnet parents like you are so rigid in nitpicking at things and missing the point of posts. The point of the post was that there are smart kids with really high scores coming from schools other than TPMS and the idea that TPMS kids who did not get in are better than non-TPMS kids who did get in is just silly.

You and your arrogance are one of the aspects of the magnet that people hate. The admin has been working really hard for as long as my child has been there to put a stop to this superiority complex that TPMS kids start out with and it's clear it's being driven by parents like you. My child is in an older grade and the kids do eventually realize that the top students are a mix of TPMS and non-TPMS kids. FWIW, my child was accepted at TPMS but stayed at their private until HS when they switched to Blair.

You are making a lot of assumptions. I made no statement about which middle school my child attended. Nor did I comment on the larger point you are making. What I commented on was your BS claims about scores.

Missing the point again. You sound like a really difficult person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As my 8th grader has been working on high school applications and choices, I've been thinking about the math/science magnet programs and wondering about who exactly they serve. I'll say up front that I don't mean this to be whining or complaining about my kid's chances; I'll be happy (and somewhat relieved and not at all surprised) if they end up at our home high school. But I'm curious about whether the MCPS middle school curriculum, on its own and without outside enrichment/activities, are enough to prepare a "highly able learner" for admission to and success in the magnet. If so, that's great. If not, is this reasonable for a taxpayer-funded, public school program?

As an example, my kid goes to an MCPS middle school. Their school has no math team, no science fair, no robotics club, no computer science classes, and no real math/science enrichment opportunities beyond the regular accelerated curriculum (getting through geometry in 8th grade). However, my kid and some of their friends are straight-A students with 99%+ test scores; they are bright, curious, "highly capable", and were in the lottery pool for the MS magnets but didn't get spots. Do kids like this have any chance at admission without having some kind of (privately funded, parent-enabled) extracurricular math or science focused activity? And if they get in, would the standard MCPS curriculum have prepared them enough to be successful, with hard work but with access only to the school-provided resources?

I understand that there are far more qualified students than spaces in the magnet, and the argument that access should be increased. I feel like my question is a little different, though. Are these programs only for those who have gone beyond the standard MCPS curriculum? If so, is that appropriate and fair? I'd love to hear experiences or opinions.

My kids were in the magnet track in MCPS. Actually, the standard non-magnet MCPS curriculum is quite extensive and impressive. However, the schools and teachers are unable to teach the full curriculum to the students because students of all abilities are crammed into one classroom, and so the teachers teach to the lowest ability students.

In short, the problem is not the school and curriculum. The problem is the ability of students and all kinds of social-cultural-economic issues of the families. So, if your kids are covering the full curriculum, and you have done your footwork and have access to curricullum and have textbooks at home, it is easy breezy. Of course, most parents do not have time/inclination/interest/bandwidth to be the driver of their kids education. They are either checked out, ignorant or unable to navigate the confusing MCPS. Even if they want help from MCPS, they are given the runaround. And unfortunately, private schools are no better.

My role as a parent when my children were in non-magnet and magnet schools was to make sure that I helped to cover the curriculum at home and not rely on the school to cover it. As for the Math club, Science Olympiad, Robotics, scholastic clubs - make sure that either your kids were being enriched at home , outside the home/school, and create teams/clubs with other like-minded parents in your community.

It is shameful, hard, terrible...blah, blah, blah. Yes, we know that. However, kids from other countries are not resting on their laurels and they are using the internet to get an education. Also, your ill-educated and under-prepared student will graduate in x number of years from MCPS anyways, so do you have the time to fight MCPS in any meaningful way that helps your kid? Sadly, no.

Further, you may collude with MCPS in the name of equity or whatever and they will gleefully shut down the magnet programs, but, the group that you will help them to target - the high achieving Asian-Americans from MC and LMC homes - will find a way to get their education at home as they are doing now. It will not help your kid. It will also shut down magnet education for other mc and lmc high achievers.

In short - American education system stinks. Most high achievers that do not come from rich families are getting supplemented and are putting in the hours above and beyond school day. You may ask, why do they not home-school? School is helpful for general guideline for education, getting standardized pathways, and socialization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think admission is largely based on test scores or else all those kids at Hoover and Cabin John would be getting in but they are not. Based on DC's knowledge - but it's not like kids have surveyed every other kid - it does seem like the minimum of 99th percentile is mostly accurate. But there are many more 99th percentile kids not getting in including half of TPMS magnet.

The test score level varies by school/cluster. Many kids at TPMS magnet presumably score higher than some of the kids who got in from other schools, but MCPS realizes that magnet seats are a scarce resource which many kids can benefit from and so they are distributed approximately by highest test scores per school/cluster.

Other factors come into play like - if a kid is not accepted to a magnet HS, will they have a peer group and access to accelerated instruction at their home school

I hate to break it to you but the non-TPMS kids who got in were also scoring as high or higher than the top echelon of TPMS kids who got in. Many of the top Functions kids are not from TPMS. Kids change a lot from ES to MS to high school. Some probably turned down TPMS for middle school but wanted to go to a magnet for high school. Sorry this does not fit your story.

It amazes me that parents on this board think that they have enough information to make statements like this. If it’s true and they do have that level of detailed info it’s freaking weird that they or their kid has surveyed all their peers on their MAP scores prior to going on to Blair as well as their prior middle school. This also ignores the kids who decided that on reflection there was no reason or benefit in taking functions so they decided against it.

What are you even talking about? Kids talk and are often comparing scores. If your child is coming from Cabin John or Hoover you know who scored high. The class just took map a few weeks ago and kids were comparing at school and many mentioned their previous scores and how much they improved. You sound really put out your kid is not in Functions. This is not to say kids who are not in Functions are stupid. The point was that there are many smart kids in the magnet and they did not all go to TPMS and the kids who did not go to TPMS are not some charity case there for equity. There are also some of them who are Asian!

I get that kids might share scores at their middle school, though the idea that every kid knows every one else’s score is bunk especially at middle schools with hundreds of kids per grade. But the suggestion that any kid knows the MAP scores of most of the kids in their grade at Blair and the school they went to is ludicrous. And btw, my kid is in functions and not only do they not know anyone’s score they don’t share it either. Several of kids friends decided not to take the test for functions because they just weren’t interested, regardless of whether they could have got in. As a parent you are ridiculously over involved to post those claims which at impossible for you to verify.

Magnet parents like you are so rigid in nitpicking at things and missing the point of posts. The point of the post was that there are smart kids with really high scores coming from schools other than TPMS and the idea that TPMS kids who did not get in are better than non-TPMS kids who did get in is just silly.

You and your arrogance are one of the aspects of the magnet that people hate. The admin has been working really hard for as long as my child has been there to put a stop to this superiority complex that TPMS kids start out with and it's clear it's being driven by parents like you. My child is in an older grade and the kids do eventually realize that the top students are a mix of TPMS and non-TPMS kids. FWIW, my child was accepted at TPMS but stayed at their private until HS when they switched to Blair.

You are making a lot of assumptions. I made no statement about which middle school my child attended. Nor did I comment on the larger point you are making. What I commented on was your BS claims about scores.

Missing the point again. You sound like a really difficult person.

That sounds like something a person might say when being called out for their lies and exaggerations.

[Anonymous]

I hate to break it to you but the non-TPMS kids who got in were also scoring as high or higher than the top echelon of TPMS kids who got in. Many of the top Functions kids are not from TPMS.

Once in a while, there are 1-2 strivers who attended a WPES instead of TPMS that manage to get through functions but it's still pretty rare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think admission is largely based on test scores or else all those kids at Hoover and Cabin John would be getting in but they are not. Based on DC's knowledge - but it's not like kids have surveyed every other kid - it does seem like the minimum of 99th percentile is mostly accurate. But there are many more 99th percentile kids not getting in including half of TPMS magnet.

The test score level varies by school/cluster. Many kids at TPMS magnet presumably score higher than some of the kids who got in from other schools, but MCPS realizes that magnet seats are a scarce resource which many kids can benefit from and so they are distributed approximately by highest test scores per school/cluster.

Other factors come into play like - if a kid is not accepted to a magnet HS, will they have a peer group and access to accelerated instruction at their home school

This was done for racial equity. MCPS didn't like the fact that the HT/Magnet programs were populated mostly by Asians with a handful of white kids. So they decided a scheme that would discriminate against Asian kids but maxing out the number of them that could get into these programs. It was a genius move. It is racist and terrible because tmit doesn't help the best and brightest. But progressives don't care about that. They care about equity which requires discrimination.

"Best and brightest" based on which measures? Being able to afford test prep courses and tons of tutoring?

Question for the equity brigade. Would you rather a heart surgeon who scored well on tests or a heart surgeon who didn't? How about a lawyer who was defending you? If you're honest, you'll say the ones who scored well on tests. But you're leftists so you can't be honest. You have to stick to the script.

I want a surgeon with good hands and a strong sense of ethics about when to operate, not someone who memorized the most mnemonics for metabolic pathways and took the most AP History classes. The gatekeeping of schooling has very little to do with professional skilled performance. These careers aren’t trivia contests.

While testing may not be ideal, its a better way to find the best and brightest than picking kids at random or even worse, chosing based on skin color. You "other ways of knowing" folk are simply illiberal and anti-science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - the main data points that the SMCS selection committee gets nowadays is just MAP-M and courses+grades. They are just looking for students very accelerated in math. You don’t need all the extras to get accepted or to be successful.

20 years ago, the magnets were intended to serve students who didn’t have access to enough advanced programming at their home school. Today, all HS have advanced courses and there are a variety of special programs at many high schools that students from other clusters can attend. For many, the focus of getting into SMCS is misplaced because there are other opportunities that will serve kids equally well.

The median admitted Blair SMACS student MAP is not “very accelerated”. It’s approximately the level of “got an A in Algebra” (fall 8th grade). And half are below median.

Agree my kids were scoring above the median SMACS before ever taking Algebra when they were in 6th grade AIM. I often wonder how they would've done if they had the option to take AIM in 5th like the WPES students.

What is this magical median number?

[Anonymous]

285

quote=Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - the main data points that the SMCS selection committee gets nowadays is just MAP-M and courses+grades. They are just looking for students very accelerated in math. You don’t need all the extras to get accepted or to be successful.

20 years ago, the magnets were intended to serve students who didn’t have access to enough advanced programming at their home school. Today, all HS have advanced courses and there are a variety of special programs at many high schools that students from other clusters can attend. For many, the focus of getting into SMCS is misplaced because there are other opportunities that will serve kids equally well.

The median admitted Blair SMACS student MAP is not “very accelerated”. It’s approximately the level of “got an A in Algebra” (fall 8th grade). And half are below median.

Agree my kids were scoring above the median SMACS before ever taking Algebra when they were in 6th grade AIM. I often wonder how they would've done if they had the option to take AIM in 5th like the WPES students.

What is this magical median number?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think admission is largely based on test scores or else all those kids at Hoover and Cabin John would be getting in but they are not. Based on DC's knowledge - but it's not like kids have surveyed every other kid - it does seem like the minimum of 99th percentile is mostly accurate. But there are many more 99th percentile kids not getting in including half of TPMS magnet.

The test score level varies by school/cluster. Many kids at TPMS magnet presumably score higher than some of the kids who got in from other schools, but MCPS realizes that magnet seats are a scarce resource which many kids can benefit from and so they are distributed approximately by highest test scores per school/cluster.

Other factors come into play like - if a kid is not accepted to a magnet HS, will they have a peer group and access to accelerated instruction at their home school

This was done for racial equity. MCPS didn't like the fact that the HT/Magnet programs were populated mostly by Asians with a handful of white kids. So they decided a scheme that would discriminate against Asian kids but maxing out the number of them that could get into these programs. It was a genius move. It is racist and terrible because tmit doesn't help the best and brightest. But progressives don't care about that. They care about equity which requires discrimination.

Your tinfoil hat is too tight; loosening it up a little bit.

The numbers don't lie. There was a 20% drop in Asian acceptance rates the first year and another 20% the next year. But leftists don't like facts. You prefer lived experience which can be made up to suit your needs.

Of course because more non-Asian students applied, while previously it was mostly prepped Asians.

I know you believe preparation is an aspect of white supremacy but most people appreciate preparation.

You know nothing. I am white.
Know your role.

[Anonymous]

Last year's median score per Coordinator was 285.

Anonymous wrote:OP - the main data points that the SMCS selection committee gets nowadays is just MAP-M and courses+grades. They are just looking for students very accelerated in math. You don’t need all the extras to get accepted or to be successful.

20 years ago, the magnets were intended to serve students who didn’t have access to enough advanced programming at their home school. Today, all HS have advanced courses and there are a variety of special programs at many high schools that students from other clusters can attend. For many, the focus of getting into SMCS is misplaced because there are other opportunities that will serve kids equally well.

The median admitted Blair SMACS student MAP is not “very accelerated”. It’s approximately the level of “got an A in Algebra” (fall 8th grade). And half are below median.

Agree my kids were scoring above the median SMACS before ever taking Algebra when they were in 6th grade AIM. I often wonder how they would've done if they had the option to take AIM in 5th like the WPES students.

What is this magical median number?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think admission is largely based on test scores or else all those kids at Hoover and Cabin John would be getting in but they are not. Based on DC's knowledge - but it's not like kids have surveyed every other kid - it does seem like the minimum of 99th percentile is mostly accurate. But there are many more 99th percentile kids not getting in including half of TPMS magnet.

The test score level varies by school/cluster. Many kids at TPMS magnet presumably score higher than some of the kids who got in from other schools, but MCPS realizes that magnet seats are a scarce resource which many kids can benefit from and so they are distributed approximately by highest test scores per school/cluster.

Other factors come into play like - if a kid is not accepted to a magnet HS, will they have a peer group and access to accelerated instruction at their home school

This was done for racial equity. MCPS didn't like the fact that the HT/Magnet programs were populated mostly by Asians with a handful of white kids. So they decided a scheme that would discriminate against Asian kids but maxing out the number of them that could get into these programs. It was a genius move. It is racist and terrible because tmit doesn't help the best and brightest. But progressives don't care about that. They care about equity which requires discrimination.

Your tinfoil hat is too tight; loosening it up a little bit.

The numbers don't lie. There was a 20% drop in Asian acceptance rates the first year and another 20% the next year. But leftists don't like facts. You prefer lived experience which can be made up to suit your needs.

Of course because more non-Asian students applied, while previously it was mostly prepped Asians.

I know you believe preparation is an aspect of white supremacy but most people appreciate preparation.

You know nothing. I am white.
Know your role.

I'm also white. I was simply quoting the NMAACH's "Aspects and Assumptions of Whiteness" chart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Last year's median score per Coordinator was 285.

Anonymous wrote:OP - the main data points that the SMCS selection committee gets nowadays is just MAP-M and courses+grades. They are just looking for students very accelerated in math. You don’t need all the extras to get accepted or to be successful.

20 years ago, the magnets were intended to serve students who didn’t have access to enough advanced programming at their home school. Today, all HS have advanced courses and there are a variety of special programs at many high schools that students from other clusters can attend. For many, the focus of getting into SMCS is misplaced because there are other opportunities that will serve kids equally well.

The median admitted Blair SMACS student MAP is not “very accelerated”. It’s approximately the level of “got an A in Algebra” (fall 8th grade). And half are below median.

Agree my kids were scoring above the median SMACS before ever taking Algebra when they were in 6th grade AIM. I often wonder how they would've done if they had the option to take AIM in 5th like the WPES students.

What is this magical median number?

The number the magnet coordinator shared for admitted students was 280 not 285. The median for the applicant pool was 255.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Last year's median score per Coordinator was 285.

Anonymous wrote:OP - the main data points that the SMCS selection committee gets nowadays is just MAP-M and courses+grades. They are just looking for students very accelerated in math. You don’t need all the extras to get accepted or to be successful.

20 years ago, the magnets were intended to serve students who didn’t have access to enough advanced programming at their home school. Today, all HS have advanced courses and there are a variety of special programs at many high schools that students from other clusters can attend. For many, the focus of getting into SMCS is misplaced because there are other opportunities that will serve kids equally well.

The median admitted Blair SMACS student MAP is not “very accelerated”. It’s approximately the level of “got an A in Algebra” (fall 8th grade). And half are below median.

Agree my kids were scoring above the median SMACS before ever taking Algebra when they were in 6th grade AIM. I often wonder how they would've done if they had the option to take AIM in 5th like the WPES students.

What is this magical median number?

The number the magnet coordinator shared for admitted students was 280 not 285. The median for the applicant pool was 255.

That's odd since the coordinator just told me recently that it was 285 too.