Magnet application result High School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is really disappointed. With good grades, 100% on all and high MAP scores 99 percentile, not even got into 1 and wait pooled for 2. My kid definitely knows kids who got in definitely have very very low MAP scores and have even got B's. This make it very sad for the hard working child and feels depressed. DC doesn't want to go to school due to the boastings the other kids do in school. They should look at scores and test in class and the MAP scores if they don't have any administer cogat tests. This is where they do on their own. If it was depending on the essay, for the essays parents or any external sources could have helped too. it is not their original work.
Knowing the type of kids who got in we know for sure it will be hard for them to survive in these programs, even in middle school where grading is easy they could not get good grades. Sometimes my kid is even wondering was there any errors as to why DC was not selected.
Question: If a kid who got in but is not that much suitable for the program and they decide to drop after a year, will they give the open seat to another deserving child in 10th grade or it is gone is gone.

I'm sorry. Your kid is obviously hard working and will be successful no matter where they are. We know two kids who are saying no to Blair and yes to another magnet so maybe your child will get a spot. Just remember that the kid who got in with the Bs didn't steal a spot, they applied and for whatever reason the admission people felt the child could handle the program. The problem is the amount of seats available... Good luck, I'm sorry your child is feeling sad and I hope they get in when spots free up this spring. I don't think they allow entry to the program after 9th grade unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should start about waitlists hearing shortly after the Feb. 17 deadline for responses. A few years ago my child got off the wait list that following week.

There will probably be a second round of wait list invites in March after private schools release results. Then it will slow down and some kids will drop in the summer. We know a bunch of people who got off the lists in August.

Blair SMAC is the most difficult as the yield is high. I heard last year they sent out a notice in the spring saying they were full and no more waitlist admits.

Good luck to your daughter PP!

Thank you, this is really good to hear, will share with my son too, he will be happy. Hope we get to hear some good news the following week after feb 17, will definitely update here. Thank you for all the posters who are providing great support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is really disappointed. With good grades, 100% on all and high MAP scores 99 percentile, not even got into 1 and wait pooled for 2. My kid definitely knows kids who got in definitely have very very low MAP scores and have even got B's. This make it very sad for the hard working child and feels depressed. DC doesn't want to go to school due to the boastings the other kids do in school. They should look at scores and test in class and the MAP scores if they don't have any administer cogat tests. This is where they do on their own. If it was depending on the essay, for the essays parents or any external sources could have helped too. it is not their original work.
Knowing the type of kids who got in we know for sure it will be hard for them to survive in these programs, even in middle school where grading is easy they could not get good grades. Sometimes my kid is even wondering was there any errors as to why DC was not selected.
Question: If a kid who got in but is not that much suitable for the program and they decide to drop after a year, will they give the open seat to another deserving child in 10th grade or it is gone is gone.

I'm sorry. Your kid is obviously hard working and will be successful no matter where they are. We know two kids who are saying no to Blair and yes to another magnet so maybe your child will get a spot. Just remember that the kid who got in with the Bs didn't steal a spot, they applied and for whatever reason the admission people felt the child could handle the program. The problem is the amount of seats available... Good luck, I'm sorry your child is feeling sad and I hope they get in when spots free up this spring. I don't think they allow entry to the program after 9th grade unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is really disappointed. With good grades, 100% on all and high MAP scores 99 percentile, not even got into 1 and wait pooled for 2. My kid definitely knows kids who got in definitely have very very low MAP scores and have even got B's. This make it very sad for the hard working child and feels depressed. DC doesn't want to go to school due to the boastings the other kids do in school. They should look at scores and test in class and the MAP scores if they don't have any administer cogat tests. This is where they do on their own. If it was depending on the essay, for the essays parents or any external sources could have helped too. it is not their original work.
Knowing the type of kids who got in we know for sure it will be hard for them to survive in these programs, even in middle school where grading is easy they could not get good grades. Sometimes my kid is even wondering was there any errors as to why DC was not selected.
Question: If a kid who got in but is not that much suitable for the program and they decide to drop after a year, will they give the open seat to another deserving child in 10th grade or it is gone is gone.

I'm sorry. Your kid is obviously hard working and will be successful no matter where they are. We know two kids who are saying no to Blair and yes to another magnet so maybe your child will get a spot. Just remember that the kid who got in with the Bs didn't steal a spot, they applied and for whatever reason the admission people felt the child could handle the program. The problem is the amount of seats available... Good luck, I'm sorry your child is feeling sad and I hope they get in when spots free up this spring. I don't think they allow entry to the program after 9th grade unfortunately.

So one spot in that class room will get wasted where it can be filled by a deserving kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is really disappointed. With good grades, 100% on all and high MAP scores 99 percentile, not even got into 1 and wait pooled for 2. My kid definitely knows kids who got in definitely have very very low MAP scores and have even got B's. This make it very sad for the hard working child and feels depressed. DC doesn't want to go to school due to the boastings the other kids do in school. They should look at scores and test in class and the MAP scores if they don't have any administer cogat tests. This is where they do on their own. If it was depending on the essay, for the essays parents or any external sources could have helped too. it is not their original work.
Knowing the type of kids who got in we know for sure it will be hard for them to survive in these programs, even in middle school where grading is easy they could not get good grades. Sometimes my kid is even wondering was there any errors as to why DC was not selected.
Question: If a kid who got in but is not that much suitable for the program and they decide to drop after a year, will they give the open seat to another deserving child in 10th grade or it is gone is gone.

I'm sorry. Your kid is obviously hard working and will be successful no matter where they are. We know two kids who are saying no to Blair and yes to another magnet so maybe your child will get a spot. Just remember that the kid who got in with the Bs didn't steal a spot, they applied and for whatever reason the admission people felt the child could handle the program. The problem is the amount of seats available... Good luck, I'm sorry your child is feeling sad and I hope they get in when spots free up this spring. I don't think they allow entry to the program after 9th grade unfortunately.

So one spot in that class room will get wasted where it can be filled by a deserving kid?

I really hope that kid doesn't get to hear stuff like that at school, wow. Somehow the admission thought the child was more deserving of a spot than others. Plus you don't know their actual grades anyway only what an upset child is saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is really disappointed. With good grades, 100% on all and high MAP scores 99 percentile, not even got into 1 and wait pooled for 2. My kid definitely knows kids who got in definitely have very very low MAP scores and have even got B's. This make it very sad for the hard working child and feels depressed. DC doesn't want to go to school due to the boastings the other kids do in school. They should look at scores and test in class and the MAP scores if they don't have any administer cogat tests. This is where they do on their own. If it was depending on the essay, for the essays parents or any external sources could have helped too. it is not their original work.
Knowing the type of kids who got in we know for sure it will be hard for them to survive in these programs, even in middle school where grading is easy they could not get good grades. Sometimes my kid is even wondering was there any errors as to why DC was not selected.
Question: If a kid who got in but is not that much suitable for the program and they decide to drop after a year, will they give the open seat to another deserving child in 10th grade or it is gone is gone.

I'm sorry. Your kid is obviously hard working and will be successful no matter where they are. We know two kids who are saying no to Blair and yes to another magnet so maybe your child will get a spot. Just remember that the kid who got in with the Bs didn't steal a spot, they applied and for whatever reason the admission people felt the child could handle the program. The problem is the amount of seats available... Good luck, I'm sorry your child is feeling sad and I hope they get in when spots free up this spring. I don't think they allow entry to the program after 9th grade unfortunately.

So one spot in that class room will get wasted where it can be filled by a deserving kid?

I really hope that kid doesn't get to hear stuff like that at school, wow. Somehow the admission thought the child was more deserving of a spot than others. Plus you don't know their actual grades anyway only what an upset child is saying.

Not to mention that some programs like SMACS only look at specific subjects like math and science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So much wrong with your post. Not white does not equal immigrant.

Lots of white immigrants too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I think being at TPMS or another magnet middle school makes the process that much harder from a social perspective because there will be a core group going to Blair and practically everyone applied.

My child got in from their regular MS and when they were trying to figure out if any friends got in the response she got most often was what are you talking about. They were paying no attention to the application process. These are top students who are in the cohorted math and history classes.

I'm the OP about social development. Yes that's the point I was trying to make about the magnet middle schools. Of course there's always reshuffling from every level, elementary to M, MS to HS, but the cohort from the magnet middle schools going on to these HS magnet programs is particularly large. I don't know how to explain to my child that they can do very well, as well as their peers, work hard, and they have a different result. And yes, that's the point I was making about the roll out of notifications. It was at the end of the school day and all the kids were talking about, checking their email, etc. When my kid was hearing all of their friends wonderful results, and happy for the, but with nothing themselves, you can imagine what that does for their self image, but also the bigger understanding that all of their friends would get to go on together, and they will be left out.

I agree with PP that likely 500 applicants "deserve" the invitation, and at some point with the vast majority of applications it is splitting hairs. Clearly one of the answers is having more magnet seats, including at the MS level. But this observation is of course not new, and is likely not the direction MCPS will head to in the future with the general hostility nationwide towards gifted and talented education.

I'll admit I'm also biased towards my own experiences in gifted education, which did wonderful things for me as someone coming from a background of poverty. In our school district children were identified as deserving gifted education at the elementary level and those resources were provided to us at every level. There wasn't the faux scarcity of opportunities that there is in MCPS. In elementary the gifted education was done as a pull out class several times during the week. In middle school and high school there were full magnet programs at specific schools that everyone identified as gifted moved through (if they wanted to). So there was none of this bloodbath at every level, competing against one another, we all moved together. I regret my child isn't in a district that provides the accelerated education and gifted learning cohort to every student that needs it or would benefit from it.

Congrats to the folks who 'got in". However, the way it has been handled is an absolute disaster. Making it so public by sending emails to kids in the middle of the week. Very thoughtless.
Completely isolating and disheartening for kids who don't now get to be with their friends even though they did the work and have the grades and scores. I absolutely wish I didn't send my kid to TPMS. Better to be in home school and have a few kids go the magnet rather than be in this situation. I don't know how the rest of the school year is going to unfold. I am frankly worried.

How else are they to handle it? Just give all the slots to the TPMS kids? What are you worried about for the rest of the school year? It is what it is.

Thanks for your opinion.

DP. There are 100 students in TPMS magnet program, and there are 100 slots at Blair SMAC for the ENTIRE Montgomery County. So it's only logical that the county will have to reject certain kids from TPMS, along with hundreds of others from other schools.

Granted, they definitely should have done it in a more thoughtful manner but if you thought your child would be guaranteed a spot at a HS magnet simply by virtue of going to a MS magnet.. well, you probably should have kept them at a home school.

Not the OP on the home school comment, but it's not a matter of going to a magnet HS "simply" because the child went to a magnet MS, but that the records of achievement are nearly identical. And then we get into the ridiculous splitting of hairs, which isn't a real reflection of whether one child should go and not another.

Yep. The previous evaluation system was definitely more comprehensive. The current watered-down system with grades and MAP (which wasn't meant for this purpose) doesn't provide rich enough data to make an informed decision. No one is expecting a guaranteed spot but definitely expecting a more thoughtful evaluation system and process.

I think the problem is that the previous process allowed tremendous room for bias and coaching. Teacher evaluations have been demonstrated to heavily favor white and Asian girls first, then white and Asian boys, and to disfavor other groups. For CES and MS magnets, weighting extracurricular activities confers a significant advantage onto kids whose parents can afford enrichment. It makes sense for HS because there are free opportunities for extracurricular engagement throughout middle school, but having extracurriculars in the mix for 3rd and 5th graders is going to really hurt kids whose parents can pay for private music/chess/computer programming lessons.

It depends on the school. Our ms has no real extracurricular activities and we are on our own.

It also hurts kids with lesser home schools for us without the opportunities. Blair should be down county only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is really disappointed. With good grades, 100% on all and high MAP scores 99 percentile, not even got into 1 and wait pooled for 2. My kid definitely knows kids who got in definitely have very very low MAP scores and have even got B's. This make it very sad for the hard working child and feels depressed. DC doesn't want to go to school due to the boastings the other kids do in school. They should look at scores and test in class and the MAP scores if they don't have any administer cogat tests. This is where they do on their own. If it was depending on the essay, for the essays parents or any external sources could have helped too. it is not their original work.
Knowing the type of kids who got in we know for sure it will be hard for them to survive in these programs, even in middle school where grading is easy they could not get good grades. Sometimes my kid is even wondering was there any errors as to why DC was not selected.
Question: If a kid who got in but is not that much suitable for the program and they decide to drop after a year, will they give the open seat to another deserving child in 10th grade or it is gone is gone.

I'm sorry. Your kid is obviously hard working and will be successful no matter where they are. We know two kids who are saying no to Blair and yes to another magnet so maybe your child will get a spot. Just remember that the kid who got in with the Bs didn't steal a spot, they applied and for whatever reason the admission people felt the child could handle the program. The problem is the amount of seats available... Good luck, I'm sorry your child is feeling sad and I hope they get in when spots free up this spring. I don't think they allow entry to the program after 9th grade unfortunately.

So one spot in that class room will get wasted where it can be filled by a deserving kid?

Unfortunately you can't join in 10th. A lot of the required SMAC coursework comes in the first two years. The classes are completely different from those offered at other high schools, and many of them build on each other. Even classes like Chemistry and Physics, which are offered at every high school, don't have the 1-semester, full-credit option elsewhere.

Also, I know you're disappointed for your kid, but please think about the way you are phrasing this. The "wasted" spot also belonged to a "deserving kid," and while most kids who start at Blair SMAC complete the program, there are any number of reasons why a child might leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is really disappointed. With good grades, 100% on all and high MAP scores 99 percentile, not even got into 1 and wait pooled for 2. My kid definitely knows kids who got in definitely have very very low MAP scores and have even got B's. This make it very sad for the hard working child and feels depressed. DC doesn't want to go to school due to the boastings the other kids do in school. They should look at scores and test in class and the MAP scores if they don't have any administer cogat tests. This is where they do on their own. If it was depending on the essay, for the essays parents or any external sources could have helped too. it is not their original work.
Knowing the type of kids who got in we know for sure it will be hard for them to survive in these programs, even in middle school where grading is easy they could not get good grades. Sometimes my kid is even wondering was there any errors as to why DC was not selected.
Question: If a kid who got in but is not that much suitable for the program and they decide to drop after a year, will they give the open seat to another deserving child in 10th grade or it is gone is gone.

I'm sorry. Your kid is obviously hard working and will be successful no matter where they are. We know two kids who are saying no to Blair and yes to another magnet so maybe your child will get a spot. Just remember that the kid who got in with the Bs didn't steal a spot, they applied and for whatever reason the admission people felt the child could handle the program. The problem is the amount of seats available... Good luck, I'm sorry your child is feeling sad and I hope they get in when spots free up this spring. I don't think they allow entry to the program after 9th grade unfortunately.

So one spot in that class room will get wasted where it can be filled by a deserving kid?

I really hope that kid doesn't get to hear stuff like that at school, wow. Somehow the admission thought the child was more deserving of a spot than others. Plus you don't know their actual grades anyway only what an upset child is saying.

Not to mention that some programs like SMACS only look at specific subjects like math and science.

I think PP was talking about the empty spot if a child leaves the program and there is then an “empty seat” in 10th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is really disappointed. With good grades, 100% on all and high MAP scores 99 percentile, not even got into 1 and wait pooled for 2. My kid definitely knows kids who got in definitely have very very low MAP scores and have even got B's. This make it very sad for the hard working child and feels depressed. DC doesn't want to go to school due to the boastings the other kids do in school. They should look at scores and test in class and the MAP scores if they don't have any administer cogat tests. This is where they do on their own. If it was depending on the essay, for the essays parents or any external sources could have helped too. it is not their original work.
Knowing the type of kids who got in we know for sure it will be hard for them to survive in these programs, even in middle school where grading is easy they could not get good grades. Sometimes my kid is even wondering was there any errors as to why DC was not selected.
Question: If a kid who got in but is not that much suitable for the program and they decide to drop after a year, will they give the open seat to another deserving child in 10th grade or it is gone is gone.

I'm sorry. Your kid is obviously hard working and will be successful no matter where they are. We know two kids who are saying no to Blair and yes to another magnet so maybe your child will get a spot. Just remember that the kid who got in with the Bs didn't steal a spot, they applied and for whatever reason the admission people felt the child could handle the program. The problem is the amount of seats available... Good luck, I'm sorry your child is feeling sad and I hope they get in when spots free up this spring. I don't think they allow entry to the program after 9th grade unfortunately.

So one spot in that class room will get wasted where it can be filled by a deserving kid?

I really hope that kid doesn't get to hear stuff like that at school, wow. Somehow the admission thought the child was more deserving of a spot than others. Plus you don't know their actual grades anyway only what an upset child is saying.

Not to mention that some programs like SMACS only look at specific subjects like math and science.

I think PP was talking about the empty spot if a child leaves the program and there is then an “empty seat” in 10th grade

Oh I hope I misunderstood, I was feeling awful for the child who might hear they shouldn't have been given a spot. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is really disappointed. With good grades, 100% on all and high MAP scores 99 percentile, not even got into 1 and wait pooled for 2. My kid definitely knows kids who got in definitely have very very low MAP scores and have even got B's. This make it very sad for the hard working child and feels depressed. DC doesn't want to go to school due to the boastings the other kids do in school. They should look at scores and test in class and the MAP scores if they don't have any administer cogat tests. This is where they do on their own. If it was depending on the essay, for the essays parents or any external sources could have helped too. it is not their original work.
Knowing the type of kids who got in we know for sure it will be hard for them to survive in these programs, even in middle school where grading is easy they could not get good grades. Sometimes my kid is even wondering was there any errors as to why DC was not selected.
Question: If a kid who got in but is not that much suitable for the program and they decide to drop after a year, will they give the open seat to another deserving child in 10th grade or it is gone is gone.

I'm sorry. Your kid is obviously hard working and will be successful no matter where they are. We know two kids who are saying no to Blair and yes to another magnet so maybe your child will get a spot. Just remember that the kid who got in with the Bs didn't steal a spot, they applied and for whatever reason the admission people felt the child could handle the program. The problem is the amount of seats available... Good luck, I'm sorry your child is feeling sad and I hope they get in when spots free up this spring. I don't think they allow entry to the program after 9th grade unfortunately.

So one spot in that class room will get wasted where it can be filled by a deserving kid?

I really hope that kid doesn't get to hear stuff like that at school, wow. Somehow the admission thought the child was more deserving of a spot than others. Plus you don't know their actual grades anyway only what an upset child is saying.

Not to mention that some programs like SMACS only look at specific subjects like math and science.

I think PP was talking about the empty spot if a child leaves the program and there is then an “empty seat” in 10th grade

yes that is what i meant, if the child drops off in 10th grade, that becomes a wasted spot right, i understand it is because of the prework done, but that is just for SMACS right, how about RM and other programs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is really disappointed. With good grades, 100% on all and high MAP scores 99 percentile, not even got into 1 and wait pooled for 2. My kid definitely knows kids who got in definitely have very very low MAP scores and have even got B's. This make it very sad for the hard working child and feels depressed. DC doesn't want to go to school due to the boastings the other kids do in school. They should look at scores and test in class and the MAP scores if they don't have any administer cogat tests. This is where they do on their own. If it was depending on the essay, for the essays parents or any external sources could have helped too. it is not their original work.
Knowing the type of kids who got in we know for sure it will be hard for them to survive in these programs, even in middle school where grading is easy they could not get good grades. Sometimes my kid is even wondering was there any errors as to why DC was not selected.
Question: If a kid who got in but is not that much suitable for the program and they decide to drop after a year, will they give the open seat to another deserving child in 10th grade or it is gone is gone.

I'm sorry. Your kid is obviously hard working and will be successful no matter where they are. We know two kids who are saying no to Blair and yes to another magnet so maybe your child will get a spot. Just remember that the kid who got in with the Bs didn't steal a spot, they applied and for whatever reason the admission people felt the child could handle the program. The problem is the amount of seats available... Good luck, I'm sorry your child is feeling sad and I hope they get in when spots free up this spring. I don't think they allow entry to the program after 9th grade unfortunately.

So one spot in that class room will get wasted where it can be filled by a deserving kid?

I really hope that kid doesn't get to hear stuff like that at school, wow. Somehow the admission thought the child was more deserving of a spot than others. Plus you don't know their actual grades anyway only what an upset child is saying.

Not to mention that some programs like SMACS only look at specific subjects like math and science.

I think PP was talking about the empty spot if a child leaves the program and there is then an “empty seat” in 10th grade

yes that is what i meant, if the child drops off in 10th grade, that becomes a wasted spot right, i understand it is because of the prework done, but that is just for SMACS right, how about RM and other programs?

Here is the list of programs that students can apply for if they are current 9th-11th graders:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q4B0LGwpmi6pnD68FEmlQeHBLm2EZ6akvsIVyccuAqg/edit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is really disappointed. With good grades, 100% on all and high MAP scores 99 percentile, not even got into 1 and wait pooled for 2. My kid definitely knows kids who got in definitely have very very low MAP scores and have even got B's. This make it very sad for the hard working child and feels depressed. DC doesn't want to go to school due to the boastings the other kids do in school. They should look at scores and test in class and the MAP scores if they don't have any administer cogat tests. This is where they do on their own. If it was depending on the essay, for the essays parents or any external sources could have helped too. it is not their original work.
Knowing the type of kids who got in we know for sure it will be hard for them to survive in these programs, even in middle school where grading is easy they could not get good grades. Sometimes my kid is even wondering was there any errors as to why DC was not selected.
Question: If a kid who got in but is not that much suitable for the program and they decide to drop after a year, will they give the open seat to another deserving child in 10th grade or it is gone is gone.

I'm sorry. Your kid is obviously hard working and will be successful no matter where they are. We know two kids who are saying no to Blair and yes to another magnet so maybe your child will get a spot. Just remember that the kid who got in with the Bs didn't steal a spot, they applied and for whatever reason the admission people felt the child could handle the program. The problem is the amount of seats available... Good luck, I'm sorry your child is feeling sad and I hope they get in when spots free up this spring. I don't think they allow entry to the program after 9th grade unfortunately.

So one spot in that class room will get wasted where it can be filled by a deserving kid?

I really hope that kid doesn't get to hear stuff like that at school, wow. Somehow the admission thought the child was more deserving of a spot than others. Plus you don't know their actual grades anyway only what an upset child is saying.

Not to mention that some programs like SMACS only look at specific subjects like math and science.

I think PP was talking about the empty spot if a child leaves the program and there is then an “empty seat” in 10th grade

yes that is what i meant, if the child drops off in 10th grade, that becomes a wasted spot right, i understand it is because of the prework done, but that is just for SMACS right, how about RM and other programs?

Just wanted to say sorry for misinterpreting your words!

[Anonymous]

1. MCPS is a huge district. It's shameful there aren't many many many more spots for accelerated or advanced programs for students who would benefit.

2. Yes life is unfair. No one is disputing that. But there are ways to create a better functioning system. Just throwing one's hands up and saying life's unfair directs consequences down to the most vulnerable (students) when it should be the responsibility and mission of those with the most power (administrators).

3. The COGAT is an infinitely better test for assessing innate ability. But I've come to understand these magnet programs are not really about innate ability. I'm not saying that as a knock on admitted students, just that the programs are about who excels academically, who is good at working the system. You can have very smart students who get Bs and Cs. Any parent of a child with learning disabilities, ADHD, asbergers, etc knows this. The fact that MCPS is required to identify gifted students, and then does nothing with this information, is telling for what happens at the MS and HS levels.

4. I know for a fact that at least two students at my child's magnet middle school had outside coaching on their essays, and did very well with acceptances to the programs they applied to. Is this ridiculous to get coaching on a 250 word essay? Of course. But again there are so few data points in this assessment process.