DCC residents - what are your plans for high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are parents concerned about Kennedy? The journalism track looks interesting from a recent open house, but we don't know anything about the school. Some kids have heard "horror stories" but I don't know what that means. Are these concerns from a long time ago? Or do they still exist?

Given the demographics of DCUM it is possible that everyone's "concerns" stem from the fact that Kennedy is the least white school in the county. I could be wrong though.

Einstein doesn't have many more white people; it still has higher test scores and a much better reputation. The problem with Kennedy is the test scores. I'm sure that there are some very bright, hard-working students there, but there just doesn't seem to be a large cohort. Even white and Asian kids have low average AP and IB scores at Kennedy. Please look at this document:

http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/2017%20AP%20IB%20Course%20Enrollment%20and%20Exam%20Participation%20Performance.pdf

If MCPS wants to turn Kennedy around (and Watkins Mill, which also has low test scores), it would need to add a competitive magnet there. Just as Wheaton is attracting kids who might not be competitive enough for Blair SMAC, maybe there could be a humanities magnet at Kennedy that would be less competitive than CAP?

PS - the previous document has 2017 AP and IB scores for the entire county, broken down by school.

I don't follow. Kennedy has poor test scores. The secret to "turning poor test scores around" is to put a 200 kid selective magnet program and bus in high achievers? How does that turn around the Kennedy school base of poor performers? Where even is Kennedy, Watkind Mill and Wheaton? I came from SE DC and don't know these places.

There would be many benefits to a test-in magnet. It would bring more high-flyers to Kennedy, giving the rest of the student body highly motivated academic peers. Secondly, non-magnet, yet capable, students in the Kennedy catchment area would be more likely to remain inbounds rather than going anywhere else through the lottery. They would see that they could have great classes with motivated peers close to home. Thirdly, local real estate prices would stabilize or go up. Case in point: Poolesville has become quite expensive!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are parents concerned about Kennedy? The journalism track looks interesting from a recent open house, but we don't know anything about the school. Some kids have heard "horror stories" but I don't know what that means. Are these concerns from a long time ago? Or do they still exist?

Given the demographics of DCUM it is possible that everyone's "concerns" stem from the fact that Kennedy is the least white school in the county. I could be wrong though.

Einstein doesn't have many more white people; it still has higher test scores and a much better reputation. The problem with Kennedy is the test scores. I'm sure that there are some very bright, hard-working students there, but there just doesn't seem to be a large cohort. Even white and Asian kids have low average AP and IB scores at Kennedy. Please look at this document:

http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/2017%20AP%20IB%20Course%20Enrollment%20and%20Exam%20Participation%20Performance.pdf

If MCPS wants to turn Kennedy around (and Watkins Mill, which also has low test scores), it would need to add a competitive magnet there. Just as Wheaton is attracting kids who might not be competitive enough for Blair SMAC, maybe there could be a humanities magnet at Kennedy that would be less competitive than CAP?

PS - the previous document has 2017 AP and IB scores for the entire county, broken down by school.

I don't follow. Kennedy has poor test scores. The secret to "turning poor test scores around" is to put a 200 kid selective magnet program and bus in high achievers? How does that turn around the Kennedy school base of poor performers? Where even is Kennedy, Watkind Mill and Wheaton? I came from SE DC and don't know these places.

There would be many benefits to a test-in magnet. It would bring more high-flyers to Kennedy, giving the rest of the student body highly motivated academic peers. Secondly, non-magnet, yet capable, students in the Kennedy catchment area would be more likely to remain inbounds rather than going anywhere else through the lottery. They would see that they could have great classes with motivated peers close to home. Thirdly, local real estate prices would stabilize or go up. Case in point: Poolesville has become quite expensive!

How does this bring up the base of Kennedy students performing poorly?

[Anonymous]

Kennedy could also benefit from a student support program called AVID. Locally, both Northwood and Paint Branch have AVID programs. AVID is an application-only program for middling students who, with support, could become ready for competitive four-year universities. During a comprehensive study period every day, AVID students receive mentoring, coaching in asking active questions in class, training in Cornell notes, and general preparation for college.
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/northwoodhs/departments/avid/index.aspx

[Anonymous]

Those who would benefit from a more vocational track could be encouraged to go to the excellent programs at Edison High School. I would love to see the county create a second Edison so that more students could benefit from classes in auto repair, hospitality, culinary arts, CAD, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kennedy could also benefit from a student support program called AVID. Locally, both Northwood and Paint Branch have AVID programs. AVID is an application-only program for middling students who, with support, could become ready for competitive four-year universities. During a comprehensive study period every day, AVID students receive mentoring, coaching in asking active questions in class, training in Cornell notes, and general preparation for college.
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/northwoodhs/departments/avid/index.aspx

Unfortunately, AVID and IB are mutually exclusive. There simply aren't enough periods in the school day to complete all of the requirements.

[Anonymous]

A lot of good ideas on this page.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of good ideas on this page.

[Anonymous]

To OPs Q:
8th grader headed to Blair magnet next year
Zoned for Blair. Have heard great things about magnet, CAP & regular Blair. Friends going to all 3 next year, all bright kids. Also friends going to Wheaton BioTech/Engineering. Magnet is competitive, but there are more options/seats in application programs than for middle school. Lots of opportunities in DCC.

[Anonymous]

What is the difference between the Wheton engineering/biomed magnet and the regular engineering/biomed academies at the school? Is it just the classmates? Are there classes that only the magnet students can take?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the difference between the Wheton engineering/biomed magnet and the regular engineering/biomed academies at the school? Is it just the classmates? Are there classes that only the magnet students can take?

Wheaton has 2 programs, about 30 students (1 class size each) for each area -- 1 for Biomed, 1 for Engineering. They have core classes that are magnet only. They are intense and hands on. We went to info night, but DC chose Blair. Looks really good, & I hear good things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the difference between the Wheton engineering/biomed magnet and the regular engineering/biomed academies at the school? Is it just the classmates? Are there classes that only the magnet students can take?

Wheaton magnet students take their math, science and engineering/bioscience specialty classes with their magnet cohort. Math for the first two years is magnet precalc that is either the same math offered at Blair Smac or its modeled on it. Magnet science and specialty classes are a little more involved/faster pace than the regular courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry I see bulk of the kids are getting a 1. How embarrassing. Either they don’t care, in which case don’t take the expensive test, or they don’t know much if the material and don’t know how to study.

From your "embarrassing" comments, I'm going to assume you have elementary school kids, who are still years away from taking AP or IB classes. Kids scoring 1s and 2s on AP exams does not mean they didn't benefit from taking the class or exam. This is all preparation to help kids be prepared for and successful in college.

- signed someone who bombed her AP trig exam, and later got an A in trig in college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry I see bulk of the kids are getting a 1. How embarrassing. Either they don’t care, in which case don’t take the expensive test, or they don’t know much if the material and don’t know how to study.

From your "embarrassing" comments, I'm going to assume you have elementary school kids, who are still years away from taking AP or IB classes. Kids scoring 1s and 2s on AP exams does not mean they didn't benefit from taking the class or exam. This is all preparation to help kids be prepared for and successful in college.

- signed someone who bombed her AP trig exam, and later got an A in trig in college

Disagree completely. Yes, if most students are getting 1s and 2s on the AP exam, than either the teaching wasn't good or the students were not ready for that level of class. It's one thing for a few kids to do poorly, but when the bulk of the students are doing poorly than the school needs to look at the root cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry I see bulk of the kids are getting a 1. How embarrassing. Either they don’t care, in which case don’t take the expensive test, or they don’t know much if the material and don’t know how to study.

From your "embarrassing" comments, I'm going to assume you have elementary school kids, who are still years away from taking AP or IB classes. Kids scoring 1s and 2s on AP exams does not mean they didn't benefit from taking the class or exam. This is all preparation to help kids be prepared for and successful in college.

- signed someone who bombed her AP trig exam, and later got an A in trig in college

Disagree completely. Yes, if most students are getting 1s and 2s on the AP exam, than either the teaching wasn't good or the students were not ready for that level of class. It's one thing for a few kids to do poorly, but when the bulk of the students are doing poorly than the school needs to look at the root cause.

What were these kids supposed to do? They reached the level of AP math. There is no high school level calculus, and math is required all 4 years of high school by the state. You have to register for the exams a couple of months before the exam. If it’s free exam for low income kids, what’s the harm in taking it? Taking a cumulative AP exam is a good experience to have before going to college/post HS training where you will encounter cumulative testing.

For whatever reason Kennedy kids are not doing well the calculus exam does not mean the class was a complete waste or that the students are bad.

[Anonymous]

Are the academy cohorts at DCC high schools not as strong as the magnets? Or is there really no such thing as an academy cohort - it's just a track that some kids choose to opt into?