TPMS?? Magnet and non-magnet questions

[Anonymous]

I'm interested in Takoma Park Middle School for my rising 6th grader. We're hoping to move to MoCo this summer, and this is leading our list of options. But I have a few questions:

1) How many kids are in the magnet program? We wouldn't be applying to that (my kid is more into English/Literature/Writing/Drama than Math/Science), but I'd love to know the numbers so I can play with the data and get a sense of what the non-magnet data might be like.

2) I have heard from a number of people that TPMS does a great job with the "right" kind of kid, but that other kids fall through the cracks. My son's an African American boy with average to slightly above average academic skills, and strong organizational skills and work ethic. He's very social and makes friends easily, but can be shy around adults and is not the most confident student. He's a particularly kind and well behaved child.

3) It seems so big, at least compared to his little elementary school. Do they have anything like advisories or academies or other structures to help it seem manageable, especially to 6th graders.

4) What are the chances for a child to be involved in extra curriculars -- such as drama and sports. My son enjoys these things and he's good but not great.

5) Anything else I should ask?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm interested in Takoma Park Middle School for my rising 6th grader. We're hoping to move to MoCo this summer, and this is leading our list of options. But I have a few questions:

1) How many kids are in the magnet program? We wouldn't be applying to that (my kid is more into English/Literature/Writing/Drama than Math/Science), but I'd love to know the numbers so I can play with the data and get a sense of what the non-magnet data might be like.

2) I have heard from a number of people that TPMS does a great job with the "right" kind of kid, but that other kids fall through the cracks. My son's an African American boy with average to slightly above average academic skills, and strong organizational skills and work ethic. He's very social and makes friends easily, but can be shy around adults and is not the most confident student. He's a particularly kind and well behaved child.

3) It seems so big, at least compared to his little elementary school. Do they have anything like advisories or academies or other structures to help it seem manageable, especially to 6th graders.

4) What are the chances for a child to be involved in extra curriculars -- such as drama and sports. My son enjoys these things and he's good but not great.

5) Anything else I should ask?

Answers for you:

1. I believe that the magnet program admits 125 students each year. There is a preference (or maybe an established number of slots?) for in-boundary students.

2. I can't help you as my child is in the magnet. I don't know anything about the regular program. People seem to be generally happy with it, however.

3. It is a large school, but then, I think most middle schools are. I would talk to the school about this. The magnet program is pretty self-contained, but I don't know how this is handled in the rest of the school.

4. Extra-curriculars - there are lots and lots of great options. My 6th-grader loves all of the possibilities - it's one of the best things about middle school.

5. I would call the school and ask to visit it.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! So, just to make sure I have this right, there are approximately 375 students in the magnet, which leaves about 460 kids in the "regular" program. Does that sound right?

Also, how much of the time are the two groups combined. I assume that PE, arts, lunch, extracurriculars are mixed, but what about foreign language, English, and Social Studies -- are those classes mixed as well?

Thanks again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! So, just to make sure I have this right, there are approximately 375 students in the magnet, which leaves about 460 kids in the "regular" program. Does that sound right?

Also, how much of the time are the two groups combined. I assume that PE, arts, lunch, extracurriculars are mixed, but what about foreign language, English, and Social Studies -- are those classes mixed as well?

Thanks again

That sounds about right.

The two groups are combined for some classes, e.g. the ones you named as well as foreign language, English, and social studies. In practice however the combination doesn't always work, because of scheduling, i.e. the magnet kids are all together for the magnet classes, so for the other classes they likewise wind up together simply because of the logistics.

It's only our first year there, but I will say that (aside from the academics) I'm struck by how well-run the school is. Our son is very happy there, in general.

[Anonymous]

I think possibly only 90 kids are in each magnet class. They may admit 125 but not all of these kids enroll. My kid is there too, and this is what I remember, however I could be wrong about this.

I agree, the principal is fabulous.