"Enriched" Classes for MS have now become the "advanced" water down classes at our MS

[Anonymous]

It appears that our MS (a W-feeder) has decided to offer only AIM or Math 6, essentially taking the cohort rule that central office "promised" where there is an IM, Math 6, and AIM courses available. As a matter of fact, we don't even have a differentiated enriched social studies program. From the presentation, it was clear that all 6th grade kids will be invited .

Honestly, Central Office must think we are fools. They tell us that they will offer these "manget-lite" classes but has no real plan to really keep a cohort. I do not consider the entire 6th grade class the "cohort" that was spoken of.

[Anonymous]

That's OK. Central office is just banking on the W parents to crank up the ACT prep in a couple years and get those AP study guides, tutors, and $20k private college counselors. Oh and make sure you have a travel sport or artsy passion to differentiate yourself.

In the meantime, just shut up so they can keep shoveling resources at ESOL and FARMS and try to get ELA and math proficiency scores over the 50% mark for AA and Hispanics.

[Anonymous]

I’ve seen posts on DCUM saying that several W-feeder MSs taught AIM the same way with IM last year, so not surprised to see this post, except the water down comes way too fast than I would have imagined...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It appears that our MS (a W-feeder) has decided to offer only AIM or Math 6, essentially taking the cohort rule that central office "promised" where there is an IM, Math 6, and AIM courses available. As a matter of fact, we don't even have a differentiated enriched social studies program. From the presentation, it was clear that all 6th grade kids will be invited .

Honestly, Central Office must think we are fools. They tell us that they will offer these "manget-lite" classes but has no real plan to really keep a cohort. I do not consider the entire 6th grade class the "cohort" that was spoken of.

That's what happens when you live in an area where all of the children are above average.

[Anonymous]

How does one get their child into an enriched class when they weren’t recommended for it? Who do you speak with/what do you say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It appears that our MS (a W-feeder) has decided to offer only AIM or Math 6, essentially taking the cohort rule that central office "promised" where there is an IM, Math 6, and AIM courses available. As a matter of fact, we don't even have a differentiated enriched social studies program. From the presentation, it was clear that all 6th grade kids will be invited .

Honestly, Central Office must think we are fools. They tell us that they will offer these "manget-lite" classes but has no real plan to really keep a cohort. I do not consider the entire 6th grade class the "cohort" that was spoken of.

Your principal made that decision, not the central office.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you also saying your middle school has no other enriched class? Our sixth grade has Historical Inquiries into Global Humanities next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you also saying your middle school has no other enriched class? Our sixth grade has Historical Inquiries into Global Humanities next year.

If that's the case I'd be raising hell with central office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It appears that our MS (a W-feeder) has decided to offer only AIM or Math 6, essentially taking the cohort rule that central office "promised" where there is an IM, Math 6, and AIM courses available. As a matter of fact, we don't even have a differentiated enriched social studies program. From the presentation, it was clear that all 6th grade kids will be invited .

Honestly, Central Office must think we are fools. They tell us that they will offer these "manget-lite" classes but has no real plan to really keep a cohort. I do not consider the entire 6th grade class the "cohort" that was spoken of.

Your principal made that decision, not the central office.

Too bad for 7th and 8th graders still limping along with non-enriched curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Op, is your child a true outlier who wasn’t selected for a magnet? Is he or she that above his or her peers?

[Anonymous]

OP here. My point is that kids who did not get admitted into Takoma or Eastern were told there is an "enriched" program at their home middle school for the highly abled cohort. Yes, our middle school is the one that made the decision. It is a Middle School issue because central office made certain decisions but did not provide the proper curriculum for the highly abled kids. The fact that this is the second year into this supposedly "enriched magnet" program, and we are already seeing the MS admitting EVERYTHING student into the "magnet social studies" class underscores the lack of tailoring it to the cohort. For math, all they did is took away the IM and replaced it with the name AIM and then offered Math 6.

MCPS can't speak out both side of their mouths. If they want to bring an enriched program and differentiated it for the highly cohort like they said they would, then do it properly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My point is that kids who did not get admitted into Takoma or Eastern were told there is an "enriched" program at their home middle school for the highly abled cohort. Yes, our middle school is the one that made the decision. It is a Middle School issue because central office made certain decisions but did not provide the proper curriculum for the highly abled kids. The fact that this is the second year into this supposedly "enriched magnet" program, and we are already seeing the MS admitting EVERYTHING student into the "magnet social studies" class underscores the lack of tailoring it to the cohort. For math, all they did is took away the IM and replaced it with the name AIM and then offered Math 6.

MCPS can't speak out both side of their mouths. If they want to bring an enriched program and differentiated it for the highly cohort like they said they would, then do it properly!

Sorry for the typos all, but you get the gist...

[Anonymous]

That’s what I said as soon as they changed the rules to include a “geographic” component to the selection process.

Magnets should only have academic criteria.
But MCPS cares more about reducing the achievement gap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My point is that kids who did not get admitted into Takoma or Eastern were told there is an "enriched" program at their home middle school for the highly abled cohort. Yes, our middle school is the one that made the decision. It is a Middle School issue because central office made certain decisions but did not provide the proper curriculum for the highly abled kids. The fact that this is the second year into this supposedly "enriched magnet" program, and we are already seeing the MS admitting EVERYTHING student into the "magnet social studies" class underscores the lack of tailoring it to the cohort. For math, all they did is took away the IM and replaced it with the name AIM and then offered Math 6.

MCPS can't speak out both side of their mouths. If they want to bring an enriched program and differentiated it for the highly cohort like they said they would, then do it properly!

OTOH as one poster keeps telling us, at least your child does not have to ride a bus to the magnet program /s
Seriously though, I am sorry.
I think the only solution if MCPS is determined to continue with the cohort criteria is to open a set of middle school magnets in the Western part of the county. Perhaps in North Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My point is that kids who did not get admitted into Takoma or Eastern were told there is an "enriched" program at their home middle school for the highly abled cohort. Yes, our middle school is the one that made the decision. It is a Middle School issue because central office made certain decisions but did not provide the proper curriculum for the highly abled kids. The fact that this is the second year into this supposedly "enriched magnet" program, and we are already seeing the MS admitting EVERYTHING student into the "magnet social studies" class underscores the lack of tailoring it to the cohort. For math, all they did is took away the IM and replaced it with the name AIM and then offered Math 6.

MCPS can't speak out both side of their mouths. If they want to bring an enriched program and differentiated it for the highly cohort like they said they would, then do it properly!

OTOH as one poster keeps telling us, at least your child does not have to ride a bus to the magnet program /s
Seriously though, I am sorry.
I think the only solution if MCPS is determined to continue with the cohort criteria is to open a set of middle school magnets in the Western part of the county. Perhaps in North Bethesda.

I think a middle school magnet at N Bethesda would be great as they already have a GT/LD program. Those GT/LD kids are NOT getting any advanced education - just what the school offers all students. They would really benefit from an opportunity to be in advanced class with other GT cohort.