Premier Science Magnets in Silver Spring

[Anonymous]

What is the history behind the premier high school science magnet program --Blair and its feeder school--Takoma Park Middle School end up in a corner of the county? Why are they not located in Rockville which is where the seat of government is and is more centrally located to other areas?

[Anonymous]

You can read about the history and context here:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/info/choice/UpdatedHistory-Context.pdf

[Anonymous]

They are efforts at "pull integration". They were highly desirable programs created in high minority schools to which people from all over the county would apply, thus voluntarily integrating those schools to some extent. That is the reason behind the creation of magnets.

Then the magnet academic program was so successful it was replicated at other schools. There are now upcounty equivalents of TPMS, EMS and Blair.

Plus the DCC high schools created a wide variety of application programs, also contributing to pull integration. Thus, the plethora of leadership, medical, enviornmental, etc. programs at other schools in the DCC.

[Anonymous]

Excellent vocational programs at Edison. Our 2 kids loved it.

[Anonymous]

Biomed and engineering magnets also at Wheaton HS.

[Anonymous]

The programs are “magnets” to attract the right kind of kids to attend schools that serve communities that the tidal demographic shifts make unappealing to many upper income individuals. They hoped for cross pollination would allow test scores to prop up the perception gap that keep the middle class away for the areas too. When rich leave the perception of a place drops and then the middle class leave and it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy of decline.

All of that said I don’t think the magnet program did is much to hold off white flight as the run up on close in suburbs over the last 20 years. Middle income whites are being priced out too.

[Anonymous]

Now there are really enough white/Asian/upper middle class to spread around. Also, a lot but not all of the magnets are by lottery not test scores. So, the kids joining may not be a high performing cohort. Test-in has been a bit discouraged since it makes it harder for those of difficult backgrounds to get into the programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now there are really enough white/Asian/upper middle class to spread around. Also, a lot but not all of the magnets are by lottery not test scores. So, the kids joining may not be a high performing cohort. Test-in has been a bit discouraged since it makes it harder for those of difficult backgrounds to get into the programs.

Takoma Park MS, Blair Stem and a Wheaton magnets are application only. Not lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now there are really enough white/Asian/upper middle class to spread around. Also, a lot but not all of the magnets are by lottery not test scores. So, the kids joining may not be a high performing cohort. Test-in has been a bit discouraged since it makes it harder for those of difficult backgrounds to get into the programs.

Takoma Park MS, Blair Stem and a Wheaton magnets are application only. Not lottery.

As is the Richard Montgomery IB program (for 9th grade) and Poolesville HS Stem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the history behind the premier high school science magnet program --Blair and its feeder school--Takoma Park Middle School end up in a corner of the county? Why are they not located in Rockville which is where the seat of government is and is more centrally located to other areas?

Thye seem pretty central to where people live.

[Anonymous]

Here is the bus route to go to Blair. School starts at 7:45. The same buses go to Takoma Park MS. The little kids have to wait at Blair and switch buses to get to Takoma Park. School starts at 8:15 If its raining or snowing they get drenched.

http://beta.mbhs.edu/newsevents/Announcements/BLAIR%20HS%20MAGNET%20ARRIVAL.pdf


The school is absolutely not central to where the children are located. You clearly do not know children attending the magnet program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the history behind the premier high school science magnet program --Blair and its feeder school--Takoma Park Middle School end up in a corner of the county? Why are they not located in Rockville which is where the seat of government is and is more centrally located to other areas?

Thye seem pretty central to where people live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the history behind the premier high school science magnet program --Blair and its feeder school--Takoma Park Middle School end up in a corner of the county? Why are they not located in Rockville which is where the seat of government is and is more centrally located to other areas?

Thye seem pretty central to where people live.

Wrong, they are reverse diversity programs. That is their charter mission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the history behind the premier high school science magnet program --Blair and its feeder school--Takoma Park Middle School end up in a corner of the county? Why are they not located in Rockville which is where the seat of government is and is more centrally located to other areas?

Thye seem pretty central to where people live.

Wrong, they are reverse diversity programs. That is their charter mission.

1-Silver Spring is richer than it was when the magnets were established.
2-The kids who get in to the magnets are mostly white and Asian. They bring high ses to Silver Spring, except it’s already there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is the bus route to go to Blair. School starts at 7:45. The same buses go to Takoma Park MS. The little kids have to wait at Blair and switch buses to get to Takoma Park. School starts at 8:15 If its raining or snowing they get drenched.

http://beta.mbhs.edu/newsevents/Announcements/BLAIR%20HS%20MAGNET%20ARRIVAL.pdf


The school is absolutely not central to where the children are located. You clearly do not know children attending the magnet program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the history behind the premier high school science magnet program --Blair and its feeder school--Takoma Park Middle School end up in a corner of the county? Why are they not located in Rockville which is where the seat of government is and is more centrally located to other areas?

Most people do not call middle schoolers little kids...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is the bus route to go to Blair. School starts at 7:45. The same buses go to Takoma Park MS. The little kids have to wait at Blair and switch buses to get to Takoma Park. School starts at 8:15 If its raining or snowing they get drenched.

http://beta.mbhs.edu/newsevents/Announcements/BLAIR%20HS%20MAGNET%20ARRIVAL.pdf


The school is absolutely not central to where the children are located. You clearly do not know children attending the magnet program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the history behind the premier high school science magnet program --Blair and its feeder school--Takoma Park Middle School end up in a corner of the county? Why are they not located in Rockville which is where the seat of government is and is more centrally located to other areas?

Thye seem pretty central to where people live.

Blair and Takoma Park are actually not that far from one another, there are shelters at the bus stops, and the kids don't wait very long. They also aren't little kids.

But if the bus ride to TPMS doesn't work for you, here are some choices:

1) Don't have your child tested for the middle school magnets;

2) Decline a spot if offered one;

3) Have them take a Ride On bus to Silver Spring or Takoma station and then grab a quick 5 minute bus to TPMS

4) Carpool or drive