What are the real facts about MCPS inequities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As far as athletics at a W school, I am often in sticker shock as to what parents are expected to pay so our child can participate on a team and the range of expense per sport. Cheer was about $500 with uniforms, bows, shoes, etc. Football was $350 but that included pregame meals but didn’t include equipment costs that were an additional $200. Banquet tickets were always extra and were usually $100 per parent.

We do have a small portion of section 8 families in our school, so I often wonder if they feel discouraged to participate because of the high cost to participate.

My DC was in the selective All-County Chorus. Students were instructed to wear their choral "uniforms" from their home school. I have to admit - I was impressed that the male Whitman singers wore tails! I don't begrudge them this, but I am sure that they are expensive and not economically accessible to students from many other MCPS schools. I loved hearing our students sing together, however.

In the choral arts, I did notice a difference in the choral arts. I believe that Whitman has 5 different choral groups. My DCC school has 2, with one of them really struggling to find members (despite having an excellent teacher). My belief is that a 'W' school simply has more families who value the arts/ make time for the arts/ can afford private instruction in the arts (at least, choral arts). Whitman even has a scholarship fund for its singers who can't afford private voice lessons.

Here is the link to the Whitman Tux with Tails: https://www.uniformalwearhouse.com/mens_comfort_poly_tailcoat_package

I suspect this too as the majority of the students our child goes to orchestra with are from W schools and its a huge financial and time commitment between the required weekly private lessons and orchestra. No idea how much we really spend but its probably thousands.

Enter Woodward with performing arts magnet. Those types of high-end programs should be available to everyone in the county.

I don't think Woodward has yet been designated a performing arts magnet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W schools may have more money from boosters and some nicer things for athletics (but it is becoming more even), but take a look at the Wheaton High School matriculation list this year and any jealousy might disappear (it’s pretty amazing — CalTech, a couple MITs, Harvard, Stanford, Harvey Mudd, Swathmore and many more. It is an impressive list).

Super Jealous of Wheaton by looking at the few kids who made it though one can totally overlook the 50% FARMS rate, poor test scores, almost unmeasurable AP participation rate (2%),high dropout and suspension rate. It's a Gem

Wheaton has a new building, two excellent STEM magnets, and an AP participation rate much higher than 2%.

Yes. For Wheaton's class of '21, 61% took at least one AP exam.

Wheaton also had only 84.4% graduation rate and 10.3% dropout. And yes, only 63.2% met Maryland College entrance requirements. (and it's 76.6% FARMS, not 50%).

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04782.pdf

Blair has similar stats. 62.9% college ready, 86.1% graduation rate, and an 8.8% dropout rate.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04757.pdf

I would cite both schools as examples of what happens when you have an overachiever group or "haves" mixed in with kids that don't see a future in learning Calculus and the have not's. Having brainiac magnet kids doesn't help the 40% aren't even going to make it into college, nor did it help the 10% that check out of school altogether.

This is where MCPS fails the kids. They push the only-college mantra versus trade programs (technical schools, trade schools, small business programs, etc.) for that 40% so at least a kid can make a living. If State social programs had kicked in back in Elementary School, maybe the kids would have a chance, but by Middle School it's a declining academic path for many of them.

Actually, the magnet idea has worked. Some kids attending very elite colleges from Wheaton (HYPS and equivalent) were not in the magnet. They either chose Wheaton in lottery or it was their home school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W schools may have more money from boosters and some nicer things for athletics (but it is becoming more even), but take a look at the Wheaton High School matriculation list this year and any jealousy might disappear (it’s pretty amazing — CalTech, a couple MITs, Harvard, Stanford, Harvey Mudd, Swathmore and many more. It is an impressive list).

Super Jealous of Wheaton by looking at the few kids who made it though one can totally overlook the 50% FARMS rate, poor test scores, almost unmeasurable AP participation rate (2%),high dropout and suspension rate. It's a Gem

The AP participation rate at Wheaton High School is 63%

Participation is not the same as passing. Of 425 graduates, 203 graduates (47.8%) achieved a passing score on AP (3+) or IB (4+). Only 71.8% took the SAT (which likely means that 28.2% of the students may not even be applying to colleges).

Even Blair is only at 52% passing (and the only reason it's that high is due to the magnet program there).

If you compare Wheaton and Blair with other High Schools, they achieve about the same AP/IB passing rates of graduating students as Quince Orchard HS.

Whitman 84.0
Wootton 78.4
Churchill 77.9
Poolesville 76.2
BCC 69.6
RM 67.0
QO 55.3
Magruder 46.7

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04757.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04602.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04427.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04234.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04201.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04406.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04125.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04152.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04510.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Staff salaries are the same from school to school. Facilities are obviously in a wide range of conditions across the county, and there are examples of run-down schools in wealthier areas and brand-new schools in less wealthy areas, and vice versa.

Sadly the academic programs in these schools widely differ as well which is what concerns to most parents.

One example of differing academics involves foreign language. My child at an ECC high school has a choice of taking Spanish and French, while some W schools offer half of dozen langauges, ranging from Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, Latin, Farsi, Japanese, to American Sign Language.

I've seen comments on this forum saying there just isn't enough interest in the ECC and DCC to have a lot of languages, but I do wish that students at all schools had the opportunity to take any of the languages offered in MCPS, possibly through some sort of centralized program. This is true of some AP courses, as well.

What is ECC?

Likely a typo or auto-correct but guessing they meant DCC.

Nah, they said ECC and DCC. I'm guessing Northeast County Consortium. NCC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W schools may have more money from boosters and some nicer things for athletics (but it is becoming more even), but take a look at the Wheaton High School matriculation list this year and any jealousy might disappear (it’s pretty amazing — CalTech, a couple MITs, Harvard, Stanford, Harvey Mudd, Swathmore and many more. It is an impressive list).

Super Jealous of Wheaton by looking at the few kids who made it though one can totally overlook the 50% FARMS rate, poor test scores, almost unmeasurable AP participation rate (2%),high dropout and suspension rate. It's a Gem

The AP participation rate at Wheaton High School is 63%

Participation is not the same as passing. Of 425 graduates, 203 graduates (47.8%) achieved a passing score on AP (3+) or IB (4+). Only 71.8% took the SAT (which likely means that 28.2% of the students may not even be applying to colleges).

Even Blair is only at 52% passing (and the only reason it's that high is due to the magnet program there).

If you compare Wheaton and Blair with other High Schools, they achieve about the same AP/IB passing rates of graduating students as Quince Orchard HS.

Whitman 84.0
Wootton 78.4
Churchill 77.9
Poolesville 76.2
BCC 69.6
RM 67.0
QO 55.3
Magruder 46.7

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04757.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04602.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04427.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04234.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04201.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04406.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04125.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04152.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04510.pdf

DP In a perfect world family income would not determine whether a child goes to college, but it does. I'm not sure why you think it's so terrible to be around kids that aren't going to college. Yes, it's a sign the school might be able to serve those kids better, but the W schools are not doing anything different, they just serve a different population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W schools may have more money from boosters and some nicer things for athletics (but it is becoming more even), but take a look at the Wheaton High School matriculation list this year and any jealousy might disappear (it’s pretty amazing — CalTech, a couple MITs, Harvard, Stanford, Harvey Mudd, Swathmore and many more. It is an impressive list).

Super Jealous of Wheaton by looking at the few kids who made it though one can totally overlook the 50% FARMS rate, poor test scores, almost unmeasurable AP participation rate (2%),high dropout and suspension rate. It's a Gem

The AP participation rate at Wheaton High School is 63%

Participation is not the same as passing. Of 425 graduates, 203 graduates (47.8%) achieved a passing score on AP (3+) or IB (4+). Only 71.8% took the SAT (which likely means that 28.2% of the students may not even be applying to colleges).

Even Blair is only at 52% passing (and the only reason it's that high is due to the magnet program there).

If you compare Wheaton and Blair with other High Schools, they achieve about the same AP/IB passing rates of graduating students as Quince Orchard HS.

Whitman 84.0
Wootton 78.4
Churchill 77.9
Poolesville 76.2
BCC 69.6
RM 67.0
QO 55.3
Magruder 46.7

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04757.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04602.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04427.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04234.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04201.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04406.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04125.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04152.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04510.pdf

DP In a perfect world family income would not determine whether a child goes to college, but it does. I'm not sure why you think it's so terrible to be around kids that aren't going to college. Yes, it's a sign the school might be able to serve those kids better, but the W schools are not doing anything different, they just serve a different population.

But isn't that the whole point of school? To ensure a child has a successful life?

If a kid's parents can't afford college, and they know that, how about a Plan B? Why not Small Business School, business accounting, or a trade, or something that will either start a career or at least position them to earn tuition or land jobs in companies with tuition reimbursement programs? If they're hands-on types, why not teach them 3-D printing / manufacturing, or robot/drone repair, or something to position them for futuristic next-gen labor categories?

If the kids are dropping out of High School at 10% rates, that's a problem. It means that MCPS isn't meeting their needs and interests. If they don't have the money for college, at least give them a life-line. This is what pisses me off about MCPS. They think that redrawing a boundary or dumping them into a different school with rich kids will make a dropout successful. No, it won't. It will just make them check out of school faster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W schools may have more money from boosters and some nicer things for athletics (but it is becoming more even), but take a look at the Wheaton High School matriculation list this year and any jealousy might disappear (it’s pretty amazing — CalTech, a couple MITs, Harvard, Stanford, Harvey Mudd, Swathmore and many more. It is an impressive list).

Super Jealous of Wheaton by looking at the few kids who made it though one can totally overlook the 50% FARMS rate, poor test scores, almost unmeasurable AP participation rate (2%),high dropout and suspension rate. It's a Gem

The AP participation rate at Wheaton High School is 63%

Participation is not the same as passing. Of 425 graduates, 203 graduates (47.8%) achieved a passing score on AP (3+) or IB (4+). Only 71.8% took the SAT (which likely means that 28.2% of the students may not even be applying to colleges).

Even Blair is only at 52% passing (and the only reason it's that high is due to the magnet program there).

If you compare Wheaton and Blair with other High Schools, they achieve about the same AP/IB passing rates of graduating students as Quince Orchard HS.

Whitman 84.0
Wootton 78.4
Churchill 77.9
Poolesville 76.2
BCC 69.6
RM 67.0
QO 55.3
Magruder 46.7

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04757.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04602.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04427.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04234.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04201.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04406.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04125.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04152.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04510.pdf

DP In a perfect world family income would not determine whether a child goes to college, but it does. I'm not sure why you think it's so terrible to be around kids that aren't going to college. Yes, it's a sign the school might be able to serve those kids better, but the W schools are not doing anything different, they just serve a different population.

But isn't that the whole point of school? To ensure a child has a successful life?

If a kid's parents can't afford college, and they know that, how about a Plan B? Why not Small Business School, business accounting, or a trade, or something that will either start a career or at least position them to earn tuition or land jobs in companies with tuition reimbursement programs? If they're hands-on types, why not teach them 3-D printing / manufacturing, or robot/drone repair, or something to position them for futuristic next-gen labor categories?

If the kids are dropping out of High School at 10% rates, that's a problem. It means that MCPS isn't meeting their needs and interests. If they don't have the money for college, at least give them a life-line. This is what pisses me off about MCPS. They think that redrawing a boundary or dumping them into a different school with rich kids will make a dropout successful. No, it won't. It will just make them check out of school faster.

Wheaton literally shares a campus with Edison, which offers career/trade school options. At the same time, having a magnet on site increases the course options and resources for those on a college-prep track. Seems like a good model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W schools may have more money from boosters and some nicer things for athletics (but it is becoming more even), but take a look at the Wheaton High School matriculation list this year and any jealousy might disappear (it’s pretty amazing — CalTech, a couple MITs, Harvard, Stanford, Harvey Mudd, Swathmore and many more. It is an impressive list).

Super Jealous of Wheaton by looking at the few kids who made it though one can totally overlook the 50% FARMS rate, poor test scores, almost unmeasurable AP participation rate (2%),high dropout and suspension rate. It's a Gem

The AP participation rate at Wheaton High School is 63%

Participation is not the same as passing. Of 425 graduates, 203 graduates (47.8%) achieved a passing score on AP (3+) or IB (4+). Only 71.8% took the SAT (which likely means that 28.2% of the students may not even be applying to colleges).

Even Blair is only at 52% passing (and the only reason it's that high is due to the magnet program there).

If you compare Wheaton and Blair with other High Schools, they achieve about the same AP/IB passing rates of graduating students as Quince Orchard HS.

Whitman 84.0
Wootton 78.4
Churchill 77.9
Poolesville 76.2
BCC 69.6
RM 67.0
QO 55.3
Magruder 46.7

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04757.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04602.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04427.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04234.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04201.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04406.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04125.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04152.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04510.pdf

DP In a perfect world family income would not determine whether a child goes to college, but it does. I'm not sure why you think it's so terrible to be around kids that aren't going to college. Yes, it's a sign the school might be able to serve those kids better, but the W schools are not doing anything different, they just serve a different population.

But isn't that the whole point of school? To ensure a child has a successful life?

If a kid's parents can't afford college, and they know that, how about a Plan B? Why not Small Business School, business accounting, or a trade, or something that will either start a career or at least position them to earn tuition or land jobs in companies with tuition reimbursement programs? If they're hands-on types, why not teach them 3-D printing / manufacturing, or robot/drone repair, or something to position them for futuristic next-gen labor categories?

If the kids are dropping out of High School at 10% rates, that's a problem. It means that MCPS isn't meeting their needs and interests. If they don't have the money for college, at least give them a life-line. This is what pisses me off about MCPS. They think that redrawing a boundary or dumping them into a different school with rich kids will make a dropout successful. No, it won't. It will just make them check out of school faster.

No, it means MCPS is meeting the needs of 90% of its students. There is no way in hell for MCPS to meet the needs of 100% of its students if some don't want to, some cannot because of outside factors. This is public schools where they have to accept anybody and everybody.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W schools may have more money from boosters and some nicer things for athletics (but it is becoming more even), but take a look at the Wheaton High School matriculation list this year and any jealousy might disappear (it’s pretty amazing — CalTech, a couple MITs, Harvard, Stanford, Harvey Mudd, Swathmore and many more. It is an impressive list).

Super Jealous of Wheaton by looking at the few kids who made it though one can totally overlook the 50% FARMS rate, poor test scores, almost unmeasurable AP participation rate (2%),high dropout and suspension rate. It's a Gem

The AP participation rate at Wheaton High School is 63%

Participation is not the same as passing. Of 425 graduates, 203 graduates (47.8%) achieved a passing score on AP (3+) or IB (4+). Only 71.8% took the SAT (which likely means that 28.2% of the students may not even be applying to colleges).

Even Blair is only at 52% passing (and the only reason it's that high is due to the magnet program there).

If you compare Wheaton and Blair with other High Schools, they achieve about the same AP/IB passing rates of graduating students as Quince Orchard HS.

Whitman 84.0
Wootton 78.4
Churchill 77.9
Poolesville 76.2
BCC 69.6
RM 67.0
QO 55.3
Magruder 46.7

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04757.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04602.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04427.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04234.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04201.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04406.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04125.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04152.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04510.pdf

DP In a perfect world family income would not determine whether a child goes to college, but it does. I'm not sure why you think it's so terrible to be around kids that aren't going to college. Yes, it's a sign the school might be able to serve those kids better, but the W schools are not doing anything different, they just serve a different population.

But isn't that the whole point of school? To ensure a child has a successful life?

If a kid's parents can't afford college, and they know that, how about a Plan B? Why not Small Business School, business accounting, or a trade, or something that will either start a career or at least position them to earn tuition or land jobs in companies with tuition reimbursement programs? If they're hands-on types, why not teach them 3-D printing / manufacturing, or robot/drone repair, or something to position them for futuristic next-gen labor categories?

If the kids are dropping out of High School at 10% rates, that's a problem. It means that MCPS isn't meeting their needs and interests. If they don't have the money for college, at least give them a life-line. This is what pisses me off about MCPS. They think that redrawing a boundary or dumping them into a different school with rich kids will make a dropout successful. No, it won't. It will just make them check out of school faster.

PP here - I don't disagree with you that MCPS could serve those students better. But I'm always perplexed by folks like you who on the one hand:

1. Insist that W schools are better for YOUR child
2. Reject the idea that poor kids could benefit from going to wealthier schools

It's really obvious you just hate poor kids and want them to fail, to punish their parents whom you see as neglectful (not that you've ever met any of these families).

In fact it's the rich kids that are going to be fine either way and the poor kids that have a lot to gain from balancing demographics a little more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W schools may have more money from boosters and some nicer things for athletics (but it is becoming more even), but take a look at the Wheaton High School matriculation list this year and any jealousy might disappear (it’s pretty amazing — CalTech, a couple MITs, Harvard, Stanford, Harvey Mudd, Swathmore and many more. It is an impressive list).

Super Jealous of Wheaton by looking at the few kids who made it though one can totally overlook the 50% FARMS rate, poor test scores, almost unmeasurable AP participation rate (2%),high dropout and suspension rate. It's a Gem

Wheaton has a new building, two excellent STEM magnets, and an AP participation rate much higher than 2%.

Yes. For Wheaton's class of '21, 61% took at least one AP exam.

Wheaton also had only 84.4% graduation rate and 10.3% dropout. And yes, only 63.2% met Maryland College entrance requirements. (and it's 76.6% FARMS, not 50%).

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04782.pdf

Blair has similar stats. 62.9% college ready, 86.1% graduation rate, and an 8.8% dropout rate.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04757.pdf

I would cite both schools as examples of what happens when you have an overachiever group or "haves" mixed in with kids that don't see a future in learning Calculus and the have not's. Having brainiac magnet kids doesn't help the 40% aren't even going to make it into college, nor did it help the 10% that check out of school altogether.

This is where MCPS fails the kids. They push the only-college mantra versus trade programs (technical schools, trade schools, small business programs, etc.) for that 40% so at least a kid can make a living. If State social programs had kicked in back in Elementary School, maybe the kids would have a chance, but by Middle School it's a declining academic path for many of them.

Actually, the magnet idea has worked. Some kids attending very elite colleges from Wheaton (HYPS and equivalent) were not in the magnet. They either chose Wheaton in lottery or it was their home school.

Agree the previous poster is misguided. Not all kids are destined for HYPS schools, nor is that a measure of success for everyone. I don't know why some people insist that we need to embrace this one size fits all view of education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W schools may have more money from boosters and some nicer things for athletics (but it is becoming more even), but take a look at the Wheaton High School matriculation list this year and any jealousy might disappear (it’s pretty amazing — CalTech, a couple MITs, Harvard, Stanford, Harvey Mudd, Swathmore and many more. It is an impressive list).

Super Jealous of Wheaton by looking at the few kids who made it though one can totally overlook the 50% FARMS rate, poor test scores, almost unmeasurable AP participation rate (2%),high dropout and suspension rate. It's a Gem

Wheaton has a new building, two excellent STEM magnets, and an AP participation rate much higher than 2%.

Yes. For Wheaton's class of '21, 61% took at least one AP exam.

Wheaton also had only 84.4% graduation rate and 10.3% dropout. And yes, only 63.2% met Maryland College entrance requirements. (and it's 76.6% FARMS, not 50%).

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04782.pdf

Blair has similar stats. 62.9% college ready, 86.1% graduation rate, and an 8.8% dropout rate.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04757.pdf

I would cite both schools as examples of what happens when you have an overachiever group or "haves" mixed in with kids that don't see a future in learning Calculus and the have not's. Having brainiac magnet kids doesn't help the 40% aren't even going to make it into college, nor did it help the 10% that check out of school altogether.

This is where MCPS fails the kids. They push the only-college mantra versus trade programs (technical schools, trade schools, small business programs, etc.) for that 40% so at least a kid can make a living. If State social programs had kicked in back in Elementary School, maybe the kids would have a chance, but by Middle School it's a declining academic path for many of them.

Actually, the magnet idea has worked. Some kids attending very elite colleges from Wheaton (HYPS and equivalent) were not in the magnet. They either chose Wheaton in lottery or it was their home school.

not many, stop pretending that is the defining charter of that school body. Look at the college perp levels of Wheaton, most kids don't even go to college let alone elite ones. Its a below avg student outcome school that spends its money on pulling a few motivated kids out of the local culture of mediocracy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:W schools may have more money from boosters and some nicer things for athletics (but it is becoming more even), but take a look at the Wheaton High School matriculation list this year and any jealousy might disappear (it’s pretty amazing — CalTech, a couple MITs, Harvard, Stanford, Harvey Mudd, Swathmore and many more. It is an impressive list).

Super Jealous of Wheaton by looking at the few kids who made it though one can totally overlook the 50% FARMS rate, poor test scores, almost unmeasurable AP participation rate (2%),high dropout and suspension rate. It's a Gem

The AP participation rate at Wheaton High School is 63%

Participation is not the same as passing. Of 425 graduates, 203 graduates (47.8%) achieved a passing score on AP (3+) or IB (4+). Only 71.8% took the SAT (which likely means that 28.2% of the students may not even be applying to colleges).

Even Blair is only at 52% passing (and the only reason it's that high is due to the magnet program there).

If you compare Wheaton and Blair with other High Schools, they achieve about the same AP/IB passing rates of graduating students as Quince Orchard HS.

Whitman 84.0
Wootton 78.4
Churchill 77.9
Poolesville 76.2
BCC 69.6
RM 67.0
QO 55.3
Magruder 46.7

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04757.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04602.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04427.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04234.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04201.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04406.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04125.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04152.pdf
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04510.pdf

DP In a perfect world family income would not determine whether a child goes to college, but it does. I'm not sure why you think it's so terrible to be around kids that aren't going to college. Yes, it's a sign the school might be able to serve those kids better, but the W schools are not doing anything different, they just serve a different population.

It's too bad we can't deeper stats on this. I remember seeing the average SAT by cohort for these schools a while ago and saw that Blair was 60+ over any W for white students which only 25-30 were magnet students of 270 kids that took the SAT. One poster even crunched the numbers and found that even factoring for those students the average SAT was still 30 points above any W for the same cohort. Anyway, this makes me wonder how meaningful these conclusions really are because they're just looking at bulk averages without factoring for SES differences.

[Anonymous]

This forum is obsessed with wealth. Kids at super wealthy schools - not in this DMV area - from my experience, often don't care about grades and are more concerned about partying and drugs.

It does not take money to study and get good grades. Have never understood this as an excuse for schools that perform poorly. Really it's the parents and the school environment and peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This forum is obsessed with wealth. Kids at super wealthy schools - not in this DMV area - from my experience, often don't care about grades and are more concerned about partying and drugs.

It does not take money to study and get good grades. Have never understood this as an excuse for schools that perform poorly. Really it's the parents and the school environment and peers.

Every statistical study that looks at wealth and education disagrees with what you've written

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This forum is obsessed with wealth. Kids at super wealthy schools - not in this DMV area - from my experience, often don't care about grades and are more concerned about partying and drugs.

It does not take money to study and get good grades. Have never understood this as an excuse for schools that perform poorly. Really it's the parents and the school environment and peers.

Every statistical study that looks at wealth and education disagrees with what you've written

and that is why americans are known around the world for their poor quality schools