Blind item: Regional criteria "magnets" will be lottery

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taylor specifically said they would not turn away students and that they would not be operating with a scarcity model. Plus, he said there are no caps on seats.

So it sounded like admissions was pretty much going to be an open door and no one would be rejected.

Hah. No cap on admissions means out-of-control transportation costs. They probably have a cap on the number of bus routes they're willing to have per region and they won't enroll a single student more than can fit on those buses.

Yeah but again they assume things. They assume large numbers of kids will ride the buses. But if transportation uses a different model than they’ve done before, they have no idea which families would be able to use the buses. And since they have no sample routes, families can’t even determine whether they’d drive their kids or use the buses or whatnot. Unless they communicate the routes, you can’t really apply/commit unless you know you can provide your own transportation.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I wish they would keep the top countywide programs (Blair/Poolesville math + science, RM IB) in addition to the new programs. Surely they could find funds/seats to do that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I wish they would keep the top countywide programs (Blair/Poolesville math + science, RM IB) in addition to the new programs. Surely they could find funds/seats to do that?

We have some really, really gifted students in this county who will not be well-served by the new programs.

I realize that many parents think their kid is that gifted and deserves those spots, but truly only a rare few are actually that gifted. They also deserve an education that suits them and no MC is not the answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Watkins Mill IB can't be a good as RM IB (unless you make RM worse) because the students there are less capable.

Oh, do tell! What makes Watkins Mill students "less capable" in your mind. This should be fascinating.

Not OP, but it's not less capable as in less than, it's less capable in that RM is the top 1% of the county v Watkins Mill takes top 5-10% it's obviously not the same

Think top 1% in wealth, they are billionaires, v top 5-10% are millionaires. There is a difference

My kid graduated from RMIB. There definitely kids at home schools that are as smart as the RMIB kids. BUT the RMIB is a particular program that requires particular interests and motivation. It's a ton of work. So you need a kid that is really smart, but ALSO basically loves being a grind, AND also loves a lot of reading/writing and philosophizing about reading/writing ("theory of the mind" stuff) AND doesn't mind a lot of bureacracy mandated by apparently someone in Switzerland. Can they fill several schools with those kids? I don't think so. It's a rare bird. I don't really know why they are pushing so many of these schools, and I doubt the demand or success rates will be there. I don't think my kid would have left our home school for a program that was basically watered-down because the kids weren't that into it.

This is also exactly the same feeling from Blair and Poolesville SMCS students/parents. A student can only benefit from these programs only when they are extremely self-motivated, have good time management skills, and being the top few percent in terms of aptitude and knowledge breadth and foundation. Every year there are quite some students in the program struggle and suffer and they'd fit better and gain confidence in their home schools. But parents do not feel the same way. They tend to be always too confident (or pushy in another sense) in believing their kids are the best and omnipotent.

All of this points to water-downed programs in the new regional model. And since the plan is half-baked, it won't work for students in struggling schools just as much as it won't work for anyone else, including highly able students.

It's not going to be watered down. Many highly able students are excluded from these programs due to limited space. MCPS has 150K students, or so, surely there are a few smart ones whose needs aren't met that could benefit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I wish they would keep the top countywide programs (Blair/Poolesville math + science, RM IB) in addition to the new programs. Surely they could find funds/seats to do that?

We have some really, really gifted students in this county who will not be well-served by the new programs.

I realize that many parents think their kid is that gifted and deserves those spots, but truly only a rare few are actually that gifted. They also deserve an education that suits them and no MC is not the answer.

MC has specific criteria for higher level classes and my child was refused admission to MC for those classes. Many kids stay at their home schools as their home schools have AP classes or other things, or transportation is an issue. MCPS needs to put STEM at all schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Watkins Mill IB can't be a good as RM IB (unless you make RM worse) because the students there are less capable.

Oh, do tell! What makes Watkins Mill students "less capable" in your mind. This should be fascinating.

Not OP, but it's not less capable as in less than, it's less capable in that RM is the top 1% of the county v Watkins Mill takes top 5-10% it's obviously not the same

Think top 1% in wealth, they are billionaires, v top 5-10% are millionaires. There is a difference

My kid graduated from RMIB. There definitely kids at home schools that are as smart as the RMIB kids. BUT the RMIB is a particular program that requires particular interests and motivation. It's a ton of work. So you need a kid that is really smart, but ALSO basically loves being a grind, AND also loves a lot of reading/writing and philosophizing about reading/writing ("theory of the mind" stuff) AND doesn't mind a lot of bureacracy mandated by apparently someone in Switzerland. Can they fill several schools with those kids? I don't think so. It's a rare bird. I don't really know why they are pushing so many of these schools, and I doubt the demand or success rates will be there. I don't think my kid would have left our home school for a program that was basically watered-down because the kids weren't that into it.

This is also exactly the same feeling from Blair and Poolesville SMCS students/parents. A student can only benefit from these programs only when they are extremely self-motivated, have good time management skills, and being the top few percent in terms of aptitude and knowledge breadth and foundation. Every year there are quite some students in the program struggle and suffer and they'd fit better and gain confidence in their home schools. But parents do not feel the same way. They tend to be always too confident (or pushy in another sense) in believing their kids are the best and omnipotent.

All of this points to water-downed programs in the new regional model. And since the plan is half-baked, it won't work for students in struggling schools just as much as it won't work for anyone else, including highly able students.

Just because a student isn't in a high rated school, what ever that means doesn't mean they aren't bright, gifted and capable of doing the work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taylor specifically said they would not turn away students and that they would not be operating with a scarcity model. Plus, he said there are no caps on seats.

So it sounded like admissions was pretty much going to be an open door and no one would be rejected.

This is like when they say they are providing transportation. It isn’t actually the full true story. They can’t have unlimited seats for these programs.

The question is about criteria. I actually have no problem if they have as many seats as they need to accommodate all applicants who are as qualified and prepared as the current program students. The issue is when they have so much room or maybe not so much interest that they lower the criteria. Which is how you end up with underperforming programs, like some of the regional IB programs.

Exactly. The question is about criteria. I asked Jennie Franklin last winter during one in-person info session: as you are assigning similar program size, how do you set up the qualification criteria? Student stats and number of students who are interested in STEM will be significantly higher than another region (yes, I'm talking about scenarios like Region 4 vs. Region 5, but I don't want to offend anyone). So do you apply different criteria? Or do you use lottery for the former region? Jennie didn't give me an answer. She hasn't thought about this back then. Applying different criteria is what's CES and MS magnet is doing, and you'll end us with very different student body no matter you then run a lottery or not. This student body will be significantly stronger in academics and more suitable for adapting into the current SMCS curriculum where the future STEM program will most likely be successful.

I agree that stats will be different, but interest? I think you'd be surprised.

This is your guess based on your limited personal experience in your friendship circle. Central office did run a survey last spring to ask you select the top program themes that you'll be interested in. They did presented the ranking, but if I recall correctly, it's not breaking down into different regions nor parents/students/educators. The only purpose of the survey is to showcase that hey, people are interested. And then they run full-speed ahead with the agenda in their mind.

But they didn’t say these programs would be the ONLY way for a child to access high level courses. Why can’t we have good quality regular high schools in every building?

I agree with you totally! Why can't every HS provide high level courses? Why do you have to apply and get accepted into a STEM/humanity program in order to access high level courses? If you apply and you have strong stats and strong interests, and lottery kicks you out?

If you are in a W school, Blair or Wheaton you get stem. If you aren't, too bad.

Somewhere there is a list of higher level courses that will be offered at all schools

Yes, but MVC Mom doesn't consider AP Calc BC to be higher level.

If a child starts Algebra in 6th they can go up to Linear Algebra. Why should they have the same opportunities to make them competitive in STEM? By your logic MVC shouldn't be taught at any schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I wish they would keep the top countywide programs (Blair/Poolesville math + science, RM IB) in addition to the new programs. Surely they could find funds/seats to do that?

Join the petitions:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1317349.page

MCPS parents are doing the due diligence that MCPS refuses to do, and proposing plans that expand access to programs while preserving the miracles that are still successful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taylor specifically said they would not turn away students and that they would not be operating with a scarcity model. Plus, he said there are no caps on seats.

So it sounded like admissions was pretty much going to be an open door and no one would be rejected.

This is like when they say they are providing transportation. It isn’t actually the full true story. They can’t have unlimited seats for these programs.

The question is about criteria. I actually have no problem if they have as many seats as they need to accommodate all applicants who are as qualified and prepared as the current program students. The issue is when they have so much room or maybe not so much interest that they lower the criteria. Which is how you end up with underperforming programs, like some of the regional IB programs.

Exactly. The question is about criteria. I asked Jennie Franklin last winter during one in-person info session: as you are assigning similar program size, how do you set up the qualification criteria? Student stats and number of students who are interested in STEM will be significantly higher than another region (yes, I'm talking about scenarios like Region 4 vs. Region 5, but I don't want to offend anyone). So do you apply different criteria? Or do you use lottery for the former region? Jennie didn't give me an answer. She hasn't thought about this back then. Applying different criteria is what's CES and MS magnet is doing, and you'll end us with very different student body no matter you then run a lottery or not. This student body will be significantly stronger in academics and more suitable for adapting into the current SMCS curriculum where the future STEM program will most likely be successful.

I agree that stats will be different, but interest? I think you'd be surprised.

This is your guess based on your limited personal experience in your friendship circle. Central office did run a survey last spring to ask you select the top program themes that you'll be interested in. They did presented the ranking, but if I recall correctly, it's not breaking down into different regions nor parents/students/educators. The only purpose of the survey is to showcase that hey, people are interested. And then they run full-speed ahead with the agenda in their mind.

But they didn’t say these programs would be the ONLY way for a child to access high level courses. Why can’t we have good quality regular high schools in every building?

I agree with you totally! Why can't every HS provide high level courses? Why do you have to apply and get accepted into a STEM/humanity program in order to access high level courses? If you apply and you have strong stats and strong interests, and lottery kicks you out?

If you are in a W school, Blair or Wheaton you get stem. If you aren't, too bad.

Somewhere there is a list of higher level courses that will be offered at all schools

I remember seeing AP Calc and AP Stat were promised to be offered in every HS, but couldn't recall if they promise anything beyond that? What about AP Chem, AP Bio, AP Phys C? I would consider those as standard high-level STEM courses, and MCPS honor course is always a joke so please don't count those in.

Some schools have no AP science classes. At best 1 engineering class and 2 computer science classes.

The issue is some of the non-prestigous middle schools start kids in Algebra in 6th so kids max out of classes come junior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Watkins Mill IB can't be a good as RM IB (unless you make RM worse) because the students there are less capable.

Oh, do tell! What makes Watkins Mill students "less capable" in your mind. This should be fascinating.

Not OP, but it's not less capable as in less than, it's less capable in that RM is the top 1% of the county v Watkins Mill takes top 5-10% it's obviously not the same

Think top 1% in wealth, they are billionaires, v top 5-10% are millionaires. There is a difference

My kid graduated from RMIB. There definitely kids at home schools that are as smart as the RMIB kids. BUT the RMIB is a particular program that requires particular interests and motivation. It's a ton of work. So you need a kid that is really smart, but ALSO basically loves being a grind, AND also loves a lot of reading/writing and philosophizing about reading/writing ("theory of the mind" stuff) AND doesn't mind a lot of bureacracy mandated by apparently someone in Switzerland. Can they fill several schools with those kids? I don't think so. It's a rare bird. I don't really know why they are pushing so many of these schools, and I doubt the demand or success rates will be there. I don't think my kid would have left our home school for a program that was basically watered-down because the kids weren't that into it.

This is also exactly the same feeling from Blair and Poolesville SMCS students/parents. A student can only benefit from these programs only when they are extremely self-motivated, have good time management skills, and being the top few percent in terms of aptitude and knowledge breadth and foundation. Every year there are quite some students in the program struggle and suffer and they'd fit better and gain confidence in their home schools. But parents do not feel the same way. They tend to be always too confident (or pushy in another sense) in believing their kids are the best and omnipotent.

All of this points to water-downed programs in the new regional model. And since the plan is half-baked, it won't work for students in struggling schools just as much as it won't work for anyone else, including highly able students.

It's not going to be watered down. Many highly able students are excluded from these programs due to limited space. MCPS has 150K students, or so, surely there are a few smart ones whose needs aren't met that could benefit.

Thank you for that deep dive into the data and tradeoffs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wootton parent here. They do offer a MVC/DifEQ class but not the advanced SMCS math courses.

Churchill PP here. Sorry then I provided inaccurate statement. Well as the silver lining of the dark cloud, at least Wootton will have those advanced SMCS math courses in the future and would like be able to not lose too many electives as the student body in Region 4 is the strongest.

If there is a reduction in students, all schools will be losing courses, the questions is which ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Watkins Mill IB can't be a good as RM IB (unless you make RM worse) because the students there are less capable.

Oh, do tell! What makes Watkins Mill students "less capable" in your mind. This should be fascinating.

Not OP, but it's not less capable as in less than, it's less capable in that RM is the top 1% of the county v Watkins Mill takes top 5-10% it's obviously not the same

Think top 1% in wealth, they are billionaires, v top 5-10% are millionaires. There is a difference

My kid graduated from RMIB. There definitely kids at home schools that are as smart as the RMIB kids. BUT the RMIB is a particular program that requires particular interests and motivation. It's a ton of work. So you need a kid that is really smart, but ALSO basically loves being a grind, AND also loves a lot of reading/writing and philosophizing about reading/writing ("theory of the mind" stuff) AND doesn't mind a lot of bureacracy mandated by apparently someone in Switzerland. Can they fill several schools with those kids? I don't think so. It's a rare bird. I don't really know why they are pushing so many of these schools, and I doubt the demand or success rates will be there. I don't think my kid would have left our home school for a program that was basically watered-down because the kids weren't that into it.

This is also exactly the same feeling from Blair and Poolesville SMCS students/parents. A student can only benefit from these programs only when they are extremely self-motivated, have good time management skills, and being the top few percent in terms of aptitude and knowledge breadth and foundation. Every year there are quite some students in the program struggle and suffer and they'd fit better and gain confidence in their home schools. But parents do not feel the same way. They tend to be always too confident (or pushy in another sense) in believing their kids are the best and omnipotent.

All of this points to water-downed programs in the new regional model. And since the plan is half-baked, it won't work for students in struggling schools just as much as it won't work for anyone else, including highly able students.

It's not going to be watered down. Many highly able students are excluded from these programs due to limited space. MCPS has 150K students, or so, surely there are a few smart ones whose needs aren't met that could benefit.

Thank you for that deep dive into the data and tradeoffs.

Blair services what? 100 students per grade. Financially that doesn't make sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taylor specifically said they would not turn away students and that they would not be operating with a scarcity model. Plus, he said there are no caps on seats.

So it sounded like admissions was pretty much going to be an open door and no one would be rejected.

This is like when they say they are providing transportation. It isn’t actually the full true story. They can’t have unlimited seats for these programs.

The question is about criteria. I actually have no problem if they have as many seats as they need to accommodate all applicants who are as qualified and prepared as the current program students. The issue is when they have so much room or maybe not so much interest that they lower the criteria. Which is how you end up with underperforming programs, like some of the regional IB programs.

Exactly. The question is about criteria. I asked Jennie Franklin last winter during one in-person info session: as you are assigning similar program size, how do you set up the qualification criteria? Student stats and number of students who are interested in STEM will be significantly higher than another region (yes, I'm talking about scenarios like Region 4 vs. Region 5, but I don't want to offend anyone). So do you apply different criteria? Or do you use lottery for the former region? Jennie didn't give me an answer. She hasn't thought about this back then. Applying different criteria is what's CES and MS magnet is doing, and you'll end us with very different student body no matter you then run a lottery or not. This student body will be significantly stronger in academics and more suitable for adapting into the current SMCS curriculum where the future STEM program will most likely be successful.

I agree that stats will be different, but interest? I think you'd be surprised.

This is your guess based on your limited personal experience in your friendship circle. Central office did run a survey last spring to ask you select the top program themes that you'll be interested in. They did presented the ranking, but if I recall correctly, it's not breaking down into different regions nor parents/students/educators. The only purpose of the survey is to showcase that hey, people are interested. And then they run full-speed ahead with the agenda in their mind.

But they didn’t say these programs would be the ONLY way for a child to access high level courses. Why can’t we have good quality regular high schools in every building?

I agree with you totally! Why can't every HS provide high level courses? Why do you have to apply and get accepted into a STEM/humanity program in order to access high level courses? If you apply and you have strong stats and strong interests, and lottery kicks you out?

If you are in a W school, Blair or Wheaton you get stem. If you aren't, too bad.

Somewhere there is a list of higher level courses that will be offered at all schools

Yes, but MVC Mom doesn't consider AP Calc BC to be higher level.

Is it equitable that students from more wealthy areas are offered the opportunity to take MVC at their HS if their Mathematics path puts them there while the same school system denies that opportunity to similarly able/prepared/interested students from less wealthy areas?

-- Not MVC Mom

Churchill parent here. As far as I know, Churchill offers MVC while Wootton does not. I would think Wootton tends to have more math-advanced students than Churchill in general. So not all wealthy HSs offer that.

Wootton claims to offer it, per the fancy new course planning website:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/schools/high-schools/r-w/woottonhs/counseling/v4/course.html?code=MAT2038A

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taylor specifically said they would not turn away students and that they would not be operating with a scarcity model. Plus, he said there are no caps on seats.

So it sounded like admissions was pretty much going to be an open door and no one would be rejected.

This is like when they say they are providing transportation. It isn’t actually the full true story. They can’t have unlimited seats for these programs.

The question is about criteria. I actually have no problem if they have as many seats as they need to accommodate all applicants who are as qualified and prepared as the current program students. The issue is when they have so much room or maybe not so much interest that they lower the criteria. Which is how you end up with underperforming programs, like some of the regional IB programs.

Exactly. The question is about criteria. I asked Jennie Franklin last winter during one in-person info session: as you are assigning similar program size, how do you set up the qualification criteria? Student stats and number of students who are interested in STEM will be significantly higher than another region (yes, I'm talking about scenarios like Region 4 vs. Region 5, but I don't want to offend anyone). So do you apply different criteria? Or do you use lottery for the former region? Jennie didn't give me an answer. She hasn't thought about this back then. Applying different criteria is what's CES and MS magnet is doing, and you'll end us with very different student body no matter you then run a lottery or not. This student body will be significantly stronger in academics and more suitable for adapting into the current SMCS curriculum where the future STEM program will most likely be successful.

I agree that stats will be different, but interest? I think you'd be surprised.

This is your guess based on your limited personal experience in your friendship circle. Central office did run a survey last spring to ask you select the top program themes that you'll be interested in. They did presented the ranking, but if I recall correctly, it's not breaking down into different regions nor parents/students/educators. The only purpose of the survey is to showcase that hey, people are interested. And then they run full-speed ahead with the agenda in their mind.

But they didn’t say these programs would be the ONLY way for a child to access high level courses. Why can’t we have good quality regular high schools in every building?

I agree with you totally! Why can't every HS provide high level courses? Why do you have to apply and get accepted into a STEM/humanity program in order to access high level courses? If you apply and you have strong stats and strong interests, and lottery kicks you out?

If you are in a W school, Blair or Wheaton you get stem. If you aren't, too bad.

Somewhere there is a list of higher level courses that will be offered at all schools

Yes, but MVC Mom doesn't consider AP Calc BC to be higher level.

If a child starts Algebra in 6th they can go up to Linear Algebra. Why should they have the same opportunities to make them competitive in STEM? By your logic MVC shouldn't be taught at any schools.

The secondary math pathways are all changing:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DQYNJV603722/$file/Strengthening%20Math%20Policy%20Practice%20260205%20PPT.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taylor specifically said they would not turn away students and that they would not be operating with a scarcity model. Plus, he said there are no caps on seats.

So it sounded like admissions was pretty much going to be an open door and no one would be rejected.

This is like when they say they are providing transportation. It isn’t actually the full true story. They can’t have unlimited seats for these programs.

The question is about criteria. I actually have no problem if they have as many seats as they need to accommodate all applicants who are as qualified and prepared as the current program students. The issue is when they have so much room or maybe not so much interest that they lower the criteria. Which is how you end up with underperforming programs, like some of the regional IB programs.

Exactly. The question is about criteria. I asked Jennie Franklin last winter during one in-person info session: as you are assigning similar program size, how do you set up the qualification criteria? Student stats and number of students who are interested in STEM will be significantly higher than another region (yes, I'm talking about scenarios like Region 4 vs. Region 5, but I don't want to offend anyone). So do you apply different criteria? Or do you use lottery for the former region? Jennie didn't give me an answer. She hasn't thought about this back then. Applying different criteria is what's CES and MS magnet is doing, and you'll end us with very different student body no matter you then run a lottery or not. This student body will be significantly stronger in academics and more suitable for adapting into the current SMCS curriculum where the future STEM program will most likely be successful.

I agree that stats will be different, but interest? I think you'd be surprised.

This is your guess based on your limited personal experience in your friendship circle. Central office did run a survey last spring to ask you select the top program themes that you'll be interested in. They did presented the ranking, but if I recall correctly, it's not breaking down into different regions nor parents/students/educators. The only purpose of the survey is to showcase that hey, people are interested. And then they run full-speed ahead with the agenda in their mind.

But they didn’t say these programs would be the ONLY way for a child to access high level courses. Why can’t we have good quality regular high schools in every building?

I agree with you totally! Why can't every HS provide high level courses? Why do you have to apply and get accepted into a STEM/humanity program in order to access high level courses? If you apply and you have strong stats and strong interests, and lottery kicks you out?

If you are in a W school, Blair or Wheaton you get stem. If you aren't, too bad.

Somewhere there is a list of higher level courses that will be offered at all schools

Yes, but MVC Mom doesn't consider AP Calc BC to be higher level.

Is it equitable that students from more wealthy areas are offered the opportunity to take MVC at their HS if their Mathematics path puts them there while the same school system denies that opportunity to similarly able/prepared/interested students from less wealthy areas?

-- Not MVC Mom

Churchill parent here. As far as I know, Churchill offers MVC while Wootton does not. I would think Wootton tends to have more math-advanced students than Churchill in general. So not all wealthy HSs offer that.

But you bring up a case in point. Churchill. Whitman. What do these schools have in common? The greatest concentrations of wealth and the widest advanced offerings exclusive of those at magnets.

Though there may be counterexamples, any reasonable analysis of the data will show that clear, strong correlation. Why should a public school system not be serving, equivalently, individuals from less wealthy areas as it does those from more wealthy areas? The current paradigm reinforces privilege, accruing disproportionate benefit of public services to those with the most, and the plan MCPS has proffered, as is, will continue that, quite unnecessarily.

The new paradigm is REMOVING those options from the schools that will no longer have access to Blair.