DCC residents - what are your plans for high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are the academy cohorts at DCC high schools not as strong as the magnets? Or is there really no such thing as an academy cohort - it's just a track that some kids choose to opt into?

There isn't an academy cohort, they just sign up for some courses that fit their schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry I see bulk of the kids are getting a 1. How embarrassing. Either they don’t care, in which case don’t take the expensive test, or they don’t know much if the material and don’t know how to study.

From your "embarrassing" comments, I'm going to assume you have elementary school kids, who are still years away from taking AP or IB classes. Kids scoring 1s and 2s on AP exams does not mean they didn't benefit from taking the class or exam. This is all preparation to help kids be prepared for and successful in college.

- signed someone who bombed her AP trig exam, and later got an A in trig in college

Disagree completely. Yes, if most students are getting 1s and 2s on the AP exam, than either the teaching wasn't good or the students were not ready for that level of class. It's one thing for a few kids to do poorly, but when the bulk of the students are doing poorly than the school needs to look at the root cause.

What were these kids supposed to do? They reached the level of AP math. There is no high school level calculus, and math is required all 4 years of high school by the state. You have to register for the exams a couple of months before the exam. If it’s free exam for low income kids, what’s the harm in taking it? Taking a cumulative AP exam is a good experience to have before going to college/post HS training where you will encounter cumulative testing.

For whatever reason Kennedy kids are not doing well the calculus exam does not mean the class was a complete waste or that the students are bad.

Agree. First, this has nothing to do with taking calc in desperation because they've maxed out in math. There is a non-AP calc class offered in MCPS, it's called Calculus with Applications. Second taking AP Calc senior year is the appropriate placement for someone who's taken the prerequisites, this is what colleges want to see. The scores are bad, but there are at least a handful of students getting one's at most high schools. Given only 28 student at Kennedy even take the test do you expect they're going to follow the same pattern as schools where 150 students take the test? It's not surprising that the class is a reach for these students and the scores skew lower. Kennedy is a smallish school and it's barely a mile from Wheaton HS, so it's likely there's some brain drain to the Wheaton magnet and the other DCC schools through the choice process.

I really don't know Kennedy. I live in the DCC and know kids at the other four schools who are doing well, but no one who chose Kennedy. To the OP's question, we never considered moving for HS, so far Blair regular program has offered everything my kids have needed from a HS. Pouring over scores will only go so far, the best approach is talk with parents in your neighborhood, or if you're really motivated go to the fall open house for 8th graders and talk with teachers. I've had plenty of opportunities to interact with staff and everyone is very dedicated and professional. Every school has the occasional weak teacher, but that's going to be masked in the scores if students have outside tutors or parents who know that studying for the test from day one is a task distinct from the classwork and buy study guides, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the academy cohorts at DCC high schools not as strong as the magnets? Or is there really no such thing as an academy cohort - it's just a track that some kids choose to opt into?

There isn't an academy cohort, they just sign up for some courses that fit their schedule.

There is also usually something like a capstone project or internship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the academy cohorts at DCC high schools not as strong as the magnets? Or is there really no such thing as an academy cohort - it's just a track that some kids choose to opt into?

There isn't an academy cohort, they just sign up for some courses that fit their schedule.

The academy is really just a ridiculous marketing ploy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are parents concerned about Kennedy? The journalism track looks interesting from a recent open house, but we don't know anything about the school. Some kids have heard "horror stories" but I don't know what that means. Are these concerns from a long time ago? Or do they still exist?

Given the demographics of DCUM it is possible that everyone's "concerns" stem from the fact that Kennedy is the least white school in the county. I could be wrong though.

Einstein doesn't have many more white people; it still has higher test scores and a much better reputation. The problem with Kennedy is the test scores. I'm sure that there are some very bright, hard-working students there, but there just doesn't seem to be a large cohort. Even white and Asian kids have low average AP and IB scores at Kennedy. Please look at this document:

http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/2017%20AP%20IB%20Course%20Enrollment%20and%20Exam%20Participation%20Performance.pdf

If MCPS wants to turn Kennedy around (and Watkins Mill, which also has low test scores), it would need to add a competitive magnet there. Just as Wheaton is attracting kids who might not be competitive enough for Blair SMAC, maybe there could be a humanities magnet at Kennedy that would be less competitive than CAP?

PS - the previous document has 2017 AP and IB scores for the entire county, broken down by school.

I don't follow. Kennedy has poor test scores. The secret to "turning poor test scores around" is to put a 200 kid selective magnet program and bus in high achievers? How does that turn around the Kennedy school base of poor performers? Where even is Kennedy, Watkind Mill and Wheaton? I came from SE DC and don't know these places.

There would be many benefits to a test-in magnet. It would bring more high-flyers to Kennedy, giving the rest of the student body highly motivated academic peers. Secondly, non-magnet, yet capable, students in the Kennedy catchment area would be more likely to remain inbounds rather than going anywhere else through the lottery. They would see that they could have great classes with motivated peers close to home. Thirdly, local real estate prices would stabilize or go up. Case in point: Poolesville has become quite expensive!

This is kind of stupid. The county already has a bunch of magnets. At some point, you would need to cut another magnet or you'll dilute the programs. Go cut the magnet elsewhere, that school declines. You are just trying to rearrange the deck chairs, when what would actually be far more valuable is to shore up schools that used to perform quite strongly but have fallen recently (e.g., Magruder, Blake, Rockville) -- it's this group of schools that has gotten hammered as folks with options have exercised them to move to DC or NOVA.

I mean I think it's weird that there are magnets in Poolsville and Blair when they are both on the farthest reaches of the county. So if you have the political muscle to move them to, say, Seneca and Kennedy, I'm all for it. But I just don't think that's magically going to fix MoCo's school issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry I see bulk of the kids are getting a 1. How embarrassing. Either they don’t care, in which case don’t take the expensive test, or they don’t know much if the material and don’t know how to study.

From your "embarrassing" comments, I'm going to assume you have elementary school kids, who are still years away from taking AP or IB classes. Kids scoring 1s and 2s on AP exams does not mean they didn't benefit from taking the class or exam. This is all preparation to help kids be prepared for and successful in college.

- signed someone who bombed her AP trig exam, and later got an A in trig in college

Disagree completely. Yes, if most students are getting 1s and 2s on the AP exam, than either the teaching wasn't good or the students were not ready for that level of class. It's one thing for a few kids to do poorly, but when the bulk of the students are doing poorly than the school needs to look at the root cause.

What were these kids supposed to do? They reached the level of AP math. There is no high school level calculus, and math is required all 4 years of high school by the state. You have to register for the exams a couple of months before the exam. If it’s free exam for low income kids, what’s the harm in taking it? Taking a cumulative AP exam is a good experience to have before going to college/post HS training where you will encounter cumulative testing.

For whatever reason Kennedy kids are not doing well the calculus exam does not mean the class was a complete waste or that the students are bad.

The point is to find out why the Kennedy kids are doing so poorly. Try to fix the problem instead of just saying, "oh, well", at least they took the class. You can't score lower than a 1 on an AP exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are parents concerned about Kennedy? The journalism track looks interesting from a recent open house, but we don't know anything about the school. Some kids have heard "horror stories" but I don't know what that means. Are these concerns from a long time ago? Or do they still exist?

Given the demographics of DCUM it is possible that everyone's "concerns" stem from the fact that Kennedy is the least white school in the county. I could be wrong though.

Einstein doesn't have many more white people; it still has higher test scores and a much better reputation. The problem with Kennedy is the test scores. I'm sure that there are some very bright, hard-working students there, but there just doesn't seem to be a large cohort. Even white and Asian kids have low average AP and IB scores at Kennedy. Please look at this document:

http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/2017%20AP%20IB%20Course%20Enrollment%20and%20Exam%20Participation%20Performance.pdf

If MCPS wants to turn Kennedy around (and Watkins Mill, which also has low test scores), it would need to add a competitive magnet there. Just as Wheaton is attracting kids who might not be competitive enough for Blair SMAC, maybe there could be a humanities magnet at Kennedy that would be less competitive than CAP?

PS - the previous document has 2017 AP and IB scores for the entire county, broken down by school.

I don't follow. Kennedy has poor test scores. The secret to "turning poor test scores around" is to put a 200 kid selective magnet program and bus in high achievers? How does that turn around the Kennedy school base of poor performers? Where even is Kennedy, Watkind Mill and Wheaton? I came from SE DC and don't know these places.

There would be many benefits to a test-in magnet. It would bring more high-flyers to Kennedy, giving the rest of the student body highly motivated academic peers. Secondly, non-magnet, yet capable, students in the Kennedy catchment area would be more likely to remain inbounds rather than going anywhere else through the lottery. They would see that they could have great classes with motivated peers close to home. Thirdly, local real estate prices would stabilize or go up. Case in point: Poolesville has become quite expensive!

This is kind of stupid. The county already has a bunch of magnets. At some point, you would need to cut another magnet or you'll dilute the programs. Go cut the magnet elsewhere, that school declines. You are just trying to rearrange the deck chairs, when what would actually be far more valuable is to shore up schools that used to perform quite strongly but have fallen recently (e.g., Magruder, Blake, Rockville) -- it's this group of schools that has gotten hammered as folks with options have exercised them to move to DC or NOVA.

I mean I think it's weird that there are magnets in Poolsville and Blair when they are both on the farthest reaches of the county. So if you have the political muscle to move them to, say, Seneca and Kennedy, I'm all for it. But I just don't think that's magically going to fix MoCo's school issues.

They could easily add another STEM magnet and it wouldn't dilute the program. The reaility is in the years since this was begun the county has grown signifcantly and there's enough interest today that there are plenty of qualified candidates that don't make the cut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are parents concerned about Kennedy? The journalism track looks interesting from a recent open house, but we don't know anything about the school. Some kids have heard "horror stories" but I don't know what that means. Are these concerns from a long time ago? Or do they still exist?

Give
I don't follow. Kennedy has poor test scores. The secret to "turning poor test scores around" is to put a 200 kid selective magnet program and bus in high achievers? How does that turn around the Kennedy school base of poor performers? Where even is Kennedy, Watkind Mill and Wheaton? I came from SE DC and don't know these places.

There would be many benefits to a test-in magnet. It would bring more high-flyers to Kennedy, giving the rest of the student body highly motivated academic peers. Secondly, non-magnet, yet capable, students in the Kennedy catchment area would be more likely to remain inbounds rather than going anywhere else through the lottery. They would see that they could have great classes with motivated peers close to home. Thirdly, local real estate prices would stabilize or go up. Case in point: Poolesville has become quite expensive!

This is kind of stupid. The county already has a bunch of magnets. At some point, you would need to cut another magnet or you'll dilute the programs. Go cut the magnet elsewhere, that school declines. You are just trying to rearrange the deck chairs, when what would actually be far more valuable is to shore up schools that used to perform quite strongly but have fallen recently (e.g., Magruder, Blake, Rockville) -- it's this group of schools that has gotten hammered as folks with options have exercised them to move to DC or NOVA.

I mean I think it's weird that there are magnets in Poolsville and Blair when they are both on the farthest reaches of the county. So if you have the political muscle to move them to, say, Seneca and Kennedy, I'm all for it. But I just don't think that's magically going to fix MoCo's school issues.

It IS very weird. And disingenuous to most working families in the county not close to those whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry I see bulk of the kids are getting a 1. How embarrassing. Either they don’t care, in which case don’t take the expensive test, or they don’t know much if the material and don’t know how to study.

From your "embarrassing" comments, I'm going to assume you have elementary school kids, who are still years away from taking AP or IB classes. Kids scoring 1s and 2s on AP exams does not mean they didn't benefit from taking the class or exam. This is all preparation to help kids be prepared for and successful in college.

- signed someone who bombed her AP trig exam, and later got an A in trig in college

Disagree completely. Yes, if most students are getting 1s and 2s on the AP exam, than either the teaching wasn't good or the students were not ready for that level of class. It's one thing for a few kids to do poorly, but when the bulk of the students are doing poorly than the school needs to look at the root cause.

What were these kids supposed to do? They reached the level of AP math. There is no high school level calculus, and math is required all 4 years of high school by the state. You have to register for the exams a couple of months before the exam. If it’s free exam for low income kids, what’s the harm in taking it? Taking a cumulative AP exam is a good experience to have before going to college/post HS training where you will encounter cumulative testing.

For whatever reason Kennedy kids are not doing well the calculus exam does not mean the class was a complete waste or that the students are bad.

I'm not ignorant about AP's. I took 7 exams myself back in the early 90's. I am glad that Kennedy students are apparently "stretching" themselves to take AP Calculus. However, if the bulk of the class scores a 1, something is wrong. Maybe the algebra skills aren't strong, in which case the students might have benefitted from a double period of either Algebra 1 or Algebra 2. Maybe one of their high school math teachers was atrocious and the students didn't learn. Maybe some of these students would have been more successful in AP Statistics. Maybe Kennedy pushed students into AP Calculus just to fill one class. Maybe some of the students had C's in Pre-Calculus. I don't know what the answer is, but the few students who were really ready to take Calculus did not have a strong cohort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are parents concerned about Kennedy? The journalism track looks interesting from a recent open house, but we don't know anything about the school. Some kids have heard "horror stories" but I don't know what that means. Are these concerns from a long time ago? Or do they still exist?

Given the demographics of DCUM it is possible that everyone's "concerns" stem from the fact that Kennedy is the least white school in the county. I could be wrong though.

Einstein doesn't have many more white people; it still has higher test scores and a much better reputation. The problem with Kennedy is the test scores. I'm sure that there are some very bright, hard-working students there, but there just doesn't seem to be a large cohort. Even white and Asian kids have low average AP and IB scores at Kennedy. Please look at this document:

http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/2017%20AP%20IB%20Course%20Enrollment%20and%20Exam%20Participation%20Performance.pdf

If MCPS wants to turn Kennedy around (and Watkins Mill, which also has low test scores), it would need to add a competitive magnet there. Just as Wheaton is attracting kids who might not be competitive enough for Blair SMAC, maybe there could be a humanities magnet at Kennedy that would be less competitive than CAP?

PS - the previous document has 2017 AP and IB scores for the entire county, broken down by school.

I don't follow. Kennedy has poor test scores. The secret to "turning poor test scores around" is to put a 200 kid selective magnet program and bus in high achievers? How does that turn around the Kennedy school base of poor performers? Where even is Kennedy, Watkind Mill and Wheaton? I came from SE DC and don't know these places.

There would be many benefits to a test-in magnet. It would bring more high-flyers to Kennedy, giving the rest of the student body highly motivated academic peers. Secondly, non-magnet, yet capable, students in the Kennedy catchment area would be more likely to remain inbounds rather than going anywhere else through the lottery. They would see that they could have great classes with motivated peers close to home. Thirdly, local real estate prices would stabilize or go up. Case in point: Poolesville has become quite expensive!

This is kind of stupid. The county already has a bunch of magnets. At some point, you would need to cut another magnet or you'll dilute the programs. Go cut the magnet elsewhere, that school declines. You are just trying to rearrange the deck chairs, when what would actually be far more valuable is to shore up schools that used to perform quite strongly but have fallen recently (e.g., Magruder, Blake, Rockville) -- it's this group of schools that has gotten hammered as folks with options have exercised them to move to DC or NOVA.

I mean I think it's weird that there are magnets in Poolsville and Blair when they are both on the farthest reaches of the county. So if you have the political muscle to move them to, say, Seneca and Kennedy, I'm all for it. But I just don't think that's magically going to fix MoCo's school issues.

They could easily add another STEM magnet and it wouldn't dilute the program. The reaility is in the years since this was begun the county has grown signifcantly and there's enough interest today that there are plenty of qualified candidates that don't make the cut.

Kennedy is barely a mile from Wheaton HS and only about three miles from Blair. Who would this magnet attract? And, how does it help the inbound students if you decide to send your kid there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are parents concerned about Kennedy? The journalism track looks interesting from a recent open house, but we don't know anything about the school. Some kids have heard "horror stories" but I don't know what that means. Are these concerns from a long time ago? Or do they still exist?

Given the demographics of DCUM it is possible that everyone's "concerns" stem from the fact that Kennedy is the least white school in the county. I could be wrong though.

Einstein doesn't have many more white people; it still has higher test scores and a much better reputation. The problem with Kennedy is the test scores. I'm sure that there are some very bright, hard-working students there, but there just doesn't seem to be a large cohort. Even white and Asian kids have low average AP and IB scores at Kennedy. Please look at this document:

http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/2017%20AP%20IB%20Course%20Enrollment%20and%20Exam%20Participation%20Performance.pdf

If MCPS wants to turn Kennedy around (and Watkins Mill, which also has low test scores), it would need to add a competitive magnet there. Just as Wheaton is attracting kids who might not be competitive enough for Blair SMAC, maybe there could be a humanities magnet at Kennedy that would be less competitive than CAP?

PS - the previous document has 2017 AP and IB scores for the entire county, broken down by school.

I don't follow. Kennedy has poor test scores. The secret to "turning poor test scores around" is to put a 200 kid selective magnet program and bus in high achievers? How does that turn around the Kennedy school base of poor performers? Where even is Kennedy, Watkind Mill and Wheaton? I came from SE DC and don't know these places.

There would be many benefits to a test-in magnet. It would bring more high-flyers to Kennedy, giving the rest of the student body highly motivated academic peers. Secondly, non-magnet, yet capable, students in the Kennedy catchment area would be more likely to remain inbounds rather than going anywhere else through the lottery. They would see that they could have great classes with motivated peers close to home. Thirdly, local real estate prices would stabilize or go up. Case in point: Poolesville has become quite expensive!

This is kind of stupid. The county already has a bunch of magnets. At some point, you would need to cut another magnet or you'll dilute the programs. Go cut the magnet elsewhere, that school declines. You are just trying to rearrange the deck chairs, when what would actually be far more valuable is to shore up schools that used to perform quite strongly but have fallen recently (e.g., Magruder, Blake, Rockville) -- it's this group of schools that has gotten hammered as folks with options have exercised them to move to DC or NOVA.

I mean I think it's weird that there are magnets in Poolsville and Blair when they are both on the farthest reaches of the county. So if you have the political muscle to move them to, say, Seneca and Kennedy, I'm all for it. But I just don't think that's magically going to fix MoCo's school issues.

They could easily add another STEM magnet and it wouldn't dilute the program. The reaility is in the years since this was begun the county has grown signifcantly and there's enough interest today that there are plenty of qualified candidates that don't make the cut.

Kennedy is barely a mile from Wheaton HS and only about three miles from Blair. Who would this magnet attract? And, how does it help the inbound students if you decide to send your kid there?

I'm sure there are people who know about this than I do, but just to spitball. Then add a program like RMIB to Kennedy since that's in a far corner of the county. The current offerings are very popular. There are plenty of qualified candidates and not enough seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are parents concerned about Kennedy? The journalism track looks interesting from a recent open house, but we don't know anything about the school. Some kids have heard "horror stories" but I don't know what that means. Are these concerns from a long time ago? Or do they still exist?

Given the demographics of DCUM it is possible that everyone's "concerns" stem from the fact that Kennedy is the least white school in the county. I could be wrong though.

Einstein doesn't have many more white people; it still has higher test scores and a much better reputation. The problem with Kennedy is the test scores. I'm sure that there are some very bright, hard-working students there, but there just doesn't seem to be a large cohort. Even white and Asian kids have low average AP and IB scores at Kennedy. Please look at this document:

http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/2017%20AP%20IB%20Course%20Enrollment%20and%20Exam%20Participation%20Performance.pdf

If MCPS wants to turn Kennedy around (and Watkins Mill, which also has low test scores), it would need to add a competitive magnet there. Just as Wheaton is attracting kids who might not be competitive enough for Blair SMAC, maybe there could be a humanities magnet at Kennedy that would be less competitive than CAP?

PS - the previous document has 2017 AP and IB scores for the entire county, broken down by school.

I don't follow. Kennedy has poor test scores. The secret to "turning poor test scores around" is to put a 200 kid selective magnet program and bus in high achievers? How does that turn around the Kennedy school base of poor performers? Where even is Kennedy, Watkind Mill and Wheaton? I came from SE DC and don't know these places.

There would be many benefits to a test-in magnet. It would bring more high-flyers to Kennedy, giving the rest of the student body highly motivated academic peers. Secondly, non-magnet, yet capable, students in the Kennedy catchment area would be more likely to remain inbounds rather than going anywhere else through the lottery. They would see that they could have great classes with motivated peers close to home. Thirdly, local real estate prices would stabilize or go up. Case in point: Poolesville has become quite expensive!

This is kind of stupid. The county already has a bunch of magnets. At some point, you would need to cut another magnet or you'll dilute the programs. Go cut the magnet elsewhere, that school declines. You are just trying to rearrange the deck chairs, when what would actually be far more valuable is to shore up schools that used to perform quite strongly but have fallen recently (e.g., Magruder, Blake, Rockville) -- it's this group of schools that has gotten hammered as folks with options have exercised them to move to DC or NOVA.

I mean I think it's weird that there are magnets in Poolsville and Blair when they are both on the farthest reaches of the county. So if you have the political muscle to move them to, say, Seneca and Kennedy, I'm all for it. But I just don't think that's magically going to fix MoCo's school issues.

They could easily add another STEM magnet and it wouldn't dilute the program. The reaility is in the years since this was begun the county has grown signifcantly and there's enough interest today that there are plenty of qualified candidates that don't make the cut.

Kennedy is barely a mile from Wheaton HS and only about three miles from Blair. Who would this magnet attract? And, how does it help the inbound students if you decide to send your kid there?

I'm sure there are people who know about this than I do, but just to spitball. Then add a program like RMIB to Kennedy since that's in a far corner of the county. The current offerings are very popular. There are plenty of qualified candidates and not enough seats.

Kennedy already has an IB program, which is something a DCC student could participate in if they put Kennedy as their first choice. I'm pretty sure Kennedy still ranks lowest in the choice process, but there will always be one of the five schools that does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are parents concerned about Kennedy? The journalism track looks interesting from a recent open house, but we don't know anything about the school. Some kids have heard "horror stories" but I don't know what that means. Are these concerns from a long time ago? Or do they still exist?

Given the demographics of DCUM it is possible that everyone's "concerns" stem from the fact that Kennedy is the least white school in the county. I could be wrong though.

Einstein doesn't have many more white people; it still has higher test scores and a much better reputation. The problem with Kennedy is the test scores. I'm sure that there are some very bright, hard-working students there, but there just doesn't seem to be a large cohort. Even white and Asian kids have low average AP and IB scores at Kennedy. Please look at this document:

http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/2017%20AP%20IB%20Course%20Enrollment%20and%20Exam%20Participation%20Performance.pdf

If MCPS wants to turn Kennedy around (and Watkins Mill, which also has low test scores), it would need to add a competitive magnet there. Just as Wheaton is attracting kids who might not be competitive enough for Blair SMAC, maybe there could be a humanities magnet at Kennedy that would be less competitive than CAP?

PS - the previous document has 2017 AP and IB scores for the entire county, broken down by school.

I don't follow. Kennedy has poor test scores. The secret to "turning poor test scores around" is to put a 200 kid selective magnet program and bus in high achievers? How does that turn around the Kennedy school base of poor performers? Where even is Kennedy, Watkind Mill and Wheaton? I came from SE DC and don't know these places.

There would be many benefits to a test-in magnet. It would bring more high-flyers to Kennedy, giving the rest of the student body highly motivated academic peers. Secondly, non-magnet, yet capable, students in the Kennedy catchment area would be more likely to remain inbounds rather than going anywhere else through the lottery. They would see that they could have great classes with motivated peers close to home. Thirdly, local real estate prices would stabilize or go up. Case in point: Poolesville has become quite expensive!

This is kind of stupid. The county already has a bunch of magnets. At some point, you would need to cut another magnet or you'll dilute the programs. Go cut the magnet elsewhere, that school declines. You are just trying to rearrange the deck chairs, when what would actually be far more valuable is to shore up schools that used to perform quite strongly but have fallen recently (e.g., Magruder, Blake, Rockville) -- it's this group of schools that has gotten hammered as folks with options have exercised them to move to DC or NOVA.

I mean I think it's weird that there are magnets in Poolsville and Blair when they are both on the farthest reaches of the county. So if you have the political muscle to move them to, say, Seneca and Kennedy, I'm all for it. But I just don't think that's magically going to fix MoCo's school issues.

They could easily add another STEM magnet and it wouldn't dilute the program. The reaility is in the years since this was begun the county has grown signifcantly and there's enough interest today that there are plenty of qualified candidates that don't make the cut.

Kennedy is barely a mile from Wheaton HS and only about three miles from Blair. Who would this magnet attract? And, how does it help the inbound students if you decide to send your kid there?

I'm sure there are people who know about this than I do, but just to spitball. Then add a program like RMIB to Kennedy since that's in a far corner of the county. The current offerings are very popular. There are plenty of qualified candidates and not enough seats.

Kennedy already has an IB program, which is something a DCC student could participate in if they put Kennedy as their first choice. I'm pretty sure Kennedy still ranks lowest in the choice process, but there will always be one of the five schools that does.

A competitive application based IB program like RMIB has more depth and a stronger cohort.

[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:Why are parents concerned about Kennedy? The journalism track looks interesting from a recent open house, but we don't know anything about the school. Some kids have heard "horror stories" but I don't know what that means. Are these concerns from a long time ago? Or do they still exist?

Given the demographics of DCUM it is possible that everyone's "concerns" stem from the fact that Kennedy is the least white school in the county. I could be wrong though.

Einstein doesn't have many more white people; it still has higher test scores and a much better reputation. The problem with Kennedy is the test scores. I'm sure that there are some very bright, hard-working students there, but there just doesn't seem to be a large cohort. Even white and Asian kids have low average AP and IB scores at Kennedy. Please look at this document:

http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/2017%20AP%20IB%20Course%20Enrollment%20and%20Exam%20Participation%20Performance.pdf

If MCPS wants to turn Kennedy around (and Watkins Mill, which also has low test scores), it would need to add a competitive magnet there. Just as Wheaton is attracting kids who might not be competitive enough for Blair SMAC, maybe there could be a humanities magnet at Kennedy that would be less competitive than CAP?

PS - the previous document has 2017 AP and IB scores for the entire county, broken down by school.

I don't follow. Kennedy has poor test scores. The secret to "turning poor test scores around" is to put a 200 kid selective magnet program and bus in high achievers? How does that turn around the Kennedy school base of poor performers? Where even is Kennedy, Watkind Mill and Wheaton? I came from SE DC and don't know these places.

There would be many benefits to a test-in magnet. It would bring more high-flyers to Kennedy, giving the rest of the student body highly motivated academic peers. Secondly, non-magnet, yet capable, students in the Kennedy catchment area would be more likely to remain inbounds rather than going anywhere else through the lottery. They would see that they could have great classes with motivated peers close to home. Thirdly, local real estate prices would stabilize or go up. Case in point: Poolesville has become quite expensive!

This is kind of stupid. The county already has a bunch of magnets. At some point, you would need to cut another magnet or you'll dilute the programs. Go cut the magnet elsewhere, that school declines. You are just trying to rearrange the deck chairs, when what would actually be far more valuable is to shore up schools that used to perform quite strongly but have fallen recently (e.g., Magruder, Blake, Rockville) -- it's this group of schools that has gotten hammered as folks with options have exercised them to move to DC or NOVA.

I mean I think it's weird that there are magnets in Poolsville and Blair when they are both on the farthest reaches of the county. So if you have the political muscle to move them to, say, Seneca and Kennedy, I'm all for it. But I just don't think that's magically going to fix MoCo's school issues.

They could easily add another STEM magnet and it wouldn't dilute the program. The reaility is in the years since this was begun the county has grown signifcantly and there's enough interest today that there are plenty of qualified candidates that don't make the cut.

Kennedy is barely a mile from Wheaton HS and only about three miles from Blair. Who would this magnet attract? And, how does it help the inbound students if you decide to send your kid there?

I'm sure there are people who know about this than I do, but just to spitball. Then add a program like RMIB to Kennedy since that's in a far corner of the county. The current offerings are very popular. There are plenty of qualified candidates and not enough seats.

Kennedy already has an IB program, which is something a DCC student could participate in if they put Kennedy as their first choice. I'm pretty sure Kennedy still ranks lowest in the choice process, but there will always be one of the five schools that does.

A competitive application based IB program like RMIB has more depth and a stronger cohort.

And just look how the application RM parents squeal when the local kids get access to their program. Making every school a magnet won't solve anything, and basically Wheaton was already given the magnet in that neighborhood. I'm sure that had more to do with the fact that Wheaton was scheduled for re-building than pitting the schools against each other (who's to say Kennedy even has the space). The local IB program is surely an attempt to boost college readiness, that seems like a good place to start.

[Anonymous]

If anything the county needs more magnet programs and Kennedy would be a good choice for a highly sought after one.