MS Magnet admissions: are CES students at a disadvantage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think if the original purpose of the magnet program is no longer applicable, then they should open up another magnet on the western side of the county, and not just because of academics but also for a shorter commute. And no, having one or two classes that have a similar magnet curriculum is not the same as a magnet program.

They did that already, in 2003.

http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2003/200326/montgomery/news/164612-1.html

Which was 15 years ago. When MCPS had 23,000 fewer students than it does now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think if the original purpose of the magnet program is no longer applicable, then they should open up another magnet on the western side of the county, and not just because of academics but also for a shorter commute. And no, having one or two classes that have a similar magnet curriculum is not the same as a magnet program.

They did that already, in 2003.

http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2003/200326/montgomery/news/164612-1.html

Which was 15 years ago. When MCPS had 23,000 fewer students than it does now.

They need one for the kids in Potomac, North Bethesda, Rockville etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think if the original purpose of the magnet program is no longer applicable, then they should open up another magnet on the western side of the county, and not just because of academics but also for a shorter commute. And no, having one or two classes that have a similar magnet curriculum is not the same as a magnet program.

They did that already, in 2003.

http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2003/200326/montgomery/news/164612-1.html

Which was 15 years ago. When MCPS had 23,000 fewer students than it does now.

They need one for the kids in Potomac, North Bethesda, Rockville etc.

Where is the MS magnet on the western side of the county that the ^^PP is referring to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend pointed me to this document https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/msmagnet/about/Middle%20school%20magnet%20selection%20process%20overview.PDF

Apparently one of the factors that is used for middle school magnet admissions is "whether the student receives enrichment/acceleration." (See the slide titled "Academic Performance.") She says based on this any student already in a CES will be at a disadvantage since that student is receiving enrichment/acceleration. Apparently last year the number of CES students admitted to the MS magnets went down drastically because of this, though the peer cohort (in the home middle school) criterion applied alone should affect both CES/non-CES students equally.

I am just wondering why MCPS looks at "whether the student receives enrichment/acceleration" as opposed to "whether the student NEEDS enrichment/acceleration." ? It sounds like because of this factor, students are better off not going to CES, if they want to improve their chances of qualifying for MS Magnets.

Anyone with an actual brain who is not a 'targeted demographic" is at a disadvantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think if the original purpose of the magnet program is no longer applicable, then they should open up another magnet on the western side of the county, and not just because of academics but also for a shorter commute. And no, having one or two classes that have a similar magnet curriculum is not the same as a magnet program.

They did that already, in 2003.

http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2003/200326/montgomery/news/164612-1.html

Which was 15 years ago. When MCPS had 23,000 fewer students than it does now.

They need one for the kids in Potomac, North Bethesda, Rockville etc.

Yes they should, but that wouldn't help bolster school aggregate scores and real estate property values like putting them in krappy schools does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think if the original purpose of the magnet program is no longer applicable, then they should open up another magnet on the western side of the county, and not just because of academics but also for a shorter commute. And no, having one or two classes that have a similar magnet curriculum is not the same as a magnet program.

They did that already, in 2003.

http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2003/200326/montgomery/news/164612-1.html

Which was 15 years ago. When MCPS had 23,000 fewer students than it does now.

They need one for the kids in Potomac, North Bethesda, Rockville etc.

Where is the MS magnet on the western side of the county that the ^^PP is referring to?

Germantown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend pointed me to this document https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/msmagnet/about/Middle%20school%20magnet%20selection%20process%20overview.PDF

Apparently one of the factors that is used for middle school magnet admissions is "whether the student receives enrichment/acceleration." (See the slide titled "Academic Performance.") She says based on this any student already in a CES will be at a disadvantage since that student is receiving enrichment/acceleration. Apparently last year the number of CES students admitted to the MS magnets went down drastically because of this, though the peer cohort (in the home middle school) criterion applied alone should affect both CES/non-CES students equally.

I am just wondering why MCPS looks at "whether the student receives enrichment/acceleration" as opposed to "whether the student NEEDS enrichment/acceleration." ? It sounds like because of this factor, students are better off not going to CES, if they want to improve their chances of qualifying for MS Magnets.

This is so messed up! Please tell me they have fixed this for this year.

[Anonymous]

Interesting document. I guess they determine if you have a cohort based on "receives enrichment/acceleration". the document says they are blinded to school and thus why CES students are affected more than non-CES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting document. I guess they determine if you have a cohort based on "receives enrichment/acceleration". the document says they are blinded to school and thus why CES students are affected more than non-CES.

This is beyond backwards. Is there any word on whether they have changed their admission process this year to make sure CES kids are not at a disadvantage?

[Anonymous]

The “cohort” is the MS cohort from your home middle school. CES kids are evaluated for “cohort” based on their home MS. The evaluation may be blind as to ES attended, but it’s not blind as to home MS.

[Anonymous]

The 2018 MS magnet presentation is different from previous presentations, even from the presentation last year when MCPS has changed their policy and selection criteria. MCPS did so with no transparency. One can speculate that their underlying goal is reducing the "opportunity gap;" for this reason, they are less likely to add a MS magnet program to serve the west side of the county (much as I would like to see such a program). Never mind that the needs of "gifted" or "highly able" (or whatever term you want) students are not being met. Maybe it's like "robbing Peter to pay Paul?" So how does Peter feel?

The main reason that ANY enriched, magnet-type classes were offered in MS was a result of a huge uproar from parents, not from any proactive wisdom on the part of MCPS. While offering 1-2 magnet-type classes seems like a good start, it's not nearly enough.

As for the question whether CES students are disadvantaged, it depends on which CES school (by extension, which home MS).

[Anonymous]

On one of the selection process slides:

Weighing Conflicting Data
The review is a holistic review of the needs of the student. Multiple criteria is used to select a student.
• Don’t allow a single data point prevent you from recommending a student.
Sometimes there is conflicting data. • High reading level/lower grades • Lower scores/strong grades
• Spikey profiles
• Performance over time

How are they able to evaluate "Performance over time" if they are only looking at 5th grade 1st quarter report card grade, or 5th grade Fall MAP scores? Is the committee looking at progression of grades/scores from 4th as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think if the original purpose of the magnet program is no longer applicable, then they should open up another magnet on the western side of the county, and not just because of academics but also for a shorter commute. And no, having one or two classes that have a similar magnet curriculum is not the same as a magnet program.

They did that already, in 2003.

http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2003/200326/montgomery/news/164612-1.html

Which was 15 years ago. When MCPS had 23,000 fewer students than it does now.

They need one for the kids in Potomac, North Bethesda, Rockville etc.

It would make more sense to expand the ones they have currently. Maybe add a vocational magnet in Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting document. I guess they determine if you have a cohort based on "receives enrichment/acceleration". the document says they are blinded to school and thus why CES students are affected more than non-CES.

This is beyond backwards. Is there any word on whether they have changed their admission process this year to make sure CES kids are not at a disadvantage?

CES kids aren't at a disadvantage. Because CES students received greater enrichment they should have higher map scores than kids who did not attend CES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting document. I guess they determine if you have a cohort based on "receives enrichment/acceleration". the document says they are blinded to school and thus why CES students are affected more than non-CES.

This is beyond backwards. Is there any word on whether they have changed their admission process this year to make sure CES kids are not at a disadvantage?

CES kids aren't at a disadvantage. Because CES students received greater enrichment they should have higher map scores than kids who did not attend CES.

And if all that extra enrichment fails translate into higher scores then its probably a waste to send a kid to a magnet anyway.