Takoma Park MS Magnet - 25 inbound seats?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If they get rid of the 25 set aside the magnet will be limited to 100 students per cohort year. It will not open 25 spots to additional students because there is no available space (the school is over capacity). The 25 inboundary students don't change the capacity number for the building as they would attend the school with or without the magnet.


Yup, and then the top 25 inbound students are added to the competition for the 100 slots so the size of the magnet available to out-of-bounds students goes down. But these parents would do it just for spite.

I don't 25 seats are going to kill any overall capacity numbers. MCOS does nothing at schools that are 400-600 over capacity all the time so 25 is nothing. The 25 in bound seats really should be available to the entire DCC not just the TP area. I agree that Bethesda and Potomac people or Rockville Asians should be kept where they belong in their own schools but the other DCC schools should get a shot at the easy seats.

Is it too late to add B-CC to the DCC now that there's something in it for us?

No, we don't want you all joining us! You slam our schools constantly, so no, you cannot join. Move to an area it serves. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes but these kinds of kids all across the SS area as well. So why shouldn’t the rest of DCC be given access to compete for those seats? Perhaps your kid #1 became a compelling candidate for all the magnets because he got a stellar education through the TPMS reservation, which he may not have had he competed across the county, or even DCC

Because there are so many qualified kids, it's a bit of a lottery, so they want to make sure there is cross-over between local and magnet. it's good for the student body. Frankly, I think all magnets should do this. I also think we should have more magnet seats. So many bright kids able to flourish in these programs. Truly. I teach in TP and know several super bright in boundary kids who did not make the program.

But that isn’t why they did it, TP was under represented due to inability to make the cut

What if this is true? There's no evidence that TP kids do worse in the magnet than kinds admitted as part of the 100-student cohort. So...maybe our kids get a boost coming in. Maybe they wouldn't have made the cut without the in-bounds preference. Maybe that in-bounds preference was the factor that let a 98% kid from PBES get in whereas the same kid would have been waitlisted coming from Cold Spring. That doesn't make the benefit any less, or the quality of education that they receive any lower.

My (TPMS in-bounds) kids will also get legacy preference at some pretty amazing US colleges. Is that any more deserved than in-bounds preference at TPMS? I would argue not.

If people think the benefit is so keen, they will move in-bounds. The TPMS zone includes lots of affordable apartments (remember that both PBES and ESS feed to TPMS) and affordable single family homes. So, if folks believe it confers such a benefit, they are welcome to join us on the east side. People are nice. Transportation is close, and apparently this is where you live if you really care about your child's education, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The TPMS 25 easy to get in spots are not affirmative action spots. There is no preference given for race or FARMS. Most of those spots go to white kids. It was a hook to get more in bound private schools kids back into the school.

The DCC would do far better on test score if more people sent their kids to public instead of private schools. The private school usage in Bethesda doesn't really matter because the rest of the kids staying in public are still high scoring. This isn't true in the DCC so there need to more not less hooks to get the kids out of the privates.

This is so misinformed. Let's start w/ "easy to get in." You do realize these are some of the top students and excellent students don't get in in-boundary? There are many excellent students. No seat is an "easy" seat to get. I do think MCPS needs more magnet seats overall, but suggesting in-boundary kids are in some way "less than" is just sour grapes on your part.

There are many other top students from other school zones who do not get in the program.

Leaving 25 seats for the in-boundary kids - if true - is itself suggesting the in-boundary kids are weaker (and need the favor).

If they compete fairly with other kids, it is unlikely in-boundary kids would get 25 seats in the program each year.

Maybe, suppose only 10 do, that drops the size of the magnet available to your kid to 90. You like those odds better? The 25 inbound seats don't impact out-of-bounds students and take pressure off the competition for the 100 seats. It's a win-win, unless you go all dog in the manger.

[Anonymous]

The in-boundary kids I've known all have thrived in the program. Many even go on to attend Blair SMCS. Further, there's 0 impact on: the out of boundary kids, overcrowding @TPMS, or busing costs. There's basically no downside.

The real issue which has been clear for some time is there aren't enough seats to accommodate qualified students. The county really should create an additional MS magnet to address this.

What this thread boils down to is some parents feel that because there isn't sufficient space in this program for their kid that nobody else should benefit.

Perhaps, if more parents put some thought into their choice of schools instead of relying on nonsense like GS,, they'd have avoided this mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The TPMS 25 easy to get in spots are not affirmative action spots. There is no preference given for race or FARMS. Most of those spots go to white kids. It was a hook to get more in bound private schools kids back into the school.

The DCC would do far better on test score if more people sent their kids to public instead of private schools. The private school usage in Bethesda doesn't really matter because the rest of the kids staying in public are still high scoring. This isn't true in the DCC so there need to more not less hooks to get the kids out of the privates.

This is so misinformed. Let's start w/ "easy to get in." You do realize these are some of the top students and excellent students don't get in in-boundary? There are many excellent students. No seat is an "easy" seat to get. I do think MCPS needs more magnet seats overall, but suggesting in-boundary kids are in some way "less than" is just sour grapes on your part.

There are many other top students from other school zones who do not get in the program.

Leaving 25 seats for the in-boundary kids - if true - is itself suggesting the in-boundary kids are weaker (and need the favor).

If they compete fairly with other kids, it is unlikely in-boundary kids would get 25 seats in the program each year.

Maybe, suppose only 10 do, that drops the size of the magnet available to your kid to 90. You like those odds better? The 25 inbound seats don't impact out-of-bounds students and take pressure off the competition for the 100 seats. It's a win-win, unless you go all dog in the manger.

I am not arguing for or against what should be done. I am simply addressing the "less than" part in the PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The in-boundary kids I've known all have thrived in the program. Many even go on to attend Blair SMCS. Further, there's 0 impact on: the out of boundary kids, overcrowding @TPMS, or busing costs. There's basically no downside.

The real issue which has been clear for some time is there aren't enough seats to accommodate qualified students. The county really should create an additional MS magnet to address this.

What this thread boils down to is some parents feel that because there isn't sufficient space in this program for their kid that nobody else should benefit.

Perhaps, if more parents put some thought into their choice of schools instead of relying on nonsense like GS,, they'd have avoided this mess.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The TPMS 25 easy to get in spots are not affirmative action spots. There is no preference given for race or FARMS. Most of those spots go to white kids. It was a hook to get more in bound private schools kids back into the school.

The DCC would do far better on test score if more people sent their kids to public instead of private schools. The private school usage in Bethesda doesn't really matter because the rest of the kids staying in public are still high scoring. This isn't true in the DCC so there need to more not less hooks to get the kids out of the privates.

This is so misinformed. Let's start w/ "easy to get in." You do realize these are some of the top students and excellent students don't get in in-boundary? There are many excellent students. No seat is an "easy" seat to get. I do think MCPS needs more magnet seats overall, but suggesting in-boundary kids are in some way "less than" is just sour grapes on your part.

There are many other top students from other school zones who do not get in the program.

Leaving 25 seats for the in-boundary kids - if true - is itself suggesting the in-boundary kids are weaker (and need the favor).

If they compete fairly with other kids, it is unlikely in-boundary kids would get 25 seats in the program each year.

Maybe, suppose only 10 do, that drops the size of the magnet available to your kid to 90. You like those odds better? The 25 inbound seats don't impact out-of-bounds students and take pressure off the competition for the 100 seats. It's a win-win, unless you go all dog in the manger.

I am not arguing for or against what should be done. I am simply addressing the "less than" part in the PP.

Well we just don't know that. It could be that twenty-five inbound kids would make the magnet without the set aside. Regardless, it's reasonable that there be some benefit to the community that hosts the magnet, and the town has done a good job protecting that. The creation of the accelerated courses at the home middle schools is sort of an extension of this concept--something for the cohort that didn't make the magnet cut, TP doesn't provide these classes last I heard. I don't live inbounds, but I just don't see the issue with this program. I also know families who bought inbounds, but I'll be curious to see if that works, because I'm sure there are many more I don't know, and the competition is strong.

[Anonymous]

here are many other top students from other school zones who do not get in the program.

Leaving 25 seats for the in-boundary kids - if true - is itself suggesting the in-boundary kids are weaker (and need the favor).

If they compete fairly with other kids, it is unlikely in-boundary kids would get 25 seats in the program each year.

Maybe, suppose only 10 do, that drops the size of the magnet available to your kid to 90. You like those odds better? The 25 inbound seats don't impact out-of-bounds students and take pressure off the competition for the 100 seats. It's a win-win, unless you go all dog in the manger.

I am not arguing for or against what should be done. I am simply addressing the "less than" part in the PP.

Well we just don't know that. It could be that twenty-five inbound kids would make the magnet without the set aside. Regardless, it's reasonable that there be some benefit to the community that hosts the magnet, and the town has done a good job protecting that. The creation of the accelerated courses at the home middle schools is sort of an extension of this concept--something for the cohort that didn't make the magnet cut, TP doesn't provide these classes last I heard. I don't live inbounds, but I just don't see the issue with this program. I also know families who bought inbounds, but I'll be curious to see if that works, because I'm sure there are many more I don't know, and the competition is strong.

If you are so confident that those 25 seats would go in bounds kids if they were opened up to the entire DCC then why not advocate to open them up? You know that they won't so you will passionately fight to keep them. Plus , your "community" is not hosting the magnet. Its is a MCPS program in the MCPS school system not a TP neighborhood resource. Your community can fight all the parking and development battles but you shouldn't get any special neighborhood consideration for school admissions.

The DCC is supposed to be a unified community but you are hoarding these seats for yourself. You don't deserve easier access just because you live in bounds to TPMS rather than one of the other DCC middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The in-boundary kids I've known all have thrived in the program. Many even go on to attend Blair SMCS. Further, there's 0 impact on: the out of boundary kids, overcrowding @TPMS, or busing costs. There's basically no downside.

The real issue which has been clear for some time is there aren't enough seats to accommodate qualified students. The county really should create an additional MS magnet to address this.

What this thread boils down to is some parents feel that because there isn't sufficient space in this program for their kid that nobody else should benefit.

Perhaps, if more parents put some thought into their choice of schools instead of relying on nonsense like GS,, they'd have avoided this mess.

Exactly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The TPMS 25 easy to get in spots are not affirmative action spots. There is no preference given for race or FARMS. Most of those spots go to white kids. It was a hook to get more in bound private schools kids back into the school.

The DCC would do far better on test score if more people sent their kids to public instead of private schools. The private school usage in Bethesda doesn't really matter because the rest of the kids staying in public are still high scoring. This isn't true in the DCC so there need to more not less hooks to get the kids out of the privates.

Omg

Those 25 seats should be given back to Cold Spring like in the old days before universal screening. Our children are cheated by students who are clearly undeserving.

I hope this is a joke, otherwise these W parents aren't too bright.

It seems like Blair envy has pushed a few over the edge.

[Anonymous]

What this thread boils down to is some parents feel that because there isn't sufficient space in this program for their kid that nobody else should benefit.

No, posters are only advocating that the 25 inbound seats be expanded tp include the entire DCC. In bound should be the consortium not a small portion. Expanding the inbound seats would also raise the quality of the students who take the in bound seats by providing a larger pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

here are many other top students from other school zones who do not get in the program.

Leaving 25 seats for the in-boundary kids - if true - is itself suggesting the in-boundary kids are weaker (and need the favor).

If they compete fairly with other kids, it is unlikely in-boundary kids would get 25 seats in the program each year.

Maybe, suppose only 10 do, that drops the size of the magnet available to your kid to 90. You like those odds better? The 25 inbound seats don't impact out-of-bounds students and take pressure off the competition for the 100 seats. It's a win-win, unless you go all dog in the manger.

I am not arguing for or against what should be done. I am simply addressing the "less than" part in the PP.

Well we just don't know that. It could be that twenty-five inbound kids would make the magnet without the set aside. Regardless, it's reasonable that there be some benefit to the community that hosts the magnet, and the town has done a good job protecting that. The creation of the accelerated courses at the home middle schools is sort of an extension of this concept--something for the cohort that didn't make the magnet cut, TP doesn't provide these classes last I heard. I don't live inbounds, but I just don't see the issue with this program. I also know families who bought inbounds, but I'll be curious to see if that works, because I'm sure there are many more I don't know, and the competition is strong.

If you are so confident that those 25 seats would go in bounds kids if they were opened up to the entire DCC then why not advocate to open them up? You know that they won't so you will passionately fight to keep them. Plus , your "community" is not hosting the magnet. Its is a MCPS program in the MCPS school system not a TP neighborhood resource. Your community can fight all the parking and development battles but you shouldn't get any special neighborhood consideration for school admissions.

The DCC is supposed to be a unified community but you are hoarding these seats for yourself. You don't deserve easier access just because you live in bounds to TPMS rather than one of the other DCC middle schools.

I'm the immediate PP, I live in the DCC, I don't live TP. I'm not confident of anything, but you can't be either, there's no automatic less-than, that's what I was saying. Expanding the seats to the DCC would be expanding the magnet, there's no getting around that. The set aside works because they are students already taking up seats at TP. There are plenty of reasons to expand the magnets, but that's not really relevant to the set aside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

here are many other top students from other school zones who do not get in the program.

Leaving 25 seats for the in-boundary kids - if true - is itself suggesting the in-boundary kids are weaker (and need the favor).

If they compete fairly with other kids, it is unlikely in-boundary kids would get 25 seats in the program each year.

Maybe, suppose only 10 do, that drops the size of the magnet available to your kid to 90. You like those odds better? The 25 inbound seats don't impact out-of-bounds students and take pressure off the competition for the 100 seats. It's a win-win, unless you go all dog in the manger.

I am not arguing for or against what should be done. I am simply addressing the "less than" part in the PP.

Well we just don't know that. It could be that twenty-five inbound kids would make the magnet without the set aside. Regardless, it's reasonable that there be some benefit to the community that hosts the magnet, and the town has done a good job protecting that. The creation of the accelerated courses at the home middle schools is sort of an extension of this concept--something for the cohort that didn't make the magnet cut, TP doesn't provide these classes last I heard. I don't live inbounds, but I just don't see the issue with this program. I also know families who bought inbounds, but I'll be curious to see if that works, because I'm sure there are many more I don't know, and the competition is strong.

If you are so confident that those 25 seats would go in bounds kids if they were opened up to the entire DCC then why not advocate to open them up? You know that they won't so you will passionately fight to keep them. Plus , your "community" is not hosting the magnet. Its is a MCPS program in the MCPS school system not a TP neighborhood resource. Your community can fight all the parking and development battles but you shouldn't get any special neighborhood consideration for school admissions.

The DCC is supposed to be a unified community but you are hoarding these seats for yourself. You don't deserve easier access just because you live in bounds to TPMS rather than one of the other DCC middle schools.

I'm the immediate PP, I live in the DCC, I don't live TP. I'm not confident of anything, but you can't be either, there's no automatic less-than, that's what I was saying. Expanding the seats to the DCC would be expanding the magnet, there's no getting around that. The set aside works because they are students already taking up seats at TP. There are plenty of reasons to expand the magnets, but that's not really relevant to the set aside.

You are exactly right. The problem will only be addressed when the county expands the magnets to accommodate the many qualified students for which there currently isn't room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There are many other top students from other school zones who do not get in the program.

Leaving 25 seats for the in-boundary kids - if true - is itself suggesting the in-boundary kids are weaker (and need the favor).

If they compete fairly with other kids, it is unlikely in-boundary kids would get 25 seats in the program each year.

Maybe, suppose only 10 do, that drops the size of the magnet available to your kid to 90. You like those odds better? The 25 inbound seats don't impact out-of-bounds students and take pressure off the competition for the 100 seats. It's a win-win, unless you go all dog in the manger.

I am not arguing for or against what should be done. I am simply addressing the "less than" part in the PP.

Well we just don't know that. It could be that twenty-five inbound kids would make the magnet without the set aside. Regardless, it's reasonable that there be some benefit to the community that hosts the magnet, and the town has done a good job protecting that. The creation of the accelerated courses at the home middle schools is sort of an extension of this concept--something for the cohort that didn't make the magnet cut, TP doesn't provide these classes last I heard. I don't live inbounds, but I just don't see the issue with this program. I also know families who bought inbounds, but I'll be curious to see if that works, because I'm sure there are many more I don't know, and the competition is strong.


That attitude (We don't know) is fine. I don't live inbounds and I do't have an issue with the program either. It is fine to claim (which may be true) that " it's reasonable that there be some benefit to the community that hosts the magnet,". However, when some people imply that the in-bound kids are stronger and really "deserve" the extra seats based on performance, I see that as BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The TPMS 25 easy to get in spots are not affirmative action spots. There is no preference given for race or FARMS. Most of those spots go to white kids. It was a hook to get more in bound private schools kids back into the school.

The DCC would do far better on test score if more people sent their kids to public instead of private schools. The private school usage in Bethesda doesn't really matter because the rest of the kids staying in public are still high scoring. This isn't true in the DCC so there need to more not less hooks to get the kids out of the privates.

This is so misinformed. Let's start w/ "easy to get in." You do realize these are some of the top students and excellent students don't get in in-boundary? There are many excellent students. No seat is an "easy" seat to get. I do think MCPS needs more magnet seats overall, but suggesting in-boundary kids are in some way "less than" is just sour grapes on your part.

There are many other top students from other school zones who do not get in the program.

Leaving 25 seats for the in-boundary kids - if true - is itself suggesting the in-boundary kids are weaker (and need the favor).

If they compete fairly with other kids, it is unlikely in-boundary kids would get 25 seats in the program each year.

Maybe, suppose only 10 do, that drops the size of the magnet available to your kid to 90. You like those odds better? The 25 inbound seats don't impact out-of-bounds students and take pressure off the competition for the 100 seats. It's a win-win, unless you go all dog in the manger.

I am not arguing for or against what should be done. I am simply addressing the "less than" part in the PP.

Well we just don't know that. It could be that twenty-five inbound kids would make the magnet without the set aside. Regardless, it's reasonable that there be some benefit to the community that hosts the magnet, and the town has done a good job protecting that. The creation of the accelerated courses at the home middle schools is sort of an extension of this concept--something for the cohort that didn't make the magnet cut, TP doesn't provide these classes last I heard. I don't live inbounds, but I just don't see the issue with this program. I also know families who bought inbounds, but I'll be curious to see if that works, because I'm sure there are many more I don't know, and the competition is strong.

That attitude (We don't know) is fine. I don't live in-bounds and I do't have an issue with the program either. It is fine to claim (which may be true) that " it's reasonable that there be some benefit to the community that hosts the magnet,". However, when some people imply that the in-bound kids are stronger and really "deserve" the extra seats based on performance, I see that as BS.