High school magnet test
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Anonymous
So anyone that applied to criteria based programs will be in the lottery or will there be a pool of applicants that meet certain criteria, eg. GPA min, that will be considered in the lottery? |
Anonymous
Which school? I haven't seen anything yet. |
Anonymous
Was this letter for HS or MS magnets? |
Anonymous
I think this poster is confused or trying to have some fun. |
Anonymous
That requires too much effort. I prefer to get my information 3rd hand from an anonymous forum. |
Anonymous
Agreed. Nothing posted on MCPS re: Blair STEM magnet and no emails sent to applicants yet. |
Anonymous
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OP here , not at all trying to have fun here. We all should get an official email from MCPS by the day end today. MCPS Magnet (Criteria-based) Admission Process: Pandemic Plan Overview
Key Changes/Pandemic Plan: MCPS will maintain a multiple measures approach for identifying students for magnet (criteria-based) programs, and some changes are necessary as a result of conditions associated with the pandemic and virtual processes. These changes include: External measures are included but will not utilize the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) as a criteria to select students for the 2021-2022 school year because of limits to in-person testing and concerns with remote testing; Addition of a lottery approach along with an expert review panel for elementary and middle school programs; and Removal of teacher recommendations as part of the high school process, given the conditions of virtual learning. The Impact of covid-19 Our choice work has affirmed that we have highly-able students in all schools, zip codes and neighborhoods. Serving our students is critically important and we do this in a variety of ways. Enriched programming to students is provided at their local school, through regional (magnet) programs and thematic based (interest-based) programs . Although the pandemic has impacted school systems across the nation, it is important to continue identifying and providing access to students who need and/or are interested in enriched and accelerated programming. Identifying students for enriched and accelerated programming begins with using multiple measures. In response to the pandemic, we are making adjustments to the admission process for elementary and secondary regional (magnet) programs this year. Admission Process This year, as in all years prior, using multiple measures is important to seeing a student’s academic profile. It will include student data collected pre-Covid and in 2020. This set of data will provide a holistic view of students and their academic needs. Multiple measures have always been used in the admission process for MCPS’ magnet programs at the elementary and secondary levels. To ensure equitable access to programming, like many other large school systems, MCPS will not administer the CogAT, a reasoning ability assessment, this year. The elementary and middle school admission process will begin with a universal review and program placement will use both an expert panel committee and a lottery. The lottery pool will be comprised of students who demonstrate a need for enriched and accelerated instruction. All students who are in the lottery pool will either be placed in regional or local enriched programming. . The high school programs will continue with professional review committees to evaluate the students’ academic profiles for each program they applied. Key Dates: High School Magnet (Criteria-based) Programs Nov 30 Parent/Guardian Communication to only students who applied to one or more programs Jan 2021 Review committees evaluate student applicants Feb 2021 Parent/guardian and school results, notification, acceptances, and appeals Middle School Magnet (Criteria-based) Programs Dec 4 Parent/Guardian Communication to Grade 5 parents about admission process and parent/guardian information meeting Dec 21 Downcounty presentation (virtual) English 6 p.m., Spanish 7 p.m. Dec 22 Upcounty presentation (virtual) English 6 p.m., Spanish 7 p.m. Feb 2021 Universal Review, Parent/guardian/school results, notification March 2021 Parent/guardian/students acceptances and appeals Centers for Enriched |
Anonymous
| PP’s post indicates lottery for ES and MS, but not HS. Looks like data for HS applicants will be pretty thin. |
Anonymous
Yes, very thin. Doesn't mention MAP scores and removing teacher recs means grades and answers/essay only from the application! |
Anonymous
| If they aren’t using teacher recs because of DL, hard to see that they could rationalize using DL era grades. But maybe they don’t see the disconnect yet? |
Anonymous
I was assuming MAP was part of the "student data collected pre-Covid and in 2020," but this year's MAP scores need to be taken with a grain of salt, and I don't know how far back they can go. I'm also guessing that, in addition to grades, they'd look at course load. So, for example, an 8th grader currently taking Algebra 2 might be seen to need SMCS more than a student in Geometry, who might need it more than a student in Algebra 1. And for IB they could look at what level language the kids are in and whether they're currently in HIGH. But, still. Thin. This class is the one that was the guinea pig class for the new MS magnet criteria as well, so maybe they're used to some randomness. |
Anonymous
| This is perfect for MCPS. An already non-transparent process has gotten progressively less transparent. The trend will continue. |
Anonymous
| Does lottery for MS magnet reduce the attractiveness given the long bus ride, especially with peer cohort not as strong as before? |
Anonymous
What do you want them to do? They can't administer CogAt. They can't use teacher's recommendations due to DL. Not even PARCCs anymore. So they only have MAPs and grades to work with. I guess the committee will look at MAPs progression (I'd go a at least a year back) and grade pattern. Oh, and for MS magnet admission, I'd really proctor the upcoming winter MAPs. 
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Anonymous
MAP scores were not considered in the past for HS programs and the FAQ doesn't list MAP as a data point. But who knows now because of COVID. My son did well on MAP this fall- but I agree that overall the scores should be taken with a grain of salt. Good question about how far they can go back for MAP scores. My son only has MAP scores from the Fall of 7th grade and earlier grades. He didn't take the winter test and obviously spring in 7th. So not much to compare. I'm sure there are many more kids like him. Course load is a possibility, but Blair STEM, for example, has always offered Magnet Geometry, Magnet PreCalc, and Magnet Functions to 9th graders. I assume they will again next fall so for example, Algebra 2 students will probably be compared to other Algebra 2 students, who will probably take Magnet Functions, and Geometry to other Geometry students that will take Magnet PreCalc, and finally Algebra I to Algebra I, who will take Magnet Geometry. I believe historically the smallest group in terms of enrollment is the latter. Regarding IB programs, immersion students are not enrolled in HIGH so that would only apply to non-immersion students that have taken 3 years of language in MS and also enrolled in HIGH. |