Forum Index
»
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
Takoma Park vs. Silver Spring ES and MS....how important is the MS before HS?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
Takoma Park vs. Silver Spring ES and MS....children would attend Mont. Blair in either neighborhood. Eldest is currently in the TPES/PBES/TMS pipeline to Blair; the other neighborhood we are considering she and her little sis would be in the Mont. Knolls ES/Pinecrest/Eastern MS to Blair pipeline...my only concern is really with the MS--Eastern Middle. We did not try for the HG Centers for 4th as my daughter is flourishing in school with just being pulled out for Reading and Math at above grade level. At 8, my only desire is that she love school--and she does. LIttle sis is still in nursery school so we don't know what her experience will be just yet. I love TPMS, we dont know if we want to aim for Magnets yet or not. What concerns me is if they do not qualify for Magnets, will or can they get a good education at Eastern MS before Blair (as opposed to TPMS before Blair)?
We could stay in Takoma or move to SS (I prefer the houses in SS)...so any info on the Middle school issue would help... we considered the private Catholic school in SS but we'd prefer to go public... Thanks! |
Anonymous
| Are you looking in Woodmoor? Why not look in Indian Spring, and get Highland View and SSIMS? Highland View is k-5 so you might have a better chance of both kids in the same school, and SSIMS has an IB program. |
Anonymous
| SSIMS also has French and Spanish immersion. If you can manage to get your kids into one of the ES immersion programs, they would continue at SSIMS. |
Anonymous
|
OP here, I really am looking at them going to Blair, and I thought that neighborhood was Northwood? correct me if Im wrong. We have friends in that neighborhood who love Highland View.....I know nothing about Northwood but plenty about Blair, which is why we are seeking to be in that school cluster
Thanks |
Anonymous
| OP, WHICH neighborhood are you referring to? Indian Spring? At any rate, be careful to use the school locater function on the MCPS website when considering real estate. For instance, some SSIMS students continue to Northwood and some to Blair, depending on their home address. |
Anonymous
|
The DCC is a consortium. So 8th graders may choose among the following high schools: Blair, Einstein, Kennedy, Northwood, and Wheaton.
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/downcounty/ |
Anonymous
| But there are no guarantees that the consortium will continue in the future. Cuts to consortium transportation and supports were put on the table, and then removed. |
Anonymous
I honestly can't imagine that, PP. The DCC schools do have "true" home bases if the constium were to end. In the NEC, however, because Blake was added as a new school, its boundaries are not "true" boundaries. And where it's placed, I believe, overlaps with students zoned for Sherwood and possibly parts of Rockville. Anyway, if they eliminated the DCC, the county would have to also end the NEC, which would mean major redistricting and TONS of paperwork to enroll (and reregister) students. It would be one hot mess! |
Anonymous
How does this work exACTLY? Doesn't sound like you are guaranteed your "choice". If so, how would they prevent everyone from choosing Blair? |
Anonymous
| Re the issue of Eastern MS versus Takoma MS -- for kids who are not in one of the magnets at either school, Takoma MS has a reputation for being much stronger all-round. |
Anonymous
| OP here, in the case of Eastern MS vs. Takoma MS, if you were in the Eastern area and child did not make magnet, would a private school (catholic) be better? this has delayed our move due to the MS issue, I like that neighborhood better for ME, but the school is better here for the kids, I just do not like the street I live on (all the houses are group houses/apartments/etc. so we do not know any of our immediate neighbors, I literally wouldnt recognize them)...thanks for any info |
Anonymous
I agree with this assessment. |
Anonymous
Not everyone wants Blair. |
Anonymous
It would depend on the Catholic school, I suppose. St. Bernadette's in Silver Spring has a good reputation, but I believe it's hard to get into because of demand. |
Anonymous
There are three ways to get into Blair: (1) It's your home school. (2) Lottery. In the fall of the year before entry, you go to your local school and fill out some forms to enter into the consortium for a different school. You list your first 2, maybe your first 3, schools. They let you know in the spring. I don't know what the odds of getting in from the lottery are. (3) Magnet programs. There are two test-entry programs at Blair. These are the math/science magnet, and the CAP (communication arts) program. For both, you apply in the fall before entry, by filling out forms and completing essays, and then you take a test in December. You get the results in March. For number 2 and 3, you could find out more on the MCPS website. |