Leaving Clemente/TPMS STEM Magnet for Robert Frost - would you do it?
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Anonymous
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Our family is considering leaving a STEM Magnet for Robert Frost due to wanting to avoid a terrible commute.
Does anyone have experience with these programs and is throwing away a magnet education stupid in this case? |
Anonymous
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It might be the only legitimate reason for leaving a magnet. But please think through this carefully. Can you carpool?
I know families who have VERY long commutes to go to their preferred school, be it a public magnet or a reputable private (one wakes their kid up at 6 to drive to St Albans). Consider that MCPS high schools start early anyway, and that your child will end up waking up early to go to high school no matter what. I do not personally know any families who gave up a spot because of commute, but some DCUM posters have said they did that. |
Anonymous
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I know lots of people decline due to commute, and lots of people also decline because their kids go to Frost or Pyle or somewhere "great."
We are mostly concerned with our kid's quality of life, and we feel equipped to provide supplements and enrichment. Does Frost have: - a strong math team? - what are the STEM electives? - are there any graphic design electives? - sports? I can't locate their course bulletin online. |
Anonymous
| What does your child want? |
Anonymous
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OP
My children were accepted to Magnets in MS & HS, but commuting for us just was too hard. We are in the Cabin John - Wootton cluster. In my mind, Frost is as good or better than Cabin John. My children were accepted for college at MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and a few others as good or better all in Stem, mostly Engineering/CS double majors. No this will not hurt your child. We did not supplement, per se. We did use tutors for our youngest mostly as a tool not to fight over homework, not because skills were lacking. Mine all took the highest level maths offered and went to HS for math in middle school. They also all participated at Wootton the CS programs, which have changed over the years I think now it is called The Academy of Information Technology (AOIT). MCPS has many issues the STEM, math curriculums not one of them. |
Anonymous
Doesn't seem to care, but wouldn't mind ditching the magnet curriculum. |
Anonymous
| Both my kids did magnet at Clemente. I see the value in the program, but there are downsides. The non-magnet courses- English and languages in particular- are underwhelming. If you're on the fence, and your local school is strong, I would avoid the commute. Clemente is good but not worth stressing over the daily commute. |
Anonymous
There is your answer. |
Anonymous
100% agree |
Anonymous
Me three. |
Anonymous
| Magnet is not worth it. |
Anonymous
Its worth it if its important to you or your child but otherwise there is only a slight advantage. |
Anonymous
Take this thread with a grain of salt so many kids waiting in the pool. However if you know it’s not right for your kid, please release the spot to someone else. |
Anonymous
Agreed...many kids do not care about the bus ride because they love the program. If your kid does not care abouf the magnet but hates the bus ride...I would just go to your local school. |
Anonymous
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OP here. To be clear we are currently already doing the magnet. We’d be leaving for 7th and 8th. We know what the magnet is like. It’s fine but not the end all be all we thought it could have been. That said we’ve only been there for the pandemic so maybe it would be different in person. I imagine our kid would be in accelerated math if we departed so that seems locked in.
Does that change anything? Child would be moving to a new home school with new kids. |