Reply to Two paths to magnet program at Richard Montgomery High School

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[quote=Anonymous]MCPS has created a dichotomy in the application based magnet programs all over county where AEI owns the magnet program, but does not have performance oversight over the Principals. The office who oversees the Principal performance does not own the success of magnet programs.

The goals of these two offices often conflict; one office's major goal is to close achievement gap and access issue within each school, and the other office's goal is to provide accelerated and enriched education to the Highly gifted kids selected based on a very selective application process. The achievement gap in the magnet schools are much more pronounced than any other schools. As a result the Principals often resort to gaming the system to further their career since MCPS provides them carte blanche to run the magnet programs in their schools and also the responsibility to close the gap. In addition the Principals are given a free hand to use the extra county resources  for the magnet programs.

This results in a very difficult environment for the magnet students; magnet school Principal love their test scores, but hate to provide them the extra support they need to reach their potential.

In the recent years magnet school Principals, coordinator and outspoken teachers have been either transferred, promoted or pushed out from the school. Recently there has been some major changes at RMHS. The current Principal removed the previous magnet coordinator with 10 years of experience based on personal disagreement with her over how to run the magnet program. The explanations given to the school community has been extremely inadequate and did not pass the smell test.

RM parents have been trying to understand the implication of the changes on the program itself. While looking for information they have found that, RM has two paths to the magnet program; one that is advertised on the MCPS website and one that is only shared with the local Julius West parents in freshman orientation.

About 900+ students from all over Montgomery county apply to RM, for about a 100 seats. Only Julius West Middle school students apply to additional 25/30 seats. These students go through the same application process in 8th grade. This is the first path to be selected at the magnet program at RM. All JWMS students eventually join RM. In the freshman orientation they are told they have a second shot at the magnet program. They can apply in 10th grade to join the same magnet program in 11th grade. This is the second path. Students following both the path are awarded the same degree and same accolades.

Until recently the second path had a application process similar to the county wide application process. It has recently been changed so that any RM student in 10th grade who shows interest and has a strong academic record can join the magnet program through counselling.

RM has a open house for magnet program next week. The reason I want this out in open so that all MCPS parents can ask the school why they do not advertise this information clearly on MCPS site. Every year, many students feel disappointed and dejected when they are rejected from RM. Parents should also ask why does the school feel 10th grade RM students should get another chance at the magnet program while so many academically curious, ready and needy students are turned away in 8th grade.

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