Reply to feedback on Argyle Middle School Magnet Program for digital design and development

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[quote=Anonymous]Parent of a kid zoned for the MSMC here, and I teach in one of the ESes.  The "problem" with Argyle is that it's sort of the odd one out when it comes to the MSMC, and the local kids get to rank their choices of the three.  Loiederman is the visual and performing arts school, which attracts not just artsy kids, but also the quieter and more shy students, as well as a higher percentage of girls.  My experience from my students is that Loiederman has a reputation for being "safe" both socially and emotionally.  Nice kids go there.  My own third grader has already decided that's where she wants to go.

Parkland, with the aerospace focus, has a reputation for really smart kids.  Even if they're not particularly interested in space, kids who get really good grades want to go there because they assume they will be around other really smart kids.  It's reputation here on DCUM is even good, which says a lot given it's location, and the way DCUM typically reacts to schools in our neck of the woods.

Argyle, however, has a somewhat vague (to rising 6th graders, that is) magnet focus, and ends up being a sort of catch-all choice.  If you DON'T want "the girls school" or "the nerd school" you pick Argyle, because you have to pick one of them.  It's not necessarily kids who have chosen to be in a digital design program.  I think what PPs are witnessing (or have heard) is just local kids who didn't have a particular passion when it came to choosing middle school, or didn't get their top lottery choice, or moved into the area too late to choose and Argyle was the only one with spots left.

Having said all that, I have never actually been to Argyle during a student day or seen classes in progress for myself.  I have however taught many, many of the students there, and in my 15 years at my current school, there have been only a handful of students that I would specifically NOT want my own children to be in class with.

I'm not sure what to tell you about what you should do, OP.  Perhaps give it a try for a quarter or semester, and be prepared to move to your child's home school if it doesn't work out.  Your DS always has the option of his home school, but you can't give up your spot at Argyle and get it back later if he changes his mind.[/quote]

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