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[quote=Anonymous]This topic has been beaten to death lately and yet, the more we talk about it, CO seems to move even further in the wrong direction. Since it is clear that some of them are lurking here and post from time to time to defend their ill-conceived plan, here is another attempt to save them (and MoCo families) from the disaster they are creating.

The current plan will backfire for many reasons:

- there is way too many new magnets; some of them are highly specialized programs completely inappropriate and/or unnecessary at high school level
- when almost every program is called magnet, nothing is – the plan defeats the whole idea of magnets being designed to challenge academically advanced kids
- placing magnets at top schools defeats the idea of strengthening less fortunate schools through adding new classes and attracting quality students
- placing magnets at very bottom performing schools gives little chance such magnets to succeed as very few will send kids there
- new magnets have clearly watered-down curriculums compared to today’s top magnets which can hardly be in anyone’s interest

As a result, this 30-new-magnets plan will create magnets in name only and ruin MoCo reputation among college admission professionals, while not helping anybody.

But let’s assume that status quo is unacceptable for reasons stated many times – lack of access and equity. Instead of introducing never heard of magnets, why not keep it simple and expand the programs that are well established and successful. For example:

- four regions, each with seven or eight schools, reasonably diverse
- two magnets in each region – one that mimic Blair STEM magnet and one that mimic RBIM – one for STEM driven students and one for humanities driven students; everything else at this point in life for students is a distraction and waste of limited resources
- don’t place magnets in the top two schools academically in any given region as they probably already have rich advanced class offerings
- don’t place magnets in the bottom two schools academically in any given region as they will attract very few students

Benefits:

- you only need to install five new magnets (Blair, Poolesville and RBIM already exist)
- there is a much less of a risk that new magnets will fail – they will follow successful examples, have highly relevant curriculums and draw students from 7-8 schools instead of just 4-5 as currently proposed
- the number of spots for academically advanced students will approximately triple compared to what we have today
- bus rides for most magnet kids will be shorter compared to what we have today

As for equity, equity cannot be fixed with new magnets. That is not what magnets are for. So you offer an art magnet and somehow it is helping with equity. It does not. It just creates false sense that you are doing something. Equity should be fixed with new class offerings (AP type classes that actually prepare you for most majors in college)  in all high schools. So instead of wasting resources on magnets such as arts and bio-engineering, spend money and energy on hiring teachers and introducing advanced classes in all schools that currently don’t have them. It doesn’t matter that there may not be enough interest today in some schools. Offer challenging classes and smart kids will come.
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