Reply to Takoma Park vs Bethesda

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=scotcitz]First of all, if you're considering a move to MoCo for schools, it will be tough to get into the really selective special programs from afar. So if your kids are at transitional times -- eg 7th or 5th grades-- you should check carefully if they really will be considered for magnet programs. All of the program applications deadline around early November for the following year. I faced the same choice 2 years ago and chose the Takoma Park/Blair thing -- I like the diversity on this side of the county and I think both those schools have a lot of heart. But basically what I learned is that public education in [b]MoCo is about a lot of navigation [/b]and you're going to wind up with great teachers/poor teachers all over the place. It's a little more homogeneous at BCC, but I think the more capable kids are a little more cherished at Blair. Here's an issue though -- your move will resonate for years. [b]In trying for high school magnets, it turns out that that they pull a lot from middle school magnets [/b](apparently) which essentially means that your chances of getting into a high school magnet can relate as far back as to where you were in 4th grade and applying for middle school magnets ... like everywhere, parents are very aware of the systems and looking out for opportunities for their kids for years, which can make it harder for newcomers to compete for spots. This is impressionistic, I haven't seen hard numbers, but I do know [b]a lot of the high school magnet slots are filled by MS middle school kids[/b]. And that's understandable, just a bit frustrating for newcomers with very capable kids.  And I can't complain because I was in the same position in a very wacky school district in which the waiting list started at birth ... if you moved in even when the kid was one you were essentially shut out of the local (very good) public school and had to go elsewhere.[/quote]

It is true that many of the middle and high school competitive-entrance magnet programs are heavily populated by students who were, respectively, in elementary school Center (gifted) and middle school magnet programs - but that is not because these schools "pull" from the magnets; it is because these kids are highly capable and are admitted on that basis (testing, transcripts, recommendations).  It is also true that many Center and magnet kids are not invited to the middle & high school magnets (my kid is one of them) and that many "regular" program kids are.

I agree that being an MCPS parent, particularly in eastern MoCo, entails a lot of navigating and strategizing.  It is exhausting and frustrating.[/quote]

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