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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]As a non-RM cluster parent, when DC applied last year we were not informed about the increasing number of students entering the IB diploma program in 11th grade. The informational meetings for out-of-RM cluster parents before we applied strongly emphasized the cohort concept, that RMIB had a highly rigorous application process and was intended for highly gifted students who could not have their needs met at their home school (analogous to special ed students whose needs cannot be met at the home school). The issue is maintaining the integrity of the magnet cohort. It’s fine for 11th graders to decide to apply for the IB diploma, but they should not be considered part of the magnet cohort unless they have gone through the same or similar application process that the out-of-RM cluster students did. If RM had been more transparent about the changes occurring that affect the integrity of the magnet cohort and that thus affect the the degree to which the needs of these highly gifted students are being met, we would have leaned more toward our W school, which is across the street from our home. For us it was about the cohort, not necessarily the reputation of the RMIB program. Out-of-cluster RMIB students, who left their home schools and their friends to come from all over the county, might feel demoralized to find out that, once they are at RM, the RM diploma program (and, more importantly, the cohort) are open to many RM cluster students who express interest as sophomores. Sure, let these students go for the IB diploma (IB is intended for all students), but they shouldn’t be part of the magnet cohort (which is intended for highly gifted stjdents) without the same qualifications. The integrity of the cohort should be kept to meet the academic and social needs of these highly gifted students, whose needs (like those of special ed students) are often different from those of other students.[/quote]

So you are advocating separate ib classes for non rm students?  I can't help but remember similar threads when Blair got a new principal and magnet coordinator..and non magnet kids could take magnet classes.  A huge disaster...the end if the magnet..   Don't worry!  Your brilliant child will be fine.  [/quote]
The difference is that although magnet electives in 11th and 12th grade are open to non magnet students, they can't accommodate more than a couple of these non magnet students.  If there is one class on Thermodynamics, magnet students will take up most of those spots and non magnet students are admitted on a space available basis (assuming they have completed the prereqs).  
I am not sure how it works in RM but it does sound like there is less magnet cohort cohesion in 11th and 12th grade.  One issue is that the 9th and 10th grade magnet IB curriculum and expectations are unusually rigorous and these students are entering 11th and 12th grade at a different level of preparation.  So yes, I can see that there would be some concern about lower expectations and less rigor if you have less prepared students coming in.  The teachers would have to change how they teach.  
I think there is less support in MCPS for magnet programs in general and the move over time will be for more integration into the regular school.  Would agree with previous posters that this will make these programs less attractive for students who give up a lot to attend magnet programs.  Some kids spend a couple of hours a day riding buses.  My child was up until 2 in the morning finishing up homework- he gets a lot out of these programs but he has also put a lot of himself into them.  He has really benefited from the MCPS magnet programs over the years.  I encouraged him to apply initially because I thought he needed the additional intellectual challenge.  What I did not appreciate at the time was how important the peer group has been for him emotionally and socially.  This has been nearly as important as the intellectual and academic benefit he has received over the years.  I am very grateful that MCPS was able to meet the needs of my child.  He is nearly done with MCPS and I am not too worried about him but I do worry about all the highly gifted kids who need these special programs for all aspects of their personal development.
MCPS is a large school system with large populations of special needs students.  There is room in such a large system for programs that serve each of these student populations.[/quote]

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