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 PP was not suggesting anything you have quoted. The PP is suggesting that magnet IB and non-magnet IB in RM should be separated. Magnet IB always had RM-cluster students selected through application process.

If RM/MCPS wants to make IBDP accessible to all RM students (without any restricting qualification process like the magnet students go through), that's a great idea. However, they should not be in the magnet program, since the main reason the magnet students leave their home school to go to RM is to get the focused educational acceleration and enrichment with a cohort of like-need students.

The people who are proposing the magnet students being mixed with comprehensive students at RM, should clearly make a case for abolishing magnet program altogether and leave the magnet students in their own local school with the comprehensive students of their own neighborhood. Their should be no facade of a magnet education, if it is not provided in the way it was promised to the students and the parents.[/quote]

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