Reply to Gifted & talented programs and magnet school opportunities in the public schools?

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Reply to "Gifted & talented programs and magnet school opportunities in the public schools?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]As predicted, OP's question has become yet another debate on expanding the magnets, so I may as well weigh in.

I think expanding access to the HS magnets is a good thing, EVEN IF it means some incremental drop in "rigor" in the formerly county-wide magnets.

Right now, MCPS has an approach that seeks to max out the potential of a handful of kids while leaving the rest with almost no access to differentiated or enriched instruction until 11th grade.

This is the wrong approach for a public school system, particularly one with as many high achievers as MCPS has.

There's no denying that expanding access from the "top" 1% to the "top" 5% will make some sort of a difference, but not a meaningful one and certainly not one that should stop MCPS from expanding the programs. [/quote]

I agree more access is needed. But why can’t MCPS preserve a well established program and allow top 1% continue to access it while having other top 5% programs. It’s a mistake to kill these nationally recognized successful programs just for equity. Many people chose to live in Montgomery county due to these programs. 
[/quote]

We don't know that any programs will be "killed."[/quote]

Limiting access to only a few schools is essentially killing the program. In a few years, they won’t be able to compete at the state or national level, the very competitions that built their reputation.  [b]With the top 1% of students spread across six regions, it’s possible that none of the MCPS magnet programs will be able to compete with FCPS, or even HCPS in the future. [/b][/quote]
Actually, that's the reason MCPS is better than them, and dominating them in competitions. MCPS doesn't put all of its eggs in one basket,  they're spread out. Reason why MCPS has lot more schools that can compete in competitions, while only TJ in FCPS can really compete. [/quote]

Ahh? Where did you get this information? Based on my kid's experience (one STEM subject at national competition level), there are constantly some FCPS kids not from TJ ranking high in those competitions. I personally know at least two chose to decline TJ offers because they'd like to have more extra time for ECs. If a kid is at the top 1% level and understands the trade-offs at the end of 8th grade, that kid can be successful no matter where they go. The kids with high aptitudes and family resources are not impacted much either. It's the ones that have aptitudes but living in low-ranking HS regions/with limited family support and do not have a clear picture what they want that are going to be left behind if cancelling countywide SMACS/IB programs. So let's talk about equity.[/quote]

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