Reply to SSIMS vs. TPMS for 6th grade next year

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Reply to "SSIMS vs. TPMS for 6th grade next year"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We are zoned for TPMS but my kids are in French immersion so we will attend SSIMS if it is open then.  My sense is that TPMS is a better school generally.  I think a lot of the good community you’re talking about for SSIMS is part of a language program — they are a very vocal and involved bunch.  But that’s for kids who started in elementary.  There is Spanish as well (for now) but again only if your kid is already fluent.[/quote]

Does this mean there are no introductory world language classes at SSIMS?  Also appreciate the insights re immersion community.  This was my concern with TPMS--if everything is "about the magnet" and how that makes non-magnet kids feel.  We've also been privileged to have a really excellent peer group in elementary in terms of being academically focused and positive about school, so that's something we want to preserve and it's hard to parse whether that exists for kids outside "special programs" in MCPS.[/quote]

I have a kid at TPMS who qualified for the Magnet but didnt get a spot (there is a lottery component). And it is not a problem at all. I say that as someone who was originally disappointed. The language classes seem strong and challenging in both Spanish and French. There are several differentiated levels of enrichment for math so that kids can stay challenged (compacted math options, Algebra 1 in 7th grade etc..). The magnet and non-magnet kids are in the same classes outside of the science and computer classes.

I don't know enough about SIMS myself, will just repeat what i heard from another family who ended up transfering back from SIMS to TPMS. The kid ended up putting a higher value on being with his neighborhood friends than continuing in the French immersion track they had started in ES as the kid was already a native speaker. So not an overall diss on SIMS BUT they felt that at SIMS the difference between the French immersion kids and the general SIMS pop was starker (than the TPMS magnet/non magnet) and that there was a difference in level and atmosphere between the 2 MS.

If it was just choosing non magnet TPMS versus non- French immersion SIMS, i understand the choice would be easy. But i hear you on the difference in house prices, that is a tough choice. Not sure where SIMS feeds into for the future high schools and regions. But I would add that Region 1 seems like one of the best options. [/quote]

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