Reply to Did the Takoma MS magnet got MORE white this year?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]This is an important point in this conversation. Groups of kids are represented over others in these programs because they are practicing privately -- some in formal classes and some just benefiting from parental help/guidance. TPMS magnet has a high percentage of Asian kids because they (overall, not every Asian kid) are in regular private classes for a variety of academic subjects: test prep, Mathcounts, general math/English, etc for months, even year round. We don't do that, but my kids have the benefit of academic parents who can tutor them in various topics. Is it the County's fault that some kids have advantages outside of school that affect their performance in school? I don't think so. Could the County add programs to enhance learning opportunities for kids who don't get it privately? Yes. And, I think they should, but, it is complicated. The kids who are in the constant prep classes are exhausted and don't have time to be kids. One kid complains that between magnet homework, test prep/enhancement classes, instrument practice/ensembles (2 instruments), they go to bed in the wee hours of the morning. They also have a long commute. They also excel at school/tests (and largely outscore my kid) because they/their family invests so much. But, would the County even want to match that if they could (which they couldn't)? That's one reason why I hope application programs keep personal essays, extra curriculars and teacher recs in the mix. They give more of a picture of the whole student. (Of course, there are essay writing courses out there, I'm sure). Also, to consider, these students who are prepping are working very hard and able to benefit from challenging curriculum. Should they be scrutinized more because they prep? I don't know. I think we just need more seats for these programs![/quote]

I think these are difficult questions and they illustrate what MCPS has to deal with. You have one very vocal subset of parents demanding more and more advanced courses, which are in part necessary because those same parents are spending thousands of dollars to keep their kids significantly ahead of grade level.

It's basically an arms race, and it is one that MCPS will never win because there will always be a private test prep company willing to keep the kids EVEN FURTHER ahead. All of this in an environment of limited resources where there are bright and motivated kids who are NOT getting coaching outside of school to get and stay ahead.

I'm sympathetic to MCPS here. They can't win. [/quote]
Why do people assume that every high achiever takes prep/tutoring classes?   Mine do not.

But even if they are, they are still "studying".  They are putting in the extra effort so that they do well in school and are more challenged. Why would you want everyone to be mediocre rather than high achieving? And yes, for many students, it takes prepping/tutoring to be high achieving.

MCPS  like to tout how we have a high AP test participation rate; it touts the high SAT/AP test scores, etc... but then frowns on students studying extra to achieve those high scores?

Would they be happier if no one prepped and the test scores were lower than they are now?

Can't have it both ways.[/quote]

Agree. THe ECs and tutoring going on in our school pyramid is not to catch up, get better grades or ace a standardized test.  It is to stimulate the bright child- since MoCo is not, it is to fill in holes with better math or writing methods - since MoCo is riddled with foundational holes, and it is to add content not at MCPS ES like languages, hand writing, science experiments, music, even sports frankly since 30 mins of PE is a joke.

Meanwhile, Smith doesn't care and can focus on the achievement gap. [/quote]

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