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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]In an appeal to the MD Board of Education, the decision stated that in the year considered (I think 2013) TPMS accepted 121 and waitlisted 72.  That is close to 200 so it seems likely that they must look at more than 200 to figure out who to admit and waitlist.  [/quote]

This is a magnet.  If you cast the net any wider, you dilute the program.[/quote]

What do you mean?   This was in response to the poster who said that they only look at the top 200 applicants.  Seems that they have to look at more than that to get to this number of acceptances + waitlists. [/quote]

The kids who kill the tests are the ones meant for the program.  If you widen the pool, it's doubtful you'll find more students capable nailing the reading, the Raven, and/or the essay/math section.

You'll only get kids who are mediocre at best.

Come on, folks. We know whose kids are brilliant.  My kid wanted to test in, but she's not magnet material.  I let her try.  She said the Raven was easy up to a certain point, and most kids - including my daughter - couldn't finish or fine tune the essay.

And it's true that many cannot think outside the box.  But those students who go into a test cold, read a question,and instantly come up with a brilliant response are indeed magnet quality.

It's about content knowledge and time management.  Kids who have mastered time management have an advantage.

Not every kid is brilliant, and that's why they've opened up opt in IB programs at the high school level.  Kids who work hard may not earn all As but they'll be challenged. A true magnet, however, is very selective, as it should be.

As a parent, I support that philosophy.  But I do think that some parents take it personally when little Joey doesn't make the final cut.  I'm sure Joey is smart, but he's not brilliant.  And there's nothing wrong with being smart!  
[/quote]

I actually have a different perspective on this.  My kids are in magnets and HGC currently.  They are not brilliant.  They are "more than above average" in my estimation - but that comes from hard work.  So, each time they take these admission tests - there are no guarantees if they will get in.

If I agree that the magnets are truly for the brilliant, maybe only 5 kids would deserve to get in.  So, in a way magnets are already diluted.  However, the value to these 5 genius kids is that their peer group is the nearest approximation to an ideal real life work place for them.  Once they get out in the real world they will not even find these many "more than above average"  individuals around them in their work place.

So, why would I or many of my friends or parents of other HGC kids really want their kids to get into this program?  I do not believe that most people do this because of wanting to have bragging rights.  I feel sorry for you if that has been your experience.  My experience has been that -

1) There is no curriculum for smart kids.   The quality and level of regular school curriculum is too low (and that was pre-2.0) for many of these "more than above average" kids. The only other choice is magnet programs.  The magnet curriculum may be a breeze for these 5 genius kids, but it is still challenging for the rest of magnet kids.  If the magnet curriculum was offered at each school, those who self selected to take these tests, would not want to leave their home schools.

2) The standard of curriculum in many other countries  is very high.  I know this because I am from an Asian country.  My  very average nieces and nephews in my home country were not born any smarter than my own kid, but what their kids are learning and the curriculum they are following is far advanced than what my kid is learning. In the end, our kids have to compete in a global workplace.

3)Some kids and some families put a very high value on education. Many of the kids have been enriched at home from a very young age.  For them not to have a school environment that is challenging will eventually mean that they will be bored and disengaged from learning.

This has been my experience. No, none of the parents I have made friends with at the magnet programs do this for bragging rights. They all understand that one bad testing day can prevent their kids from getting into this program.  They know that luck plays a big role and each one of them has thought of a plan "B".  No one is going to kill themselves if their child does not get in.  I am not saying that there are not some parents like PP mentioned - but thankfully, I have managed not to have any interactions with them till now.

Most parents want a challenging curriculum for their children that can nurture their love for learning.  Apart from magnets - there are no alternatives - currently.[/quote]

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