Reply to Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have not read this whole thread but I have a child who would be a great fit for one of the middle school magnets but the commute would absolutely kill any downtime they might have. But our home school is not good and has no real accelerated classes aside from Math. The whole idea of these limited programs being available ONLY BY LOTTERY and only for kids who can manage the commute is insane. Every single school should have an actual advanced program and if we are going to do magnets there should be a magnet within a reasonable radius for every kid. [/quote]

I guess the question is, are people saying they want an actual magnet program or do they want a good school?

I know it's not a popular opinion nowadays but schools was a major factor on where we decided to move to.  If schools weren't a factor, we would've been open to a lot more areas.

Yes, the area we picked is more expensive and on the wealthier side.

So my point of view is that the magnet program is a really specialized program for the really elite few.  You see the kind of things those students are showcasing at local events and it's really a different breed.  We would've liked for our kids to go to those special programs.  But prior to all the changes going on or proposed, we are fully okay with the local schools we're currently zoned for.

Are people asking for more access to the actual current magnet programs and what it offers.  Or are people asking for better schools where their kids would have access to the more higher level and rigorous classes?  ie in the groups we are in, not just in MCPS but in surrounding school systems, taking Calculus by 10th grade is very normal and there is the full expectation that the local high schools have what the students need/want for grades 11 and 12.

I'm not saying that there should be a high price of entry for "good" schools.  But I'm questioning if people are really asking for magnet programs or if they're asking for better schools.[/quote]

People are asking for both.

It’s a well known fact that some schools and cluster lack the more advance and specialized classes and programs. There is a sense of lower expectations because there are more EML students or less vocal parents. However evidence has shown that when provide the challenge students will rise to it.  It’s also been proven in MCPS own data that the EML students are completely capable of performing at proficient or above levels once they exit the English learning program.

Taking Calculus by 10th grade is not that normal. It’s very accelerated and most college professors think it’s overkill and kids are not getting good foundations. Calculus by 12th is the goal (and technically that accelerated). Calculus by 11th is supposed to be the highly accelerated.  Calculus by 10th, and now people are wondering why is everyone trying to accelerate further. What’s the goal?  Yes, some kids are extremely math inclined and some very small number are beautiful mind like gifted.  But not than many.  What’s going on here mostly is parents racing and enriching like it’s a sport. [/quote]

And that is my issue with what MCPS is doing. Not in regards to these regions and special programs.

But they're trying to slow things down according to the lower performing students.

In the past, if you were in your own little silo or island it might not have mattered.

But we've been seeing that there is an overall push to slow down the curriculum for all schools based on some kind of county standard.

Honestly, it's as I said.  From what we've seen, Calculus by grade 10 is the norm and there isn't anything really special or different being done trying to get kids into it.  Not every kid is on that track and that's okay.  The most important thing is making sure that students are grasping the concepts before moving on.

But it is as the previous poster kind of mentioned too.  The track kids are put on in elementary school is pretty hard to move up from later on.  So it really does start in elementary school.

Just to note, I was looking around mdreportcard and the middle schools with the largest number of Algebra 2 MCAP test takers are:
Mount View Middle-Howard-29 test takers->=95 percent proficiency
Clarksville Middle-Howard-27 test takers->=95 percent proficiency
Robert Frost Middle-Montgomery-26 test takers->=95 percent proficiency
White Oak Middle-Montgomery-18 test takers-16.7 percent proficiency
Burleigh Manor Middle-Howard-17 test takers->=95 percent proficiency
Ellicott Mills Middle-Howard-10 test takers->=95 percent proficiency
Lime Kiln Moddle-Howard-10 test takers-90 percent proficiency
Takoma Park Middle-Montgomery-10 test takers->=95 percent proficiency

I think the rest of the schools have less than ten test takers.

I'm just kind of pointing that out, where as mentioned for our area Calculus in grade 10 is very normal.  There are those on a faster track and that is considered advanced.  And there are more schools in other counties that looks like they offer more rigorous opportunities for students.  Whereas it looks like MCPS is trying to slow students down.

It does look like MCPS is the only school district with Algebra I MCAP test takers in elementary school at Ritchie Park, Cold Spring and Bells Mill.  Those are like the really really advanced students.

But while MCPS should absolutely be trying to raise the lower end and providing more accessible resources and opportunities to all students, they shouldn't be taking away or holding back from the top end too.
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