Reply to Magnet not "cool" enough?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My 8th grader is resisting applying to Magnet programs -- the Blair program, in particular -- because she perceives it as insufficiently "cool."

She's always loved math and her MAP scores are the highest in her MS. She admits that her classes now aren't really challenging. But at this moment in her life, she's most interested in her social life and her after-school activities, so she wants to go to her home HS (where her friends are going.)

My thought is she should apply now and decide later -- who knows, right? -- but I was curious if anyone with experience could speak to the social dynamics at Blair, and whether it might be a good fit for a teen who is much more interested in using her free time to shop  :roll: than study.

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Doesn't sound like she will be a good fit there. Why bother? [/quote]

What makes you say it doesn't sound like she would be a good fit there? Do you have experience with the program?

The reason to "bother" is that she's genuinely gifted in math and science. I worry that she's going to struggle academically -- especially in math and science -- for the next four years unless she finds her academic peers.

But socially she's a typical teen and is interested in dating and pop culture and all that stuff, and at the moment she's saying she chooses social fit over academic. I'm asking those with experience if that's a real choice or a false one. [/quote]

DP -

Blair magnet students are not all uniformly nerdy - there are definitely kids who are very social as well as kids who are into sports, music, etc. If she gets in, she can shadow or meet some students and then decide.

Regarding your concern about struggling academically due to lack of academic peers: If she did not struggle academically in ES and MS because of absence of academic peers, it is less likely to happen in HS for a few reasons: 1. The way MCPS is set up - as some other posters have already pointed out - there are more options in HS such as grade level/honors/AP courses for different ability levels. 2. The peers that she is comfortable with, and has been with in ES/MS are going to be there in HS. 3. Usually it is the younger kids who present problems if they are outside the norm at either end of the learning spectrum and their academic needs are not met. If no such issues have shown up so far, why do you think there will be issues in HS?

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