Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can join Montessori, it's open to anyone. It's just that there is a slot reserved for everyone coming from MPSA 5th. Still room.

That's not what Montessori people have touted over the years. They've indicated in the past that you need "Montessori experience"
Are they changing their tune now because they need to generate more interest and recruit more students in their effort to justify expansion?

When I did middle school information night for my eldest (now in 11th grade), there were some kids from the middle school Montessori program who gave their perspective of what it was like. According to them, "it is nothing", "I don't understand what is different". And these were the kids who were chosen to talk about their experience. I can't even imagine what the more surly among them would have said.

What's your point? How many students have ever said school was "nothing...didn't matter...boring". Maybe hundreds of millions of students in the history of the world. Please tell me your kid's school, I'll go ask some students there if they think it was the most wonderful, stimulating, beneficial experience of their life. I bet I can find "some."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can join Montessori, it's open to anyone. It's just that there is a slot reserved for everyone coming from MPSA 5th. Still room.

That's not what Montessori people have touted over the years. They've indicated in the past that you need "Montessori experience"
Are they changing their tune now because they need to generate more interest and recruit more students in their effort to justify expansion?

For sure the community prefers your child has Montessori experience - kind of like how your employer prefers a new recruit has done the job before. Just like at your job, if the new person has zero experience and zero familiarity, it can be a drag on everyone else until the new person gets caught up. But to be clear, it is just a preference by the community (other parents, students, educators, etc.), not APS. There is absolutely no stipulation at all in APS Montessori admission for prior experience. And certainly there is no test-in requirement like immersion (or force-out of students later for not keeping up, like what happens in immersion). APS Montessori does see older students join brand-new and thrive as they find out the pedagogy suits them better than traditional classroom, and I know of two this year. Not sure that is the case in other programs except maybe HB-?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can join Montessori, it's open to anyone. It's just that there is a slot reserved for everyone coming from MPSA 5th. Still room.

That's not what Montessori people have touted over the years. They've indicated in the past that you need "Montessori experience"
Are they changing their tune now because they need to generate more interest and recruit more students in their effort to justify expansion?

When I did middle school information night for my eldest (now in 11th grade), there were some kids from the middle school Montessori program who gave their perspective of what it was like. According to them, "it is nothing", "I don't understand what is different". And these were the kids who were chosen to talk about their experience. I can't even imagine what the more surly among them would have said.

Did they attend elementary Montessori or traditional elementary? If they were Montessori all or most of the way through, they have nothing to compare it to.
However, I don't necessarily disagree that the program isn't distinct enough to really justify being an option program. It does require specific teacher training, multiple teachers and ages in a classroom, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can join Montessori, it's open to anyone. It's just that there is a slot reserved for everyone coming from MPSA 5th. Still room.

That's not what Montessori people have touted over the years. They've indicated in the past that you need "Montessori experience"
Are they changing their tune now because they need to generate more interest and recruit more students in their effort to justify expansion?

When I did middle school information night for my eldest (now in 11th grade), there were some kids from the middle school Montessori program who gave their perspective of what it was like. According to them, "it is nothing", "I don't understand what is different". And these were the kids who were chosen to talk about their experience. I can't even imagine what the more surly among them would have said.

Anonymous wrote:You can join Montessori, it's open to anyone. It's just that there is a slot reserved for everyone coming from MPSA 5th. Still room.

That's not what Montessori people have touted over the years. They've indicated in the past that you need "Montessori experience"
Are they changing their tune now because they need to generate more interest and recruit more students in their effort to justify expansion?

A kid can start immersion in middle school if they pass a basic Spanish test. It’s not easy if you aren’t a native speaker, but it is a possibility.

You can join Montessori, it's open to anyone. It's just that there is a slot reserved for everyone coming from MPSA 5th. Still room.

As recently as this past year, Kenmore has had transfers.

TJ has historically taken transfers for their Middle Years IB program. Not sure if that's currently an option.

Anonymous wrote:I think Arlington Tech is a high school not a middle school

Sorry, misread and was thinking high schools!

They will have middle school information night. I believe in the past year they have allowed targeted transfers from Gunston, due to overcrowding.

I think Arlington Tech is a high school not a middle school

There’s Arlington Tech. Also, out-of-boundary students can apply to W&L’s IB program.

Is HB Woodlawn the only one you can apply to if you aren’t already in immersion or Montessori?