I think the general suggestion is go and try out for a month or two, and if she is struggling academically or socially, just come back to home school. In my opinion, if DC is picked, she will generally have a better cohort with similar interests than home school. I have a performing arts kid in Loiderman, in ES, he had many friends, but no body understood his interests. He met so many more liked minds in the MS, and is happy to endure the long commute.

My DD was a great candidate for EM and really wanted to go but got cold feet the August before. She is also a perfectionist with anxiety and was worrying about all the things OP described.

We made her go. We said we were open to re-evaluating at the end of a year but encouraged her to give it a go with an open-mind. By the end of the first quarter, she had fully acclimated, was making friends and liking school.

It really changed the course of her life in a positive way and even she has said it was one of the best parenting decisions we ever made.

YMMV, of course, but IME it is not helpful, particularly with anxious kids, to avoid the knew and unknown. Having her try a new MS meant that trying other big new things (like college) was easier.

Have a 6th grader there now--they were reticent to go because FRIENDS but now that school has started, they are very into it and motivated to succeed. It's so so so so much more engaging than the non-magnet program (i have an older kid who went through middle school but did not get into magnet).

Anonymous wrote:Something to think about is whether, if your child got in, would they be okay with going to a middle school where they would likely matriculate to a different high school than the friends they make in middle school. For people zoned for Blair, I think it’s not that hard to choose to accept a magnet spot at Eastern or Takoma Park, because those feed into Blair anyway. But if you’re coming from another school, then I think it’s harder for the kids because they’d have to be okay with the fact that they might not get into a magnet high school and will wind up at a high school where they might not know very many kids at all.

By attending Eastern they’d be eligible to apply to CAP at Blair. It’s easier to get into than RMIB, and it’s highly likely they’d know plenty of kids from Eastern in the program.

You are definitely putting the cart before the horse, OP. Your child most likely won't get in; there are even fewer spots than for CES. Don't worry about this until it's a decision you get to make.

High chance of getting a spot in the lottery. They went way through the waitlist this year. Almost everyone offered a place ultimately.

Something to think about is whether, if your child got in, would they be okay with going to a middle school where they would likely matriculate to a different high school than the friends they make in middle school. For people zoned for Blair, I think it’s not that hard to choose to accept a magnet spot at Eastern or Takoma Park, because those feed into Blair anyway. But if you’re coming from another school, then I think it’s harder for the kids because they’d have to be okay with the fact that they might not get into a magnet high school and will wind up at a high school where they might not know very many kids at all.

Anonymous wrote:Overall the magnets are great, but it would also depend on the commute and your home school.

OP here. Home school is North Bethesda MS.

Anonymous wrote:Please don’t worry about this now - it’s totally pointless. Wait and see if he even gets in before spinning your wheels.

OP here. I know. I'm trying!

Please don’t worry about this now - it’s totally pointless. Wait and see if he even gets in before spinning your wheels.

Overall the magnets are great, but it would also depend on the commute and your home school.

Several existing very long threads of various utility as the dominant posters are usually a) parents whose kids attended a decade ago or b) people who didn’t attend and think the program has no value.

My DH and I have started talking about if DS (5th grade) gets picked from the lottery to go to the Eastern Humanities Magnet - would we take the spot. DH would definitely want DS to go. I know it is a great program and that DS would probably thrive there. But I worry about the long bus ride, going to a new school, not knowing anyone, would it be too rigorous (DS is a perfectionist and prone to anxiety).

How did you you make the decision? How are your kids doing there? Academically and socially? How was the adjustment? How are the teachers? The community?

I also know that DS has a small chance of getting in because it is a lottery, but my mind is already working overtime (see where DS gets his anxiety...).