Anonymous
09/23/2025 15:53
Subject: Please be aware of what is about to go away:
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:According to the program analysis plan, here is what will be going away:
-Downcounty Consortium
-Northeast Consortium
-Any current countywide program that selects from the whole county such as: the Science, Math and Computer Science programs at Blair and Poolesville, the IM program at Richard Montgomery, the Visual Arts Program at Einstein, and Global Ecology at Poolesville.
People need to understand that these are now slated to go away. Current 8th graders can apply, and after that they’re over. You may agree or disagree with this change, but you need to know. See the link below for FAQs.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/academic-programs-analysis/faqs/
Can we try to keep our terminology clear so everyone is on the same page?
DCC and NEC would go away.
SMCS, RMIB, and VAC would still exist but as regional programs accepting kids from a smaller number of schools. That is absolutely a big change and should be acknowledged and talked about as such, but it is confusing and inaccurate to say they're "going away" in the same sense that DCC and NEC will go away.
Global Ecology is TBD. They will have something called "Global Ecology" within the Poolesville SMCS, but it's unclear whether it will be anything like Global Ecology as we know it or not.
I'd also add that while DCC and NEC are going away, they are being replaced by other consortia. The application/lottery process will not be identical to the DCC/NEC model, but that model always worked better in theory than in practice anyway. Under the new model, there will be either interest-based or criteria based models within six different consortia, and kids will have the option to apply/lottery into those.
+1 Since MCPS has said they will add slots to these programs, it's misleading to characterize them as "going away." They have said there will be more slots at closer options, which is a good thing as currently only 60ish kids go to Blair SMCS each year. What is about to "go away" is currently available for very students in MCPS, all of whom are chosen based upon a single MAP test data point and some grades.
Yes they will be replaced with other types of consortia, but this original post was meant to show people what will be gone. Right now for example, kids who live in the DCC have an option of going to Wheaton because it has great STEM options. That will now be gone because Wheaton is not in the same region going forward as most of the formerly DCC schools. There is a hypothetical promise of choice in the future, yes. People need to know what has to be lost to get there.
Anonymous
09/23/2025 15:46
Subject: Please be aware of what is about to go away:
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:According to the program analysis plan, here is what will be going away:
-Downcounty Consortium
-Northeast Consortium
-Any current countywide program that selects from the whole county such as: the Science, Math and Computer Science programs at Blair and Poolesville, the IM program at Richard Montgomery, the Visual Arts Program at Einstein, and Global Ecology at Poolesville.
People need to understand that these are now slated to go away. Current 8th graders can apply, and after that they’re over. You may agree or disagree with this change, but you need to know. See the link below for FAQs.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/academic-programs-analysis/faqs/
Can we try to keep our terminology clear so everyone is on the same page?
DCC and NEC would go away.
SMCS, RMIB, and VAC would still exist but as regional programs accepting kids from a smaller number of schools. That is absolutely a big change and should be acknowledged and talked about as such, but it is confusing and inaccurate to say they're "going away" in the same sense that DCC and NEC will go away.
Global Ecology is TBD. They will have something called "Global Ecology" within the Poolesville SMCS, but it's unclear whether it will be anything like Global Ecology as we know it or not.
I'd also add that while DCC and NEC are going away, they are being replaced by other consortia. The application/lottery process will not be identical to the DCC/NEC model, but that model always worked better in theory than in practice anyway. Under the new model, there will be either interest-based or criteria based models within six different consortia, and kids will have the option to apply/lottery into those.
+1 Since MCPS has said they will add slots to these programs, it's misleading to characterize them as "going away." They have said there will be more slots at closer options, which is a good thing as currently only 60ish kids go to Blair SMCS each year. What is about to "go away" is currently available for very students in MCPS, all of whom are chosen based upon a single MAP test data point and some grades.
Anonymous
09/23/2025 15:44
Subject: Please be aware of what is about to go away:
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:According to the program analysis plan, here is what will be going away:
-Downcounty Consortium
-Northeast Consortium
-Any current countywide program that selects from the whole county such as: the Science, Math and Computer Science programs at Blair and Poolesville, the IM program at Richard Montgomery, the Visual Arts Program at Einstein, and Global Ecology at Poolesville.
People need to understand that these are now slated to go away. Current 8th graders can apply, and after that they’re over. You may agree or disagree with this change, but you need to know. See the link below for FAQs.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/academic-programs-analysis/faqs/
Can we try to keep our terminology clear so everyone is on the same page?
DCC and NEC would go away.
SMCS, RMIB, and VAC would still exist but as regional programs accepting kids from a smaller number of schools. That is absolutely a big change and should be acknowledged and talked about as such, but it is confusing and inaccurate to say they're "going away" in the same sense that DCC and NEC will go away.
Global Ecology is TBD. They will have something called "Global Ecology" within the Poolesville SMCS, but it's unclear whether it will be anything like Global Ecology as we know it or not.
Of course they are going away. They are stripping away the only chance the NEC kids can attend a rigorous school with rich content.
RM, Kennedy, Springbrook are all labeled IB. You consider them the same? Apparently you only care about the label and are the one not on the same page.
Anonymous
09/23/2025 15:29
Subject: Please be aware of what is about to go away:
SMCS will become STEM and I do not believe it will be modeled after the existing SMCS. IB at least is fixed by an org that us not mcps.
Anonymous
09/23/2025 15:25
Subject: Please be aware of what is about to go away:
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:According to the program analysis plan, here is what will be going away:
-Downcounty Consortium
-Northeast Consortium
-Any current countywide program that selects from the whole county such as: the Science, Math and Computer Science programs at Blair and Poolesville, the IM program at Richard Montgomery, the Visual Arts Program at Einstein, and Global Ecology at Poolesville.
People need to understand that these are now slated to go away. Current 8th graders can apply, and after that they’re over. You may agree or disagree with this change, but you need to know. See the link below for FAQs.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/academic-programs-analysis/faqs/
Can we try to keep our terminology clear so everyone is on the same page?
DCC and NEC would go away.
SMCS, RMIB, and VAC would still exist but as regional programs accepting kids from a smaller number of schools. That is absolutely a big change and should be acknowledged and talked about as such, but it is confusing and inaccurate to say they're "going away" in the same sense that DCC and NEC will go away.
Global Ecology is TBD. They will have something called "Global Ecology" within the Poolesville SMCS, but it's unclear whether it will be anything like Global Ecology as we know it or not.
I'd also add that while DCC and NEC are going away, they are being replaced by other consortia. The application/lottery process will not be identical to the DCC/NEC model, but that model always worked better in theory than in practice anyway. Under the new model, there will be either interest-based or criteria based models within six different consortia, and kids will have the option to apply/lottery into those.
Anonymous
09/23/2025 15:19
Subject: Please be aware of what is about to go away:
I believe in the proposal, Wheaton Biomedical is also going away (moving to Kennedy.)
Anonymous
09/23/2025 15:17
Subject: Please be aware of what is about to go away:
Anonymous wrote:Is VAC staying as regional? That's not clear at all to me.
Yea, look at Region 1 under question 16 on the FAQ, it's there: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/academic-programs-analysis/faqs/
Anonymous
09/23/2025 15:12
Subject: Please be aware of what is about to go away:
Is VAC staying as regional? That's not clear at all to me.
Anonymous
09/23/2025 15:02
Subject: Please be aware of what is about to go away:
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:According to the program analysis plan, here is what will be going away:
-Downcounty Consortium
-Northeast Consortium
-Any current countywide program that selects from the whole county such as: the Science, Math and Computer Science programs at Blair and Poolesville, the IM program at Richard Montgomery, the Visual Arts Program at Einstein, and Global Ecology at Poolesville.
People need to understand that these are now slated to go away. Current 8th graders can apply, and after that they’re over. You may agree or disagree with this change, but you need to know. See the link below for FAQs.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/academic-programs-analysis/faqs/
Can we try to keep our terminology clear so everyone is on the same page?
DCC and NEC would go away.
SMCS, RMIB, and VAC would still exist but as regional programs accepting kids from a smaller number of schools. That is absolutely a big change and should be acknowledged and talked about as such, but it is confusing and inaccurate to say they're "going away" in the same sense that DCC and NEC will go away.
Global Ecology is TBD. They will have something called "Global Ecology" within the Poolesville SMCS, but it's unclear whether it will be anything like Global Ecology as we know it or not.
Yes, thanks. I am the original poster and these edits are helpful and accurate.
Anonymous
09/23/2025 14:59
Subject: Please be aware of what is about to go away:
Anonymous wrote:According to the program analysis plan, here is what will be going away:
-Downcounty Consortium
-Northeast Consortium
-Any current countywide program that selects from the whole county such as: the Science, Math and Computer Science programs at Blair and Poolesville, the IM program at Richard Montgomery, the Visual Arts Program at Einstein, and Global Ecology at Poolesville.
People need to understand that these are now slated to go away. Current 8th graders can apply, and after that they’re over. You may agree or disagree with this change, but you need to know. See the link below for FAQs.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/academic-programs-analysis/faqs/
Can we try to keep our terminology clear so everyone is on the same page?
DCC and NEC would go away.
SMCS, RMIB, and VAC would still exist but as regional programs accepting kids from a smaller number of schools. That is absolutely a big change and should be acknowledged and talked about as such, but it is confusing and inaccurate to say they're "going away" in the same sense that DCC and NEC will go away.
Global Ecology is TBD. They will have something called "Global Ecology" within the Poolesville SMCS, but it's unclear whether it will be anything like Global Ecology as we know it or not.
Anonymous
09/23/2025 14:30
Subject: Please be aware of what is about to go away:
Thank you for creating a thread, OP. I'll bet that most MCPS parents don't know, because we all get way too many nonsense emails, and the actually important stuff gets buried.
I have mixed feelings about it, but since my youngest is in high school already... it's other people's problems. My turn is over
I have mixed feelings about it, but since my youngest is in high school already... it's other people's problems. My turn is over
Anonymous
09/23/2025 14:27
Subject: Please be aware of what is about to go away:
Anonymous wrote:You forgot to finish.
And here is what is coming:
-
Yes, what is coming is a regional model where sets of 4 or 5 schools together have representative programs in math/science, the arts, etc.
My message was intended to inform people who may not know that if they were planning on their child trying to attend a Downcounty Consortium or Northeast Consortium school or a countywide program, that they will not be able to do so anymore. It is not clear at all that the regional replacements will be equivalent or even similar.
Anonymous
09/23/2025 14:10
Subject: Please be aware of what is about to go away:
You forgot to finish.
And here is what is coming:
-
And here is what is coming:
-
Anonymous
09/23/2025 14:07
Subject: Please be aware of what is about to go away:
We are aware. MCPS does not care.
Anonymous
09/23/2025 14:06
Subject: Please be aware of what is about to go away:
According to the program analysis plan, here is what will be going away:
-Downcounty Consortium
-Northeast Consortium
-Any current countywide program that selects from the whole county such as: the Science, Math and Computer Science programs at Blair and Poolesville, the IM program at Richard Montgomery, the Visual Arts Program at Einstein, and Global Ecology at Poolesville.
People need to understand that these are now slated to go away. Current 8th graders can apply, and after that they’re over. You may agree or disagree with this change, but you need to know. See the link below for FAQs.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/academic-programs-analysis/faqs/
-Downcounty Consortium
-Northeast Consortium
-Any current countywide program that selects from the whole county such as: the Science, Math and Computer Science programs at Blair and Poolesville, the IM program at Richard Montgomery, the Visual Arts Program at Einstein, and Global Ecology at Poolesville.
People need to understand that these are now slated to go away. Current 8th graders can apply, and after that they’re over. You may agree or disagree with this change, but you need to know. See the link below for FAQs.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/academic-programs-analysis/faqs/