Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 14:20     Subject: Criteria Magnets
Anonymous wrote:There will be no more 8 period days anymore right?


According to the last BOE presentation by Jesse in November 2025, yes the new stem program will have an extra period. I think Jesse is not at the step of thinking about transportation. If I were her, I would resign before fall 2027 hits.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 14:17     Subject: Criteria Magnets
There will be no more 8 period days anymore right?
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 13:46     Subject: Criteria Magnets
Anonymous wrote:https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DMJHXR4AA9BD/$file/Boundary%20Studies%20Program%20Analysis%20Update%20251016%20PPT%20REV.pdf

Looking at this again and realized that the programs themselves are inequitable! Some are built on an 8 periods day and include WL, PE, Health and the computer science graduation requirement. Some are built on an 7 periods day and day, require the student to complete WL grad requirements in MS, and don't include any PE, Health, or tech requirement!

This makes no sense!!!!


PE, tech, and health are required to graduate for all students per the state.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 13:39     Subject: Criteria Magnets
Anonymous wrote:Can someone give a definition of a criteria magnet under the new regional plan. Is it:

A) For each criteria magnet type (STEM, humanities, etc.) the county will establish a well defined and known to public criteria what it takes to get in (some combination of GPA, MAP scores, i.e. quantitative measures) and every kid that meets such criteria automatically qualifies to enroll for that specific magnet and region

or

B) Something like Blair magnet or RBIM today where the process is not transparent and nothing is guaranteed - send us your credentials and we will call you (or maybe not)

or

C) Something else


I believe the idea is that it will be closer to B than A, but that they have a general goal of creating enough spots so that there are not regularly long waiting lists of kids who want to get into a program but were rejected (which is not the same thing as saying that any particular kid in any particular year is guaranteed admission.)

They haven't been very clear about this though.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 11:53     Subject: Criteria Magnets
https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DMJHXR4AA9BD/$file/Boundary%20Studies%20Program%20Analysis%20Update%20251016%20PPT%20REV.pdf

Looking at this again and realized that the programs themselves are inequitable! Some are built on an 8 periods day and include WL, PE, Health and the computer science graduation requirement. Some are built on an 7 periods day and day, require the student to complete WL grad requirements in MS, and don't include any PE, Health, or tech requirement!

This makes no sense!!!!
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 21:37     Subject: Criteria Magnets
Based on the data shared by the county, 6% of students attend criterion based magnets currently.

6% in grades 4-12 or just at the high school level?


High school


So with that in mind, what is the anticipated number of seats in STEM, IB and humanities magnets per region, respectively?
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 21:33     Subject: Criteria Magnets
They definitely can’t tell you the criteria and cutoffs because it will be different in different regions and that will look unfair. It’ll be much harder in regions 1 and 4 to get into criteria programs.

It’ll be similar to how they do Blair & RMIB now. And they’re not going to let everyone in who meets criteria. There needs to be staffing and enrollment space at the school, etc. They will set a number and fill those seats and consider expanding in future years as they roll it out if interest exceeds starting seat allocations.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 21:27     Subject: Criteria Magnets
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There is no law requiring them to do A) and it’s definitely not in their best interest so I think it will not be that. No MCPS magnet has ever set test score cutoffs because they want the ability to pick who they want.


So in other words - nobody knows at this point. They have not clarified that fundamental component of the plan even though they keep going around claiming that this will improve accessibility.

It will improve accessibility because currently, only 1% of high school students are enrolled in criteria based magnet programs. As we trade magnet programs for regional “special” programs, we are increasing the number of programs by roughly 5 fold. A regional program will be smaller than current programs, but there will be many more of them. Even if we triple the number of students enrolled in programs (which would be a very substantial increase in participation), that would still only amount to 3% of students. These programs aren’t meant to be guaranteed for every advanced student. MCPS has not publicly said how many seats will be available in the regional programs.


Based on the data shared by the county, 6% of students attend criterion based magnets currently.

6% in grades 4-12 or just at the high school level?


High school
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 21:13     Subject: Criteria Magnets
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There is no law requiring them to do A) and it’s definitely not in their best interest so I think it will not be that. No MCPS magnet has ever set test score cutoffs because they want the ability to pick who they want.


So in other words - nobody knows at this point. They have not clarified that fundamental component of the plan even though they keep going around claiming that this will improve accessibility.

It will improve accessibility because currently, only 1% of high school students are enrolled in criteria based magnet programs. As we trade magnet programs for regional “special” programs, we are increasing the number of programs by roughly 5 fold. A regional program will be smaller than current programs, but there will be many more of them. Even if we triple the number of students enrolled in programs (which would be a very substantial increase in participation), that would still only amount to 3% of students. These programs aren’t meant to be guaranteed for every advanced student. MCPS has not publicly said how many seats will be available in the regional programs.


Based on the data shared by the county, 6% of students attend criterion based magnets currently.

6% in grades 4-12 or just at the high school level?
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 21:09     Subject: Criteria Magnets
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There is no law requiring them to do A) and it’s definitely not in their best interest so I think it will not be that. No MCPS magnet has ever set test score cutoffs because they want the ability to pick who they want.


So in other words - nobody knows at this point. They have not clarified that fundamental component of the plan even though they keep going around claiming that this will improve accessibility.

It will improve accessibility because currently, only 1% of high school students are enrolled in criteria based magnet programs. As we trade magnet programs for regional “special” programs, we are increasing the number of programs by roughly 5 fold. A regional program will be smaller than current programs, but there will be many more of them. Even if we triple the number of students enrolled in programs (which would be a very substantial increase in participation), that would still only amount to 3% of students. These programs aren’t meant to be guaranteed for every advanced student. MCPS has not publicly said how many seats will be available in the regional programs.


Based on the data shared by the county, 6% of students attend criterion based magnets currently.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 20:55     Subject: Criteria Magnets
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There is no law requiring them to do A) and it’s definitely not in their best interest so I think it will not be that. No MCPS magnet has ever set test score cutoffs because they want the ability to pick who they want.


So in other words - nobody knows at this point. They have not clarified that fundamental component of the plan even though they keep going around claiming that this will improve accessibility.

It will improve accessibility because currently, only 1% of high school students are enrolled in criteria based magnet programs. As we trade magnet programs for regional “special” programs, we are increasing the number of programs by roughly 5 fold. A regional program will be smaller than current programs, but there will be many more of them. Even if we triple the number of students enrolled in programs (which would be a very substantial increase in participation), that would still only amount to 3% of students. These programs aren’t meant to be guaranteed for every advanced student. MCPS has not publicly said how many seats will be available in the regional programs.


Without transparent admission process abuse will jump ten-fold, completely negating the good intentions of increasing the number of seats.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 20:47     Subject: Criteria Magnets
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There is no law requiring them to do A) and it’s definitely not in their best interest so I think it will not be that. No MCPS magnet has ever set test score cutoffs because they want the ability to pick who they want.


So in other words - nobody knows at this point. They have not clarified that fundamental component of the plan even though they keep going around claiming that this will improve accessibility.

It will improve accessibility because currently, only 1% of high school students are enrolled in criteria based magnet programs. As we trade magnet programs for regional “special” programs, we are increasing the number of programs by roughly 5 fold. A regional program will be smaller than current programs, but there will be many more of them. Even if we triple the number of students enrolled in programs (which would be a very substantial increase in participation), that would still only amount to 3% of students. These programs aren’t meant to be guaranteed for every advanced student. MCPS has not publicly said how many seats will be available in the regional programs.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 20:35     Subject: Criteria Magnets
Anonymous wrote:There is no law requiring them to do A) and it’s definitely not in their best interest so I think it will not be that. No MCPS magnet has ever set test score cutoffs because they want the ability to pick who they want.


So in other words - nobody knows at this point. They have not clarified that fundamental component of the plan even though they keep going around claiming that this will improve accessibility.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 20:16     Subject: Criteria Magnets
There is no law requiring them to do A) and it’s definitely not in their best interest so I think it will not be that. No MCPS magnet has ever set test score cutoffs because they want the ability to pick who they want.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 19:59     Subject: Criteria Magnets
Can someone give a definition of a criteria magnet under the new regional plan. Is it:

A) For each criteria magnet type (STEM, humanities, etc.) the county will establish a well defined and known to public criteria what it takes to get in (some combination of GPA, MAP scores, i.e. quantitative measures) and every kid that meets such criteria automatically qualifies to enroll for that specific magnet and region

or

B) Something like Blair magnet or RBIM today where the process is not transparent and nothing is guaranteed - send us your credentials and we will call you (or maybe not)

or

C) Something else