Parent of a sixth grade magnet student here. Congrats to all the kids who got into EMS. We really agonized over our decision last year as our home middle school is great and ds got into both Eastern and Takoma. Halfway through the school year we feel very sure we made the right choice.
Pros:
The curriculum is fantastic and they do a great job making connections between what the children are learning in English, World Studies and Media
The work load has been very manageable and as someone else noted, there is no busy work so my child feels engaged and enjoys the assignments which have all been interesting.
Several of the projects are collaborative and this fosters a healthy social environment both in and out of the classroom. It helps the kids make friends more easily too. The kids are great and I've been pleasantly surprised by how drama-free (for middle school) it has been so far.
My child feels more self assured and confident because he is academically challenged for the first time and the school and teachers are very good about expecting, supporting and acknowledging academic success.

Cons:
The commute
The bathrooms!
There is a lot of bad language in the hallways but we've talked about that with ds and as long as he does not use it himself, it's ok.
I did wish he had the option to take an elective but the Media class is fantastic and they learn some really cool things in that class so I don't mind any more.
The Math teacher is great but the science curriculum is so blah. However it would be the same at any middle school except for Takoma Park.
They have been cutting little things from the magnet program - for example China fest is not as elaborate as in years past, in an effort to be 'equitable'. I'm all for equity but why not add to what the comprehensive kids get to do instead of taking away from what the magnet kids get to do. If they mess with Greek fest, ds will be very upset as he has been looking forward to it all year.

Current Eastern parent here. I think you have to recognize if you chose Eastern you are gaining some things and sacrificing others. Yes, the program is great, and the students have the opportunity to do some amazing things. But: my child has been bullied, by both magnet and nonmagnet students- some has occurred at Blair where they change buses so it is hard for Eastern to address it; Outdoor Ed was kind of scary and not a great experience because of the difference in the school populations; the current magnet coordinator is overwhelmed and is so interested in showing how positive things are he suppresses opposing views; and there is a lot of foul language in the halls and other areas. Your child will have a long commute- the EMS kids have to take the high school buses which require them to be at the stop by 6:20A, and get them to the school 30 minutes before it starts. The ride home is about an hour if you live in the western part of the county. And like all schools, some of the magnet teachers are really good and others are unsupportive and overly strict. I'm not saying that the EMS magnet is a bad choice, because the program is amazing. For a child really interesting in history, media and writing, its a great choice. But you have to be ready to face the not so positive things about the school and be sure your child is ready to handle them.

Recognizing that the timing of this thread means that many who are considering the magnet are suddenly interested in Eastern, I'd still be interested in hearing reports about the non-magnet experience for regular kids at the school (of which my own DC is likely to be one, in a few years).

Anonymous wrote:They're trying to do away with the 8 block schedule at Silver Spring Intl. Middle (SSIMS). Many other middle schools already have the 7 block schedule.

17:26 here. Well our other options for middle schools are either Parkland or Takoma, which both have 8 period block schedules. So we would have to compare Eastern to those.

They're trying to do away with the 8 block schedule at Silver Spring Intl. Middle (SSIMS). Many other middle schools already have the 7 block schedule.

DC got her acceptance letter to Eastern today. While we are considering it, I am turned off by the idea of only 7 classes instead of 8 like many other middle schools. And the fact that if you want to take an extra elective, you will have to stay after school until 4 Tuesday-Thursday to take that class. Anyone have any experience with this?

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is an old thread, but as we just found out today that DS is admitted, I have a couple questions to extend this discussion.
1) Has anyone had a kid who's gone from Eastern into High School IB and how was that transition?
2) Are the kids picked on in health, gym, and language classes?
3) For kids that are also good at math/science, have those classes been good so they do ok when they get to high school?

Mom of a magnet eighth grader here. I can answer #2 -- not in our experience. DC plays school sports and was just observing today that he has a lot of friends who aren't in the magnet because of sports and gym. He loves Eastern. Please just remember that the nonmagnet kids are just kids. Some of them are low SES, etc. but I have had the privilege of volunteering for activities that involved them and they were great kids.

I would say the math classes have been very good and the science classes have been so-so, not fantastic. But I think that's more a function of MCPS curriculum and maybe an uninspired teacher or two.

I realize this is an old thread, but as we just found out today that DS is admitted, I have a couple questions to extend this discussion.
1) Has anyone had a kid who's gone from Eastern into High School IB and how was that transition?
2) Are the kids picked on in health, gym, and language classes?
3) For kids that are also good at math/science, have those classes been good so they do ok when they get to high school?

We have a 6th grader in the magnet program. So far so good. came from a hgc and so far the biggest adjustment has been that dc cannot do homework during class. However, since this is mostly because they spend so much time discussing material in class, I cannot complain! DC is interested and engaged in the work. The homework has not been too difficult so far but they have not begun any big projects. I am apprehensive about the social environment given the school's safety report but I have not heard about anything that makes me worry yet so I am going to keep an open mind about that. DC is happy and feels safe so we are happy with our decision so far. It is a great program.

Mom of Eastern 8th grader here. It's been a great experience for my DC -- yes, lots of work but it hasn't been busywork. High quality of instruction in nonmagnet classes and it's my impression that they generally contain mostly magnet kids anyway due to scheduling issues.

Sorry for the grammar mistakes and typos. I need coffee.

My daughter is 8th grader at eastern in magnet. By far the best best decision she is made. She did not come from hgc so 6th grade was hard for her. Easier for her kids from the hgc's.

Hi, I'm a student at Parkland (a school in the area), but just to throw in my two-cents, most of my friends go to Eastern and so far they love it very much.

Magnet program here. Really good, no complaints. There's a lot of work in terms of number of assignments to keep track of, but none of it is excessive. DC seems very happy and engaged. So far, we're very happy with the decision to send him.

Wondering how the start to the school year has been for students? Was it what you expected? Do your kids like it? Are your kids stressed by the magnet program in terms of work or general school social environment? How is the transition to middle school environment/rules/expectations been? Do you think you made the right choice sending your child? How do you like the principal? I'm interested in hearing from magnet and non-magnet parents, but their views might be quite different, so if you reply it might help to say which program your kid is in.

Also, I notice that Eastern did not make AYP in one all student area and a number of subgroups this year and is on some kind of "comprehensive developing" school improvement status. Anyone know what this means in terms of actual resources and changes to the school?