Anonymous wrote:I found Doug Nelson (the center coordinator) quite impressive, actually. And I apologize for talking during a meeting of 500+ people sitting on bleachers in a hot middle-school gym.

I can't do anything about your worry about "girls who dress like sluts".

That's great you feel that way. If you can deal with the dynamics of the situation more power to you. I agree the speaker for the program wasn't bad but the speaker didn't wow me either. The original speaker ( didn't get the name) was very unimpressive. From what little I saw, there didn't appear to be a lot of control. What happened in the assembly with all the speaking and commotion would never happen at my kids current school. That along with the other things I've read have caused me to not want to apply. I have a horror of my beautiful DC appropriately touched or worse. I understand it could happen anywher but my gut tells me not to do it.

Anonymous wrote:I've done research on the school since then. Rough..girls who dress like sluts. Fights break out all of the time..last year it was between two teachers. I wasn't impressed with the speakers nor the way many of the parents acted during the assembly (talked). I know bad things happen everywhere but I would be worried about DC becoming a target. DD is currently slated to go to a great school. You are more than welcome to take that spot.

I have a mixed feeling about this and understand your concern. These teachers who had a fist fight in front of students are still employed and I heard that their behavior/attitude toward the students are questionable (constantly yelling at them using inappropraite languages (cursing) during the class).

I found Doug Nelson (the center coordinator) quite impressive, actually. And I apologize for talking during a meeting of 500+ people sitting on bleachers in a hot middle-school gym.

I can't do anything about your worry about "girls who dress like sluts".

I've done research on the school since then. Rough..girls who dress like sluts. Fights break out all of the time..last year it was between two teachers. I wasn't impressed with the speakers nor the way many of the parents acted during the assembly (talked). I know bad things happen everywhere but I would be worried about DC becoming a target. DD is currently slated to go to a great school. You are more than welcome to take that spot.

Anonymous wrote:I went to a parent meeting for Clemente. It might be a good program but I would have trouble putting my DC in such an environment.

I went to the parent meeting too. What "environment" do you mean, exactly?

But, really, if you don't want your DC to go, then I'm happy. It will be less competition for my DC to get in.

I went to a parent meeting for Clemente. It might be a good program but I would have trouble putting my DC in such an environment.

DC got into all 4 magnets. Came from Title 1 ES, and a very underperforming (in MSA) middle school. We are not ESOL and FARMS and as a racial group highly represented in magnet programs.

DC had the most amazing and talented teachers in MS. The MS was underperforming only because of the usual group of ESOL/FARMS that got the scores down. The best and most dedicated teachers. So we were very lucky.

Now...around 5-6 kids got in the magnet programs (including DC)- though these were in the top 2% of the school, there were a lot more brighter kids who did not apply.

What I have heard is that it is easier to get into magnet HS than magnet MS because higher number of seats.

Anonymous wrote:wow - only 75 spots at Blair. Why is the program so SMALL??

Because it is not a county-wide program, it is only for DCC students. And it is selective.

It would be great it there were more spots, or more programs like it! Something to lobby MCPS for ...

wow - only 75 spots at Blair. Why is the program so SMALL??

Thanks for the info. I was at the meeting as well and there was a lot of useful information. Also, I was impressed with some good questions from 8th graders, some kids who are very on the ball there ...

Last night at the CAP info session they said, 200 - 240 applicants for 75 spots. Those are much better odds than the ES and MS magnets.

Extrapolating ... there are 100 Eastern magnet kids and each year about 50 go to CAP. So assuming all apply (I know they won't but just for the sake of argument), that leaves 100 - 140 non-Eastern kids who get 25 spots. So 1 in 4 or 5 applicants from outside Eastern will get in.

If your child tests well and gets good recommendations, your chances are good!

I know of at least several students who are in the Blair CAP and magnet programs who came from regular middle school programs and not the middle school magnets.

There are also at least several TPMS math/science magnet kids admitted to the CAP each year.

About 50 of the 75 CAP kids are usually from Eastern. Remember CAP is only for the DCC so the pool is smaller.

Hi, does anyone know of stats of how many kids get into magnets such as Blair CAP or the Richard Montgomery IB program if they are not in magnets in middle school?

Numbers would be nice ... anecdotes good too. I am asking this for all the parents out there whose kids transferred into MoCo in the sixth and seventh grade (or just didn't get into or do the magnet thing for middle). Sometimes it seems like a very closed world.

Thanks!