We will be at the open house this Saturday but I was just wondering if anyone else living in the Blair/Eastern/Takoma area was considering sending their child to Parkland? We have an older daughter who will be in 8th grade at Takoma and I have no idea how I will get both middle schoolers to school on time if our youngest will be attending Parkland.

Thanks, 18:07!

Anonymous wrote:
3)After-school programs: Most on the website seemed to start up in late fall, not right away. I work downtown & we aren't eligible for a bus. Are there after-school programs that are available from Day 1 of school, or at least a library our kid could go to?

Heading to open house on Saturday, so will post anything I learn here afterwards (altho I am assuming the other parents of kids who got accepted are also attending).

I don't know much about the school, but live in the area. (My kid goes to Rock Creek Valley.)

I'm fairly certain that the Aspen Hill library is within walking distance. And, up the street from the library there's a Dunkin Donuts/Panera/Chipotle. A little bit of a walk, but not terrible.

15:27 - will you ask your teacher friend the following Qs?

1)re: class size, our in-bounds MS has English classes of 22 but general class size of 28 (on average); Parkland's classes are on average upper 20s for both English & other courses. Why the difference? Is this principal choice? MCPS?

2)School safety: Parkland's report for 12-13 showed something like 30 suspensions and our home school had maybe 3. Should I be concerned about safety/discipline at Parkland?

3)After-school programs: Most on the website seemed to start up in late fall, not right away. I work downtown & we aren't eligible for a bus. Are there after-school programs that are available from Day 1 of school, or at least a library our kid could go to?

Heading to open house on Saturday, so will post anything I learn here afterwards (altho I am assuming the other parents of kids who got accepted are also attending).

Random: I believe at Parkland they separate boys and girls in the cafeteria at lunch (boys on one side, girls on the other). Not sure if this is the norm for middle school, though.

Source: my friend who teaches there.

Anonymous wrote:At the open house they had an opening session; we were introduced to Parkland. The kids have only 4 classes a day, they have a weekend camp for the 6th graders, so they can get to know each other as many kids coming in not knowing everybody. We visited the classrooms and teachers shared about the courses. Parkland has a different science course. They had a session with a panel of kids that took questions from the audience. In the cafeteria, they had tables set-up with after school clubs and school partners like UMD. Also, the principal was there and we could ask him questions. It was very well done.

Thank you for sharing. I noticed in the packet we received that the science classes they offer as part of the Magnet Program have both an regular and advanced option. Did they state if students were able to choose which ones they wanted to sign up for or if it was already predetermined for them?

At the open house they had an opening session; we were introduced to Parkland. The kids have only 4 classes a day, they have a weekend camp for the 6th graders, so they can get to know each other as many kids coming in not knowing everybody. We visited the classrooms and teachers shared about the courses. Parkland has a different science course. They had a session with a panel of kids that took questions from the audience. In the cafeteria, they had tables set-up with after school clubs and school partners like UMD. Also, the principal was there and we could ask him questions. It was very well done.

Anonymous wrote:Me too. My child also got accepted via lottery. We attended the open house in the fall and really liked the school, but we are out of consortium and it is a bit of a hike for us. I'm wondering if it's worth it. We might move, but then if we do, maybe it makes more sense to move to an area where our kids can eventually go to Whitman or Wooten.

Any insight about Parkland is appreciated!

Could you tell us a little about the open house and what they discussed?

Me too. My child also got accepted via lottery. We attended the open house in the fall and really liked the school, but we are out of consortium and it is a bit of a hike for us. I'm wondering if it's worth it. We might move, but then if we do, maybe it makes more sense to move to an area where our kids can eventually go to Whitman or Wooten.

Any insight about Parkland is appreciated!

22:49 - thanks for posting - sounds like you are happy with the Takoma Magnet Program. Hope your 5th grader ends up someplace you like!

I'm in the same situation. I'd really like to hear from anyone who has or has had a child in the Parkland Magnet Program. If my child got into Takoma, would it seem silly to still contemplate Parkland as an option? I have an older daughter who is in the Takoma Magnet Program so we're familiar with the academic rigor of that program but we're wondering whether Parkland should always remain an option.

Anonymous wrote:My child was just accepted (lottery) into Parkland MS. If anyone has experience with the school I'd love to hear your insights.

Specific Qs: Where can I look to see the school's test scores? I can find them on GreatSchools but I would prefer MCPS site for more data. Also, the school's SIP plan (posted on school website) has suspension rates which don't mean much to me with no comparison (can't find them on my child's in-bounds school website). Basically, how do I compare multiple schools with like data?

Also -- DC also applied to Eastern & Takoma Park (which are magnet schools). We have to accept our spot at Parkland by Feb. 21st. Anyone know when the magnets send letters of acceptance?

Will call MCPS for answers about stats & timing but would really appreciate any anecdotal info folks have to pass along.

Many thanks!

Go to this website

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/

to get the reports for each school.

at-a-glance report (demographics/test scores): http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/03812.pdf

Parkland safety: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/SafetyGlance/currentyear/schools/03812.pdf

My child was just accepted (lottery) into Parkland MS. If anyone has experience with the school I'd love to hear your insights.

Specific Qs: Where can I look to see the school's test scores? I can find them on GreatSchools but I would prefer MCPS site for more data. Also, the school's SIP plan (posted on school website) has suspension rates which don't mean much to me with no comparison (can't find them on my child's in-bounds school website). Basically, how do I compare multiple schools with like data?

Also -- DC also applied to Eastern & Takoma Park (which are magnet schools). We have to accept our spot at Parkland by Feb. 21st. Anyone know when the magnets send letters of acceptance?

Will call MCPS for answers about stats & timing but would really appreciate any anecdotal info folks have to pass along.

Many thanks!