15:15 here. I honestly don't think the workload is any more than it was at Barnsley HGC. I'm always asking my kid in the evening if she's got more homework to do and the answer is always no, she got it done when she got home from school or during the day. She has afterschool band three days a week, but even so she's still usually done with her homework by dinnertime.

The great thing about the magnet program (besides the teachers) is that the curriculum is integrated across the magnet classes. So the 6th graders have English, Literature, World Studies, and Media as their magnet classes. Just as an example that I remember from the open house, if the kids are studying Greek/Roman history in World Studies, they may be reading about Greek/Roman mythology in English or Lit (and putting on a play featuring the gods) and designing a propaganda poster in Media learning how to represent the characteristics of a god or goddess using font, design elements, etc.

I think one of the coolest aspects of the program is the Media class. It's such a fun class -- for the intro week over the summer, the kids wrote, storyboarded, filmed, and edited their own movie previews. Right now they're learning about animation. The magnet kids make award-winning documentaries by the time they're in 8th grade.

My kid is only in 6th grade, and from what I've heard the workload does get heavier, but I compare her experience to my older kid sailing through middle school and I think being challenged is better than not being challenged.

Definitely go (and take your daughter) to the open house if it hasn't already happened. It is a fantastic opportunity to get a feel for the program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 7th grader has good science and Algebra teachers but the 6th science teacher was terrible.

Magnet classes are very good. It's a lot of work though.

My DD was also accepted and this is what I'm worried about. Can you explain a bit more about the workload? My daughter loves to read but doesn't love to write. She's actually more of a mathy kid but was waitlisted at Takoma. We're going to give it a shot but I'm worried about her burning out in middle school. She's currently at an HGC and can handle that level of work. Is it a drastic increase in homework time commitment coming from an HGC?

I would say no. The people who have the biggest shock are those who came from a non-HGC elementary school and need to adjust to middle school (with 7 different teachers) and the magnet program workload at the same time.

I've had a few children go through Eastern's program. My children who write down their homework and fill out their agenda did fine. The one that did not, struggled at first. They all were not good writers when they started but loved reading. All became strong writers and without realizing it.

As to the math - all posts here are correct. The math teachers are just normal MCPS math teachers. Some ok, some good, some not ok. They would be the same as if you remained in your home school. That being said, two of my children who have 'graduated' from Eastern were accepted into the Blair SMAC (Math magnet) program so it didn't hurt them in that way.

All are involved in different sports/activities year-round. However, we don't have the commuting issue as we live fairly close by.

I hope that helps.

Thank you for all of the replies!

Anonymous wrote:My 7th grader has good science and Algebra teachers but the 6th science teacher was terrible.

Magnet classes are very good. It's a lot of work though.

My DD was also accepted and this is what I'm worried about. Can you explain a bit more about the workload? My daughter loves to read but doesn't love to write. She's actually more of a mathy kid but was waitlisted at Takoma. We're going to give it a shot but I'm worried about her burning out in middle school. She's currently at an HGC and can handle that level of work. Is it a drastic increase in homework time commitment coming from an HGC?

Anonymous wrote:NP here. Our DD got into Eastern's magnet so we are in the same boat as OP (except not located in Bethesda). Could the PP give. Ore details about this amazing Humanities and Literature class? What made it so good. Thanks

I can't speak to the Lit class specifically, except to say that the kids really like the teacher, she's very enthusiastic and well-read, and they read cool books (dystopias, etc) and discuss them thoroughly.
I can speak to English in 6th - and I love that woman. She's tough as nails on them (while still showing that she cares) and holds them to HIGH standards for getting homework (mostly reading) done and for critically thinking about the work (DC complains how "hard" she is - and I just think to myself - good!). They have read Good Earth, Red Scarf Girl, and others. World Studies and Media all feed off whatever is being read (truly interdisciplinary).

My 7th grader has good science and Algebra teachers but the 6th science teacher was terrible.

Magnet classes are very good. It's a lot of work though.

NP here. Our DD got into Eastern's magnet so we are in the same boat as OP (except not located in Bethesda). Could the PP give. Ore details about this amazing Humanities and Literature class? What made it so good. Thanks

Agree that the humanities classes are really great, but the science and math last year and the science this year have been pretty horrible. Maybe it is just my DC's teachers, but these teachers do not teach and DC feels these have been wasted classes.

Anonymous wrote:I echo 13:29. I had one child go through Eastern and another through an established Bethesda MS, and the depth and opportunities at Eastern far outpace what my other child got at the Bethesda MS. Things like National History Day, Student Cam, greek day, NY Trip just aren't offered or supported at a Bethesda MS. As the other poster said, the math and science are not as good as the Humanities subjects, but they aren't that far off from what I'm seeing in the Bethesda MS- its all the standard MCPS curriculum. The ride is long, especially in the morning, so a carpool is a good thing. But I would strongly encourage you to seriously consider Eastern, if your child likes reading writing and history.

I would echo this as a Bethesda area parent whose child went through Eastern.
People who come from Potomac, Rockville and Bethesda very often form carpools so don't let the commute deter you. I work part time so I was able to drive ds there and back most days. It was an amazing experience- very enriching. DS made tons of friends. The only things I heard regular complaints about were the state of the bathrooms (very often no soap or toilet paper which is so ridiculous) and PE - a lot of bad language and misogynistic behavior. Magnet classes (English, History, Media) are with magnet kids, if your child is in an advanced Math class then nearly all the kids will be magnet. Advanced science tends to be at least half magnet kids. Foreign language and PE/Health is mixed and the PE teachers in particular are not all great at maintaining discipline. I only mention this so you have full information. My child was very happy and the quality of education he received was so much better than what he would have received in our Bethesda MS. In 6th grade magnet students take an amazing class called "Literature and the Humanities" which means they cannot take a foreign language that year (they can take FL in 7th and 8th grades). This is very often their fav. class in 6th grade so it was no sacrifice in my opinion.

I have a 6th grader at Eastern, and my older kid did three years at Tilden. Comparatively my 6th grader has a lot more work and more interesting assignments than my oldest ever did, plus she has an amazing peer group. The opportunities at Eastern are fabulous for a kid who loves reading, writing, and communications. It is definitely a longer day and a longer commute but there was no question that my 6th grader would turn down Eastern in favor of Tilden.

The magnet teachers are great. I'm not that impressed with the 6th grade IM math teacher my kid has, though. (Curriculum may be the same but it's all in how it's taught....). Science seems good, certainly no worse than at Tilden.

We also really love the after-school advanced band option. Even though my kid only had two years of clarinet in elementary school, the after-school advanced band class gets a lot of magnet kids and the band director Mr. Puckett does great work getting them all up to speed.

I would definitely go (and take your daughter) to the open house for accepted students. We were sold on the program before my kid applied, but the open house was very useful and informative.

I echo 13:29. I had one child go through Eastern and another through an established Bethesda MS, and the depth and opportunities at Eastern far outpace what my other child got at the Bethesda MS. Things like National History Day, Student Cam, greek day, NY Trip just aren't offered or supported at a Bethesda MS. As the other poster said, the math and science are not as good as the Humanities subjects, but they aren't that far off from what I'm seeing in the Bethesda MS- its all the standard MCPS curriculum. The ride is long, especially in the morning, so a carpool is a good thing. But I would strongly encourage you to seriously consider Eastern, if your child likes reading writing and history.

OP here. Ours is an established MS. Thanks for the input!

Echoing what the PP said. If her other MS option is a Bethesda area school, is it one of the established middles or the new middle school? I would expect the new middle to have its fair share of bumps and difficulties next year as it gets going and it would warrant giving the excellent Eastern program a second look.

My DC is at Eastern, and we are very happy with the Magnet program. It is intense reading, writing and critical thinking. From what I've seen and heard about other non-magnet MSs, they do not compare in the level (and amount) of work and critical thinking that is required.

That said, the (non-magnet) Science is definitely lacking. Compacted Math is the same as what you would get in at your home school. Your DD will not get to do a language in 6th grade. And the bus ride is LOOOONG - especially the activity bus (she won't get home until 6 likely).

Also, the principal has done an admirable job after the election talking to the whole school about diversity etc., but there have definitely been hateful things graffiti'd in the bathroom from what I've heard from my DC. My DC tells me that within the program everyone is very inclusive and accepting, but outside of the program ... well, sometimes not as much.

Does anyone have recent experience with the Eastern MS magnet that they would be willing to share? Our DD is deciding between a Bethesda MS and Eastern. Thanks!