I think the problem that people have/ some magnets test in and some are just kids who want to go and get picked by the lottery. It's not to say both aren't good, but I would assume the caliber of students are vastly different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More and more schools are using "magnet" in their program or school names it seems. Just like calling 2/3 of kids "gifted" in MCPS. I guess that makes parents happy...

Stop being obtuse. a magnet is a school or program that draws students in from outside the school's normal boundaries. It is a program that attracts students to the school who would not otherwise be zoned for that school. That is why it is called a magnet - the drawing in students aspect, not the method of admission. It doesn't matter if it is test in or lottery. It is a magnet.

You don't really believe that do you??

I do. Here is the definition of a magnet school:

mag·net school
noun
noun: magnet school; plural noun: magnet schools

a public school offering special instruction and programs not available elsewhere, designed to attract a more diverse student body from throughout a school district.

Fits Parkland to a T. OP never asked about a gifted program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More and more schools are using "magnet" in their program or school names it seems. Just like calling 2/3 of kids "gifted" in MCPS. I guess that makes parents happy...

Stop being obtuse. a magnet is a school or program that draws students in from outside the school's normal boundaries. It is a program that attracts students to the school who would not otherwise be zoned for that school. That is why it is called a magnet - the drawing in students aspect, not the method of admission. It doesn't matter if it is test in or lottery. It is a magnet.

Agreed..magnet and GT are totally totally separate issues. That said, I know several kids who went from Barnsley HGC to Parkland and were very happy. It has a science emphasis but it much closer for people on the western part of the county than TP. Taking physics in MS is a nice perk especially for kids interested in Wheaton's Bioengineering program.

Wheaton has an engineering program and a bio sciences program, but not a bioengineering program. My child is in the engineering program at Wheaton, and in about 1/4 of the kids in his grade ar from Parkland. All nice, smart, motivated kids. Kids at Parkland get to take honors hs physics and intro to engineering design (hs class that counts as tech ed graduation requirement).

Sorry, I have no first hand experience with Parkland, but they do (did?) have a good and very large math team that used to crush other teams at math meets.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More and more schools are using "magnet" in their program or school names it seems. Just like calling 2/3 of kids "gifted" in MCPS. I guess that makes parents happy...

Stop being obtuse. a magnet is a school or program that draws students in from outside the school's normal boundaries. It is a program that attracts students to the school who would not otherwise be zoned for that school. That is why it is called a magnet - the drawing in students aspect, not the method of admission. It doesn't matter if it is test in or lottery. It is a magnet.

You don't really believe that do you??

Arguments about what is a "real" magnet or not aside, any Parkland parents that can weigh in on atmosphere at Parkland; workload; ability to do other extracurriculars, like sports teams?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More and more schools are using "magnet" in their program or school names it seems. Just like calling 2/3 of kids "gifted" in MCPS. I guess that makes parents happy...

Stop being obtuse. a magnet is a school or program that draws students in from outside the school's normal boundaries. It is a program that attracts students to the school who would not otherwise be zoned for that school. That is why it is called a magnet - the drawing in students aspect, not the method of admission. It doesn't matter if it is test in or lottery. It is a magnet.

Agreed..magnet and GT are totally totally separate issues. That said, I know several kids who went from Barnsley HGC to Parkland and were very happy. It has a science emphasis but it much closer for people on the western part of the county than TP. Taking physics in MS is a nice perk especially for kids interested in Wheaton's Bioengineering program.

Anonymous wrote:More and more schools are using "magnet" in their program or school names it seems. Just like calling 2/3 of kids "gifted" in MCPS. I guess that makes parents happy...

Stop being obtuse. a magnet is a school or program that draws students in from outside the school's normal boundaries. It is a program that attracts students to the school who would not otherwise be zoned for that school. That is why it is called a magnet - the drawing in students aspect, not the method of admission. It doesn't matter if it is test in or lottery. It is a magnet.

Anonymous wrote:More and more schools are using "magnet" in their program or school names it seems. Just like calling 2/3 of kids "gifted" in MCPS. I guess that makes parents happy...

Hush, PP. OP asked a question and is waiting for answers.

More and more schools are using "magnet" in their program or school names it seems. Just like calling 2/3 of kids "gifted" in MCPS. I guess that makes parents happy...

DD has a friend who attends Parkland. DD's friend loves the school, and has had great opportunities there. She is a smart girl from a very well-educated family of scientists. So, they are not ignorant of what constitutes quality STEM education. I believe the girl is taking physics as an 8th grader.

Anonymous wrote:there is no magnet at parkland - eastern, takoma, and RCMS are only true MS magnets

MCPS thinks that there is a magnet at Parkland.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/parklandms/magnet/

Now, do you have any information for OP and PP?

Anonymous wrote:there is no magnet at parkland - eastern, takoma, and RCMS are only true MS magnets

Ignore. It is literally CALLED Parkland Magnet Middle School. It is a lottery magnet (focusing on specific subject areas) for those outside its boundaries, not a test-in magnet. What someone thinks is a "true" magnet is irrelevant.

there is no magnet at parkland - eastern, takoma, and RCMS are only true MS magnets

also interested!

Looking for any feedback on the magnet program at Parkland MS.