The program is great, but DC hates the bus ride even though ours is relatively short. As with bus rides for a lot of MCPS schools, the bus is overcrowded (not enough space so some kids sitting on floor), very loud and generally unpleasant.

I don't think the program is worth the long commute, but DC disagrees. The last time I suggested her to consider transferring back, she threatened never telling me when she feels lack of sleep.

Anonymous wrote:
I know one child who loves the program, but had trouble adjusting to the long bus commute. She was actually teased on the bus because she didn't have the *right* phone, books were snatched out of her hands, and the matter had to be addressed by the school.

The kids get bored on that bus, and apparently this year you don't look cool if you decide to read or do your homework. However she still likes going there, for the quality of the program, and the friends she's making at school (not on the bus!).

Which bus is it? It is time to pick up another bus.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question - last night they barely touched on math and science. How has instruction been in these areas? I know they are mixed with the general middle school population, but in practice do the magnet kids tend to be in higher level math and then are they grouped by grade level, so they end up together a lot?

While the magnet kids tend to take advanced math and science together, the math and science instruction at Eastern in general is not strong. My DC has very high grades in both classes all 3 years, yet feels her foundation is weak. Many Eastern students who do well in math end up having a difficult time with high school honors math.

I don't know 'many' Eastern graduates, but for the dozen I do know this is straight up BS.

This is why we are sharing OUR experiences. I know Eastern grads in different HS across the county, including Blair and RM IB, who had difficulty in math. Again, what I have heard - not speaking for the entire Eastern population.

I know one child who loves the program, but had trouble adjusting to the long bus commute. She was actually teased on the bus because she didn't have the *right* phone, books were snatched out of her hands, and the matter had to be addressed by the school.

The kids get bored on that bus, and apparently this year you don't look cool if you decide to read or do your homework. However she still likes going there, for the quality of the program, and the friends she's making at school (not on the bus!).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question - last night they barely touched on math and science. How has instruction been in these areas? I know they are mixed with the general middle school population, but in practice do the magnet kids tend to be in higher level math and then are they grouped by grade level, so they end up together a lot?

While the magnet kids tend to take advanced math and science together, the math and science instruction at Eastern in general is not strong. My DC has very high grades in both classes all 3 years, yet feels her foundation is weak. Many Eastern students who do well in math end up having a difficult time with high school honors math.

I don't know 'many' Eastern graduates, but for the dozen I do know this is straight up BS.

My 7th grader has only been in math and science classes with other magnet students. Eastern offers both on level and advanced sciences class.

Science teacher in 6th grade was not great. They had a math teacher teaching science. My child still learned stuff. This year's science teacher has been great. They do lots of hands on activities and experimentation.

Math has been very good so far. I know a lot of people don't like a particular math teacher (she does not suffer fools-parents or students-gladly), but she has been an excellent math teacher for my child. She is als retiring this year. My child was accepted to both Eastern and TPMS.

When I was in the 6th grade my bus ride was that long and it wasn't so bad. It was a good time to catch up on homework that didn't require much effort like worksheets, or to review memorization-type things for tests.

Anonymous wrote:Another question - last night they barely touched on math and science. How has instruction been in these areas? I know they are mixed with the general middle school population, but in practice do the magnet kids tend to be in higher level math and then are they grouped by grade level, so they end up together a lot?

While the magnet kids tend to take advanced math and science together, the math and science instruction at Eastern in general is not strong. My DC has very high grades in both classes all 3 years, yet feels her foundation is weak. Many Eastern students who do well in math end up having a difficult time with high school honors math.

I have a fourth grader in a CES and am thinking ahead to next year -- I know how hard it is to get a space in the magnet program, but I like to think through logistics and see if it's even an option worth thinking about.

It looks like kids from my area (Burtonsville) would have to get on the bus around 6:45 AM. For the return trip, there are no bus stops with a safe walking route to our house, so presumably my kid would get dropped off and go to the library, where we could pick them up after work (5:30 or so). That seems like a really long day to ask of a middle schooler. How do people handle this? Are car pools really an option? Do parents adjust their work schedules?

Anonymous wrote:Another question - last night they barely touched on math and science. How has instruction been in these areas? I know they are mixed with the general middle school population, but in practice do the magnet kids tend to be in higher level math and then are they grouped by grade level, so they end up together a lot?

My DC is a 6th grader in the humanities program at Eastern. Most of the magnet kids are in IM for Math, so do tend to be grouped together (along with other high-achieving kids who took compacted math in grades 4 and 5). Science is more of a mixed bag and to be honest, is not that strong (although there are two 6th grade science teachers and I hear that one of them is good).

Another question - last night they barely touched on math and science. How has instruction been in these areas? I know they are mixed with the general middle school population, but in practice do the magnet kids tend to be in higher level math and then are they grouped by grade level, so they end up together a lot?

If you haven't already done so, check the magnet bus routes to see if there is another close by bus stop on a different route that will shorten the bus ride. Kids can ride whatever bus route they want.

My child enjoys the hour long bus ride because it provides a chance to hang out with friends. Kids often sleep on the bus ride in to school. If your child can read while in a moving vehicle, lots of reading homework can be done on the bus.

Yes, the program is worth it!

Many people work out car pools with others in their neighborhood or nearby (we did) so the kids didn't have to spend quite so much time on a bus. Others do spend all that time on a bus. YES, it's worth it.

was it worth it? We went to the open house last night and I really liked the curriculum. However, I am still undecided whether it's worth the extra commute time. Decisions are due tomorrow! Would love to hear experiences. Most of the people from our school who were accepted chose not to go because of the commute. I am having a hard time finding anyone who made it work. Thanks!