Anonymous wrote:Great kids, but their competitive parents are a different question.

How do you know their parents are competitive? My kids spent 15 years (MS/HS) in MCPS magnet program. In 15 years, I have never met a so-called competitive parent. All parents seem nice to me. They are concerned about their kids just like all parents are (or should be).

Anonymous wrote:
Can we please let of this image of students in magnet schools? It's downright offensive.

OP, the variation in student personality and behavior is just as wide in magnet schools as it is in other schools. I've seen it.

Eastern MS Magnet teacher. There is a huge amount of variation. Also, the students change over the course of three years. Some enter focused and then win out when puberty hormones hit them. Others enter immature (August birthdays!) and then gain maturity. Often the anxious are in therapy and find the right coping mechanism by 8th grade.

Can we please let of this image of students in magnet schools? It's downright offensive.

OP, the variation in student personality and behavior is just as wide in magnet schools as it is in other schools. I've seen it.

Great kids, but their competitive parents are a different question.

Some are aholes, some are nice. Some are introverted, some are more open and friendly. Most are nerdy.

-parent of kids in magnet, and yes, he's kinda nerdy, and that's ok. I am, too.

They are like other kids... and aren’t. The bad? Some are pretty arrogant. Their parents are so amazed by their kid and it trickles down. OP, I say this kindly, but you are definitely another typical kind of parent. The good? Some are incredibly empathetic and fun. It’s a mixed bag, like any class.

Anonymous wrote:They tend to cared about their grades a lot and have high expectations from parents, they often do extracurricular like music, arts, sports
Like regular kids, they play games, procrastinate and hate HW in the subjects they don’t like..

This is my kid. Except they care about test scores more than grades.

They tend to cared about their grades a lot and have high expectations from parents, they often do extracurricular like music, arts, sports
Like regular kids, they play games, procrastinate and hate HW in the subjects they don’t like..

My kid is a regular kid. A little flashy and into “popular stuff” but not rowdy or a wrestle-y boy like many boys are. Plays a travel sport. Loves animals. Pretty chill at home with friends but not a busy social calendar.

Yes, mostly they are like other regular kids - some dorky, some nice/kind, some introverts, some not... Most are driven by nature but not necessarily "competitive" against each other. Matter fact, they are very good at helping each other. Overall good kids.

Anonymous wrote:OP, magnet kids are kids. There are other kids like your kid, not in the magnet programs, and there are other kids like your kid in the magnet programs.

Thank you for the reassurance! Some of the posts here had got me concerned but I probably shouldn’t judge them by their parents neurotic postings!

PP here. Many of my DS kids are humble. Yes - there are kids who brag about everything - but that is not limited to magnet kids.

Magnet SMCS parent here. I don't see any difference between magnet and non-manget kids in terms of social interaction. My DS still loves to goof around at home with Nintendo Switch/Minecraft with his friends (who are both Magnet and non-Magnet kids). There may be little bit of more work (different computer science projects every quarter) - but I dont think the workload for Math or Science is huge. They do have lot of time that they engage during weekends (EC such sports, music). The one advantage of being with the Magnet cohorts is various avenues that school provide in terms of various competitions that they can participate.

OP, magnet kids are kids. There are other kids like your kid, not in the magnet programs, and there are other kids like your kid in the magnet programs.

My kid is introverted and kind. He’s not competitive but very self motivated. He never shares his test scores or brags about his academics. He’s excited about learning when he learns new stuff and makes connections but he’s not pushy and is turned off by kids who are. We’re not pushy either and value encouraging his natural curiosity over drilling him or even doing anything beyond encouraging activities he has initiated himself/encouraging him to do what makes him happy. Essentially we are fairly laid back parents.

Will there be other kids like him in the magnet program?