Anonymous
Post 02/05/2021 14:43     Subject: Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ?
Can any current Poolesville SMACS parent or student in Freshman year please tell us if text books are provided by school for Precal , Chemistry and Physics ? Also it will be helpful if someone could post the name of the text book used by current freshman kids. Thanks .

We come from a low income family and as a parent I don’t my hard working child to feel the burden or feel that their parent has to go an extra mile to buy these text books. Thanks in advance to every one who can help . I being a worried parent just want to start making a small fund for my kid to buy his textbooks .

Please please be kind .. not looking for any financial help but just want to plan to support my child .
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2021 21:43     Subject: Re:Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ?
The computer science info at Poolesville is outdated or just simply incorrect. My DC is in the second year of the program and has done no code.org work in any of his computer science classes. The students do receive a lot of instruction. The computer team is very active and participates in many competitions. In the first year students code in Python and Java and cover topics like prefix, infix, and postfix expressions, logic gates and circuits, functions and recursion. The second year computer course prepares students to take the AP Computer Science Java test, but goes beyond the normal topics covered by the exam. Each student has an opportunity to do a research project and internship in their junior and senior years and many students choose to do research in computer science (particularly during distance learning computer science has been a popular area).
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2021 19:17     Subject: Re:Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ?
If your child is interested in computer science then I'd highly recommend Poolesville program. Technology is the future, and while you can't go wrong with either one, Poolesville has great staff and your child will have immense growth while enjoying what your DC likes.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2021 18:38     Subject: Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ? Dc got invited to both these program. Can someone throw some light on which one to chose when Dc is inclined towards Computer Science.

I recommend RMIB - not for the Computer Science, but for the overall program which is just more well rounded than Poolesville SMCS. If your student is interested in Computer Science in the long run, no need to rush in HS. Instead, take the time to flesh out other skills, like writing.

I have had one kid in RMIB and the other in Poolesville SMCS. I was much more impressed with the instruction at RM and the courses at RM than I was with the instruction at Poolesville. Don't get me wrong, the Poolesville teachers are very nice, but they are just doing their own thing curriculum-wise, whereas the IB diploma was a more rigorous, thorough curriculum, and the teachers really seemed to put together well constructed lessons and projects.. A lot of the SMCS computer science the first two year is independent work on Code.org and other external websites. Not a lot of instruction. My DC was unimpressed and uninterested, and didn't choose to continue any Comp Sci after 10th grade.



This is a good summary. I personally think RMIB best prepares kids for college, where they'll need honed critical thinking and writing skills to succeed. I was very happy to learn that humanities courses and math/science are all magnet-level as well. My kid has a balanced interest in both and I think his biggest growth area will be critical writing, which was minimal at his home MS. However, if he were truly passionate about Comp Sci I would make sure I attended both virtual open houses and asked a lot of questions.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2021 18:25     Subject: Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ?
Anonymous wrote:Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ? Dc got invited to both these program. Can someone throw some light on which one to chose when Dc is inclined towards Computer Science.

I recommend RMIB - not for the Computer Science, but for the overall program which is just more well rounded than Poolesville SMCS. If your student is interested in Computer Science in the long run, no need to rush in HS. Instead, take the time to flesh out other skills, like writing.

I have had one kid in RMIB and the other in Poolesville SMCS. I was much more impressed with the instruction at RM and the courses at RM than I was with the instruction at Poolesville. Don't get me wrong, the Poolesville teachers are very nice, but they are just doing their own thing curriculum-wise, whereas the IB diploma was a more rigorous, thorough curriculum, and the teachers really seemed to put together well constructed lessons and projects.. A lot of the SMCS computer science the first two year is independent work on Code.org and other external websites. Not a lot of instruction. My DC was unimpressed and uninterested, and didn't choose to continue any Comp Sci after 10th grade.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2021 18:21     Subject: Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ?
Anonymous wrote:
Hi, just wondering, how many students are accepted to SMACs program at Poolesville. Dc is in waitlist for SMACS at Poolesville , invited to Watkins IB and RM IB. Wanted to know what are his chances of making it Poolsville . Also he is a non magnet middle school kid.


Go to RMIB
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2021 18:20     Subject: Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ?
DD is in SMCS and they are doing such a good job with DL. It’s team teaching for 9th and 10th grade and they block the classes. She has two days / week devoted to SMCS (then other two days are her other classes). Poolesville sent home Arduino kits earlier this year. She just went by me in the kitchen collecting materials to build something.

She was not a CS kid but is taking extra CS electives next year.

I hear her laughing with her classmates on a regular basis. It makes me indescribably happy.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2021 18:17     Subject: Re:Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ?
Same idea in this thread. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/945728.page
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2021 17:16     Subject: Re:Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ?
60 students are accepted to Poolesville SMCS. There are dozens of students in waitpool. Last year handful of students (single digit) got accepted from wait pool in the second round. Chance get slim as each round progresses.

Waitpool doesn't have a ranking. The committee in Poolesville looks at the current state and takes in new students based on that. Ex: If there are 20 girls and 6 girls left from PV SMCS to RMIB, there is a chance that they might select more girls in the next round from the wai pool (and vice-versa with boys / minority).

Anonymous
Post 02/01/2021 12:22     Subject: Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ?

Hi, just wondering, how many students are accepted to SMACs program at Poolesville. Dc is in waitlist for SMACS at Poolesville , invited to Watkins IB and RM IB. Wanted to know what are his chances of making it Poolsville . Also he is a non magnet middle school kid.
Anonymous
Post 02/01/2021 11:33     Subject: Re:Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ?
DS was accepted to both and chose Poolesville smcs. He has been very happy at Poolesville.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2021 16:26     Subject: Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ?
Commute is almost the same .. thanks for your replies.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2021 14:40     Subject: Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ? Dc got invited to both these program. Can someone throw some light on which one to chose when Dc is inclined towards Computer Science.


Poolsville without question. RMIB has many strengths but comp sci is not one.


Generally agree but what is the commute difference from your home?
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2021 14:35     Subject: Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ?
Anonymous wrote:Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ? Dc got invited to both these program. Can someone throw some light on which one to chose when Dc is inclined towards Computer Science.


Poolsville without question. RMIB has many strengths but comp sci is not one.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2021 13:54     Subject: Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ?
Poolsville Smcs or RM IB ? Dc got invited to both these program. Can someone throw some light on which one to chose when Dc is inclined towards Computer Science.