Anonymous
Post 02/12/2023 23:37     Subject: Are the Blair magnet kids happy?
Anonymous wrote:My kid is in the magnet and I can honestly tell you that they enjoy it. DC loves hanging out with the cohort of super smart kids who make learning a fun and challenging experience. We have no regrets.

I am not the PP, but responding to that post, I am guessing that they are dissing the lottery policy that is diluting the ES and MS magnets. Thankfully, as of now, the county is not interfering with the selection policy of the HS magnet programs.


Actually, protesting forced prepping speaks to the test based system.

I applaud mcps for seeking out students how don't get the intense enrichment that some students get (& of course those parents insist their kids are the "naturally " gifted). Maybe we can all just agree that we need more programs/spots.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2023 23:31     Subject: Are the Blair magnet kids happy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid is in the magnet and I can honestly tell you that they enjoy it. DC loves hanging out with the cohort of super smart kids who make learning a fun and challenging experience. We have no regrets.

I am not the PP, but responding to that post, I am guessing that they are dissing the lottery policy that is diluting the ES and MS magnets. Thankfully, as of now, the county is not interfering with the selection policy of the HS magnet programs.


Not only is there no lottery policy for high school but the rising 9th graders also didn’t go through the lottery.


I thought they started lottery for MS magnet 4 years ago, the first lottery cohort are in already 10th grade now, how’s the rising 9th grader not part of the lottery??

No, they started MS lottery only a few years ago with Covid. The first MS lottery cohort is currently in 7th grade.


Yeah. Current 10,9,8 experienced very weird cogat + cohort thing for middle school magnets!


Yes, middle school is a quasi lottery of the top 15%. The only difference between it and the previous system is they no longer use the cog at which was the test makers choice since they wouldn't allow it to be given during the pandemic. To be fair, the cog at didn't really lend much to the process beyond gatekeeping.


The choice was actually a test uniquely designed for mag admissions by Pearson. But, cost was high and test prep rampant (A++ or Dr. Li, anyone?), so it was discontinued. First switch to cogat, then to map.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2023 23:29     Subject: Are the Blair magnet kids happy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are excited that our DD has this option and are very much leaning towards her attending. My biggest worry, though, is whether the kids are happy. My child is a kid who won’t mind a bunch of homework. She’s a strong math kid but loves science and reading - my guess is she would do mostly science electives but may take a couple of the cool social studies or English ones too. What I think she needs most is a cohort of kids who are into school but also like hanging out, aren’t crazy competitive with each other even if they themselves want to do well. Is that the vibe of the magnet?


I was in your place last year. And everyone’s advice was it’s very supportive and kid won’t have too much hw. I feel like you are owed the truth so that you can make an informed decision. I wish someone had told me this last year. There are some in the pgm that are not competitive…but a good majority are very competitive bc they gets theseideas/way of thinking from home from their parents. These children become very competitive and mean spirited bc they have been taught to think this way since elementary school.
My advice would be to ignore these types of students and hang out with kids most like your DD. it will be tough bc she will be in lots of classes with the mean spirited kids and sometimes it’s hard to mentally block them off. Some of the kids play different mind games, one example :they say they didn’t study and then score a good grade…..all to make people who do study feel bad about their grades. Or they cheat off others and get a good grade and pretend they are just really smart. It’s tough but if your child likes stem….Blair is where it’s at! Good luck!


Parent of recent grad here. I would agree with much of this. I don't think these kids are necessarily majority, but they know how to be heard. Had many conversations with mine about standing up to or avoiding them, whatever seemed like the best option for her. To Blair's credit, they are trying to foster a more collaborative environment in courses and general sense. There will be lots of kids who are team players, kind, collaborative. But, your kid will have to deal with "mag bros" to some degree. There are lots of faculty who are supportive of collaborative kids. There are lots of intelligent kids in non mag programs your kid will meet in other classes. So, don't be scared off by this. It's a good experience overall, cand there are supports throughout the program. Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2023 21:24     Subject: Are the Blair magnet kids happy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid is in the magnet and I can honestly tell you that they enjoy it. DC loves hanging out with the cohort of super smart kids who make learning a fun and challenging experience. We have no regrets.

I am not the PP, but responding to that post, I am guessing that they are dissing the lottery policy that is diluting the ES and MS magnets. Thankfully, as of now, the county is not interfering with the selection policy of the HS magnet programs.


Not only is there no lottery policy for high school but the rising 9th graders also didn’t go through the lottery.


I thought they started lottery for MS magnet 4 years ago, the first lottery cohort are in already 10th grade now, how’s the rising 9th grader not part of the lottery??

No, they started MS lottery only a few years ago with Covid. The first MS lottery cohort is currently in 7th grade.


Yeah. Current 10,9,8 experienced very weird cogat + cohort thing for middle school magnets!


Yes, middle school is a quasi lottery of the top 15%. The only difference between it and the previous system is they no longer use the cog at which was the test makers choice since they wouldn't allow it to be given during the pandemic. To be fair, the cog at didn't really lend much to the process beyond gatekeeping.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2023 19:15     Subject: Are the Blair magnet kids happy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid is in the magnet and I can honestly tell you that they enjoy it. DC loves hanging out with the cohort of super smart kids who make learning a fun and challenging experience. We have no regrets.

I am not the PP, but responding to that post, I am guessing that they are dissing the lottery policy that is diluting the ES and MS magnets. Thankfully, as of now, the county is not interfering with the selection policy of the HS magnet programs.


Not only is there no lottery policy for high school but the rising 9th graders also didn’t go through the lottery.


I thought they started lottery for MS magnet 4 years ago, the first lottery cohort are in already 10th grade now, how’s the rising 9th grader not part of the lottery??

No, they started MS lottery only a few years ago with Covid. The first MS lottery cohort is currently in 7th grade.


Yeah. Current 10,9,8 experienced very weird cogat + cohort thing for middle school magnets!
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2023 18:59     Subject: Are the Blair magnet kids happy?
Although DC had friends before the magnet, it seemed like they felt they had finally found their tribe once there.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2023 15:48     Subject: Re:Are the Blair magnet kids happy?
Anonymous wrote:Do magnet kids have opportunities to make connections with kids outside the magnet?


Yes
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2023 15:44     Subject: Are the Blair magnet kids happy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid is in the magnet and I can honestly tell you that they enjoy it. DC loves hanging out with the cohort of super smart kids who make learning a fun and challenging experience. We have no regrets.

I am not the PP, but responding to that post, I am guessing that they are dissing the lottery policy that is diluting the ES and MS magnets. Thankfully, as of now, the county is not interfering with the selection policy of the HS magnet programs.


Not only is there no lottery policy for high school but the rising 9th graders also didn’t go through the lottery.


I thought they started lottery for MS magnet 4 years ago, the first lottery cohort are in already 10th grade now, how’s the rising 9th grader not part of the lottery??

No, they started MS lottery only a few years ago with Covid. The first MS lottery cohort is currently in 7th grade.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2023 15:36     Subject: Are the Blair magnet kids happy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid is in the magnet and I can honestly tell you that they enjoy it. DC loves hanging out with the cohort of super smart kids who make learning a fun and challenging experience. We have no regrets.

I am not the PP, but responding to that post, I am guessing that they are dissing the lottery policy that is diluting the ES and MS magnets. Thankfully, as of now, the county is not interfering with the selection policy of the HS magnet programs.


Not only is there no lottery policy for high school but the rising 9th graders also didn’t go through the lottery.


I thought they started lottery for MS magnet 4 years ago, the first lottery cohort are in already 10th grade now, how’s the rising 9th grader not part of the lottery??
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2023 14:56     Subject: Are the Blair magnet kids happy?
Our dd appears to be happy. She is getting a great education and she is our third and we know both strong public and top private. She is self driven so I might miss if she is feeling pressure from other kids. I doubt she is. Besides learning how to handle school competition is not the worst thing and if it is there is definitely not unique to magnet, For her being with kids who are as smart and love math/science as much as she does is a huge plus. Also she is a POC in a white household and so the racial diversity of Blair and magnet is especially perfect for her.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2023 14:47     Subject: Re:Are the Blair magnet kids happy?
Anonymous wrote:Do magnet kids have opportunities to make connections with kids outside the magnet?


Of course- esp if they push themselves to join some (lunchtime) clubs or a sport. It’s a big school but my kid has gotten to know a lot of students outside the magnet this way.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2023 12:57     Subject: Are the Blair magnet kids happy?
The child of that weirdo PP talking about standard deviations is the type of students you want to avoid, OP. But those toxic students don’t make up the majority of the program.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2023 12:31     Subject: Are the Blair magnet kids happy?
Anonymous wrote:It's clear to me that PP is white and they are dissing on two distinct groups of students of color. The HS program still does take into account other student services. I dislike the idea that you are affiliated with the magnet in any way.


Hopefully they are not! Nothing they said indicates they are.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2023 12:11     Subject: Are the Blair magnet kids happy?
It's clear to me that PP is white and they are dissing on two distinct groups of students of color. The HS program still does take into account other student services. I dislike the idea that you are affiliated with the magnet in any way.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2023 11:29     Subject: Are the Blair magnet kids happy?
Anonymous wrote:My kid is in the magnet and I can honestly tell you that they enjoy it. DC loves hanging out with the cohort of super smart kids who make learning a fun and challenging experience. We have no regrets.

I am not the PP, but responding to that post, I am guessing that they are dissing the lottery policy that is diluting the ES and MS magnets. Thankfully, as of now, the county is not interfering with the selection policy of the HS magnet programs.


Not only is there no lottery policy for high school but the rising 9th graders also didn’t go through the lottery.