Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't comment on SAES, but I have one child at an independent school and one at Eastern MS.

Here are the pros and cons of Eastern from my experience:

Cons:
* Outdated physical building, slated for improvements down the road but not in the next 3 years
* Large school, all of the normal problems of a big public MS
* Long commute from your side of town (although the kids on the bus seem not to mind too much)
* Only one elective for Humanities kids, which forces them to choose between fine arts and world languages

Pros:
* Free
* Experienced magnet teachers and magnet coordinator
* Rigorous coursework and cohesive Humanities curriculum designed to be taught across disciplines
* Support for state and national competitions like National History Day and C-Span Student Cam that can strengthen HS applications

I would add that the cohort at the Eastern Magnet is a group of really bright, academically minded kids. Probably more so than SAES.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP. I have experience with MCPS Magnets and SAES. Very different options.
What won't change is that MS stinks whether in public or private. Potentially SAES is a physically safer option, but emotionally all schools have their issues in MS. Some could argue the entitlement of private kids makes the bullying worse in a private MS environment. That is a greater issue at SAES since Dr. Glasgow left.
My DS left Eastern after 6th. Hated it! rather than follow his sister to SAES he went to our local MCPS MS. He was happier with neighborhood friends and while academically it was a little boring, he did get into both Blair-CAP and RMIB (He graduates this year and will attend UMD-Honors w. scholarship).
Because you're asking specifically about MS, I'd say Eastern wasn't worth the lengthy morning commute. But if MCPS Magnets are a thought for HS, I do know they prioritize MCPS MS students over private.

Bullying at SAES is a real issue. A small group of high school girls are the problem.

Is this the same poster that keeps posting negative bullying comments on several threads? If so, can you expound?

Anonymous wrote:I can't comment on SAES, but I have one child at an independent school and one at Eastern MS.

Here are the pros and cons of Eastern from my experience:

Cons:
* Outdated physical building, slated for improvements down the road but not in the next 3 years
* Large school, all of the normal problems of a big public MS
* Long commute from your side of town (although the kids on the bus seem not to mind too much)
* Only one elective for Humanities kids, which forces them to choose between fine arts and world languages

Pros:
* Free
* Experienced magnet teachers and magnet coordinator
* Rigorous coursework and cohesive Humanities curriculum designed to be taught across disciplines
* Support for state and national competitions like National History Day and C-Span Student Cam that can strengthen HS applications

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP. I have experience with MCPS Magnets and SAES. Very different options.
What won't change is that MS stinks whether in public or private. Potentially SAES is a physically safer option, but emotionally all schools have their issues in MS. Some could argue the entitlement of private kids makes the bullying worse in a private MS environment. That is a greater issue at SAES since Dr. Glasgow left.
My DS left Eastern after 6th. Hated it! rather than follow his sister to SAES he went to our local MCPS MS. He was happier with neighborhood friends and while academically it was a little boring, he did get into both Blair-CAP and RMIB (He graduates this year and will attend UMD-Honors w. scholarship).
Because you're asking specifically about MS, I'd say Eastern wasn't worth the lengthy morning commute. But if MCPS Magnets are a thought for HS, I do know they prioritize MCPS MS students over private.

Bullying at SAES is a real issue. A small group of high school girls are the problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yesterday DS received a spot in the Eastern Middle Magnet program after we committed to SAES. What would DCUM do in this case? DS excels in the humanities.

Ask our last President.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP. I have experience with MCPS Magnets and SAES. Very different options.
What won't change is that MS stinks whether in public or private. Potentially SAES is a physically safer option, but emotionally all schools have their issues in MS. Some could argue the entitlement of private kids makes the bullying worse in a private MS environment. That is a greater issue at SAES since Dr. Glasgow left.
My DS left Eastern after 6th. Hated it! rather than follow his sister to SAES he went to our local MCPS MS. He was happier with neighborhood friends and while academically it was a little boring, he did get into both Blair-CAP and RMIB (He graduates this year and will attend UMD-Honors w. scholarship).
Because you're asking specifically about MS, I'd say Eastern wasn't worth the lengthy morning commute. But if MCPS Magnets are a thought for HS, I do know they prioritize MCPS MS students over private.

Bullying at SAES is a real issue. A small group of high school girls are the problem.

Anonymous wrote:Yesterday DS received a spot in the Eastern Middle Magnet program after we committed to SAES. What would DCUM do in this case? DS excels in the humanities.

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP. I have experience with MCPS Magnets and SAES. Very different options.
What won't change is that MS stinks whether in public or private. Potentially SAES is a physically safer option, but emotionally all schools have their issues in MS. Some could argue the entitlement of private kids makes the bullying worse in a private MS environment. That is a greater issue at SAES since Dr. Glasgow left.
My DS left Eastern after 6th. Hated it! rather than follow his sister to SAES he went to our local MCPS MS. He was happier with neighborhood friends and while academically it was a little boring, he did get into both Blair-CAP and RMIB (He graduates this year and will attend UMD-Honors w. scholarship).
Because you're asking specifically about MS, I'd say Eastern wasn't worth the lengthy morning commute. But if MCPS Magnets are a thought for HS, I do know they prioritize MCPS MS students over private.

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP. I have experience with MCPS Magnets and SAES. Very different options.
What won't change is that MS stinks whether in public or private. Potentially SAES is a physically safer option, but emotionally all schools have their issues in MS. Some could argue the entitlement of private kids makes the bullying worse in a private MS environment. That is a greater issue at SAES since Dr. Glasgow left.
My DS left Eastern after 6th. Hated it! rather than follow his sister to SAES he went to our local MCPS MS. He was happier with neighborhood friends and while academically it was a little boring, he did get into both Blair-CAP and RMIB (He graduates this year and will attend UMD-Honors w. scholarship).
Because you're asking specifically about MS, I'd say Eastern wasn't worth the lengthy morning commute. But if MCPS Magnets are a thought for HS, I do know they prioritize MCPS MS students over private.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot comment on Eastern Magnet because I am unfamiliar with it, but do think SAES is fantastic.

St. Andrew's is ok, not fantastic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eastern will be great from an education standpoint, definitely challenging with very purposeful coursework and projects. It’s a public school, which I know people on this board think is akin to a prison, but that’s not really true. The building itself has not been renovated recently.[b] I don’t have experience with SAES but it seems like the opposite. Warm, small, not particularly challenging, shielding you from the real world people you might encounter at Eastern.[b] So which is the priority? Eastern is better academically and SAES is a more nurturing environment.

Unlike the poster above, I will only comment on the school with which I have actual experience -- St. Andrew's. Yes, SAES is a small school and for my DC, an AA student who graduated from St. Andrew's and is now attending a highly-ranked SLAC, St Andrew's was also a warm and friendly place that did an excellent job of preparing DC well for college. SAES teachers were innovative and encouraged students nopt only to challenge themselves, but also develop an awareness of how they learn best. DC's friend group was diverse and supportive -- and they remain so even as graduates. Finally, college counseling was welcoming of parents and completely transparent. Whatever you and your DC decide, OP, I wish you the best!