Anonymous
Post 08/21/2025 05:59     Subject: Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kids both changed schools for the CES and I’m all for the magnet programs changing. They were accepted to a magnet middle school and turned it down do the extreme time it would take to get to and from school. My DS was very interested in the Poolesville program but didn’t even apply because of the distance—they get up early enough.

There are very bright, motivated kids all over the county. Just because some are willing and able to do a ridiculous commute doesn’t make them any smarter and it doesn’t mean that the 6 programs will be “diluted”



+1. This. Currently, so many kids in Whitman and BCC don’t apply and/or don’t accept magnet slots. High school is too stressful to add a 2 hour daily commute on top of it. It’s ridiculous how geographically concentrated so many of the special programs are.


Whitman is still grouped with Blair correct? My DD chose a long commute to go to Blair. As a young adult now she said that chose was one of the best she had made. If your kid does not want the bus ride. It's fine. They should not go. We all make choices like that in life.
Anonymous
Post 08/21/2025 05:47     Subject: Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kids both changed schools for the CES and I’m all for the magnet programs changing. They were accepted to a magnet middle school and turned it down do the extreme time it would take to get to and from school. My DS was very interested in the Poolesville program but didn’t even apply because of the distance—they get up early enough.

There are very bright, motivated kids all over the county. Just because some are willing and able to do a ridiculous commute doesn’t make them any smarter and it doesn’t mean that the 6 programs will be “diluted”



+1. This. Currently, so many kids in Whitman and BCC don’t apply and/or don’t accept magnet slots. High school is too stressful to add a 2 hour daily commute on top of it. It’s ridiculous how geographically concentrated so many of the special programs are.

The commute to Blair is not that far. If you don't have a kid that needs or wants these programs I guess you would not understand.


Yes it is. You can use your #alternative facts, but Google maps says you’re wrong. There’s a reason kids to Blair primarily come from only 4 school clusters, and the reason is not that kids from Rockville are smarter than kids from Bethesda.
Anonymous
Post 08/21/2025 01:55     Subject: Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Not signing. I’m ok with the change.
-parent of a middle school magnet kid who freaking hates the ridiculous commute


To be clear, I hate the commute. My kid is ok with it.

If your kid (who is the one making the commute) is okay with it, why do you “freaking hate” it? There are magnet buses. You don’t have to drive the whole way.
Anonymous
Post 08/21/2025 01:01     Subject: Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kids both changed schools for the CES and I’m all for the magnet programs changing. They were accepted to a magnet middle school and turned it down do the extreme time it would take to get to and from school. My DS was very interested in the Poolesville program but didn’t even apply because of the distance—they get up early enough.

There are very bright, motivated kids all over the county. Just because some are willing and able to do a ridiculous commute doesn’t make them any smarter and it doesn’t mean that the 6 programs will be “diluted”



+1. This. Currently, so many kids in Whitman and BCC don’t apply and/or don’t accept magnet slots. High school is too stressful to add a 2 hour daily commute on top of it. It’s ridiculous how geographically concentrated so many of the special programs are.


Both schools have advanced classes so no need.

Well thats great for those kids unfortunately rest of kids don't have same opportunities which is the whole point of these programs. My kid would have gone to QO which does not have any of the math classes they took in 11th or 12th grade. The commute to Poolesville was shorter than going to Montgomery College.


My kid will be going to QO too. I would rather have my advanced kid going to Poolesville than MC.

Why not keep the existing program and offer it to other schools as well. The best can go to Poolesville and the ones who don't make the cut get to go the local program in their high school. Up the criteria to get into Poolesville.
Anonymous
Post 08/21/2025 00:49     Subject: Re:Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets
MCPS just needs to keep the county wide programs, and build more regional magnets.

This whole thing is like the crabs in the pot metaphor, tearing down the bright AND motivated kids (certainly motivated enough to make the commute). Smarts alone doesn't get you very far, you have to have the drive too. We do these kids a disservice when you frame magnets as just about aptitude, and not also about fortitude.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2025 23:29     Subject: Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kids both changed schools for the CES and I’m all for the magnet programs changing. They were accepted to a magnet middle school and turned it down do the extreme time it would take to get to and from school. My DS was very interested in the Poolesville program but didn’t even apply because of the distance—they get up early enough.

There are very bright, motivated kids all over the county. Just because some are willing and able to do a ridiculous commute doesn’t make them any smarter and it doesn’t mean that the 6 programs will be “diluted”



+1. This. Currently, so many kids in Whitman and BCC don’t apply and/or don’t accept magnet slots. High school is too stressful to add a 2 hour daily commute on top of it. It’s ridiculous how geographically concentrated so many of the special programs are.


Both schools have advanced classes so no need.

Well thats great for those kids unfortunately rest of kids don't have same opportunities which is the whole point of these programs. My kid would have gone to QO which does not have any of the math classes they took in 11th or 12th grade. The commute to Poolesville was shorter than going to Montgomery College.


You mean kids like mine who go without as MC logistically is impossible. This new plan makes things worse for our kids, not better.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2025 23:26     Subject: Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I certainly will


I certainly won’t. I hope the new programs are designed so that only a few high schools send kids to them.

+1 I certainly won’t sign. Woefully inadequate number of seats as it is.

SMCS should expand so there are significantly more openings and shorter commutes.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2025 23:07     Subject: Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets
Anonymous wrote:Not signing. I’m ok with the change.
-parent of a middle school magnet kid who freaking hates the ridiculous commute


+1
- parent of a current MS magnet kid and HS who turned down a magnet.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2025 22:56     Subject: Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kids both changed schools for the CES and I’m all for the magnet programs changing. They were accepted to a magnet middle school and turned it down do the extreme time it would take to get to and from school. My DS was very interested in the Poolesville program but didn’t even apply because of the distance—they get up early enough.

There are very bright, motivated kids all over the county. Just because some are willing and able to do a ridiculous commute doesn’t make them any smarter and it doesn’t mean that the 6 programs will be “diluted”



+1. This. Currently, so many kids in Whitman and BCC don’t apply and/or don’t accept magnet slots. High school is too stressful to add a 2 hour daily commute on top of it. It’s ridiculous how geographically concentrated so many of the special programs are.


Both schools have advanced classes so no need.

Well thats great for those kids unfortunately rest of kids don't have same opportunities which is the whole point of these programs. My kid would have gone to QO which does not have any of the math classes they took in 11th or 12th grade. The commute to Poolesville was shorter than going to Montgomery College.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2025 22:44     Subject: Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kids both changed schools for the CES and I’m all for the magnet programs changing. They were accepted to a magnet middle school and turned it down do the extreme time it would take to get to and from school. My DS was very interested in the Poolesville program but didn’t even apply because of the distance—they get up early enough.

There are very bright, motivated kids all over the county. Just because some are willing and able to do a ridiculous commute doesn’t make them any smarter and it doesn’t mean that the 6 programs will be “diluted”



+1. This. Currently, so many kids in Whitman and BCC don’t apply and/or don’t accept magnet slots. High school is too stressful to add a 2 hour daily commute on top of it. It’s ridiculous how geographically concentrated so many of the special programs are.


Both schools have advanced classes so no need.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2025 22:43     Subject: Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kids both changed schools for the CES and I’m all for the magnet programs changing. They were accepted to a magnet middle school and turned it down do the extreme time it would take to get to and from school. My DS was very interested in the Poolesville program but didn’t even apply because of the distance—they get up early enough.

There are very bright, motivated kids all over the county. Just because some are willing and able to do a ridiculous commute doesn’t make them any smarter and it doesn’t mean that the 6 programs will be “diluted”



+1. This. Currently, so many kids in Whitman and BCC don’t apply and/or don’t accept magnet slots. High school is too stressful to add a 2 hour daily commute on top of it. It’s ridiculous how geographically concentrated so many of the special programs are.

The commute to Blair is not that far. If you don't have a kid that needs or wants these programs I guess you would not understand.


It is which is why many don’t do it.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2025 22:43     Subject: Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets
Anonymous wrote:Everyone gets negatively impacted. Our home prices are influenced by how great our schools are. Now MCPS is trying to dismantle the magnet programs?



Your home price is the least of our concerns.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2025 22:43     Subject: Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kids both changed schools for the CES and I’m all for the magnet programs changing. They were accepted to a magnet middle school and turned it down do the extreme time it would take to get to and from school. My DS was very interested in the Poolesville program but didn’t even apply because of the distance—they get up early enough.

There are very bright, motivated kids all over the county. Just because some are willing and able to do a ridiculous commute doesn’t make them any smarter and it doesn’t mean that the 6 programs will be “diluted”



+1. This. Currently, so many kids in Whitman and BCC don’t apply and/or don’t accept magnet slots. High school is too stressful to add a 2 hour daily commute on top of it. It’s ridiculous how geographically concentrated so many of the special programs are.

The commute to Blair is not that far. If you don't have a kid that needs or wants these programs I guess you would not understand.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2025 22:42     Subject: Re:Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets
That AI-generated image on the petition is creepy.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2025 22:38     Subject: Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets
Anonymous wrote:My kids both changed schools for the CES and I’m all for the magnet programs changing. They were accepted to a magnet middle school and turned it down do the extreme time it would take to get to and from school. My DS was very interested in the Poolesville program but didn’t even apply because of the distance—they get up early enough.

There are very bright, motivated kids all over the county. Just because some are willing and able to do a ridiculous commute doesn’t make them any smarter and it doesn’t mean that the 6 programs will be “diluted”



+1. This. Currently, so many kids in Whitman and BCC don’t apply and/or don’t accept magnet slots. High school is too stressful to add a 2 hour daily commute on top of it. It’s ridiculous how geographically concentrated so many of the special programs are.