Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Though I don't have direct experience with the current program, I am an alum who sat through this year's information session for interested applicants. My perception was that the core academic essence of the program was essentially unchanged from the one I graduated from a generation ago. The one notable difference was a seeming increased acknowledgement of and respect and care for each student in their entirety beyond STEM and achievements in those fields. Staff and administration is completely turned over from the time I was there.

Given that, my belief is that while of course there will be change and potential staff departures in the coming years, the essence of the program and experience for this upcoming class won't be significantly impacted during their four years.

Sadly it will as there will be lots less advanced elective options for 11th and 12th grade, with less staff overall. This was confirmed at the open house.

And you believe other schools you have access to will offer these advanced elective options?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please be careful with naysayers. They might have their own agenda. Send the kid and if it does not go well, you can always switch back to private/home public schools.

Such as? Source?

The magnet coordinator has gone to central office to rescue the superintendent's regional programming plan. (Good luck Mr. Ostrander.) The quality will change when the teachers begin to leave and you don't know how replacements will be staffed. The magnet currently has 100 seats per grade. Ostrander will make sure that sufficient seats remain in the program to hold together the curriculum offerings, but again, who is teaching it?

Once School Year 2027 begins, school bus transportation will likely collapse, as it did in the superintendent's previous school district, where he implemented regional programs in a district with just 5 schools. we will have 26 high schools in 2027. If you live in Blair's geographical catchment area, you probably will be OK. But if you are dependent on the promise that Superintendent Taylor made to hold in place transportation supports across the county for legacy magnet students, you might have real trouble. I think that is the first thing to be canceled when the transportation system collapses.

Anonymous wrote:We are also from a private K-8 and concerned how the program will change with our child being the last cohort of the county wide program. We are planning on attending the information night and asking the right questions, and also making connections with the prospective parents. The program will be impacted but we are also trying to keep the perspective that if our child was a or two year younger, would we still apply for the Blair SMCS program. I think we would! So maybe our experience won’t be the same as previous cohorts but it will at least the same as the future cohorts.

Exactly. Programs change all the time. Personnel changes have occurred since the program’s initiation. Assuming the program is going to be worse with no significant evidence of that is worthless.
Ignore the naysayers and decide based on child’s interest, willingness to do the work, and desire to contribute to the school community.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair student here - willing to answer questions parents have about the current program and the experience. Can't answer anything about how things might change in the future.

Go ahead tell it all

What is your specific question? Can't really "tell it all" because there is so much to say.

Anonymous wrote:Blair student here - willing to answer questions parents have about the current program and the experience. Can't answer anything about how things might change in the future.

Go ahead tell it all

Blair student here - willing to answer questions parents have about the current program and the experience. Can't answer anything about how things might change in the future.

Anonymous wrote:Private school mom of current 8th grader that got accepted to Blair SMCS for next year. What are the changes that might be happening to the program ?

Nobody knows. MCPS doesn't have a plan.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Though I don't have direct experience with the current program, I am an alum who sat through this year's information session for interested applicants. My perception was that the core academic essence of the program was essentially unchanged from the one I graduated from a generation ago. The one notable difference was a seeming increased acknowledgement of and respect and care for each student in their entirety beyond STEM and achievements in those fields. Staff and administration is completely turned over from the time I was there.

Given that, my belief is that while of course there will be change and potential staff departures in the coming years, the essence of the program and experience for this upcoming class won't be significantly impacted during their four years.

Sadly it will as there will be lots less advanced elective options for 11th and 12th grade, with less staff overall. This was confirmed at the open house.

This is not true.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Though I don't have direct experience with the current program, I am an alum who sat through this year's information session for interested applicants. My perception was that the core academic essence of the program was essentially unchanged from the one I graduated from a generation ago. The one notable difference was a seeming increased acknowledgement of and respect and care for each student in their entirety beyond STEM and achievements in those fields. Staff and administration is completely turned over from the time I was there.

Given that, my belief is that while of course there will be change and potential staff departures in the coming years, the essence of the program and experience for this upcoming class won't be significantly impacted during their four years.

Sadly it will as there will be lots less advanced elective options for 11th and 12th grade, with less staff overall. This was confirmed at the open house.

That's why I discussed the core academic essence, which in my perspective is not the advanced electives. If one's goal in attending is specific advanced electives, then yes there is definitely more risk that what is there in three or four years will not meet expectations. That being said, I would also note that the volume and variety of such electives is far greater than when I was there and I don't think the lack of variety will necessarily be harmful. Though for what it is worth I took few such electives anyway, instead taking ones in the humanities or AP.

Anonymous wrote:Though I don't have direct experience with the current program, I am an alum who sat through this year's information session for interested applicants. My perception was that the core academic essence of the program was essentially unchanged from the one I graduated from a generation ago. The one notable difference was a seeming increased acknowledgement of and respect and care for each student in their entirety beyond STEM and achievements in those fields. Staff and administration is completely turned over from the time I was there.

Given that, my belief is that while of course there will be change and potential staff departures in the coming years, the essence of the program and experience for this upcoming class won't be significantly impacted during their four years.

Sadly it will as there will be lots less advanced elective options for 11th and 12th grade, with less staff overall. This was confirmed at the open house.

Anonymous wrote:We are also from a private K-8 and concerned how the program will change with our child being the last cohort of the county wide program. We are planning on attending the information night and asking the right questions, and also making connections with the prospective parents. The program will be impacted but we are also trying to keep the perspective that if our child was a or two year younger, would we still apply for the Blair SMCS program. I think we would! So maybe our experience won’t be the same as previous cohorts but it will at least the same as the future cohorts.

I would be more concerned about transportation changing

I agree change will take a few years...another Blair alum. I might risk it this year.