Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 10:49     Subject: Regional model - which programs in which schools?
Adding on to the issues, with the boundary recommendation (https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DQZPBK63D44E/$file/Supt%20Rec%20Woodward%20Northwood%20260205.pdf), these are the 27-28 utilization percentages for each of the Region 1 HSs:

BCC - 89%
Blair - 89%
Einstein - 93%
Northwood - 77%
Whitman - 83%

So you have Northwood, with a brand-new building, have all of this space and no programs that are a big draw. Whitman also has plenty of space but is geographically distant. And BCC, Blair, and Einstein, centrally located with attractive programs, don't have as much room for them.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 10:47     Subject: Regional model - which programs in which schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The thing I don’t like for region 1 is putting humanities at Whitman. I would really like to see this at Einstein or Northwood, and I don’t care which. My DCC kids could apply to IB at BCC but that’s still the second furthest option. I don’t see why Whitman needs a major draw magnet.

Neither BCC nor Whitman need magnets. They already have all the advanced classwork in their schools that they need. We know this because vanishingly few kids from these schools go to RMIB or Blair SMCS.

Obviously, these schools will attract high-performing kids from Einstein and Northwood (and maybe Blair) who have access to transportation from their parents. It won't go the other way around. BCC students and definitely not Whitman students will definitely NOT be traveling to Einstein, Northwood or Blair. This is how you create inequity. You try to make everything uniform, the same for everyone, but you ignore how these schools, including their course offerings, and the populations they serve are very different, and so trying to give everyone the same thing means giving more opportunities to the wealthiest students.


But isn't the only way to attend a school you are not zoned for to apply for a magent? If Whitman doesn't have a magnet, no one other than the students who live in the area could attend.


I have absolutely no issue with that, personally. Do others?


So Whitman should be an island while the rest of MCPS is in regions?


I mean what are the big draws at Northwood and Einstein? I’m not saying Whitman should get no programming, I’m wondering why it get a big draw when the others don’t.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 10:46     Subject: Regional model - which programs in which schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The thing I don’t like for region 1 is putting humanities at Whitman. I would really like to see this at Einstein or Northwood, and I don’t care which. My DCC kids could apply to IB at BCC but that’s still the second furthest option. I don’t see why Whitman needs a major draw magnet.

Neither BCC nor Whitman need magnets. They already have all the advanced classwork in their schools that they need. We know this because vanishingly few kids from these schools go to RMIB or Blair SMCS.

Obviously, these schools will attract high-performing kids from Einstein and Northwood (and maybe Blair) who have access to transportation from their parents. It won't go the other way around. BCC students and definitely not Whitman students will definitely NOT be traveling to Einstein, Northwood or Blair. This is how you create inequity. You try to make everything uniform, the same for everyone, but you ignore how these schools, including their course offerings, and the populations they serve are very different, and so trying to give everyone the same thing means giving more opportunities to the wealthiest students.


But isn't the only way to attend a school you are not zoned for to apply for a magent? If Whitman doesn't have a magnet, no one other than the students who live in the area could attend.


Why would others want to if they have strong programming at their own schools? Whitman is very far from the DCC schools in its region.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 10:46     Subject: Regional model - which programs in which schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The thing I don’t like for region 1 is putting humanities at Whitman. I would really like to see this at Einstein or Northwood, and I don’t care which. My DCC kids could apply to IB at BCC but that’s still the second furthest option. I don’t see why Whitman needs a major draw magnet.

Neither BCC nor Whitman need magnets. They already have all the advanced classwork in their schools that they need. We know this because vanishingly few kids from these schools go to RMIB or Blair SMCS.

Obviously, these schools will attract high-performing kids from Einstein and Northwood (and maybe Blair) who have access to transportation from their parents. It won't go the other way around. BCC students and definitely not Whitman students will definitely NOT be traveling to Einstein, Northwood or Blair. This is how you create inequity. You try to make everything uniform, the same for everyone, but you ignore how these schools, including their course offerings, and the populations they serve are very different, and so trying to give everyone the same thing means giving more opportunities to the wealthiest students.


But isn't the only way to attend a school you are not zoned for to apply for a magent? If Whitman doesn't have a magnet, no one other than the students who live in the area could attend.


I have absolutely no issue with that, personally. Do others?


So Whitman should be an island while the rest of MCPS is in regions?
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 10:45     Subject: Regional model - which programs in which schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The thing I don’t like for region 1 is putting humanities at Whitman. I would really like to see this at Einstein or Northwood, and I don’t care which. My DCC kids could apply to IB at BCC but that’s still the second furthest option. I don’t see why Whitman needs a major draw magnet.

Neither BCC nor Whitman need magnets. They already have all the advanced classwork in their schools that they need. We know this because vanishingly few kids from these schools go to RMIB or Blair SMCS.

Obviously, these schools will attract high-performing kids from Einstein and Northwood (and maybe Blair) who have access to transportation from their parents. It won't go the other way around. BCC students and definitely not Whitman students will definitely NOT be traveling to Einstein, Northwood or Blair. This is how you create inequity. You try to make everything uniform, the same for everyone, but you ignore how these schools, including their course offerings, and the populations they serve are very different, and so trying to give everyone the same thing means giving more opportunities to the wealthiest students.


But isn't the only way to attend a school you are not zoned for to apply for a magent? If Whitman doesn't have a magnet, no one other than the students who live in the area could attend.


I have absolutely no issue with that, personally. Do others?
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 10:42     Subject: Regional model - which programs in which schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The thing I don’t like for region 1 is putting humanities at Whitman. I would really like to see this at Einstein or Northwood, and I don’t care which. My DCC kids could apply to IB at BCC but that’s still the second furthest option. I don’t see why Whitman needs a major draw magnet.

Neither BCC nor Whitman need magnets. They already have all the advanced classwork in their schools that they need. We know this because vanishingly few kids from these schools go to RMIB or Blair SMCS.

Obviously, these schools will attract high-performing kids from Einstein and Northwood (and maybe Blair) who have access to transportation from their parents. It won't go the other way around. BCC students and definitely not Whitman students will definitely NOT be traveling to Einstein, Northwood or Blair. This is how you create inequity. You try to make everything uniform, the same for everyone, but you ignore how these schools, including their course offerings, and the populations they serve are very different, and so trying to give everyone the same thing means giving more opportunities to the wealthiest students.


But isn't the only way to attend a school you are not zoned for to apply for a magent? If Whitman doesn't have a magnet, no one other than the students who live in the area could attend.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 10:30     Subject: Regional model - which programs in which schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The thing I don’t like for region 1 is putting humanities at Whitman. I would really like to see this at Einstein or Northwood, and I don’t care which. My DCC kids could apply to IB at BCC but that’s still the second furthest option. I don’t see why Whitman needs a major draw magnet.

Neither BCC nor Whitman need magnets. They already have all the advanced classwork in their schools that they need. We know this because vanishingly few kids from these schools go to RMIB or Blair SMCS.

Obviously, these schools will attract high-performing kids from Einstein and Northwood (and maybe Blair) who have access to transportation from their parents. It won't go the other way around. BCC students and definitely not Whitman students will definitely NOT be traveling to Einstein, Northwood or Blair. This is how you create inequity. You try to make everything uniform, the same for everyone, but you ignore how these schools, including their course offerings, and the populations they serve are very different, and so trying to give everyone the same thing means giving more opportunities to the wealthiest students.


Agree completely. We are a Blair family that would probably make the hike out to BCC if our kids are more humanities focused than STEM. Whitman is too far. Agree with your characterization of what will happen.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 10:26     Subject: Regional model - which programs in which schools?
Anonymous wrote:The thing I don’t like for region 1 is putting humanities at Whitman. I would really like to see this at Einstein or Northwood, and I don’t care which. My DCC kids could apply to IB at BCC but that’s still the second furthest option. I don’t see why Whitman needs a major draw magnet.

Neither BCC nor Whitman need magnets. They already have all the advanced classwork in their schools that they need. We know this because vanishingly few kids from these schools go to RMIB or Blair SMCS.

Obviously, these schools will attract high-performing kids from Einstein and Northwood (and maybe Blair) who have access to transportation from their parents. It won't go the other way around. BCC students and definitely not Whitman students will definitely NOT be traveling to Einstein, Northwood or Blair. This is how you create inequity. You try to make everything uniform, the same for everyone, but you ignore how these schools, including their course offerings, and the populations they serve are very different, and so trying to give everyone the same thing means giving more opportunities to the wealthiest students.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 10:17     Subject: Regional model - which programs in which schools?
The thing I don’t like for region 1 is putting humanities at Whitman. I would really like to see this at Einstein or Northwood, and I don’t care which. My DCC kids could apply to IB at BCC but that’s still the second furthest option. I don’t see why Whitman needs a major draw magnet.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 10:13     Subject: Regional model - which programs in which schools?
What do they mean when they say a program is BOTH criteria and interest-based. Is that like RMIB where it's criteria for 9th and 10th and then anyone who meets criteria can opt in later?
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 10:09     Subject: Regional model - which programs in which schools?
Where can I see a list of local programs of high schools in region 4 and region 5? I assume local programs are only for their home students to get in.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 10:06     Subject: Regional model - which programs in which schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:In Region 1 both BCC and Northwood show up as having engineering. Is that a typo?


No. BCC has PLTW and I think anyone can do it. Do that would be the “interest based” one, maybe fleshed out a little more. Northwood would have a criteria based one like Wheaton’s current magnet.


Are you sure about that? I don't recall seeing the engineering program listed at Northwood before. And Wheaton is the only school that has a criteria based engineering program.


I’m sure the BCC one is interest based. I don’t know about the new Northwood one.

OP here
I recall that in the previous iteration of the regional model there was no engineering program in region 1. I think they initially planned it for Blair. I doubt they are creating two engineering programs in Region 1 so the question is are they making BCC's existing local program regional or are they adding a new engineering program to Northwood. I hope it is the latter. Both Whitman and BCC have local engineering programs already. Neither Einstein, Northwood nor Blair have an engineering program. Why make them travel to BCC for this?


They are using what is there and Einstein and Northwood don’t have advanced math or science and at best two engineering classes.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 10:01     Subject: Regional model - which programs in which schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why do regions 1 and 6 separate theatre and music? There are so many kids who do both and school musicals benefit from having strong musicians in the school.



+1


Are they gonna fix this? The arts should be at one school.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 09:21     Subject: Regional model - which programs in which schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:In Region 1 both BCC and Northwood show up as having engineering. Is that a typo?


No. BCC has PLTW and I think anyone can do it. Do that would be the “interest based” one, maybe fleshed out a little more. Northwood would have a criteria based one like Wheaton’s current magnet.


Are you sure about that? I don't recall seeing the engineering program listed at Northwood before. And Wheaton is the only school that has a criteria based engineering program.


I’m sure the BCC one is interest based. I don’t know about the new Northwood one.

OP here
I recall that in the previous iteration of the regional model there was no engineering program in region 1. I think they initially planned it for Blair. I doubt they are creating two engineering programs in Region 1 so the question is are they making BCC's existing local program regional or are they adding a new engineering program to Northwood. I hope it is the latter. Both Whitman and BCC have local engineering programs already. Neither Einstein, Northwood nor Blair have an engineering program. Why make them travel to BCC for this?
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2026 08:50     Subject: Regional model - which programs in which schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:In Region 1 both BCC and Northwood show up as having engineering. Is that a typo?


No. BCC has PLTW and I think anyone can do it. Do that would be the “interest based” one, maybe fleshed out a little more. Northwood would have a criteria based one like Wheaton’s current magnet.


Are you sure about that? I don't recall seeing the engineering program listed at Northwood before. And Wheaton is the only school that has a criteria based engineering program.


I’m sure the BCC one is interest based. I don’t know about the new Northwood one.