Anonymous wrote:OP here. How does one get their child into a magnet? I don't know if my child is that bright but they don't really talk about magnet admissions at our school.

I'm sorry if I come off as a snob. I'm really not--just stupid for having bought into the reputation of the Whitman cluster.

How does one get his/her child into a magnet.

OP is getting her "just desserts."

Anonymous wrote:Wow.
The people on this forum can just as unpleasant and superior-sounding as the snooty moms on the private school forum. Not the OP, but why the attack mode?

Maybe it's the fact that she came here, to a public school forum, to tell us our kids' schools all stink. Instead of posting it on the private school forum for the edification of any of her buddies there, who might be considering leaving.

To the lady who wants to be tea-bagged. I'm up for it. Send me a private email.....

Wow.
The people on this forum can just as unpleasant and superior-sounding as the snooty moms on the private school forum. Not the OP, but why the attack mode?

you don't know if your kid is bright enough for a magnet but you don't feel that they are being challenged at a top public school? doesn't make sense.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. How does one get their child into a magnet? I don't know if my child is that bright but they don't really talk about magnet admissions at our school.

I'm sorry if I come off as a snob. I'm really not--just stupid for having bought into the reputation of the Whitman cluster.

There are several different magnets with different entry points: 4th grade for Highly Gifted Centers, the middle school math/science and humanities magnets, and high school math/science, communications and IB magnets. These are the test-in programs: kids apply in the fall before entry year, submit a package with transcript, teacher recs and essays, and all applicants take a test in December. If you want to know more, I think there's a lot about the processes in the DCUM archives.

Can you go back to private?

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the OP but the troll from the other posting (about immersion and magnets). Just want to clarify that we are not one in the same. Now back to the SAHM bickering about nonsense.....

Maybe we should call you the "anti-woman tea-bagger"? Oh wait, another poster on a private school thread already did. Do you think this describes you accurately?

I'm not the OP but the troll from the other posting (about immersion and magnets). Just want to clarify that we are not one in the same. Now back to the SAHM bickering about nonsense.....

Not OP, but not entirely unsympathetic.
Her experience shows why it's really really important for parents to do their homework, and not just assume that your kid will get the education you aspire for them at any given school -- public or private. One can't entirely make the decision based on zip code or property values or school reputation.

My experience as a parent who has gone back and forth between private and public: The public schools in MoCo are all over the lot with respect to quality -- and those differences get magnified by the various magnet programs that create schools within schools.

At the best schools, the highs can be breathtaking with amazing instruction and facilities, but the lows can be quite sobering. Most schools that I've seen have been like yours sounds -- basically fine but uninspiring. I'm sure there are exceptions, but my DS has not been lucky enough to be in one of those.

The issue of class size by itself could give one pause -- it's hard to imagine how being taught in a class of 30 kids, as my DS is now, can ever be an advantage over being taught in a class of 15, as he was in private.

If you've got the coin -- and I'm afraid I don't -- that alone might be a good reason to go private, or might have been a reason to sit tight in your previous home, with a private school you liked.

OP here. How does one get their child into a magnet? I don't know if my child is that bright but they don't really talk about magnet admissions at our school.

I'm sorry if I come off as a snob. I'm really not--just stupid for having bought into the reputation of the Whitman cluster.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

These schools get by because many of the brightest people in DC send their kids their

oh wow, that is awesome.

LMAO, I second this. Because these MoCo residents are dolts!

I moved my kid from a Big Three to a middle school magnet and wow, what a difference - the magnet was vastly better education-wise. She is now in a HS magnet and doing great - and we have funds to spare for things other than school.

OP, I guess you should have done your homework before moving.

I'm 7:59 and I could have written this, although PP beat me to it.

Anonymous wrote: ... Some famous types children attend ...

More awesomeness.

Anonymous wrote:OP, to be honest, you sounds very silly and rude. Go back to the private school board and complain to your lovely buddies. You don't belong here.

As someone who's kids attended MCPS elementary schools which were not in the famed Whitman cluster, I might add that OP sounds like a complete snob. Sorry that our terrible public schools aren't good enough for your little darlings, OP. There is no way that you could have observed students at that school without, at a minimum, seeing what the class sizes were going to be.

I agree with PP --complain to the other parents at that 'top tier' private school your kids used to attend. Those of us who have our kids at these "horrendous" public schools have no sympathy for you.