Anonymous wrote:So it seems that some kids with lower scores ‘won’ the lottery and that’s bad luck for the high scoring and also deserving kids. I don’t understand how high scorers were not included in the pool when there are clearly kids with lower (still very good) scores in there.

Same here. That makes no sense to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it seems that some kids with lower scores ‘won’ the lottery and that’s bad luck for the high scoring and also deserving kids. I don’t understand how high scorers were not included in the pool when there are clearly kids with lower (still very good) scores in there.

A much simpler way to doing it would have been to select the top scorers, taking into account previous years of MAP scores to account for the pandemic.

True, although the scores may not be the perfect predictor for success in magnet programs.

Honestly, the magnet middle school program could double or triple their seating and not dilute their excellence. Due to seat shortages, it's more selective than either high school or elementary school magnets.

No selection method is perfect, but I would rather have a strictly academic selection method than any other. This isn't so much for the children who get in since I know they'll do well (see above). It's to allow the outliers and higher-scorers to avoid their home school. A bright kid who is on the cusp might be expected to do well at either school, but for a kid who consistently scores higher than anyone else - how can anyone think they'd be fine in their home school? Weren't magnets made for just these children?

I'm glad for the kids who did get into the pool and the programs, and I hope they find it a great experience.

But the process is so unclear this year. Particularly since they previously said that cohorts weren't going to be considered and it would be a straight lottery of kids who were found to need enrichment. Given that the only data points they had were the MAP scores and grades (not even PARCC/MCAP or COGAT this year), it's not obvious how they made selections into the pool. Unless ESOL/FARMS/IEP/504 status are playing a role in the reports we're seeing here, since they did say that those would be considered too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it seems that some kids with lower scores ‘won’ the lottery and that’s bad luck for the high scoring and also deserving kids. I don’t understand how high scorers were not included in the pool when there are clearly kids with lower (still very good) scores in there.

A much simpler way to doing it would have been to select the top scorers, taking into account previous years of MAP scores to account for the pandemic.

True, although the scores may not be the perfect predictor for success in magnet programs.

Anonymous wrote:So it seems that some kids with lower scores ‘won’ the lottery and that’s bad luck for the high scoring and also deserving kids. I don’t understand how high scorers were not included in the pool when there are clearly kids with lower (still very good) scores in there.

A much simpler way to doing it would have been to select the top scorers, taking into account previous years of MAP scores to account for the pandemic.

Anonymous wrote:

I get where you are coming from because some kids with lower MAP M scores did get in the pool. They really need to be more communicative about this. They know parents get obsessed and it creates animosity between different areas and groups. If they just laid out the criteria people wouldn't be so upset.

It's a poorly-managed lottery: perhaps the cutoffs were different depending on the home cluster. As soon as they announced it months ago, I knew it was going to lead to furore. I advise all parents who are unhappy with pool or lottery placement to complain, if only to dissuade them from using this method in the future.

Call or email Kurshanna J. Dean (Accelerated and Enriched Instruction Supervisor) and Jeannie H. Franklin (Consortia Choice and Application Program Services Director).

So it seems that some kids with lower scores ‘won’ the lottery and that’s bad luck for the high scoring and also deserving kids. I don’t understand how high scorers were not included in the pool when there are clearly kids with lower (still very good) scores in there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fall 2020 MAP: 244 math 240 reading
Report card: straight A's
School: CES Chevy Chase

Lottery pool status: in pool for Eastern and Takoma Park

Magnet status: selected for TPMS but not Eastern

Girl?
There were kids with 270+ MAP last year not selected.

OP here. For reference, my child is a girl, with higher scores, and from the same CES, and did not get in. She's Asian, though. I don't know if MCPS takes gender and race into consideration. I hope not.

But your child was in the pool, right? So it could have just been (bad) luck of the draw. I'm still trying to figure out why my daughter with 255 MAP-M from an East County CES wasn't even in the TPMS pool. I'll let it go, but I sure wish this was more transparent.

I get where you are coming from because some kids with lower MAP M scores did get in the pool. They really need to be more communicative about this. They know parents get obsessed and it creates animosity between different areas and groups. If they just laid out the criteria people wouldn't be so upset.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fall 2020 MAP: 244 math 240 reading
Report card: straight A's
School: CES Chevy Chase

Lottery pool status: in pool for Eastern and Takoma Park

Magnet status: selected for TPMS but not Eastern

Girl?
There were kids with 270+ MAP last year not selected.

OP here. For reference, my child is a girl, with higher scores, and from the same CES, and did not get in. She's Asian, though. I don't know if MCPS takes gender and race into consideration. I hope not.

But your child was in the pool, right? So it could have just been (bad) luck of the draw. I'm still trying to figure out why my daughter with 255 MAP-M from an East County CES wasn't even in the TPMS pool. I'll let it go, but I sure wish this was more transparent.

It's infuriating.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fall 2020 MAP: 244 math 240 reading
Report card: straight A's
School: CES Chevy Chase

Lottery pool status: in pool for Eastern and Takoma Park

Magnet status: selected for TPMS but not Eastern

Girl?
There were kids with 270+ MAP last year not selected.

OP here. For reference, my child is a girl, with higher scores, and from the same CES, and did not get in. She's Asian, though. I don't know if MCPS takes gender and race into consideration. I hope not.

But your child was in the pool, right? So it could have just been (bad) luck of the draw. I'm still trying to figure out why my daughter with 255 MAP-M from an East County CES wasn't even in the TPMS pool. I'll let it go, but I sure wish this was more transparent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fall 2020 MAP: 244 math 240 reading
Report card: straight A's
School: CES Chevy Chase

Lottery pool status: in pool for Eastern and Takoma Park

Magnet status: selected for TPMS but not Eastern

Girl?
There were kids with 270+ MAP last year not selected.

OP here. For reference, my child is a girl, with higher scores, and from the same CES, and did not get in. She's Asian, though. I don't know if MCPS takes gender and race into consideration. I hope not.

It’s a lottery. Once they’re in pool, the actual scores don’t matter.

They might have separate pools for boys and girls if they want to keep some kind of gender balance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fall 2020 MAP: 244 math 240 reading
Report card: straight A's
School: CES Chevy Chase

Lottery pool status: in pool for Eastern and Takoma Park

Magnet status: selected for TPMS but not Eastern

Girl?
There were kids with 270+ MAP last year not selected.

OP here. For reference, my child is a girl, with higher scores, and from the same CES, and did not get in. She's Asian, though. I don't know if MCPS takes gender and race into consideration. I hope not.

There was some talk of balancing. I have a DD.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fall 2020 MAP: 244 math 240 reading
Report card: straight A's
School: CES Chevy Chase

Lottery pool status: in pool for Eastern and Takoma Park

Magnet status: selected for TPMS but not Eastern

Girl?
There were kids with 270+ MAP last year not selected.

Mother of sons? It’s a lottery.

Anonymous wrote:Fall 2020 MAP: 244 math 240 reading
Report card: straight A's
School: CES Chevy Chase

Lottery pool status: in pool for Eastern and Takoma Park

Magnet status: selected for TPMS but not Eastern

Girl?
There were kids with 270+ MAP last year not selected.