I’m sorry to hear that your experience isn’t a good one. My student graduated from the WHS engineering magnet in 2021 and had a very different experience. Generally the magnet takes AP physics freshman year and only a few students take Multivariable Calc senior year. It was a great fit for my kid who has gone on Clark at UMCP. It does limit electives though since they are mainly engineering classes.

I am a senior at Wheaton High School in the Engineering Magnet and I would unequivocally advise against putting your child through this program. The magnet here is nothing comparable to that at Blair or other schools and is extremely underwhelming.
https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/wheatonhs/academies/Applicationprograms/#Engineeringapp]
The above course pathway is very deceptive. The first row is identical to what a student in the regular engineering program would take, except taking 2 engineering courses junior year vs freshman year. The second row, for math, is very much false advertising: "Magnet Precalculus" is taken freshman year, providing the illusion of skipping algebra 2, BUT it's also taken sophomore year (note the C/D at the end), which is the functional equivalent of taking algebra 2 -> precalc for the first two years of school. The math courses taken junior and senior year are not magnet, and regular students can take Multivariable as well. The science pathway is again identical, except honors physics is expected over physics 1 for freshmen (although I'm sure this could be circumvented). The magnet administration is terrible, as well: I haven't had many great experiences with it, and we quite literally only meet maybe once a semester as a check-up, which is when I remember, "Oh yeah, the magnet program, almost forgot about it". The magnet program has only been restrictive in terms of the classes I take and provides little to no active support.

If your student is interested in engineering, go to Blair. If your student is interested in engineering and got rejected from Blair, go to your home school. If your student is interested in engineering AND got rejected from Blair AND Wheaton is a nearby choice, seriously consider if the magnet program is right for your kid.

Anonymous wrote:My kid got waitlisted for the Wheaton engineering magnet, never got in, and now is at the Wheaton engineering academy. I’m never too sure how different the magnet is from the academy. He’s taking demanding science and math classes and engineering. It seems to be pretty similar as far as I can tell. Any insight?

I'd love to learn more about how happy your kid is in the engineering academy. Mine did not get invited to the magnet and now wishes he'd listed Wheaton as his top choice for the lottery, for the engineering (he got into Einstein). Wondering whether to push for consideration for the Wheaton Academy over Einstein (or other programs he's waitlisted for). Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you had a child at wheaton engineering magnet what middle school did they go to?

Mine just got accepted he did the Lottery for Argyle Magnet Middle school.

Congrats!

Anonymous wrote:If you had a child at wheaton engineering magnet what middle school did they go to?

Mine just got accepted he did the Lottery for Argyle Magnet Middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you had a child at wheaton engineering magnet what middle school did they go to?

TPMS magnet

Same

Anonymous wrote:If you had a child at wheaton engineering magnet what middle school did they go to?

TPMS magnet

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid there who is loving it. Great program, great opportunities, great teachers/counselors/principal. Engineering classes are ver hands on. They'll take intro to Engineering design, principles of engineering, digital electronics, civil or aerospace or computer, then a senior capstone with a project. There are various engineering clubs, robotics, science, etc. Plus art, theatre, chorus. (Great chorus and theatre teachers). Band/orch is not particularly strong. Gorgeous building. Welcome!

Thank you for this clarification. I have heard that the programs like engineering at Wheaton are tech programs for kids who aren't going to college but rather into fields like mechanics, AC repair, and so on. Do the engineering kids take AP classes?

No the engineering magnet at Wheaton is for kids who want to be aerospace engineers or architects.

Maybe it is now, but my daughter is in college for aero/astro engineering and was specifically told Blair Magnet was a better option to get into top engineering programs for BA/MA engineers and the Wheaton program was great for polytechnic engineering schools. Not A/C repair etc... but engineering technology and design and graphing. This is not a knock, because some of these degrees are amazing

Ha! Take a look at the matriculation list from Wheaton. Never seen anything like it, every top school is represented — Stanford, Caltech, Princeton, MIT. They are all there. It was unbelievable last year.

Where would someone find this list?

It is in the program at graduation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got waitlisted for the Wheaton engineering magnet, never got in, and now is at the Wheaton engineering academy. I’m never too sure how different the magnet is from the academy. He’s taking demanding science and math classes and engineering. It seems to be pretty similar as far as I can tell. Any insight?

I don't think they get as many of the engineering classes, and the magnet has some classes that are magnet only, even if the same title is offered in the academy. Also, not sure if pltw is just magnet or if academy can do some of that too. But, some of UMDCP's admissions must be academy because there are too many to be magnet alone. I'm sounds like a great option.

Yes, the academy is also PLTW

If you had a child at wheaton engineering magnet what middle school did they go to?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently read that Wheaton has the most students admitted to UMDCP's Smith School of Engineering.

UMD's engineering school is the A. James Clark School of Engineering.

The business school is the Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Oh, woops! Too much time on the college discussion board. Sorry about that. Clark School of Engineering!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid there who is loving it. Great program, great opportunities, great teachers/counselors/principal. Engineering classes are ver hands on. They'll take intro to Engineering design, principles of engineering, digital electronics, civil or aerospace or computer, then a senior capstone with a project. There are various engineering clubs, robotics, science, etc. Plus art, theatre, chorus. (Great chorus and theatre teachers). Band/orch is not particularly strong. Gorgeous building. Welcome!

Thank you for this clarification. I have heard that the programs like engineering at Wheaton are tech programs for kids who aren't going to college but rather into fields like mechanics, AC repair, and so on. Do the engineering kids take AP classes?

No the engineering magnet at Wheaton is for kids who want to be aerospace engineers or architects.

Maybe it is now, but my daughter is in college for aero/astro engineering and was specifically told Blair Magnet was a better option to get into top engineering programs for BA/MA engineers and the Wheaton program was great for polytechnic engineering schools. Not A/C repair etc... but engineering technology and design and graphing. This is not a knock, because some of these degrees are amazing

Ha! Take a look at the matriculation list from Wheaton. Never seen anything like it, every top school is represented — Stanford, Caltech, Princeton, MIT. They are all there. It was unbelievable last year.

Where would someone find this list?

I've seen various classes' ig posts.

Anonymous wrote:My kid got waitlisted for the Wheaton engineering magnet, never got in, and now is at the Wheaton engineering academy. I’m never too sure how different the magnet is from the academy. He’s taking demanding science and math classes and engineering. It seems to be pretty similar as far as I can tell. Any insight?

I don't think they get as many of the engineering classes, and the magnet has some classes that are magnet only, even if the same title is offered in the academy. Also, not sure if pltw is just magnet or if academy can do some of that too. But, some of UMDCP's admissions must be academy because there are too many to be magnet alone. I'm sounds like a great option.

My kid got waitlisted for the Wheaton engineering magnet, never got in, and now is at the Wheaton engineering academy. I’m never too sure how different the magnet is from the academy. He’s taking demanding science and math classes and engineering. It seems to be pretty similar as far as I can tell. Any insight?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid there who is loving it. Great program, great opportunities, great teachers/counselors/principal. Engineering classes are ver hands on. They'll take intro to Engineering design, principles of engineering, digital electronics, civil or aerospace or computer, then a senior capstone with a project. There are various engineering clubs, robotics, science, etc. Plus art, theatre, chorus. (Great chorus and theatre teachers). Band/orch is not particularly strong. Gorgeous building. Welcome!

Thank you for this clarification. I have heard that the programs like engineering at Wheaton are tech programs for kids who aren't going to college but rather into fields like mechanics, AC repair, and so on. Do the engineering kids take AP classes?

No the engineering magnet at Wheaton is for kids who want to be aerospace engineers or architects.

Maybe it is now, but my daughter is in college for aero/astro engineering and was specifically told Blair Magnet was a better option to get into top engineering programs for BA/MA engineers and the Wheaton program was great for polytechnic engineering schools. Not A/C repair etc... but engineering technology and design and graphing. This is not a knock, because some of these degrees are amazing

Ha! Take a look at the matriculation list from Wheaton. Never seen anything like it, every top school is represented — Stanford, Caltech, Princeton, MIT. They are all there. It was unbelievable last year.

Where would someone find this list?