Anonymous
Post 03/09/2015 07:35     Subject: Which MoCo cluster for gifted DD and DS?
Anonymous wrote:I know of a Blair student that left Blair (coming from an big 3 private) because they found it too difficult. They went to an easier W school.

I bet the Blair student returning to home school was simply saving face by saying they wanted to go to a W school.


There was no such student. That post is from the Blair troll.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2015 07:31     Subject: Which MoCo cluster for gifted DD and DS?
I know of a Blair student that left Blair (coming from an big 3 private) because they found it too difficult. They went to an easier W school.

I bet the Blair student returning to home school was simply saving face by saying they wanted to go to a W school.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2015 07:22     Subject: Which MoCo cluster for gifted DD and DS?
Anonymous wrote:

Blair magnet classes have been watered down to barely the level of subject matter at 'W' schools. I know a DC who left the Blair magnet because of the lousy offerings and returned to 'W' school. If you really want your children to be challenged look for the 'W' schools.


What, no comments about the Blair principal's Twitter account? Are you feeling ok?

Also, which high schools in Bethesda/Potomac offer quantum physics, thermodynamics, optics, materials science, plate tectonics and oceanography, astronomy, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, genetics, cell physiology, marine biology, and origins of science?
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2015 07:21     Subject: Which MoCo cluster for gifted DD and DS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:op, you've been given some good advice here about how the system works in MCPS. I have one child in private and one in MCPS. If you were set on a private, I worry that you would not be happy with MCPS -- and their are no guarantees anyway. I'd probably opt for Blair/Eastern or Poolesville -- two radically different areas but with great magnet programs that you are more likely to get in if you live close by. But in the meantime, your youngest would be bored for years as the HGCs don't start till 4th grade. I'd suggest you either suck it up for a year with public for your youngest child & then reapply, OR apply them both to K-8 schools, which seem to have more openings.


There is zero advantage to living in the Blair cluster for purposes of getting into magnets at Blair and Eastern. Zero.

There is some advantage to living in the TPMS cluster for purposes of getting into the TPMS magnet.


pp here - I know DC at Blair taking magnet classes without being formally in the magnet. Plus there are robotics clubs and others favored by the magnet kids which are open to all students. So yes, I consider that an advantage.


Blair magnet classes have been watered down to barely the level of subject matter at 'W' schools. I know a DC who left the Blair magnet because of the lousy offerings and returned to 'W' school. If you really want your children to be challenged look for the 'W' schools.



One third of the Blair magnet students are National Merit Semifinalists. Over 10 percent are Intel semi finalist and the school has more semifinalist then any other school in the world. There are only 100 magnet students per grade. There are wonderful W and non-W schools in MCPS, but to say the Blair magnet program is subpar to a W school is ridiculous.

LOL.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2015 06:59     Subject: Which MoCo cluster for gifted DD and DS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:op, you've been given some good advice here about how the system works in MCPS. I have one child in private and one in MCPS. If you were set on a private, I worry that you would not be happy with MCPS -- and their are no guarantees anyway. I'd probably opt for Blair/Eastern or Poolesville -- two radically different areas but with great magnet programs that you are more likely to get in if you live close by. But in the meantime, your youngest would be bored for years as the HGCs don't start till 4th grade. I'd suggest you either suck it up for a year with public for your youngest child & then reapply, OR apply them both to K-8 schools, which seem to have more openings.


There is zero advantage to living in the Blair cluster for purposes of getting into magnets at Blair and Eastern. Zero.

There is some advantage to living in the TPMS cluster for purposes of getting into the TPMS magnet.


pp here - I know DC at Blair taking magnet classes without being formally in the magnet. Plus there are robotics clubs and others favored by the magnet kids which are open to all students. So yes, I consider that an advantage.


Blair magnet classes have been watered down to barely the level of subject matter at 'W' schools. I know a DC who left the Blair magnet because of the lousy offerings and returned to 'W' school. If you really want your children to be challenged look for the 'W' schools.


LOL.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2015 01:34     Subject: Which MoCo cluster for gifted DD and DS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:op, you've been given some good advice here about how the system works in MCPS. I have one child in private and one in MCPS. If you were set on a private, I worry that you would not be happy with MCPS -- and their are no guarantees anyway. I'd probably opt for Blair/Eastern or Poolesville -- two radically different areas but with great magnet programs that you are more likely to get in if you live close by. But in the meantime, your youngest would be bored for years as the HGCs don't start till 4th grade. I'd suggest you either suck it up for a year with public for your youngest child & then reapply, OR apply them both to K-8 schools, which seem to have more openings.


There is zero advantage to living in the Blair cluster for purposes of getting into magnets at Blair and Eastern. Zero.

There is some advantage to living in the TPMS cluster for purposes of getting into the TPMS magnet.


pp here - I know DC at Blair taking magnet classes without being formally in the magnet. Plus there are robotics clubs and others favored by the magnet kids which are open to all students. So yes, I consider that an advantage.


Blair magnet classes have been watered down to barely the level of subject matter at 'W' schools. I know a DC who left the Blair magnet because of the lousy offerings and returned to 'W' school. If you really want your children to be challenged look for the 'W' schools.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2015 23:11     Subject: Which MoCo cluster for gifted DD and DS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:op, you've been given some good advice here about how the system works in MCPS. I have one child in private and one in MCPS. If you were set on a private, I worry that you would not be happy with MCPS -- and their are no guarantees anyway. I'd probably opt for Blair/Eastern or Poolesville -- two radically different areas but with great magnet programs that you are more likely to get in if you live close by. But in the meantime, your youngest would be bored for years as the HGCs don't start till 4th grade. I'd suggest you either suck it up for a year with public for your youngest child & then reapply, OR apply them both to K-8 schools, which seem to have more openings.


There is zero advantage to living in the Blair cluster for purposes of getting into magnets at Blair and Eastern. Zero.

There is some advantage to living in the TPMS cluster for purposes of getting into the TPMS magnet.


pp here - I know DC at Blair taking magnet classes without being formally in the magnet. Plus there are robotics clubs and others favored by the magnet kids which are open to all students. So yes, I consider that an advantage.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2015 23:07     Subject: Which MoCo cluster for gifted DD and DS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:op, you've been given some good advice here about how the system works in MCPS. I have one child in private and one in MCPS. If you were set on a private, I worry that you would not be happy with MCPS -- and their are no guarantees anyway. I'd probably opt for Blair/Eastern or Poolesville -- two radically different areas but with great magnet programs that you are more likely to get in if you live close by. But in the meantime, your youngest would be bored for years as the HGCs don't start till 4th grade. I'd suggest you either suck it up for a year with public for your youngest child & then reapply, OR apply them both to K-8 schools, which seem to have more openings.


How can you assume that her child would be "bored for years" without knowing the child's background? Who knows how gifted and talented is tested in other areas. Unless you're familiar with systems outside of MCPS (and I doubt you are), you shouldn't make assumptions.

Nor should you assume that OP's children will get into the MS and HS magnets. They are VERY selective, and only the top tier gets in.

Furthermore, I highly doubt OP's kids are any smarter than half the kids in MCPS.

Everyone's kid is gifted. . .




This is 18:41. I took her at her word; that her kids tested as gifted. If she took private school entrance exams, as they would have, they include IQ and other tests vs. the local population of private school students. And THOSE tests are eye opening. My child who was "gifted" in MCPS aka advanced English, one grade level up... and in top of boys in his grade in a "W" school was found to be ONLY in the 30th% in English as compared to private school peers. SO, if after taking the private school exams she says her kids are "gifted," I believe her. And yes, for gifted kids in a MCPS there is very little challenge for years...
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2015 22:21     Subject: Which MoCo cluster for gifted DD and DS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some HGCs are harder to get into then others so you could research that.


LOLA

How would one research this, and why do you believe this is true?


Some HGCs have much higher accepted median scores than other HGCs.


Does that make them harder to get into?


What else can it mean?


It means the median scores are higher.

That's all.

At other schools, entrance may be just as competitive, with the median scores lower. Each cluster has its own applicants pool. Higher median scores means the applicant pool scores skew higher, but that is all it means. We are not talking about a nationwide applicant pool and Harvard vs. U. Maryland - we are talking about local applicant pools.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2015 22:15     Subject: Which MoCo cluster for gifted DD and DS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some HGCs are harder to get into then others so you could research that.


LOLA

How would one research this, and why do you believe this is true?


Some HGCs have much higher accepted median scores than other HGCs.


Does that make them harder to get into?


What else can it mean?
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2015 21:44     Subject: Which MoCo cluster for gifted DD and DS?
Anonymous wrote:No one has mentioned Chevy Chase Elementary has a G&T program.


It one of the Centers for the Highly Gifted (HGC), which has been discussed on this thread.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/elementary/highly-gifted-centers.aspx
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2015 21:42     Subject: Which MoCo cluster for gifted DD and DS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some HGCs are harder to get into then others so you could research that.


LOLA

How would one research this, and why do you believe this is true?


Some HGCs have much higher accepted median scores than other HGCs.


Does that make them harder to get into?
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2015 21:38     Subject: Which MoCo cluster for gifted DD and DS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some HGCs are harder to get into then others so you could research that.


LOLA

How would one research this, and why do you believe this is true?


Some HGCs have much higher accepted median scores than other HGCs.


That doesn't necessarily mean that they're harder to get into.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2015 21:37     Subject: Which MoCo cluster for gifted DD and DS?
Anonymous wrote:No one has mentioned Chevy Chase Elementary has a G&T program.


Chevy Chase ES houses the HGC for students in the Whitman and B-CC clusters. There has been plenty of mention of HGCs.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2015 21:37     Subject: Which MoCo cluster for gifted DD and DS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some HGCs are harder to get into then others so you could research that.


LOLA

How would one research this, and why do you believe this is true?


Some HGCs have much higher accepted median scores than other HGCs.