Here's some great advice that my daughter's teacher told all the 5th grade parents at our open house last year.
Do not make it all about getting into a magnet.
Let them know that only 1 in 10 get in and that many who do not get into a middle school magnet go to Blair, etc. for hs.
Many of the parents didn't listen and their kids were very disappointed and cried when they didn't get in.

The entitled always want to get in quickly while listening, with enjoyable smiles, to the door slam shut behind them keeping the masses/others shut out. If everyone gets in they are not happy.

If 5 out 10 or 8 out of 10 got accepted we would be complaining that there was a lack of rigor and they were not so different than the non-magnets.

Child entering 4th. Discussion beginning about who is going to have their kid apply to which magnet middle school. I'm just frustrated that there aren't enough resources to go around in the county so that only 1 kid in 10 can be accepted and get the opportunity to go to the magnets. Public services in MoCo always leave me feeling like there are too many people fighting for too few scraps.

It's called good ole fashion American competition. It's frustrating there aren't enough Harvards and MITs around the country for every high schoolchild to matriculate to. Too many people fighting for too few scraps. Just like adequate and affordable healthcare for all America's children.

Unless you have really bad school district, do not push kids where they do not belong.
We live in W cluster and my two oldest goes to TPMS. I would not consider it for youngster - not good fit, different interests.
For high school my oldest is not interested in Blair or RM. Child wants to participate in after school activities and do sports. Plus I think it is easier to get strong GPA at W then at Blair. At the end we will not be able to pay for out of state, so kids will have to go to UMD for at least couple years.
So think what you are doing before pushing your kids.

Kids and athletes do need pushing for optimal development. I subscribe to always exposing my kids to challenging academic environments taking challenging courses/curricula in elementary, middle, and high school. It's up to parents and their children to calibrate the level of challenge their kids can and will bare. For some, if possible, it's test in magnet programs taking the most challenging courses; or local neighborhood schools taking the most challenging courses. I assure you if your child plans on attending colleges and universities the admission officers will discern from the GPA, school environment, and region of the country whether the applicant was taking the most challenging courses or coasting through "gut" courses despite the 5.0 grade point average. These guys are not dcummies.

"If you can't afford to buy in a w cluster, that's your problem. make more money."

aren't you a peach.

Anonymous wrote:"Anonymous wrote:
No definitely not a W cluster -- they are already aiming for it because of trying to avoid our middle school.


You are upset because MCPS doesn't make it easier for people to avoid your middle school?"

Not OP or PP but I would say ...yeah, sort of. There ARE programs for avoiding your middle school (immersion being a big one but that you had to know about and jump on by winter before K) and rezoning requests for crazy things like childcare or commute issues (it is not impossible to find new childcare). And then of course HGC and the middle school magnets. So it is not that MCPS is opposed to letting people avoid achools - it is that they only want to do it so much. Which is fine for the lucky few but really sucks for those stuck with only the option of moving.

Why should mcps make it easier to switch to a more desirable county school? there are lots of families who would love to send their kid to any mcps school buy can't afford it. If you can't afford to buy in a w cluster, that's your problem. make more money.