Anonymous wrote:I just looked at the FAQ on the magnet info website (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l0Zy-bCfG7O8E-F64VOnit_54fjOIU_lTR1JyU8SSMg/edit), and it was updated this week and now includes this information about cutoffs. There were indeed local norms. I still have a hard time understanding what happened with the students who posted here with 98th% MAP scores, as it seems really unlikely that 98th nationally is 85th locally.

23. How were Grade 5 students identified for placement in the lottery pool for recommendation in a middle school magnet program?
Multiple academic measures were used to identify students. Given the impact of COVID-19 school-building closures, both measures from the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years were included. To be placed in the humanities and communication lottery pool, an A in both reading and writing and an indication of above reading grade level on the report card from Grade 4, and a locally normed minimum of 85th percentile on either last year (winter) or this year’s (fall) MAP-R. For math, science or computer science, an A in both math and science and an indication of on level or higher for reading on the report card from Grade 4 and a locally normed minimum of 85th percentile on either last year (winter) or this year’s (fall) MAP-M.
24. What are locally normed scores?
Gifted and talented experts recommend the use of local norms of assessment scores as an equitable approach to ensure equity and access in identification of students for program access. Additionally, the current draft of Gifted and Talented Definitions from the Maryland State Department of Education includes the use of local norms as part of the gifted and talented identification process.
MCPS locally normed scores are designed to examine test takers in relation to one another within MCPS. As part of the middle school magnet identification process, scores obtained on the MAP assessment were locally normed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m curious why I never received any communication like this. Just the letter in the mail saying we were on the list and nothing more on our side.

Are you asking about the "criteria" magnets (Eastern/Clemente/King/Takoma Park) or the "lottery" magnets (Parkland/Argyle/Loiederman)? What communication have you received?

For the criteria magnets, we received the original notification of being in the pool but not selected last month, then received an email this week (that somebody posted earlier in this thread) saying they are starting to fill vacancies and will contact families if their child is selected from the waitlist.

For the lottery, we received an email confirmation when we entered the lottery, then an initial notice in the mail in February that the first round lottery was held and my kid didn't get a spot but would be considered for future openings, and then another notice in the mail today saying the second round lottery had happened and we still didn't have a spot.

We never received any communication via email at all. The only communication we received was the letter in the mail saying that we were in the pool for both Eastern and TPMS, we were not selected but could be considered if space becomes available, eg waitlist. Never received any emails subsequent to that letter about anything.

Just to add that I was not even aware there was a second round lottery and we have not yet received anything in the mail. I’ll keep my eyes out for mail but it’s curious how there is such a discrepancy in communication.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m curious why I never received any communication like this. Just the letter in the mail saying we were on the list and nothing more on our side.

Are you asking about the "criteria" magnets (Eastern/Clemente/King/Takoma Park) or the "lottery" magnets (Parkland/Argyle/Loiederman)? What communication have you received?

For the criteria magnets, we received the original notification of being in the pool but not selected last month, then received an email this week (that somebody posted earlier in this thread) saying they are starting to fill vacancies and will contact families if their child is selected from the waitlist.

For the lottery, we received an email confirmation when we entered the lottery, then an initial notice in the mail in February that the first round lottery was held and my kid didn't get a spot but would be considered for future openings, and then another notice in the mail today saying the second round lottery had happened and we still didn't have a spot.

We never received any communication via email at all. The only communication we received was the letter in the mail saying that we were in the pool for both Eastern and TPMS, we were not selected but could be considered if space becomes available, eg waitlist. Never received any emails subsequent to that letter about anything.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m curious why I never received any communication like this. Just the letter in the mail saying we were on the list and nothing more on our side.

Are you asking about the "criteria" magnets (Eastern/Clemente/King/Takoma Park) or the "lottery" magnets (Parkland/Argyle/Loiederman)? What communication have you received?

For the criteria magnets, we received the original notification of being in the pool but not selected last month, then received an email this week (that somebody posted earlier in this thread) saying they are starting to fill vacancies and will contact families if their child is selected from the waitlist.

For the lottery, we received an email confirmation when we entered the lottery, then an initial notice in the mail in February that the first round lottery was held and my kid didn't get a spot but would be considered for future openings, and then another notice in the mail today saying the second round lottery had happened and we still didn't have a spot.

We never received any communication via email at all. The only communication we received was the letter in the mail saying that we were in the pool for both Eastern and TPMS, we were not selected but could be considered if space becomes available, eg waitlist. Never received any emails subsequent to that letter about anything.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m curious why I never received any communication like this. Just the letter in the mail saying we were on the list and nothing more on our side.

Are you asking about the "criteria" magnets (Eastern/Clemente/King/Takoma Park) or the "lottery" magnets (Parkland/Argyle/Loiederman)? What communication have you received?

For the criteria magnets, we received the original notification of being in the pool but not selected last month, then received an email this week (that somebody posted earlier in this thread) saying they are starting to fill vacancies and will contact families if their child is selected from the waitlist.

For the lottery, we received an email confirmation when we entered the lottery, then an initial notice in the mail in February that the first round lottery was held and my kid didn't get a spot but would be considered for future openings, and then another notice in the mail today saying the second round lottery had happened and we still didn't have a spot.

Anonymous wrote:

I’m curious why I never received any communication like this. Just the letter in the mail saying we were on the list and nothing more on our side.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just received this email:

Families of Grade 5 students in the middle school regional magnet lottery pool,

During the week of March 22, MCPS will begin filling vacancies in the regional magnet programs. The Upcounty regional magnet programs are housed at Roberto Clemente Middle School (math, science, computer science) and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School (humanities and communication), and the Downcounty programs are housed at Eastern Middle School (humanities and communication) and Takoma Park Middle School (math, science, computer science). All students in the lottery pool are eligible for a seat when an opening occurs. MCPS will contact you if your student has been invited.

Fingers crossed for everyone!

I have something arriving in the mail today from MCPS Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services (according to my USPS informed delivery). Fingers crossed, although it's also entirely possible that it's something like a notification from the second round of the lottery magnets telling me my kid still doesn't have a space there.

Ha, that's exactly what it turned out to be!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just received this email:

Families of Grade 5 students in the middle school regional magnet lottery pool,

During the week of March 22, MCPS will begin filling vacancies in the regional magnet programs. The Upcounty regional magnet programs are housed at Roberto Clemente Middle School (math, science, computer science) and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School (humanities and communication), and the Downcounty programs are housed at Eastern Middle School (humanities and communication) and Takoma Park Middle School (math, science, computer science). All students in the lottery pool are eligible for a seat when an opening occurs. MCPS will contact you if your student has been invited.

Fingers crossed for everyone!

I have something arriving in the mail today from MCPS Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services (according to my USPS informed delivery). Fingers crossed, although it's also entirely possible that it's something like a notification from the second round of the lottery magnets telling me my kid still doesn't have a space there.

Anonymous wrote:I just looked at the FAQ on the magnet info website (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l0Zy-bCfG7O8E-F64VOnit_54fjOIU_lTR1JyU8SSMg/edit), and it was updated this week and now includes this information about cutoffs. There were indeed local norms. I still have a hard time understanding what happened with the students who posted here with 98th% MAP scores, as it seems really unlikely that 98th nationally is 85th locally.

23. How were Grade 5 students identified for placement in the lottery pool for recommendation in a middle school magnet program?
Multiple academic measures were used to identify students. Given the impact of COVID-19 school-building closures, both measures from the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years were included. To be placed in the humanities and communication lottery pool, an A in both reading and writing and an indication of above reading grade level on the report card from Grade 4, and a locally normed minimum of 85th percentile on either last year (winter) or this year’s (fall) MAP-R. For math, science or computer science, an A in both math and science and an indication of on level or higher for reading on the report card from Grade 4 and a locally normed minimum of 85th percentile on either last year (winter) or this year’s (fall) MAP-M.
24. What are locally normed scores?
Gifted and talented experts recommend the use of local norms of assessment scores as an equitable approach to ensure equity and access in identification of students for program access. Additionally, the current draft of Gifted and Talented Definitions from the Maryland State Department of Education includes the use of local norms as part of the gifted and talented identification process.
MCPS locally normed scores are designed to examine test takers in relation to one another within MCPS. As part of the middle school magnet identification process, scores obtained on the MAP assessment were locally normed.

Wow. Based on these criteria, my current TPMS DC—who is getting straight As in the program—would not have even made it into the pool. He had a stratospheric MAP-M and all As in math, but had a B in science in grade 5—a class for which there were few graded assignments at his school. I realize the county had very few data points available, but I can only imagine that there were many well-qualified kids who were kept out of the pool based on these criteria.