DCUM Forum

Anonymous

11/28/2025 00:16 Subject: Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in SMCS take CSP class or test. They all go directly to AP CSA after finishing 10th grade. CSP is for kids who don’t want to major in STEM.

Most don’t care about smcs. Only you.

Actually, given that this is a topic about new regional magnet programs and STEM is the most relevant magnet for the 21st century workforce, most of us care. Don't project your lack of interest for quality education on others. I am sure there are topics about high school sports and photography clubs that you will find more engaging.

What are you worried about? Competition? SMCS isn't anything special and many of the kids in it aren't even super advanced in math, which is why they have to combine the math and speed it up.

Yeah, I will rely on your judgment who is super advanced in math. As I said, try to stick with topics that you have some clue about.

Starting Algebra 2 in 9th is not super advanced then speeding things up to catch up to kids taking precalc in 9th....not impressive.

Kids in Blair are either taking Functions or Precalc. But it is not just the name of the course. It is the depth at which materials are covered. I have seen students from W schools not remembering basic concepts after taking Algebra 2. Blair magnet students would eat them alive which is exactly what happens whenever there is a math competition.

Sure, keep telling yourself. So, you are saying your W school is bad…hummm….that cannot be true. Functions is a sped up mix of classes combining two years into one. That’s reducing the material and not good.

Or it is maybe you who is trying to convince yourself that your W school is superior to all other options. But despite having to travel every morning, each year top math students from W clusters choose Blair. I am not saying that math is everything and we are digressing too much from the broader topic. But you are claiming something that is simply not true, hiding behind technicalities how classes are named and packaged. The truth is that when it comes to depth and rigor how math is covered in MCPS, nothing comes close to the Blair magnet. This is evident by any measure including math SAT scores.

Anonymous

11/27/2025 23:34 Subject: Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in SMCS take CSP class or test. They all go directly to AP CSA after finishing 10th grade. CSP is for kids who don’t want to major in STEM.

Most don’t care about smcs. Only you.

Actually, given that this is a topic about new regional magnet programs and STEM is the most relevant magnet for the 21st century workforce, most of us care. Don't project your lack of interest for quality education on others. I am sure there are topics about high school sports and photography clubs that you will find more engaging.

What are you worried about? Competition? SMCS isn't anything special and many of the kids in it aren't even super advanced in math, which is why they have to combine the math and speed it up.

Yeah, I will rely on your judgment who is super advanced in math. As I said, try to stick with topics that you have some clue about.

Starting Algebra 2 in 9th is not super advanced then speeding things up to catch up to kids taking precalc in 9th....not impressive.

Anonymous

11/27/2025 23:30 Subject: Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in SMCS take CSP class or test. They all go directly to AP CSA after finishing 10th grade. CSP is for kids who don’t want to major in STEM.

Most don’t care about smcs. Only you.

Actually, given that this is a topic about new regional magnet programs and STEM is the most relevant magnet for the 21st century workforce, most of us care. Don't project your lack of interest for quality education on others. I am sure there are topics about high school sports and photography clubs that you will find more engaging.

What are you worried about? Competition? SMCS isn't anything special and many of the kids in it aren't even super advanced in math, which is why they have to combine the math and speed it up.

Yeah, I will rely on your judgment who is super advanced in math. As I said, try to stick with topics that you have some clue about.

Starting Algebra 2 in 9th is not super advanced then speeding things up to catch up to kids taking precalc in 9th....not impressive.

Anonymous

11/27/2025 21:11 Subject: Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in SMCS take CSP class or test. They all go directly to AP CSA after finishing 10th grade. CSP is for kids who don’t want to major in STEM.

Most don’t care about smcs. Only you.

Actually, given that this is a topic about new regional magnet programs and STEM is the most relevant magnet for the 21st century workforce, most of us care. Don't project your lack of interest for quality education on others. I am sure there are topics about high school sports and photography clubs that you will find more engaging.

What are you worried about? Competition? SMCS isn't anything special and many of the kids in it aren't even super advanced in math, which is why they have to combine the math and speed it up.

Yeah, I will rely on your judgment who is super advanced in math. As I said, try to stick with topics that you have some clue about.

Starting Algebra 2 in 9th is not super advanced then speeding things up to catch up to kids taking precalc in 9th....not impressive.

Anonymous

11/27/2025 21:11 Subject: Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in SMCS take CSP class or test. They all go directly to AP CSA after finishing 10th grade. CSP is for kids who don’t want to major in STEM.

Most don’t care about smcs. Only you.

Actually, given that this is a topic about new regional magnet programs and STEM is the most relevant magnet for the 21st century workforce, most of us care. Don't project your lack of interest for quality education on others. I am sure there are topics about high school sports and photography clubs that you will find more engaging.

What are you worried about? Competition? SMCS isn't anything special and many of the kids in it aren't even super advanced in math, which is why they have to combine the math and speed it up.

Yikes, you obviously don't know anything about this program.

Actually, I do, and it wasn't useful for a lot of STEM majors, as it's more generic. It wasn't impressive when kids had to take Algebra 2 in 9th and then had to catch up to kids already doing pre-algebra in 9th. STEM is a lot of different areas. The only thing good about it was access to more advanced classes which other schools don't have which is why they should have only allowed DCC students access since W students have access already.

The better solution would be to offer stem at all schools and have all schools go up to linear algebra. And, have AP science, computer science, engineering, math, etc. classes.

Anonymous

11/27/2025 14:57 Subject: Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in SMCS take CSP class or test. They all go directly to AP CSA after finishing 10th grade. CSP is for kids who don’t want to major in STEM.

Most don’t care about smcs. Only you.

Actually, given that this is a topic about new regional magnet programs and STEM is the most relevant magnet for the 21st century workforce, most of us care. Don't project your lack of interest for quality education on others. I am sure there are topics about high school sports and photography clubs that you will find more engaging.

What are you worried about? Competition? SMCS isn't anything special and many of the kids in it aren't even super advanced in math, which is why they have to combine the math and speed it up.

Yikes, you obviously don't know anything about this program.

Anonymous

11/27/2025 14:12 Subject: Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one in SMCS take CSP class or test. They all go directly to AP CSA after finishing 10th grade. CSP is for kids who don’t want to major in STEM.

Most don’t care about smcs. Only you.

What are you worried about? Competition? SMCS isn't anything special and many of the kids in it aren't even super advanced in math, which is why they have to combine the math and speed it up.

Yeah, I will rely on your judgment who is super advanced in math. As I said, try to stick with topics that you have some clue about.

Anonymous

11/27/2025 14:05 Subject: Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

Anonymous wrote:No one in SMCS take CSP class or test. They all go directly to AP CSA after finishing 10th grade. CSP is for kids who don’t want to major in STEM.

Most don’t care about smcs. Only you.

What are you worried about? Competition? SMCS isn't anything special and many of the kids in it aren't even super advanced in math, which is why they have to combine the math and speed it up.

Anonymous

11/27/2025 13:47 Subject: Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

No one in SMCS take CSP class or test. They all go directly to AP CSA after finishing 10th grade. CSP is for kids who don’t want to major in STEM.

Most don’t care about smcs. Only you.

Anonymous

11/27/2025 13:30 Subject: Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair SMCS parent here. The math is one-year behind the current one. They remove completely the engineering courses which should span the first two years. CSP in 10th grade? That's a suicidal move for any STEM student.

The internship between 11th and 12th grade summer is laughable, as current students all apply by themselves and there is no organized pathway to guarantee any research internship. Same thing for "national and international STEM competitions". If they are talking about AMC, ARML, F=ma those types of competitions, those are pretty much organized by a single teacher across the entire MCPS currently. And expecting him to expand the access to 3X is ridiculous. All other competition opportunities (e.g., Hackathon, science bowl) are organized by student-led clubs and among peers (and parents need to resolve the logistics). School doesn't organize any of these opportunities other than give students an excused absence approval.

Which grade is your kid in? And what are the courses they took/need to take per grade as per the current program schedule?

I don't know what courses an advanced kid should be taking, so pardon my ignorance - why is taking CSP in 10th grade a suicidal move for a STEM student?

I also have know idea why taking AP CSP in 10th grade would be a suicidal move for a STEM student since that is exactly when lots of them take it. Some do take it in 9th to fulfill the tech credit. Especially those that are technology focused.

Its normal to take AP CSP in 10th, AP Java in 11th.

No one in SMCS take CSP class or test. They all go directly to AP CSA after finishing 10th grade. CSP is for kids who don’t want to major in STEM.

Most don’t care about smcs. Only you.

Np here. Well I do and am happy to get information from people whose kids are already in SMCS

Anonymous

11/27/2025 13:09 Subject: Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair SMCS parent here. The math is one-year behind the current one. They remove completely the engineering courses which should span the first two years. CSP in 10th grade? That's a suicidal move for any STEM student.

The internship between 11th and 12th grade summer is laughable, as current students all apply by themselves and there is no organized pathway to guarantee any research internship. Same thing for "national and international STEM competitions". If they are talking about AMC, ARML, F=ma those types of competitions, those are pretty much organized by a single teacher across the entire MCPS currently. And expecting him to expand the access to 3X is ridiculous. All other competition opportunities (e.g., Hackathon, science bowl) are organized by student-led clubs and among peers (and parents need to resolve the logistics). School doesn't organize any of these opportunities other than give students an excused absence approval.

Which grade is your kid in? And what are the courses they took/need to take per grade as per the current program schedule?

I don't know what courses an advanced kid should be taking, so pardon my ignorance - why is taking CSP in 10th grade a suicidal move for a STEM student?

I also have know idea why taking AP CSP in 10th grade would be a suicidal move for a STEM student since that is exactly when lots of them take it. Some do take it in 9th to fulfill the tech credit. Especially those that are technology focused.

Its normal to take AP CSP in 10th, AP Java in 11th.

No one in SMCS take CSP class or test. They all go directly to AP CSA after finishing 10th grade. CSP is for kids who don’t want to major in STEM.

Most don’t care about smcs. Only you.

Anonymous

11/27/2025 13:08 Subject: Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sigh. According to the metric here, students will have to achieve an “Industry Recognized Credential” to demonstrate completion, even if the focus is music performance or art. What job-related certification do we give them for being a sculptor or a dancer or a trumpet player? This is the triumph of educational bureaucracy box-checking over actual education.

Meanwhile, we’re passing along and graduating kids who can barely read.

There isn’t even an audition required for these music programs! The criteria is to be a C student. What a low bar!

There is no extra funding so they aren't real music programs.

Oh. How about for art & dance, no audition or interview of profolio as requirement? Do good college admission office care about if you graduate from art or dance or music MCPS regional program if one plan to major in these? Will HS diploma look different saying specialize or major or certificate in special interests?

Even if they have an audition or portfolio, how is it going to work? Mcps says that it includes ap music theory, but some of the schools don’t offer it or advanced music classes. The kids take the same classes all four years.

Anonymous

11/27/2025 12:26 Subject: Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair SMCS parent here. The math is one-year behind the current one. They remove completely the engineering courses which should span the first two years. CSP in 10th grade? That's a suicidal move for any STEM student.

The internship between 11th and 12th grade summer is laughable, as current students all apply by themselves and there is no organized pathway to guarantee any research internship. Same thing for "national and international STEM competitions". If they are talking about AMC, ARML, F=ma those types of competitions, those are pretty much organized by a single teacher across the entire MCPS currently. And expecting him to expand the access to 3X is ridiculous. All other competition opportunities (e.g., Hackathon, science bowl) are organized by student-led clubs and among peers (and parents need to resolve the logistics). School doesn't organize any of these opportunities other than give students an excused absence approval.

Which grade is your kid in? And what are the courses they took/need to take per grade as per the current program schedule?

I don't know what courses an advanced kid should be taking, so pardon my ignorance - why is taking CSP in 10th grade a suicidal move for a STEM student?

I also have know idea why taking AP CSP in 10th grade would be a suicidal move for a STEM student since that is exactly when lots of them take it. Some do take it in 9th to fulfill the tech credit. Especially those that are technology focused.

Its normal to take AP CSP in 10th, AP Java in 11th.

No one in SMCS take CSP class or test. They all go directly to AP CSA after finishing 10th grade. CSP is for kids who don’t want to major in STEM.

Anonymous

11/27/2025 10:00 Subject: Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sigh. According to the metric here, students will have to achieve an “Industry Recognized Credential” to demonstrate completion, even if the focus is music performance or art. What job-related certification do we give them for being a sculptor or a dancer or a trumpet player? This is the triumph of educational bureaucracy box-checking over actual education.

Meanwhile, we’re passing along and graduating kids who can barely read.

There isn’t even an audition required for these music programs! The criteria is to be a C student. What a low bar!

There is no extra funding so they aren't real music programs.

Oh. How about for art & dance, no audition or interview of profolio as requirement? Do good college admission office care about if you graduate from art or dance or music MCPS regional program if one plan to major in these? Will HS diploma look different saying specialize or major or certificate in special interests?

Anonymous

11/27/2025 09:05 Subject: Do these docs show any changes in #s or courses for existing prograns?

Anonymous wrote:Some regions seem to be missing music, like region 4.

Region 4's music program is to be at Churchill.