Anonymous wrote:Nobody ever said COGAT scores, or even grades, were the primary criteria for admission. They gave a whole list of factors they were considering, and explicitly said that no one factor weighed more strongly than the others.

It sounds like they're assuming that kids who already show consistently high scores and perfect grades in all areas will be OK in a traditional academic environment. That these kids will always be at the top of their class, one way or another—whether it's a challenge for them to get there or not.

It sounds like they were looking for kids with super-high scores in one area, and more "garden-variety gifted" in the others. Or kids whose test scores were much higher than their home-school environment might predict. In other words, kids whose talents might otherwise get lost in the shuffle in a more traditional type of program, or in their particular home school.

Sure, the 99%-and-perfect-grades kids would benefit, too, no doubt about that. But with only 200 spots, they chose a different focus this year. I'm not saying that's right or wrong, good or bad, so don't yell at me; but that's what it seems they've done.

But the point is, it was *never* stated that the highest test scores across the board would get in. Maybe that was the case in the past, and everyone assumed it would still be the case; and maybe that's the way it should really be. But that doesn't mean they cheated anyone this year, or that it's "fishy," as one poster put it. It's just...different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to start thinking about gaming the system. Move kids out of good school districts and move to the worst schools in MoCo for 5th grade to ensure that the peer group issue is taken care of and they improve chances of getting into TPMS/Eastern.

Just kidding of course.

The school district is Montgomery County Public Schools.

Wrong. It was a selection of school branches, about 6 or 7 areas within the larger MoCo.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No, mcps doubled the applicant pool by identifying kids who should be applying to the magnets. As a result, making admission that much more elusive.

Unfortunately, they did not stop at that. In addition they also added a peer group criterion in their evaluation, and as a result, admission was even *more* elusive for some kids.

Folks, they have ALWAYS had a peer-group at home school component to the selection; I was told this by MCPS a number of years ago when oldest child was applying. They have just made it more formal maybe this year.

+1 The peer group question has always been in play, but what MCPS did this year was remove the other element, which was parents gaming the system by prepping, and/or "editing" the essay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody ever said COGAT scores, or even grades, were the primary criteria for admission. They gave a whole list of factors they were considering, and explicitly said that no one factor weighed more strongly than the others.

It sounds like they're assuming that kids who already show consistently high scores and perfect grades in all areas will be OK in a traditional academic environment. That these kids will always be at the top of their class, one way or another—whether it's a challenge for them to get there or not.

It sounds like they were looking for kids with super-high scores in one area, and more "garden-variety gifted" in the others. Or kids whose test scores were much higher than their home-school environment might predict. In other words, kids whose talents might otherwise get lost in the shuffle in a more traditional type of program, or in their particular home school.

Sure, the 99%-and-perfect-grades kids would benefit, too, no doubt about that. But with only 200 spots, they chose a different focus this year. I'm not saying that's right or wrong, good or bad, so don't yell at me; but that's what it seems they've done.

But the point is, it was *never* stated that the highest test scores across the board would get in. Maybe that was the case in the past, and everyone assumed it would still be the case; and maybe that's the way it should really be. But that doesn't mean they cheated anyone this year, or that it's "fishy," as one poster put it. It's just...different.

It actually wasn't the case in the past. That's why I don't understand all the complaining. It has never been just about test scores.

Anonymous wrote:Nobody ever said COGAT scores, or even grades, were the primary criteria for admission. They gave a whole list of factors they were considering, and explicitly said that no one factor weighed more strongly than the others.

It sounds like they're assuming that kids who already show consistently high scores and perfect grades in all areas will be OK in a traditional academic environment. That these kids will always be at the top of their class, one way or another—whether it's a challenge for them to get there or not.

It sounds like they were looking for kids with super-high scores in one area, and more "garden-variety gifted" in the others. Or kids whose test scores were much higher than their home-school environment might predict. In other words, kids whose talents might otherwise get lost in the shuffle in a more traditional type of program, or in their particular home school.

Sure, the 99%-and-perfect-grades kids would benefit, too, no doubt about that. But with only 200 spots, they chose a different focus this year. I'm not saying that's right or wrong, good or bad, so don't yell at me; but that's what it seems they've done.

But the point is, it was *never* stated that the highest test scores across the board would get in. Maybe that was the case in the past, and everyone assumed it would still be the case; and maybe that's the way it should really be. But that doesn't mean they cheated anyone this year, or that it's "fishy," as one poster put it. It's just...different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to start thinking about gaming the system. Move kids out of good school districts and move to the worst schools in MoCo for 5th grade to ensure that the peer group issue is taken care of and they improve chances of getting into TPMS/Eastern.

Just kidding of course.

The school district is Montgomery County Public Schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No, mcps doubled the applicant pool by identifying kids who should be applying to the magnets. As a result, making admission that much more elusive.

Unfortunately, they did not stop at that. In addition they also added a peer group criterion in their evaluation, and as a result, admission was even *more* elusive for some kids.

Folks, they have ALWAYS had a peer-group at home school component to the selection; I was told this by MCPS a number of years ago when oldest child was applying. They have just made it more formal maybe this year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No, mcps doubled the applicant pool by identifying kids who should be applying to the magnets. As a result, making admission that much more elusive.

Unfortunately, they did not stop at that. In addition they also added a peer group criterion in their evaluation, and as a result, admission was even *more* elusive for some kids.

Anonymous wrote:Time to start thinking about gaming the system. Move kids out of good school districts and move to the worst schools in MoCo for 5th grade to ensure that the peer group issue is taken care of and they improve chances of getting into TPMS/Eastern.

Just kidding of course.

Anonymous wrote:Time to start thinking about gaming the system. Move kids out of good school districts and move to the worst schools in MoCo for 5th grade to ensure that the peer group issue is taken care of and they improve chances of getting into TPMS/Eastern.

Just kidding of course.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Okay, it's not 0, it's 2. 3% of the kids who got into the most competitive magnet ES in the county versus up to 50% in previous years. Cold Spring is known for its very high-achieving program. Only 2 of those kids deserved MS magnet admission, really?

According to anonymous posts on DCUM.

It's true, I know for a fact. The hysterical "0" posts were incorrect, but I can confirm they were not far off. Exactly 2.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Okay, it's not 0, it's 2. 3% of the kids who got into the most competitive magnet ES in the county versus up to 50% in previous years. Cold Spring is known for its very high-achieving program. Only 2 of those kids deserved MS magnet admission, really?

According to anonymous posts on DCUM.

Anonymous wrote:After reading these posts, I now understand why there are about 5 testing and tutoring centers within a mile radius of the house.