Anonymous
07/31/2025 13:45
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:SMCs will be criteria based and all others will be lottery/ interest. It’s awful!
I thought they said each of the 5 areas would have both criteria-based and interest-based options?
Each of the 5 program areas (STEM, IB/Humanities, Arts, etc), I mean.
Yes STEM criteria based, all others interest.
Where did you see/hear that? I have been following very closely and haven't seen anything like that.
See slide 33
https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DJVQ4P6782A9/$file/Sec%20Prog%20Analysis%20Boundary%20Studies%20Engaga%20Plan%20Update%20250724%20PPT.pdf
That's just an example to show how programs in schools in different regions could differ.
Nothing is truely going to change. This is all for show.
Anonymous
07/31/2025 13:45
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:38 pages of pissing back and forth... folks, if your kids are really smart, move to different school districts like howard county. if your kids are avg at best, stay in MCPS.
The brightest, smartest kids in the DMV are in MCPS. HoCo kids can't even compete with them.
The state proficiency rate for Algebra I MCAP for 2023-2024 is 20 percent.
MCPS is slightly above that at 25.1 percent. But Howard County is even better at 42.1 percent.
Here are the links to mdreportcard:
https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/Assessments/MathPerformance/UALG01/U/6/3/1/15/XXXX/2024
https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/Assessments/MathPerformance/UALG01/U/6/3/1/13/XXXX/2024
But it looks like you have to click around it for a bit to bring up the overall profiency percentages and the direct link doesn't work.
For reference, Frederick has a rate of 25.2, Baltimore County 31.8 and Prince George's County 8.8.
My concern and issue is that with the way things going, I don't see MCPS going the right direction with the things they're focusing on and the changes they're trying to make. While every school system has issues, I would like to think some of the other ones are doing something right where they're able to get more students to pass the Algebra test.
Algebra is the most basic math course for high school. Where students will struggle in the rest of the high school math course sequence if they don't have a solid foundation in Algebra. Also students that struggle in Algebra, likely don't have a firm foundation in the math taken before it. This is all assuming that the MCAP accurately reflects the knowledge a student has in Algebra.
But I think the days of thinking that MCPS as a top school district is an outdated notion. Where you can point to other nearby school systems that perform better based on various measures.
They don't have any structure to the classes. No textbooks, just random handouts if you are lucky. Kids get taught a basic concept for 15 minutes or so and then given a handful of problems and that's it. They need to go back to textbooks, structured classes (as in, go over homework from day before and lesson), a real syllabus with clear expections and what happens on what day, clear days where kids can come in for extra help, etc.
Couple things - 1) the MCAP data is from 20-21 as noted on the page. 2) Math through Geometry use Illustrative Mathematics and IXL. It does have books and curriculum, and is available online.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/math/high/algebra1/
When we had algebra-calc, we have yet to have a textbook except in pre-cal. Cal had a textbook but the teacher refused to use it as they gave it to us. So, they may offer it but its up to the teachers to use and few use them. In ES, we had workbooks given and the teaches never used them and sent them home blank. So, this is great in theory, but this isn't used in practice.
Anonymous
07/31/2025 13:43
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:SMCs will be criteria based and all others will be lottery/ interest. It’s awful!
I thought they said each of the 5 areas would have both criteria-based and interest-based options?
Each of the 5 program areas (STEM, IB/Humanities, Arts, etc), I mean.
Yes STEM criteria based, all others interest.
Where did you see/hear that? I have been following very closely and haven't seen anything like that.
See slide 33
https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DJVQ4P6782A9/$file/Sec%20Prog%20Analysis%20Boundary%20Studies%20Engaga%20Plan%20Update%20250724%20PPT.pdf
That's just an example to show how programs in schools in different regions could differ.
This shows nothing will change as it says every school will offer calc. So, that doesn't address concerns of all schools having access to advanced classes.
Anonymous
07/31/2025 13:41
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:38 pages of pissing back and forth... folks, if your kids are really smart, move to different school districts like howard county. if your kids are avg at best, stay in MCPS.
The brightest, smartest kids in the DMV are in MCPS. HoCo kids can't even compete with them.
The state proficiency rate for Algebra I MCAP for 2023-2024 is 20 percent.
MCPS is slightly above that at 25.1 percent. But Howard County is even better at 42.1 percent.
Here are the links to mdreportcard:
https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/Assessments/MathPerformance/UALG01/U/6/3/1/15/XXXX/2024
https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/Assessments/MathPerformance/UALG01/U/6/3/1/13/XXXX/2024
But it looks like you have to click around it for a bit to bring up the overall profiency percentages and the direct link doesn't work.
For reference, Frederick has a rate of 25.2, Baltimore County 31.8 and Prince George's County 8.8.
My concern and issue is that with the way things going, I don't see MCPS going the right direction with the things they're focusing on and the changes they're trying to make. While every school system has issues, I would like to think some of the other ones are doing something right where they're able to get more students to pass the Algebra test.
Algebra is the most basic math course for high school. Where students will struggle in the rest of the high school math course sequence if they don't have a solid foundation in Algebra. Also students that struggle in Algebra, likely don't have a firm foundation in the math taken before it. This is all assuming that the MCAP accurately reflects the knowledge a student has in Algebra.
But I think the days of thinking that MCPS as a top school district is an outdated notion. Where you can point to other nearby school systems that perform better based on various measures.
They don't have any structure to the classes. No textbooks, just random handouts if you are lucky. Kids get taught a basic concept for 15 minutes or so and then given a handful of problems and that's it. They need to go back to textbooks, structured classes (as in, go over homework from day before and lesson), a real syllabus with clear expections and what happens on what day, clear days where kids can come in for extra help, etc.
Couple things - 1) the MCAP data is from 20-21 as noted on the page. 2) Math through Geometry use Illustrative Mathematics and IXL. It does have books and curriculum, and is available online.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/math/high/algebra1/
Anonymous
07/31/2025 13:40
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:SMCs will be criteria based and all others will be lottery/ interest. It’s awful!
I thought they said each of the 5 areas would have both criteria-based and interest-based options?
Each of the 5 program areas (STEM, IB/Humanities, Arts, etc), I mean.
Yes STEM criteria based, all others interest.
Where did you see/hear that? I have been following very closely and haven't seen anything like that.
See slide 33
https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DJVQ4P6782A9/$file/Sec%20Prog%20Analysis%20Boundary%20Studies%20Engaga%20Plan%20Update%20250724%20PPT.pdf
Huh? Slide 33 doesn't say that at all. Slide 33 is an example of one of the program categories (the STEM one), illustrating how each program will have a mix of criteria and interest-based pathways but the interest-based pathways may vary from region to region. It says that some pathways within the program will be criteria-based (SMCS) and others will be interest-based (cyber-security, data science, etc ) The other 4 program types (IB/humanities, healthcare, arts/design, and leadership/public service) are not on this slide because it's just an example, but they will also have a mix of criteria and interest based pathways. Have you even been watching the meetings?
Anonymous
07/31/2025 13:39
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:38 pages of pissing back and forth... folks, if your kids are really smart, move to different school districts like howard county. if your kids are avg at best, stay in MCPS.
The brightest, smartest kids in the DMV are in MCPS. HoCo kids can't even compete with them.
The state proficiency rate for Algebra I MCAP for 2023-2024 is 20 percent.
MCPS is slightly above that at 25.1 percent. But Howard County is even better at 42.1 percent.
Here are the links to mdreportcard:
https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/Assessments/MathPerformance/UALG01/U/6/3/1/15/XXXX/2024
https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/Assessments/MathPerformance/UALG01/U/6/3/1/13/XXXX/2024
But it looks like you have to click around it for a bit to bring up the overall profiency percentages and the direct link doesn't work.
For reference, Frederick has a rate of 25.2, Baltimore County 31.8 and Prince George's County 8.8.
My concern and issue is that with the way things going, I don't see MCPS going the right direction with the things they're focusing on and the changes they're trying to make. While every school system has issues, I would like to think some of the other ones are doing something right where they're able to get more students to pass the Algebra test.
Algebra is the most basic math course for high school. Where students will struggle in the rest of the high school math course sequence if they don't have a solid foundation in Algebra. Also students that struggle in Algebra, likely don't have a firm foundation in the math taken before it. This is all assuming that the MCAP accurately reflects the knowledge a student has in Algebra.
But I think the days of thinking that MCPS as a top school district is an outdated notion. Where you can point to other nearby school systems that perform better based on various measures.
They don't have any structure to the classes. No textbooks, just random handouts if you are lucky. Kids get taught a basic concept for 15 minutes or so and then given a handful of problems and that's it. They need to go back to textbooks, structured classes (as in, go over homework from day before and lesson), a real syllabus with clear expections and what happens on what day, clear days where kids can come in for extra help, etc.
THIS.
Anonymous
07/31/2025 13:33
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:SMCs will be criteria based and all others will be lottery/ interest. It’s awful!
I thought they said each of the 5 areas would have both criteria-based and interest-based options?
Each of the 5 program areas (STEM, IB/Humanities, Arts, etc), I mean.
Yes STEM criteria based, all others interest.
Where did you see/hear that? I have been following very closely and haven't seen anything like that.
See slide 33
https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DJVQ4P6782A9/$file/Sec%20Prog%20Analysis%20Boundary%20Studies%20Engaga%20Plan%20Update%20250724%20PPT.pdf
That's just an example to show how programs in schools in different regions could differ.
Anonymous
07/31/2025 13:25
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:38 pages of pissing back and forth... folks, if your kids are really smart, move to different school districts like howard county. if your kids are avg at best, stay in MCPS.
The brightest, smartest kids in the DMV are in MCPS. HoCo kids can't even compete with them.
The state proficiency rate for Algebra I MCAP for 2023-2024 is 20 percent.
MCPS is slightly above that at 25.1 percent. But Howard County is even better at 42.1 percent.
Here are the links to mdreportcard:
https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/Assessments/MathPerformance/UALG01/U/6/3/1/15/XXXX/2024
https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/Assessments/MathPerformance/UALG01/U/6/3/1/13/XXXX/2024
But it looks like you have to click around it for a bit to bring up the overall profiency percentages and the direct link doesn't work.
For reference, Frederick has a rate of 25.2, Baltimore County 31.8 and Prince George's County 8.8.
My concern and issue is that with the way things going, I don't see MCPS going the right direction with the things they're focusing on and the changes they're trying to make. While every school system has issues, I would like to think some of the other ones are doing something right where they're able to get more students to pass the Algebra test.
Algebra is the most basic math course for high school. Where students will struggle in the rest of the high school math course sequence if they don't have a solid foundation in Algebra. Also students that struggle in Algebra, likely don't have a firm foundation in the math taken before it. This is all assuming that the MCAP accurately reflects the knowledge a student has in Algebra.
But I think the days of thinking that MCPS as a top school district is an outdated notion. Where you can point to other nearby school systems that perform better based on various measures.
Those are not the brightest students.
You would know that if you were bright.
Anonymous
07/31/2025 13:21
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:SMCs will be criteria based and all others will be lottery/ interest. It’s awful!
I thought they said each of the 5 areas would have both criteria-based and interest-based options?
Each of the 5 program areas (STEM, IB/Humanities, Arts, etc), I mean.
Yes STEM criteria based, all others interest.
Where did you see/hear that? I have been following very closely and haven't seen anything like that.
See slide 33
https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DJVQ4P6782A9/$file/Sec%20Prog%20Analysis%20Boundary%20Studies%20Engaga%20Plan%20Update%20250724%20PPT.pdf
Anonymous
07/31/2025 13:08
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:SMCs will be criteria based and all others will be lottery/ interest. It’s awful!
I thought they said each of the 5 areas would have both criteria-based and interest-based options?
Each of the 5 program areas (STEM, IB/Humanities, Arts, etc), I mean.
Yes STEM criteria based, all others interest.
Where did you see/hear that? I have been following very closely and haven't seen anything like that.
Anonymous
07/31/2025 12:30
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So what does this mean. Someone who lives in the Blair pyramid might be able to send their kids to Whitman?
Gasp!
Honestly, we cannot let the poors invade our school.
Whitman has many poor kids, aka house poor kids with parents who were so desperate to send their kids there that they put all their money into the cheapest ugly shack they could afford.
Whenever I drive through Whitman neighborhoods, the cars are Honda, Toyota, and Subaru, the moms look like they haven’t been to the tanning salon or had their hair touched up in years, and they wear clothes that look like they’re from Old Navy. Totally poor/middle class kids. Potomac is where the real wealth is.
Many stretch for those houses and aren't that wealthy.
Yeah, Whitman gives dual-income household that’s super thinly stretched on money. There’s a reason there’s a Real Housewives of Potomac and not a Real Housewives of Bethesda, because the housewives and real wealth is in Potomac.
It is also one income as its not hard to make $250-300K on one income but they want the lifestyle. Most of us with that kind of income in other neighborhoods aren't stretching and comfortable as its lifestyle choices. A honda, toyota or subaru, can still be over 50K.
Anonymous
07/31/2025 12:28
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:38 pages of pissing back and forth... folks, if your kids are really smart, move to different school districts like howard county. if your kids are avg at best, stay in MCPS.
The brightest, smartest kids in the DMV are in MCPS. HoCo kids can't even compete with them.
The state proficiency rate for Algebra I MCAP for 2023-2024 is 20 percent.
MCPS is slightly above that at 25.1 percent. But Howard County is even better at 42.1 percent.
Here are the links to mdreportcard:
https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/Assessments/MathPerformance/UALG01/U/6/3/1/15/XXXX/2024
https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/Assessments/MathPerformance/UALG01/U/6/3/1/13/XXXX/2024
But it looks like you have to click around it for a bit to bring up the overall profiency percentages and the direct link doesn't work.
For reference, Frederick has a rate of 25.2, Baltimore County 31.8 and Prince George's County 8.8.
My concern and issue is that with the way things going, I don't see MCPS going the right direction with the things they're focusing on and the changes they're trying to make. While every school system has issues, I would like to think some of the other ones are doing something right where they're able to get more students to pass the Algebra test.
Algebra is the most basic math course for high school. Where students will struggle in the rest of the high school math course sequence if they don't have a solid foundation in Algebra. Also students that struggle in Algebra, likely don't have a firm foundation in the math taken before it. This is all assuming that the MCAP accurately reflects the knowledge a student has in Algebra.
But I think the days of thinking that MCPS as a top school district is an outdated notion. Where you can point to other nearby school systems that perform better based on various measures.
They don't have any structure to the classes. No textbooks, just random handouts if you are lucky. Kids get taught a basic concept for 15 minutes or so and then given a handful of problems and that's it. They need to go back to textbooks, structured classes (as in, go over homework from day before and lesson), a real syllabus with clear expections and what happens on what day, clear days where kids can come in for extra help, etc.
Anonymous
07/31/2025 11:59
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:38 pages of pissing back and forth... folks, if your kids are really smart, move to different school districts like howard county. if your kids are avg at best, stay in MCPS.
The brightest, smartest kids in the DMV are in MCPS. HoCo kids can't even compete with them.
The state proficiency rate for Algebra I MCAP for 2023-2024 is 20 percent.
MCPS is slightly above that at 25.1 percent. But Howard County is even better at 42.1 percent.
Here are the links to mdreportcard:
https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/Assessments/MathPerformance/UALG01/U/6/3/1/15/XXXX/2024
https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/Assessments/MathPerformance/UALG01/U/6/3/1/13/XXXX/2024
But it looks like you have to click around it for a bit to bring up the overall profiency percentages and the direct link doesn't work.
For reference, Frederick has a rate of 25.2, Baltimore County 31.8 and Prince George's County 8.8.
My concern and issue is that with the way things going, I don't see MCPS going the right direction with the things they're focusing on and the changes they're trying to make. While every school system has issues, I would like to think some of the other ones are doing something right where they're able to get more students to pass the Algebra test.
Algebra is the most basic math course for high school. Where students will struggle in the rest of the high school math course sequence if they don't have a solid foundation in Algebra. Also students that struggle in Algebra, likely don't have a firm foundation in the math taken before it. This is all assuming that the MCAP accurately reflects the knowledge a student has in Algebra.
But I think the days of thinking that MCPS as a top school district is an outdated notion. Where you can point to other nearby school systems that perform better based on various measures.
Anonymous
07/31/2025 11:59
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:SMCs will be criteria based and all others will be lottery/ interest. It’s awful!
I thought they said each of the 5 areas would have both criteria-based and interest-based options?
Each of the 5 program areas (STEM, IB/Humanities, Arts, etc), I mean.
Yes STEM criteria based, all others interest.
This hasn't been decided or announced yet.
Anonymous
07/31/2025 11:56
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:SMCs will be criteria based and all others will be lottery/ interest. It’s awful!
I thought they said each of the 5 areas would have both criteria-based and interest-based options?
Each of the 5 program areas (STEM, IB/Humanities, Arts, etc), I mean.
Yes STEM criteria based, all others interest.