Anonymous
08/07/2025 12:24
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Blair's SMCS magnet can't exist in its current form without a 9th period, so the students have 8 classes a semester. This requires extra funding to pay teachers for an extra period, which is a big factor in the limit on the number of students in the program. (The same applies to the Blair CAP magnet, but they are not required to have a 9th period in grades 11-12.)
My older kid is a rising senior in Blair SMCS, and my younger kid is a rising freshman at Blair, but not in the SMCS magnet. The younger one is trying to do as close to a DIY SMCS magnet as he can, but, aside from the accelerated math (4 semesters of Algebra 2 and Precalc being compressed into 3 semesters or 2 for Functions), and the accelerated CS path (which is not done by all SMCS students), he cannot possibly fit the equivalent classes into his schedule because of the lack of a 9th period. That's 4 full extra class periods over the 4 years that the magnet students get that are typically rigorous classes in interesting STEM subjects with a weighted GPA boost.
Unless other schools offer an extra class period, they cannot replicate the SMCS magnet, even aside from the actual course content.
Wait, how does it even work for some students at the same school to have more periods than others? I'm so confused...
The afternoon school bus for magnet also takes TPMS and Eastern kids. The extra period gives SMACS students one more course to take and same afternoon bus time.
Wait, I assumed it was something to do with block scheduling or how long each period is for the different programs. You're not actually saying that the Blair magnet kids get a whole extra period of school every day, are you? Like, that Blair magnet kids actually get *more* education time-wise than all the rest of the kids in the county? Because if so, that would be truly nuts and one of the most unfair things I have ever heard of...
Yes, they do need to take an extra course, and keeping GPA high. Rather than thinking this as an "equity", ask your kids whether they'd like to take one more course, and self-study for all STEM AP tests. Rest assure that they are not considered the same peer group with your kids for college admission.
Anonymous
08/07/2025 12:19
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Blair's SMCS magnet can't exist in its current form without a 9th period, so the students have 8 classes a semester. This requires extra funding to pay teachers for an extra period, which is a big factor in the limit on the number of students in the program. (The same applies to the Blair CAP magnet, but they are not required to have a 9th period in grades 11-12.)
My older kid is a rising senior in Blair SMCS, and my younger kid is a rising freshman at Blair, but not in the SMCS magnet. The younger one is trying to do as close to a DIY SMCS magnet as he can, but, aside from the accelerated math (4 semesters of Algebra 2 and Precalc being compressed into 3 semesters or 2 for Functions), and the accelerated CS path (which is not done by all SMCS students), he cannot possibly fit the equivalent classes into his schedule because of the lack of a 9th period. That's 4 full extra class periods over the 4 years that the magnet students get that are typically rigorous classes in interesting STEM subjects with a weighted GPA boost.
Unless other schools offer an extra class period, they cannot replicate the SMCS magnet, even aside from the actual course content.
Wait, how does it even work for some students at the same school to have more periods than others? I'm so confused...
The afternoon school bus for magnet also takes TPMS and Eastern kids. The extra period gives SMACS students one more course to take and same afternoon bus time.
Wait, I assumed it was something to do with block scheduling or how long each period is for the different programs. You're not actually saying that the Blair magnet kids get a whole extra period of school every day, are you? Like, that Blair magnet kids actually get *more* education time-wise than all the rest of the kids in the county? Because if so, that would be truly nuts and one of the most unfair things I have ever heard of...
Yes, we are. It's been that way for years too.
Not sure how Blair gets its teachers to agree to the extra time. Do they get extra pay?
Anonymous
08/07/2025 12:16
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Blair's SMCS magnet can't exist in its current form without a 9th period, so the students have 8 classes a semester. This requires extra funding to pay teachers for an extra period, which is a big factor in the limit on the number of students in the program. (The same applies to the Blair CAP magnet, but they are not required to have a 9th period in grades 11-12.)
My older kid is a rising senior in Blair SMCS, and my younger kid is a rising freshman at Blair, but not in the SMCS magnet. The younger one is trying to do as close to a DIY SMCS magnet as he can, but, aside from the accelerated math (4 semesters of Algebra 2 and Precalc being compressed into 3 semesters or 2 for Functions), and the accelerated CS path (which is not done by all SMCS students), he cannot possibly fit the equivalent classes into his schedule because of the lack of a 9th period. That's 4 full extra class periods over the 4 years that the magnet students get that are typically rigorous classes in interesting STEM subjects with a weighted GPA boost.
Unless other schools offer an extra class period, they cannot replicate the SMCS magnet, even aside from the actual course content.
Wait, how does it even work for some students at the same school to have more periods than others? I'm so confused...
The afternoon school bus for magnet also takes TPMS and Eastern kids. The extra period gives SMACS students one more course to take and same afternoon bus time.
Wait, I assumed it was something to do with block scheduling or how long each period is for the different programs. You're not actually saying that the Blair magnet kids get a whole extra period of school every day, are you? Like, that Blair magnet kids actually get *more* education time-wise than all the rest of the kids in the county? Because if so, that would be truly nuts and one of the most unfair things I have ever heard of...
Yes they do. My kids were in magnet but not SMACs. The extra period would have been a deal breaker for them but it works for others. While my kid didn’t take the extra class, some kids would take classes like Health as the 8th class
Anonymous
08/07/2025 12:04
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Blair's SMCS magnet can't exist in its current form without a 9th period, so the students have 8 classes a semester. This requires extra funding to pay teachers for an extra period, which is a big factor in the limit on the number of students in the program. (The same applies to the Blair CAP magnet, but they are not required to have a 9th period in grades 11-12.)
My older kid is a rising senior in Blair SMCS, and my younger kid is a rising freshman at Blair, but not in the SMCS magnet. The younger one is trying to do as close to a DIY SMCS magnet as he can, but, aside from the accelerated math (4 semesters of Algebra 2 and Precalc being compressed into 3 semesters or 2 for Functions), and the accelerated CS path (which is not done by all SMCS students), he cannot possibly fit the equivalent classes into his schedule because of the lack of a 9th period. That's 4 full extra class periods over the 4 years that the magnet students get that are typically rigorous classes in interesting STEM subjects with a weighted GPA boost.
Unless other schools offer an extra class period, they cannot replicate the SMCS magnet, even aside from the actual course content.
Wait, how does it even work for some students at the same school to have more periods than others? I'm so confused...
The afternoon school bus for magnet also takes TPMS and Eastern kids. The extra period gives SMACS students one more course to take and same afternoon bus time.
Wait, I assumed it was something to do with block scheduling or how long each period is for the different programs. You're not actually saying that the Blair magnet kids get a whole extra period of school every day, are you? Like, that Blair magnet kids actually get *more* education time-wise than all the rest of the kids in the county? Because if so, that would be truly nuts and one of the most unfair things I have ever heard of...
Anonymous
08/07/2025 11:59
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Blair's SMCS magnet can't exist in its current form without a 9th period, so the students have 8 classes a semester. This requires extra funding to pay teachers for an extra period, which is a big factor in the limit on the number of students in the program. (The same applies to the Blair CAP magnet, but they are not required to have a 9th period in grades 11-12.)
My older kid is a rising senior in Blair SMCS, and my younger kid is a rising freshman at Blair, but not in the SMCS magnet. The younger one is trying to do as close to a DIY SMCS magnet as he can, but, aside from the accelerated math (4 semesters of Algebra 2 and Precalc being compressed into 3 semesters or 2 for Functions), and the accelerated CS path (which is not done by all SMCS students), he cannot possibly fit the equivalent classes into his schedule because of the lack of a 9th period. That's 4 full extra class periods over the 4 years that the magnet students get that are typically rigorous classes in interesting STEM subjects with a weighted GPA boost.
Unless other schools offer an extra class period, they cannot replicate the SMCS magnet, even aside from the actual course content.
Wait, how does it even work for some students at the same school to have more periods than others? I'm so confused...
The afternoon school bus for magnet also takes TPMS and Eastern kids. The extra period gives SMACS students one more course to take and same afternoon bus time.
Anonymous
08/07/2025 11:53
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Blair's SMCS magnet can't exist in its current form without a 9th period, so the students have 8 classes a semester. This requires extra funding to pay teachers for an extra period, which is a big factor in the limit on the number of students in the program. (The same applies to the Blair CAP magnet, but they are not required to have a 9th period in grades 11-12.)
My older kid is a rising senior in Blair SMCS, and my younger kid is a rising freshman at Blair, but not in the SMCS magnet. The younger one is trying to do as close to a DIY SMCS magnet as he can, but, aside from the accelerated math (4 semesters of Algebra 2 and Precalc being compressed into 3 semesters or 2 for Functions), and the accelerated CS path (which is not done by all SMCS students), he cannot possibly fit the equivalent classes into his schedule because of the lack of a 9th period. That's 4 full extra class periods over the 4 years that the magnet students get that are typically rigorous classes in interesting STEM subjects with a weighted GPA boost.
Unless other schools offer an extra class period, they cannot replicate the SMCS magnet, even aside from the actual course content.
Wait, how does it even work for some students at the same school to have more periods than others? I'm so confused...
Anonymous
08/07/2025 11:53
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Blair's SMCS magnet can't exist in its current form without a 9th period, so the students have 8 classes a semester. This requires extra funding to pay teachers for an extra period, which is a big factor in the limit on the number of students in the program. (The same applies to the Blair CAP magnet, but they are not required to have a 9th period in grades 11-12.)
My older kid is a rising senior in Blair SMCS, and my younger kid is a rising freshman at Blair, but not in the SMCS magnet. The younger one is trying to do as close to a DIY SMCS magnet as he can, but, aside from the accelerated math (4 semesters of Algebra 2 and Precalc being compressed into 3 semesters or 2 for Functions), and the accelerated CS path (which is not done by all SMCS students), he cannot possibly fit the equivalent classes into his schedule because of the lack of a 9th period. That's 4 full extra class periods over the 4 years that the magnet students get that are typically rigorous classes in interesting STEM subjects with a weighted GPA boost.
Unless other schools offer an extra class period, they cannot replicate the SMCS magnet, even aside from the actual course content.
Thanks for raising up this valid point and sharing your story about a "sensitivity test" your younger one tried. You should be proud of him of his motive to self-pushing to a better stance.
MCPS never said they would try to make the new regional STEM programs a replica of SMACS magnet. For one, they don't understand the SMACS curriculum and don't even want to spend time to try to understand it. For two, they can make a dumbed-down program elsewhere and than using "equity" to force SMACS outing the extra period, if by that time the extra period was not already unnecessary considering the significant dilution of the student's competence level. So you'll end up with killing SMACS. They just never want to admit that but people are not dumb.
Anonymous
08/07/2025 11:47
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Blair's SMCS magnet can't exist in its current form without a 9th period, so the students have 8 classes a semester. This requires extra funding to pay teachers for an extra period, which is a big factor in the limit on the number of students in the program. (The same applies to the Blair CAP magnet, but they are not required to have a 9th period in grades 11-12.)
My older kid is a rising senior in Blair SMCS, and my younger kid is a rising freshman at Blair, but not in the SMCS magnet. The younger one is trying to do as close to a DIY SMCS magnet as he can, but, aside from the accelerated math (4 semesters of Algebra 2 and Precalc being compressed into 3 semesters or 2 for Functions), and the accelerated CS path (which is not done by all SMCS students), he cannot possibly fit the equivalent classes into his schedule because of the lack of a 9th period. That's 4 full extra class periods over the 4 years that the magnet students get that are typically rigorous classes in interesting STEM subjects with a weighted GPA boost.
Unless other schools offer an extra class period, they cannot replicate the SMCS magnet, even aside from the actual course content.
My older kid is a rising senior in Blair SMCS, and my younger kid is a rising freshman at Blair, but not in the SMCS magnet. The younger one is trying to do as close to a DIY SMCS magnet as he can, but, aside from the accelerated math (4 semesters of Algebra 2 and Precalc being compressed into 3 semesters or 2 for Functions), and the accelerated CS path (which is not done by all SMCS students), he cannot possibly fit the equivalent classes into his schedule because of the lack of a 9th period. That's 4 full extra class periods over the 4 years that the magnet students get that are typically rigorous classes in interesting STEM subjects with a weighted GPA boost.
Unless other schools offer an extra class period, they cannot replicate the SMCS magnet, even aside from the actual course content.
Anonymous
08/07/2025 10:00
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Late to this since my kid is graduating but the dismantling of these flagship magnet programs really is a shame. Both Poolesville and Blair are nationally ranked. Just flushing that all down the toilet?
I am all for more regional programs, but they should keep the current ones as well.
They are keeping the current ones. Just changing the boundaries of who can attend them (and probably also making them a bit smaller, for Blair at least.). No one knows how big or small an impact this will have on them, but that doesn't stop some people from being sure they will be "destroyed."
This is absolutely not the case. There is no way the three Poolesville programs will continue at the same school. There is no replication/replacement for Global Ecology in the new proposed regional programs. The current county-wide programs are not distributed equally so there will be regions with no established programs and only new programs, which is not equitable. You have no idea what you're talking about. YES, they are destroying these county-wide programs, especially at Poolesville.
Can we do anything about it this? I’ve been in MCPS long enough to know that they don’t seem to listen.
Poolesville might be the only place that keeps multiple big magnets/programs, albeit probably a bit smaller in size than now. Otherwise how are they going to fill all that space? There's just not that many kids living that close to Poolesville.
My guess is that they keep the SMCS and global ecology (probably rebranding global ecology as a different "pathway" in the STEM bucket so they can justify one school having the two programs, but not actually changing it that much) but move humanities somewhere else.
Anonymous
08/07/2025 07:55
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:Late to this since my kid is graduating but the dismantling of these flagship magnet programs really is a shame. Both Poolesville and Blair are nationally ranked. Just flushing that all down the toilet?
I am all for more regional programs, but they should keep the current ones as well.
They are keeping the current ones. Just changing the boundaries of who can attend them (and probably also making them a bit smaller, for Blair at least.). No one knows how big or small an impact this will have on them, but that doesn't stop some people from being sure they will be "destroyed."
This is absolutely not the case. There is no way the three Poolesville programs will continue at the same school. There is no replication/replacement for Global Ecology in the new proposed regional programs. The current county-wide programs are not distributed equally so there will be regions with no established programs and only new programs, which is not equitable. You have no idea what you're talking about. YES, they are destroying these county-wide programs, especially at Poolesville.
Can we do anything about it this? I’ve been in MCPS long enough to know that they don’t seem to listen.
Poolesville might be the only place that keeps multiple big magnets/programs, albeit probably a bit smaller in size than now. Otherwise how are they going to fill all that space? There's just not that many kids living that close to Poolesville.
They are making the boundaries at PHS much larger. There won’t be room for all the houses with the expanded boundaries
With the current boundaries, students zoned for PHS as their home school would only fill the new building to slightly more than 1/3 of its core capacity. Can the expanded boundaries bring in enough students to justify the size of the new building?
Remember all the new houses being built too. Feel bad for those new incoming families, buying into the reputation of PHS, only for a rude shock.
Anonymous
08/07/2025 04:43
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:Late to this since my kid is graduating but the dismantling of these flagship magnet programs really is a shame. Both Poolesville and Blair are nationally ranked. Just flushing that all down the toilet?
I am all for more regional programs, but they should keep the current ones as well.
They are keeping the current ones. Just changing the boundaries of who can attend them (and probably also making them a bit smaller, for Blair at least.). No one knows how big or small an impact this will have on them, but that doesn't stop some people from being sure they will be "destroyed."
This is absolutely not the case. There is no way the three Poolesville programs will continue at the same school. There is no replication/replacement for Global Ecology in the new proposed regional programs. The current county-wide programs are not distributed equally so there will be regions with no established programs and only new programs, which is not equitable. You have no idea what you're talking about. YES, they are destroying these county-wide programs, especially at Poolesville.
Can we do anything about it this? I’ve been in MCPS long enough to know that they don’t seem to listen.
Poolesville might be the only place that keeps multiple big magnets/programs, albeit probably a bit smaller in size than now. Otherwise how are they going to fill all that space? There's just not that many kids living that close to Poolesville.
They are making the boundaries at PHS much larger. There won’t be room for all the houses with the expanded boundaries
With the current boundaries, students zoned for PHS as their home school would only fill the new building to slightly more than 1/3 of its core capacity. Can the expanded boundaries bring in enough students to justify the size of the new building?
Anonymous
08/07/2025 03:34
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Late to this since my kid is graduating but the dismantling of these flagship magnet programs really is a shame. Both Poolesville and Blair are nationally ranked. Just flushing that all down the toilet?
I am all for more regional programs, but they should keep the current ones as well.
They are keeping the current ones. Just changing the boundaries of who can attend them (and probably also making them a bit smaller, for Blair at least.). No one knows how big or small an impact this will have on them, but that doesn't stop some people from being sure they will be "destroyed."
This is absolutely not the case. There is no way the three Poolesville programs will continue at the same school. There is no replication/replacement for Global Ecology in the new proposed regional programs. The current county-wide programs are not distributed equally so there will be regions with no established programs and only new programs, which is not equitable. You have no idea what you're talking about. YES, they are destroying these county-wide programs, especially at Poolesville.
Can we do anything about it this? I’ve been in MCPS long enough to know that they don’t seem to listen.
Poolesville might be the only place that keeps multiple big magnets/programs, albeit probably a bit smaller in size than now. Otherwise how are they going to fill all that space? There's just not that many kids living that close to Poolesville.
They are making the boundaries at PHS much larger. There won’t be room for all the houses with the expanded boundaries
Anonymous
08/07/2025 00:26
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Late to this since my kid is graduating but the dismantling of these flagship magnet programs really is a shame. Both Poolesville and Blair are nationally ranked. Just flushing that all down the toilet?
I am all for more regional programs, but they should keep the current ones as well.
They are keeping the current ones. Just changing the boundaries of who can attend them (and probably also making them a bit smaller, for Blair at least.). No one knows how big or small an impact this will have on them, but that doesn't stop some people from being sure they will be "destroyed."
This is absolutely not the case. There is no way the three Poolesville programs will continue at the same school. There is no replication/replacement for Global Ecology in the new proposed regional programs. The current county-wide programs are not distributed equally so there will be regions with no established programs and only new programs, which is not equitable. You have no idea what you're talking about. YES, they are destroying these county-wide programs, especially at Poolesville.
Can we do anything about it this? I’ve been in MCPS long enough to know that they don’t seem to listen.
Poolesville might be the only place that keeps multiple big magnets/programs, albeit probably a bit smaller in size than now. Otherwise how are they going to fill all that space? There's just not that many kids living that close to Poolesville.
Anonymous
08/07/2025 00:01
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Late to this since my kid is graduating but the dismantling of these flagship magnet programs really is a shame. Both Poolesville and Blair are nationally ranked. Just flushing that all down the toilet?
I am all for more regional programs, but they should keep the current ones as well.
They are keeping the current ones. Just changing the boundaries of who can attend them (and probably also making them a bit smaller, for Blair at least.). No one knows how big or small an impact this will have on them, but that doesn't stop some people from being sure they will be "destroyed."
This is absolutely not the case. There is no way the three Poolesville programs will continue at the same school. There is no replication/replacement for Global Ecology in the new proposed regional programs. The current county-wide programs are not distributed equally so there will be regions with no established programs and only new programs, which is not equitable. You have no idea what you're talking about. YES, they are destroying these county-wide programs, especially at Poolesville.
Can we do anything about it this? I’ve been in MCPS long enough to know that they don’t seem to listen.
Anonymous
08/06/2025 22:52
Subject: MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program
So many idiots posting here think they are savants.