Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into Blair STEM, RMIB, and CAP. He thinks he wants to do the STEM magnet, and Blair is more conveniently located for us, but which should be choose?

He's at the TPMS magnet now with straight As for all 2.5 years, and thinks it's easy, so he's worried about suddenly having a big workload at high school and not being able to handle it. (The only class he ever had to work hard on and study in is Spanish III.) He definitely has a STEM orientation, but he's brilliant all-around.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Please share the MAP scores as well , my DC is in grade 7 , and we will get some idea about the system.

How will my child's MAP score be of any use to your 7th grader?

It's always useful to know how high the bar is raised.
I bet they look not only at 8th grade scores but at MAP-M scores in previous years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into Blair STEM, RMIB, and CAP. He thinks he wants to do the STEM magnet, and Blair is more conveniently located for us, but which should be choose?

He's at the TPMS magnet now with straight As for all 2.5 years, and thinks it's easy, so he's worried about suddenly having a big workload at high school and not being able to handle it. (The only class he ever had to work hard on and study in is Spanish III.) He definitely has a STEM orientation, but he's brilliant all-around.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Please share the MAP scores as well , my DC is in grade 7 , and we will get some idea about the system.

There are 3 kids (that we are aware of) admitted to Blair STEM from our son's middle school. He doesn't know their exact scores but all are in 99% at MAP-M. MAP-R scores doesn't matter for STEM.
We heard a significant number of students at Blair come from Takoma MS STEM magnet program. That makes admission to Blair even more difficult for non pre-magnet kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into Blair STEM, RMIB, and CAP. He thinks he wants to do the STEM magnet, and Blair is more conveniently located for us, but which should be choose?

He's at the TPMS magnet now with straight As for all 2.5 years, and thinks it's easy, so he's worried about suddenly having a big workload at high school and not being able to handle it. (The only class he ever had to work hard on and study in is Spanish III.) He definitely has a STEM orientation, but he's brilliant all-around.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Please share the MAP scores as well , my DC is in grade 7 , and we will get some idea about the system.

How will my child's MAP score be of any use to your 7th grader?

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into Blair STEM, RMIB, and CAP. He thinks he wants to do the STEM magnet, and Blair is more conveniently located for us, but which should be choose?

He's at the TPMS magnet now with straight As for all 2.5 years, and thinks it's easy, so he's worried about suddenly having a big workload at high school and not being able to handle it. (The only class he ever had to work hard on and study in is Spanish III.) He definitely has a STEM orientation, but he's brilliant all-around.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Please share the MAP scores as well , my DC is in grade 7 , and we will get some idea about the system.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ultimate confusion here...twin boys both got an invitation in the IB Kennedy and one of them in the CAP, as well.
I don't know much about the IB Kennedy and there are no much data because it seems to be a new program.

I am considering an appeal to have both boys at CAP. Blair is the home school.

Kennedy is off the radar for dcurbanmom but it's a great school with a very strong and enthusiastic staff. In year two of the regional IB and it is challenging and fun. Kennedy has had a regular non-application IB program for years, so teaching IB courses in 11th and 12th isn't new. What is new is the cohort. It's a small group of dedicated kids and ours seems happy there. If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to answer.

How’s the school overall? My kid got in there and CAP and RMIB and the program at Kennedy is the one we know least about…

It's good. It feels like a welcoming place. DC has been enjoying being in-person and I haven't heard of any issues with discipline or disruptions. (Considering how this board considers the school, I was half-expecting some.) I know that they are struggling a little to fill spots on their athletic teams, but the coordinator and the coaches seem like great people. DC's freshman English teacher is leading some international tours this spring and next. They offer Italian as a language option. (Not sure about Latin.) To deal with covid, the principal opened up the entire first floor and the steps outside and the courtyard to allow students to socially distance at lunch. Seems to have been effective. He was also very responsive to concerns about safety. They don't have the hyper-organized, hundreds of people strong PTA that Blair does, but the kids don't seem to be lacking for anything.

They're finished up a new addition that includes a new stadium this year. The only thing I don't like about the school is the location. Randolph Road is unwelcoming and the opposite of pedestrian-friendly. I would have liked there to be something to do within pleasant walking distance from the school, but walking down Randolph isn't pleasant. Not the school's fault, however!

We toured Northwood and Einstein and Blair, which was our zoned school. And Kennedy. DC (and I) liked Einstein best, but they didn't get in with the lottery. After that, we liked Kennedy, so happy it's worked out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So is there a benefit to being in boundary for Blair in terms of getting into any of the competitive programs?

CAP is open to kids in bounds for any down county consortium school (Blair, Wheaton, Einstein, Kennedy, Northwood) and any kid currently enrolled in Eastern or Takoma middle schools.

Or any of the other DCC middle schools, including out-of-boundary kids at the middle school magnet consortium (Parkland, Argyle, Loiederman) or at SSIMS for immersion.

Anonymous wrote:So is there a benefit to being in boundary for Blair in terms of getting into any of the competitive programs?

CAP is open to kids in bounds for any down county consortium school (Blair, Wheaton, Einstein, Kennedy, Northwood) and any kid currently enrolled in Eastern or Takoma middle schools.

So is there a benefit to being in boundary for Blair in terms of getting into any of the competitive programs?

Anonymous wrote:quick question - what does CAP stand for/which program? I recognize all the others just not CAP. TIA!

CAP is the Communication Arts Program at Blair. It's only available for those who attended a DCC middle school.

quick question - what does CAP stand for/which program? I recognize all the others just not CAP. TIA!

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has a kid who can be an underachieving genius, I appreciate that there is an opportunity for them to receive the academic rigor they need without the pressure cooker of an environment full of kids who freak out if they get a B. Also as someone who has a kid who can be an underachieving genius with weaknesses and strengths, I appreciate how much the staff has gone above and beyond to meet my child at their level and help them get to the next... Even with last year's virtual hell.

Just popping in to say THAT'S GREAT!! Seriously. I have a couple of underachieving geniuses myself ("2e") and once of the pitfalls for them in MCPS high schools has been a patchwork of teachers who only see that they didn't turn in homework but aren't able to / interested in meeting my kids where they are.

Happy to hear your child is having a positive experience.

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into Blair STEM, RMIB, and CAP. He thinks he wants to do the STEM magnet, and Blair is more conveniently located for us, but which should be choose?

He's at the TPMS magnet now with straight As for all 2.5 years, and thinks it's easy, so he's worried about suddenly having a big workload at high school and not being able to handle it. (The only class he ever had to work hard on and study in is Spanish III.) He definitely has a STEM orientation, but he's brilliant all-around.

The workload in STEM is going to be a lot. If he is worried about it and not being able to handle it, then maybe regular Blair would be a better fit. RMIB will also have a big workload. He always will have the option to take specific AP or honors classes.

My kid got into Blair STEM, RMIB, and CAP. He thinks he wants to do the STEM magnet, and Blair is more conveniently located for us, but which should be choose?

He's at the TPMS magnet now with straight As for all 2.5 years, and thinks it's easy, so he's worried about suddenly having a big workload at high school and not being able to handle it. (The only class he ever had to work hard on and study in is Spanish III.) He definitely has a STEM orientation, but he's brilliant all-around.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ultimate confusion here...twin boys both got an invitation in the IB Kennedy and one of them in the CAP, as well.
I don't know much about the IB Kennedy and there are no much data because it seems to be a new program.

I am considering an appeal to have both boys at CAP. Blair is the home school.

Kennedy is off the radar for dcurbanmom but it's a great school with a very strong and enthusiastic staff. In year two of the regional IB and it is challenging and fun. Kennedy has had a regular non-application IB program for years, so teaching IB courses in 11th and 12th isn't new. What is new is the cohort. It's a small group of dedicated kids and ours seems happy there. If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to answer.

How’s the school overall? My kid got in there and CAP and RMIB and the program at Kennedy is the one we know least about…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the difference between the three IB programs in Montco?

The point of the IB is that there is no difference. Possibly some schools offer more HL choices than others, or different SL electives but that's also subject to interest. The core programs are the same.

Why is RMIB selective and the others not?

The regional IBs are also selective. RMIB has the "reputation" and the legacy behind it after years of only accepting the top 10% of applications countywide... but there are a few things to know about the regionals.

1.) They're all based at schools that have offered two year (11th and 12th) IB programs for years and have staff who are trained and experienced teaching those courses to a group of self -selecting students.

2.) There are still some schools that offer the two year IB program application free: Einstein and BCC are the two I know.

3.) The first kids in the cohorts are in their sophomore year now.

4.) Yes, they're probably easier to get into. As someone who has a kid who can be an underachieving genius, I appreciate that there is an opportunity for them to receive the academic rigor they need without the pressure cooker of an environment full of kids who freak out if they get a B. Also as someone who has a kid who can be an underachieving genius with weaknesses and strengths, I appreciate how much the staff has gone above and beyond to meet my child at their level and help them get to the next... Even with last year's virtual hell.