Welcome to the Northeast Consortium HS Options...

Welcome to the Northeast Consortium HS

Options Fair!

for Students Entering Grade 9 in 2016-2017

I See Me in All Three!

Are You Smarter Than Your 8th Grader?

Question # 1 –

T/F. The NEC was formed in 1997.

True

Northeast Consortium (NEC) High Schools

James Hubert Blake HS

Paint Branch HS

Springbrook HS

School Assignment Locator:

http://gis.mcpsmd.org/gis/

PublicLocator.asp

Are You Smarter Than Your 8th Grader?

Question # 2 -There are ____ middle schools in the NEC and

____ high schools.

a. 5, 3

What do the Northeast Consortium high schools have in common?

• Comprehensive high school curriculum

• Academic rigor

• Honors & Advanced Placement (AP) courses

• Special Education

• ESOL programs for level 4 & 5 students

• Students from at least five middle schools

• Student activities, clubs, athletics

• Partnerships with colleges, universities and businesses

• Signature programs

Are You Smarter Than Your 8th Grader?Question # 3 -

True or False. Each NEC High School has a unique Signature program which is based on a

central theme.

True

What is a Signature Program?

• Instructional program developed

around a central theme: • Rigorous course work

• Variety of course offerings in

the thematic area

• Appeals to students’ interests

• Offers students opportunities for:• Interdisciplinary projects

• Capstone experiences

• College courses

I See ME in All 3!3 Great Schools! 3 Great Choices!

September

Evening Options information meetings held at two high schools:

September 21 at Kennedy HS

September 28 at Paint Branch HS

NEC special education meeting held at Options meeting on Monday,

September 28 at Paint Branch HS at 6pm

Grade 8 students participate in college/career exploration activities in school

October

NEC High School Open Houses @ 7:00 pm

Springbrook HS Thursday, October 8

James Hubert Blake HS Thursday, October 22

Paint Branch HS Thursday, October 29

Preprinted Choice form mailed to NEC students’ homes (mid October)

Lottery Choice Process Timelinefor 2015-2016

Are You Smarter Than Your 8th Grader?Question # 4 -

A student who resides in the NEC and attends an MCPS school will receive their choice form…

b. In the mail

Lottery Choice Process Timelinefor 2015-2016

October/November - Choice Process – Round 1

Evening enrollment for parents of NEC non-MCPS students held

at Spring Mill Field Office on Wednesday, November 4, 2015,

from 5:00 to 7:30 pm

RSVP: Please call 301-592-2040 to find out what documents to bring.

Completed Choice forms due to NEC middle schools by Friday,

November 6.

End of January 2016

Parents/students notified by mail of high school assignment.

NEC parents/students will complete a preprinted

Choice form:

• Rank the three high schools in order of

preference.

• On the form, indicate if you would like

your child to attend the same NEC high

school that an older sibling will attend in

2016-2017.

• Return the completed Choice form to

your middle school counselor by

Friday, November 6, 2015.*

• Choice forms will be processed through a

computerized lottery system to determine high

school assignments.

*NEC students on transfer out of area should return the

Choice form to the DCCAPS office.

Choice Form Information

Sample Choice Form

Are You Smarter Than Your 8th Grader?

Question # 5 -Which NEC high school offers the

Academy of Information Technology?

a. Springbrook HS

Springbrook High School

IB World and

Information Technology School

• 21st Century skills and learning

• Focus on Global Perspectives

• Focus on Technology

Springbrook’s Signature

Signature Programs

• International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme

• International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

• Academy of Information Technology

• Justice, Law, and Society

• Environmental Horticulture

Special Opportunities

• IB International Service Trips

• MYP Personal Project

• Partnerships with the following:

– Legal Affairs at Discovery Communications

–

– National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

• SWIT (Student Women in Technology)

Are You Smarter Than Your 8th Grader?

Question # 6 -Which NEC high school offers a college credited course in game development?

b. Blake HS

Fine Arts and

Humanities Signature

James Hubert Blake HS

Blake’s Signature

• Visual Arts

• Media Arts

• Performing Arts

Fine Arts and Humanities

• Humanities

• English

• History & Government

Signature Programs

• 9th Grade Academy

• S.T.E.M

• Business & Interactive Media

• Humanities & Public Service

• AP Capstone

Special Opportunities

• Perform at Kennedy Center & Strathmore

• Game Development College Credit

• It’s Academic Champions (2012-2015)

• Tops in College Enrollment

• Fashion

• Internships

• NIH

Are You Smarter Than Your 8th Grader?

Question # 7 -Which NEC high school offers the

medical careers program?

c. Paint Branch HS

Paint Branch High School

Academy of Science and Media

24

Academy of Science and MediaA whole school program emphasizing research and

experimentation, inquiry and critical thinking in all courses

and activities.

25

Signature Programs

Academy of Health Professions Academy of Finance Program

Japanese Foreign Language Program

Naval JROTC Program Culinary Arts Program

Academy of Science & Media

Academy of Engineering (PLTW) Child Development & Education Academies

AVID

Special Signature Initiatives• Quarterly Field trips

• Monthly lunch and Learns

• Science & Media

Exposition

• Capstones

• Internship Program

• Quarterly Grade

Celebrations

How are students assigned to a high school?

A computerized lottery assignment

system is used to assign students to a

high school. A variety of factors are

considered when running the lottery.

Base High School Selection

A student’s base area high school is determined

by the home address. Assignment to the

base area school is guaranteed if it is

selected as:

• FIRST choice on the Choice form

OR

• Second choice on the Choice form and the first

choice is not available.

• Base high school is not guaranteed if a student

changes his/her mind after the lottery has been

run and an assignment has been made.

To identify your base high school, visit:

http://gis.mcpsmd.org/gis/PublicLocator.asp

Are You Smarter Than Your 8th Grader?Question # 8 -

True or False. Base high school is determined by your home address. Students are guaranteed their 1st choice if they pick their base high school as their

1st choice.

True

What variables may impact school

assignment?

• School capacity as determined by MCPS

• Ranking of school choices

• Number of students selecting their base high school

• Sibling link, if indicated on the Choice form

• Socioeconomic status (number of students who receive free or reduced meals)

• Gender

If I have an older sibling who will be in an

NEC high school next year, am I

guaranteed assignment to the same

school?

Every effort will be made to assign siblings who live in the same

household to the same NEC school, if indicated on the Choice

form. Sibling link is only considered, however, when the sibling is

attending that high school during the 2016-2017 school year .

School assignments also consider space availability.

How does the high school assignment process work?

1st Choice = Base

1st Choice

Older Sibling

1st Choice

Non-Base/Lottery

Are You Smarter Than Your 8th Grader?

Question # 9 -Which percent reflects on average, how many

Grade 8 students picked a non-base school in the NEC last year?

b. 41%

Will transportation be provided to all three NEC high schools ?

Transportation will be provided for students who live within the NEC attendance area and beyond walking distance of their assigned NEC high school. Walking distance is determined by MCPS, and is about two miles for high school students.

How do students who live in the NEC but attend a DCC middle school participate in

the Choice process?

• Students who live in the NEC participate in Round 1 of the

NEC Choice process which occurs in November.

• Students who live in the NEC and attend a Downcounty

Consortium (DCC) middle school may also participate in

Round 2 of the DCC Choice process in February. They will

receive a preprinted DCC Choice form in the mail.

• Students who attend DCC middle schools are also eligible to

apply to the Communication Arts Program (CAP) at Blair HS

and the Leadership Training Institute (LTI) at Kennedy HS, the

Biomedical and Engineering Programs (PLTW) at Wheaton HS

in addition to other MCPS high school application programs.

NEC Choice Process After Round 1 February – Choice Process – Round 2 (Deadline: Friday, February 12, 2016)

• Choice forms due from Grade 8 students who are new NEC residents

• Choice forms due from Grade 8 students on transfer into an NEC middle

school who choose to participate in the process

• Written requests due from parents of students who did not get their first

choice in Round 1 asking for original school choices to be resubmitted in

Round 2

• Changes to the Choice form will not be accepted

Note: Students who receive their first choice in Round 1 may NOT participate in

Round 2.

March

– Round 2 high school assignment letters mailed to participants’ homes

April

– Appeal letters due in early April

– Appeals reviewed late April - May

High School Change of Choice

• In February of each school year, high school students

have the opportunity to request a change of NEC school

assignment for the following school year.

• Change of Choice forms will be available in NEC high

school counseling offices in early February.

• The completed form, signed by the parent, must be

returned by the deadline in order to be considered –

Friday, February 12, 2016.

• Change of Choice results are based on the number

of seats available, socioeconomic status and gender.

Are You Smarter Than Your 8th Grader?

Question # 10 -True or False. Students who live in the Northeast

Consortium participate in the Choice process unlessthey apply to a high school magnet program.

False

What high school application programs are

available to MCPS students?

DCC Application Programs (only for NEC students who

attend a DCC MS)

Communication Arts Program (CAP) – Montgomery

Blair High School

Leadership Training Institute (LTI) – John F. Kennedy

High School

Biomedical (PLTW) – Wheaton High School

Engineering (PLTW) – Wheaton High School

Global Ecology Program – Poolesville HS

International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme – Richard Montgomery HS

Science, Mathematics, Computer Science Magnet – Montgomery Blair HS

Visual Art Center (VAC) – Albert Einstein HS

Thomas Edison High School of Technology (Offers half-day professional career and technology education programs. Accepted students attend their assigned high school for the remaining half-day).

Are You Smarter Than Your 8th Grader?Question # 11 -

Draw a line to match up the school to its’ Signature Program.

Blake – Fine Arts and HumanitiesPaint Branch – Science and MediaSpringbrook – IB World and IT

Parents and Students ~Thank you for joining us this evening!

NEC Signature Coordinators

James H. Blake HS Elizabeth Yargici 301-879-1327 Elizabeth_H_Yargici@mcpsmd.org

Paint Branch HS Samantha Candia 301-388-9911 Samantha_N_Candia@mcpsmd.org

Springbrook HS Mark Griffiths 301-989-6077 Mark_H_Griffiths@mcpsmd.org

Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services (DCCAPS)

DCCAPS Office: 301-592-2040

Website: www.mcpsmd.org/schools/nec

Please complete your evaluation form and

return it to the collection box.

Thank you!

I See Me in All 3! 3 Great Schools! 3 Great Choices!

If you are interested in hearing about Countywide

Magnet or Application-Only Programs, please stay in the

auditorium for the 8:00 presentation.