The Choice Process in the Northeast Consortium (NEC)

for Students Entering Grade 9 in 2014-2015

I See Me at All Three!

Northeast Consortium (NEC) Boundaries

School Locator Tool:

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

What do the Northeast Consortium high schools have in common?Comprehensive high school curriculumAcademic rigorHonors & Advanced Placement (AP)

coursesSpecial Education & ESOL programsStudents from at least five middle schoolsStudent activities, clubs, athletics Partnerships with colleges, universities

and businessesSignature programs

What is a Signature Program?Instructional program developed around a central theme:

Rigorous course work Variety of course offerings in

the thematic areaAppeals to students’ interestsOffers students opportunities for:

Interdisciplinary projectsCapstone experiencesCollege courses I See ME at All 3!

3 Great Schools! 3 Great Choices!

September 2013 Evening Options information meetings held at two high schools:

September 25 at Blair HS September 30 at Springbrook HS

NEC special education meeting held at Options meeting on Monday, September 30 at Springbrook HS at 6pm

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

October – NEC High School Open Houses – 7:00 pm VISIT ALL 3!

Paint Branch HS Wednesday, October 16 Springbrook HS Thursday, October 24 James Hubert Blake HS Tuesday, October 29

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

Choice Process Timeline for 2013-2014

Choice Process Timeline for 2013-2014October/November - Choice Process – Round 1 Evening enrollment for parents of NEC non-MCPS

students held at Spring Mill Field Office on Tuesday, November 5, 2013, 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 8

End of January 2014 Parents/students notified by mail of high school

assignment.

NEC Choice Process Sample Choice Form

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 this child to attend the same NEC school that an older sibling will attend in 2014-2015.• Return the completed Choice form to your middle school counselor by Friday, November 8, 2013.*• 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

Paint Branch High SchoolAcademy of Science and Media

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Academy of Science and MediaA whole school program emphasizing research and experimentation, inquiry and critical thinking in all courses and activities.

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Science• Academy of Health Professions

Foundations of Medicine and Health ScienceStructures and Functions of the Human BodyFundamentals of Pharmacy Medical Science with Clinical ApplicationsMedical Careers in ScienceIntroduction to Medical Terminology & Careers

(in partnership with Montgomery College)Medical Careers Internship

• Engineering Science• Horticultural Science• Environmental Science• Advanced Forensic Science• Astronomy• Food Science

Signature courses and course sequences offered at Paint Branch High School

Media• Television Production • Advanced Television Production• Media, Management and Operations• Radio Production• Radio Station Management and Operations• Digital Art• Journalism- Editing/News Production• Journalism- Advanced Techniques• Literary Magazine- Advanced Composition• Yearbook• Photography

Unique Science Course Sequence Offered1. Physics – Grade 92. Grade 10:

Double Period Biology Double Period Chemistry

(in separate semesters)

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Special Signature, Academy Programs,

and Initiatives at Paint Branch Academy of Engineering Technology

Academy of Finance Program

Japanese Foreign Language Program

Internship Program• Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab• Holy Cross Hospital• NASA Goddard Space Flight Center• FDA (Food & Drug Administration)• NIH (National Institute of Health)• Local Engineering Firms, Doctor’s &

and Dentist’s Offices, Pharmacies and other businesses.

Naval JROTC Program Restaurant Management Program

Academy of Health Professions

Math, Science & Foreign Language Honor Societies Science and Media Exposition

Summer Academy

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Outstanding Teachers• Maryland Teachers of the year in Science, Math and Art High Academic Achievement

• 130 AP Scholars and 5 National Scholars in 2013• Highest in Country for African American Students in AP World History – 2009 AND 2011• 667 Students enrolled in AP courses for the 2013-2014 year.• 18 AP courses currently offered

Panther Trust – MCT School Bank Award-winning Marching Band and Jazz Singers Gold Medalist – Columbia Scholastic Press Award

• BOTH yearbook and newspaper for the past 9 years Outstanding Educational Facility

We are . . . Nationally Recognized $ 700,000 U.S. Department of Education SLC Grant CINE Golden Eagle Awards in Animation Academy of Finance Program Blue Ribbon School of Excellence New American High School

What makes Paint Branch students and staff proud! We have . . .

Springbrook High SchoolIB World and

Information Technology School

Signature courses and course sequences offered at Springbrook High School

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)• IB Biology • IB Chemistry• IB Computer Science• IB English • IB Film Studies• IB French• IB History• IB Math• IB Physics

• IB Math Studies• IB Pre Calculus• IB Spanish• IB Music• IB Theory of

Knowledge • IB Visual Arts• IB Environmental

Systems & Societies• IB Design Technology

Personal Project• MYP Capstone Project

for Grade 10• Based on student’s

interest• May take any form

Languages• Arabic• German• Italian• French• Spanish

Programs of Study• Justice, Law and Society• Environmental Horticulture• Hospitality Management• Child Development

• Microcomputer Technologies• Network Engineering and Management• Network Engineering and Management,

Advanced

Academy of Information Technology (AOIT)• Network Engineering and Management,

Internship• National Academy of Info. Tech Internship• National Academy of Info. Tech Research

IB Middle Years Program (MYP)English, Humanities, Science,

Math, Foreign Language, Technology, P.E., the Arts

Sequence of Signature courses offered at Springbrook High School

• Microcomputer Technologies• Network Engineering and Management• Network Engineering and Management,

Advanced• Network Engineering and Management,

Internship• National Academy of Info. Tech Internship• National Academy of Info. Tech Research

• Designing Technology Solutions• AP Computer Programming 2• Computer Programming 3• Research Project in Computer Programming

Academy of Information Technology

International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (Grades 11-12)• IB English 1, 2• IB History 1, 2• IB Physics 1,2• IB Chemistry• IB Biology 1,2• IB Env. Sys. & Soc• IB French/Spanish 5,6,7

• Arabic/German/Italian 1&2

• IB Advanced Music • IB Visual Art 1, 2• IB Film 1,2• IB Theory of

Knowledge

Students study subjects from each of the eight subject groups through the five areas of interaction: approaches to learning, community and service, human ingenuity, environment, and health and social education.

International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (Grades 9 & 10)

Special Initiatives at Springbrook?

Justice, Law and Society Industry Professional Briefings

• Montgomery County Police• FBI• Homeland Security• Street Law

International Baccalaureate Resources• Service oriented local and international trips• IB Cultural Exchanges• Approaches and Strategies Study Skills Seminars• IB Mentoring• Service Trips - Costa Rica/2013;Thailand/2014

Arts on the Block

Jazz Camp

AOIT Paid Internships• Lockheed Martin• FDA• NASA• NOAA

Service Projects

Other Programs of Study• Hospitality Management• Child Development• Environmental Horticulture

What else makes Springbrook students and staff proud?Local Recognition• Local recognition as a top-rated school in

the D.C. metropolitan area that supports minorities and students with special needs

• Most National Merit Scholar Semifinalists in the NEC – 2012 & 2013

• Top rated Math Team in the NEC three years in a row. Currently ranked 7th in the County

• Award-winning literary magazine, newspaper, and yearbook - newspaper published biweekly and online

• The class of 2013 earned over 13 million in scholarship offers

Nationally & Internationally Recognized• International Service trip to Costa Rica in

June of 2013• Third year of sponsoring Fulbright Scholars • Music programs have placed in the top three

consistently in national competitions• IBDP 2013 graduate attends Univ. of

Edinburgh

Fine Arts andHumanities Signature

James Hubert Blake HS

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Signature courses and course sequences offered at Blake High School

Humanities• Film and American Culture• Comparative Religion• Graphic Novels as Literature

History and Government• We the People: U.S. Law & Global Issues• Since 2011- Gilder Lehrman Affiliate School• Latin American History• Ancient Mediterranean History• Medieval History

Visual and Media Arts• 5 Distinct Advanced Television Production

Courses – TV News, features, TV/Video Acting, mixed media and journalism

• Fashion Design and Production – 3 courses• 4 Distinct AP Studio Art Courses –

2-D, 3-D, Photography and Digital Arts

• AP Art History• Mythology

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Signature academies and pathways offered at Blake

Theater• 4 year Acting Sequence• Musical Theatre• Won more competitive awards than any MCPS High school at the MCPS Theatre Festival in 2012

Music• Music Technology• Adv. Percussion Ensemble

• Professional-in-Residence program, most recently with NY Voices

• Perform with U.S. Navy Band - Fall 2012

Dance• 3 levels of Tap, Jazz, Modern & Ballet• Learning programs with Broadway

choreographers from NYC• Select Dance Company • Two expansive dance studios

• Stage Design• Play Directing

• “Text Alive!” Program Shakespeare Theatre• Onsite Black Box Theater & Amphitheatre

• Music Theory• Recording Studios

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Academy & Pathway initiatives at Blake High School!The Freshman Academy Program• HS 101 Summer Academy • Academic Teaming• Dedicated 9th Grade Counselors• AP United States History• Tutor-Mentor Program• Core Study Skills

Business and Marketing Pathway• Entrepreneurship, International Business• School Store and Capstone Experience

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Pathway• Multi-media Development and Gaming Design-Three Course Completer Program• Web tools and Digital Media-Three Course Completer Program• Capstone Experience

Cross Curricular Connections• NSL Government and Statistics (exit poll with stat class analyzing data)• Environmental Science (combining biodiversity, local history, and satellite technology)• Physics (analyze properties of stage lighting and creation of musical instruments)

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An Academic High School of Achievement• 2013 AP Exam Performance:

• 65% of students scoring a 3, 4, or 5 • Higher Mean AP score than the State of Maryland

• 5 National AP Scholars, 155 AP Scholars in 2013• $15 Million in Scholarships Won by Class of 2013• 20 students from the class of 2013 received a 2000 on their SATs• “It’s Academic” team is the reigning 2012 & 2013 DC Champion (best

of 81) and the defending Super Bowl champion (best of 171 schools)

World Class Instruction and Leadership• 3 Washington Post Agnes Myer Award-winning Teachers for MCPS• Over 25 National Board Certified Teachers have taught at Blake • Mae I. Graham Award for Outstanding Media Program in Maryland

Nationally Recognized Signature Programs• “We The People” – Maryland State Champions 2012 & 2013• In the past 6 years, The Blake Beat has twice been named the best

high school newspaper in the USA and three times the best in Maryland!• Business Academy - MCPS Competition Champions• Blake participates in learning/performance programs with Olney Theatre, Roundhouse

Theatre, Wolf Trap, Broadway Dance Studios to name a few• Largest and most traveled marching band in the NEC

What else makes Blake students and staff proud?

How are students assigned to a school?

A computerized lottery assignment process is used to assign students to a high school. A variety of factors are considered when running the lottery.

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

How does the high school assignment process work?

1st Choice = Base

1st ChoiceOlder Sibling

1st Choice Non-Base/Lottery

Base High School Selection

A student’s base area high school is determinedby 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.

To identify your base high school, visit:http://gis.mcpsmd.org/gis/PublicLocator.asp

If I have an older sibling who will be inan 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 sameNEC school, if indicated on the Choice form.However, school assignments are made on a space available basis.

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 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 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 14, 2014)

• 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 – Appeal letters due March 21

April – Appeals reviewed (late April)

High School Change of ChoiceIn 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 highschool 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 14, 2014.Change of Choice results are based on the

numberof seats available, socioeconomic status and

gender.

What high school application programs are

available to MCPS students?Global Ecology Program – Poolesville HSCoordinator: 301-972-7976

International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme – Richard Montgomery HSCoordinator: 301-610-8100

Science, Mathematics, Computer Science Magnet – Montgomery Blair HSCoordinator: 301-649-8240

Visual Art Center (VAC) – Albert Einstein HSVAC Office: 301-962-1027

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).Counseling Office: 301-929-2181-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DCC Application Programs*Communication Arts Program (CAP) – Montgomery Blair High School*Coordinator: 301-649-2854

Leadership Training Institute (LTI) – John F. Kennedy High School*Coordinator: 301-962-5930

Biomedical (PLTW) – Wheaton High School*Coordinator: 301-929-2050

Engineering (PLTW) – Wheaton High School*Coordinator: 301-929-2050

*Programs available only to Grade 8 students who live or attend middle school in the DCC

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 Candia301-388-9911 Samantha_N_Candia@mcpsmd.orgSpringbrook HS Mark Griffiths 301-989-6077

Mark_H_Griffiths@mcpsmd.org

Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services (DCCAPS)

DCCAPS Office: 301-592-2040Website: www.mcpsmd.org/schools/nec

Please complete your evaluation form andreturn it to the collection box.

Thank you!I See Me at All 3!

3 Great Schools! 3 Great Choices!

If you are interested in hearing about Countywide Magnet or Application-Only Programs,

please remain in the auditorium for the 8:00 presentation.