Welcome to the Downcounty Consortium!

1. Welcome to the Downcounty Consortium! Charting a Path to Your Future for Students Entering Grade 9 in 2013-2014

2. Downcounty Consortium (DCC) High Schools Montgomery Blair HSAlbert Einstein HS John F. Kennedy HS Northwood HS Wheaton HS School Assignment Locator: http://gis.mcpsmd.org/gis/Publiclocator.asp

3. What do all Downcounty Consortium high schools have in common? • Comprehensive high school curriculum • Rigorous academic course work • Honors & Advanced Placement (AP) courses • Special Education & ESOL programs • Students from at least nine middle schools • Student activities, clubs, athletics • Partnerships with universities, colleges, and businesses • Academy programs

4. Small learning community Sequence of related courses Rigorous course work Variety of course offerings in the thematic area Focus on connecting academics and career themes Appeals to students’ interests Offers students opportunities for: Interdisciplinary projects Capstone experiences College courses What is an academy?

5. Choice Process Timeline for 2012-2013 September • Evening Options information meetings held at two high schools: • September 24 at Blake HS • October 1 at WheatonHS • DCC special education meeting held at Options meeting on Monday, October 1 at Wheaton HS at 6pm • Grade 8 students participate in college/career exploration activities in school October – DCC High School Open Houses – 7:00 pm VISIT ALL 5! • Albert Einstein HS Wednesday, October 3 • John F. Kennedy HS Monday, October 8 • Northwood HS Thursday, October 18 • Montgomery Blair HS Thursday, October 25 • Wheaton HS Monday, October 29 • Preprinted Choice form mailed to DCC students’ homes (mid October)

6. Choice Process Timeline for 2012-2013 October/November - Choice Process – Round 1  Evening enrollment for parents of DCC non-MCPS students held at Spring Mill Field Office on Tuesday, October 30, 2012, from 5:00-7:30 pm RSVP:Please call 301-592-2040 to find out what documents to bring. Completed Choice forms due to DCC middle schools by Friday, November 2 End of January Parents/students notified by mail of high school assignment.

7. DCC parents/students will complete a preprinted Choice form: Rank the five high schools in order of preference. On the form, indicate if you would like the child to attend the same DCC school that an older sibling will attend in 2013-2014. Return the completed Choice form to your middle school counselor by Friday, November 2, 2012.* Note: DCC students who do not complete a Choice form will be randomly assigned to a DCC high school. *DCC students on transfer out of the DCC area can return the Choice form to the DCCAPS office. Sample Choice Form

8. A sneak preview of the academies by high school…

9. The Academy of Engineering offers six Project Lead The Way courses and two college courses that apply math and science concepts to real world problems through hands-on projects. The Bioscience Academy offers four Project Lead The Way courses and a college course that collectively explore prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Institute of Global and Cultural Studies students use state-of-the-art technology to create music, art, and deliberate with students internationally, culminating in four college courses. Academy of Information Technology students are recognized by the National Academy Foundation for completing four years of study including a compensated internship and a college course.

10. The Academy of Finance has helped meet the needs of an ever-changing economy of the last 20 years by preparing high school students for successful careers in financial services and in other related fields. The Renaissance Academy emphasizes the development of mathematical, reading, writing, and public speaking skills and their connection to the arts and sciences. The International Baccalaureate Program is committed to ensure that students master the skills and knowledge to empower them as critical thinkers, and informed participants in local and world affairs, through comprehensive and balanced curricula and challenging assessments. The Visual and Performing Arts Academy provides students with a strong academic program that develops the skills necessary to have rewarding careers in the visual and performing arts.

11. The Business Management and Administration Academy prepares students for careers as leaders in domestic and international commerce. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program provides students with a rigorous, international curriculum and up to a full year’s college credit. The Health Careers Academy – The medical careers programenables students to explore careers in health care and to develop skills related to patient care practiced in hospitals and long term facilities. The physical therapy program prepares students for careers in physical rehabilitation & wellness. The Media CommunicationsAcademy offers programs in broadcast journalism, public communication, and creative multi-media. Students study video production, marketing, graphic design and performing arts.

12. The Academy of Politics, Advocacy, and Law The Academy of Technological, Environmental, and Systems Sciences The Academy of Humanities, Art, and Media The Academy of Musical Theatre

13. Media, Music & The Arts International Studies and Law MONTGOMERY BLAIR HIGH SCHOOL Entrepreneurship Science, Math, and Technology Human Services Professions

14. 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.

15. 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

16. How does the high school assignment process work? 1st Choice Non-Base/Lottery 1st Choice Older Sibling 1st Choice = Base

17. Base Area High School Selection A student’s base area high school is determined by the home address. Assignment to the base area school is guaranteedif it is selected as: • FIRSTchoice on the Choice form OR • Second choice on the Choice form AND the first choice school is not available. To identify your base area school, visit: http://gis.mcps.k12.md.us/gis/PublicLocator.asp

18. Are students guaranteed assignment to the same DCC high school as an older sibling? Every effort will be made to assign siblings living in the same household to the same DCC school if indicated on the Choice form. However, school assignments are made on a space available basis.

19. Will transportation be provided? All students who reside within the Downcounty Consortium attendance area, beyond walking distance of their assigned high school as determined by MCPS, are provided bus transportation to the five DCC high schools.

20. How do students who live outside the DCC area and are on a transfer into a DCC middle school participate in the Choice process? • Transfer students can participate in Round 2 of the Choice process in January. They will receive a preprinted Choice form in the mail. *Note: Transfer students can apply to the DCC only application programs.

21. DCC Choice Process After Round 1 • February – Choice Process – Round 2 (Deadline: Friday, February 15, 2013) • Choice forms due from Grade 8 students who are new DCC residents • Choice forms due from Grade 8 students on transfer into a DCC 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 • March/April – Appeal letters due March 22 – Appeals reviewed (late April)

22. High School Change of Choice In February of each school year, Grades 9-11 students have the opportunity to request a change of DCC high school assignment for the following school year. Change of Choice forms will be available in DCC high school counseling offices in early February. The completed form, signed by the parent, must be returned by the Friday, February 15, 2013 deadline in order to be considered. Change of Choice results may consider the number of seats available, socioeconomic status and gender.

23. What high school application-only programs are available to students? DCC Only* Communication Arts Program (CAP) at Blair HS Leadership Training Institute (LTI) at Kennedy HS Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Engineering and Biomedical Programs at Wheaton HS MCPS Application-Only Programs Science, Mathematics, Computer Science Magnet at Blair HS International Baccalaureate (IB) Magnet at Richard Montgomery HS Visual Art Center (VAC) at Einstein HS Global Ecology House at Poolesville 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 other half-day). *All Grade 8 students who reside in the DCC or attend a DCC middle school are eligible to apply. • DCC students who apply for application-only program(s) must still return a • completed Choice form by Friday, November 2, 2012. • - Each program has its own application process/timeline which must be followed.

24. If you are interested in hearing about Countywide Magnet or Application Only Programs, please stay in the auditorium for the 8:00 presentation.

25. Parents and Students ~Thank you for joining us this evening! Parents and Students ~Thank you for joining us this evening! DCC Academy Coordinators Montgomery Blair HS Kevin Moose, 301-649-2851 Paul_K_Moose@mcpsmd.org Albert Einstein HS Tom Curley, 301-962-1065 Thomas_F_Curley@mcpsmd.org John F. Kennedy HS Nicole Fortson 301-962-5909 Nicole _Fortson@mcpsmd.org Northwood HS Mike Sullivan, 301-649-8153 Michael_P_Sullivan@mcpsmd.org Wheaton HS Heather Carias, 301-929-2068 Heather_B_Carias@mcpsmd.org Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services (DCCAPS) DCCAPS Office: 301-592-2040 Website: www.mcpsmd.org/schools/downcounty Please complete your evaluation form and return it to the collection box. Thank you! We look forward to seeing you at the Open Houses!