Welcome to the Downcounty Consortium! for Students Entering Grade 9 in Charting a Path to Your Future where You can Thrive at ALL Five!

Downcounty Consortium (DCC) High Schools Montgomery Blair HS Albert Einstein HS John F. Kennedy HS Northwood HS Wheaton HS School Assignment Locator: PublicLocator.asp

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

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

Choice Process Timeline for September  Evening Options information meetings held at two high schools:  September 25 at Blair HS  September 30 at Springbrook HS  DCC special education meeting held at Options meeting on Wednesday, September 25 at Blair HS at 6 pm Wednesday, September 25 at Blair HS at 6 pm  Grade 8 students participate in college/career exploration activities in school October – DCC High School Open Houses – 7 pm VISIT ALL 5!  Wheaton HS Wednesday, October 2  John F. Kennedy HSThursday, October 3  Northwood HS Monday, October 7  Albert Einstein HSThursday, October 10  Montgomery Blair HS Monday, October 28   Preprinted Choice form mailed to DCC students’ homes (mid- October)

Choice Process Timeline for October/November - Choice Process – Round 1  Evening enrollment for parents of DCC non-MCPS students held at Spring Mill Field Office on Tuesday, November 5, from 5:00 to 7:30 pm  Evening enrollment for parents of DCC non-MCPS students held at Spring Mill Field Office on Tuesday, November 5, from 5:00 to 7:30 pm RSVP: Please call to find out what documents to bring. RSVP: Please call to find out what documents to bring.   Completed Choice forms due to DCC middle schools by Friday, November 8. End of January  Parents/students notified by mail of high school assignment.

Sample Choice Form 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 Return the completed Choice form to your middle school counselor by Friday, November 8, 2013.* 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 return the Choice form to the DCCAPS office.

A sneak preview of the academies by high school… You can Thrive at all Five!

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. 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. The Bioscience Academy offers four Project Lead The Way courses and a college course that collectively explore prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. 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 International Baccalaureate Programme 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. 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 Media Communications Academies offer programs in broadcast journalism, public communication, and creative multimedia. Students study video production, marketing, graphic design and performing arts. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme provides students with a rigorous, international curriculum and up to a full year’s college credit. The Health Careers Academies – The medical careers program enables students to explore careers in health care and to develop skills related to patient care practiced in hospitals and long term facilities. The health careers program prepares students for careers in physical rehabilitation, research, & wellness. The Business Management & Administration Academy prepares students for careers as leaders in domestic and international commerce.

Entrepreneurship Human Services Professions Media, Music & The Arts International Studies and Law Science, Math, and Technology

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.

What variables may impact school assignment? School capacity as determined by MCPS School capacity as determined by MCPS Ranking of school choices Ranking of school choices Number of students selecting their base high school Number of students selecting their base high school Sibling link, if indicated on the Choice form Sibling link, if indicated on the Choice form Socioeconomic status (number of students who receive free or reduced meals) Socioeconomic status (number of students who receive free or reduced meals) Gender Gender

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

Base High School Selection A student’s base high school is determined by the home address. Assignment to the base high 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 school is not available. To identify your base area school, visit:

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.

Will transportation be provided? Will transportation be provided? Transportation is provided for students who live within the Downcounty Consortium attendance area, beyond walking distance of their assigned DCC high school. Walking distance is determined by MCPS and is approximately two miles for high school students.

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 Transfer students can participate in Round 2 of the Choice process in February. They will receive a preprinted Choice form in the mail. *Note:Transfer students are also eligible to apply to the DCC-only application programs.

DCC Choice Process After Round 1 February February Choice Process – Round 2 (Deadline: Friday, February 14, 2014) – Choice Process – Round 2 (Deadline: Friday, February 14, 2014)   Choice forms due from Grade 8 students who enroll in a DCC middle school after Round 1   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 March – Round 2 high school assignment letters mailed to participants’ homes March/April March/April – Appeal letters due March 21 – Appeals reviewed (late April)

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 14, 2014 deadline in order to be considered. Change of Choice results may consider the number of seats available, socioeconomic status and gender.

What high school application-only programs are available to students? DCC Only* Communication Arts Program (CAP) at Blair HS Communication Arts Program (CAP) at Blair HS Leadership Training Institute (LTI) Leadership Training Institute (LTI) at Kennedy HS The Biomedical and Engineering Application Programs at Wheaton HS The Biomedical and Engineering Application Programs at Wheaton HS MCPS Application-Only Programs Science, Mathematics, Computer Science Magnet at Blair HS Science, Mathematics, Computer Science Magnet at Blair HS International Baccalaureate (IB) Magnet at Richard Montgomery HS International Baccalaureate (IB) Magnet at Richard Montgomery HS ■ Visual Art Center (VAC) at Einstein HS Global Ecology House at Poolesville 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). 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 programs must also submit a completed Choice form by Friday, November 8, Each program has its own application process/timeline which must be followed.

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

Parents and Students ~ Thank you for joining us this evening! DCC Academy Coordinators Montgomery Blair HS Kevin Moose, Albert Einstein HS Tom Curley, John F. Kennedy HS Nicole Fortson Nicole Northwood HS Delmer Padgett, Wheaton HS Heather Carias, Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services (DCCAPS) DCCAPS Office: Website: Please complete your evaluation form and return it to the collection box. Thank you! Students – You can Thrive at ALL Five!