In December 2004, students in Grade 8 who live in the Northeast Consortium (NEC) area will rank their choice of high schools for the 2005-2006 school year. During the month of October, preferred choice information meetings are scheduled at all five middle schools in the Northeast Consortium: Benjamin Banneker Middle School, Briggs Chaney Middle School, William H. Farquhar Middle School, Francis Scott Key Middle School, and White Oak Middle School. These information meetings will provide families with an overview of the preferred choice process and the signature programs at each of the three Consortium high schools:

· James Hubert Blake High School - Fine Arts and Humanities

· Paint Branch High School - Science and Media

· Springbrook High School - Information Technology in a Global Society
and International Baccalaureate

The meetings will take place in the evening, and the same information will be presented at all NEC middle school locations. Parents may attend the meeting of their choice. Parents of Grade 8 students currently attending private school are encouraged to attend these meetings and find out more about the exciting opportunities offered at NEC high schools. In addition, there will be an enrollment meeting for parents of private school students who wish to attend a NEC high school for the 2005-2006 school year.

In November, each Consortium high school will hold an Open House that showcases its own unique signature programs, course offerings, extracurricular activities, and other school highlights. Parents and Grade 8 students are encouraged to attend the Open Houses at all three high schools.

For questions about the preferred choice information meetings or high school Open Houses, contact the Northeast Consortium office, 301-649-8081, or visit the Northeast Consortium web site.


PREFERRED CHOICE INFORMATION MEETINGS

All meetings at 7 p.m.

October 7, 2004 Briggs Chaney Middle School
October 11, 2004 Benjamin Banneker Middle School
October 14, 2004 Francis Scott Key Middle School
October 18, 2004 White Oak Middle School
October 21, 2004 White Oak MS - ESOL Parents
October 28, 2004 White Oak MS - Special Education Parents

December 1, 2004 Spring Mill Field Office - Private school parents
Call 301-649-8081 for an appointment.


NEC HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES

All meetings at 7 p.m.

November 4, 2004 Paint Branch High School
Novembers 11, 2004 Springbrook High School
November 18, 2004 James Hubert Blake High School