Changes to gifted center admissions

[Anonymous]

I understand the concerns that expanding the program will result in the program being watered down. My kids went through the HGC and I know how fabulous it is. I think it's a shame that apparently they no longer offer the type of math acceleration my kids experienced.

That being said, does anybody know when the program was last expanded? I can tell from the frequent complaints of overcrowding that our school population has grown. Moreover, while I recognize that MCPS has to draw the line somewhere, I believe that the students who are wait listed could probably perform great in the HGC, and in some cases even better than the admitted students. The admissions process is hardly an exact science.

[Anonymous]

I believe there was some expansion last year..an extra classroom in Silver Spring?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe there was some expansion last year..an extra classroom in Silver Spring?

Another classroom in Barnsley, too, I think. They should equalize the number of classrooms. At present, it's much easier to get into Barnsley, which has 4 or 5 HGC classes, than Cold Spring, which only has 2. It's great in the sense of rigor at Cold Spring, but results in lots of frustrated parents with kids otherwise qualified for admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe there was some expansion last year..an extra classroom in Silver Spring?

Another classroom in Barnsley, too, I think. They should equalize the number of classrooms. At present, it's much easier to get into Barnsley, which has 4 or 5 HGC classes, than Cold Spring, which only has 2. It's great in the sense of rigor at Cold Spring, but results in lots of frustrated parents with kids otherwise qualified for admission.

No there are still only 3 per grade at Barnsley..

[Anonymous]

Cold Spring also only has 2 feeder High schools for its center and Barnsley has 4. Cold Spring hardly seems underserved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cold Spring also only has 2 feeder High schools for its center and Barnsley has 4. Cold Spring hardly seems underserved.

How would expanding Coldspring close the achievement gap? How diverse are its student body? Isn't this also the school where a majority of the kids also attend expensive 3rd party prep classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cold Spring also only has 2 feeder High schools for its center and Barnsley has 4. Cold Spring hardly seems underserved.

How would expanding Coldspring close the achievement gap? How diverse are its student body? Isn't this also the school where a majority of the kids also attend expensive 3rd party prep classes?

you don't know what you are talking about, but seem happy spreading the hearsay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cold Spring also only has 2 feeder High schools for its center and Barnsley has 4. Cold Spring hardly seems underserved.

How would expanding Coldspring close the achievement gap? How diverse are its student body? Isn't this also the school where a majority of the kids also attend expensive 3rd party prep classes?

you don't know what you are talking about, but seem happy spreading the hearsay.

Thees legitimate questions are hardly hearsay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand the concerns that expanding the program will result in the program being watered down. My kids went through the HGC and I know how fabulous it is. I think it's a shame that apparently they no longer offer the type of math acceleration my kids experienced.

That being said, does anybody know when the program was last expanded? I can tell from the frequent complaints of overcrowding that our school population has grown. Moreover, while I recognize that MCPS has to draw the line somewhere, I believe that the students who are wait listed could probably perform great in the HGC, and in some cases even better than the admitted students. The admissions process is hardly an exact science.

What do you mean "no longer offer the type of math acceleration"?? Kids in the HGC are eligible for Math 4/5 and 5/6 which is the same thing as "compacted math" just with a new name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand the concerns that expanding the program will result in the program being watered down. My kids went through the HGC and I know how fabulous it is. I think it's a shame that apparently they no longer offer the type of math acceleration my kids experienced.

That being said, does anybody know when the program was last expanded? I can tell from the frequent complaints of overcrowding that our school population has grown. Moreover, while I recognize that MCPS has to draw the line somewhere, I believe that the students who are wait listed could probably perform great in the HGC, and in some cases even better than the admitted students. The admissions process is hardly an exact science.

What do you mean "no longer offer the type of math acceleration"?? Kids in the HGC are eligible for Math 4/5 and 5/6 which is the same thing as "compacted math" just with a new name.

Used to be a good number of kids went to 6th grade Algebra from the HGC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand the concerns that expanding the program will result in the program being watered down. My kids went through the HGC and I know how fabulous it is. I think it's a shame that apparently they no longer offer the type of math acceleration my kids experienced.

That being said, does anybody know when the program was last expanded? I can tell from the frequent complaints of overcrowding that our school population has grown. Moreover, while I recognize that MCPS has to draw the line somewhere, I believe that the students who are wait listed could probably perform great in the HGC, and in some cases even better than the admitted students. The admissions process is hardly an exact science.

What do you mean "no longer offer the type of math acceleration"?? Kids in the HGC are eligible for Math 4/5 and 5/6 which is the same thing as "compacted math" just with a new name.

Used to be a good number of kids went to 6th grade Algebra from the HGC

I'm the poster who made the original comment about math acceleration and the other poster had it exactly right. My kids went into Math A in 4th, IM in 5th (there was an entire IM math class at the HGC), and into Algebra for 6th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand the concerns that expanding the program will result in the program being watered down. My kids went through the HGC and I know how fabulous it is. I think it's a shame that apparently they no longer offer the type of math acceleration my kids experienced.

That being said, does anybody know when the program was last expanded? I can tell from the frequent complaints of overcrowding that our school population has grown. Moreover, while I recognize that MCPS has to draw the line somewhere, I believe that the students who are wait listed could probably perform great in the HGC, and in some cases even better than the admitted students. The admissions process is hardly an exact science.

What do you mean "no longer offer the type of math acceleration"?? Kids in the HGC are eligible for Math 4/5 and 5/6 which is the same thing as "compacted math" just with a new name.

Used to be a good number of kids went to 6th grade Algebra from the HGC

I'm the poster who made the original comment about math acceleration and the other poster had it exactly right. My kids went into Math A in 4th, IM in 5th (there was an entire IM math class at the HGC), and into Algebra for 6th.

Same poster here. The more common path to 6th Algebra was math B in 4th, IM in 5th. Either way the option was there.