Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?

[Anonymous]

I have a 5th grader and we're now looking at middle school options. We are thinking of doing the lottery for HBW, but I saw that HBW doesn't offer Intensified courses? So are the Intensified courses worth it? How do they compare to regular? What I have read so far doesn't tell me a ton, other than Intensified they are open to all and go deeper into the material. Does the regular courses just have kids who aren't interested? How does that work out at HBW with people choosing to go there? Are there typically enough spots for kids who want Intensified, or is this some type of "school within a school" deal?

Anyone who has experience able to talk to this? Much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

In the spring there will be a session where they'll talk to you about the middle school class options. My kid heard the description for Intensified classes and thought they sounded like what she wanted so that's all she's taken. I have no idea how they really compare to non-intensified versions.

You won't have any problems getting into an intensified class. If you sign up, you're in. (Math excepted, as APS manages math placement.)

[Anonymous]

Intensified classes are generally more work and have more writing than the regular classes. My older kids didn’t have intensified for most of middle school— they weren’t offered until 8th grade for my older one, and it used to be you couldn’t take intensified classes as a sixth grader. For both my kids, they came home with more work once they started taking intensified classes. They also had a lot more writing, every class has at least one essay a quarter, as opposed to regular classes where only English or maybe social science have essays. The essays for science were a good thing in my opinion. The more writing the better.

[Anonymous]

Intensified classes at neighborhood middle schools are largely a way to avoid problem behavior. I wouldn’t worry about it at HB.

[Anonymous]

There's a good chance you don't get into HBW, so if you are at all interested, enter the lottery. Then do your research and decide once you're in how you feel about it.

HBW was not a good fit for my oldest kid, so we didn't apply. But the people who do are usually very happy there and are not the least bit concerned about intensified classes.

[Anonymous]

“At HBW, all classes are intensified,” - quote from the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“At HBW, all classes are intensified,” - quote from the principal.

Intensified is code for involved parents.

All HBW has involved parents who pursued the lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“At HBW, all classes are intensified,” - quote from the principal.

If this is actually a direct quote I would not be broadcasting it.

Obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“At HBW, all classes are intensified,” - quote from the principal.

If this is actually a direct quote I would not be broadcasting it.

Obnoxious.

The school motto: Private school. Public dime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“At HBW, all classes are intensified,” - quote from the principal.

If this is actually a direct quote I would not be broadcasting it.

Obnoxious.

The school motto: Private school. Public dime.

Jealous, eh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“At HBW, all classes are intensified,” - quote from the principal.

If this is actually a direct quote I would not be broadcasting it.

Obnoxious.

The school motto: Private school. Public dime.

Jealous, eh?

Of course. The principal obviously knows it’s a special program; and there is some scuttlebutt about siblings somehow both winning the lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“At HBW, all classes are intensified,” - quote from the principal.

If this is actually a direct quote I would not be broadcasting it.

Obnoxious.

The school motto: Private school. Public dime.

Jealous, eh?

Of course. The principal obviously knows it’s a special program; and there is some scuttlebutt about siblings somehow both winning the lottery.

Two of my kids won the HB lottery, and two didn't. It happens.

[Anonymous]

Thank you - I know the chances of getting in to HBW are pretty low. I am not holding my breath on that one.

For the Intensified classes, it sounds like parents who push their kids kids who are self-starters take them at neighborhood schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you - I know the chances of getting in to HBW are pretty low. I am not holding my breath on that one.

For the Intensified classes, it sounds like parents who push their kids kids who are self-starters take them at neighborhood schools?

It’s a mixed bag. There are also parents who place into intensified courses because they want to keep their kids away from the perceived riffraff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you - I know the chances of getting in to HBW are pretty low. I am not holding my breath on that one.

For the Intensified classes, it sounds like parents who push their kids kids who are self-starters take them at neighborhood schools?

It’s a mixed bag. There are also parents who place into intensified courses because they want to keep their kids away from the perceived riffraff.

Or there are the kids who were bored in elementary school, see the description for Intensified classes, and ask to take them because they look more interesting.