Are HGC centers worth it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are kids who go to the HGC for a year and decide they miss their friends and old social life too much and end up returning to their home schools. Assuming your daughter even gets in, she could try it out and always transfer back.

Yes, this is always a back-up plan. Our HGC principal told us that kids are asked to commit to at least the first marking period, I think, before thinking about leaving, though. And at that school, the number who left before 5th grade was very low (1? 3?) out of three classes--so while leaving is an option, the vast majority are happy enough to return.

[Anonymous]

We turned down an HGC and are happy with the decision. We didn't even apply to a MS magnet and will likely end up at the local HS, which is perceived as a top school in MoCo (one of the W schools).

My DC is also 97-99% and was told DC had the highest GT test score in the school a few years back. DC was also bored in 1st and 2nd grade. I would say that elementary school was mostly easy for DC. The 5th grade math teacher said DC could have been in a higher math class, but they didn't offer it. I didn't push to have him take the middle school math option in 5th for the logistical nightmare, but that was an option. Going into middle school, DC is on track for Algebra in 7th grade.

The benefit of staying was that DC remained with friends. DC became a patrol and a student govt leader. DC was in tears at his 'graduation' because he loved the school. Although not completely challenged by school, DC was involved in tons of outside activities that kept DC challenged.

I originally pushed DC to go to an HGC, but DC really fought hard against. Now DC has a cohort of friends heading off to middle school, where there is no assurance that DC would have made a magnet MS. In the end, it's a case-by-case basis, but I don't think going to an HGC is required for success in life. For some kids, it sounds life-changing, but parents shouldn't feel guilty about the local option. That all said, I wish local schools would do a better job of taking care of local GT kids. Also, C2.0 and in-class ability grouping at your school may not be to your liking. It is a hard decision, but I wanted you to know that we turned down an HGC and survived so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We turned down an HGC and are happy with the decision. We didn't even apply to a MS magnet and will likely end up at the local HS, which is perceived as a top school in MoCo (one of the W schools).

My DC is also 97-99% and was told DC had the highest GT test score in the school a few years back. DC was also bored in 1st and 2nd grade. I would say that elementary school was mostly easy for DC. The 5th grade math teacher said DC could have been in a higher math class, but they didn't offer it. I didn't push to have him take the middle school math option in 5th for the logistical nightmare, but that was an option. Going into middle school, DC is on track for Algebra in 7th grade.

The benefit of staying was that DC remained with friends. DC became a patrol and a student govt leader. DC was in tears at his 'graduation' because he loved the school. Although not completely challenged by school, DC was involved in tons of outside activities that kept DC challenged.

I originally pushed DC to go to an HGC, but DC really fought hard against. Now DC has a cohort of friends heading off to middle school, where there is no assurance that DC would have made a magnet MS. In the end, it's a case-by-case basis, <b>but I don't think going to an HGC is required for success in life</b>. For some kids, it sounds life-changing, but parents shouldn't feel guilty about the local option. That all said, I wish local schools would do a better job of taking care of local GT kids. Also, C2.0 and in-class ability grouping at your school may not be to your liking. It is a hard decision, but I wanted you to know that we turned down an HGC and survived so far.

My child is in an HGC (NOT in a W cluster) and I totally agree with you. It's been great for my child, but I think that my child would also have been perfectly fine staying at the home school. And, conversely, there are a lot of children in my child's home school class for whom the HGC would also have been great, but they weren't admitted.

[Anonymous]

We are sending dc to an hgc next year. I agree that staying at the home school would have been fine but I think the hgc offers something unique. I think, however, if I had the kind of doubts that op has, I would not send my dc. I'd walk away and let somee other child take advantage of this opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Here's another way to think about it op. No one (it seems) hesitates to put their child on a travel soccer (or whatever other sport) if the kid tries out and is selected. This also involves leaving the regular teammates behind, longer driving to practices/games, and increased expectations. Why would so many regularly chose this type of differentiation in order for a kid's skills to be best cultivated, yet hesitate when it comes to educational opportunities?
I know that in out competitive community many parents claim they would never put their child into an hgc and, behind the scenes lobby the school to appeal the hgc rejection. I say this as a cautionary tale. Don't put too much stake into your child's elementary school friendships at the cost of his/her opportunities. After all, kids make friend's easily and, do you really remember your 4th grade classmates names?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's another way to think about it op. No one (it seems) hesitates to put their child on a travel soccer (or whatever other sport) if the kid tries out and is selected. This also involves leaving the regular teammates behind, longer driving to practices/games, and increased expectations. Why would so many regularly chose this type of differentiation in order for a kid's skills to be best cultivated, yet hesitate when it comes to educational opportunities?
I know that in out competitive community many parents claim they would never put their child into an hgc and, behind the scenes lobby the school to appeal the hgc rejection. I say this as a cautionary tale. Don't put too much stake into your child's elementary school friendships at the cost of his/her opportunities. After all, kids make friend's easily and, do you really remember your 4th grade classmates names?

All very good points!

[Anonymous]

There are a some specific reasons that I have my kids in HGCs -

1) There is a chronic lack of good Math, Foreign Languages and Science teachers throughout MCPS. HGCs mostly tend not to have this problem.

2) Regardless of what the prescribed curriculum is - there is a strong emphasis on enrichment - lots of projects, field trips etc.

3) Kids learn time management and study skills early on.

4) Classrooms have less disruptive kids

5) You learn of other opportunities from other parents.

[Anonymous]

Which HGCs have foreign language teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which HGCs have foreign language teachers?

None.

[Anonymous]

I don't think the classrooms have less disruptive kids, based on my limited experience.

[Anonymous]

Every year this question comes up. I have been through this twice, once with a kid who got in and once with a kid who got waitlisted and didn't.

My recommendation is to do the application, have your kid take the test, don't make a big deal out of it, and see what happens. You don't want to stress your child out, and LOTS can change between beginning and end of third grade, when you need to make a decision. Third grade is often the beginning of struggles for kids who are GT and GTLD, as there may be types of work that isn't optimal for them.

Even if you think right now that you wouldn't send your child, go ahead and apply if you think it might be the right fit.

I always tell my kids: keep your options open. I will tell them the same now that high school applications are on the horizon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which HGCs have foreign language teachers?

Middle school magnets. Just like all MS in MCPS. Magnet start Foreign Language in 6th grade, others start in 7th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every year this question comes up. I have been through this twice, once with a kid who got in and once with a kid who got waitlisted and didn't.

My recommendation is to do the application, have your kid take the test, don't make a big deal out of it, and see what happens. You don't want to stress your child out, and LOTS can change between beginning and end of third grade, when you need to make a decision. Third grade is often the beginning of struggles for kids who are GT and GTLD, as there may be types of work that isn't optimal for them.

Even if you think right now that you wouldn't send your child, go ahead and apply if you think it might be the right fit.

I always tell my kids: keep your options open. I will tell them the same now that high school applications are on the horizon.

I agree with this. My DC will start at an HGC in the fall. I believe she would have continued to do well at her home school, but believe that the children in that school aren't good peers for her. I look forward to a more diverse group and getting her out of a myopic, suburban school she has been in since K.

[Anonymous]

New poster here. What percentage of kids who get in an go to a HGC also apply and go to a magnet MS and one of the specialized high school programs in the county? Do most kids attempt and go that route, or do most just go back to their home school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every year this question comes up. I have been through this twice, once with a kid who got in and once with a kid who got waitlisted and didn't.

My recommendation is to do the application, have your kid take the test, don't make a big deal out of it, and see what happens. You don't want to stress your child out, and LOTS can change between beginning and end of third grade, when you need to make a decision. Third grade is often the beginning of struggles for kids who are GT and GTLD, as there may be types of work that isn't optimal for them.

Even if you think right now that you wouldn't send your child, go ahead and apply if you think it might be the right fit.

I always tell my kids: keep your options open. I will tell them the same now that high school applications are on the horizon.

Agreed.

Let the child go through the application process and see if they get accepted. Even if you do not get accepted, I think it is a good practice to apply, because you can gauge where your child stands among the high achieving students from across the county. If the child get accepted - then decide. Otherwise it is premature and puts too much stress on the child.