Anyone turn down HGC admission in favor of neighborhood school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HGC isn't worth it if you are in a W cluster, from what I have been told. My DD is in kindergarten, and other families have told us that the W school ES's are so good anyway, there is no need to apply to a HGC. We just moved here from NY so we are learning.

Probably parents of kids who did not get a spot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HGC isn't worth it if you are in a W cluster, from what I have been told. My DD is in kindergarten, and other families have told us that the W school ES's are so good anyway, there is no need to apply to a HGC. We just moved here from NY so we are learning.

On the contrary! According to what I read on DCUM, the elementary schools in Bethesda/Potomac/western Rockville are the worst in MCPS! Or at least the most complained-about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HGC isn't worth it if you are in a W cluster, from what I have been told. My DD is in kindergarten, and other families have told us that the W school ES's are so good anyway, there is no need to apply to a HGC. We just moved here from NY so we are learning.

Well, that memo didn't seem to get out to some of the W parents whose kids are in my DC's HGC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about kids at North Chevy Chase that get into Chevy Chase? Do they usually switch?

I know a number of kids who have gone from NCC to CCES HGC. It's very common because all the NCC and CCES kids went to RHPS together for K-2, so they already have plenty of friends at CCES. Also schools are very close. Friends and distance travelled are teo of the factors that usually keep kids at the home school, but they're less applicable btwn NCC and CCES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HGC isn't worth it if you are in a W cluster, from what I have been told. My DD is in kindergarten, and other families have told us that the W school ES's are so good anyway, there is no need to apply to a HGC. We just moved here from NY so we are learning.

PP here from Garrett Park. We have a number of kids from GPES at the HGC, and my kid's bus stops at Kensington-Parkwood (among other stops) also in a W cluster. My kid as I said was bored in third grade and although it was hard leaving her friends she has had no regrets about going to the HGC. I think GPES is a good school, but my kid has had a much more challenging and in-depth curriculum at her HGC than she would have had at GPES. And her peer group is pretty high-powered (although quite honestly dominated by boys in ways that have been less than ideal at times).

My thinking is apply -- you can't make the choice to go or not go if you don't get in.

[Anonymous]

My DD went one year and then left to return to home school. There wasn't much of a challenge at HGC to make it worth it and the commute was terrible. She was basically gone during all daylight hours in the winter. It also interfered with sport practices and friendships. She was much happier going back to her home school and "graduating" with her friends.

[Anonymous]

I think 50% of parents I know have admitted that they did not want their kid to go to HGC. Their kids took the test and qualified, but they wanted to give a happy childhood to their kids and did not want them to be in the pressure cooker environment, so they turned down the admission.

[Anonymous]

First step to HYP, in my mind. My DD was told she needs to go if accepted. Anyone that passes the opportunity it dooming their child to a life of misery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We will consider applying to a highly gifted center in an MCPS school next year, when our kid is in 3rd grade, so my question is really just one of idle curiosity at this point. My child is really bright, possibly gifted, and her teachers do everything they can to keep the work challenging for her. All of us are happy with the neighborhood school, which is "bad" on paper but actually has great teachers, great leadership, diversity, and a strong sense of community. So, I'm wondering, has anyone declined a spot for their child at an HGC, and in the long run do you feel you made the right decision? Did anyone love their neighborhood school but opt for an HGC? Thanks!

You're jumping ahead.

Please understand that being smart doesn't mean gifted. There are plenty of children reading several grade levels ahead and doing well in math who can't match up to many who are in the HGCs and magnets.

not being bitchy, just keeping it real for you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First step to HYP, in my mind. My DD was told she needs to go if accepted. Anyone that passes the opportunity it dooming their child to a life of misery.

A sad fact: on DCUM this has equal probability of being real or satire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HGC isn't worth it if you are in a W cluster, from what I have been told. My DD is in kindergarten, and other families have told us that the W school ES's are so good anyway, there is no need to apply to a HGC. We just moved here from NY so we are learning.

This is absolutely, positively 100% wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think 50% of parents I know have admitted that they did not want their kid to go to HGC. Their kids took the test and qualified, but they wanted to give a happy childhood to their kids and did not want them to be in the pressure cooker environment, so they turned down the admission.

The HGC is not a pressure cooker. It is an appropriate learning environment for children who need it.

-HGC teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think 50% of parents I know have admitted that they did not want their kid to go to HGC. Their kids took the test and qualified, but they wanted to give a happy childhood to their kids and did not want them to be in the pressure cooker environment, so they turned down the admission.

Ridiculous. This is just not true. Very few spots are turned down. Ask MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think 50% of parents I know have admitted that they did not want their kid to go to HGC. Their kids took the test and qualified, but they wanted to give a happy childhood to their kids and did not want them to be in the pressure cooker environment, so they turned down the admission.

The HGC is not a pressure cooker. It is an appropriate learning environment for children who need it.

-HGC teacher

Thanks

[Anonymous]

My child did not find the HGC a pressure cooker. It did have more work but she enjoyed it. The bus sride was also a very social part of the day. She would turn down rides to school to take the bus with her friends.