MCPS- Gifted Ed. in Elementary
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Anonymous
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My daughter is only in first grade (in a very good Rockville public school) but needs more academically. DH and I are considering many options, one of which is applying to the gifted program while she's in third grade.
I would be interested in hearing what parents of current and former kids in the gifted program thought about it. We are closest to Cold Spring ES. Thank you! |
Anonymous
Just FYI ... if you are in any of the RM Cluster schools in Rockville, you would not go to the HGC at Cold Spring even though that may be the closest one to you. Cold Spring ES is only 1.2 miles from our house, yet we are assigned to Lucy V. Barnsley ES (over 6 miles from our house) because of the crazy way the boundry lines are drawn. Aside from transportation issues, we've been very pleased with the HGC at Barnsley. The staff and principal there are great. Our DC has learned more in the last 6 months that during the previous 4 years at our home school. |
Anonymous
| Agree with the previous poster on both counts. You are likely to go to Barnsley. We have been extremely happy with our experience there. The curriculum is enriched and they do interesting extensions on many projects. So, for example in 4th grade, they spent a happy month reading Shakespeare, working on research projects on related topics (Renaissance, the "Globe" theater), and the entire 4th grade center put on a Shakespeare "show", mixing excerpts from Shakespeare plays with skits and pieces they wrote themselves, in the style of the Bard. The peer group is another plus. The children are very supportive of each other and kind to each other. They do tons of group projects which can be fun. Since the class is all on one level, the teachers can execute one lesson plan which means they can move through topics very fast. They also do a lot of research and writing (especially in fifth grade) which helps them gain writing and study skills. We also really like the school. The principal and vice principal seem to stress character education and the children are constantly told that doing your best in school and being kind to others is important. One of them is always at present in the cafeteria at lunch time - I think that shows the kids that they are a priority to the administration. Compared to dc's last elem. school, we don't hear so much about the MSA for instance. |
Anonymous
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New Poster here. I just returned the GT questionnaire for my 2nd grader today. When/how does the GT process start? I don't know if it is right for my DD, but I am wondering if getting her into GT will help her focus and concentration given our current school situation.
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Anonymous
In second grade all MCPS kids are screened and roughly half are identified as "GT". In many schools, well over half are identified as "GT". That entitles you to apply for the GT center in third grade although you can still apply even if they are not identified as "GT". The application is due in early November in third grade. MCPS usually hosts an information meeting for parents in October. The application is very short and simple to fill out. Children who apply will take a test in school in January. They consider these test scores and teacher recs. there are enough spots to accommodate 2-3% of 4th and 5th graders in the Highly Gifted Centers. In April they send acceptance letters to successful applicants. They also have a waiting list. Hope that helps |
Anonymous
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Thanks for the replies. We're in the Wootton cluster and would go to Cold Spring. The Shakespeare project sounds great- exactly the kind of thing DD loves to do. What is the average nightly homework load in 4th grade?
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Anonymous
My daughter is at a different HGC, but I'd say the homework can range from 20 minutes to an hour and a half per night. Less than an hour each night on average. She also spends time on the weekends on the longer range projects. Some of this is wasted time as she's still learning to buckle down and focus so it could be less for your kid. |
Anonymous
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OP, if your DC got in, let him/her do it. It is a crime to decline such a good education. On the other hand, many many many kids will be rejected.
DD is a current GT 5th grader, she is no longer the 'smarty pants' in her class. The first time she feels average, and know that there are many kids smarter than her. She's has been working hard to not fall behind her peer. |
Anonymous
| NP here. Can anyone share their experience at the GT program at Fox Chapel? |
Anonymous
| My understanding is that just a few kids from each school get into the MCPS HGCs. Is that your experience/understanding? |
Anonymous
I am not an expert, but my impression is that it's in the range of 1-3 kids per classroom. |
Anonymous
It depends on the school and the year, but they have enough spots overall to accommodate 2-3% of 4th graders and 5th graders in the HGCs. For example, there are four high schools that feed into the three center classes at Barnsley which means there are roughly 75 spots for the two dozen elementary schools that feed into the program. |
Anonymous
There are ~11,000 kids in a grade, ~135 elementary schools and ~350 kids in the HGC? Probably 2-3 kids from each school on average. |
Anonymous
| At our ES, it was much more than 2-3 kids selected for the HGC. |
Anonymous
ours too - but the average is 2-3% overall |