Highly Gifted Centers

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if the acceptance letters will be sent during spring break? Or before?

[Anonymous]

I think we got them before last year..just before.

[Anonymous]

I think in years past they have come out during Spring Break. That way they don't get flooded with calls right away by disappointed parents.

[Anonymous]

But the timing of spring break changes every year. 2 years ago it was late April, next year it will be mid April. I doubt they would wait until late April just to time the letters with spring break.

[Anonymous]

Don't they look at MSA scores when considering the applications? How quickly can they score the test?

[Anonymous]

I believe MSA scores are not considered. The HGC program's own test (which was administered in January), plus report cards and teacher recommendations, are the factors that lead to acceptance or rejection.

On another note, does anyone know what the wait list situation is typically like for the HGCs? If my child is waitlisted we'd likely wait it out and accept a spot if/when we were given one in the fall, since the HGC is at her home school. But I don't know how long the waitlists tend to be or how quickly people move down them. Seems to me that some families might begin the school year at an HGC and decide that the commute is too much for them after a few weeks or a month, and then withdraw. But I'm only guessing.

[Anonymous]

MSA scores aren't considered and MCPS has absolutely nothing to do with their scoring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe MSA scores are not considered. The HGC program's own test (which was administered in January), plus report cards and teacher recommendations, are the factors that lead to acceptance or rejection.

On another note, does anyone know what the wait list situation is typically like for the HGCs? If my child is waitlisted we'd likely wait it out and accept a spot if/when we were given one in the fall, since the HGC is at her home school. But I don't know how long the waitlists tend to be or how quickly people move down them. Seems to me that some families might begin the school year at an HGC and decide that the commute is too much for them after a few weeks or a month, and then withdraw. But I'm only guessing.

I think that most openings are from kids who decide they don't want to go before school starts. I think its much less common to have slots open up during the year.

[Anonymous]

So this year does anyone know when decisions are mailed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So this year does anyone know when decisions are mailed?

The MCPS website says applicants "will receive notification by April 1st."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe MSA scores are not considered. The HGC program's own test (which was administered in January), plus report cards and teacher recommendations, are the factors that lead to acceptance or rejection.

On another note, does anyone know what the wait list situation is typically like for the HGCs? If my child is waitlisted we'd likely wait it out and accept a spot if/when we were given one in the fall, since the HGC is at her home school. But I don't know how long the waitlists tend to be or how quickly people move down them. Seems to me that some families might begin the school year at an HGC and decide that the commute is too much for them after a few weeks or a month, and then withdraw. But I'm only guessing.

I think that most openings are from kids who decide they don't want to go before school starts. I think its much less common to have slots open up during the year.

3 kids have withdrawn from my DC's HGC class since the beginning of the school year. There have been no new students added to take their place. While this is good for us because the class size is going down, it is probably not good news for people on the waitlist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe MSA scores are not considered. The HGC program's own test (which was administered in January), plus report cards and teacher recommendations, are the factors that lead to acceptance or rejection.

On another note, does anyone know what the wait list situation is typically like for the HGCs? If my child is waitlisted we'd likely wait it out and accept a spot if/when we were given one in the fall, since the HGC is at her home school. But I don't know how long the waitlists tend to be or how quickly people move down them. Seems to me that some families might begin the school year at an HGC and decide that the commute is too much for them after a few weeks or a month, and then withdraw. But I'm only guessing.

I think that most openings are from kids who decide they don't want to go before school starts. I think its much less common to have slots open up during the year.

[Anonymous]

One student withdrew from my child's HGC two years ago and a student from the waitlist joined the program.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any idea of the percentage of kids that decide to drop out of the program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any idea of the percentage of kids that decide to drop out of the program?

In ours two out of 78 dropped out at the end of the 4th grade - one because of a move. I don't think anyone dropped out during the year. two kids took these spots this year in fifth grade.