Appeals Process for HGC

[Anonymous]

Just got the letter saying that DS was not accepted to HGC. I'm quite disappointed because he really is that kid who is outside the box, "weird smart." He needs the challenge of an accelerated curriculum. I have another child who is also bright and a strong student, but would never push for him to be in a HGC. The oldest is appropriately challenged. The youngest isn't.

To cut to the chase, does anyone have any insights into an appeals process? Should I provide additional testing, ie a WISC score? Should I talk with his teacher? Thank you for any assistance.

[Anonymous]

How did his scores compare to the accepted students?

[Anonymous]

They were just below those that were accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just got the letter saying that DS was not accepted to HGC. I'm quite disappointed because he really is that kid who is outside the box, "weird smart." He needs the challenge of an accelerated curriculum. I have another child who is also bright and a strong student, but would never push for him to be in a HGC. The oldest is appropriately challenged. The youngest isn't.

To cut to the chase, does anyone have any insights into an appeals process? Should I provide additional testing, ie a WISC score? Should I talk with his teacher? Thank you for any assistance.

Sorry this happened. At our neighborhood ES, the "weird" smart kids have been rejected from the center over and over. MY DD is at the center, but some of the odd kids from her home school didn't get in. I don't think the center is looking for weird, they are looking for smart. Yes, some smart kids can be weird, but weird isn't a pre-req for smart. Don't look at the center to fix, accommodate weirdness. That isn't what it's for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They were just below those that were accepted.

How do you know the scores of those who were accepted. Is that info available?

[Anonymous]

When the scores are sent they show you both your child's score and the mean for each of the testing areas.

I think it's just very competitive and some very smart kids get turned away.

I would just supplement and try again for a magnet in 6th. The other thing you could try is to see if there is a waitlist because some kids do drop out. We got accepted, but are on the fence because our child LOVES her school and friends.

[Anonymous]

Was he wait-listed?

If he was not wait-listed I think your chances are quite low. For any appeal, you need to present info/data that was not available as part of the application.

[Anonymous]

No he was not wait listed.

I think that I am going to have him tested privately. Again. We had a full private evaluation before kindergarten. I had a sense there was something different. His IQ was well over 150. Of course, those scores cannot be submitted.

Thank you all for your responses.

To 20:08--I am not looking for the center to "fix" my kid. He has friends and enjoys a variety of activities that most 3rd grade boys enjoy. He doesn't need any fixing. I'm just looking for a learning environment that best meets his needs.

[Anonymous]

OP, the testing that they do in the early years sometimes changes. My child got a WSPPI of 170 when she was 4, had her tested again at 6 to get into another private and she was 160. I'm not sure that the test that they take to get into HGC is the same as these types of tests. FWIW, I mentioned to the HGC person that my child got 99 verbal/math on the SCAT and was told that their test was much harder than the SCAT. She was right. My child didn't score as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was he wait-listed?

If he was not wait-listed I think your chances are quite low. For any appeal, you need to present info/data that was not available as part of the application.

If he wasn't wait-listed, then the big "concession" the school will make is to put him into the waitlist. The waitlist is basically a purgatory that he will never leave. I'm sorry to say it, but that's how it works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was he wait-listed?

If he was not wait-listed I think your chances are quite low. For any appeal, you need to present info/data that was not available as part of the application.

If he wasn't wait-listed, then the big "concession" the school will make is to put him into the waitlist. The waitlist is basically a purgatory that he will never leave. I'm sorry to say it, but that's how it works.

OP here again--Thanks for this info. Just understanding the process helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When the scores are sent they show you both your child's score and the mean for each of the testing areas.

I think it's just very competitive and some very smart kids get turned away.

I would just supplement and try again for a magnet in 6th. The other thing you could try is to see if there is a waitlist because some kids do drop out. We got accepted, but are on the fence because our child LOVES her school and friends.

If she got in, she should go. Really.

[Anonymous]

try searching for earlier posts (last year) about appeals...this has all been discussed earlier (and chances are very low, since the HGCs have a ltd. number of slots)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the scores are sent they show you both your child's score and the mean for each of the testing areas.

I think it's just very competitive and some very smart kids get turned away.

I would just supplement and try again for a magnet in 6th. The other thing you could try is to see if there is a waitlist because some kids do drop out. We got accepted, but are on the fence because our child LOVES her school and friends.

If she got in, she should go. Really.

Thanks. We're torn. At her current school she is totally at ease and happy. I think that has value. But I do want her to grow and have peers that would challenge her, just not sure if she needs them at this time.

[Anonymous]

We submitted an (unsuccessful) appeal last year. We provided additional information from private testing done 1.5 yrs previous. We also provided some additional information / context.

Unfortunately, if he isn't waitlisted, I think it is probably not so likely.

Good luck to you. I hope for the best for your son.