Barnsely HGC or stay in immersion program?

[Anonymous]

Our child was accepted into the Barnsely HGC and we are undecided whether it is worth switching schools for just two years. Our child is currently attending one of the county wide Spanish immersion programs and has been happy there. Fortunately for us, being taught in Spanish has helped add some challenge to the curriculum for our child and we believe there is a lot of value in learning another language. Has anyone moved their child out of a language immersion program to attend a HGC? Were you happy with your choice? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Happinness is a very strong indicator. I once changed the school in search for a more challenging academic curriculum and it was OK. However, my child was not as happy as in the previous school. The best school is the one where your child is happy. If the child reached that state, keep him/her there. The rat race does not bring happiness.

[Anonymous]

Agree that if your child is happy, it might be worth staying where you are. And if learning another language is important to you, another 2 yrs would solidify all that your child gas already learned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our child was accepted into the Barnsely HGC and we are undecided whether it is worth switching schools for just two years. Our child is currently attending one of the county wide Spanish immersion programs and has been happy there. Fortunately for us, being taught in Spanish has helped add some challenge to the curriculum for our child and we believe there is a lot of value in learning another language. Has anyone moved their child out of a language immersion program to attend a HGC? Were you happy with your choice? Thanks.

Yes, we moved our son from immersion to HGC and it was exactly the right decision, no question. He was so much better there, so much happier and engaged. Not a single regret.

His friend chose to stay in immersion and friend's parents regretted it because fifth grade in particular was a waste of their child's time. They told me later that it was a terrible decision. Friend was later not admitted to the MS magnet (which he should have gotten into handily, given his capabilities).

[Anonymous]

If your child stays where he/she is and still be happy, so be it. Because it means another child in a wait pool who really wants to attend HGC can go. Two kids become happy instead of one. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

We moved DS from an immersion to GCG also and it was the best decision we ever made.
Remember - immersion is still the regular curriculum, and in many senses it's harder to get a kid who needs more challenge the materials they crave, for a number of reasons.

My first hand advice is -- don't hesitate.