So who selects students for the HGC?

[Anonymous]

I read on these boards that the home Principal and 3rd grade teacher attend a decision meeting in person; but also heard that the selection is made by the Accelerated and Enriched Division (or whatever the name is) and that the home school is not involved in the decision, apart from supplying the teacher checklist and student grades.

Quid?

[Anonymous]

One hand informs the other.

[Anonymous]

A committee reviews the applications. The committee includes administrators, people from the Accelerated and Enriched department (if that's the name), and HGC teachers.

[Anonymous]

The home school provides recommendations to the committee. At our school the third grade team meets with the principal to finalize the school's recommendations.

[Anonymous]

I think the kids who get into the program have such high scores on the standardized entrance exam as well as other standardized tests (MAP-M, MAP-R), that there isn't much question as to who'll get in. It is really just the top performers, not like college applications where the committee needs to evaluate a lot of "soft" qualifications.
It is a somewhat mysterious system, but scores are the scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the kids who get into the program have such high scores on the standardized entrance exam as well as other standardized tests (MAP-M, MAP-R), that there isn't much question as to who'll get in. It is really just the top performers, not like college applications where the committee needs to evaluate a lot of "soft" qualifications.
It is a somewhat mysterious system, but scores are the scores.

Agreed. This makes a lot more sense.

Remember also that they have to justify who they take based on some hard data (measurable scores).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the kids who get into the program have such high scores on the standardized entrance exam as well as other standardized tests (MAP-M, MAP-R), that there isn't much question as to who'll get in. It is really just the top performers, not like college applications where the committee needs to evaluate a lot of "soft" qualifications.
It is a somewhat mysterious system, but scores are the scores.

I have no connection to the program, and I have no doubt that scores play a very important role, but I tend to doubt that there is a clear cut off based on scores alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the kids who get into the program have such high scores on the standardized entrance exam as well as other standardized tests (MAP-M, MAP-R), that there isn't much question as to who'll get in. It is really just the top performers, not like college applications where the committee needs to evaluate a lot of "soft" qualifications.
It is a somewhat mysterious system, but scores are the scores.

I have no connection to the program, and I have no doubt that scores play a very important role, but I tend to doubt that there is a clear cut off based on scores alone.

I suspect that there is a bottom with the scores but not a ceiling. For example for 100 seats - they may look at the scores of top 125 scores and their applications, teacher recommendations, pattern of achievements.

[Anonymous]

Anyone know when they do the teacher / school recommendations. Would then have done them already for this year.

[Anonymous]

They have already done them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The home school provides recommendations to the committee. At our school the third grade team meets with the principal to finalize the school's recommendations.

Do you know when the above happens?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The home school provides recommendations to the committee. At our school the third grade team meets with the principal to finalize the school's recommendations.

Do you know when the above happens?

I think it happens in the fall before testing (at least at our school).

[Anonymous]

I doubt the 100 pupils in the HGC are those with the top 100 scores. The Principal and 3rd Grade teachers make their recommendations to the committee down town. Appeal cases are futile, even for those scoring higher than the selected 3rd graders taken into the HGC (both between and within the elementary schools), as MCPS has never reversed the decisions. The kangaroo court process is simply a vent for parents to let off steam.

[Anonymous]

Yes but I bet the top 50 are pretty clear cut. It is the bottom 50 that they take that have the "risk" of not getting in to the program.