Has anyone received an HGC letter yet?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope the field test at the three schools with local HGC classes goes well. Personally, I think the best solution is to open a classroom at each ES. The representation would be closer to the school system as a whole, there would be no barrier to entry like a long bus ride, and it would make life a lot better for the kids socially. Yes, it would water down the intellectual level somewhat, but I think on average the pros of such a system would outweigh the cons.

Well and then they look at discover that the racial/SES makeup of this class is not desirable. Great idea, put everyone in it! Look at what is going on with compact math and honors/advanced classes in MS/HS.

[Anonymous]

In other words, our program should be more like Fairfax County's -- more in-school and center-school options. I definitely agree that there should be more acceleration opportunities through a variety of mechanisms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS was accepted with a lower SAS than some who were waitlisted for the same school (according to this thread). I'm worried now that he won't succeed in the program. He does perform at a high level in school and MAP tests, so it's not a total fluke, but those higher sas numbers are worrying me

Same boat here, but I don't share your concern re: how my kid will do b/c of a comparatively low test score. I mean, I have some trepidation about how the HGC will work for my kid, but none of it has to do w/her score. FWIW, I have always been a miserable test-taker, and it's surely affected my schooling path. No IB or AP or Ivies for me. But I've been successful in the field of my choice as an adult, and so I'm just not convinced this HGC basket is where anyone needs to put all their eggs.

to the above PP, don't worry, your son will be fine. As the other PP said, it's not like they're going to college in 4th grade.

In my experience (2 kids through HGC) everybody does fine. My second child got some I's , but it doesn't matter, really. He still benefited greatly from the program and the peer group. Grades don't matter til high school. If your child generally performs well at school, he'll be just fine. Let him enjoy it, and don't worry about every grade. (He'll put enough pressure on himself.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In other words, our program should be more like Fairfax County's -- more in-school and center-school options. I definitely agree that there should be more acceleration opportunities through a variety of mechanisms.

I'm not sure that it should be just like Fairfax County, although I think Fairfax has taken great pains to address some of the fairness concerns that have come up in this thread. First, there is a publicly announced cut score above which kids are considered and below which the kid must be parent referred. The teacher recommendations are available to parents. There appears to be no wait list, and appeals with outside testing are considered and lead to admission if meritorious. A gifted child gets the same opportunities wherever in the county s/he may live. The program also runs through MS. No MS magnets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope the field test at the three schools with local HGC classes goes well. Personally, I think the best solution is to open a classroom at each ES. The representation would be closer to the school system as a whole, there would be no barrier to entry like a long bus ride, and it would make life a lot better for the kids socially. Yes, it would water down the intellectual level somewhat, but I think on average the pros of such a system would outweigh the cons.

That is a solution that meets the needs of more kids.

It also means that the Center will no longer be a Highly Gifted program - it will just be a smart kids program. Nothing wrong with that, but it is a different program altogether.

With this new system, they could still keep open a small number of highly gifted centers at separate schools, but the need and competition would be much lower since more children would be having their needs met at the home school. Part of the problem with the current system is that parents of bright but not necessarily highly gifted students have their children apply because the needs of the "bright but not highly gifted" are also not being met at the home school.

That would be ideal. Then the center can have a much more accelerated and enriched program. Howard county has a special program for those small group in addition to the home school GT program.

+1

This type of approach would be ideal.

My kid got into the HGC, but I'd be willing to go with a larger number of kids (top 10% versus top 3%) in a heartbeat. There are lots of bright, hard-working kids from DD's homeschool who did not get in, but would do fine.

Expand the program so there is an 'Enriched Learning' option at every school. Helps motivated kids in ALL neighborhoods get the attention they deserve.

[Anonymous]

My son was waitlisted at Barnsley with a score of 144.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son was waitlisted at Barnsley with a score of 144.

Really? Does he have behavioral or focus problems at school? That is a very high score compared to the Barnsley median.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son was waitlisted at Barnsley with a score of 144.

Is he Asian?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS was accepted with a lower SAS than some who were waitlisted for the same school (according to this thread). I'm worried now that he won't succeed in the program. He does perform at a high level in school and MAP tests, so it's not a total fluke, but those higher sas numbers are worrying me

Same boat here, but I don't share your concern re: how my kid will do b/c of a comparatively low test score. I mean, I have some trepidation about how the HGC will work for my kid, but none of it has to do w/her score. FWIW, I have always been a miserable test-taker, and it's surely affected my schooling path. No IB or AP or Ivies for me. But I've been successful in the field of my choice as an adult, and so I'm just not convinced this HGC basket is where anyone needs to put all their eggs.

to the above PP, don't worry, your son will be fine. As the other PP said, it's not like they're going to college in 4th grade.

In my experience (2 kids through HGC) everybody does fine. My second child got some I's , but it doesn't matter, really. He still benefited greatly from the program and the peer group. Grades don't matter til high school. If your child generally performs well at school, he'll be just fine. Let him enjoy it, and don't worry about every grade. (He'll put enough pressure on himself.)

Thank you! We went to the open house today and I feel a lot better about the whole thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son was waitlisted at Barnsley with a score of 144.

Really? Does he have behavioral or focus problems at school? That is a very high score compared to the Barnsley median.

I suspect not a strong teacher recommendation, which is probably what PP was getting at, too. Is math a particular strength? Which home school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In other words, our program should be more like Fairfax County's -- more in-school and center-school options. I definitely agree that there should be more acceleration opportunities through a variety of mechanisms.

I'm not sure that it should be just like Fairfax County, although I think Fairfax has taken great pains to address some of the fairness concerns that have come up in this thread. First, there is a publicly announced cut score above which kids are considered and below which the kid must be parent referred. The teacher recommendations are available to parents. There appears to be no wait list, and appeals with outside testing are considered and lead to admission if meritorious. A gifted child gets the same opportunities wherever in the county s/he may live. The program also runs through MS. No MS magnets.

I'm not saying the admissions process should be the same -- just that the model of offering different levels of advanced/GT classes at both home schools and center schools, thus making acceleration available to more children, is a better model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In other words, our program should be more like Fairfax County's -- more in-school and center-school options. I definitely agree that there should be more acceleration opportunities through a variety of mechanisms.

I'm not sure that it should be just like Fairfax County, although I think Fairfax has taken great pains to address some of the fairness concerns that have come up in this thread. First, there is a publicly announced cut score above which kids are considered and below which the kid must be parent referred. The teacher recommendations are available to parents. There appears to be no wait list, and appeals with outside testing are considered and lead to admission if meritorious. A gifted child gets the same opportunities wherever in the county s/he may live. The program also runs through MS. No MS magnets.

I'm not saying the admissions process should be the same -- just that the model of offering different levels of advanced/GT classes at both home schools and center schools, thus making acceleration available to more children, is a better model.

It's a better model for many children, but not for the top ~2%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In other words, our program should be more like Fairfax County's -- more in-school and center-school options. I definitely agree that there should be more acceleration opportunities through a variety of mechanisms.

I'm not sure that it should be just like Fairfax County, although I think Fairfax has taken great pains to address some of the fairness concerns that have come up in this thread. First, there is a publicly announced cut score above which kids are considered and below which the kid must be parent referred. The teacher recommendations are available to parents. There appears to be no wait list, and appeals with outside testing are considered and lead to admission if meritorious. A gifted child gets the same opportunities wherever in the county s/he may live. The program also runs through MS. No MS magnets.

I'm not saying the admissions process should be the same -- just that the model of offering different levels of advanced/GT classes at both home schools and center schools, thus making acceleration available to more children, is a better model.

It's a better model for many children, but not for the top ~2%.

+1. The center should still be reserved for those truly gifted. Plus, top10% cannot fill up a class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In other words, our program should be more like Fairfax County's -- more in-school and center-school options. I definitely agree that there should be more acceleration opportunities through a variety of mechanisms.

I'm not sure that it should be just like Fairfax County, although I think Fairfax has taken great pains to address some of the fairness concerns that have come up in this thread. First, there is a publicly announced cut score above which kids are considered and below which the kid must be parent referred. The teacher recommendations are available to parents. There appears to be no wait list, and appeals with outside testing are considered and lead to admission if meritorious. A gifted child gets the same opportunities wherever in the county s/he may live. The program also runs through MS. No MS magnets.

I'm not saying the admissions process should be the same -- just that the model of offering different levels of advanced/GT classes at both home schools and center schools, thus making acceleration available to more children, is a better model.

It's a better model for many children, but not for the top ~2%.

+1. The center should still be reserved for those truly gifted. Plus, top10% cannot fill up a class.

I agree, it would need to be top 25% at our school-they aren't going to run a class of 12 when everyone else has 27 students. But if the class was actually different from the standard curriculum I'd still prefer it to busing to far away schools for my next child. First has done well at HGC, but the logistics and social costs are high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son was waitlisted at Barnsley with a score of 144.

Really? Does he have behavioral or focus problems at school? That is a very high score compared to the Barnsley median.

I suspect not a strong teacher recommendation, which is probably what PP was getting at, too. Is math a particular strength? Which home school?

Actually, it was his teacher who strongly recommended we apply because she was having difficulty giving him challening enough material. He is very strong in math, and scored more than one grade level above. Reading was one grade level above. Guess it wasn't meant to be for whatever reason. A little perplexing, but we can try again for middle school magnet.