MoCo - Emotional Support for Gifted Students?

[Anonymous]

Bear with me here - we are in a DC charter, so not very familiar with MoCo, but are starting to look for middle school options for DD. Because of various problems, we had her tested for learning disabilities, and ending up learning that she is fairly highly gifted (99%/140 IQ). This was a full neuropsych assessment by a PhD, which I state to try to avoid a debate about when she is "gifted" or what that means. The psychologist made clear to us that many issues we've been dealing with stem from the emotional intensity and similar characteristics that high IQ individuals can have, and that DD needs to be in a more supportive environment than her current school, where no one is trained in gifted education and they just don't "get" her. So what I'm looking for is advice from other parents of gifted kids as to whether any MoCo middle schools - whether magnets or others - really "get" the emotional as well as educational needs of gifted kids, and if so it would be great to be steered in the right direction. In other words, we're looking for a true "gifted" program, as opposed to an accelerated program.

Thanks. And yes, before anyone asks, we are aware of what housing budget we need to move to MoCo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bear with me here - we are in a DC charter, so not very familiar with MoCo, but are starting to look for middle school options for DD. Because of various problems, we had her tested for learning disabilities, and ending up learning that she is fairly highly gifted (99%/140 IQ). This was a full neuropsych assessment by a PhD, which I state to try to avoid a debate about when she is "gifted" or what that means. The psychologist made clear to us that many issues we've been dealing with stem from the emotional intensity and similar characteristics that high IQ individuals can have, and that DD needs to be in a more supportive environment than her current school, where no one is trained in gifted education and they just don't "get" her. So what I'm looking for is advice from other parents of gifted kids as to whether any MoCo middle schools - whether magnets or others - really "get" the emotional as well as educational needs of gifted kids, and if so it would be great to be steered in the right direction. In other words, we're looking for a true "gifted" program, as opposed to an accelerated program.

Thanks. And yes, before anyone asks, we are aware of what housing budget we need to move to MoCo.

1. housing budget is probably the last thing you need to worry about. magnets will bus your DC in regardless where you live within MoCo

2. having similar peers will def help. magent kids are very smart and, some are, very driven

3. experienced magnet teachers "get" magent kids well.

4. getting accepted is not easy just because there are limited seats.

[Anonymous]

MCPS has two competitive middle school magnets. Students apply in 5th grade and you have to live in MCPS at the time to apply (which involves testing and an application with essay). One has a math/science focus and one is communication/arts. Both are in Silver Spring. Both programs are small so they are absolutely competitive but some children are just smart hard workers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has two competitive middle school magnets. Students apply in 5th grade and you have to live in MCPS at the time to apply (which involves testing and an application with essay). One has a math/science focus and one is communication/arts. Both are in Silver Spring. Both programs are small so they are absolutely competitive but some children are just smart hard workers.

There is one more - Roberto Clemente Middle School in germantown. First two schools in Silver Spring are for down-county kids and RCMS is for up-county kids. RCMS has both types of programs. Admission process is the same - same app, same test...etc.

[Anonymous]

There are also a couple of middle schools with GT/LD programs. I think Col E Brooke Lee is the Kemp Mill area is one.

[Anonymous]

The information you're looking for is here: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/enriched/gtld/

[Anonymous]

The thing you have to think about is that MoCo magnets are competitive. A 99%/140 IQ student has about a 50% chance of getting in if she can do those numbers on the admissions test. Obviously, I am just guessing at the odds. The point is that if she hasn't been doing that well in her current school, it might be hard for her teachers to give her the type of recommendation needed to get in. Further, the test to get in is somewhat stressful, especially given that she is kind of on the bubble. There are more than 156,000 students and something like 12,000 kids per year and only 150 Math and 150 English slots. I guess you could think of it as 300 slots if she was willing to do either program but at least on the HS level lots of kids get into both.

If she did get in, the kids would certainly "get" her but they are still kids and it is still a roll of the dice as to if she would find the right group of friends. There is only so much the staff and administration can do at that point.

[Anonymous]

When did GT becoming GT/LD?

My son, now in college, was in a GT program in elementary school. Back then, it was a bunch of bright kids that needed more challenge in the classroom, not "emotional support" for their "differences." Is this was "gifted" means today?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When did GT becoming GT/LD?

My son, now in college, was in a GT program in elementary school. Back then, it was a bunch of bright kids that needed more challenge in the classroom, not "emotional support" for their "differences." Is this was "gifted" means today?

No. Some children are gifted. Some children are gifted and have learning disabilities. Others are gifted and have emotional needs. Some are gifted and are on the autism spectrum.

MCPS is a big district and is trying to serve all of the above kids. Whether they are succeeding is a different story.

[Anonymous]

We have found the environment at the HGCs and at Eastern to be very supportive. The programs are relatively small (75 in our HGC and 100 at Eastern). The kids have to work collaboratively a lot at Eastern. The teachers do for the most part "get" the students but the most positive aspect is the peer group. These kids are generally very supportive of each other. There are lots of different kinds of kids - there are the kids who are academically strong and work hard, there are kids who are very creative, kids who love to write, kids who are really into a particular subject (astronomy, Roman history) or hobby (graphic design, drama, soccer) and they are all accepted for who they are, including the emotionally intense kids who are well represented in these programs in my experience. It made the middle school experience wonderful for my kid.
It is a demanding workload and so I would caution any parent who has a GT/LD child. I do not know if there are many kids with LDs in the program. The kids are expected to juggle multiple projects in each subject and many of these projects are collaborative and many projects involve work in two or three classes so there is a lot of coordination and time management. Also tons of writing including an intro college level ten page research paper in 7th grade. The program is really designed for kids who are both gifted as well as academically strong. If the emotional intensity you mention results in your child feeling pressure or stress during a demanding assignment or group project or if she does not receive a good grade for any reason (they are held to a higher standard by the magnet teachers for the work they submit), it might not be the best environment for your child.

[Anonymous]

OP, The approach MCPS takes in gifted education is not holistic in the way your DC seems to need. They are great but they are really focused on academic acceleration and deep thinking. I've never heard of any component that addresses being "gifted" in a way that is different from kids who are in the non-gifted programs. They see the same counselors in middle school go through the same guidance curriculum in elementary.

I think what you may be looking for is a GT/LD program. I think there are at two middle schools with one at North Bethesda.

Also, some advice that kids with an IQ of 140 are kind of a dime a dozen here and teachers would probably roll their eyes if you were to talk about the "emotional intensity and similar characteristics that high IQ individuals can have." You wouldn't believe the negative attitude teachers have of parents who blame all the children's behavior on them being too smart or bored. I do think this happens with some kids but this excuse is used way too much in some parts of MCPS.

[Anonymous]

PP adding to my post.
Class sizes are similar in gifted programs than in non-gifted programs. The teacher student ratio in the GT/LD programs are much, much better.
Consider posting something in the special needs board. Great for crowd sourcing this type of question as there are lots of parents with smart kids with LDs on that board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has two competitive middle school magnets. Students apply in 5th grade and you have to live in MCPS at the time to apply (which involves testing and an application with essay). One has a math/science focus and one is communication/arts. Both are in Silver Spring. Both programs are small so they are absolutely competitive but some children are just smart hard workers.

The communication magnet is on Silver Spring. The math-science-computer magnet is in Takoma Park. These are pretty different programs with their own pros and cons, so check out past DCUM threads on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When did GT becoming GT/LD?

My son, now in college, was in a GT program in elementary school. Back then, it was a bunch of bright kids that needed more challenge in the classroom, not "emotional support" for their "differences." Is this was "gifted" means today?

I know what you mean. My mind kind of boggles that so many different things can be lumped together. ALL students need emotional support from teachers and counselors, across the board but not 100% of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thing you have to think about is that MoCo magnets are competitive. A 99%/140 IQ student has about a 50% chance of getting in if she can do those numbers on the admissions test. Obviously, I am just guessing at the odds. The point is that if she hasn't been doing that well in her current school, it might be hard for her teachers to give her the type of recommendation needed to get in. Further, the test to get in is somewhat stressful, especially given that she is kind of on the bubble. There are more than 156,000 students and something like 12,000 kids per year and only 150 Math and 150 English slots. I guess you could think of it as 300 slots if she was willing to do either program but at least on the HS level lots of kids get into both.

If she did get in, the kids would certainly "get" her but they are still kids and it is still a roll of the dice as to if she would find the right group of friends. There is only so much the staff and administration can do at that point.

What is on the bubble supposed to mean?