GT Magnets

[Anonymous]

Do the parents on the wait list go to the informational meeting too? And how many children are on the wait list?

[Anonymous]

I believe each wait list has 30 spots. There's no order -- I think they reassess as spots open up.

[Anonymous]

When are the informational meetings? Are they at the individual schools?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone decided to leave a language immersion program to attend an HGC? What was your experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone decided to leave a language immersion program to attend an HGC? What was your experience?

Yes, we did. The experience has been great - no regrets at all. It was a tough decision (maybe tougher than for those leaving a regular/non-immersion classroom), but our child really needed more, and ultimately we decided that we couldn't let the language wag the entire educational dog.

DC has really bloomed in the Center program - a vast difference from before. DC's whole demeanor is different (which is striking because I never thought of DC as unhappy or even neutral before) but it's a whole other experience.

We do things routinely to keep up the language - not the same as immersion of course, but DC seems to be maintaining reasonably well.

[Anonymous]

Only 2 students got into HGC from our home school. Open house is this Wednesday. We plan to send DC if nothing odd during the open house. Main reason is DC is in 6th grade math currently. There is no way home school can jump 3 grades to challenge DC, and we are not sure if the method we teach DC integrate with later grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the parents on the wait list go to the informational meeting too? And how many children are on the wait list?

If you'd received a call saying DC is waitlisted, you may call your HGC school if you are welcomed to attend open house, just to gather information. I think.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what levles of math are available at the HGCs for 4th grade?

[Anonymous]

They should be able to take up to 7th grade math at the HGC. you should ask if your DC needs a higher level -- they will know how to accommodate that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone decided to leave a language immersion program to attend an HGC? What was your experience?

We decided not to apply to an HGC from a language immersion program. DC was doing math two years ahead in the immersion program, and we were able to help supplement for reading and other areas. DC is now at the TPMS magnet. We know a few other families who made the same decision, i.e. they stayed with the immersion program instead of applying to an HGC, and are now in MS magnets (communications or math/science).

However, the PP who switched from immersion to a magnet seems really happy with her decision, too.

I almost think that you can't lose, either way. Both paths are good. DC stayed in immersion, is fluent in the target language, and is now doing advanced math and science. If you move to the HCG magnet you may have to work harder at maintaining the language (there's some theory about how kids' brains "prune" unused neurons in adolescence). The Alliance Francaise in DC offers classes, or there are some online language classes for kids (powerspeak.com comes to mind, there may be others).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what levles of math are available at the HGCs for 4th grade?

I heard HGT has schools bus arrangements to middle schools for students need to take 8th grade or above math. Basically, they hop on a bus and take classes with middle schoolers. Anyone can confirm that?

[Anonymous]

Just came back from open house. Everything seems promising. DC is going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't they all kind of similar anyway? Number of these different tests is mind boggling and confusing to the parents and I would hate having to put my child through these tests at such an early age. And, in the end they are hardly accurate.

I think you're off on multiple counts.

The tests are not all that similar. Raven's matrices is entirely visual/spatial (here's a pattern, a part is missing, which piece would complete the pattern). Cogat is verbal reasoning, vocabulary, and verbal memory. SCAT is verbal reasoning and mathematical reasoning. (Now if you'd said, why would any narrow test be considered a stand-in for overall ability I might have agreed).

It's confusing to parents but you can do a bit of homework and figure it out (see above).

I've never known a gifted kid who felt they were being "put through these tests". Every kid I've ever talked to said it was fun to figure out the test, and they often add that it's more fun than regular school.

The accuracy part is more debatable - it depends on how you're using the test.

FWIW, I write as a parent who turned down admission to a GT center for my DC.

I have a year before we need to think about this. Yes - these tests are too narrow to decide overall ability and the maturity to be able to handle advancement. I said I hate to see children being put through this, not just gifted children. Maybe you speak to only gifted children?

May I know your reasons for turning down admission?

Sorry, I didn't check back before this. We declined admission because (1) we had a very strong home school - a Bethesda-area ES, (2) DC's cohort in that school was very strong, so there were already academic/intellectual peers, (3) the fourth grade teachers were extraordinary, so we knew he would be challenged at least to some degree, (4) the bus ride to the magnet was pretty long, and would make it hard to pursue other interests outside of school, and (5) the vibe from the classroom teacher was "of course we give a lot of homework but an organized child won't have any trouble. DC is not organized, and between the homework and the bus ride would have no time for sports, which is as much a passion as academics. For this kid at that time it was the right decision; if the factors had been different we might have decided to send him.

[Anonymous]

I was saddened to learn that the GT class size is up to 29.

[Anonymous]

27 students per class in our GT center. The home school is 23. Which center is up to 29?