Are HGC centers worth it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I hope this doesn't come out harsh, but this demonstrates a lack of understanding of what an HCG is (or should be, at least). This isn't a dry run for collegel applications, it's an attempt to provide an appropriate education to kids with different needs. Parents know it when their kids need the HCG. It's a lifeline for many kids.

No, parents know it when they think their kids would benefit from the HGC (HCG is something different). I am sure we all know kids who did not get into the HGC and were (as far as we know) just as smart as kids who did get in.

[Anonymous]

I keep hearing how HGC takes care of the special needs of gifted children. This is a very boastful sentiment. As many have pointed out - majority of high achievers do not even apply to HGC.

Most parents whose kids go to HGC, will not say that their child is highly gifted. It's because they know that it is hard work that got them there. 95% of HGC kids fall in that category. There may be some genuine outliers but for most it is hard work and work ethic

The reason many choose HGC is because they want their child to get the most rigorous curriculum the county can offer. If the same curriculum was offered in other schools, there would not be a reason to go to HGC at all.

HGCs are worth it because they are the only ones offering what ALL ESs should offer - to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I keep hearing how HGC takes care of the special needs of gifted children. This is a very boastful sentiment. As many have pointed out - majority of high achievers do not even apply to HGC.

Most parents whose kids go to HGC, will not say that their child is highly gifted. It's because they know that it is hard work that got them there. 95% of HGC kids fall in that category. There may be some genuine outliers but for most it is hard work and work ethic

The reason many choose HGC is because they want their child to get the most rigorous curriculum the county can offer. If the same curriculum was offered in other schools, there would not be a reason to go to HGC at all.

HGCs are worth it because they are the only ones offering what ALL ESs should offer - to everyone.

Well, I do agree that if the ES curriculum were applied more like the HCGs, it would be better for everyone. But the concept of hard work getting them there ... I call BS on that one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I keep hearing how HGC takes care of the special needs of gifted children. This is a very boastful sentiment. As many have pointed out - majority of high achievers do not even apply to HGC.

Most parents whose kids go to HGC, will not say that their child is highly gifted. It's because they know that it is hard work that got them there. 95% of HGC kids fall in that category. There may be some genuine outliers but for most it is hard work and work ethic

The reason many choose HGC is because they want their child to get the most rigorous curriculum the county can offer. If the same curriculum was offered in other schools, there would not be a reason to go to HGC at all.



HGCs are worth it because they are the only ones offering what ALL ESs should offer - to everyone.

Hard work? Not really. The admission process involves intelligence tests. You cannot "work hard" or otherwise prepare for IQ testing.

On the other hand, the HGC did teach my kids to work hard in ways they had not previously had to do, because for the first time in their school careers, they were challenged.

I agree that others could benefit from more enriched instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I keep hearing how HGC takes care of the special needs of gifted children. This is a very boastful sentiment. As many have pointed out - majority of high achievers do not even apply to HGC.

Most parents whose kids go to HGC, will not say that their child is highly gifted. It's because they know that it is hard work that got them there. 95% of HGC kids fall in that category. There may be some genuine outliers but for most it is hard work and work ethic

The reason many choose HGC is because they want their child to get the most rigorous curriculum the county can offer. If the same curriculum was offered in other schools, there would not be a reason to go to HGC at all.



HGCs are worth it because they are the only ones offering what ALL ESs should offer - to everyone.

Hard work? Not really. The admission process involves intelligence tests. You cannot "work hard" or otherwise prepare for IQ testing.

On the other hand, the HGC did teach my kids to work hard in ways they had not previously had to do, because for the first time in their school careers, they were challenged.

I agree that others could benefit from more enriched instruction.

I agree completely. My daughter had NEVER worked hard in school before the HGC. I don't think the workload in the HGC is over the top, but the kids certainly need to stay on top of things, and they really do expect some real thinking out of them.

[Anonymous]

My middle school claims to offer the advanced curriculum to everyone..guess what? It is not advanced. It becomes watered down to get everyone through it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My middle school claims to offer the advanced curriculum to everyone..guess what? It is not advanced. It becomes watered down to get everyone through it.

That is a good point. This seems to be the problem with acceleration. If it is available, then too many kids end up accelerated and then either they do not learn properly or it is watered down. Then pendulum swings the other way and no one is offered it. This does not related to HGC, but normal (especially up through 3rd grade) 2.0 curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Most parents whose kids go to HGC, will not say that their child is highly gifted. It's because they know that it is hard work that got them there. 95% of HGC kids fall in that category. There may be some genuine outliers but for most it is hard work and work ethic

I disagree with this. And, really, what hard work, K through halfway through third grade, could there have been to get them there?

[Anonymous]

I think parents turn to the centers because they would like to see them work harder..and their kids enjoy harder work. If your child is not itching for more homework, don;t apply. I am not saying the work load is not manageable but it is more. Before the center, my child did very little work.

[Anonymous]

my child will go to the center. Do a lot of children still do a lot of outside activities? With the greater workload, I'm worried there will be less energy for after-school art, music, sports that DC now enjoys

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think parents turn to the centers because they would like to see them work harder..and their kids enjoy harder work. If your child is not itching for more homework, don;t apply. I am not saying the work load is not manageable but it is more. Before the center, my child did very little work.

This past year (3rd grade) my DD had about 3-5 minutes of homework per night. That is not an exaggeration! Mid-way through the year, when the math homework involved coloring-in different shapes on a worksheet, I realized that we would accept an HGC spot of she got in.

[Anonymous]

Yes kids do plenty outside because the kids that are there can handle it. You just have to be good at advanced planning and not get behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This past year (3rd grade) my DD had about 3-5 minutes of homework per night. That is not an exaggeration! Mid-way through the year, when the math homework involved coloring-in different shapes on a worksheet, I realized that we would accept an HGC spot of she got in.

The lack of homework didn't bother me that much, but forcing my kid who can add 3-4 digit numbers in his head to write out hundred, ten and ones blocks to show his "deeper" understanding did!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my child will go to the center. Do a lot of children still do a lot of outside activities? With the greater workload, I'm worried there will be less energy for after-school art, music, sports that DC now enjoys

My child did not, because there was a lot of homework, and our priority was maintaining at least some time where we didn't have to be somewhere doing something. But other children did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my child will go to the center. Do a lot of children still do a lot of outside activities? With the greater workload, I'm worried there will be less energy for after-school art, music, sports that DC now enjoys

My child did not, because there was a lot of homework, and our priority was maintaining at least some time where we didn't have to be somewhere doing something. But other children did.

It also depends on the bus ride. My daughter's bus arrived back at 4:30; not a lot of time to tack on activities along with homework, dinner, baths etc. If the center is closer it opens a lot more options.