Are HGC centers worth it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
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.

I'm the PP at 6:42, and yes, I agree. We did also have one of the longest bus rides at the HGC -- although not still not as long as your daughter's!

[Anonymous]

Although we are not close to our HGC, my child will attend next year. As far as the bus ride, my child's home ES bus route was so convoluted this year, he didn't get home until 4:05-4:10 on average. And we live about 1 mile from the home school. Point is, being at the home school doesn't ensure a short ride home, so I'd rather a few more minutes and get an enriched experience.

[Anonymous]

What other HGC parents have told me that to become comfortable with the routine and workload, and to make new friends takes anywhere from 3 months to 6 months.

Everything we are agonizing over here - bus rides, friends, workload, time for extra-curricular activities etc. - will get sorted out with time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's another way to think about it op. No one (it seems) hesitates to put their child on a travel soccer (or whatever other sport) if the kid tries out and is selected. This also involves leaving the regular teammates behind, longer driving to practices/games, and increased expectations. Why would so many regularly chose this type of differentiation in order for a kid's skills to be best cultivated, yet hesitate when it comes to educational opportunities?
I know that in out competitive community many parents claim they would never put their child into an hgc and, behind the scenes lobby the school to appeal the hgc rejection. I say this as a cautionary tale. Don't put too much stake into your child's elementary school friendships at the cost of his/her opportunities. After all, kids make friend's easily and, do you really remember your 4th grade classmates names?

I know more than just a few parents that have decided not to accept spots on travel sports teams for reasons you list? Just sayin...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's another way to think about it op. No one (it seems) hesitates to put their child on a travel soccer (or whatever other sport) if the kid tries out and is selected. This also involves leaving the regular teammates behind, longer driving to practices/games, and increased expectations. Why would so many regularly chose this type of differentiation in order for a kid's skills to be best cultivated, yet hesitate when it comes to educational opportunities?
I know that in out competitive community many parents claim they would never put their child into an hgc and, behind the scenes lobby the school to appeal the hgc rejection. I say this as a cautionary tale. Don't put too much stake into your child's elementary school friendships at the cost of his/her opportunities. After all, kids make friend's easily and, do you really remember your 4th grade classmates names?

I know more than just a few parents that have decided not to accept spots on travel sports teams for reasons you list? Just sayin...

Probably so, and that's a legitimate choice. That said, I'm quite sure there are plenty of others lined up to take those travel sports team spots once someone turns them down. The same is true of HGC spots. If someone turns one spot down, there are plenty of others lined up to take the spot. My point is simply that plenty of people make a lot of negative comments about the HGC but would take a spot in a heartbeat if it were offered. Similarly, these people would have no problem leaving the neighborhood kids' team if it meant making a travel soccer or baseball team. That is the analogy.

[Anonymous]

For those of you who say the HGC was a 'life changer' for your child, what did you choose for MS & HS? And, if you chose the magnets, were you even remotely close to them? Or did you just 'bite the bullet' on a long commute both directions daily for 7 years for your child because it was a better academic match. If you returned to your district schools, were your child's needs still met there?

[Anonymous]

My understanding is that, because MS and HS offer so much in the way of acceleration and differentiation, kids can return to their own MS/HS without worry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who say the HGC was a 'life changer' for your child, what did you choose for MS & HS? And, if you chose the magnets, were you even remotely close to them? Or did you just 'bite the bullet' on a long commute both directions daily for 7 years for your child because it was a better academic match. If you returned to your district schools, were your child's needs still met there?

Definitely the MS magnet. It's pretty close but I can't imagine that regular MS would be ok for HGC kid -- I have a second child in MS so I'm pretty familiar with both.

I think it's true that there are many more options in HS like AP, etc.. That said, DC will apply to magnets for HS as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is that, because MS and HS offer so much in the way of acceleration and differentiation, kids can return to their own MS/HS without worry.

Can you give any examples at all of acceleration or differentiation in MS? We have not seen anything.

[Anonymous]

I know people who went back to the home MS (Pyle) and were reasonably happy. I think they felt it wasn't as challenging an environment but all things considered (social/commute advantages of being in the home school) they were happy with their home school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who say the HGC was a 'life changer' for your child, what did you choose for MS & HS? And, if you chose the magnets, were you even remotely close to them? Or did you just 'bite the bullet' on a long commute both directions daily for 7 years for your child because it was a better academic match. If you returned to your district schools, were your child's needs still met there?

Definitely the MS magnet. It's pretty close but I can't imagine that regular MS would be ok for HGC kid -- I have a second child in MS so I'm pretty familiar with both.

I think it's true that there are many more options in HS like AP, etc.. That said, DC will apply to magnets for HS as well.

Unfortunately the MS is an 1:40 minute bus ride for my daughter. The morning bus would pick up at ~6:15, so this would mean she would be getting up at 5. The distribution of MS programs really leaves something to be desired.

[Anonymous]

Hi PP, I have one kid in an MS magnet and it's great -- but also a short drive.

I have another kid in a different MS magnet and the commute is long. It's really awful in the morning (leave the house at 6:45) and I think it's quite detrimental to her. I woud think about carpools or other ways to get to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi PP, I have one kid in an MS magnet and it's great -- but also a short drive.

I have another kid in a different MS magnet and the commute is long. It's really awful in the morning (leave the house at 6:45) and I think it's quite detrimental to her. I woud think about carpools or other ways to get to school.

Even driving directly it would probably be close to an hour in rush hour traffic. The bus is a non-starter. Car pools/direct drop offs are options, but we would probably have to stagger our work hours to accommodate. Makes me wonder if it's worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What other HGC parents have told me that to become comfortable with the routine and workload, and to make new friends takes anywhere from 3 months to 6 months.

Everything we are agonizing over here - bus rides, friends, workload, time for extra-curricular activities etc. - will get sorted out with time.

DS went to a HGC last year. His school bus stops at our home school in the afternoon. He participateed most of his after school activities in our home school. If the parents work, the child can go to the home school aftercare or play sports here. We feel sorry that we didnt contribute as much as we want to the HGC school..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who say the HGC was a 'life changer' for your child, what did you choose for MS & HS? And, if you chose the magnets, were you even remotely close to them? Or did you just 'bite the bullet' on a long commute both directions daily for 7 years for your child because it was a better academic match. If you returned to your district schools, were your child's needs still met there?

just so you know....the Middle School and High School magnets are not automatic for HCG students or anyone, for that matter. It's a separate application process during 5th grade for Middle, and very competitive. A significant number of HCG students DON'T get in the MS magnet, and then return to the home middle school or evaluate other options. And high school magnets are again a separate process, so if your kid is in 3rd grade, you can't assume he/she will be in Magnets through high school.