Anonymous wrote:GT identification/designation is somewhat separate in MCPS. That occurs in a few grades, and once designated, a student maintains that designation, not needing to be re-identified during a later grade's identification process. This recognizes that some students will exhibit GT need early and others late.

The letter OP got identified their DC as qualifying for one or both of the criteria-based middle school magnet lottery pools. Those are the Math/Science/CS programs at TPMS and RCMS and the Humanities programs at Eastern and King. The letter for some said their DC is being offered a spot at one or more of those schools from the lottery process.

Most of those identified receive the letter OP got, however, as there are few spots in those programs compared to the population who would benefit from such programming. OP's DC's local MS and other MCPS MSs offers Historical Inquiry into Global Humanities (6th through 8th), also known as "HIGH", and either Applied Investigations in Mathematics, also known as "AIM", or AMP7+, each of which lead to Algebra in 7th grade. Those placed in the Humanities lottery pool are guaranteed placement in HIGH locally.
Those placed in the Math/Science/CS lottery pool are guaranteed placement in AIM or AMP7+ locally.

Whether via these courses or by admission to the magnets, MCPS might claim to be providing enrichment to meet GT need. Those having been identified as GT earlier but not identified for the pools may be offered those classes, but that is not guaranteed (schools make independent evaluations).

Getting GT need met (enrichment/differentiation/etc.) on more than a notional basis is variably difficult across MCPS.

Great summary.

Anonymous wrote:Pardon the novice questions. We received the letter saying our child is eligible for math and humanities enrichment at next year. At the local school, what is that enrichment specifically? Is it advanced classes or something else? And is this different from gifted and talented? Thanks.

That's a fabulous word. The definition of the word is nothing much.

Anonymous wrote:Some of this is school by school. Ask folks with older kids, or ask here, whether Silver Creek in particular cohorts kids for advanced English or for HIGH.

This decision is generally left to the principal, and most Middle School principals have decided not to cohort the kids. That means there is no differentiation and teachers need to deal with whatever heterogeneous situation gets thrown at them.

Silver Creek cohorts for HIGH, but all students take advanced English. -PP

Some of this is school by school. Ask folks with older kids, or ask here, whether Silver Creek in particular cohorts kids for advanced English or for HIGH.

This decision is generally left to the principal, and most Middle School principals have decided not to cohort the kids. That means there is no differentiation and teachers need to deal with whatever heterogeneous situation gets thrown at them.

Anonymous wrote:I'd also love to hear the answer. My daughter was accepted to the Eastern Magnet but she's not sold on it. Wondering what she has access to at her home school (Silver Creek) and if it's possible for her to be challenged there.

We are at Silver Creek and have friends at Eastern. Eastern is substantially more challenging for humanities courses (English, social studies, media). But we have been happy at Silver Creek. We have had to supplement in English, but generally speaking the school is well-run and the language classes in particular add challenge. Both AIM and HIGH are available to those who qualify, but neither has been particularly challenging for my child.

Thank you for the thorough explanation!

GT identification/designation is somewhat separate in MCPS. That occurs in a few grades, and once designated, a student maintains that designation, not needing to be re-identified during a later grade's identification process. This recognizes that some students will exhibit GT need early and others late.

The letter OP got identified their DC as qualifying for one or both of the criteria-based middle school magnet lottery pools. Those are the Math/Science/CS programs at TPMS and RCMS and the Humanities programs at Eastern and King. The letter for some said their DC is being offered a spot at one or more of those schools from the lottery process.

Most of those identified receive the letter OP got, however, as there are few spots in those programs compared to the population who would benefit from such programming. OP's DC's local MS and other MCPS MSs offers Historical Inquiry into Global Humanities (6th through 8th), also known as "HIGH", and either Applied Investigations in Mathematics, also known as "AIM", or AMP7+, each of which lead to Algebra in 7th grade. Those placed in the Humanities lottery pool are guaranteed placement in HIGH locally.
Those placed in the Math/Science/CS lottery pool are guaranteed placement in AIM or AMP7+ locally.

Whether via these courses or by admission to the magnets, MCPS might claim to be providing enrichment to meet GT need. Those having been identified as GT earlier but not identified for the pools may be offered those classes, but that is not guaranteed (schools make independent evaluations).

Getting GT need met (enrichment/differentiation/etc.) on more than a notional basis is variably difficult across MCPS.

I'd also love to hear the answer. My daughter was accepted to the Eastern Magnet but she's not sold on it. Wondering what she has access to at her home school (Silver Creek) and if it's possible for her to be challenged there.

Pardon the novice questions. We received the letter saying our child is eligible for math and humanities enrichment at next year. At the local school, what is that enrichment specifically? Is it advanced classes or something else? And is this different from gifted and talented? Thanks.