11:19 here

Just think about what it really means for a kid who thrives at an HGC: sitting in middle school, which is bad enough as it is, through SIX HOURS a day of classes well below his/her desired level of challenge, possibily stigmatized as the "nerdy smart kid."

The hard question is: can that be balanced by extracurriculars and a shorter bus ride?

It's a tough question. IMO, better to try for a magnet and, if the kid really hates the bus ride and misses the classes, the local MS is always an option.

We're not there yet, but I do hear the transition to middle school is hard.

I've talked with parents whose kids have gone to magnets, and if their passions lie with the magnet focus, that's often a good fit. I don't see that my child would necessarily be best served by the magnet, though.

Depending on your child, I think that those extracurriculars could be a saving grace in middle school!

I have one kid in regular MS (Western county MS with good reputation and lots of bright kids) and one in the magnet. I can tell you ... the regular MS is not nearly as interesting and challenging as the magnet. It's just not even close.

For the DC in the regular MS, it's just fine for now. But I can't imagine DC who's in the magnet (and came from HCG) being happy doing this work.

I would apply and, if your DC gets in, give some serious thought to those extracurriculars and possibly give the magnet a try. I also think extracurriculars are really important but you have to consider whether they balance out having to sit through classes every day for six hours that don't challenge and engage your child.

Tell me about your experiences...the MS's are just geographically unacceptable to us due to some intensive extracurriculars..sports and music. We are just afraid that the homogenous middle school experience will lack the challenge of the HGC. Curious to hear from families that have done it..