I agree it is reasonable to bring up this old post because it is relevant to families currently making decisions. Plus, it already takes into account the input of families that have replied in the past.

Anonymous wrote:Why do people pull up old posts? OP's decision was made last year!

If you read, you can see that was the point. The person who brought it up was asking what decision the OP made and how it has worked out, one year later. That's a reasonable thing to do.

Anonymous wrote:Why do people pull up old posts? OP's decision was made last year!

yes-- but PP specifically was hoping for an update because they have the same question.

Why do people pull up old posts? OP's decision was made last year!

We left HCG after one year for private. Much more impressed with private. HCG was not so great in my opinion. Many smart kids don't even test and wait for Magnets. HCG is not a guarantee for Magnet. Many get bumped back to basic middle school due to the increase in people applying. Did you go in and monitor a day of HCG class? I would be sure to do that before switching out a child in a school they like.

If you feel that your child loves the private (obviously child is learning in private, because they got into the HGC program), is appropriately challenged, and the money is not a concern for you - then there is nothing wrong to continue in a school where your kid is thriving.

We are in the same boat as the OP one year ago--would love to know what they decided and how HGC went, if they did it. Got into
Pinecrest. Son loves our private.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks all! Barnsley is our home school and the one we got into. For us part of the lure besides having peers is the short commute (5 min rather than 30 min drive), starting at 9 instead of 8:30, fun after school programs that we can afford, etc. We do hope to go back to the private for 6th onward...but this is assuming that she doesn't love the HGC program. Will they hold it against her if she doesn't go in 4th/5th and then applies for the magnet later? She is just so comfortable at her private that I don't know what the right thing for her is.

I'm the pp and we are at Barnsley - it is not our home school so we do the drive everyday but dc is thriving. The program is great and I like the diversity of the student body and the way the principal runs the school.

OP here. Thanks all! Barnsley is our home school and the one we got into. For us part of the lure besides having peers is the short commute (5 min rather than 30 min drive), starting at 9 instead of 8:30, fun after school programs that we can afford, etc. We do hope to go back to the private for 6th onward...but this is assuming that she doesn't love the HGC program. Will they hold it against her if she doesn't go in 4th/5th and then applies for the magnet later? She is just so comfortable at her private that I don't know what the right thing for her is.

You don't say which school your child currently attends so it is hard to say whether the HGC will be an amazing improvement over your current school. Other people have posted that the curriculum and peer group at the HGCs are better than most/all privates.
It is also hard to address your concern about your child's social experience. Our experience has been great - the kids are sweet, interesting and have a lot in common with each other. They are cohesive as a group and kind and respectful to each other. However, they are very spread out and it is hard to meet outside of school. Of course, if you are coming from a private, you already know how that can pose a challenge. I know very few of the parents and we don't really go to school outside of school hours. The other big concern is middle school. dc got into a middle school magnet and will probably go but if you have big concerns about your home middle school, you might want to weigh that in your decision making- unless it would be easy to get back to your private in 6th grade. I don't know anyone who regrets having their child go through the HGC experience but there is some anxiety in 5th grade about what happens next. At our HGC, we lost two children (out of 75) at the end of fourth grade and one was because the family moved. I also know a few kids who were reluctant to leave friends in their home elem. school and attend the HGC. These kids did have a tough adjustment during the first couple of months but again, they are now happy they made the move.

The principal at our HGC said the only children who have left the program (or not liked the program) are the children who did not want to leave their home schools. She meant that we should listen to our kids if they are really thriving in their home school and don't want to leave their friends. For us it is an easy decision because our son is not making friends at school and likes everything he saw about the HGC. If it were otherwise, I'd think about it well (especially if it involves a long bus commute each way)

The biggest possible regret you *might* have is that the HGC is for two years only, and then you need to apply to middle school magnets which are not guaranteed. Middle school, of course, is only 3 years, then you have to apply for the high school magnets. It gets old, although I will say that DCs know exactly what to expect for the college application process. If you are happy with your local middle school (is anybody in MoCo happy with their local middle school?), then go for it without reservations.

All thie kids in the HGC are "starting over" since they come from different schools. THey do a lot to get the kids choesive as a class. DO it!

You won't regret it! The HGC is an amazing experience. Which HGC?

My DD got into the HGC program and we are very happy, but at the same time apprehensive about the change to public school since we are coming from a small private. At her current school she is a model student and well liked...has many friends, great student, etc. And we as parents have made friends with the other parents so everything is very comfortable for all of us. We applied to HGC because we wanted her to be challenged and have great peers, but she is uncertain about having to start over and make new friends, etc. and I am wondering if it is really that amazing. Have any of you done this and decided to go back to the private school or is everyone that moved to go to a HGC happy?

Thanks alot for your thoughts on this....we are very conflicted.