This year, two kids came to my child's HGC at 5th grade from different schools. They keep the wait pool.

In the letter it also state "Please note that for the 2015-2016 school year, availability of transportation from outside local school feeders patterns to magnet program is subject to the approval of the MCPS budget.

I think this is the base for their preference to home school wait pool kids.

I can sign waiver for MCPS transportation (so it costs the same as the home school kids), and ask to have wait pool status extend as far as home school wait pool kids.

I know it is a long shot, but my kid deserve equal learning opportunity protected by the law.

Okay I understand now. Cold Spring is not our home school, so our wait pool status is only valid through Aug. 2015. Those in the wait pool have home school at Cold Spring will have their wait pool status much longer. As a matter fact, it is only after school starts, the wait pool may have a chance to be selected.

It is not fair ! I will appeal on this rule.

When people left my child's HGC after school started (actually after the first yet because try moved away) the new students were added from the general student population (the HGC was their home school). So maybe after schoo starts any additions are from that school? Fwiw the students added had been on the wait list initially.

Kids have left HGC midyear. They will then go to the waitlist.

My letter says "The wait pool will be maintained through Aug. 2015" Does everyone in the pool has the same statement ? Does this mean the pool is closed at the end of Aug 2015 ?

Anonymous wrote:OP here,

I think the selection process is data/information driven but it may not be as 100% objective, it is based on the information available to them.

Now back to the wait pool, once a seat is available, it is indeed a matter of luck who is selected, become incidentally "gifted".

Of course, those who are in the wait pool were also selected "data driven". They are in the pool because the space is limited --- and they are still considered as qualified as "highly gifted"

The wait pool status will run through Aug. 2015 as the letter states, then how would some kids decide to leave without giving it a trial ? What happens if some "get-in" decide to leave after two months, and space become available but the pool is already empty (status expires) ?

Kids have left HGC midyear. They will then go to the waitlist.

OP here,

I think the selection process is data/information driven but it may not be as 100% objective, it is based on the information available to them.

Now back to the wait pool, once a seat is available, it is indeed a matter of luck who is selected, become incidentally "gifted".

Of course, those who are in the wait pool were also selected "data driven". They are in the pool because the space is limited --- and they are still considered as qualified as "highly gifted"

The wait pool status will run through Aug. 2015 as the letter states, then how would some kids decide to leave without giving it a trial ? What happens if some "get-in" decide to leave after two months, and space become available but the pool is already empty (status expires) ?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many kids usually in the pool ? And how do they select from the pool when vacancies become available (even though highly unlikely). In the letter it says "lottery process".

My understanding is those in the pool should meet the standard as highly gifted (I don't know exactly how to define it), but those in the pool should also have been ranked based on test scores, report cards and etc... the same way when they selected "get-in" kids. Strange though, the wait pool selection become a lottery, as matter of luck.

I think that the get-in selection also has a large component of luck.

Not really. Unlike the wait pool, it is data driven.

Are you including teacher recommendations as "data"? And does the selection committee have established procedures about how to weight all of the various factors?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many kids usually in the pool ? And how do they select from the pool when vacancies become available (even though highly unlikely). In the letter it says "lottery process".

My understanding is those in the pool should meet the standard as highly gifted (I don't know exactly how to define it), but those in the pool should also have been ranked based on test scores, report cards and etc... the same way when they selected "get-in" kids. Strange though, the wait pool selection become a lottery, as matter of luck.

I think that the get-in selection also has a large component of luck.

Not really. Unlike the wait pool, it is data driven.

Anonymous wrote:How many kids usually in the pool ? And how do they select from the pool when vacancies become available (even though highly unlikely). In the letter it says "lottery process".

My understanding is those in the pool should meet the standard as highly gifted (I don't know exactly how to define it), but those in the pool should also have been ranked based on test scores, report cards and etc... the same way when they selected "get-in" kids. Strange though, the wait pool selection become a lottery, as matter of luck.

I think that the get-in selection also has a large component of luck.

Lottery. It's hard enough already to pick the ones who were accepted, they're not about to parse over the ones on the wait-list.

The odds for getting in are most definitely against you if you're stuck in limbo (waitlist). There are very few spots that open up.

If the wait listed folks aren't invited to the open house, is there any way for us to get more information and/or visit if child is invited in off wait list?

Is it lottery by home school or across the whole catch area for the particular HGC?

No ranking. Pure lottery.

How many kids usually in the pool ? And how do they select from the pool when vacancies become available (even though highly unlikely). In the letter it says "lottery process".

My understanding is those in the pool should meet the standard as highly gifted (I don't know exactly how to define it), but those in the pool should also have been ranked based on test scores, report cards and etc... the same way when they selected "get-in" kids. Strange though, the wait pool selection become a lottery, as matter of luck.