I don't believe there is any special letter for certain children (at least that I ever received for my children who did apply/go). Every child is invited to apply. The info sessions are publicized to everyone.

You should apply to the HGC.

In 3rd grade, you should ask for William and Mary and Jr Great Books.

Similar to what other PPs said, this just lets you know that your child was identified as "gifted." Next year, if you want, you can apply for the highly gifted center.

There will be a letter that goes out that identifies your child as a candidate and you go to an info session. I think everyone can apply though but not sure if everyone gets the invite to the info session (someone else can confirm or correct if their child got a letter but was not labelled as gifted). Once you go to the info session, you fill out a form saying why you want your child to go to the HGC and then your child will be scheduled to take a test in Jan/Feb? (if I recall correctly) and then they start gathering other info for the application, such as teacher reviews (you don't see these). They make decisions and send letters out right around spring break and then you can go to an info session and have to decide. The turnaround time for a decision is tight and your child will also get a tour but it may not be before you have to decide (you can say yes and then change your mind if your child really doesn't want to go after the tour).

So, nothing to do now other than file it away. Decisions to apply to HGC will start next year.

Some schools are 100% gifted. Welcome to the top half of moco.

In my experience the designation meant nothing. Nothing at all, so don't get your hopes up.

Anonymous wrote:This is what the final paragraph of the letter says:

"Gifted Identification Decision:
Based on achievement data, assessment results, school staff and parent input, your child meets the criteria for the gifted and talented designation. This means that your child has the potential to excel academically with effort and good study skills. Your child will be provided appropriate accelerated and enriched instruction, based on his or her strengths in reading and/or mathematics."

In my experience, that paragraph means very little. If there is information in the letter about William & Mary or Jr Great Books reading programs, your child may receive that instruction at some point in later grades. But, the letter itself has nothing to do with applying for or being accepted into an HGC.

The key word is designation. That is what approx 40% of the county gets. Acceptance to a center is entirely different. That goes to the top 3-5%. The state requires the label but does not require any county to act on it.

This is what the final paragraph of the letter says:

"Gifted Identification Decision:
Based on achievement data, assessment results, school staff and parent input, your child meets the criteria for the gifted and talented designation. This means that your child has the potential to excel academically with effort and good study skills. Your child will be provided appropriate accelerated and enriched instruction, based on his or her strengths in reading and/or mathematics."

Anonymous wrote:it mentioned as 'identified as eligible' ..don't have the letter with me now..or would have mentioned the exact words...how to interpret these results..

Every student in third grade is eligible to apply to the HGC.

Anonymous wrote:I am guessing it just labels him as gifted..which 40% of MCPS students get. Anyone can decide to test for the HGC in thrid grade. Your next step is decide if you would like to apply or not. WIth most scores in the 90's, he has some chance. The third grade test is very different too so he might score very differently (up or down)

ok...thanks!!

PS..this is confusing for many people. I have heard other 2nd grade parents think their child has been accepted to a HGC based on these scores too.

it mentioned as 'identified as eligible' ..don't have the letter with me now..or would have mentioned the exact words...how to interpret these results..

I am guessing it just labels him as gifted..which 40% of MCPS students get. Anyone can decide to test for the HGC in thrid grade. Your next step is decide if you would like to apply or not. WIth most scores in the 90's, he has some chance. The third grade test is very different too so he might score very differently (up or down)

Did they change the language? In the past, all third graders were eligible to apply to the HGC. It's a separate test and involves an application.

We received the 2nd grade InView Test results for our son yesterday in the backpack...It mentions that he is identified to be eligible for HGC...what does that mean..he scored above 92%in all tests except Analogies in which he scored 78%...not sure what would be the next step..Any suggestions/ recommendations