Anonymous
09/04/2025 11:23
Subject: Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?
Honestly, no one should spend any time thinking about HB until they actually get in. It's totally just a waste of time. You can do the research and make a decision if you win the lottery and actually have the option.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 11:16
Subject: Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:“At HBW, all classes are intensified,” - quote from the principal.
If this is actually a direct quote I would not be broadcasting it.
Obnoxious.
The school motto: Private school. Public dime.
I highly doubt the principal actually said that.
I can say that due to HBs schedule all classes meet for less time than the other schools so they have to move faster to r the same material. My kid has never been bored.
Obv the principal didn’t say the public dime quote :lol: :lol:
Of course not, I also doubt the principal directly said that all classes at HB are intensified. I would believe that the principal may have said something about the classes at HB feeling more like intensified classes because HB classes need to move faster due to HB's schedule providing less class time for each class, but no they are not actually "intensified."
We know he said “feeling more like intensified” and we know why he meant: there aren’t the checked out disruptive kids in their classes like in non-intensified neighborhood school classes.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 11:09
Subject: Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:“At HBW, all classes are intensified,” - quote from the principal.
If this is actually a direct quote I would not be broadcasting it.
Obnoxious.
The school motto: Private school. Public dime.
I highly doubt the principal actually said that.
I can say that due to HBs schedule all classes meet for less time than the other schools so they have to move faster to r the same material. My kid has never been bored.
Obv the principal didn’t say the public dime quote :lol: :lol:
Of course not, I also doubt the principal directly said that all classes at HB are intensified. I would believe that the principal may have said something about the classes at HB feeling more like intensified classes because HB classes need to move faster due to HB's schedule providing less class time for each class, but no they are not actually "intensified."
Anonymous
09/04/2025 11:07
Subject: Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have a 5th grader and we're now looking at middle school options. We are thinking of doing the lottery for HBW, but I saw that HBW doesn't offer Intensified courses? So are the Intensified courses worth it? How do they compare to regular? What I have read so far doesn't tell me a ton, other than Intensified they are open to all and go deeper into the material. Does the regular courses just have kids who aren't interested? How does that work out at HBW with people choosing to go there? Are there typically enough spots for kids who want Intensified, or is this some type of "school within a school" deal?
Anyone who has experience able to talk to this? Much appreciated.
To get back on topic, never throw away a chance at HBW for intensified courses. HBW is a much more worthwhile program and continues into high school.
My kid is identified gifted and was bored in elementary school, but hasn't had the same complaint at HB even without most of the courses being intensified. My kid has been in intensified math at HB which is offered. Now they are in mostly AP courses.
There are fewer AP courses available at HB, and some of the AP courses are taught together in the same class as the non AP course. That is certainly less than ideal and it was not something I was aware of going in. So if you really want access to intensified and AP with a lot of AP options, you are better off in a regular high school. We still like HB a lot, this is just something to know going in.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 11:02
Subject: Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:“At HBW, all classes are intensified,” - quote from the principal.
If this is actually a direct quote I would not be broadcasting it.
Obnoxious.
The school motto: Private school. Public dime.
I highly doubt the principal actually said that.
I can say that due to HBs schedule all classes meet for less time than the other schools so they have to move faster to r the same material. My kid has never been bored.
Obv the principal didn’t say the public dime quote :lol: :lol:
Anonymous
09/04/2025 10:57
Subject: Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Thank you - I know the chances of getting in to HBW are pretty low. I am not holding my breath on that one.
For the Intensified classes, it sounds like parents who push their kids kids who are self-starters take them at neighborhood schools?
All the kids tagged gifted or whatever we are calling it these days are automatically placed in them. So as a parent of one of these kids, you'd have to proactively take them out of it. Outside of these kids, what I've seen of my kid's friends is most parents encourage the parent to try one and the kid picks the subject they like.
No. No kids are automatically places, except in math. Kids choose whether to take intensified classes. They fill out a form in the spring.
At the Swanson 6th grade academic planning evening held at Swanson, the counselor said the Advanced Academics kids (that is the new word for it) are encouraged/recommended/advised (I do not remember the word they used) to take intensified courses. I do think the kids still have to check the box on their course selection form. I remember there were words on the slide that said this. Swanson doesn't have their presentation posted on line anywhere I can find though.
This is the DHMS slide presentation. It makes clear that intensified classes are available to all, provides descriptions, and tells students how to complete their course request form.
https://share.google/Zfo2KD404Bcgr6BIq" target="_new" rel="nofollow">Rising-6th-Grade-presentation.pdf https://share.google/Zfo2KD404Bcgr6BIq
Yes I saw this. I am clear they are available to all. This is not what is shown at every school, of course.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 10:51
Subject: Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?
Anonymous wrote:I have a 5th grader and we're now looking at middle school options. We are thinking of doing the lottery for HBW, but I saw that HBW doesn't offer Intensified courses? So are the Intensified courses worth it? How do they compare to regular? What I have read so far doesn't tell me a ton, other than Intensified they are open to all and go deeper into the material. Does the regular courses just have kids who aren't interested? How does that work out at HBW with people choosing to go there? Are there typically enough spots for kids who want Intensified, or is this some type of "school within a school" deal?
Anyone who has experience able to talk to this? Much appreciated.
To get back on topic, never throw away a chance at HBW for intensified courses. HBW is a much more worthwhile program and continues into high school.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 10:27
Subject: Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:“At HBW, all classes are intensified,” - quote from the principal.
If this is actually a direct quote I would not be broadcasting it.
Obnoxious.
The school motto: Private school. Public dime.
Jealous, eh?
Of course. The principal obviously knows it’s a special program; and there is some scuttlebutt about siblings somehow both winning the lottery.
HB family here. There are some families with more than one sibling at HB. There are also many, many more families with one kid at HB and other siblings who did not get into HB.
Families with one kid at HB are probably much more likely to enter the lottery again for younger kids.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 10:24
Subject: Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Thank you - I know the chances of getting in to HBW are pretty low. I am not holding my breath on that one.
For the Intensified classes, it sounds like parents who push their kids kids who are self-starters take them at neighborhood schools?
All the kids tagged gifted or whatever we are calling it these days are automatically placed in them. So as a parent of one of these kids, you'd have to proactively take them out of it. Outside of these kids, what I've seen of my kid's friends is most parents encourage the parent to try one and the kid picks the subject they like.
No. No kids are automatically places, except in math. Kids choose whether to take intensified classes. They fill out a form in the spring.
At the Swanson 6th grade academic planning evening held at Swanson, the counselor said the Advanced Academics kids (that is the new word for it) are encouraged/recommended/advised (I do not remember the word they used) to take intensified courses. I do think the kids still have to check the box on their course selection form. I remember there were words on the slide that said this. Swanson doesn't have their presentation posted on line anywhere I can find though.
This is the DHMS slide presentation. It makes clear that intensified classes are available to all, provides descriptions, and tells students how to complete their course request form.
https://share.google/Zfo2KD404Bcgr6BIq" target="_new" rel="nofollow">Rising-6th-Grade-presentation.pdf https://share.google/Zfo2KD404Bcgr6BIq
Anonymous
09/04/2025 09:54
Subject: Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Thank you - I know the chances of getting in to HBW are pretty low. I am not holding my breath on that one.
For the Intensified classes, it sounds like parents who push their kids kids who are self-starters take them at neighborhood schools?
All the kids tagged gifted or whatever we are calling it these days are automatically placed in them. So as a parent of one of these kids, you'd have to proactively take them out of it. Outside of these kids, what I've seen of my kid's friends is most parents encourage the parent to try one and the kid picks the subject they like.
No. No kids are automatically places, except in math. Kids choose whether to take intensified classes. They fill out a form in the spring.
At the Swanson 6th grade academic planning evening held at Swanson, the counselor said the Advanced Academics kids (that is the new word for it) are encouraged/recommended/advised (I do not remember the word they used) to take intensified courses. I do think the kids still have to check the box on their course selection form. I remember there were words on the slide that said this. Swanson doesn't have their presentation posted on line anywhere I can find though.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 09:41
Subject: Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Thank you - I know the chances of getting in to HBW are pretty low. I am not holding my breath on that one.
For the Intensified classes, it sounds like parents who push their kids kids who are self-starters take them at neighborhood schools?
All the kids tagged gifted or whatever we are calling it these days are automatically placed in them. So as a parent of one of these kids, you'd have to proactively take them out of it. Outside of these kids, what I've seen of my kid's friends is most parents encourage the parent to try one and the kid picks the subject they like.
No. No kids are automatically places, except in math. Kids choose whether to take intensified classes. They fill out a form in the spring.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 09:40
Subject: Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Thank you - I know the chances of getting in to HBW are pretty low. I am not holding my breath on that one.
For the Intensified classes, it sounds like parents who push their kids kids who are self-starters take them at neighborhood schools?
All the kids tagged gifted or whatever we are calling it these days are automatically placed in them. So as a parent of one of these kids, you'd have to proactively take them out of it. Outside of these kids, what I've seen of my kid's friends is most parents encourage the parent to try one and the kid picks the subject they like.
sorry most parents encourage the KID to try one
Anonymous
09/04/2025 09:39
Subject: Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?
Anonymous wrote:Thank you - I know the chances of getting in to HBW are pretty low. I am not holding my breath on that one.
For the Intensified classes, it sounds like parents who push their kids kids who are self-starters take them at neighborhood schools?
All the kids tagged gifted or whatever we are calling it these days are automatically placed in them. So as a parent of one of these kids, you'd have to proactively take them out of it. Outside of these kids, what I've seen of my kid's friends is most parents encourage the parent to try one and the kid picks the subject they like.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 08:14
Subject: Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?
Anonymous wrote:Or there are the kids who were bored in elementary school, see the description for Intensified classes, and ask to take them because they look more interesting.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Thank you - I know the chances of getting in to HBW are pretty low. I am not holding my breath on that one.
For the Intensified classes, it sounds like parents who push their kids kids who are self-starters take them at neighborhood schools?
It’s a mixed bag. There are also parents who place into intensified courses because they want to keep their kids away from the perceived riffraff.
DS is one of those kids who comes home and complains that he didn't learn enough about science at school. He has read every science book he can at the library, intensified sounds right up his alley. He doesn't love homework though, and recently learned that kids outside of his elementary don't have a lot of it.
Anonymous
09/04/2025 07:51
Subject: Middle School Intensified vs Regular Subjects - Worth It?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:“At HBW, all classes are intensified,” - quote from the principal.
If this is actually a direct quote I would not be broadcasting it.
Obnoxious.
The school motto: Private school. Public dime.
I highly doubt the principal actually said that.
I can say that due to HBs schedule all classes meet for less time than the other schools so they have to move faster to r the same material. My kid has never been bored.