Anonymous wrote:Many, many kids can do well at a HGC. They are not (contrary to what many on DCUM say) meant only for the ones "whose needs cannot be served in the home school." In fact some in that group will struggle at a HGC whereas some just "above average" kids will excel. It is bullsh** that if you prep your kid for the test and they get in, they don't deserve to be there. My kids all went and they had some home prep - we know people who did classes and varying amounts of home prep, but very few who did absolutely nothing. On the whole, most of the kids did very well.

People on DCUM did not invent this statement of purpose. MCPS did. It says *right on the application* that the HGC is intended for students whose needs cannot be served in the home school. The parent part of the application involves, among other things, writing a statement explaining why the student's needs cannot be served in the home school.

Whether or not you agree with the statement, it is an MCPS standard, not a DCUM one.

did you appeal pp? sounds like your child should have been admitted and may have gotten a bum recommendation from the school

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two kids in HGC, no prepping. The test score is important, but teachers will also rec the students they think should go -- so unless the kid's consistent performance in class puts his/her in the top of the class relative to his/her peers, it is doubtful that test prepping will be worth it.

No they have to put more weight on the test. Can't justify rejecting a child who scores above mean in two or more sections bc his teacher didn't like him.

our child had two above the mean and was WL....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many, many kids can do well at a HGC. They are not (contrary to what many on DCUM say) meant only for the ones "whose needs cannot be served in the home school." In fact some in that group will struggle at a HGC whereas some just "above average" kids will excel. It is bullsh** that if you prep your kid for the test and they get in, they don't deserve to be there. My kids all went and they had some home prep - we know people who did classes and varying amounts of home prep, but very few who did absolutely nothing. On the whole, most of the kids did very well.

We did nothing. I do not know any kids who were prepped for the test.

Same here. In fact I canceled out a lot of brain cells with too much TV time.

Anonymous wrote:Two kids in HGC, no prepping. The test score is important, but teachers will also rec the students they think should go -- so unless the kid's consistent performance in class puts his/her in the top of the class relative to his/her peers, it is doubtful that test prepping will be worth it.

No they have to put more weight on the test. Can't justify rejecting a child who scores above mean in two or more sections bc his teacher didn't like him.

Also have two kids who got into HGC (sent one, not the other). Did no test prep. Didn't mention it was test day or any of that. They knew what the test was for without me saying, as the other kids talk. They knew some kids took the test, others didn't.

For 1st child, didn't talk with teacher about her recommendation. Did do that for the 2nd when we attended parent/teacher conference. Just said, "we're applying for HGC for Xxxx." Teacher's response: Of course you are, and I have plenty to say about Xxxx."

Really, the teachers generally know when they have a child who needs to move to the center. Fast forward to acceptance time - teacher called me to make sure that we were accepting the spot b/c Xxxx "really needs to go there."

Two kids in HGC, no prepping. The test score is important, but teachers will also rec the students they think should go -- so unless the kid's consistent performance in class puts his/her in the top of the class relative to his/her peers, it is doubtful that test prepping will be worth it.

We literally did nothing! She knew what the test was. She actually started asking in grade 2 if she was going to the HGC for 4 and 5. We were not even thinking about it at that point but I think another family was very excited about the option and she heard about it from that child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many, many kids can do well at a HGC. They are not (contrary to what many on DCUM say) meant only for the ones "whose needs cannot be served in the home school." In fact some in that group will struggle at a HGC whereas some just "above average" kids will excel. It is bullsh** that if you prep your kid for the test and they get in, they don't deserve to be there. My kids all went and they had some home prep - we know people who did classes and varying amounts of home prep, but very few who did absolutely nothing. On the whole, most of the kids did very well.

We did nothing. I do not know any kids who were prepped for the test.

So you and the people you know didn't even talk about test strategies - make sure you are filling I'm right bubble, etc. - or ever did extra math problems outside of homework as a PP mentioned.

No. They are already tested a lot in MCPS so they know how to deal with test bubbles. I don't think extra math problems are relevant for this test.

We didn't prep but I told my child it was a test for another school and we would decide what to do if he got in. I think it important to at least tell them what the test is for.

Unfortunately when the acceptance letters come out all the kids talk and they know who took the test and who got in and who didn't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many, many kids can do well at a HGC. They are not (contrary to what many on DCUM say) meant only for the ones "whose needs cannot be served in the home school." In fact some in that group will struggle at a HGC whereas some just "above average" kids will excel. It is bullsh** that if you prep your kid for the test and they get in, they don't deserve to be there. My kids all went and they had some home prep - we know people who did classes and varying amounts of home prep, but very few who did absolutely nothing. On the whole, most of the kids did very well.

We did nothing. I do not know any kids who were prepped for the test.

So you and the people you know didn't even talk about test strategies - make sure you are filling I'm right bubble, etc. - or ever did extra math problems outside of homework as a PP mentioned.

Not PP.. we did not "prep" per se for the test. But DC had a math workbook that we got for fun (yes, DC likes math and thinks it's fun). There was never a time set aside for DC to work on the math books. DC did it on DC's own whenever DC felt like it. But, HGC isn't really geared towards math (that is compacted math), so I don't think these math workbooks helped DC get into HGC all that much. DC *loves* to read. Reads a lot on DC's own. Perhaps, this is supplementing, but there are parents that spend mucho bucks on actual test prep books and tutors. One mom told me about the prep books, and I looked them up on Amazon out of curiosity and they were like $100. I didn't think that was necessary. As another PP stated, if DC can't get into HGC without prep, to me, DC didn't belong there. I did tell DC in general about filling in the bubbles, make sure they are dark, etc.. but I think the test proctors tell them the same thing.. or is the test now online? I don't even know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many, many kids can do well at a HGC. They are not (contrary to what many on DCUM say) meant only for the ones "whose needs cannot be served in the home school." In fact some in that group will struggle at a HGC whereas some just "above average" kids will excel. It is bullsh** that if you prep your kid for the test and they get in, they don't deserve to be there. My kids all went and they had some home prep - we know people who did classes and varying amounts of home prep, but very few who did absolutely nothing. On the whole, most of the kids did very well.

We did nothing. I do not know any kids who were prepped for the test.

So you and the people you know didn't even talk about test strategies - make sure you are filling I'm right bubble, etc. - or ever did extra math problems outside of homework as a PP mentioned.

filling in, not filling I'm

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many, many kids can do well at a HGC. They are not (contrary to what many on DCUM say) meant only for the ones "whose needs cannot be served in the home school." In fact some in that group will struggle at a HGC whereas some just "above average" kids will excel. It is bullsh** that if you prep your kid for the test and they get in, they don't deserve to be there. My kids all went and they had some home prep - we know people who did classes and varying amounts of home prep, but very few who did absolutely nothing. On the whole, most of the kids did very well.

We did nothing. I do not know any kids who were prepped for the test.

So you and the people you know didn't even talk about test strategies - make sure you are filling I'm right bubble, etc. - or ever did extra math problems outside of homework as a PP mentioned.

Anonymous wrote:For those who prepped their kids, did your kids know what they were being prepped for? Did they know that they were even "applying" for the program?

Would hate for my 8yr old to internalize rejection to a program that seems so elusive.

Yes to both questions. The kids talk about who is taking the test and they know what the program is. I think it is better that they know what is going on. It is difficult to ask a child to go into a 3 hour test blindly. Your attitude can help alleviate the stress and disappointment of possible non-acceptance.

Anonymous wrote:Many, many kids can do well at a HGC. They are not (contrary to what many on DCUM say) meant only for the ones "whose needs cannot be served in the home school." In fact some in that group will struggle at a HGC whereas some just "above average" kids will excel. It is bullsh** that if you prep your kid for the test and they get in, they don't deserve to be there. My kids all went and they had some home prep - we know people who did classes and varying amounts of home prep, but very few who did absolutely nothing. On the whole, most of the kids did very well.

We did nothing. I do not know any kids who were prepped for the test.