One thing HGC parents should keep in mind when picking middle school is that something like 1/3 of the middle school magnet kids don't get into RMIB, Blair SMAC or CAP or Poolsville.

Of course it is difficult to figure out where your DC stands in such things but, if you know they were near the median scores to get into the HGC and/or had trouble getting As at the HGC and/or when talking to the HGC teachers you can figure out that they are not at the top of at least one subject, then you might want to head to your home MS.

It is much better for most middle schoolers to be at the top of their heap than to need to work really hard to be average. It can be really painful to work hard for 3 years and then not get into a HS magnet.

After the HGC, we could not determine if our DC was more interested in Takhoma or Eastern. Lots of his HGC peers were going to our home middle school because while the 4th grade was OUTSTANDING, in every way, the 5th grade was more about doing more work rather than learning more. Friends with kids in both MS magnets assured us that middle school would be different and the commute would be worth it. Our son pointed out that the first year at every new school is good but after that things always seem to get boring.

He went to our home MS. As he predicted, 6th grade was fine and he has liked taking language all three years but the rest has been quite boring. I wish I could say his boredom had motivated him to explore other things in MS. He would try whatever we suggested but after one session or season or sequence, he wouldn't care if he went back or not.

He applied and got into both Blair SMAC and RM IB so on one level our home middle school didn't hurt anything. He would not even consider the AP route. He has been very motivated this year and done very well so again it doesn't seem that our home middle school hurt anything. On the other hand, a couple of his friends from the HGC didn't get in anywhere after our middle school. HS hasn't been much of a challenge for them but older kids we know say that sophomore and junior year, as the AP classes kick in, are what HS is all about. I guess we will see...

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone come back to Julius West after HGC? How was the transition and challenge? I just don't know if we can handle the commute to MS magnet.

The other side of the coin:

We live in the JW area, but my kids went to Takoma Park after the HGC. My kids adjusted to the long daily bus ride by using it as part of their day. One child used it as a study hall and used it to work on homework. The other child used it to socialize with friends on the bus. In fact there were times when I offered to drive the kids home. While the homework child usually appreciated the ride, the social child usually opted to ride the bus home so as not to miss time with friends.

The distance became more of a hassle over the incidental things. All their doctors were in the other direction so they had to miss more class time for appointments. Evening events and PTA meetings were sometimes difficult to make by the time I got the kids home (especially if they rode the activity bus), fed, and addressed whatever issues arose. Also, there's always going to be the missed bus or a panicked call because something was forgotten, or the project that's too big or delicate to take on the bus. These sorts of things were annoying but the experience at TPMS was so great that we felt it was well worth it.

What kind of test prep book?

And it's also possible to have your kid prep for the test without taking an expensive test class. We bought a test prep book and just had our kid do some practice tests so she'd be familiar with the test format and timing. The MS admissions process is super aggravating -- but if you feel that magnet is a good route for your kid to take, then there's a balance you can strike between going all-in on test prep and doing no prep whatsoever.

Anonymous wrote:This is my fear. DD is in 4th grade HCG right now. After a difficult initial transition, she is really engaged at school and enjoying the peer group. I worry that if she doesn't get into one of the MS magnets, MS will be a disaster for her, both academically and socially. And private is not an option for us financially.

Yea, I feel for you. I was in your exact spot last year. This whole MS testing process was aggravating. It gets worse in 5th grade when all the kids and even the teacher start mentioning the application and testing. Then I found out at the test that a bunch of kids had took expensive prep classes and that made me even more worried.

I tried to prepare my child for disappointment and playing up the advantages of the home MS. In the end was admitted to magnet but I am so glad that is over with. My kid did really well on the HGC test and equally well on the MS test. So if your daughter in this boat maybe don't worry so much.

14:36 again. Applause to the parents for getting the meeting. At least you made your presence known. There is a math team (weak), National Junior Honor Society, spelling Bee, Geography Bee.

Anonymous wrote:My child went from Barnsley to JW due to the commute. It was fine but not much challenge. Most nights there was no homework as it is all done during the school day. It did totally inspire her to attend a HS magnet. Interesting that they have a meeting just for Barnsley parents.They did not do that our year. Keep in mind that most kids are considered advanced. It is not that advanced. I don't know if I would have done it differently as the commute would still be a big issue for us.

The meeting was pushed by the parents, not the school. I don't think the school is that interested in catering to former HGC students. My sense is that they are trying to challenge all the kids. Not necessarily a bad thing.

re: HW, this year in 5th, my DC has had such little HW I was starting to doubt whether DC was telling the truth. Also, I now a parent of a TPMS 6th grader. This parent stated that DC doesn't seem to have any HW, either, but thinks DC must be doing some on the one hour bus ride home. This kid is always tired, though.

My child went from Barnsley to JW due to the commute. It was fine but not much challenge. Most nights there was no homework as it is all done during the school day. It did totally inspire her to attend a HS magnet. Interesting that they have a meeting just for Barnsley parents.They did not do that our year. Keep in mind that most kids are considered advanced. It is not that advanced. I don't know if I would have done it differently as the commute would still be a big issue for us.

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone come back to Julius West after HGC? How was the transition and challenge? I just don't know if we can handle the commute to MS magnet.

My DC is going to JW for the same reason -- commute. Did you go to the MCCPTA "Meeting the Needs of the Highly Able Student" and the JW meeting they had for parents of kids coming in from Barnsely?

I know a lot of it is spin, but some of what I heard seemed like DC would be ok. JW only has advanced English and science for 6th, and they are supposed to differentiate within the class. The teachers talked a bit about how they differentiate. I'm also hoping that the MYP will make it a bit more interesting for DC. Maybe it's all just lip service, but I know a few current 6th graders from Barnsely, and they said it was fine. I think it just depends on the kid.

Like I told DC, it's what you make of it.

Anonymous wrote:Well obviously I can understand your concern since we experienced the impact with older child not making MS mag. Suggest you pursue any available options - magnet application or any other. But, our experience also shows not getting into a magnet ms is not the end of the world. Child learned determination and worked to make into hs magnet. Great lessons to learn there too.

Ours too.

Has anyone come back to Julius West after HGC? How was the transition and challenge? I just don't know if we can handle the commute to MS magnet.

Well obviously I can understand your concern since we experienced the impact with older child not making MS mag. Suggest you pursue any available options - magnet application or any other. But, our experience also shows not getting into a magnet ms is not the end of the world. Child learned determination and worked to make into hs magnet. Great lessons to learn there too.

Anonymous wrote:This is my fear. DD is in 4th grade HCG right now. After a difficult initial transition, she is really engaged at school and enjoying the peer group. I worry that if she doesn't get into one of the MS magnets, MS will be a disaster for her, both academically and socially. And private is not an option for us financially.

Oops - HGC

This is my fear. DD is in 4th grade HCG right now. After a difficult initial transition, she is really engaged at school and enjoying the peer group. I worry that if she doesn't get into one of the MS magnets, MS will be a disaster for her, both academically and socially. And private is not an option for us financially.