Anonymous
Post 03/07/2013 11:54     Subject: Has anyone here left private to go to a gifted program (elementary)?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The kids that go to the center are a quirky and odd lot. Parents of these kids may not want to say that, but it is the case. We didn't send our DD last year b/c the group of children from her home school were the oddest kids. An entire class room of these kids could be problematic b/c they are socially awkward and sometimes very strange.

Also, be aware that curriculum 2.0 will be rolled out at the center this fall. Some might say that the center can and will implement the curriculum with better results than neighborhood schools, but that is doubtful at best. In reality, MCPS doesn't really support the center anymore so they are beginning to gut it. In short, a center with the odd kids and without a strong curriculum is less attractive than ever. Do your homework about the center.


That's a very broad brush you paint with. My daughter is at an HGC and would probably be labeled as odd by you. That being said, there are a ton of kids there who would definitely not be considered strange in any way; just very smart.


My DD is at an HGC this year and while there are some that can be considered quirky and odd, many are just smart, motivated kids with interests in music, art and athletics. It is completely unfair and untrue to characterize the HGC as an entire classroom of strange kids.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2013 10:35     Subject: Has anyone here left private to go to a gifted program (elementary)?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They haven't rolled 2.0 out yet at the center, things will change when they do.


They have not announced that they will.

Even if they do, it will be Center-approach-based. I'm not worried, not in the least.


Ok. That just means that you are naive and not very savvy about the new leadership in MCPS. This leadership is completely against "gifted" education. They don't even want ability grouping in regular schools. Glad you aren't worried, but you should be.


::shrug::

I've had three kids go through the Center and my fourth will be there in the fall. I know the teachers very well and am confident in their ability to address the needs of these kids, regardless of what curriculum they are told to use.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2013 10:15     Subject: Has anyone here left private to go to a gifted program (elementary)?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They haven't rolled 2.0 out yet at the center, things will change when they do.


They have not announced that they will.

Even if they do, it will be Center-approach-based. I'm not worried, not in the least.


Ok. That just means that you are naive and not very savvy about the new leadership in MCPS. This leadership is completely against "gifted" education. They don't even want ability grouping in regular schools. Glad you aren't worried, but you should be.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2013 21:25     Subject: Has anyone here left private to go to a gifted program (elementary)?
Anonymous wrote:They haven't rolled 2.0 out yet at the center, things will change when they do.


They have not announced that they will.

Even if they do, it will be Center-approach-based. I'm not worried, not in the least.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2013 20:41     Subject: Has anyone here left private to go to a gifted program (elementary)?
They haven't rolled 2.0 out yet at the center, things will change when they do.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2013 19:38     Subject: Has anyone here left private to go to a gifted program (elementary)?
Anonymous wrote:The center curriculum now is the same as the rest of MCPS for science, social studies, and math. The difference is with reading/writing. When the 2.0 version of the center curriculum comes out, that won't change (their reading/writing will be different, but they will do 2.0 math, science, social studies).


We're in fifth grade and I don't know if they have changed things in fourth grade this year so I can only comment on 5th G. The science and social science topics might be exactly the same as in a regular fifth grade MCPS school but they do it at a different level- more like 7th or even 8th grade in terms of the depth and complexity. They have regular written projects and presentations in social studies and science. The math curriculum is exactly the same as in a regular MCPS school but there are more kids taking 7th grade math and IM in 5th grade. I've heard the math might change with the C2.0 rollout but not heard anything about the other subjects.