Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:True but a higher % of HGC kids get in. The one thing all the HGC kids have in common is that they perform well on tests.

Honestly, is that all MCPS seems to care about? Is this all that matters for middle school placement, too?

It may not be ideal, but it is objective. I'm not the poster who mentioned objectivity in your other thread (HGC/Magnet admissions) in which you (I presume) asked this exact same Q, LOL, but I agree with that PP. There is really no other objective measure--and that will just get worse now that grades are meaningless since everyone gets straight/almost straight Ps.

Also, lots of countries have strict test-in criteria for competitive schools; doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

I have one killer test taker. And one who is not. Ugh.

Anonymous wrote:True but a higher % of HGC kids get in. The one thing all the HGC kids have in common is that they perform well on tests.

LOL. Sort of an oversimplification. Ask any HGC kid how these recent spate of snow days have affected them. Multiple projects, assignments that they need to do in a very short turnaround time because the quarter lost so many instruction days due to snow. These kids have also learned to work hard, under pressure and learned to get things done. The other kids in MCPS ES will not have to jump these extra hoops, before the quarter ends.

The HGC experience teaches some valuable skills - not necessarily academic (we all are carrying the yoke of 2.0.). HGC does not really give them test prep, or exposes them to test taking skills and practice etc. That is not why HGC is in existence.

The higher %age of HGC kids get in because they (or their parents) have self-selected to be in this challenging program. They have the smarts (they did get into HGC in the first place), they know the process and time line of the MS magnet admissions, and they would have applied to MS magnet, even if they would have been in their own homeschool. Most of these kids are also excelling in sports, activities outside the school. They have a lot on their plate, as compared to the regular ES student.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have links to statistics on the number of applicants and number admitted?

It is a fairly involved application, so most of the applicants are highly motivated and pretty qualified, so it is pretty tough to get in.

That's why I doubt the weight some are putting on the test. Why have the kids go through the essays, collect the grades, and get teacher reccs if it's mainly the test? I don't have an answer, just questioning...

The Tests are the floor, not the ceiling. It is a qualifier test, they use it to narrow the candidate list.

So for x amount of seats they will take the application package of x + y number of students, who are the top scorers.

They will then look at the essays, teachers recommendations and the grades. After the x seats are filled, they will put the y students in the wait pool.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:True but a higher % of HGC kids get in. The one thing all the HGC kids have in common is that they perform well on tests.

Honestly, is that all MCPS seems to care about? Is this all that matters for middle school placement, too?

It may not be ideal, but it is objective. I'm not the poster who mentioned objectivity in your other thread (HGC/Magnet admissions) in which you (I presume) asked this exact same Q, LOL, but I agree with that PP. There is really no other objective measure--and that will just get worse now that grades are meaningless since everyone gets straight/almost straight Ps.

Also, lots of countries have strict test-in criteria for competitive schools; doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

Anonymous wrote:True but a higher % of HGC kids get in. The one thing all the HGC kids have in common is that they perform well on tests.

Honestly, is that all MCPS seems to care about? Is this all that matters for middle school placement, too?

True but a higher % of HGC kids get in. The one thing all the HGC kids have in common is that they perform well on tests.