Anonymous wrote:My child got upset once during the first quarter because she missed her old school and missed it being easier. She also cried in the middle of the night around the time the first quarter Native American project was due. We were worried it wasn't a good fit. Since then she's been fine.

4th grade is tougher than 5th; more work and of course, for most kids, it's a whole new set of kids. That Native Am. project was a lot of work. 5th grade is walk in the park. Hardly any HW. I don't know why they do it that way. I doubt they are trying to weed out kids.

My child got upset once during the first quarter because she missed her old school and missed it being easier. She also cried in the middle of the night around the time the first quarter Native American project was due. We were worried it wasn't a good fit. Since then she's been fine.

My child was very unsure, went for one month, wanted to leave and was pressured by the school to at least do one year and he would be comfortable but the mid year. Well he never really did and came back to home school in 5th grade. It was NOT a pressure cooker by any means. He just wasn't close with the kids. It is definitely a quirky eclectic type of group and my son just wanted to be "normal" in "his" school with his friends. I was a little reluctant about going AND then again about coming back. I wish he never went but I was glad I didn't force him to stay. He is in high school, happy and thriving.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think 50% of parents I know have admitted that they did not want their kid to go to HGC. Their kids took the test and qualified, but they wanted to give a happy childhood to their kids and did not want them to be in the pressure cooker environment, so they turned down the admission.

The HGC is not a pressure cooker. It is an appropriate learning environment for children who need it.

-HGC teacher

If that's the case, why did one of the presenting teachers at the open meeting warn parents that many kids cry in the beginning? That really bothered me. The privates are rigorous and yet pride themselves on making the school experience fun & happy.

I don't know. Maybe they cry because it is an adjustment to a new situation.

We were relieved when our son, now a college student, chose not to attend the HGC. We've never had any regrets -- despite the fact that some of the parents of other kids who were accepted told us that we would rue the decision.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think 50% of parents I know have admitted that they did not want their kid to go to HGC. Their kids took the test and qualified, but they wanted to give a happy childhood to their kids and did not want them to be in the pressure cooker environment, so they turned down the admission.

The HGC is not a pressure cooker. It is an appropriate learning environment for children who need it.

-HGC teacher

If that's the case, why did one of the presenting teachers at the open meeting warn parents that many kids cry in the beginning? That really bothered me. The privates are rigorous and yet pride themselves on making the school experience fun & happy.

If a child is feeling pressure, then I don't think said child should be in there, or perhaps that child feels internal pressure, or maybe it's that particular HGC. My DC never felt like it was a pressure cooker. Lots of work, yes, but not a pressure cooker.