GATE Classes in Middle School
How are Students Selected - What You Don't Know
The majority of middle school students qualify for GATE classes through an exam. Parents may not be aware of the alternate methods. Read on to discover these strategies.
Parents new to public education and even those of us who have ridden the ship for years are equally stymied by how decisions are made that affect school policy and ultimately affect a child's education.
Understanding the rules that govern the public school system is critical to your child's success and your sanity.
Case in point: At a recent PTA meeting a middle school mom shared that her son’s middle school offers GATE classes. She was told the only way to participate in advanced level classes was to take the qualifying examination. Her son hadn’t taken the exam. He didn’t qualify—end of story.
Most parents accept this seemingly logical response to an honest request for information about their child's class options, and resign themselves to the idea that their child won’t be a part of the GATE program.
Numerous students gain placements in the GATE program who had not passed the official examination.
How does this happen? First, let’s look at a few of the untraditional ways that students can qualify for gifted classes and then we will explore why schools don’t publicize these alternatives.
Alternative Methods for GATE Qualification
The qualifying exam acts as a filter that effectively prohibits approximately 90% of students from qualifying for GATE classes. Don't pass the exam and you simply don't qualify.
In actuality there are numerous ways to qualify for GATE classes. Below I have listed a few of the more common, yet less publicized methods. “But wait”, you say, I thought there was a system, a set of rules that govern this process. The “exam” qualifies students. Indeed the exam does qualify students in the majority of cases; however, a significant number of students gain entrance to GATE courses through the following methods.
- Standardized test results (in the 90th percentile) can be used as justification for participation in GATE classes. Students don’t need to score in the upper regions in every subject area to qualify. A score in the 90th percentile range in math is enough to qualify for the GATE level math class; however this doesn’t mean automatic entrance to all GATE classes.
- Middle schoolers in particular, can qualify for GATE classes if they have been recommended by a teacher. What does it take for a teacher to recommend a student? Talk to a teacher, build a relationship and you have a better chance than simply demanding the recommendation. However, squeaky wheels still receive a fair amount of grease in today’s education realm.
- Another strategy that has proven effective is the parent recommendation. How does a parent recommend their own child for GATE classes? It's actually easier than you might think. Schedule a meeting with the school counselor or principal and produce evidence in the form of exams, homework, projects, etc. that clearly demonstrate a child's ability to learn and comprehend higher level concepts and you qualify. Test results from an educational therapist rank high on the list of acceptable evidence.
Why don’t schools share these alternate methods of GATE qualification with parents?
- An increase in the number of students qualifying for GATE classes would force schools to find additional teachers and materials that schools do not have the resources to support.
- Parent abuse is the second more detrimental reason for keeping the information hidden. Unfortunately some parents would abuse their ability to gain entrance to higher level classes. In the majority of cases students gaining admittance to GATE classes, through methods other than the qualifying exam, are not ready for either the academic rigor or depth of knowledge that most gifted classes demand.
Sadly, when a student is not ready for the demands of GATE instruction they find themselves overwhelmed by the workload and filled with anxiety as they try to perform at a level beyond their ability. Challenge helps students strive towards higher levels of achievement; however when the challenge becomes unrealistic, growth declines and students begin to develop anxiety, stress and other detrimental behaviors that further prohibit learning.
Who determines what’s realistic with respect to academic challenge?
The school system created the GATE qualifying exam to act as a measure for evaluating a student’s readiness for advanced classes and coursework. Again, in the majority of cases, the exam effectively selects students who go on to flourish in advanced classes.
Ultimately, the decision regarding what is challenging versus unrealistic resides with the parent. The decision to push forward and request placement in advanced level classes is an awesome responsibility for parents to assume. Essentially, when parents attempt to skirt traditional methods or the established rules they are saying, “We know what’s best for our child.” This statement carries with it the responsibility of continued monitoring to assure that what a parent originally thought was “best” continues to be the most appropriate choice for their child.
Qualifying for GATE is the first step on a long road. Assuring a child’s long term success requires ongoing communication with teachers and the child to confirm achievement and more importantly the child’s belief in their ability to achieve.
Guiding, coaching and encouraging your child towards realistic challenges that stretch her to develop requires an ongoing effort and a keen eye for differentiating what’s best from what’s popular.
