Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments District gifted program vs. private school

I am new to gifted kid eductation. My daughter,4th grader, is recently identified as PG. Although she learns everything fast and is a good student, I have never thought about gifted program. This is a wonderful community, I learned a lot from from experienced parents....

Could you kindly advise what factors we should look at when choose between public school district gifted program vs. pprivate school? Or, what are factors that we should pay more attention when select a gifted program in general? (maybe more towards middle school and high school, unless it is also important to be in a gifted program for 5th grade)

Greatly appreciate your advice!

Welcome!

If you are in the United States, you may wish to begin by checking your state laws. The Davidson Institute for Talent Development (DITD) provides links to up-to-date information: Gifted Education Policies by State

This post is a roundup of ideas, tips, and resources for school fit, evaluating a gifted program, and educational advocacy. You may wish to read each school's website and compare their gifted policies, programs, services, philosophy, and identification criteria. For example, some school's gifted programs may consist of curriculum one year ahead. Others may "differentiate" within the classroom. Few may create flexible cluster groups by readiness and ability, regardless of chronological age and/or grade level so that children are learning at the appropriate challenge level or in their zone of proximal development (ZPD), with the closest possible intellectual peers in a subject.

Take notes or create a spreadsheet to compare the information which you learn from each school. You may wish to gather information on the 5Ws (Who-What-Where-When-Why and How). More information and examples at these two old posts: 1 & 2.

Families often make an appointment to tour the schools which they are considering, and children visit for a day, "shadowing" another student while experiencing the atmosphere of the school to see if it is a good "fit".

The Davidson Institute for Talent Development (DITD) provides the "Davidson Database" which includes articles by experts on topics such as:
1) Basic Educational Options for Gifted Children
2) Choosing the Right School for Your Gifted Child

The book A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children has a chapter dedicated to Finding a Good Educational Fit. There is a list of questions more important than "Is my child in a gifted program?" by Dr. Donald Treffinger. This is also found online at Center for Creative Learning (CCL), titled “Dear School People”.

In middle school and high school, each child may pursue individual interests outside of school which help distinguish them from other students. The books of Elizabeth Wissner Gross may be of interest, including:
1) What High Schools Don't Tell You and Other Parents Don't Want You to Know,
2) What Colleges Don't Tell You, and Other Parents Don't Want You to Know.
These books provide tips and ideas on what to do beginning in middle school to help your child find and pursue opportunities in his/her areas of strength.


I am creating a link to your thread on a similar topic: which school to choose - your advice please

DS goes to a public school and in second grade they allowed him to work with advanced fifth graders for math. He was also moved up for reading and spelling. The school has no gifted program and they do not identify kids as gifted. But this has been the best fit. He could be attending a school where he would be identified as gifted (over 98th percentile cognitive ability) and placed in a "cluster" of other gifted kids within a regular classroom, but my experience has show this to be practically useless, because it's so poorly organized. My point is that we are choosing a school with NO gifted program over one that has one. The best choice depends, mainly, on the flexibility of the school and the administration in doing what they can to meet the child's individual needs. The worst schools for gifted kids are the ones that are so entrenched in "policies" that all they can see are cut-offs and rules rather than each child as individuals.

@ Indigo @ blackcat, thanks so much for both of you! Great point and info, glad I found this communicty! Glad have a good reading list for the long weekend Have a wonderful weekend!

@ Indigo @ blackcat, thanks so much for both of you! Great point and info, glad I found this communicty! Glad have a good reading list for the long weekend Have a wonderful weekend!