Hello-
I'd like some input/ideas from others who have been there. Dd9 will be a 5th grader next year. She is currently in high ability programming and accelerated 1 year in math. Grades 5/6 are in an intermediate school. By 7th grade, she will be ready for Algebra 1. Her language/arts and reading scores great. I can't remember what her exact NWEA scores were, but she was 99th %ile in both reading/language arts. She has taken the WISC IV and had a 141 GAI.
We're looking ahead and have considered grade skips in the past. We did the Iowa Acc. Scale and she was a good candidate last year (not the highest ranking, but good) due to factors such as age, siblings, etc. We opted not to do it because the 4th grade teacher is a gifted specialist. It was the best decision we ever made because she has been WONDERFUL for dd.
In talking with school officials about our plans for next year, I have been told twice (off the record) that 5th/6th will be fine, but 7/8 will be miserable for her. The MS principal does not believe in homogeneous grouping or differentiation and she will get NO acceleration or support. High ability programming there just consists of math acceleration and their growth on NWEA is not good. I have been advised, if she is ready for Alg 1 as a 7th grader, to move her from 6 to 9. So, she would start her freshman year after 6th grade.
I'm interested in hearing from folks who have made a similar move. Dd does have a few good friends, but generally sticks out like a sore thumb socially no matter where she is. We're trying to look ahead to future plans since she is moving from Elementary this year.
Thanks for any input you may have. I know that the middle school years are tough any way you look at it!
