1. What's the gifted program like in your district? Is it a pullout for a few hours a week, or a completely different program that the kids attend all day, every day? Do the kids move through material more quickly? Could they, say, finish two years of math class in one? You said the program is "out of this world," but that doesn't really tell us much.
@binip may know these answers, or maybe not, but I'm familiar with the gifted program she's considering and it's like this:
Kids are in gifted classrooms all day every day. They're arranged into classes based on their reading scores.
Math: Kids are leveled on the first day of school, placed 1-3 levels up from their grade depending on demonstrated proficiency. They can't move up during the year, but are re-tested every year.
Language arts: The program utilizes specialized curriculum marketed for gifted students, not the standard district stuff. Lots of custom assignments, and expectations are reasonably individualized in this area.
Science: Uses the hands-on kits for the next year up.
Social Studies: Uses the regular curriculum for the same grade, with some extra projects.
Critical thinking is a keystone of the program and they do work hard on critical thinking as a theme across all areas.
It's a reasonable program in most respects.
