Our region has full-time self-contained gifted-only classes for the top 3% of students, but these gifted programs are always contained within certain regular schools.
Our region also has high levels of crime and poverty.
The gifted programs are generally placed in schools in dangerous areas.
This is a deal-breaker for us and we don't participate. We don't wish to place our children in harm's way, and we don't appreciate gifted children being used as pawns in various statistical and political games. Many others feel the same way, and participation in gifted programs is much lower than it would have been if the programs were located in nicer areas.
We don't feel the need to "get in there" and try to change things. The education system (and much else around here) is a basket case. It's a lost cause. Nevertheless our non-participation (along with many others) definitely sends a message.
