Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Regions Best gifted elementary schools, best gifted HS?

I'm watching this school with great interest! This is about a 15 minute drive for us. I know a family currently homeschooling that is thinking of enrolling here in the fall (they already have acceptance). The model looks really promising!

Hi everyone,

Dd did not get into Hunter. Totally devasted for a day, but she told me after the interview she didn't want to go there. I met a mother, whose son's IQ is about 152 and he didn't get in. Her older son is at the public gifted school Anderson so her younger son can easily get in there as a sibling. They only need a 97percentile on the OLSAT. So we commiserate.

So in looking at the two public options, I am leaning towards one that is up and coming, new principal two years ago, that has the Singapore math.

And I am soothing my ego with reading all these negatives about Hunter. Windowless schools have 25% lower scores in math and reading to comparable schools. And Rena Sobotnik's Elite Talent that shows that since Hunter startee in 1941, there has been no "super" success story, like Bill Gates. All moderate success. Yes, it is sour grapes. Still much sadness about not having the peer group for her. But she said she didn't want Hunter, she didn't like it and wants the "science school".

Thank God, she is legacy for Harvard and her father fundraises for them. My nerves are shot from this process.

Ren

(((Ren))) I know how much you'd hoped that would pan out. I am confident that your daughter will thrive wherever she lands, and wish you the best in finding the best for her.

I am sending e-hugs too, ren. Your DD will end up getting a wonderful education because she has a caring mom seeking out the best for her.

And no windows? Horrid!

Thanks. Such sadness. But I know that NYC still has options and many of you are struggling without options. So I will quit feeling sorry for myself.

Ren

Ren, I'm sorry it didn't work out. At least you tried. Not every school is perfect for everybody and your not #1 choice may turn out the be a perfect fit for your daughter. Like you said you still have good options unlike most of us.

Hey Ren,
I'm a bit of an expert on the NYC admissions nightmare. (My son was also rejected by Hunter after the second round.) I don't want to scare you, but I'm sure you're aware that admission to the two citywides is now basically a lottery among kids who score 99% on the OLSAT? Do you have a backup plan?

So, yes we have options in NYC but it's a crap shoot.

BTW my son now goes to the school that's second on your list, and it's not working out at all. I don't know what your child is like, but these are no places for bouncy boys! Really, what is your child like? Because the citywides are pretty rigid.

Good luck!

The tuition is around $25 or $26k for families enrolling for the inaugural year and will be frozen for the student's tenure at Speyer. Additionally, there will be a $2k discount extended to any accepted siblings. The school has made it clear that they are seeking the appropriate students and will be admitting on a firmly need blind basis. While they were also clear that there would be very limited financial aid available for the first year's applicant pool, I was encouraged to learn of a particular child's acceptance and tremendous financial aid offer. I found this information encouraging and enriching to the credibility of Speyer's stated mission.

Hello Wren,

I just signed on tonight and have been moved by your account of the nyc school search for your daughter. Although your post is a month old,I know how dragged out the remainder of the process may be and that a miss on Hunter can be a real letdown. If it helps, we decided after a successful R2(2yrs ago) at Hunter, that it wouldn't be a good fit for our child. I have years of experience with the successful HCES program and feel that although it's the best free option in ny, its strengths aren't in serving hg+ learners. The citywide g&ts are the best options for publics, but are in high demand and are another 'crapshoot'. I'm sure you've looked well into nest+m, Anderson and TAG and must realize that there are major drawbacks to Board of Ed schools. I encourage you to investigate Speyer more closely. I really think this may be a genuinely unique structure among ny schools. All the people involved, the pedagogic intent and the commitment are impressive. I know it's tough to take a risk on a new school, but it's so important to take steps to build communities which foster educational enrichment. Best of Luck to you.

Thanks Mamone.

I actually think NEST is trending towards being the best school of the Hunter, Anderson, TAG mix. And think it would be a good fit for DD, maybe the best. She keeps insisting she wants the "Science School", though she has no idea, unless psychic that NEST is New Explorations in Science and Technology + math -- for anyone else reading...

I did look at Speyer. And don't like what I have read or heard. I think the philosophy is great but I know of a girl accepted into kindergarten. She got 97 on the SB last year, but her parents held her back as she did not do well on the OLSAT. She got waitlisted at all the privates or not accepted with 99s on the ERBs. And I am thinking they are putting her into kindergarten with some really smart kids a year younger. That is tough. I do not think that was a good decision. Also, Danny is the music director. I know Danny. Of all the talented musicians that are available that teach at the Special Music School, this was a weird choice for HG+ kids. He does real preschool type music on Noggin. He teaches at a playschool where DD went for her 2nd year. If this is a sample of the decision making of how to teach HG+ kids, Connie has to think out of Hollingworth and get real. Can she do it? Perhaps but I do not want to be a guinea pig at 28K per year.

DD is doing extremely well with her piano and wants to take violin. She loves science and we think we can offer a lot of extra curricular. What I want is a good peer group and I am hearing good things about NEST. With the opening of some schools in Brooklyn, I think NEST is a better probability. Willing to take my chances even with TAG for a year and then try to go to grade 2 at the Special Music School.

Thanks again for the suggestion, but I think Speyer has to work the kinks out.

Ren