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

I am very interested to learn of great public schools for gifted.

After 9 years at private & 3 kids the well is dry for tuition. Oldest applied to some boarding schools, but is waitlisted & the fact we need Financial Aid doesn't help getting off the list.

I am willing to relocate ANYWHERE at this point.

BTW - I had never heard of OLSAT before - Is this just primarily used for NYC?

what are your kids' strong areas? interests? LOGs?

what did you like about their private school that you would like to have again?

what didn't you like about their private school (besides cost)?

I thought PA was supposed to be ok, at least fairly flexible..?
We are in Northern Va., a couple counties there are pretty good - Fairfax is well thought of but pretty rigid with numbers on testing due to large numbers of kids trying to accomodate. At the HS level I think they do a lot of online and other more flexible options.
Prince William County is another option you might investigate, we are here sort of by accident, didn't really plan on great schools but so far they really walk the walk. (Our kids have only hit 3rd grade so far!) I guess what I appreciate most is that they look at a variety of factors for identification.

Another notable point about NoVa: The Governor's Schools - but I am not sure they would be recommended for pg kids. (yes, public)
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/Govschools/

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/Govschools/academic.html

I really don't know if there are schools like this in other states...?

Well, I just decided to look:
NJ - http://depts.drew.edu/govschl/
MS - http://www.muw.edu/govschool/

and, voila, a fairly complete list...
http://ncogs.org/web/index.php/View-users-list/All-Governor-s-School-Programs

Ok,and for PA, the first few paragraphs are on...budget cuts. I could be wrong but it sounds like that entire program is cancelled.

http://www.pgse.org

And some of these seem to be summer only.

Hope this sparks some ideas, at least!

I believe the OLSAT is similar to the COGAT. It's a group test.

For NYC, they modify the OLSAT to 40 questions and give it one on one to preschoolers for kindergarten entrance. They do not have to color in the circle, just point to the right answer and the tester fills it in.

Down here in the Sunshine State
International Baccalaureate High School
2270 South Broadway
Bartow, Florida 33830
However, many will enter and few will win.
I believe this high school ranks 7th in the nation, and I hear the entrance requirements are quite competitive.

As for Elm you are out of luck, we have waiting list for all of our good magnet schools.

Some public school districts in Missouri (St. Louis County/City of St. Louis, Kansas City, and Columbia) have a two-tiered gifted program. These districts usually have a one day pull out program for "gifted" students which starts in kindergarten and they have a full time (all day, every day) immersion program for "profoundly gifted" students.

I'm very familiar with Speyer. It's definitely early days, and things are still getting worked out, but I have to tell you that what's going on in the classrooms at Speyer is unparalleled in New York, and contrary to what someone said on another thread, there is financial aid. I really encourage you to talk to current Speyer parents for informed feedback.

I would say that Fairfax County, VA has a good program as far as public schools go. Their "level IV" services at the elementary level include placement in a GT center class comprised only of other students who have also been selected through the process of testing and a selection committee.
http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/gt/level4.html

Also located in Fairfax County is Thomas Jefferson High School (also a public school, although admission is by competitive application only) which is considered one of the top high schools in the US.
http://www.usnews.com/articles/educ...a-high-school-is-best-in-the-nation.html

In the Dallas, TX area.

Public schools:

Garland School District and Carrollton School District are ranked in the top 3 G/T schools in Texas. Both have very objective entrance requirements to the programs. They both have very reasonable cost of living - either renting or home ownership. Carrollton is more central to the area.

http://www.cfbgifted.org/index.htm

http://www.garlandisd.net/departments/Magnet_Programs/

Both Dallas ISD and Denton have Magnet Schools as well.

Private in Dallas:

St Marks, Hockaday, and Greenhill are the top private schools. St Marks is for boys only - and Hockaday for girls only. Greenhill is coed. All three schools provide partial to full rides to part of their student body.

St Mark's has over 25% of its senior class named as National Merit Scholars every year. Typically, these kids are in the top 2/10 of 1% of their age group. Those are some very smart kids.