We are considering sending our DS5 to the Mirman School, if he is accepted. It's a huge commitment for the the family because we would have to move and the cost. Are there other options? Does anyone know of a highly/profoundly gifted homeschool co-op?

Thanks!

LA has public schools for highly gifted kids. I don't know anything about them, except that I'm pretty sure they go K-12.

Val

I think that would depend on what your reasons are for wanting to send him to that school. There are quite a few HG/PG kids on this board whose parents have been able to find ways to accomodate their children in public schools or local private schools. It has generally meant grade or subject acceleration, though. Are you opposed to those as options?

I'm touring a highly gifted elementary school in a couple of weeks, but that doesn't start until 2nd -- which we are willing to hold out for. Kinda of tricky though since we don't technically live in LA. The program (only 2 classes within a resident school) can only take kids who have been tested by LAUSD and because of recent budgets cuts as of this year, a kid can only be tested if they are a LAUSD student. We would need to figure out how to maneuver this.

We're not overly keen on grade skip because he is afraid of things and doesn't like to play pretend "fighting" games with the other boys. He is pretty advanced on all subjects for subject acceleration to work. But, things can't always be perfect and we realize that you have to accept the circumstance.

Hey there. I'm also interested in gifted schools in LA. We'll be making a move shortly, and need to work fast to be prepared for September 2010. So far, I've found Mirman and Lycee (not "gifted" per se, but rigorous, academically). Does anyone have any other suggestions, public or private, that we should check out? Thanks in advance.

Los Angeles has lots of options in comparison to most areas of the country including but not limited to private schools , public gifted and HG/PG magnates, public SAS (schools of advanced study) and homeschooling groups. I don't know of any gifted charters, but there may be. There are also some 2e options for older students.

My DS attends an SAS school where they allow him to do self-guided independant study projects and have assigned a 1:1 math tutor since he is doing middle school math. They allowed him to join upper grades for Friday electives to allow an escape from a more boring unit and study aerodynamics which appeals to his scientific mind. They have also been able to address areas of slow skill development or in some cases to skip over things he finds too boring to focus on and allow his motivation to carry him through a more challenging level to keep his interest. I don't know if there could be a better program for him except that he is still a bit lonely, advancement may help him socially. He likes to work at his level but he is not necessarily looking for a 'rigorous' or high pressure environment.

Gifted options for the kindergarten set are probably limited to a handful of enlightened SAS programs (where it is up to the individual principal) or private schools since LAUSD tries to hold off giving the test as long as possible and does not address early giftedness at all even if it is a very obvious case or factors into an IEP. Thier rationale is that they only give the test once and that kids tend to do better when they take the test as late elementary schoolers. Exceptions exist but are rare. Because of this they don't have sufficient numbers of gifted younger students to support gifted kindergartens or preschools.

Here's a website describing some of the LAUSD choices: http://echoices.lausd.net (Charter, HG Magnets, SAS, etc.)

I've heard mixed reviews about the gifted magnets but mostly positive about the HG magnets. Some are elementary only and some go through high school. If you look at the criteria for the gifted magnets the required scores may be lower than you would expect, http://echoices.lausd.net/Magnet/GiftedCriteria.aspx, so an LAUSD gifted magnet may not get you were you want to be (to the person that mentioned HG/PG), but perhaps a HG magnet would. I have also heard mixed reviews about the Mirman School, specifically that they are great with MG kids but (like many other schools) they are less great about accommodating the needs of PG kids. I don't have any personal experience with that school, this is just based on comments from friends who did have personal experience.

There are also lots of other resources available in Los Angeles - early college opportunities (Cal State LA's EEP program, for example), lots of community colleges where younger kids can take classes, summer programs like SIG at UCLA or CTY in Pasadena, Westlake and LMU, etc.

There are also many very good school districts in/near LA but not a part of LAUSD, like San Marino USD, Beverly Hills USD, Palos Verdes USD, La Canada USD, South Pasadena USD, Las Virgenes USD, Arcadia USD, etc. Some of the smaller suburban districts have fewer specific gifted programs but offer more in terms of regularly accelerated curriculum (like IB, AP, etc.) If you need info about a particular area, PM me and I'll give you whatever info I've got.

The best private schools in LA, and even some of the not as great ones, are very expensive (as an example, tuition at Harvard Westlake School, grades 7-12, is near $30K). Also if you want to send kids to one of the best private schools expect to have to compete with lots of other families for limited slots!

Another option that we've been exploring in our parochial school is subject advancement for our PG son. It really took one teacher taking him under her wing -- and suddenly doors started opening. Now he's attending classes 3 grade levels ahead of where he'd typically be in math and literature, but still at grade level for history, sociology, religion and writing. This keeps him socially w/ his friends, but keeps him at least a little more academically challenged. My DH and I were prepared to fight for what he needed, but apparently the school had had inter-departmental mtgs about him w/out our knowing and determined that the drive for tougher academics was coming from him and not his parents. Therefore, they decided to pilot this program to accommodate him. He'll start this Fall....we'll see!

If you want an objective measure of a school's ability to serve GT students in CA, I'd browse this list of National Merit Semifinalists for the schools in LA area and then look up the number of students in the senior class and calculate the percentage earning National Merit. If a Public School is top on the list, then you need to look at the feeder middle and elementary schools. By definition, NM winners are in the 99.5 of their class.

http://www.ibabuzz.com/education/wp-content/uploads/files/2009/09/natlmeritsemifinalists.pdf

Austin, this is interesting. The three public high schools in our vicinity are all consistently ranked 1-2-3 in our tri-county area, and yet school #1 has only 2 semifinalists, school #2 has none, and school #3 has only 1. These aren't small high schools, either. I wonder what to take from that.... (And what are they doing right in San Jose and Troy???)

Congrats! It seems your son's private school is very progressive and flexible. It's a shame this isn't common practice in public and private schools.

Quite interesting, isn't it?

By Ruf definition, 1 out of 200, is a level 4, which is what NM semifinalists may be. To do well on the NM test, you need good preparation and a high level of smarts. From my recollection of the test, smart kids without a wide-ranging education, either deliberate or autodidactical, will be at a disadvantage.

To put this in human perspective, in my HS we only had 2 NM when I graduated. A lot of students were honorable mentions. All of these have PHDs as well as one of the NM kids. I am the only kid in my AP math class ( with 11 students ) who did not get a PHD or MD. Furthermore, many in my class with PHDs or MDs are directors or top level admins in their professions as well. Very successful people. Very hard workers. But not as wide ranging an intellectual curiosity from my recollection.

Looking at the data, I see three basic groupings.

First, demographic concentration. San Jose has a ton of very bright people and they will have bright kids and will manage their education. And demand excellent Public schools. Great work ethics round them out. With an open admission policy, these types of schools may be the best bet for most GT kids whose parents decide the move is worth it.

Second, just normal occurrence. One or two kids here or there. These schools have good programs and are worth a short move to ensure kids get the best that parents can live with given their situation.

Third, selective admission and excellent instruction. I see a few private and public schools with 10-30% of their class NMSF in a large metro area. Most of the so-called magnet schools don't have that many. There are just two schools with about 30% NMSF. One in NYC and one in Dallas. These schools are a long shot for most parents and kids, but they usually have very strong financial support and a strong community. And a great education is a virtual certainty.

Another interesting point is that with a few exceptions, most of the "elite" schools with selective admissions do not have many NMSF. One explanation is that they are not skillful at picking and then educating kids to the best of their abilities. Another is that the parents of the brighter kids may make wiser choices about resource allocation. Or, the school really markets to a different segment.

Hi everyone , I usually don't post , just lurk. I have an exceptionally gifted DD 12 years old. She started to have difficulties getting herself to school in the 5th grade despite great grades. She was tested for Gate in the 3rd grade (not sure what that did for her)and was pulled out for an accelerated math class. Needless to say once 6th grade started at the local middle school I couldn't even get her go after the first 2 weeks.

To make a 2 private schools for the 1st semester and home schooling with a tutor for the 2nd semester. She is not someone who enjoys the solitude of homeschooling.

She is an extremely artistic and creative child who loves polymer clay and drawing. I was desperate for a solution that wouldn't cost me 25K a year or more. We applied for the Orange County High School of The Performing Arts, she auditioned for the Visual Arts conservatory and got in. So she started at the end of August and seems to love the school except for her Visual Arts teacher (Long Story) not very creative. She also is not very fond of the Pre-Algebra teacher and also has him for Science she says it sooooo boring. This school will not subject accelerate or skip grades. They will not work with you because so many kids want to go their school you are a dime a dozen.

We commute from Torrance to Orange County and Sierra gets terrible headaches from the hour drive up and back each day. She is starting to have the same tell tale signs of phantom headaches and stomach aches, hard to get her up in the morning 5:30 am, crying spells, etc. I wish there was a great school for exceptionally gifted kids in Los Angeles, or at least a great exceptionally gifted kids homeschool co-op that we could check out. Sierra would excel at a school that she could have like minded peers and the ability to accelerate the curriculum. She is highly sensitive and highly intuitive.

Until I had Sierra tested I had no idea that trying to find a suitable learning environment for my daughter would consume my days. When I ask her school if they accelerate all I hear is "we don't do that". What the hell does that mean??? They have 9th and 10th graders in my daughters 7th grade pre-algebra class but they won't put my daughter in a above level Algebra class because she needs to be with her peers. They have no idea who my daughters peers are. I have 12 year old with a 17 or 18 year old mind Per the WISC IV (Ceiling of 4 sub tests) and the WJ III ACH , 11.3 grade level, 16-9 Age Level, high school gradulate level and post graduate level on many of the subtests.

Sorry for the rant but I am getting desperate If anyone has any suggestions for the LA or Orange County area please advise.

Kimberly

Have you considered early college entrance programs?

http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/eep/index.php

Hi CFK,

Thanks for the reply, funny you should mention the EEP Program. We looked into that last year when all of this started. In fact I spoke at great length with a PEEP Parent of a former EEP graduate. To hear him talk about why his son entered the program was like hearing about my daughter. My DD at the time was 11 years old and the average age of entry is 13.5. My daughter felt as though she was too young to go to college ( Mind you she had just finished graduating from 6th grade elementary school) she had visions of herself sitting with adults in a classroom. She also had never taken an out of grade level test such as the SAT or ACT. So we decided to try to find another option at the time.

Well as you can see from my earlier post those other options do not seem to be panning out. Since your post I have again spoken to her regarding the option of EEP and had her look at some articles and you tube clips of the actual EEP students on campus talking about the program. I think her mind is changing about it and she is considering it an option now.

I had already signed her up to take the SAT through CTY Talent Search in December this year. I think that will be a great opportunity for her to take a test of that magnitude and she how she fares. I think it will tell a great deal more about her academic performance. Taking the WJ III ACH was one thing but I think a great score on the SAT's will give her that boost of confidence that she has the ability to get into the EEP Program. If all goes well on the SAT in December I will sign her up for the test given through the EEP Program in April of 2011 for the next school year. She will have to stick out the remainder of this school year. I feel like this is becoming a full time job.

Kimberly

Sounds promising! I hope it works out for her. It looks like a good program, one which I think we definitely would have taken advantage if we were in the area. Hopefully the thought of things to come will keep your daughter going for the rest of this year.

CFK

My fingers are crossed!!!

Kimberly

Good luck with the EEP.

Thank you Austin,

EEP program tests 2 times per year Dec and April on the ACT to qualify students for the program. Right now I am encouraging Sierra to take the test. She sometimes has "Imposter Syndrome" (not believing in her own abilities). Since she got into Orange County High School of the Arts and spends 8 hours of her day in most classes that she finds uninspiring and boring ( she reads books during at least half the class) and still gets B's and A's) She is starting to realize that she maybe the EPP program is where she wants to be. I am confident that Sierra would excel in the program. She is depressed and despondent over her school situation right now. I hope we can make this happen.

Kimberly

Update:

Hi Everyone!

Well DD did not make it through the remainder of the school year. Long story short we have finally settled into our eclectic version of Gifted Homeschooling! We have decided against the EEP program as she is not the motivated Math and Science type rather the exceptionally creative type! So for now we have decided to accelerate her into the 10th grade and she has been doing 10h grade curriculum since leaving the school in Orange County in October of last year. It is working out fairly nicely now that we have some semblance of a system and solid curriculum in place. Never thought I would find myself Homeschooling my daughter but here we are! She plans on taking the CHSPE to test out of compulsory schooling and take some courses at our local Community College.

Thanks everyone for your advice and support!

Kimberly