My kids are at a school within a school. They do go to specials (art, music, PE) and recess/lunch with the traditional students. There seemed to be a lot more issues when the gt kids were in mixed-grade classes while the traditional students were not. This meant that the gt went to lunch, recess and specials with different grades every year. This had a huge isolating effect. Now the program has shifted to single grade classrooms the gt kids don't seem as insular. On the downside, they've lost the mentoring opportunities and some of the healthy ego-deflation that come with mixed-grades.
I hadn't thought of how this would work - thanks for bringing it up! One of my concerns is the smaller social pool for my dd, since she now has a lot of friends in the other second grade classes and some from other grades, as well.
We'll be doing the opposite of Grinity, because the SWAS program is in one of the wealthiest schools in the district, and we're currently in one of the poorest. I have my concerns about that, as well:)
Thanks for the feedback - keep it coming!
