Once upon a time I grew up in a place where my son's ability/scores would be either the norm or maybe slightly higher. I now fantasize living there again so this wouldn't be so much of an issue!

So, no offense in depreciating his CoGAT - I really want to *know*, not inflate his scores or think he's more gifted, able or whatever. I want his best fit with opportunity to reach his fullest potential - whether it's gifted by definition or just super bright.

We now live in a small mountain resort town where education, while important, isn't as competitive and doesn't have many resources for bright & gifted students. We have a 50% latino population which brings our scores down and has the admin crazy to bring them UP - all the focus is on remedial rather than proper G&T - and in class differentiation. They do try, but they're overloaded with potentially not making standard and therefore losing funding. G&T gets 20K/year, for grades k-12.

In fact, there is NOTHING for summer programming either - I was thinking of spending a month to do summer camp next year where I received my graduate degree (in CT) - as they do offer a 3 week "gifted" program (the requirement is to be in 95% or higher on standardized testing)... both DS8 & DD7 make this cutoff.

I appreciate all the candor in helping me identify and understand what it is I have on my hands and finding the best place for DS8... and my daughter, as her scores are identical to her brother's at the same age!!

So I gather to further access his ability, depth and potential - to see if he's just bright vs. gifted (and needing something more now & down the line)... is to take the plunge and test.

I am sad because I know our situation doesn't fit the giftedness here on these boards, but we also don't fit the "norm". While our experience isn't having a 3yr. old read at a 2nd grade level... we experience DS8 reaching milestones early, being far more mature than his peers, far more developed with thoughts, reasoning, math ability - and quite frankly, my support system has become very small as most think I'm bragging vs. processing what I have... and they don't want to hear how DS8 is always excelling.

So I appreciate all your patience with us and stellar advice!

This morning I was thinking to give it all up and just let him be - be super bright and somewhat bored. ???