to get the thought/worry out of my head now that it has occurred to me. Okay, I am in a top school within a high-performing school district within a highly ranked state. I have succcessfully secured subject acceleration for DS9 twice already so this year he is in a GT Pre-Algebra program created for a very selected group of 5th graders (less than 0.2% of 5th graders)in our school district. It's not quite at his readiness level but it was DS' choice and the best option considering all the issues. So far so good.
The problem is that he is a 4th grader. This means that he will be a pioneer next year and the only kid in his position. All the other kids in the program will be in middle school as 6th graders next year and therefore able to take GT Algebra I in a regular classroom setting with 7th graders. Assuming that there is funding next year, DS will have the same set-up (once a week one-on-one math teacher and independent work the other four days so already not ideal) as this year except he will be the only kid in the system doing GT Algebra I this way.
Okay, I am freaking a little because it has now been brought to my attention that funding is not a given and they have not had to do this before for GT Algebra I.
I am also finding it a bit depressing that after my decision to hold DS back (he already completed ALEKS Pre-Algebra over a few weeks this past summer) partly so that he would have company still landed him in the same lonely place. I just can't believe that there are no other 4th graders in his position in such a huge school district. The funny thing is that by the time he gets to 9th grade, there should be a few other 9th graders taking calculus since there are a few of them doing that now. Apparently, a few kids manage to accelerate a year between middle school and high school, probably through summer programs like CTY. DS is not anywhere near a prodigy and he is really more of a verbal kid anyway so math is not his strongest area. Where are the other kids?!!
I guess I want the normal classroom experience for DS. I am mourning the realization that there will be maybe one normal year in middle school and maybe two normal years in high school as far as math is concerned. I am worry that perhaps he would be better off in one of the top private prep schools in our area that span K-12, which would make subject accleration easier.
It is just depressing that the best that you can do is still not that great. I am remembering all the minor difficulties that accompany DS' subject accelerations like missing parts of recess and getting in trouble because he wasn't there to pick up homework. Okay, I am just whining but everything looks gloomy today.
