Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy done with 1st, can't move to 2nd?

Hi,

Is the science magnate hard to get into such that not attending this year would make it hard to get in next year? In other respects such as extracurriculars and peer group would it be desirable? Perhaps it could be worth it to settle for it this year if the positives of the school and future potential are good enough. Are you okay with homeschooling for years, or just trying to get through this coming year? Might a spot in 2nd open up down the road, if he's there already he'd have a shot at a skip? Have you been able to talk with the 1st and 2nd teachers there and the principal about differentiation options?

In our area we have 3 public school options and while they nominally follow the same curriculum the level of instruction is vastly different, and none of them are charters or lottery type schools. The socio-economic level is grossly the same across the three. It's just that one of the three somehow informally holds kids back in K if their end of year performance is not indicating they can competently do 1st material (in our rural area parents never seem to argue if a principal makes a verbal recommendation to hold a child back). By 1st the school is teaching to a higher percentile level. If one sits in on a class they are not teaching 1st grade math in 1st, they are reviewing first grade math and offering differentiated math to the majority of the class that can handle it. (That said it's still isn't ideal because that's as far as they go, if a 1st grader is capable of 3rd or 4th grade material they are not likely to provide it.) Still, it's a closer fit than the other two area schools academically and one would have no idea without an extended visit and talking to parents who send their kids there. And then since this is a known aspect to this school it is by word of mouth where the brightest kids end up: the recess play themes and the extracurricular clubs reflect the student population.

I just wonder if that may be the case for the science magnate in your area, enough bright kids that they are used to and comfortable with accomodation.