Davidson can be very helpful with a whole host of things not just grade acceleration. We have addressed a variety needs with them. We haven't done a whole grade acceleration. Can I ask why you don't want acceleration to be considered? We stayed away from it because my DS was not interested in doing it. He had been in school with the same kids since pre-k and had no interest in leaving his friends behind. We did do subject acceleration and some of it more radical. It has worked for him. Davidson has been helpful in navigating some of that and long term planning. The consultant was willing to contact the school and give them more information about our DS's individual needs.
What are you hoping to have the school do? By middle school it's particularly difficult for most schools to individualize any curriculum. My DS had one Science teacher do a good job of it before we accelerated him. I am in a fairly GT friendly district. It still would be a stretch to expect the regular teachers to do much for gifted kid. In our school, they are seeing 120 to 150 kids a day and its unlikely they are going to individualize curriculum for one student.
Davidson has been helpful for us. They gave us a lot of information to help us make decisions in planning for DS. I disagree they can't be helpful unless you accelerate. It more that the options buying acceleration are limited as they get older. If a child already knows Algebra 1 material sitting in a Pre- Algebra class, what exactly is the teacher supposed to do? Acceleration starts to look like the only option in some scenarios . Years ago, I would have never considered some of the things we've done with DS. I would have seen them as risky and radical. Over the years, I have come to see them as necessary for him. I am much more open to whatever options are needed for him or DD as she gets older.
Do you have IQ testing as well? If you have qualifying scores the application isn't that much work. Applying with a portfolio is probably a lot more work.
Sorry to have gone off topic a bit. I am just curious about the types of accommodations you are looking for? I do think Davidson can help just about anyone to figure out what an individual child might need.
