DS9 will start middle school (fifth grade) in September and turn 10 in October.
We were so sure that we were going to enrol him in the congregated gifted program of the other side of town, but now we are having second thoughts and are very conflicted.
The "regular" option would be the public college prep track middle/high school right next door to his catholic elementary, around 700 students. College prep track in this country was originally designed for kids around the 80th percentile and above, but the enrolment is closer now to 60th percentile and above, with high attrition rates making it around the 70th percentile by graduation. He would enter the science track with physics starting in 7th and chem (I think) in 8th, two foreign languages starting in 5th (English) and 6th (French or Latin). A number of kids from his present class might go there. It's in the town center this side of the state line and his father teaches there, too. They have a very successful robotics program. One of their strengths is supporting immigrant kids, but their language arts are comparatively weak.
The gifted program is one track of a somewhat larger public college track middle/high school (over a thousand students) on the other side of town across the state line. There are no other gifted options. The class will be made up of kids from all over the region. The cutoff is in theory a score of 120 on a group test, however, most parents will prefer a borderline child to excel in regular college prep track rather thanh be challenged in a gifted track, so the cohort tends to skew higher - as in, kids will be enrolled if parents think they really need the challenge and the different environment, because there is a stigma attached rather than prestige. The curriculum is the regular college prep curriculum, telescoped weekly, with about a fifth of the instructional time devoted to enrichment. Its also bilingual, as in a few classes will be taught in English (not our instructional language). It's in another state and the state curriculum is considered comparable to ours, though not quite as rigorous. They have robotics team and math Olympiad team. I think they may have better exchange programs - though I have so many friends in English and French speaking countries, we may easily set up something privately. Music offerings are probably comparable.
The huge con of the gifted program is the commute. 50 - 60 minutes on the city bus there and back again, changing at the central station during rush hour. The area the school is in is considered a ghetto, with drug dealing, though I am not sure how much it impacts students on the way to class - it WiLL be dark in the mornings in winter.
The second con is related: with the big catchment area, friends might live wherever. There are a few families scattered in our town we might set up car pools with, but it will be a huge hassle, as compared to the other school where he would just ride with his dad in the mornings and take the city bus In the afternoon for a 20 minute ride. The regular school also appears to have better lunch and afternoon care options.
Academically, in the regular school, he will not be challenged intellectually in math and science at all. He might find a little challenge in language arts or foreign languages, though I doubt it. However, it will not be mind numbing boredom, either. I have heard criticism that the combination of telescoping/enrichment in the gifted track isn't ideal either, because it's not really "more" or "harder" - just less time on task, and time wasted on project type stuff that doesn't really go anywhere.
Socially, he did alright in the high SES catholic elementary he went to. W had decided against another grade skip (he's already entered early) because he wasn't ready socially and it has worked out very well in that he is happy with the class and school he's in, and enjoys the many projects and field trips (there is a LOT of worship, and they prepare it well, skits, music etc and he's enjoyed that - much better than spending time on doing work that was too easy). While he might find his peeps in the gifted track, he has done alright so far in that respect. I hear that one of the cons of the gifted track is that it attracts students who badly struggle - and the problem is NOT just academic fit. DS' therapist actually advises against the school for that reason, having seen too many problematic kids and families there.
The regular middle school has a good reputation for letting kids work at their individual pace - as in differentiating DOWNWARDS and supporting struggling students, which college prep schools are historically loath to do. DH will have to find out how it works for strong students, he rarely teaches middle school.
There is the strong robotics team, and DH mumbled he might do something about physics Olympiad, which would actually be his job! I also told him he'd have to offer some kind of club every year that somehow happens to be perfect for his own kid.
DS9, who tends to over focus (kWIM;)) was for years totally focused on going to his Papas school. Them the gifted program came up, whenever he had a meltdown about being so under stimulated we promised him he could finally work at his pace there and now he's totally focused on the gifted program. However, I know once he realizes what the bus ride might mean, he might be very anxious about that and it may be the deal breaker.
Sorry for the novel. I'd appreciate all thoughts!
Last edited by Tigerle; 03/03/16 02:57 PM.
