Hi NJMOM,
Our upper middle class district is the same way - I would say it is definitely UNCOMMON for any child born in the month of March and after to be in kindergarten the year they turn 5. My DD4 will turn 5 this month and start kindergarten at the "normal" time next year. We had her tested this past winter, and her FSIQ is high enough that we considered a grade skip to 1st - but after learning that she would be TWO years younger than half the class, we've decided against it for now. Unfortunately, enrollment in the district gifted program is often considered a status symbol - most parents don't really consider what is best for their child's actual academic needs. It's also interesting to note that this trend seems to be more common among wealthier families - middle class and below tend to put their children in K during the normal year because they no longer have to pay child care costs. In a situation like yours in which only achievment tests are considered, I would expect that the GT program is overloaded with high socioeconomic status kids. It's this kind of thing that makes gifted education look "elitist", rather than a special need. Frustrating.
