Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Feedback on the Davidson Academy Reno

ZM:

We moved all the way across the country for the DA. The adjustment was, and continues to be, hard, but I think people's feelings about relocation depend on what they like and where they came from. I absolutely love the people I've met, but I can't imagine I would not be here if it weren't for the school. I agree with deacongirl regarding Truckee/Tahoe, but I have no effusive praise for Reno itself. True, Truckee and Tahoe are both spectacularly gorgeous, but there's nothing on that level in Reno proper. In fact Reno is a high desert, not an alpine forest, so the landscape here is way different (and a lot less easy on the eyes) than it is in either of those places. And (depending on traffic/weather) traveling to both Truckee and Tahoe can be a pain. I live in one of those westernmost subdivisions (supposedly 30 minutes from Northstar) and I can tell you that trip there is rarely so speedy. Still, the people in Reno are truly, truly lovely and it really is easy to get around (if you have a car). And the Sierra Nevada area is definitely worth the drive, even if it does take more than 30 minutes. There is nothing more enjoyable than stretching out in the warm summer sun (and single-digit humidity) of a Tahoe beach. The crystal clear water, the pine trees along the shore, the snow-capped mountains in the distance.... It is amazing.

As for the school itself, it's a work in progress and I think anyone considering it for their child needs to embrace that from the get-go. Am I satisfied as a parent? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Is my kid happy? Mostly yes, but sometimes no. I think it's important to keep in mind that the DA is not going to be the perfect school -- no place is going to be perfect. What each family needs to do is take a good hard look at how it really stacks up against a child's current school situation. I also think it is important to get a variety of opinions and talk to as many people as possible, both those who love it there and those who were less than thrilled with their experience. Only then can you make a truly informed decision. I hope you come out to visit and see all that the DA and Reno has to offer, no matter what you ultimately decide to do!