I wonder if it may be worth it to send him to a school with mediochre test scores, just for the extra perks?
I am one of those people who think that mediocre test scores reflect the overall IQs of the kids who attend the school, rather than super teacher and super systems create high test scores. This is not to say that an individual teach can't make a difference - they do
all the time, but to get a whole public school of 'above average teachers?' Sound a bit like Lake Woebegone to me. And even teriffic teachers might be poision for certian students - I've seen that too.
I think that wealthier areas tend to have more people in them with higher IQs and tend to spend the money to attract the super teachers and the super systems. Charter schools and schools 'with a mission' have the possibility of doing this as well. So it's a mess ball of association and causation.
I think that schools in poverty areas have the lowest test scores but not because of IQ. I think it the worst areas, the conditions outwash most of the IQ.
Interestingly, lots of people feel comfortable saying that the lowest performing school are that way 'because the kids are substandard' but the highest performing schools are that way 'because the teachers and systems are extrastandard.' My feeling is the exact opposite. But what do I know about it?
What I do know is that the test scores are like a full scale IQ - an average of many different things. There could be a school that has 2 distinct populations, one very high and one very low that has mediocre test scores. Sometimes gifted kids do better in 'modest' school systems with lower scores because the school is willing to listen to the parents and give needed subject accelerations. Our local school system is very proud of it's highish test scores, and very 'what do
you know' towards the parents: ((We have handfuls of kids like yours in the Middle school, just wait a bit, will you? Or go away, ok?))
I really really wouldn't get hung up on the test scores, but instead get into the mechanics of how do they deal with kids who are ready to learn a different level of material than agemates.
And I do think that all the 'pluses' are really important to gifted kids, because the pluses might involve abstract thought, which is sorely lacking in elementary school model. It's seen as non-essential and 'extra' so look for a school that is willing to dally in the extras.
My .02
Grinity
