Hi,

This is my first post. I've gotten so much great info reading this board. My daughter is in 4th grade so I'm looking ahead to middle school which starts in 6th grade here. We live in Howard County, MD, our schools are highly regarded. Her public elementary school has been really great. It is small (under 300 students) and very personal. The GT program has been great. In 3rd grade she had an inexperienced teacher, after working through it with the school I was very satisfied. She tests in the highly gifted range. She is currently in a fantastic GT math program that has the kids working over two years ahead with lots of hands on projects.

Over the past year I've done alot of reading about single sex education so began looking at a very good private girls prep school. I like the small classes and the fact that she could start Latin in middle school. I began asking questions about curriculum, specifically math. I learned that in 6th grade there is one math class with no differentiation. IN 7th they differentiate but only two section at grade and one year ahead. They would not be willing to let her take math with the 8th graders. I also learned that they use Connected Mathematics. After reading about reform math I feel certain I don't want to submit her to that, especailly when she loves math and does quite well. Both the admissions person and math chair admitted they could not compare with the GT math and science in our county. That they really served the middle best. I mistakenly assumed the private school would have more challenging courses.

The public middle school has a GT track, my daughter would be in all GT classes except PE, media and technology. GT classes at this school run between 15 and 18 students. I feel she would get a good education there but am not crazy about the possible social ills in a coed middle school environment.

692 students vs 150 at the private school though GT class sizes are the same.

The social stuff involving boys, vs the strength a girl can develop in a single sex environment.

GT track at the public school vs a setback in math and reform math at the private school.

Homeschool using CTY is always an option, though she is an only and enjoys her school community.

Any thoughts?

Thanks so much~