Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments Anyone familiar with Quest Academy in Palatine,IL?

Hey, you sound like you work for the school!

I'm glad your son had an excellent experience. It's always really good to hear about positive experiences, as those with negative experiences are more likely to post about them online. Sometimes it can give us a skewed view.

Did you sense there was a wide range of giftedness at this school? Were profoundly gifted children handled as capably as highly and moderately gifted?

Thanks for your response!

30 minutes would be an overestimate I think. We tested in Long Grove and it only took us 30 minutes to get back to Streamwood. Its a quick drive from Libertyille..

I don't know how far out from the city you'd want to move, but Barrington schools have a great gifted program (at least on paper). They actually differentiate top 5% kids from top 1% kids. There is a self-contained classroom for kids that are profoundly gifted.

I also recently discovered that Rockford Schools (BIG move, may not be possible for you) has a public gifted school that looks outstanding. Housing in Rockford is very reasonable too - much more affordable than Barrington. (Although you can find affording housing in Barrington school district too - just make sure it's district 220).

There are public school options. Of course, being in Illinois there is no guarantee that the gifted programs will continue. Illinois doesn't require schools to have gifted programs, so they are often on the chopping block if a district is struggling financially. Wisconsin, on the other hand, requires and funds gifted programs in it's public schools. We are even debating moving to Wisconsin if the house deal falls through.

Hope that helps. Sorry I don't know much about scholarships to private schools. Most financial aid seems to be in the form of loans to the parents. Scholarships exist, but I'm sure they are very limited.

I didn't even consider Wisconsin. We live in Lake Bluff, about 15 miles south of the state line. My husband has always been interested in moving there for the lower taxes! I will check it out.

Barrington could be an option, there are more affordable communities in that area (we moved here from Arlington Heights so I'm familiar with it).

(The drive from here to Quest was around 30 minutes when I was there for a lecture recently, I got there at 7pm so that should tell you about the traffic. I would count on it being upwards of 45 minutes each way in a lot of slow traffic, and closer to an hour depending on what part of Libertyville you're in).

frannieandejsmom - that would be great if it was less than 30 minutes!!

We just got back from meeting with the local Libertyville school. the principal was so friendly and helpful. You could really tell that he cared and was the type to work hard to make sure every kid has his needs met.

But... we left still feeling unsure about what the best arrangement for our son would be. We still have over a year before we need to register him for Kindergarten, so we have some time to decide.

I just wrote to Quest to ask them a few more questions. The woman I've been in touch with there has always been very helpful and friendly. Honestly, the administrators at both Quest and Libertyville public schools seem really great.

One question I asked of my contact at Quest is about testing. I wonder if we should test our son now and get a better idea of just "how gifted" he really is. If is highly or profoundly gifted, it would make me more inclined to think the gifted school might be better.

But we also saw the Northwestern as it's Saturday gifted program out of Quest. It looks like an awesome program! It's available to kids as young as 4, so we could start it next year. We wonder if maybe we should start him off in the public schools (because, hey, they are free! Well, paid for with our taxes.) and do the Saturday enrichment.

I seriously think my husband and I are starting to drive ourselves crazy over-thinking this "where to send him to Kindergarten" question. At this age, it probably matters less than what we think it matters.

*sigh* Ok, that was just a little vent in the midst of this thread. Thanks for listening!

Property taxes are a bit lower in wisconsin (or a LOT lower, depending) but the income tax is higher. In general, though, we really love Wisconsin too. Not all the schools are great, though. Kenosha schools are struggling, from what I understand. If you're willing to make a big move, up into Milwaukee suburbs or even Madison you'll find some really high quality public schools. (All my knowledge of these schools, though, is just on paper...er screen. I don't personally know any gifted children working with these school districts.)

Good luck! I know how difficult these decisions are!!

Yes I've heard great things about Madison but its too far for a daily commute to Lake Forest. Milwaukee would be our limit.

I'm still holding out hope for something down in Chicago (kids can test without a Chicago address for SEES, but you have to have an address to register by the time school starts). I hear that they get more spaces opening up in 3rd grade than 2nd.

I think I'm going to get on one of the upcoming Quest tours too though.

sweetpeas, I lived east of the school, but I know parents who live in Vernon Hills, Mundelein, etc.

We have attended Northwestern CTD classes at Quest in the summer and the kids have loved it. Our current school started offering CTD classes, so we'll be doing there from now on.

I have a friend 3rd grader attends Quest and she loves it. She's moderately gifted.

Another friend had two kids at Quest and didn't feel her kids were being challenged enough. She moved them to public school gifted program in Palatine and thinks the education is much better.

A friend with 2 profoundly gifted kids who attended Science and Arts Academy, but she said the differentiation that sounded good in theory didn't play out in reality.

We visited DaVinci twice. It looks like a good school, but we couldn't get over how small the building and campus was.

We have 2 PGs and wanted to send them to Avery Coonley in Downer's Grove, but it's too far from our house. We currently send our kids to Elgin Academy and supplement with Stanford EPGY classes and CTD classes, but my kids are still under challenged and bored. We're not sure what we'll be doing next year.

As for public schools, I've heard the best feedback from friends in the Park Ridge and Schaumburg gifted schools.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

Thanks for sharing your experiences, JediMom! (Great name, btw!)

We are going to take our son in for a screening at Quest in March. We're all but sold on them for now, as a place to send the kids. We just aren't sure when. We may try to start as early as the 2013-2014 academic year when DS will be in Kindergarten and DD will be old enough to enter their preschool.

The other house fell through, so we are looking now to move to a place in Lake Zurich. It also has pretty good public schools (Actually, even though their numbers are lower than Libertyville they have a gifted program that starts earlier and it sounds like the are more flexible with skipping.) So the public schools might work there too. Time will tell.

On paper, and from our tour, we do like what Quest has to say. They confirmed that they skip, they are flexible in their curriculum, and I feel in general that they "get" gifted kids.

We'll just have to see how the screening goes and if we still feel good about the school after our second visit.