This sounds like us. We are also in a large metropolitan area and what you have described is the norm here and has been for decades. Moving to a smaller, 'better' district for us has pros and cons, of course. The better suburban districts, for example, are more likely farther away from the great culture of the city. Also, that sports philosophy is prevalent all over the place. As far as I have experienced, we are always in the minority. Since you do not have access to gifted classes, I would talk to the principal about a gifted individualized education plan, so that your child could work on special projects with teacher supervision. Just because you send your child to a private school does not mean that those children will be gifted counterparts; they usually just have wealthier parents and that socioeconomic class has its own set of problems (think Paris Hilton, for example). Planning for the future, look at colleges that have on-line programs that perhaps would accept a gifted child and then your child could have excellent classes at home. I think more and more universities are on-line. Good Luck!
