Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy The Davidson Academy?

I was just wondering how many of you have children attending the academy or the young scholars program? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the program and school.

Dottie - thanks! I am hoping that the good score, recommendations and very detailed application that I did (which took me quite some time to complete) will be enough to get her accepted. Fingers crossed!

What do you like best about your ds being in the DYS program? What benefit has it given your son? How old is he? DD just turned 7 in late Oct. Ive read all about the DYS program but know that personal experience far outweighs anything that I can read.

Yes, it is fortunate that we are in NV. We are actually about an hour away from where the academy is located. We'll take things one step at a time, first hoping to get into the DYS program, and see how things progress from there.

Thanks so much for your response

My family has been involved with the YS program since the beginning of 2003. We homeschool, so have not needed assistance with advocacy, but we have reaped the benefits of DYS services in myriad other ways. Being PG can be very isolating, and being the parent of a PG kid can also be tough. It is wonderful to be able to talk to people who understand our issues.

One of my YS is a seven year old girl. She has a few YS friends who she seemed to bond with instantly. Though they don't have the chance to get together frequently, they email each other and share many of the same passions. Outside of DITD, the girls she actually has most in common with are 9-12 years old. She can't really discuss books or big ideas with her age-mates locally, though she does try.

I hope that your daughter's application is accepted quickly, and that we can say hello on the parent lists!

Hi Tammy,
I can't put into words the difference that being in YSP has made to my parenting. DS11 is just a square peg that wouldn't not, couldn't be made to fit into that round hole without a fight! Even with the IQ scores, no one locally had any idea of the implications of those scores - including me, DH, the school and the tester.

Plus I see myself and my own path in such a different light - even being MG or HG in this world, is enough to make everything seem upside down and swimmy. I'm a much calmer person, and waste very little energy trying to "look normal" these days. Before I wasted so much energy trying to "pass" and I wouldn't have minded so much if I could have, but I never could!

Luckily DS found some other boys of roughly similar age through the YSP that we are able to get together with for playdates. This has been the key that has gotten him through the tough years. Even now with things going really well at school, and having friends there, there is still something so special about the afternoons he spends with his YSP friends. He can finally have a chance to be himself.

Interestingly YSP is set up to help parents advocate for the children, but I really see my son's social and emotional needs being met through the program. If the program focused on social and emotional needs without the help and concern on getting the academics "close enough" then I doubt that his social and emotional needs would be met. Weird paradox, huh?

Your current school's clustering and compacting policy is worlds ahead of what we have in our state. That may be all she needs.
Best Wishes,
Trinity

Thanks for responding ladies. It sounds like the YSP is great. Keeping my fingers crossed that dd gets accepted. I'll keep you posted!

BTW, Tammiane,

If we lived near Reno, I would very seriously consider enrolling my kids in the DA. That is the only school in the world that attracts my interest and makes me wonder if it might be better than homeschooling for my children. The benefit of having constant interaction with true peers is very, very appealing. No matter what we do with homeschooling, my kids seem to have only each other and maybe 1-2 other Hg+ kids. As they get into their teens, I believe this may become more of an issue.

Obviously we have to wait and see if dd gets into the YSP but if she does then it would only be a matter of time before we would have to think about the DA. I have mixed feelings on it. I think its an exceptional school. We'd almost be crazy to not send her there if she got accepted. I know that. My fear is making her grow up too fast. Her rate of acceleration right now is increasing and thats just in a public school that has a good focus on high kids. How fast would her acceleration be in an environment like the DA? Would she be graduating HS at a crazy young age? Is that a good thing? I dont want her to miss out on the normal "kid" stuff because she is already in college so young. KWIM? I know academically it would be unbelievable for her so its really a very hard decision. We are fortunate because not only is dd gifted but socially she is flourishing. She has lots of friends, her BF is actually in GT too. She is confident and a leader and so I like that she is so balanced. There are times that she gets frustrated with other kids because they just dont "think" like she does but for the most part she seems very happy with school etc. We just dont want to make a mistake! I guess we'll cross that bridge when we and IF we get to it. Its a huge decision!

From what Ive read they have to be at Jr high (middle school) level to qualify for the school. So yes, we have some time. Dd is reading at middle school level and her spelling is already at 5th grade but she has some time before all of her subjects are at that level. Her rate of acceleration right now seems to be skyrocketing and so who knows how long it will be before she is at that level.

Lets say she does go to the DA. If she completes all HS level work does she technically graduate? I wonder how that works. There's much I need to research IF she seems to be headed that direction. This all may be mute if she doesnt get into the YSP so thats why we're just taking things one day at a time.

Im sorry your son has a tough time making friends. I know that must be hard.

CFK -
I don't think "sociability" runs in families, and when I think back to my brothers and the boyfriends, and their brothers from my teenage-years I think that having one brother be very girl-social actually puts an inhibiting effect on the others. No research here, just a hunch.

But the main point is that homeschooling is not a "all or none" permanent decision. I would encourage you to met your child's needs "for now" anyway you can. You can always change your plans later as priorities develop.

Tammy, I wouldn't be suprised if your daughter's school is a wonderful environment for her throughout her schoolyear, because of what you outlined in your Clustering post. The great thing about the Davidson Academy is that it's there if you need it. I read somewhere that when you met children's intellectual needs, every child does better, but the gap between top and middle actually grows, because the lid is taken off. So I wouldn't be suprised if she does need a gradeskip here or there, but you will know it by watching her behavior. If perfectionism develops, if she doesn't appear engaged, if she has lots of kids who want to be her friend, but no one that she values, then you'll know that some kind of change is needed.

Perhaps she'll get to spend a year or two at Davidson Academy at the end of High School, when she is ready to strech her wings? The good thing is that you are sitting pretty! I hear over and over that the key is to met your child's needs now, and be flexible in preparing for the future, as these kids tend to leap ahead in unpredictable ways.


Smiles,
Trinity

Really good points, Trinity. Thanks! Oh, and perfectionism developed years ago with her (haha) but she does appear engaged and does have lots of little friends. I have high expectations for her GT program too so I hope that having that keeps her challenged and engaged.