Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Regions Looking for Gifted Elementary in Chicago Area

Hello. I have been recommended to post here. I have a 5-year old PG son who is scheduled to start Kindergarten in the fall. I will be moving to the Chicago area once I find a good school for him and a subsequent place to live. My husband works in the Melrose Park area and we would like to be within 10 miles or so of that. The school would need to be flexible to accommodate his needs and obviously gifted friendly. I know Chicago doesn't have many "gifted" schools (I am not interested in going the private route as it is too expensive), but am looking for a place to start my research. Thank you very much.

bump -
I'm not familiar with Chicago area, but I'm hoping that some of our posters are.

How did you find out that your 5 year old was PG? Are there good resources for him where you live now? Did he enjoy preschool with agemates?

Love and More Love,
Grinity

Hello Debbie K - welcome to the forum. I'm not from the chicago area, but I sent you a pm (click on flashing envelope to get private messages).

Hi, Debbie. I would suggest researching at the District level. For example, where we are in Dist. 204, there's info on their website about their gifted program which applies to all schools in the district.

Here's a link to Chicago Public Schools Regional Gifted Centers. It looks like the application deadline for some of these schools, like Edison Regional Gifted Center, have closed for 2009-10.

Unfortunately, we don't live in that specific area (we are in Far West 'burbs), so I can't provide any personal experience feedback with the schools surrounding Melrose Park. However, we have family in Elmhurst (near Melrose Park) and a quick search shows that Dist. 205 has a gifted program in place.

There is also a lot of support & info here regarding home schooling, if that is a potential option for you.

When I was in Chicago and lived in Fox Valley, these are some of the places I was seriously considering for my children. I am sad that I moved away now that I go back and look at all the Gifted schools there:

http://giftedhighschool.com/
http://www.averycoonley.org/
http://www.questacademy.org/home/

EDIT: Sorry, I just saw the not interested in private schools. You can disregard these.:P

I knew he was gifted based on his behavior, but had nothing to comare it to. When I started posting on the MN gifted website someone recommended to me that he might be able to get into Davidson Young Scholars program. I had him IQ and achievement tested and he was at the levels that they require for acceptance.

There are good resources if I want to move from where I was about 3 years ago (1 hour north). We found a Montessori Kindergarten where I live that thinks they can accommodate him. Unfortunately, I won't be here to use it.

He does enjoy playing with his agemates right now. It will be interesting to see if that changes. His preschool is currently for socialization and he likes his friends there.

Thanks, NewToMe. I did check into the Chicago Public Schools gifted program and yes, they are closed right now. They could open in June for people moving to the area (me!). I will check into Dist. 205. Thanks for the lead!