WWYD.......Where would u go ..school related updated 12/12 page 10

[Poohforyou]

No offense, but taking algebra in 8th grade isn't advanced in our district. It's what is offered to kids at that grade level. The kids who are a little more advanced took algebra in 7th grade & have geometry in 8th. It just sounds like you're in a district that isn't very competitive. My advice is to research the public school districts around you & see if you can move over the summer.

 

[Bonniec]

I wouldn't snort about AP art. It's one of the hardest AP classes to get a good score in. Most of us, and that includes me and may very well include the OP's child, wouldn't have a prayer of success in that class. A lot of kids take the class but don't even do the portfolio b/c it's so time consuming and expensive, and there's definitely no guarantee of success.

Who snorted at AP Art?

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

No offense, but taking algebra in 8th grade isn't advanced in our district.

I thought the same thing at first, but her DD is only 11 years old and in 8th grade. She could have a 12 year old in high school next year.

 

[cntrygal]

Do you have any Montessori schools around?

Who taught her to read at age 2?

The only Montessori school anywhere near us only goes to sixth grade she started out there

I put the boks in her hand and kind of started her out but she pretty much taught herself.

I think I'm missing something - why not just find the best high school for her, as she's in 8th grade?

You're upstate - NYC has no shortage of excellent high schools.

The SAT won't, as another poster noted, do any good for this. If you want it for like Duke's TIP or whatever, that's not going to help her get into high school.

High school she needs ISEE/SSAT, TACHS/HSPT, SHSAT or individual school's exams. However, you're kind of way late for this year for admission for next year, which would be her track. I think most all of the testing dates have passed or are close to passing, there may be some in December.

Hence... I don't know what you're looking for really? Any good private high school is going to want exam scores.

NYC is 5 hrs away i am looking for specific namesnof schools to look at

 

[cntrygal]

I thought the same thing at first, but her DD is only 11 years old and in 8th grade. She could have a 12 year old in high school next year.

Yes and the current plan i have a meeting to discuss with school is for her to finish high school in2 years which means i'll have a 14 college student

 

[Bonnie151]

I thought the same thing at first, but her DD is only 11 years old and in 8th grade. She could have a 12 year old in high school next year.

(laughing at your because I love that smilie, not laughing at you) Over here you start high school at 12! I know it's a bit different because we start P1 (1st grade) at 4 or 5 depending on when your birthday is and you go from P7 to high school (i.e. no eighth grade). Socially there may be some issues with a 12 year old in classes with 14 year olds, but academically I'd think it'd be OK.

 

[cntrygal]

Reading at 2 is a good indicator.

No it's not.

She was potty trained at 13 months

 

[NHdisneylover]

Yes and the current plan i have a meeting to discuss with school is for her to finish high school in2 years which means i'll have a 14 college student

Honestly, I would talk to them about trying to add LOTS of extras into her schedule (art, woodworking, theatre, etc) and spreading t out to four years anyway--so that she gets the time to grow socially and can broaden her horizons and not focus on all academics all the time.

If she complains of boredom, let her know that sometimes life is boring AND that it is up to her to find some interesting, non academic things to have n her life--that you want her to be well rounded and that she needs to grow up emotionally at a normal rate, even if her academics are accelerated.


If the school does not have enough electives to fill the day, perhaps she can be a helper in a younger classroom some of the time and also take some art courses, etc in the community for other times. Or take some things online as well.

 

[Bonnie151]

Yes and the current plan i have a meeting to discuss with school is for her to finish high school in2 years which means i'll have a 14 college student

Oh I would really not encourage that! There was a 14 year old freshman in my college class and he *really* struggled socially. Academically he was fine (though from memory, he'd been on a fast track from elementary school whereas your daughter doesn't appear to be that ahead of her peers, though maybe I'm misunderstanding). He struggled to make friends - there's a massive difference between a 14 year old college freshman and an 18 year old one. I know he ended up being terribly unhappy. I'd encourage you to let your daughter slow down and enjoy her teen years in a high school, not a college environment.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Oh I would really not encourage that! There was a 14 year old freshman in my college class and he *really* struggled socially. Academically he was fine (though from memory, he'd been on a fast track from elementary school whereas your daughter doesn't appear to be that ahead of her peers, though maybe I'm misunderstanding). He struggled to make friends - there's a massive difference between a 14 year old college freshman and an 18 year old one. I know he ended up being terribly unhappy. I'd encourage you to let your daughter slow down and enjoy her teen years in a high school, not a college environment.

I will add--t may not be "letting" her slow down but rather "forcing" her to slow down--but that is okay--your job as a parent is to prepare her for her future and really if she is hyper focused on academics at the expense of other things it will harm her in the long run; so if you can get her to let go of making everything about lofty future goals and get her to be in the here and now that would be good for her.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Because they cant give her a rigorous enough education. we a a very rural school we have 500 in grades k - 12. we offer only 3 AP courses art biology and english. I am the parent who has gone to every parent conf to ask for more homework more project harder materials for her. Only to be told we already are giving her more more and harder work and she really bealong in a higher grade. She was reading at 2. In second grade she read Moby Dick while the rest of her class was reading things like Bailey School Kids and the Magic Tree House books

There are many, many schools that can meet her needs.

In my public school district they can tailor the education for the gifted.

You are just starting on your journey of looking into schools. Once you really start digging in you will find you have many choices.

Let's just say my dd can smoke some of the gifted in language arts because that is her "gifted area". It is an advanced language arts class (research and presentation). She has friends that were taking college level math in middle school.

Since your dd is profoundly gifted, I would look into schools that cater to that segment of the population.

In addition has she taken the ACT or SAT yet? Do that right now & take both. That will determine her "status" and it is something she is going to need to get into schools.

You may need a sheet of paper from the school in order for her to do it, but she CAN take it and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. In addition look into John Hopkins, Duke Tip, and college programs over the summer. You can supplement your dd's education there as well.
Good Luck!

 

[Bonnie151]

Honestly, I would talk to them about trying to add LOTS of extras into her schedule (art, woodworking, theatre, etc) and spreading t out to four years anyway--so that she gets the time to grow socially and can broaden her horizons and not focus on all academics all the time.

If she complains of boredom, let her know that sometimes life is boring AND that it is up to her to find some interesting, non academic things to have n her life--that you want her to be well rounded and that she needs to grow up emotionally at a normal rate, even if her academics are accelerated.

I think you may be my new best friend (and I spent my Junior year in Heidelberg- lovely town!). ITA. Her teen years shouldn't be just about academics. There's so much opportunity to find areas outside of school where she can really excel. Don't push the academics to the point where they become her life (which is what will happen if you're aiming to get her into college at 14!).

 

[cornflake]

I thought the same thing at first, but her DD is only 11 years old and in 8th grade. She could have a 12 year old in high school next year.

It's unusual but not that rare. I know more than one kid who was that age.

NYC is 5 hrs away i am looking for specific namesnof schools to look at

There are just tons, I'm not even sure how to narrow it for you - I mean literally I could name 20 off the top of my head.

However, as a couple of us noted, you're pretty much at or beyond the deadline for admissions for next year for many, many schools (not just here but many places).

All the specialized high schools here, which are some of the top in the nation and have incredible programs (and are free of charge to attend), are testing this weekend. So those, like Bronx High School of Science, Stuyvesant, etc., are all out.

As for the others, a good school is a process. There are admissions packets, ISEE/SSAT or etc., recommendations, etc., and you're past the date for many schools (even if you could sneak under the test or full app deadline, a lot have step deadlines for recommendations, etc.).

As well, if we're talking about private schools here, what you'd look at depends on what tuition you're prepared to pay. The top notch privates here run in the neighbourhood of $30,000-40,000 per year. And, again, even if you're willing to pay that, you're running out of time very quickly.

I know about schools here so can't speak to other places but for here - we have a plethora of crazy good, challenging, top-notch schools with exceptional programs. You need to start applying like, yesterday and take the ISEE/SSAT/TACHS/etc., or their proprietary exam if possible, as soon as possible to even think about squeaking in.

 

[cntrygal]

(laughing at your because I love that smilie, not laughing at you) Over here you start high school at 12! I know it's a bit different because we start P1 (1st grade) at 4 or 5 depending on when your birthday is and you go from P7 to high school (i.e. no eighth grade). Socially there may be some issues with a 12 year old in classes with 14 year olds, but academically I'd think it'd be OK.

If she was were she was supposed to be age wise she would be in 6th grade this year. Take into account some kids being left back she is in her math class with 15 & 16 yr olds too.

 

[cornflake]

There are many, many schools that can meet her needs.

In my public school district they can tailor the education for the gifted.

You are just starting on your journey of looking into schools. Once you really start digging in you will find you have many choices.

Let's just say my dd can smoke some of the gifted in language arts because that is her "gifted area". It is an advanced language arts class (research and presentation). She has friends that were taking college level math in middle school.

Since your dd is profoundly gifted, I would look into schools that cater to that segment of the population.

In addition has she taken the ACT or SAT yet? Do that right now & take both. That will determine her "status" and it is something she is going to need to get into schools.

You may need a sheet of paper from the school in order for her to do it, but she CAN take it and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. In addition look into John Hopkins, Duke Tip, and college programs over the summer. You can supplement your dd's education there as well.
Good Luck!

The SAT or ACT won't get her into high schools, nor will taking them now do anything to get her into college.

I do wonder about testing though - reading at 2, being 11 in 8th grade, etc., are all certainly indicators of being very bright but not so unusual as to be automaticall labelled 'profoundly gifted', whatever that'd mean, or appropriate for some special one-in-a-million school because of those things.

Has she had actual testing by a licensed psychologist? How are her ERBs and stuff?

 

[zoemurr]

need to go that far.. we are in Penfield NY a suburb of Rochester. Pittsford HS (also in Rochester) is constantly rated one of the best high schools in NY. There is also a school in Buffalo (City Honors School at Fosdick-Masten Park) that is ranked very high in the nation.

DD read at 2 and skipped 1st grade. In 8th grade she took Geometry, Biology, and Spanish (although she could have taken French). While this is an advanced schedule about 40 kids took it so it is not unusual. There are AP classes for every subject starting in 10th grade. Finding things to challenge her has not been a problem. I know there are some classes that you can take in correlation with local colleges here, but we aren't to that yet so we haven't looked into it.

I think a large public school in a nice suburb would most likely meet your needs. Our school is not uncommon for our area. The Davidson Institute looks amazing but is only for the top 1% of kids. The SAT would be the entrance exam I believe. (DD took this and was close, but not quite there last year.)

While Ivy League schools will look at schedule and grades, she will also need to be well rounded. Is she doing any clubs and volunteer work?

Good luck!

 

[mjkacmom]

If you can afford it, move to NJ. The brightest kids here take algebra in 7th grade, and almost all courses are offered in honors in HS, if not AP. My 2 oldest took Spanish 1, honors biology, and algebra iin 8th, got straight A's, and take honors/AP classes now in HS. Even dd16's Spanish class is honors (there is regular and honors). There are still many courses that challenge the best and brightest students at our school.

 

[Bonnie151]

If she was were she was supposed to be age wise she would be in 6th grade this year. Take into account some kids being left back she is in her math class with 15 & 16 yr olds too.

Yes, but what I'm saying is that in some other places, an 11 year old in 8th grade is perfectly normal. My son is 10 and he's in the equivalent of 6th grade (P6). He started school when he was 5. Roughly half the kids in his class started when they were 4 so roughly half of the 6th graders here are 9. I know you start school later in America so it knocks the ages/grades out a bit, and it may well be that your daughter is highly gifted. However, stick her in many other academic environments and being 11 in eighth grade would be "normal". Which brings me back to my main point of: let her enjoy her teen years without cramming the academics!

 

[Iforgetmypassword]

If you're willing to move "just about anywhere", why not Google highest ranked high schools, and look at the lists? I just did. Incidentally, the highest ones are not in New York City.

Why would you think that anonymous people on a message board would give the best advice? That's not the smartest way to steer your child in the right direction.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The SAT or ACT won't get her into high schools, nor will taking them now do anything to get her into college.

I do wonder about testing though - reading at 2, being 11 in 8th grade, etc., are all certainly indicators of being very bright but not so unusual as to be automaticall labelled 'profoundly gifted', whatever that'd mean, or appropriate for some special one-in-a-million school because of those things.

Has she had actual testing by a licensed psychologist? How are her ERBs and stuff?

Yes, I know that however it is a good measure of where her dd sits NOW. That is the important part. When you are from an area that does not teach at the level that your child is at it is your only measure of where your kids sits.

If her dd is profoundly gifted and can smoke those tests it will open doors for her.

Also her dd will see the areas where she is gifted and where she needs work.