WWYD.......Where would u go ..school related

[LindyN]

My kids go to a school system not much larger than yours and were doing high school work in 7th and 8th grade. The school brought in dual credit for HS with our state university, but left AP Calculus. Both of my kids will enter the state colleges with at least 21 credit hours (fully transferrable as it is not community college). They passed their high school graduate requirements by the time they were freshmen. In 7th grade they were doing more math than I ever got, and I have a bachelor's degree.

Son tested quite well for ACT, and not as well with SAT but still in the realm of great academic scholarships for college. He's very bright, and hasn't really cracked the books too much in HS. We didn't push the issue because he has done varsity sports and straight A's and great standardized test scores were enough for us.

Could he have done more? Yes. However he's well-adjusted socially and happy. We were fortunate to have teachers who enriched his schoolwork with some extra things, and I also had him work on some literature that I read in college. He's been reading newspapers and news magazines for years, and is really up on current events and politics.

There is a huge stretch to go from a rural community where you're the brightest to a larger system where you're just one of the smart ones. See what happens with the SAT and ACT test and then discuss it with the school system. I have smart kids who may be underchallenged in our rural school system, but they're kids. By the time they're 22 it won't really have mattered what they were reading in 7th grade.

Its great to have a bright child, but the thing is... she's still a kid. I'd explore some online academies and some colleges with free coursework (Yale has freebies to download.) If you truly want to enrich the child's learning, you'll be able to do it with the computer.

[greenpea89]

If you are willing to move, and your daughter qualifies (student's SAT, ACT, and/or IQ scores must be in the top 1/10 of 1%), as another poster suggested I would highly recommend the Davidson Academy.

Another alternative, if relocating and finding a job are a challenge for you as a single parent, is Stanford Online High School. It's run by Stanford University and falls under their EPGY program. Your child must qualify and go through an application process however this may be a good fit for your daughter as they offer the option of full time, part time, and individual course admission. Any of the OHS options could be incorporated into her current school day so that she is able to socialize at the appropriate age level while being challenged academically at her existing school.

If she isn't already doing the Johns Hopkins CTY program then she should consider it as an enrichment option or online course option if she qualifies after taking her SAT. OHS and CTY have similar SAT score requirements.

Good luck!

[emma'smom]

OP-- I get what you are saying. Our summer place is up in the small logging towns of the Adirondack mountains. The year-round kids all go to one very small "community school" that is K-12. The education offerings are very basic---small enough school that there really aren't many extras or special opportunities.

While I am sure your dd is bright, you might find that once she finds a place in a school with more challenging options...she'll be on par with her peers. In other words, perhaps she is really, really gifted---or perhaps she just needs a broader peer group.

Rather than packing it all up....consider either a boarding school or perhaps just moving to a larger city with more options (like Syracuse, Albany, Binghamton).

[chris1gill]

Originally Posted by cornflake

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.

If they started the process right now, the OP's daughter could take the SSAT in both December and January (all schools will wait for the Jan. scores). Application dates are 1/15 for most schools and 1/30 for some schools. However where to apply is the question. There are a lot of really great schools that don't work for a child's personality or vice versa. There are the acronym schools everybody knows about and the hidden gems few know about but matriculate at a high level and then there's every other type of school known to mankind, it isn't impossible to start looking at schools right now, but OP, you'd better look really fast and schedule interviews if any are left to be had.

[DisneyElite4]

Originally Posted by Iforgetmypassword

On my days off, I lay around and do nothing. Sometimes, I do laundry, or cook. Maybe clean up around the house. Being a flight surgeon on a med flight helicopter never crossed my mind. I think I might start doing that.

I haven't read through this entire thread, but this gave me a good 5 minute laugh in the middle of a late night feed with my newborn. Love it.

[quasar4legs]

A website that may be of use to you is www.hoagiesgifted.org.

If you look at the section for exceptionally and profoundly gifted students there are lots great resources.

Miraca gross has an excellent book called exceptionally gifted children that is worth reading when trying to sort out educational options.

There is lots of research that has shown keeping exceptionally and profoundly gifted students with their aged peers is in fact detremental to their opportunities to socialize.

Good luck finding the right place for your daughter.

[cornflake]

Is there reason to believe the OP's daughter is at the level of profoundly gifted?

She may well be - but what I get from the posts is that she's in 8th grade, taking three h.s. freshman-level classes and the OP has always asked for extra work and etc. for her.

Which, as I said, may mean she's profoundly gifted. It also may mean she's a quite bright kid in an average school. As another poster mentioned, it may be that she'd get into a better school and find herself about the correct level instead of far ahead.

I'm not sure what testing there's been or anything or what level the school is, but a good h.s. may be perfectly appropriate.

[quasar4legs]

Originally Posted by cornflake

Is there reason to believe the OP's daughter is at the level of profoundly gifted?

She may well be - but what I get from the posts is that she's in 8th grade, taking three h.s. freshman-level classes and the OP has always asked for extra work and etc. for her.

Which, as I said, may mean she's profoundly gifted. It also may mean she's a quite bright kid in an average school. As another poster mentioned, it may be that she'd get into a better school and find herself about the correct level instead of far ahead.

I'm not sure what testing there's been or anything or what level the school is, but a good h.s. may be perfectly appropriate.

Reading at 2 is a good indicator.

[Bonnie151]

Originally Posted by cntrygal

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

Honestly, I think parents worry too much these days! The above describes me to a T as a child. I went to a very small high school - it didn't offer any AP classes. I was bored but I still graduated 4th in my class. #1 in the class went to Harvard, #2 to Columbia, #3 to Stanford and I went to Bowdoin. There's plenty time for a challenge once she gets into college. We focused on other activities - I played the violin and joined a travelling youth orchestra. I may have been bored with academics, but overall I had plenty stimulation/challenge/whatever you want to call it... #s 1-3 in my class also had activities that they developed and focused on and I'm sure those helped with their college admissions.

I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with being bored in school if you have other interests or hobbies outside of the classroom. If your ultimate goal is for her to get into a competitive college, I don't see why that can't be achieved in a small rural school.


ETA: I should add that I'm in no way implying that I'm profoundly gifted! Definitely not! Maybe the OPs daughter is, but taking algebra, biology & French in the 8th grade was normal back when I was in school & just meant you were in the top stream, not some sort of child genius!

[abdmom]

Originally Posted by quasar4legs

Reading at 2 is a good indicator.

No it's not.

[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]

Originally Posted by tar heel

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]

Originally Posted by Poohforyou

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]

Originally Posted by chryscrazy

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.

Originally Posted by cornflake

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]

Originally Posted by DisneyAndRedSox

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