Best school string for gifted children. (Atlanta, Smyrna: student loans, college, incomes)

[cmtiger]

So, in the metro area, what school string (elementary to middle to high) provides the most attention and best resources for gifted children? We are looking for a string that doesn't just pile them with more busywork but that has really innovative programs that inspire them and get them really thinking.

Just FYI, Kittredge isn't an option at this point. Thanks!

[sparklestoo]

I too have a gifted child that is in middle school and I would also like to know the same thing. Are there any schools that are great for the enrichment of gifted students. I am planning on moving to the ATL area in the summer. I am not sure of the area as of yet, but the schools will definitely be a determining factor.

[kaday]

We live in cobb county and my daughter is in the gifted program here. It is a one full day a week in a separate classroom. East Cobb schools test for gifted students in 1st, 3rd and 5th grades. So far the curriculum has been challenging and my child is no longer complaining about boredom. Our school has six teachers for the program. Once in always in as long as grades are kept to an 80 average. Everyone here seems to think the program is excellent but we haven't been here long enough to draw any conclusions. So far so good. I wish I could be more helpful.

[cmtiger]

Kaday.. what school?

[gt6974a]

....in short, a private school

....I was a 'gifted' child several years ago in the Cobb program. Kinda cool, no complaints here but I didn't see the difference b/t that and a 'honors' classes once I got to HS, and kids don't have to be 'gifted' to get into honors classes......

.....that being said, I never really learned much until I got to Tech, elementary, middle, and HS were a joke, I was lazy as Hell and got straight 'A''s. My first semester at Tech I received my first grade, in life, below a 'C'.

.....that semester I took three classes and I received two 'C's' and a 'D'.

.....that being said, Tech isn't for everyone, but with those 'crappy' grades I learned more in one semester than my entire HS career in AP classes! I was forced to learn on my own, and college profs don't really teach, they lecture, you learn on your own....and I believe all schools should be geared that way............

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by gt6974a

....in short, a private school

....I was a 'gifted' child several years ago in the Cobb program. Kinda cool, no complaints here but I didn't see the difference b/t that and a 'honors' classes once I got to HS, and kids don't have to be 'gifted' to get into honors classes......

.....that being said, I never really learned much until I got to Tech, elementary, middle, and HS were a joke, I was lazy as Hell and got straight 'A''s. My first semester at Tech I received my first grade, in life, below a 'C'.

.....that semester I took three classes and I received two 'C's' and a 'D'.

.....that being said, Tech isn't for everyone, but with those 'crappy' grades I learned more in one semester than my entire HS career in AP classes! I was forced to learn on my own, and college profs don't really teach, they lecture, you learn on your own....and I believe all schools should be geared that way............

Uh...no. You really don't know anything about K-12 education. Please do not (don't ever!) apply the "Pre-Millenium Georgia Tech Way" to education in general...especially K-12. Our society would fall apart.

I'm a Tech graduate as well...so don't even try to pull the "you don't know what you're talking about thing" ...it's important to think about society as a whole.

Comments about education such as yours are not useful...to anyone.

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by aries4118

Uh...no. You really don't know anything about K-12 education. Please do not (don't ever!) apply the "Pre-Millenium Georgia Tech Way" to education in general...especially K-12. Our society would fall apart.

I'm a Tech graduate as well...so don't even try to pull the "you don't know what you're talking about thing" ...it's important to think about society as a whole.

Comments about education such as yours are not useful...to anyone.

So what makes you qualified then? If I'm not qualified to comment on the Cobb K-12 program, as a former 'gifted', Cobb, AP/Honors student,..... then what makes you qualified????..................... b/c I know you didn't go to Tech to become a teacher, they don't have the program!!!

As far as the comment....

Originally Posted by aries4118

"you don't know what you're talking about thing"....

um yeah, I do, I graduated in '96 from North Cobb High School (last year it was a 'school of excellence' and it's still on the sign out front) in the so-called quasi 'gifted' program, my Mother has worked for Cobb Schools for 20+ years, I have a sister who teaches Kindagarten @ Acworth Elementary and a step sister who teaches 8th grade @ Durham.

as for

Originally Posted by aries4118

'it's important to think about society as a whole. '

HOW am I not thinking about society as a whole by soley offering my advice on this board......I've posted replies on here against liberal arts, foreign language programs for kids and have been crucified....just b/c I place an importance on Math/Science and self-learning doesn't mean I'm not looking out for 'society'.....

...Illegal Immigration is a big topic in todays politics....H1B Visas is what effects me but not one damn person gives 2 ****s about that....Why? b/c it doesn't effect them....not yet.....your kids, along with the OP will suffer if they don't focus on this...why? b/c everyone who loves/kisses ass with the Illegal Mexicans, doesn't realize the 'Illegal's' kids are getting US educations/financial aid and going to college....one day they will effectively compete for your job and your kids and will work for less.......

....everyone knows CS (customer service) has been exported...there's alot more to come....i.e. Radiology...my mother's last visit to the E.R. and my other sister, a Mercer grad nurse at Children's HealthCare, ***** about Indian doctors reading their x-ray's.....

...your job will come soon, just give it time! Several programming jobs have.......


....oh yeah, for a CS/CompE grad from GT, I think I know what I'm talking about and I, as a single income, make more than the avg. American Family Income and I'm scared, half my job is overseeing an India company we hired, writing ****ty code, b/c they're cheap, not good, 1/3 the costs...........I don't flaunt my income, I'm just proud of it....I busted my ass to get here and Americans need to learn the same.....

...equal pay for equal work yeah you better start working harder...


...the gifted program was more beneficial in elementary and middle but in HS was almost a joke....think a group of highly successful democrat or republican politicians sitting together (non-partisan, among your own) in a Starbucks but not talking politics just lavishing in your success....that's what it's like...no learning just BS.

At last...your

Originally Posted by aries4118

'Our society would fall apart'

.....so Tech is the model for failure....wow....if you compared their graduate incomes to any other school in the South you'd be wrong.....considering these grads will be the future upper 10% of the income and pay 90% of the taxes....

....funny thing is my Dad's a UGA grad, and I'm a GT grad......according to you my 2.4 GPA from GT is not worth the 3.3+ from KSU, UGA, GSU, GS b/c of the Tech mentality...yet I out earn everyone comparatively in the same field with the same degree/experience......there's a reason why 'Honors' is lower at Tech than other Georgia schools and HOPE requirements for the 3.0 is a joke when compare to school quality, how employers rate schools, AVG GPA, etc.....I lost my Hope after my second year...I have/had $20K in student loans.......I don't ***** about it even though both my sisters graduated from KSU (teacher) and MERCER (nurse) on Hope, but didn't do nearly what I did in HS much less college.....their GPA's were an entire point higher but my starting pay was 20K greater 4 years earlier than theirs........

.....guess the whole "Pre-Millenium Georgia Tech Way" is just B/S according to you....

...our Society is based on Captialism...get it straight...it's what's made us successful over the last 200+ years...............

...OMG..you're really a Tech grad????? oh wait your probably MGT or IE so it doesn't really matter!!!!

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by aries4118

Uh...no. You really don't know anything about K-12 education. Please do not (don't ever!) apply the "Pre-Millenium Georgia Tech Way" to education in general...especially K-12. Our society would fall apart.

I'm a Tech graduate as well...so don't even try to pull the "you don't know what you're talking about thing" ...it's important to think about society as a whole.

Comments about education such as yours are not useful...to anyone.

HAHA, I just read your Smyrna schools post and how you said.....

'dont waste your money on public schools'.......

.....(paraphrase) South Cobb schools are great and comprable.....

.....they're the worst performing schools in Cobb and you're supporting them.....

....non-profit(greatschools.net) just enter a school and compare them to the state average....and these are 'METRO' Atlanta Schools, not country schools...

.....I wouldn't listen to you if my life depended on it!

[lastminutemom]

Interestingly, while both Fulton and Cobb seem to not have gifted courses for high schoolers, DeKalb does. There are courses that are only open to high schoolers that are labeled gifted. Though there isn't much else to really recommend DeKalb.

Even the Chamblee Middle magnet program isn't suppose to be so great as it suffers from all the same ills as most middle schools.

A couple of thoughts-- have you studied Georgia's new performance standards. Quite frankly, in elementary school they are frightening low at least in math and science. Kathy Cox, State Super of Ed, has really snowed the state in my opinion. Every school/teacher must cover these standards before adding extras. Even at Kittredge, they cover the basics it is just the rate at which they do this.

I have very good friends who lived in DeKalb and whose oldest was at Kittredge. After extensive research, they choose to move to N. Fulton because of the shear number of smart kids -- no need for a magnet high school program there. The tricky thing in N. Fulton is it is harder to stay in the top level courses in high schools than it is in DeKalb. But their two of their three oldest are at Ivies and the third is where she wanted to go.

Their youngest finishes in a few years. They don't regret their decision at all.

I don't think your question is system/string/school specific. Unfortunately, it ultimately depends on the teacher.

[CityFan]

I just moved my family into Atlanta from Florida with a gifted child just finished elementary school. In Georgia public school system, Challenge program is equivalent to gifted program in other states. After I did some search and phone calls, I found that Inman Middle School offers Challenge Language Arts to sixth graders and Challenge Math to seventh graders. It also offers accelerated math class to sixth graders starting last semester. I notice that courses are very challenge if a student can understand and digest everything taught. But mostly the parents have to spend some time and get some extra curriculums going on in helping kids understand all things. In Atlanta, there is a middle school offering IB program. You can look into it. GSU offers Saturday school to enhance gifted learning. Saturday school does require gifted test or proof of being tested.