Navigating Gifted services in APS (Atlanta, Washington: middle school, moving, clubs)

[rentsto3]

Okay APS parents, I need the "skinny" on how to navigate the gifted services issue in APS - specifically at Morningside and Inman.

We are moving back to Atlanta after 10 years in the Washington DC area. I have 3 kids, 2 receiving gifted services, 1 in a full time program at a "gifted center" school.

Does anyone else who has come into APS know how they will look at my kids and how they will place them? I have asked this question to the schools themselves repeatedly, and still can't get a straight answer. They keep telling me that they will just look at their existing records, test results, etc., and place them that way - but we use different tests here, and they are administered in different grades, so I'm not sure how it will all translate.

BTW - I have tried calling the number for the Gifted Services dept. on the APS web site, but it seems to be one of those numbers that just rings 97 times until you get frustrated and hang up - no answer, no machine, nada.

I know this is a pretty specific request, but I am just not wanting my kids to waste half a year of school before getting properly placed if there is something I can try to do to prevent that.

Thanks!

[lastminutemom]

The place to start is actually at GA dept of ed and indeed your children (especially the elementary ones) may not be placed in gifted services immediately. If it were me, I would concentrate on the middle school as gifted kids are generally in at least a couple of gifted classes. Over a third of Morningside's students are identified as gifted so the services are probably plentiful. You might consider speaking with one of the gifted teachers at the school perhaps through email.

Georgia Department of Education - Gifted Education (http://www.gadoe.org/ci_iap_gifted.aspx - broken link)

City of Atlanta doesn't have a full time self contained gifted school.

[plessthanpointohfive]

Hi rentsto3,

My son goes to Mary Lin, which is a comparable APS school to Morningside and also feeds into Inman Middle.

My son is in first grade and this is the first year they did testing for "gifted". They call it the Challenge program.

Here's Morningside's website:

Morningside Elementary School

Go to Instructional Info -> Programs

Mary Lin's website requires a parent login so I can't send you there, but Morningside is the school you're interested in anyway.

But how cool is Inman Middle?! They have a Robotics Club!

Inman Middle School - Clubs (broken link)

And here's the reference Inman had about Gifted and Talented:

Inman Middle School - Where can I find out more about services for gifted and talented students? (broken link)

Though it's likely something you've found.

Your best bet for info is not to call APS but to call the school and speak to the principal.


Best of luck!