Can slower learner/shy child do well in Plano public school? (Howe: middle schools, moving)

[bozzie]

I have read about how advanced PISD/RISD are and how seriously education is taken in TX. We will be moving from the west coast and I am concerned about how my child will do in the public school sytem there (or if I will need to opt for a smaller private school option?)
My son who will be a first grader in the fall is shy and sweet, he's well behaved in class but he can be anxious in new situations. He's bright but seems to learn at a slower pace. Do you think he can blend well in the Plano school environment or do you have to be advanced to thrive?
Thank you for any thoughts you may have on schools.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by bozzie

I have read about how advanced PISD/RISD are and how seriously education is taken in TX. We will be moving from the west coast and I am concerned about how my child will do in the public school sytem there (or if I will need to opt for a smaller private school option?)
My son who will be a first grader in the fall is shy and sweet, he's well behaved in class but he can be anxious in new situations. He's bright but seems to learn at a slower pace. Do you think he can blend well in the Plano school environment or do you have to be advanced to thrive?
Thank you for any thoughts you may have on schools.

Place him in Plano or RISD and help your teachers help your son precisely a they ask you to help. Assuming your son does not have some real and diagnosed issue let him grow in school.

[DitsyD]

Not every child in PISD is gifted or talented. Those are the ones that you hear about. There are plenty of students that just go along and learn and are not in AP classes.

If you read the threads on PISD, you will find people talking about which schools or feeder schools to pick. Well, guess why. One reason, the "less desirable" schools are full of students that aren't advanced. Plano, in my experience, wants every child to succeed and teaches a standard curriculum across the district.

At least at the elementary level, just look for a school that is a little more laid back and not all about the drive to compete.

[PISDstudent]

Being shy might make the High school or senior high school experience a bit more challenging, especially if he likes to be familiar with everyone around him. However, this is pretty far down the road, and I don't see any problems in elementary school & smaller middle schools (ex. Hendrick, Haggard, and others). Perhaps find a school that's a good fit, and evaluate whether or not the large high schools will work well for him when the time comes.

[Souleiado]

Originally Posted by DitsyD

Not every child in PISD is gifted or talented. Those are the ones that you hear about. There are plenty of students that just go along and learn and are not in AP classes.

If you read the threads on PISD, you will find people talking about which schools or feeder schools to pick. Well, guess why. One reason, the "less desirable" schools are full of students that aren't advanced. Plano, in my experience, wants every child to succeed and teaches a standard curriculum across the district.

At least at the elementary level, just look for a school that is a little more laid back and not all about the drive to compete.

Nope, no true, Plano is not very equal among schools , some will be very good , some will be horrible for some students . The students in the middle are usually left pretty much on their own especially at the elementary level except for few schools like Bethany , Beverly, Hedgecox, ( all 3 are excellent schools) In some schools , the average student will be taught the test and nothing else. The horrible math program will be also difficult for some children, since it is pretty much set , that parents or outside schools need to teach basic math on the top of the official program , it may be overwhelming for some students .

[Warnpeace]

My children always say that schools were made for mediocre students and athletes. Their experience says that school system doesn't reward well behaved and high IQ Students as much as it should if nation want to have an edge in this competitive world.

[carroll4628]

I would really consider sending my shy child to a 800+ student elementary school, a 1200+ student MS, (6-8 grades), a 3000+ student 9-10 grade, and 3000+ student 11-12 grade. Sure, he may grow out of his shyness as he ages and may find some fellow buddies. But it's much easier to get "lost" in a larger school. A smaller school will have more opportunities for him to "shine" instead of being constantly over-shadowed. (Whether that be in choir, art class, athletics, etc.)
My K daughter is competative, determined and very social. She'd do great in a 700 student elementary school. My 2nd grader is laid-back and shy. We've been in TX 6 months and all the teachers/front office/recess monitors know my K daughter. They've figured out that my 2nd grader is her older sister. (And we're in a 450 student K-4 school.)