Katy Elementary Gifted Program Comparison (Houston, Pearland: school districts, income, income tax)

[james.mcgill]

My oldest daughter is in the gifted program in our local school and we will be moving to Katy soon. I know that most of the Katy elementary schools are very good, but can anyone give feedback on the gifted/talented programs at the Katy elementary schools to help us choose?

Thanx.

[Supermac34]

The entire district probably uses the same curriculum director, so the actual program is probably pretty similar intradistrict.

[just4ivaylo]

Depends on what you consider to be good. As good as the schools are here (according to some people), they're still nowhere near as good as other schools.

I left a high school that's consistently ranked in the Top 40 nationwide to attend one of these "amazing Katy schools" which doesn't even make the Top 1000 list. So yeah, it all depends on what your idea of a good school is.

[MasonParkMom]

I am a Center Director for a tutoring center here in Katy. A lot of our students come to us because the Katy ISD gifted program is quite sad. They only pull the gifted student out ONCE a week from their regular classroom for the "gifted program".

While Katy ISD is considered much better than other school districts..please do not have high hopes for the GT program. You can go to the katy isd website and contact the GT Program facilitator and she can give you more info.

[Houston321]

I've posted on this topic before, but most parents think their kids are gifted. Albert Einstein was gifted, Mozart, Galileo, Picasso, Bobby Fischer, are others.

Chances are your kids are pretty smart, but that's all.

----sorry, I'm in a bad mood today----

[MasonParkMom]

There is a huge difference in a child who is "gifted" and simply "smart". We cannot judge anyone's child on here and say simply your child is just smart.

Trust me..I am around kids every day who blow my mind...and they are the ones who will run our country someday!!

[EasilyAmused]

Yeah, because the really gifted-smart ones have been doing such a bang up job lately.

Hopefully being president in the future will require more to get elected than just a Haaavard type brain and mentality. Maybe someone with military and business experience included. You know, someone that's actually been in the trenches with American Citizens and paid income tax out of a private sector PAYCHECK for a few decades.

Yeah, I'm in a bad mood today too. Gotta be something in air lately.

Back on topic..continue.

[MasonParkMom]

LOL @ EasilyAmused..No I think you're like this everyday

[Rose31]

Originally Posted by james.mcgill

My oldest daughter is in the gifted program in our local school and we will be moving to Katy soon. I know that most of the Katy elementary schools are very good, but can anyone give feedback on the gifted/talented programs at the Katy elementary schools to help us choose?

Thanx.

I know that gifted programs in each state vary. Actually, gifted programs vary within the Houston area as well. I will contact the GT directors of the various school districts before you relocate to determine which school district's GT program coincides with the one that your daughter is already accustomed to.

However, in the meantime Alene Lindley is the Director of GT & Advanced Academic Studies for the Katy School District. Her number is (281)-396-2383 Go to Katy ISD to get more information and the contact numbers of the GT team for the district. There is a link on the site for GT information.

Also, you may want to checkout Katy Parents of the Gifted & Talented advocacy and support group. Their site is Katy Parents of the Gifted and Talented These folks will be able to answer your questons and address your concerns.

Hopefully, some teachers, education specialists, and parents of GT children will assist you and this doesn't turn into an ugly debate with mean-spirited comments.

Good Luck With Your Search!

[belahware]

I know we have all heard about wonderful Katy schools, however, when your child tests in the top 1 to 2% of IQ, you need something more than a pull out program. While Alvin is not perfect at the elementary level, they do have cluster classes where the brightest are classed with one another, in a faster paced environment all day, as well as dual language immersion for all who test high enough to keep up the pace. This enables them to learn completely in Spanish, all day, every day, in alternating weeks with all day English curriculum, from 1st to 5th. However, where the district really shines is their MAP (magnet program for the intellectually superior). In the MAP program, beginning in the 6th grade, students with exceptionally high ability are placed in classes in which the curriculum enables them to complete almost 3 years of academic curriculum in one year, in math and science. My child is in 6th grade and her class will be taking the 8th grade STAR test this year. They, of course have Pre-AP and AP for all the other courses.

I have yet to find ANY other school district that has such an opportunity for such rigorous academics. If anyone does know of one, let me know. We may not want to stay in the Alvin ISD area forever. By the way, the school district includes parts of Pearland, Rosharon, Manvel, as well as some more remote areas, too. Until I hear that there is a program that can enable my easily bored child to progress so quickly elsewhere, I am staying at Alvin ISD if at all possible. Oh, by the way, at Harby Junior High, the children can take Karate every day for free instead of PE. They can work on their belts. My daughter has already advanced 2 belt levels this year.