GT LD (or "Twice Exceptional) support in districts around Houston (Spring: 2015, school districts)

[nhainefamily]

Hi, We are planning a move to the Houston area and have been in the IEP process with our 2nd grade son who has been identified GT/LD (or what they are calling Twice Exceptional - I had not heard of this term before). Our county in Maryland has an entire GT/LD Department and a specific program within a few Gifted and Talented Center/schools that he was referred. Is there a school district that identifies or has a reputation to providing comprehensive services to these "outlier" kids? So far in my research there does not seem to be anything similar. Thanks so much!

[Meyerland]

That's a tough one. I would say Spring Branch ISD south of I 10 or select schools north of I10, has the best reputation for twice exceptional kids.maybe parts of SugarLand, although I'm not very familiar with their gifted education.

There are many school districts that are great overall, but they have issues with either GT or SPecial Ed.

KatyISD has a one day a week pull out for gifted Ed., which is not the best.

HISD has gifted campuses, but you have to be accepted.

Friendswood has a great overall reputation, but I haven't heard anything about dealing with SE kids. Maybe someone else can chime in.

[fnh]

Originally Posted by Meyerland

That's a tough one. I would say Spring Branch ISD south of I 10 or select schools north of I10, has the best reputation for twice exceptional kids.maybe parts of SugarLand, although I'm not very familiar with their gifted education.

There are many school districts that are great overall, but they have issues with either GT or SPecial Ed.

KatyISD has a one day a week pull out for gifted Ed., which is not the best.

HISD has gifted campuses, but you have to be accepted.

Friendswood has a great overall reputation, but I haven't heard anything about dealing with SE kids. Maybe someone else can chime in.

Spring Branch is also just one day a week pull out. I know Cy-Fair has a full-time program for gifted students. Alief gets a lot of criticism on these boards but I understand it has a very good special education program.

There is nothing anywhere in Houston that will approach what you have in Maryland. Nothing.

[Meyerland]

Here is a private school that deals very well with twice exceptional students. They recently added new slots for the 2015 school year.

Rainard

HISD has integrated gifted education in all of their schools, and is not a pull out situation. It's great if you can be accepted into the vanguard or gifted schools. TH Rogers elementary and MS is phenomenal.

I taught in AliefISD, and the gifted program is fairly okay until high school. Then it's great if they go to Kerr HS. I wouldn't say the SE program is top notch though. I wouldn't have my own child go to Alief schools for middle school or high school. (Except Kerr) There are too many issues with gangs. (Yes, I had several first graders bring serious weapons to school for protection.)

[ToyYot]

Originally Posted by fnh

Spring Branch is also just one day a week pull out. I know Cy-Fair has a full-time program for gifted students. Alief gets a lot of criticism on these boards but I understand it has a very good special education program.

There is nothing anywhere in Houston that will approach what you have in Maryland. Nothing.

SBISD has a new program for highly gifted kids, full time school within a school which I believe is to be eventually expanded into a stand alone school :

http://cms.springbranchisd.com/distr...2/Default.aspx

Students must be identified as highly gifted through SBISD's identification process and must be residents of SBISD. Depending upon the IQ test administered, this means at least a standard score of 145+ on two or more sections (verbal, non-verbal, full scale, or similar).

[nhainefamily]

Thanks everyone so much for the information! Keep it coming if there is more that has not been mentioned. Thanks again!