Gifted/Talented student support in the public schools? (Newton, Arlington: appointed, credit)

[burbsbound]

Hi, we are moving to eastern massachusetts shortly and our list of possible or preferable towns currently include: Newton, Lexington, Needham, Arlington, Winchester (in that order), Wellesley maybe.

However, we haven't been able to find out concrete and solid research on how the public schools in those town deal with gifted/talented students in terms of curriculum, flexibility, and extra-curricular activities. We were wondering if anyone on this board can help or have any info, we would greatly appreciate it. We would be open to moving to a town with good gifted/talented student support even if it isn't on the aforementioned list.

Does anyone have any tips please?

[smarty]

Can you be more specific as to your kids gift or talent?

Does he or she has an IQ of 145+?

What would you like to see done to your gifted child?

What had your current school done to deal with your gifted child?

[elisemarie]

Originally Posted by burbsbound

Hi, we are moving to eastern massachusetts shortly and our list of possible or preferable towns currently include: Newton, Lexington, Needham, Arlington, Winchester (in that order), Wellesley maybe.

However, we haven't been able to find out concrete and solid research on how the public schools in those town deal with gifted/talented students in terms of curriculum, flexibility, and extra-curricular activities. We were wondering if anyone on this board can help or have any info, we would greatly appreciate it. We would be open to moving to a town with good gifted/talented student support even if it isn't on the aforementioned list.

Does anyone have any tips please?

Add Belmont to your list. With close proximity to Harvard and MIT, they used to allow (5 years ago) gifted students to take courses at both places for credit. I bet they still do. From what I've heard, Newton, Lexington, Needham and Winchester do a great job w/the top tier students. I'm not sure about Arlington. The complaint I've heard is that these schools do a great job with both ends of the spectrum (the top tier and those w/ special needs) but that the large "middle" group get lost in the mix. I'm not sure if that's true - just what I've heard from friends w/kids in High School.

[burbsbound]

hi, my kids are still young, in elementary school. My son is 5, so in Kindergarten, but he taught himself to read by age 4 and he currently reads at 3rd grade level, and performs math at 2nd grade level.

We currently live in central virginia where he goes to a gifted school. That is, he plays with same-age peers, but works on appropriate level academics. We don't want him to skip grades, but we also don't want him to get bored. We've researched some gifted school in massachusetts, but we think that we would like to do public school.

I had heard that Newton schools are overcrowded and the buildings are old, not sure if it's true. Either way, I haven't been able to find out anything about gifted education at the elementary school level.

[elisemarie]

Originally Posted by burbsbound

hi, my kids are still young, in elementary school. My son is 5, so in Kindergarten, but he taught himself to read by age 4 and he currently reads at 3rd grade level, and performs math at 2nd grade level.

We currently live in central virginia where he goes to a gifted school. That is, he plays with same-age peers, but works on appropriate level academics. We don't want him to skip grades, but we also don't want him to get bored. We've researched some gifted school in massachusetts, but we think that we would like to do public school.

I had heard that Newton schools are overcrowded and the buildings are old, not sure if it's true. Either way, I haven't been able to find out anything about gifted education at the elementary school level.

Newton North is in the middle of building the Taj Mahal of high schools. This is creating lots of problems since the cost keeps going up (I think the price tag is now at $130M and growing!) It will be state of the art once completed. Both High Schools get rated well (North and South) but they have large student populations reflective of the 80,000 residents (I think Newton is technically a city...?)

[twiggy]

burbsbound, we will have to talk! I have a 4 year old who is at the same level as yours.
I live in AZ so finding appropriate education is beginning to be a struggle already and it's kindergarten. They have told me they don't start the gifted programs until 3rd grade. I have yet to find a gifted school in Phoenix. We were looking into schools in MA as well. Does your son like his school? My son is still 4 so he won't be starting until Aug. 08. It would be nice to talk to someone else dealing with a child so close in age.

[burbsbound]

hi twiggy -

the public schools here (in VA) also don't start gifted education until 3rd grade.

My son loves his current school because he's in class with kids who have similar interests. At his previous school (pre-school), it used to make me sad that the other kids wanted to run around and play soccer while my son wanted to plant seeds and build volcanoes.

I had heard that Massachusetts ranked 50th in the country as far as funding for gifted education is concerned ("as of two years ago, ranked dead last in the nation with no state funding to support gifted students" - from Thousands of Bay State Students Being Left Behind)
so I am a little bit concerned about the move to MA since we're definitely going the public school route.

What's your experiences and research so far?

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by burbsbound

hi twiggy -

the public schools here (in VA) also don't start gifted education until 3rd grade.

My son loves his current school because he's in class with kids who have similar interests. At his previous school (pre-school), it used to make me sad that the other kids wanted to run around and play soccer while my son wanted to plant seeds and build volcanoes.

I had heard that Massachusetts ranked 50th in the country as far as funding for gifted education is concerned ("as of two years ago, ranked dead last in the nation with no state funding to support gifted students" - from Thousands of Bay State Students Being Left Behind)
so I am a little bit concerned about the move to MA since we're definitely going the public school route.

What's your experiences and research so far?

Well, I have the same experience here in AZ. Schools are underfunded and failing. Our district is suppose to be a good one, but they really have no idea what to do with our son. I too feel bad when other kids give him that blank stare when he wants them to recite the capitals of the United States with him. He is also way out of the disney channel programs. Sometimes I forget he is 4, he acts like he is 8 or 9. Not sure how much that has to do with having two teenage sisters.
I have found a charter school that has three levels of kindergarten. K-1, K-2, and k-3. Getting in is a challenge though as they have a wait list a mile long. We are in a computer generated lottery for kindergarten, if we don't make it we get moved to a waiting list. But, the alternative is public and with out any involvement I am afraid he will be the one in class that they skip by because he will try and answer every question. That was there example to me of another gifted student they had last year. When the class didn't know the answer they always said, he knows and pointed to the gifted kid. The teacher said she had to always try and give the other kids a chance to answer first. Which is understandable but I don't know how that would make my son feel. So, I am still searching for peers. I have found a couple of "gifted only" test in private gifted schools in MA. Very expensive though. I am disappointed about the underfunding. I am surprised that that is the case in a state that boast education. Maybe there schools have a higher curriculum than other states. I heard they are pretty good for the most part. Or maybe public education is falling into the potty. lol Right now I just hope we get into the charter school. If you don't mind I would like to p.m. you for some chat about things I'm curious about. Dealing with a gifted child is so different than my other children and rather exhausting. It would be nice to have someone to talk to about it.

[smarty]

burbsbound,

It is true most school in MA do not have a gifted program. However, many schools are very willing to work with you to make sure your child has the best education. Most of what I've seen is move the child up 2-3 grade level.

I suggest you get your child tested...This way you have leverage when requesting for service. On the other hand, I've seen many children reading at 3rd grade level during Kindergarten. However, many kids catch up in a few years.

Here are some resources...
Welcome to NAGC!

Massachusetts Board of Education Gifted and Talented Education Advisory Council - Massachusetts Board of Education

Massachusetts Association for Gifted Education (M.A.G.E.)

[burbsbound]

thanks smarty for the resources.

yes, I was trying to get a feel for which school would be more open to working with an individual child even if they don't have a formal program per se.

twiggy - PM away..