Elementary school that groups by ability? (Orlando, San Antonio: safe area, to live in, safe)

[prhottie1]

Does anyone have experience with an elementary school in areas around Orlando that groups students by ability (reading, math, writing, etc...)?

Looking for a school with a curriculum that will keep a very bright kid busy and that is also good at working with the child on social development (early grades).

[annerk]

This is Florida. They don't teach kids how to think, just how to memorize in order to improve test scores. They don't care that you kid is "special" as long as s/he tests well.

PS--If the child isn't testing off the charts in either direction, don't expect special services.

[prhottie1]

Originally Posted by annerk

This is Florida. They don't teach kids how to think, just how to memorize in order to improve test scores. They don't care that you kid is "special" as long as s/he tests well.

PS--If the child isn't testing off the charts in either direction, don't expect special services.

Thanks for your input... Seems to be the norm down there from what I'm reading... How sad, 'cause I'm really looking forward to moving down there, but I don't my kid to suffer the consequences of my decisions...

[annerk]

Which is exactly why I stayed in NJ until my son graduated. The schools up there are so much better. Friends from NY moved here, and were told a month after their daughters started school that they were almost two grades ahead of the other students.

These are not special/gifted/talented kids, just normal seven and ten year olds.

Do your child a favor, put his/her need for a good education above your want of moving to Florida.

[prhottie1]

Originally Posted by annerk

Which is exactly why I stayed in NJ until my son graduated. The schools up there are so much better. Friends from NY moved here, and were told a month after their daughters started school that they were almost two grades ahead of the other students.

These are not special/gifted/talented kids, just normal seven and ten year olds.

Do your child a favor, put his/her need for a good education above your want of moving to Florida.

I understand that... One of the reasons for my move is his education, it's actually the most important one... We moved in August '08 from San Antonio, TX to Colorado Sprins, CO, and he's so unhappy here... We went from being able to start him in 1st grade at a school in SA to have him to start in Kindergarten in CS, which would have not been too bad if the school would have had a curriculum that would keep him going and not bored... So far he's been in 2 different schools here and I don't want to bring more changes in his life, just the last one for good, hopefully...

He was in a school were he was constantly being suspended due to disruptive behavior once he gets bored, which was probably allt he time, and now he thinks he's bad and doesn't understand why he cannot meet his friends at this school any longer (I ended up withdrawing him), so it breaks my heart... He's so smart, but teachers here seem not to have the character to deal with a kid like him....

So at this point I'm considering moving anywhere feasible... Looking for good weather, not too hot like SA and not too cold... A safe community with lots of kids since he's the only child I have, we depend a lot in friends...

I keep reading good reports for schools in NJ, but I'm not sure it would be a place where I would like to live, do you know of any safe areas in NJ?

[Wilshire81182]

I think Florida would fall under too hot if San Antonio was bad to you. I can look at their humidity index, but even if they are in the triple digits, Orlando's humidity can make it more uncomfortable. What about another part of Colorado, California, or the Pacific NW.

[DailyJournalist]

Originally Posted by prhottie1

So at this point I'm considering moving anywhere feasible... Looking for good weather, not too hot like SA and not too cold...

Check out Atlanta.

[Bette]

the gifted programs at each school. I think this is what you are looking for. My daughter got a 129; you needed 130 to get in.

My daughter went to public high school in Florida - then out of state to Vanderbilt and graduated with a 3.750 in neuroscience.

[bdpop]

I would suggest posting to the NJ forum as ell. I used to live in South Brunswick Township in NJ. They had an excellent school system.

[DailyJournalist]

Originally Posted by bdpop

I would suggest posting to the NJ forum as ell. I used to live in South Brunswick Township in NJ. They had an excellent school system.

I agree, even schools in the inner city of Newark, like Science Park High School are ranking better than most high schools in Florida.