School G&T Programs in Westchester? (Yonkers, New Rochelle: school districts, taxes)

[CKSFHG]

NYC has gifted & talented programs in many schools. Kids test in and then are put in specialized/focused classrooms either in their local school or at another school.

I've been told that Westchester does not have the same thing - is that accurate?

[AurorainTarrytown]

I know White Plains has a G & T program at the elementary school level. For middle and high school G & T programs seems pretty common in Westchester, but not so much at the elementary school level.

[SunnyT4]

New Rochelle has a G&T program at the elementary level.

Aurora – do you have any examples of middle- or high-schools with G&T programs? I’ve never heard of any in Westchester.

[kletter1mann]

I think the simple answer is that the schools in good school districts defacto are G&T programs. Bronxville, Scardsdale, etc are much like Lake Wobegone - all the children are above average, so no need for specific G&T programs.

[AurorainTarrytown]

Sunny,
I guess I mean honors and AP classes at the middle and high school levels, not programs per se. Sorry, hope I didn't confuse anyone!

[kletter1mann]

I've yet to hear of a Westchester HS that didn't have a broad AP offering. The question is only how broad and what percentage of kids take them.

[Ekulu]

Surprisingly most schools in Westchester don't have a G&T program or even a foreign language program that starts at Kindergarten unlike public schools in NYC and indeed most of the country and European countries. Very bizzare if you ask me given the amount of taxes people pay here. I am surprised that the tax payers with children let them get away with it. A lack of a G&T program is probably why Scarsdale, Bronxville, Rye and Chappaqua Schools are so hyped up.

Anyway, back to your question as other posters have mentioned White Plains, New Rochelle and probably Yonkers (not sure about Yonkers) have G&T programs. I heard that Rye Neck a small school district more like a private school has a program for kids that are gifted in Math. Most schools in the county have enrichment activities as well but as you are familiar with the needs of gifted children, you probably know enrichment programs are just okay for gifted kids and usually not stimulating enough. I actually don't think any schools in Westchester have true G&T programs that students test into at the middle and high school levels, what the posters above are referring to is most likely the advanced placement (AP) classes...if I am wrong, please post names of school districts that do offer them, I am curious to know too.

[Ekulu]

Originally Posted by kletter1mann

I think the simple answer is that the schools in good school districts defacto are G&T programs. Bronxville, Scardsdale, etc are much like Lake Wobegone - all the children are above average, so no need for specific G&T programs.

I am not sure if you are being sarcastic or not. I don't believe that all childen are above average in Scarsdale and Bronxville at all. IQ tests although imperfect are a decent (but not the only) predictor of good grades and above average intelligence, I have never seen a report of Scardsdale or Bronxville kids IQs that indicate that they are all above average when they enter kindergarten.

However, these schools do have teachers that believe in academics and provide an academically stimulating and challenging environment, they also have parents that will give the school district a lot of grief if the teachers are not on their game, parents that will push their kids to achieve high grades starting from day one and parents that have money for private tutoring to ensure good grades. When all these factors are present it is less likely for the kids in a school district to test average or below average by the time they take their SATs.