Magnet/Gifted Schools? (Plano, Carrollton, Richardson: homes, elementary schools, farmers)

[LyraM]

Are there any magnet/gifted elementary schools in plano, frisco, or allen? We moved here recently and while our son is still in preschool, he will be ready for elementary school soon. I understand that in regular public schools, kids are pulled out of classes for 20-60 minutes a week for special advanced instruction. Are there schools that offer more in the way of gifted instruction? Are there schools that offer full-day gifted programs for a class of gifted kids? Please help!

[TX75007]

I am not a big fan of the pull out classes. IMHO kids should be grouped by ability from the outset.

Google "math rocks plano" for the accelerated math program in Plano for an example of how Plano does this in the early grades.

You are better off targeting a specific elementary in Plano that will have a high percentage of high achieving kids.

Neither Frisco nor Allen is known for academics. Allen especially punches far below its weight in this area.

[Mulching]

Plano has PACE + Math Rocks in Elemantary, Honers + PACE in Middle and Honors +PACE +AP +IB in High school. It works very well. It's mainly pull out in Elemantry but later you mostly stay with your intellectual peers. Frisco and Allen aren't anywhere near same level as any top tier ISD.

[TX75007]

Check out this for a discussion.

//www.city-data.com/forum/dalla...no-area-7.html

[LyraM]

Thank you, tx75007 and mulching, for weighing in. Have you guys heard anything about a new charter school in McKinney or the schooling options in Richardson? I so very much appreciate your help.

[bencronin04]

Check out Skaggs in PISD. That schools tests extremely high and I know they have a great Math Rocks program.

[TX75007]

Originally Posted by LyraM

Thank you, tx75007 and mulching, for weighing in. Have you guys heard anything about a new charter school in McKinney or the schooling options in Richardson? I so very much appreciate your help.

PISD extends into Murphy and Parker. You can look at their map by googling "Plano ISD boundary map."

There is a math rocks school near Murphy/Parker and many of the homes are reasonable.

I know more about the Charter schools near I35 area than I do I-75. Sorry.

[Big G]

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD has a program for the profoundly G/T called LEAP, where the kids are in a separate classroom for the entire school day. That's the only one I'm aware of around here.

[PISDstudent]

I know at my PISD school, starting in second grade, kids were ability grouped for math and reading, and the top kids were placed in their own classroom for all math/reading instruction time. It wasn't exactly GT, and kids still went to the additional pull-out classes, but we were doing different stuff than the rest of the kids. I'm not sure if all elementaries in PISD do this though.

[LyraM]

Thank you all so much for the great information. You're helping to make a tough decision quite a bit easier. Unfortunately, Carrolton and Farmers Branch is too far out for us, but Plano seems to be top choice for many of you. I can't express how helpful you all have been. Thank you!