Elementary Education for Gifted Student: HISD vs Private vs Suburbs (Houston: how much, home)

[HoustonBackpacker]

Hi, my family is moving to the Houston area and we’re trying to navigate the educational landscape. My husband and I need to be in the area but do not have to deal with a daily commute so we’d like to choose our home based on the educational opportunities. The oldest of our three children is a rising kindergartner and tested in the 98th percentile on the WPPSI-IV. We have not tested the younger two. In looking for a school, we want a good spring board into university but even more so, we want the children to be academically challenged, well read and critical thinkers. With that in mind, I’d really love to hear your thoughts on the best academic environments in the Houston area.

Why is there so much demand on Saint John’s and Kinkaid? Are they more academically rigorous than the HISD schools?

How do SJS and Kinkaid compare to the big suburban districts like Katy?

We heard that Spring Branch has a gifted school. Thoughts about it?

Any insight you guys could offer to help us navigate this complex landscape would be greatly appreciated.

[houston-nomad]

You are going to get every answer under the sun here; I don't think there's one right answer. You have to do what's best for your family. Objectively, SJS, Kinkaid (and add 15 or so other private schools) are going to be "better" than public because the population of students is 100% with financial means and invested parents who are way, way into their kids' education. Also, the teachers have good resources, and class size is small.

Beyond that, your question gets subjective. Some of those private school may be pressured to "prove" their rigor to parents who want to see their kids doing piles of homework and above-grade-level work. That's not necessarily what's best, pedogogically or developmentally. But maybe you are among those parents, and would be happy with that. I don't know.

Some of the public schools are excellent, have great leadership who support their teachers, and focus on great teaching. Others focus on testing, not great for students, but their numbers look good. And parents like those numbers.

Personally, having had kids in public and private, it would depend on how much money I had. If I had plenty, I'd go private. I could avoid all the time-wasting state testing, all the time wasted and yelling that gets directed at behavioral problem kids, etc. I would also find a Montessori school, and not get distracted thinking about what schools send kids to what college, when my kids are in elementary school. But now we're deep in subjective land, so your opinion may be quite different.

[ptt]

The private school i am willing to spend money on is SJS with that said if I spending that amount i would hope he got into the Ivy’s because if he just go to UT or A&M public school will do just fine. I don’t know about gifted program in Houston isd but in Katy isd gifted program is only a day weekly for elementary kids. The gifted/pre AP are in the same class learning the same thing from middle school onwards. My son is identified gifted with Katy ISD i don’t see any significant difference in education he received compare to pre AP program. We are satisfied with Katy ISD.

[Ocdmama]

Agree with previous responses. If you can afford, go private - SJS or Kinkaid. If you cant, go public school. Top two private schools and Top two public schools are not the same, at least in Houston.

[mingna]

Speaking for SBISD and my personal experiences with it, with two kids at the elementary school level:

SBISD has two programs for children identified as gifted, which they identify using mainly two criteria; 1) test score 2) detailed parental/teacher evaluation, including physical manifestations such as artwork, science projects, poetry, etc.)

Based on these two criteria, your child may either be placed in the “regular” gifted program (G/T), or the highly gifted program (SBAI).

My kids were both in the G/T program, from which I will share my experience during that time period:

It’s a once a week, full day program at a separate school, where they work with other peers from other SBISD elementary schools who were similarly identified. They do a lot of interesting, in-depth projects and presentations. Parents were provided detailed access to the curriculum through a folder the child keeps for each class/subject. The kids are rotated through classes and teachers for each subject: science, history, etc. Parent/teacher conferences were held twice, once at the beginning and once near the end. The kids went on one field trip a year. I was pleased with the quality of their education, but wished it was offered daily instead of just a once a week pull-out. But of course, you can supplement their education (I coached them in Odyssey of the Mind).

SBAI: It is a fully self-contained, immersive program where the child spends their entire time with similar peers. Parents here have the option of sending their kids here, or mainstream.

Regardless, I suggest you contact SBISD for updated information and official program details.

[houston-nomad]

Originally Posted by ptt

The private school i am willing to spend money on is SJS with that said if I spending that amount i would hope he got into the Ivy’s because if he just go to UT or A&M public school will do just fine. I don’t know about gifted program in Houston isd but in Katy isd gifted program is only a day weekly for elementary kids. The gifted/pre AP are in the same class learning the same thing from middle school onwards. My son is identified gifted with Katy ISD i don’t see any significant difference in education he received compare to pre AP program. We are satisfied with Katy ISD.

I am literally astonished at how many people see K-12 education as nothing but a road to college, as if where a kid goes to college is literally the only thing that matters about how they spent those 13 years.

Is that really how you see it? What about what they learned? How they see the world? What habits did they develop? What did they learn about how to treat others? What is their sense of personal responsibility? Are they good mentors to others? Are they good critical thinkers? Can they dissect a text and discuss it with authority? Can they give a public presentation on their research?

[ptt]

Originally Posted by houston-nomad

I am literally astonished at how many people see K-12 education as nothing but a road to college, as if where a kid goes to college is literally the only thing that matters about how they spent those 13 years.

Is that really how you see it? What about what they learned? How they see the world? What habits did they develop? What did they learn about how to treat others? What is their sense of personal responsibility? Are they good mentors to others? Are they good critical thinkers? Can they dissect a text and discuss it with authority? Can they give a public presentation on their research?

Those are stuff that we as parents set up to do and a good public schools can help achieve that goal. But if i were to pay 30k a year i think What private school like SJS can offer i would think is that teacher/ consular pay attention for each student and advise/ prep them accordingly. Public schools will not come close to that level. So, if Ivy League college is important to you school like SJS, Kinkaid going to help you hop that little hurdle.

[Ocdmama]

Originally Posted by houston-nomad

I am literally astonished at how many people see K-12 education as nothing but a road to college, as if where a kid goes to college is literally the only thing that matters about how they spent those 13 years.

Is that really how you see it? What about what they learned? How they see the world? What habits did they develop? What did they learn about how to treat others? What is their sense of personal responsibility? Are they good mentors to others? Are they good critical thinkers? Can they dissect a text and discuss it with authority? Can they give a public presentation on their research?

Am guessing you have a background in education so am curious to know where you perceive the child will learn all the things you have mentioned - from peers? teachers? parents?. A child spends average of 40 hours/week (maybe more depending on after school sports etc) at school for 13 years so isn't it a natural assumption that all the skills you have mentioned would be acquired from the school? I think another assumption nowadays is that good colleges seek the well rounded kids who possess all of the traits you mentioned here.

[houston-nomad]

Originally Posted by Ocdmama

Am guessing you have a background in education so am curious to know where you perceive the child will learn all the things you have mentioned - from peers? teachers? parents?. A child spends average of 40 hours/week (maybe more depending on after school sports etc) at school for 13 years so isn't it a natural assumption that all the skills you have mentioned would be acquired from the school? I think another assumption nowadays is that good colleges seek the well rounded kids who possess all of the traits you mentioned here.

Yes, I think the student should learn those skills at school (from teachers and peers), reinforced at home. When I evaluate a potential school for my child, those are the things I am looking for. Not, as I said, where they promise my kid will go to college.

[swopoe]

Avoid Fort Bend ISD for gifted education. Not worth it.