Fairfax County GT Center vs. Edlin?

[Anonymous]

Twice exceptional - kids who are gifted plus have some additional challenge, such as learning disabilities, Aspberger's syndrome, etc. Some also include profound giftedness as a second "diagnosis," and while I understand the concept and the teaching challenges that result, that wasn't the type of twice-exceptional that made classroom dynamics so difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Both Edlin and Nysmith are both for-profit schools, run by individuals rather than boards, with no accreditation oversight as regular non-profit schools would get. Those characteristics are keeping me away from them for now.

Also, I'd ask very carefully about any gifted school's 2e population. With such good public schools here, it is possible that some kids who choose private gifted schools are those who just can't cope at other schools, and that will affect the classroom environment. My daughter used to attend a gifted-only private school that had a very high 2e population. There were nice aspects to this, but also can be very difficult, negative ones, particularly if the staff isn't well trained in the various special needs (like Aspberger's needs, how to differentiate for LD's while not holding the non-2e's back, etc.)

OP here:

You raise several excellent points here which I have not thought of before - thank you! My DC is 2e (ADHD plus highly gifted) but she has done very well in public school (with the help of teachers who follow through on her 504).

[Anonymous]

I urge the OP to join the FCAG Yahoo group, as there have been several recent postings re: Edlin and Nysmith as compared to FCPS GT centers.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FCAG/

[Anonymous]

The original poster may wish to follow the upcoming FCPS FY 2010 budget discussion, as there have been proposals to reduce transportation to GT centers for certain schools. Also, the Fairfax County School Board is having a June6 work session to discuss the future of GT ("advanced academic programs"). Apparently several School Board members are thinking about eliminating GT centers at the middle school level as they think there are enough students at each middle school to fill a GT class, and therefore there is no need for GT centers after elementary school.