Gifted and Talented programs in public school districts

[Anonymous]

What is the best area public school district for gifted and talented programs? I have heard good reports about Montgomery County and Fairfax County but would like to hear from parents with kids in in other districts. Does Arlington have a gifted and talented program? How about Falls Church City?

[Anonymous]

Arlington doesn't have a gifted and talented program.

[Anonymous]

Arlington must have something.

http://www.apsva.us/15401081151138413/blank/browse.asp?a=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=54407&15401081151138413Nav=|&NodeID=146

[Anonymous]

Arlington does, indeed, have a gifted services program, but it doesn't have separate schools or classes for gifted children; it does pull-outs for children from grade 3 up. Before that, it keeps track of children who may be G/T, but evidently you can't be sure before then if a child is just academically advanced or truly G/T. Even before the pull-outs started, I was never worried that my child wasn't being sufficiently challenged.
Gifted servics also sponsors workshops and such for parents, who often need to be told that raising a well rounded, emotionally healthy child is much more important than getting your child into a certain slot.

[Anonymous]

All Virginia school districts have to provide services to gifted students because of the Virginia mandate.

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/Gifted/gifted.htm

Every school district implements gifted services differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington does, indeed, have a gifted services program, but it doesn't have separate schools or classes for gifted children; it does pull-outs for children from grade 3 up. Before that, it keeps track of children who may be G/T, but evidently you can't be sure before then if a child is just academically advanced or truly G/T. Even before the pull-outs started, I was never worried that my child wasn't being sufficiently challenged.
Gifted servics also sponsors workshops and such for parents, who often need to be told that raising a well rounded, emotionally healthy child is much more important than getting your child into a certain slot.

So if one's child is significantly above grade level (e.g., 3 to 4 grades ahead), it likely makes more sense not to be in Arlington public schools.

[Anonymous]

So if one's child is significantly above grade level (e.g., 3 to 4 grades ahead), it likely makes more sense not to be in Arlington public schools.

Why so? Arlington will let children skip grades if they need to, but in general, it tries to keep children with their equals in social development and just make sure they're getting the academic challenge they need.

[Anonymous]

DC doesn't have G&T programs, but it does offer several language immersion programs in various of its private, public, and charter schools.

We are finding the addition of mastery of a second language is an excellent way to supplement our academically talented child's education.

[Anonymous]

Actually, DC has magnet schools for G&T students at the HS level (Banneker, Walls, Ellington, Wilson Academies).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So if one's child is significantly above grade level (e.g., 3 to 4 grades ahead), it likely makes more sense not to be in Arlington public schools.

Why so? Arlington will let children skip grades if they need to, but in general, it tries to keep children with their equals in social development and just make sure they're getting the academic challenge they need.

Does the county have a social skills development chart where they keep track of what social skills kids are developing? Otherwise how are they able to measure that keeping gifted kids in with age peers is "best" for their social development?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So if one's child is significantly above grade level (e.g., 3 to 4 grades ahead), it likely makes more sense not to be in Arlington public schools.

Why so? Arlington will let children skip grades if they need to, but in general, it tries to keep children with their equals in social development and just make sure they're getting the academic challenge they need.

That approach might work for kids that are a little bit ahead of their peers. But when kids are 3 to 4 grades ahead, they perform best when with academic peers.

[Anonymous]

Does the county have a social skills development chart where they keep track of what social skills kids are developing? Otherwise how are they able to measure that keeping gifted kids in with age peers is "best" for their social development?


I hate to tell you but public schools these days don't focus on social skills. If a child is having a real problem, they usually get referred to the guidance counselor (or if a group of kids have issues sometimes the counselor and other students will lead peer mediation). But they have such little free time or recess that they don't have too much time to talk, play or socialize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Does the county have a social skills development chart where they keep track of what social skills kids are developing? Otherwise how are they able to measure that keeping gifted kids in with age peers is "best" for their social development?

I hate to tell you but public schools these days don't focus on social skills. If a child is having a real problem, they usually get referred to the guidance counselor (or if a group of kids have issues sometimes the counselor and other students will lead peer mediation). But they have such little free time or recess that they don't have too much time to talk, play or socialize.

I think that was the OP's (13:03) point -- if the county cannot show that keeping gifted kids with their same-age peers is "best", and research shows that keeping gifted kids with their academic peers works best for their academic AND social needs, then why does the county keep the gifted kids with their same-age peers?

[Anonymous]

1:42, could you re-explain? If the research shows this (your middle clause), then what does it matter if the county itself can prove it or not? Not that I have a fixed view on this, I just don't get what you're trying to say.

[Anonymous]

I cannot understand why, if you have an academically talented child, you would not put them in an immersion program. Fairfax County offers so many of them, it's such a blessing.