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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I was in a highly regarded, rigorous gifted program in grades 6-12. It was great but also isolating and homogenizing. I don't believe for an instant that it was the only way to challenge high-achieving students.

Today, I have two advanced learners at a JKLM school. The older one is three grade levels ahead in reading and mastering all of the math concepts; the younger one has been identified as working ahead of most of his peers. We are quite pleased with the within-classroom differentiation, and my kids are happy and challenged.

They also enjoy the social aspects of school--some of their closest friends are kids from their classes who are not in the advanced groups. I like that they aren't penned in with other like kids.

[b]I expect that Deal and Wilson will also meet their needs, in part because there will continue to be a critical mass of kids who are learning at an advanced pace.[/b] I believe that DCPS will work for us and other families in the upper NW cluster.

But I agree with other posters about the broader problem in DCPS--that access to this sort of strong differentiation (which benefits kids at all levels) is largely limited to those with enough money to live in the wealthier parts of the city or enough luck to get into one of the better schools or charters via lottery.

A citywide gifted program isn't going to solve the real problem, which is that there is no systemwide solution for ensuring that all children are taught and challenged at appropriate levels. [/quote]

+1. My children have finished at a JKLM school and were always 2-3 years ahead in reading and math, but I don't know that I would label my knids gifted in the true definition.  Deal is certainly meeting their needs.  When we first visited Deal it was explained that the majority of the classes are taught above grade level and that they make every effort to push students on the cusp to reach a higher level.  I always find it interesting that this conversation of having gifted and talented in DC occurs mostly with elementary school families.  The truth is that by the time you get to 8th grade (at least at Deal) the work is incredibly demanding and truly far ahead of anything I remember at that age.  Your kids maybe advanced in elementary years, but there is no guarantee that this sticks all the way through.  Kids also need to have the motivation to want to excel.[/quote]
You do realize that Deal is not an option for most families in DC?[/quote]

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