So we spent more time meeting with my daughter's kindergarten teacher last year than my daughter probably spent in class. She was constantly getting in trouble for not paying attention, being disruptive, etc. I figured it was mostly due to her having done kindergarten already once at Primrose but being forced to do it again since her birthday is 5 days after the cutoff and AISD bends rules for NO ONE!!!!
Turns out that while that was definitely a problem, she's apparently really fucking smart. We had her do one of those all day assessments where they test everything from ADHD and Anxiety to whether your kid is a complete retard or Einstein junior. Well, she's borderline ADHD (no surprise, her mom has a pretty serious ADHD), but it wouldn't be much of a problem except that she tested above 92nd percentile on every intelligence test, including one that was 99.9th percentile. On the academic stuff, she scored as performing in line with late 1st grade in most things, 2nd grade in several and 3rd in one.
So she's in 1st grade now. When we got the results from the doctor, frankly, we were a bit overwhelmed but I managed to ask the doctor if these results meant she just needed to be challenged a bit more or where we talking look at private gifted and talent programs. His response was that she would definitely qualify as gifted and we should explore what AISD has to offer as well as private options.
We've shared the results with the school counselor and her teacher and had one meeting. Nominations for the AISD gifted program don't happen until January, but her teacher is GT certified so that's good. We're at Clayton and we've met with the asst principal that runs their gifted program. We went to an info session today. At least from what we heard there and from other people, we're in the right place if we're going to keep her in regular public school. So it then begs the question, should she stay in regular public school?
I've hear there are AISD magnet schools at middle and high school, but I didn't see anything on AISD's site for elementary school. We have friends that have a 'legitimately gifted' 3rd grader and he goes to Regents, though his dad told me while he likes the school, at the elementary school stage, he didn't think they were doing anything special for the gifted students. He recommended St. Francis and said if he didn't live and work in South Austin, that's where he'd send his kids. He was not impressed with AISD's options and said the general education was better than the gifted program in AISD (can't remember which elementary school though he's zoned for).
So, any of you deal with this before and have any advice? I'm kind of all over the board. On one hand, I want to do whatever I can so that she reaches her full potential, on the other, I've never been a huge fan of private schools and while she may end up doing better academically, in the long run is it really going to make her life any better? Any advice is welcomed.
Thanks